Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Saintess's Proposal
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The eagerly awaited third and final day, when the black market would close its doors, had finally arrived.
In truth, I had accomplished most of my goals for visiting the black market on the second day, but there was no real reason to leave early, so I stayed to see it through to the end.
The biggest event of the third day, the relic auction, turned out to be more lackluster than expected. That made sense, given this was a remote outpost— even if rare items surfaced, there wouldn't be buyers willing to pay top dollar, so no one brought out anything truly exceptional.
‘Those kinds of treasures probably flow straight to the capital anyway.’
This area was even more barren than the already impoverished territory of the border lord. Still, I checked the auction list just in case the top-grade magic stones I hoped for might appear.
As expected—or perhaps regrettably—they weren't on it.
‘Well… at least I got everything Lucifer and Amon wanted, so that's something.’
It hadn't been a bad outing for me either. I'd gathered plenty of valuable intel, and Amon wouldn't slack off anymore.
“Then… shall we….”
Bill and Mori glanced my way, signaling that the carriage was ready, about to continue.
At that moment, however, my eyes were elsewhere.
Specifically, on the group approaching us.
‘I've seen them somewhere….’
The woman leading them toward the carriage—I definitely remembered her from before. She was the one who'd argued with the guards on my first day at the black market.
‘Then the others must be….’
Her companions, no doubt. Sure enough, a few familiar faces stood out. Five on our side, about five on theirs.
“Halt! Halt!”
The woman rushed forward, waving her arms wildly.
The glint of silver armor beneath told me instantly she was a knight.
Swoosh…
The dark elf Bill stepped forward to block her path.
“Who might you be, obstructing travelers who are about to depart?”
Bill was probably the most socially adept among us. He asked politely, in a harmless tone.
“Ahem… Our side's castle… er, well… anyway, we came because we have business to discuss.”
Bill shot me a bewildered look. My inner expression mirrored his bewilderment, though I kept it hidden.
‘Who does she think she is, acting so bold?’
Pushing a woman like this to the front suggested their group lacked anyone more capable.
Their gazes soon followed Bill's to me.
‘They're hiding their identities, so stay cautious.’
They weren't subtle about it, but since we'd met in a shady place like the black market, extra vigilance was warranted.
“What's your business?”
“Oh, you're the boss of this crew? The leader? Whatever….”
Swoosh…
I pulled my hood back slightly, and the woman named Mary flinched, stepping back.
“Eek….”
Mary's face flushed as she averted her eyes for some reason.
“What's your business?”
As Mary hesitated, the woman behind her stepped forward.
“I'm the one who asked to come here.”
“You… to me?”
“Yes. Could we talk?”
No need to even hear her out.
There was no reason to play the white knight rescuing a damsel in distress right now.
“Go home.”
“I came for a deal.”
“A deal?”
“…It'll definitely benefit you too.”
The woman spoke from beneath her deeply pulled hood.
‘What’s her angle?’
Not to mention, I couldn't afford to waste more time here. One slip, and my body might give out….
“Why not hear her out?”
“…What?”
Amon whispered so only I could hear. Some uncanny trick of his.
“Aren't you worried about your condition? It's about time to head back.”
“How did you….”
“Have you forgotten who I am? Nothing escapes my eyes.”
Lucifer, eavesdropping on Amon, leaned in to whisper.
“Amon's more gullible than he seems.”
“Q-Quell thy interference! In any case! No need for concern just yet.”
“Mind explaining why?”
“I'll tell you later. It's rather complicated. For now, entertain our guest.”
“Hmm….”
“We have a guest right in front of us, don't we? We can talk later.”
“Fine.”
I tabled the conversation with Amon, turned, and said,
“Get in the carriage. Alone, of course.”
“W-Wait! S-Surely you can't send her in alone….”
“Mary, stay here.”
“But….”
“It won't be dangerous. I guarantee it.”
“…Not too long. If there's no word in ten minutes, you know what happens?”
“Yes.”
In other words, she'd raise hell if ten minutes passed without a sign.
Creeeak…
Thud.
The sound of the woman closing the carriage door grated on my ears.
What was it… like my dignity crumbling in real time? I could almost understand why nobles threw money around like water to maintain appearances.
“Why did you want to see me? How do you know me? Who are you?”
“You have a lot of questions. I'll explain one by one, but if we go over ten minutes, Mary will lose her temper. So, save the minor details for a better day.”
Ha.
She spoke as if we’d cross paths like this again in the future.
‘Annoying… so damn annoying….’
An inexplicable unease emanated from her. Not because she was strong—it didn't feel like that.
‘Like… something ominous is about to happen.’
Just a hunch for now, though.
“My name is Adelia.”
“Ade…lia?”
A name I'd heard somewhere… but where?
‘Obviously from the game, but… where exactly….’
Ever since resolving to live as Faust, my memories of the game had started fading bit by bit.
Someday, I might even wonder if those memories ever existed.
“I'm a follower of the Beth Church.”
Oh.
‘The Beth Church?’
The mighty Aslan Empire of the Solaria world.
Aslan's state religion was the monotheistic Luber Church, devoted to the Sun God.
All other faiths were branded heretical, their adherents subjected to horrific punishments.
The Luber Church's doctrines were fairly lenient, but it was strict on heresy.
In Aslan, where church and state were one, the emperor and pope Solomon reigned supreme—believing in any other faith was tantamount to denying his authority.
“You sure it's safe telling me? Not afraid of the inquisitors?”
“The man before me isn't an inquisitor… and you don't strike me as the type to snitch to one.”
“You trust people too easily.”
“The Lord commanded us to trust in others.”
“…Why has a heretic like you sought me out?”
Getting involved would be a headache.
Demons faced discrimination, persecution, and hunts, but heretics got much the same treatment.
‘From Aslan's view, we're both thieves—can't have overlapping territories, right?’
“The Lord… visited me last night.”
“If you're here to proselytize….”
“No, it was an oracle.”
“…What did it say?”
“Go to the black-haired man.”
“…What?”
Damn it!
Clank…
My hand instinctively went to the sword at my waist.
If I drew it, I could rot that Adelia woman's body in seconds.
“Surprised?”
“…….”
“Black hair is the mark of a demon. You don't look it now, though.”
“Disguises are common, especially here. You're doing it too, aren't you?”
“Exactly the same.”
Sss…
Her face was transforming. More precisely, becoming even more beautiful.
Pointed ears, deep eyes.
Radiant hair.
Her beauty inspired awe.
“I'm… one of the Beth Church's saintesses, and a candidate for the next pope.”
Her true identity was a fairy.
Grace and holiness overflowed from her very presence—I could see why the faithful followed her.
“…Why reveal that to me?”
“Because the Lord came to me last night and told me to seek your aid.”
“Your Lord's advice is dubious. I can't help you.”
“Didn't I say it would be a good deal?”
“…….”
I grimaced and waited for her to continue.
“I came here because of Grimhal Baron, the black market's patron.”
“Grimhal Baron….”
The story traced back to what Mori had told me about why the black market was held here.
- One major patron funding the black market specifically requested this location.
Grimhal was likely that patron… but what did that have to do with anything?
‘…Ah!’
No way?
“Was Grimhal Baron a Beth Church follower?”
“You caught on quick.”
“But what does that have to do with you coming here?”
“The papal candidates are currently undergoing the Pilgrimage rite.”
“Pilgrimage?”
“It's where candidates personally handle tasks for the church. From trivial matters to dangerous ones—any mission assigned by headquarters.”
“Something with Grimhal Baron, then.”
“Precisely. There are three dioceses in his territory, and one has seen a string of disappearances.”
Disappearances…
‘This reeks of danger.’
Something felt off. Very off.
“You suspect the baron?”
“All the missing had contact with him.”
“So, circumstantial evidence.”
“We arranged a meeting under the guise of a diocesan tour.”
Got it. So things had progressed that far?
“If it's gone that far, why need my help? I have no interest in church infighting.”
“Have you heard the rumors about Grimhal Baron?”
“Grimhal Baron….”
Mori had mentioned something like that.
- The odd part is his late father—the previous baron—rumored to have one foot in the underworld. Whispers say he earned his title by scratching the backs of powerful nobles….
I see.
I understood why she'd come to me.
“You don't trust your entourage.”
“No, I do. But I'm old enough to know faith and reality don't always align.”
“Not words befitting a saintess.”
“I never wanted the title.”
In short, Saintess Adelia suspected Grimhal of crimes and was dispatched to interrogate or investigate him, but worried his private guards might outmatch her escorts.
If so, her side would falter in the mission—or worse…
‘They'd get eliminated.’
That's where I came in.
“You need an escort.”
“Exactly.”
“Go home.”
“…….”
“It's an internal affair. I have zero reason to get involved.”
“That one reason? It's about to appear.”
Clink…
From her sleeve fell a stone the size of a finger.
Yes, more precious to me than anything.
“A top-grade magic stone. Isn't that what you're after?”
“…….”
“I'll fill a whole chest for you.”
One chest: 3,000 stones.
3,000 magic stones.
[You've received a proposal for assistance during your intelligence operation.]
[The reward is 3,000 top-grade magic stones.]
[Tip: Rewards for intelligence operations aren't finalized until you receive them directly.]
Ten in a row.
Gacha…
Gacha?
Gacha!
“Grimhal Baron's mansion is around here, right?”