The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 88

Translation: godsn

Was Malani aware of what secrets she carried when he spoke those words? Why did he sound as though he could accept anything she might confess? If she trusted him and poured out her heart, he wouldn't be able to bear it. The nature of his feelings for her would inevitably change.

Suppressing her turbulent emotions, she murmured to herself:

"...I should stop by Olavat before returning to Agenka."

[Why there?]

"There's something I need to investigate. There are useful people there."

[Huh? Them? Those guys with the wedge-shaped tattoos, right? That was so exciting last time! Good thinking—let's vent some bloodlust while we're at it!]

"I'm not killing anyone."

[Why not?! They're bad people! You killed them before! Let's kill them, okay? If killing them all seems excessive, we can just execute a few as examples. Then they'll behave, right?]

"I said I'm not killing anyone, so shut up, Val."

[Tch, you're no fun...]

Echinacea left Yurien's chambers. Yurien was nowhere to be seen—perhaps he'd gone to send the letter. Instead, in the reception room, Shai sprang up the moment she spotted Echinacea, where she'd been sitting across from the Chief Priest.

"Eki!"

The girl rushed to her with an anxious expression. Echinacea gave her a light hug before turning her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gaze toward the Chief Priest. The young priest offered an awkward smile.

"A pleasure to meet you, Squire Echinacea Roaz."

"Hello. Um, your name was...?"

"Ar Sebat-tiem. Chief Priest Aaron. I've been assigned to oversee all matters concerning the Saintess."

"A pleasure, Priest Aaron."

"The Saintess seems to rely on you greatly."

The priest's gaze shifted to Shai, who was clinging to Echinacea. Burying her face in Echinacea's dress, Shai whispered in a trembling voice:

"Th-They were saying something important, but I couldn't understand any of it. What do I do...?"

Echinacea stroked Shai's head and glanced at the table. Even at a glance, she could see stacks of densely written papers spread out where Shai had been sitting. The priest wore an apologetic expression. Leaning down, she whispered just loud enough for Shai to hear:

"Shai, do you know how to read?"

"...No."

Shai's voice shrank to a whisper. Having already guessed as much, Echinacea smiled and reassured the flustered girl.

"It's okay. There's no shame in that. If you don't know something, just say so. This man is here to help you."

She guided Shai to sit across from the priest again. The young priest seemed completely unprepared to deal with a child who had never received proper education—understandable, given that someone who had risen to Chief Priest at his age must have been an exceptional elite.

"Priest Aaron, Shai can't read yet."

"Ah...!"

The priest looked thoroughly dismayed, as if this possibility had never occurred to him. He hastily gathered the papers laid out before Shai, then bowed deeply.

"My deepest apologies, Saintess. I've committed a grave discourtesy."

"N-No, it's fine!"

As Shai flustered and shook her head, the priest responded with utmost solemnity.

"I have come to serve the Saintess. Elgiosa is proof of the mercy and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠compassion God has bestowed upon humanity, and thus, as the Owner of Elgiosa, you are the living embodiment of divine benevolence chosen by God. I am but a humble servant of God, prepared to devote myself to the compassion He has witnessed. Please consider me your hands and feet, and command me freely in all things."

The fully grown man—far taller than her—was speaking with extreme courtesy, delivering a flood of words too complex to follow. Shai ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turned pale and clutched Echinacea's dress in panic. Echinacea sighed quietly and translated the priest's words for her.

"Shai, this priest is here to help you as the Saintess. If there's anything you don't understand or need help with, you can ask him anything."

"Am... am I really the Saintess?"

"That sword—Elgiosa—accepted you as its owner, didn't it? You can wield it. That's what makes you the Saintess."

Shai's eyes widened. The priest, looking subtly relieved, turned to Eki with a pleading gaze.

"Lady Echinacea, I am too foolish to properly serve the Saintess. I must humbly ask for your assistance."

"...Lord Aaron, perhaps you could try speaking a little more plainly?"

"My deepest apologies, I am ignorant of how to..."

The priest's face was pale. So was Shai's, sitting across from him. Eki, glancing between them, sighed in resignation and pulled the paper he had slid toward her back to herself.

"No, it's fine. I'll help."

"Thank you, Lady Echinacea!"

She spent the entire morning assisting the priest in explaining various things to Shai. Most of it concerned how Shai would live from now on.

Fundamentally, Shai would reside in the Great Temple. Though the Saintess was a Giosa Owner, she was not a knight. Now that her existence had been announced, pilgrims and visitors would soon arrive in droves. As the Saintess, Shai would have to receive them.

But she was utterly unprepared. Practicing how to wield Elgiosa was just the beginning—there was a mountain of things she needed to learn and master as the Saintess. Yet, they couldn't keep her existence hidden until she was fully ready.

Thus, the Great Temple had decided to formally debut the Saintess on the final day of the upcoming Sun Festival. During the day, she would perform rites to the gods before the public, and in the evening, she would attend a banquet to greet envoys from various nations.

Aaron recited the plans and schedule in meticulous detail, but Shai could barely grasp anything beyond the fact that she had much to learn and little time. It seemed the girl would need a while to grow accustomed to her new position.

Just as the explanations were winding down, one of the Azure Sky Knights who had stepped out earlier returned.

"The Captain has already departed for the capital. We are scheduled to return to Agenka by the afternoon train. I'll go secure our tickets now—please finish your meal in the meantime."

"Ah, I'll be traveling separately. There's somewhere I need to stop by."

Eki quickly interjected. The knight looked puzzled but didn't stop her. As a squire, she was under the direct command of her lord and thus free to act unless given separate orders.

"Understood, Squire Echinacea. Then I won't reserve a ticket for you."

Once the knight left, Shai clutched at the hem of Eki's dress, her expression deeply unsettled.

"Big sis... Where are you going? Aren't we... supposed to go together?"

"I just have somewhere to stop by. It's fine—the priest and the knights will take good care of you."

Shai glanced at the priest, who was obliviously flipping through schedules with a grave expression. The girl's face crumpled.

Not long ago, she had been a child nearly strangled and burned alive by her entire village. Even if she didn't hate them, the fear would linger. The noose-wielding Mud Giants in the Node had been manifestations of Shai's terror.

Eki inwardly clicked her tongue. Honestly, couldn't the Great Temple have sent a gentler, kinder priest, considering the Saintess's age and circumstances? She lowered her voice to a whisper.

"It's okay, Shai. They're not scary people. They're all good, and they came here to protect you—you can trust them."

"Then... does this mean I have to say goodbye to you? Will I never see you again?"

Shai had no choice but to cling to her. Eki was the one who had saved her, promised to protect her, and even kept that promise by rescuing her from the giants in that bizarre space. Like a chick, Shai buried herself in Eki's arms. In response, Eki gently stroked the girl's head.

"No. We'll meet again very soon. You'll be living just a stone's throw away."

"Really?"

"Of course, practically next door. I'll visit often. So don't worry and go ahead first."

"Okay!"

Shai's face brightened. She finally seemed reassured.

After sharing a meal together, they traveled to the station under the knights' escort. Eki saw them off as their train departed.

"Well then, I should get going too."

[But what about your body? That kid was worried earlier.]

"I rested well all day yesterday—that's enough."

She bought a ticket to Olavat. Though the direction was slightly different, Olavat lay along the way to Agenka, so the detour wouldn't take too long.

The train Echinacea had booked departed in the late afternoon, and she arrived at the port city of Olavat late at night. She immediately secured lodging and changed into her traveling leathers. Having packed just one spare set in her Magic Bag turned out to be a wise decision.

When night fully deepened, she stealthily infiltrated the secret location she'd seen in her erased past, moving through the shadows. Since she already knew the place and its guards weren't knights, it wasn't particularly difficult.

There, she stole crucial items—seals, ledgers, member lists, keys—things that could determine the organization's survival. Returning to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inn with these, Eki fell asleep. She woke to the midday sun high in the sky.

After a leisurely meal, she donned a hooded robe over her leathers and left the inn. Entering a back-alley tavern, she ordered two beers and roasted potatoes, then placed a wedge-shaped dagger sheath on the table. Soon, she summoned a server.

"The chef wishes to personally apologize. Would you follow me for a moment?"

Everything proceeded smoothly, just as she'd learned before her regression. She was soon led to a dimly lit warehouse—one of Wedge's meeting spots for clients.

"A request?"

A man with a large scar across his mouth asked disinterestedly. Eki knew him. He was one of those she'd left behind after nearly annihilating the entire organization in her past life, forcing them to answer her. She replied calmly:

"Investigate the White Lion for me."

"What?"

"The organization using the White Lion as their emblem. You know it, don't you?"

The White Lion was the imperial family's symbol, and investigating the royal household was extremely dangerous. Even if Wedge operated in the underworld, they wouldn't readily accept such a request.

"You crazy bitch. Drag her out."

The scarred officer scowled and jerked his chin. Instantly, rough-looking men emerged from every corner, surrounding Eki. The corners of her lips curved upward beneath her lowered hood.

"You'll regret refusing my request."

"Has this bitch lost her mind?"

The nearest man reached for her. Eki fluidly seized his wrist and slammed him down. The man instantly lost consciousness. The jeering men's expressions transformed. Ignoring their newly cautious demeanor, she locked eyes with the officer.

"Where do you think the items from beneath the thirty-second brick might be now?"

"What nonsense is this wh—"

"Wait."

The officer raised his hand, stopping the growling men. His scar twisted grotesquely.

"Who are you, girl? Which organization do you belong to?"

"Just a client. A client who'll reward you with something you desperately want—if you faithfully fulfill my request."

"Something we desperately want?"

"Those items under the brick. My god, you still haven't noticed they're missing? You're sloppier than I thought."

The officer fell silent, then gestured to a subordinate. When the man bowed his head, he whispered an order:

"You—go report to the boss. Check under the—"