Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Have You Steeled Yourself? - 1
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After the water fun ended, Veronica reminisced about the past while showering.
The first time she met Hyeonwoo was in Baek Eun Village.
At that time, the Hero Party had abandoned Baek Eun Village and left, but the lone Sage cooperated with the church's Heresy Inquisitors to repel the heretics.
That was when she realized his true value.
His cool judgment, countless skills, and the way he risked his life to fight off the heretics and save the village.
Veronica had grown quite intrigued by how fervently someone who wasn't even a church member enforced justice.
Yes. At first, it was just intrigue.
Even after investigating him, she couldn't uncover his true identity at all.
That only fueled her interest further, like sinking deeper into a quagmire bit by bit, and before she knew it, she was so deeply immersed in the warm comfort of Hyeonwoo that she couldn't escape.
But even as she fell into that warmth, she never lost her intrigue, which allowed her to notice the anomaly.
Something no one else but her would have caught.
No, something only someone intrigued by Hyeonwoo, constantly investigating and paying attention to him, could detect—a subtle sense of incongruity.
Hyeonwoo had always been relaxed, but at some point, he began smiling constantly.
The Hero Party's treatment of Hyeonwoo was terribly unfair.
He had handled everything from their daily life, recovery, negotiations, and maintenance all by himself.
As someone in a managerial position herself, she knew full well how crucial that was.
Yet the Hero Party members shamelessly dumped everything on him while heaping abuse and criticism.
No one, no matter how strong-minded, could endure that easily.
Veronica had thought Hyeonwoo would leave the Hero Party, but mocking her assumption, at some point he started acting as if he wasn't hurt at all—in fact, he went around smiling.
Why was that?
Standing under the pouring water, Veronica lightly swept back her damp hair.
That incongruity arose when the Hero Party, who had been maniacally focused on their journey to slay the Demon King, suddenly took a month-long break.
And Hyeonwoo headed north alone, to a land teeming with monsters.
When Hyeonwoo returned after living there for about a month, he had changed.
Of course, it wasn't a huge change from the Hyeonwoo she knew.
He was still kind, righteous, wise, and selfless.
However, after that, he acted as if he no longer took wounds to heart.
No matter how unfairly the Hero Party treated him.
And.
Even toward friendly attitudes from others, he responded only with a smile and treated them like anyone else.
'Then that must be...'
Something he obtained in that northern land.
So, what was it?
Turning off the faucet, Veronica dried her body with a towel and sat in front of the mirror.
The expression of the silver-haired beauty reflected in the mirror showed no change.
But the brilliant mind befitting her position as a church cardinal was racing wildly even now, piecing together the answer.
But information was lacking.
Just one more puzzle piece.
One certainty, and it would be done.
She had entrusted the search for that puzzle piece during her vacation, but there was still no word, which was regrettable.
She needed to return as soon as the vacation ended and continue the investigation.
- Knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door, and Veronica quickly threw on a robe and went out.
"A letter has arrived for you, ma'am."
"Hm...?"
The sender was the church. A letter marked with a seal only Heresy Inquisitors could access.
Realizing this was the final piece she had been seeking, she hurriedly opened it and smiled faintly after reading the contents.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
After the inn staff member bowed and left, Veronica returned to her room and read the letter again. It contained a kind of record.
The result of a request she had made long ago to the church's historical archives.
Because there was so little data, numerous archivists had to scour the church's vast records, which took quite some time.
It was a record about the nameless Holy Knight.
Long ago, during the war to reclaim a holy site occupied by the Demon King when he still existed, there was a Holy Knight who fought for a prolonged time.
With the sole determination to reclaim the holy site, he roamed the battlefield alone and ultimately succeeded in recapturing it, earning a place in church history as a saint.
His record contained this detail.
- After fighting monsters for so long, he contracted a certain illness of the heart. Though many loved him, he refused their love. As the price for achieving his goal of recapturing the holy site, he rejected all relationships and wished to live alone.
The illness he suffered, the 'Wall of the Heart,' could not be cured even by holy magic, and the only one who could enter his wall was Saintess Rohillen.
It was a brief entry, but it was enough. She hadn't had a clue until now, but this gave her the answer.
The clue: 'Wall of the Heart.'
And Saintess Rohillen, whom Veronica knew well for her bold approach that won his heart.
Well then, the answer was clear.
Veronica finally became convinced that Hyeonwoo had been afflicted with the 'Wall of the Heart' during that month.
In that case, to break down—no.
To pierce through that wall herself, and only herself.
"...Even better."
If that was the case.
Only her.
She could enter his wall.
And share true feelings with him.
Not the Hero Party.
Not others who fancied him.
Only her.
Veronica lightly burned the letter in her hand and stood up.
So, how to enter that wall?
Only one way.
Just like Saintess Rohillen—pull with all her might.
And for Veronica, who was just as bold as Saintess Rohillen, this was something she was very confident in.
***
Though there had been various matters to attend to, the vacation—which had been fulfilling in its own way—came to an end. Stepping on the snow in the full moon's snowy plains had been enjoyable too.
As a bonus, I was invited to Cecil's birthday party.
And most importantly, Lucille had won the duel tournament.
Ahh. Here I feel the reward of raising a disciple!
"Kuh! To think I'd lose!"
Lucille's opponent in the finals was Wilkers. I had no idea why a guy who came for a commission was participating in the tournament.
Anyway, he was strong, but he couldn't match Lucille, who was growing day by day.
"Heh heh heh. Let's do it again next time."
"I won't lose next time!"
Wilkers, who had come out to see us off, was grumbling about a rematch next time and spouting the usual loser's lines.
Lucille just smiled leisurely, savoring her victory.
"Then, Princess. I'll see you at the birthday party."
Was she reminded of her promise with Lark? Lucille flinched and glanced at me. But personal promises weren't something I could interfere with.
"By the way, how's your commission going?"
"Very well, so don't worry. Let's do a duet next time."
"I can't match your musical tastes, so match mine. And..."
While sipping something, I turned to Cecil, who was seeing us off. She seemed quite reluctant to see us go.
"I'll make the proposal again. Really thinking of joining me? I'll give you the best treatment..."
"Sorry, but I'm busy with various things too. Can't be tied down to one place."
"Then how about staying a few more days to play..."
"That's not possible either."
Not just me—Lucille and Veronica weren't in a position to leisurely keep vacationing either.
We'd already stayed quite a while in Raidnin, and extending Lucille's vacation further would make the queen furious.
Unlike my shut-in days, Lucille was steadily taking lessons to become the next queen, so she'd have a mountain of work waiting back home.
Same for Veronica, the cardinal.
"I see. Can't be helped then."
"By the way, where's Leventia?"
When Veronica asked, Cecil furrowed her brow slightly and pouted.
"Leventia? Oh... She said she had business and left right after my birthday party ended."
"I see. Well, have a good trip."
Hearing that Leventia had returned first, Veronica seemed lost in thought.
What was she thinking?
I calculated potential future events and nodded.
Her leaving first didn't pose any particular problem.
"Master...? Is something wrong?"
"No. Let's go."
I boarded the carriage, greeted the remaining people, and soon felt it shake as it started moving.
"Veronica. What are your plans?"
"Hmm? Probably head back right away? There's stuff I want to look into."
"Yeah?"
"Why? Got somewhere else you want to go together? I can stick around since there's vacation left."
"You're awfully relaxed."
"The important investigation I was doing is wrapped up. Why, want me to really come along?"
"No, if you're heading back, there's one favor I want to ask."
"What?"
"Can you use the church's intelligence network to look into an organization called the Black Rebels?"
"What kind of group are they?"
"They're trying to resurrect the Demon King."
Veronica inhaled sharply, and Lucille tilted her head.
As I explained the situation to them, the mood inside the carriage grew heavy quickly. Though it wasn't that serious an issue.
"They're probably moving with the heretic groups. Of course, they won't be using that name openly."
What crazy secret society would use such a suspicious name? They were surely disguised as some lord, charity group, or merchant company.
Heresy Inquisitors were the best at finding such things, so entrusting it to them should yield clues quickly.
"Where are they?"
"Don't know yet."
I'd have to find out through Tau. After dropping Lucille off at the palace, I'd go straight for Tau, so I could let them know soon.
Veronica fiddled with her sharp chin and grinned.
"What'll you give me if I do?"
"What kind of talk is that between friends?"
"Hmm~ Well? Make me a nice meal, maybe."
"Deal."
If I could tap into the church's intelligence network—especially the Heresy Inquisitors'—for that price, it was a steal.
As I nodded, Lucille lightly tugged at my clothes.
"Wow, we could ask the kingdom's intelligence agency too... but asking Raquel..."
"Hmm..."
The church's network should suffice. But she was pleading so earnestly that saying it wasn't necessary felt off.
I nodded.
"Th-then, could you attend my birthday party... and grace the occasion?"
That was the plan anyway.
Though I'd be elsewhere when Lark performed.
After arriving in the capital, dropping Lucille at the palace, and seeing Veronica off, I headed straight to the Alchemist Guild.
Passing familiar faces and entering the material vendor area, a guild staff member spotted me and let out an exclamation.
"Ah! Sage! We've confirmed all the recipes you sent! Yeesss! Sage! The hope of our Alchemist Guild! Our light and salt!"
"Good. Then I can take some materials with that payment, right?"
"Of course!"
As I said.
I stocked up on needed materials, and the guild staff broke into a cold sweat.
But that wasn't my concern.
After gathering the materials and crafting potions in the workshop, I immediately used teleportation.
Destination: Tigerkin territory.
My vision went dark, then bright again. A vast forest came into view.
Unlike the elves' forest, this one reeked of killing intent and blood.
Traversing a forest that felt like a hunting ground for beasts bred for slaughter—where not even small animals or insect chirps could be heard—I arrived at my target: a small cabin.
"Fire Storm."
-Kwaaaang!!
The advanced fire magic incinerated the cabin.
As the blazing cabin collapsed, a massive Tigerkin emerged from the flames, unperturbed.
"Using magic on someone's house right away. No manners, Sage."
The Tigerkin spat in a deep voice.
The chieftain of the most belligerent beastkin tribe, the Tigerkin—Tau—walked out with an irritated grin, and I transformed my staff into a staff-spear and charged.
"If you agreed to be my enemy, you should've braced yourself for this much."