Chapter 151
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: A Time Full of Worries -1-
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From Leo Floyd's perspective, this was a situation he couldn't have even imagined, let alone anticipated.
Of all days, today?
The Saintess was coming.
Eclair might have received word the day before, but Leo, as just a squad member, only found out on the day of.
"That clueless, pathetic bitch... Fuck-!"
He always offered his quiet apologies to the Church officials who had to scramble with preparations due to the Saintess's sudden whims, but the timing couldn't have been worse.
The reason Leo Floyd had suddenly proposed to Eclair today, even invoking his father's name...
He'd anticipated a fairly high chance of failure, but since he'd set his course of action, he'd thrown it out there on a whim as a last resort.
He'd realized that under their superior-subordinate relationship, he'd never achieve his goals in this lifetime.
And now, his instincts told him he had to escape this place depending on the outcome.
The orb handed over by the black mage and the black pouch containing it.
Even if an ordinary Church figure showed up, they "probably" wouldn't notice, he'd said, but could he really get away with it in front of the Church's Saintess?
'No way. Even from the rumors, that woman's no ordinary person...'
This wasn't even a situation worth gambling his life over.
Though her body was frail,
she left the comforts of the capital to meet the outcasts, preach the Church's doctrines, and aid the unfortunate.
She was a beauty who spread compassion across the continent, but as the son of a high noble, Leo knew the truth.
She was one of the beings black mages feared most.
They said that with her delicate face that couldn't even kill a bug, she tore apart demons, heretics, undead, black mages—anything against the natural order—the moment she encountered them.
Even his father, who was stingy with praise for outsiders, had admitted he'd been awestruck after witnessing her holy magic firsthand.
For Leo to be here, secretly possessing a black mage's item, was nothing short of suicide.
'If only I could get rid of this thing...!'
Even if a demon—the very symbol of evil and deceit—had mediated, a mana contract followed the terms of the agreement without fail.
From the day Leo had made an ironclad contract with the black mage—one that seemed entirely to his benefit—and received the pouch whole,
for some reason, he couldn't let go of the orb. If it got too far, anxiety set in, and his hands and feet trembled.
This wasn't due to any black magic or power within the orb itself.
Nor was it the "intent" of whatever unknowable sacrifices had created it, trying to harm Leo for breaking the contract.
It was simply that Leo had been ensnared by the insidious thoughts seeping out through the pouch, hard to detect.
And the speed at which those thoughts eroded and corrupted his mind was incomparably faster than in an ordinary person.
If this could be called talent, then Leo was a genius.
It was the realm of innate depravity, amplified by his life's habits and nature—an utterly rotten effort and aptitude.
His negativity-soaked mind had developed such dependency that even in sleep, he needed it close.
Without the whispers from the orb, he couldn't fall asleep.
He'd considered calling in sick or stepping away during the preparations to welcome the Saintess,
but considering her past behavior, she often wandered the capital's institutions during her stays, meeting officials at random.
Avoiding her entirely would be tough, and the biggest problem was...
Even though the sun hadn't set, thoughts of booze and women were driving him mad, and he desperately needed release for his pent-up lust.
Thud-
"Hoo... That was fucking manly..."
His impulsive emotions and judgments, already excessive by nature, had flared up wildly, leading him to toss out the marriage proposal and his resignation to boot.
As he stepped out the door, a chill ran through him at the mad, seizure-like antics he'd pulled in front of the captain.
But the moment he saw the lined-up taverns, Leo's mouth split into a wide grin.
'Screw it... Let's just drink.'
There was no reason for him to stick around the Imperial Knight Order, where he'd otherwise drag himself in at dawn or leave late into the night unless it was Eclair bothering him, and no need to maintain their hierarchy anymore.
If he just joined his father as a territory knight, his future was bright anyway.
The meeting spot they'd agreed on was on the outskirts, but
the place Chloe guided Roman to was a bit closer to the capital's heart.
The restaurant Chloe had chosen after days of agonizing wasn't some fancy place with private rooms.
This wasn't a meeting between nobles—she had to keep that in mind.
For her freedom-loving adventurer brother, such a spot might actually feel uncomfortable.
'A place for a hearty meal to really fill the belly...'
A restaurant was a safe, foolproof choice to begin with, but would it satisfy her brother's appetite?
A course meal was plenty for her, but with his energy expenditure, might it fall short?
She could order extras beyond the course, but since she'd started, she decided to put in a bit more effort.
So she'd done some legwork.
Rike always vanished right after academy, so she couldn't come along,
but it was a place she'd scouted beforehand with Seria after classes, combining it with an early dinner.
A restaurant for ordinary folk—not nobles—visited on special occasions or when splurging.
"...Here."
"Nice vibe~ Lively and energetic."
The menu gave a concise restaurant feel while also offering home-cooked fare.
Even Seria had vowed to come back with her big sister—it passed with flying colors on taste.
It didn't have fully soundproof private rooms, but the partitions were solid enough to avoid drawing stares.
The moderate ambient noise pushed away any awkward silence better than dead quiet.
Before sitting, Chloe handed over the cardigan and the box, placing the harmonious bouquet on the seat beside her.
She offered the square box containing the liquor bottle to Roman.
"And this is my thank-you gift... P-Please accept it if it's okay...!"
"Just eating is more than enough. But since you prepared it, I'll gladly take it."
"..."
Watching her gift leave her hands, Chloe swallowed hard from the tension.
"Can I check it out now?"
"It's nothing amazing, but... y-yeah..."
Chloe nodded, and Roman reached for it.
Upon peeking inside the wrapped box, surprise lit up her brother's eyes, a smile spreading across his lips.
"Whoa-! This is Winterbank! It's so popular it's hard to find—how'd you get it?"
Seeing her brother's genuine reaction melted away the pent-up tension, leaving her body and mind relaxed.
"I went to a specialty shop, and they happened to have one left—lucky me. Hehe..."
"Wow... What are the odds? Anyway, thanks. I'll enjoy it."
Seria's older sister had chatted with the staff, and they'd pulled the last one from the back—exactly as described.
Even at a price her allowance could handle, its rarity was real.
She felt truly lucky to have met good people.
"Y-You don't need to thank me. I've received so much already..."
"To me, this liquor from you feels more precious than glacier crystals. I can tell you put thought into it—it's touching."
At the straight-shooting words, Chloe wedged her hands between her thighs, fidgeting and mumbling before deftly changing the subject.
"The menu...! Shall we look?"
...
...
As they waited with light chit-chat that barely qualified as small talk,
a mountain of food arrived—more than enough for two.
As plates emptied rapidly once they started eating, Chloe beamed and asked,
"Is there enough food? Does it suit your taste, or...?"
"Plenty of portions, and it feels like home cooking—great stuff. You know good spots, Chloe."
"Hehe..."
Feeling her efforts hadn't been in vain, Chloe grinned ear to ear.
"How's the academy? I only lecture once a week, so it's hard to keep tabs on cadet life."
"My friends are great too... Learning new things every day makes each one feel fulfilling. I just love it..."
Watching Chloe smile at the mere thought of Seria and Rike, Roman smiled warmly.
"If every day's fulfilling, worries and distractions fade, and you sleep soundly. You're definitely doing well, Chloe."
She was undeniably a master of deep sleep.
Somehow feeling caught in an embarrassing light, heat rose to her cheeks.
"I-I do sleep well, but...! I mess up every day—is that really doing well...?"
Even as she soaked up the praise, old habits kicked in with self-doubt and whining, startling her into trying to correct herself.
But Roman tapped the scar on his chin and spoke.
"Chloe. Everyone makes mistakes. This scar alone is proof of my failures. Every time I see it in the mirror, it reminds me and steels my resolve."
"..."
As Chloe listened quietly, Roman drained his water glass and continued.
"Mistakes are ultimately the steps and footholds to success. The difference between someone like you who remembers and reflects on them versus those who laugh them off grows over time—eventually, it becomes impossible to bridge."
"..."
Noticing Chloe had something to say, Roman softened his tone to ease the mood.
"Feel free to speak your mind—no need to hold back. It's fine to disagree with me."
After a long pause, Chloe stared at her hands and mumbled,
"Actually..."