Chapter 167
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Not a Sickbed Visit -6-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Purity and innocence of heart shall be forged into a single sword, imitating the blessings of the divine. This sword shall safeguard thee, fortifying thy heart and faith against the corrupt influences of power, greed, ambition, and depravity."
⟨ Lion's Heart ⟩
A sacred aura surged from the sword, gently enveloping her before subsiding moments later.
I sat still, watching it all, but inside I was screaming, flipping tables, and running around in shock.
'A knight without divine power using Lion's Heart...?'
Lion's Heart was originally called "Lionheart" among gamers.
It was one of the core holy spells for paladins, who faced impurities head-on more often than priests.
If you polled black mages on the most hated holy spells, this one would always rank in the top five.
Boosted defense, resistance to impurities, mental fortitude, and more.
Black mages specialized in mental assaults, nightmares, and traumas, so they frothed at the mouth against a veteran paladin wielding Lion's Heart effectively.
Unless they had a skill gap that overcame the matchup, it was undeniable that their procedures became several times more tedious and time-consuming.
"Even for someone without divine power or faith to wield a holy spell is unreasonable and surprising enough, but the fact that it costs no stamina or mana is an advantage that rivals it."
"Does Kitty like it?"
I lifted the corner of my mouth as I asked, though part of my mind was elsewhere.
Because the prayer—or incantation—that Eclair had recited while activating Lion's Heart was definitely different from the one I knew.
'I remember the original being something super short about bravery or whatever...'
Was it just a special prayer triggered by a skill in Innocence, meaningless in itself?
Or did Eclair's unyielding convictions bend the rigid incantation framework?
Either way, it felt more extraordinary and holy than the Lion's Heart used by the Church's average paladins, so that was progress.
Piiiing—
Eclair returned Innocence to its sheath and came over to sit on my lap.
"Of course, I think it's perfect, beyond compare. No matter who gave me the sword... even without special powers, I'd have used only this one."
I kneaded her waist as she said those pleasing words, continuing the conversation.
"What about the sword itself? In terms of functionality, like weight or sharpness."
"Calling it just a good sword would be an insult. I felt it while cutting down at least hundreds of undead that day—it seemed more effective than the blessed blades the Church gave me before."
"Ooh~!"
"Of course, even as a regular sword, without any special traits, it's flawless."
A weapon that bridged the gap between mana-wielding knights and divine-powered paladins.
Not blind love—my women were truly "adding wings to a tiger" in the most positive sense.
The phrase came to mind unbidden.
"Glad you like it."
She stared right through me, then let out a breath and laughed in exasperation.
"Even as your lover, that innocent joy without a shred of greed or jealousy for sacred gear... where does Roman get it from? Was the platinum promotion condition 'desirelessness'?"
"Doesn't seem like I lack greed, just look at this situation."
I pulled Eclair's waist closer, breathing in the scent of her pale neck, and felt her hand stroking my hair.
"...It's a shame we can't spend the night together."
"I feel the same way, but—"
She pulled my face into her ample bosom and whispered with a knowing smile.
"There'll be plenty of chances and time ahead. That's what you were going to say, right?"
I lifted my head in this suffocatingly happy space and saw her eyes curved in beautiful assurance.
"Kitty knows me better than I know myself now."
We could feel fulfillment just from idle chatter and companionship, without even making love.
As the bright moon rose high, making each other's skin feel especially warm.
Eclair shared a deep kiss with me, mingling saliva as if marking her territory, then returned to the mansion where Rike and Chloe were waiting.
Her blue eyes sat fixed on the book in the academy, but her thoughts naturally drifted elsewhere.
'...Let's make today a good visit!'
It was a resolution—and thought—she'd prepared since dawn.
After a long talk with Rike at the mansion, sharing thoughts and understanding each other's positions, she'd gained many insights.
Today, she planned to leave Seria and Rike to chat alone.
She wouldn't easily indulge Seria's sudden skinship or pranks, but...
It was also Rike's request, as she always watched over Seria's overzealous energy to prevent mishaps, so Chloe looked forward to how things would be when she returned.
It felt like perfect timing to drop by where her big brother was spending lonely time at the Church, with Chloe herself away.
They'd all risen early to prepare lunchboxes together, so there was plenty of reason to visit.
She'd only added fruit and prepped some ingredients on the side, but her contribution wasn't zero, so it should be fine to join them.
'I'll make sure to check if big brother eats well...'
People like her big sister or brother, who never complained about hardship or pain...
Required meticulous checks on complexion and appetite.
Just as the Saintess said, black magic was that terrifying.
We'll end today's class here. Next time, we'll solve the problems at the end and move to the next chapter.
The moment the theory instructor left, cadets rose from their chairs, forming their usual unspoken groups.
Voices rose a pitch higher, the spark for proper gossip time.
-Robert and Isaac are both back in the capital?
-Wasn't it still medical leave?
-They're planning to rest a bit more before returning—
...
Chloe headed to her locker, leaving the noisy group behind as today's gossip topic took shape.
Click—
She'd layered cloth under the lunchbox to block the chill from the locker floor, but the food had still cooled.
It was a menu chosen with that in mind, but regret was inevitable.
'Gotta hurry before it gets any colder...!'
The distance between the academy and the Church was ambiguous—too far to call close, too near to call distant.
She boarded the carriage she'd asked her sister for in advance.
Inside the quiet carriage, empty of servants or companions.
Chloe hugged the heavy, large lunchbox tight to keep it steady, waiting for the horse's hooves to hit the road.
Clop! Clop!
While watching the passing scenery,
she heard a polite knock from the driver's seat. After descending, she confirmed the coachman moving the horse to a corner to wait, then stepped into the Church grounds.
'The weather's perfect for a stroll. Big brother must feel cooped up in the room...'
Warm sunlight that seemed to lull one into shallow dreams after a meal, and laughter.
It was a peace that made the day swarming with defying undead seem like a lie.
Clack—
"Lady Chloe. Welcome to the Church."
"Th-thank you!"
Clack—
"Isn't today's weather, blessed by the Goddess's smile, just beautiful?"
"Y-yes... it is!"
As she entered the vast Church grounds, devout smiles greeted her with hellos and inquiries.
Chloe's head bobbed up and down every ten steps, frustrating herself for halting at every courteous question.
How would she ever reach the sickroom deep inside?
Her insides burned at the well-meaning faithful.
'It's lunchtime, so why are there so many people not at the dining hall...?'
Was entering the Church alone as timid a person this arduous a path?
It felt like Seria, whom she'd met once, was multiplying everywhere.
Finally crossing one corridor, she arrived at the building clustered with rooms for recuperation and treatment.
Her big brother's private room was at the farthest end of even this structure.
Especially crowded here, she steeled herself for another trial.
"Hoo...!"
Gripping the lunchbox firmly in both hands to steady her resolve, Chloe took a deep breath and stepped forward.
But if life's memorable coincidences and luck existed, was this it?
Ahead, in the waiting area where Church staff stood guard over the sickrooms, someone was talking.
A steel-like physique unhidden by baggy patient clothes, black hair.
Crimson-glowing eyes visible even from the profile.
Traces of a harsh life on exposed skin.
Each one overwhelming an ordinary person into fleeing with tail tucked.
Yet it drew her closer.
'Big brother...!'
Seeing him in conversation meant her timing wasn't bad.
As she drew nearer, the other side came into view.
'...?'
It wasn't the Saintess.
A young nun she'd passed before, when her sister had greeted her, entrusting big brother to her care.
Wearing the Church veil, but her expression clear through the translucent fabric.
"Ah..."
She didn't know the exact reason.
But Chloe's steps toward Roman quickened uncontrollably.