Chapter 68
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Two Hearts
Saintess Maria Theresia.
Our new companion stood tall as she introduced herself.
"I... I am Maria Theresia, and I will be climbing the tower with all of you from now on."
She had barely spoken a few words, yet her face flushed red with embarrassment for some reason.
There were only four of us here: me, Cynthia, Alfredo, and Rox. Who on earth was she reacting to like that?
As Theresia fidgeted and twisted her body, Alfredo, who had been watching her, tilted his head.
"You know recovery spells?"
"Y-yes, that's right."
"Then why are your eyes wrapped up like that with cloth? Can you even see us?"
She lightly touched the white cloth covering her eyes and replied.
"I... can see."
"You... can see?"
"Yes..."
Alfredo frustratingly pounded his chest with his fist and turned to me.
"Does that woman always talk in such an infuriating way?"
Before I could even open my mouth, Cynthia grabbed the back of his neck with a scary expression and answered.
"She's not as frustrating as you, who can't even count potions properly and makes us go to the market twice. So shut up."
"N-no, that was—"
"I said shut up."
"...Fine."
Alfredo stroked his chin beard and forced a smile, trying to look nonchalant.
Cynthia cleared her throat a few times, then stepped up beside Theresia to help with her introduction.
"Lady Theresia is a renowned recovery specialist even within the Papal Court. I don't know how much you all know about her, but she's practically legendary in the Holy Knights Order, so I hope you'll show her the proper respect in that regard."
Her gaze was fixed precisely on me.
She was probably telling Rox and Alfredo to make sure they understood her position clearly.
I nodded slightly in agreement with Cynthia's words.
"Since Theresia is a companion I personally chose and brought along, if she has any shortcomings, don't criticize her—support her instead."
Theresia jumped in surprise and clutched her nun's habit.
"S-support me?! W-we've only known each other for a day! What are you planning to do to me?! D-don't tell me you're going to take me somewhere secluded and tie my whole body with tight ropes...!"
"No! That's not what I meant by 'support.' I meant to understand and forgive her if she makes mistakes."
"Oh..."
I took a deep breath.
Exhale—
I called Rox over and explained to him.
"Lady Theresia is stepping out of the Papal Court for the first time and has no experience in this world, so take good care of her."
"Got it. She hasn't fought anything yet, right?"
"Yeah, she says she's never been to a battlefield even once."
"So her recovery abilities have only been used inside the Papal Court?"
"That's right. She's only healed those returning from battle, so from now on, think of it as sticking by her side to protect her."
"Ah, okay. Simple enough."
Theresia glanced around at our party's atmosphere, instantly grasping everyone's positions, and asked me.
"Is Sir Berddin the leader of this party?"
"Yes."
"And Sir Rox is the vice-leader?"
"If we have to define it that way, sure."
"Then what about Miss Cynthia? What's her position?"
Cynthia's position? I'd never even thought about it once.
If anything, since she's currently just an ally, she's on equal footing with me or slightly above Rox.
'Leader and vice-leader, huh.'
It's ambiguous.
"Miss Cynthia is on equal footing with me."
"Equal footing?"
"Yes. She's in the same party, but it's a temporary alliance. No one is higher or lower."
"Ah..."
"We're different parties who have joined hands just to climb the tower. That's all you need to understand."
There was a reason I was saying this now that we were all gathered.
In the adventures ahead, we needed to respect each other. In my previous life, disorderly behavior among companions had caused major conflicts multiple times. To avoid repeating that, we had to establish boundaries upfront.
I placed Cynthia at my side and reminded Rox and Alfredo of her position once more.
"Cynthia and I have no superior or subordinate between us. Everyone got that?"
Of course, if time passed and she fully integrated into my party, I'd treat her differently then.
'Not now.'
Let's give them time to settle into their roles.
Eventually, time would make them all follow my commands anyway.
Cynthia, looking slightly pleased by my response, slowly looked around the room. Then, as if noticing something, she tilted her head and asked me.
"Wait a minute? Where's Judah?"
She looked at me.
"He left."
"Left? Where to?"
"Home."
"Home?"
This was the only way I could explain it.
Anything else would be a lie.
I don't lie to party members, unlike with others. It's my principle.
"Yeah, he said he couldn't adventure with us anymore."
"W-why all of a sudden?"
"I don't know. He just said he didn't want to adventure with us anymore."
"...Really?"
"Really."
Cynthia knows.
That I don't lie about things like this.
"I can't understand it. When did he leave?"
"The night we arrived at the Papal Court."
"He didn't leave any message for me?"
"No."
Thinking about it, we'd spent quite some time together before he met me, yet he left without a word just like that.
Cynthia scratched her forehead with a bitter expression, turned her back to me, and muttered as if talking to herself.
"At least say something if you're leaving..."
I know.
She acts tough on the outside, but her heart is actually quite fragile.
"If I see him again, he's dead."
Though her mouth is as rough as ever.
Back at the mansion, I immediately asked Theresia for healing.
"Please take care of it."
"You might feel a slight warm energy, but it's not an aggressive spell, so relax and breathe evenly."
"Got it."
Lying on the bed with my hands clasped and eyes closed, Theresia placed her staff on my chest and began chanting.
It felt similar to the songs sung by southern nomads for those departing—like an echoing, repetitive melody that brought on drowsiness.
'Did I fall asleep?'
No, if I were dreaming, I couldn't even think this. With my eyes closed, a blue sky appeared before me.
It felt like floating in some space between reality and dream.
'If it's a dream, I don't want to wake up.'
It was so peaceful; I wished I could stay like this forever.
"You can open your eyes now."
As Theresia's voice reached me, my eyes opened on their own, and my vision returned to the room.
"...Did I fall asleep?"
"No, you just kept your eyes closed until I finished chanting."
"I see."
Though I'd experienced healing like this in my previous life, it felt completely new after so long.
Hiss.
'As expected.'
Theresia's ability was incredible.
Not only did it heal all the wounds from the recent battle, but in just half a day, it restored the stamina I hadn't recovered since facing the apostle-transformed Monestier.
'Amazing.'
My judgment to choose her in this situation was spot on.
To achieve unattained goals, it wasn't enough for me to grow strong alone—the entire party had to mesh perfectly.
I'd learned that the hard way in my previous life, so this time, I'd build an even stronger party to challenge the tower.
Swish—
As the white light enveloping my body gradually faded, Theresia stepped back and offered a short prayer.
I waited for her chant to end, then thanked her as soon as it finished.
"Thanks to you, I've regained my strength."
Theresia fidgeted and stepped back further, then bowed her head shyly.
"Th-this is nothing! If you need it... I'll heal you anytime."
"Reliable."
"R-reliable? Where?!"
"I said reliable."
"Ah..."
A single flaw in a gem?
She had the continent's top healing ability and impeccable character as a Papal Court member.
But her ears were deaf, and her mental world was a bit unique.
Flutter.
Rox, who had been watching my recovery, grabbed his outer coat and stood up.
"If it's done, shall we go now?"
"Go where?"
"To catch that Judah guy."
I shook my head.
He had already left the Adventurer's Lodge, and we had to head to the tower anyway.
'I'm not ready yet.'
No need to rush after him.
'However.'
Baphomet's strange behavior before leaving for the tower. Why on earth did he meet my eldest brother's mother, 'Katarina'?
And what did Katarina discuss with him? Did she know his identity?
Several questions flashed through my mind, but I didn't dwell on them.
'...Right.'
I had something to do first.
The promise with Katarina before the Monestier incident.
'Go find your brothers. That's what Father said.'
The date we agreed on was almost here.
The day to fulfill her half-forced command to visit the damn Tony, Jony, and Rony triplets at the academy.
'Going to the academy shouldn't cause any issues.'
I couldn't read her intentions.
"Do you know his current location?"
"No, impossible since he left the Adventurer's Lodge. He probably killed the bug I planted."
He did it on purpose.
I'd planted the bug before leaving for the Papal Court, so he knew about it but left it to put me at ease.
'I don't know why he let me track him until he met Katarina.'
After finishing recovery, I geared up with a click and told Rox.
Clank.
"I'll be stepping out for a bit."
"Stepping out?"
"Going to the academy to meet my brothers. It'll take about a week, but nothing major should happen, so don't worry."
"That's a long time."
True, we hadn't spent more than a week even in the tower.
"Can't be helped. The academy's far, and I can't use the warp gate there right now."
"What do we do while you're gone?"
Theresia glanced at me. Cynthia beside her set down her book, curious too.
"Go to the arena."
"Arena?"
"Yes. Keep fighting matches until I return. You can improve your skills there without relying on abilities."
"...It'll be fine without you?"
"Plenty fine. With Cynthia and Alfredo."
Cynthia's ears perked up, then she pretended not to hear and looked away.
"Cynthia, don't bring Theresia to the arena—she can't use her abilities there."
"...We'll only be three without you."
"Exactly, perfect to show off your skills. You can beat gold-class easily. Don't stress—just gain experience."
She pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Got it. One week. We'll wait."
And so, we each spent the next week pursuing different goals.
Unaware that the day would come when an unpredictably bizarre incident occurred, and one of our companions met death—the worst possible scenario.
"Deberry, prepare a carriage to the academy where Brother Tony is."