Chapter 103: Meeting(2)
Chapter 103: Meeting(2)
High atop the Magic Tower.
At its very peak, the Sage was gazing outside.
All the while, he was toying with the body of his working secretary with threads of mana.
The secretary, her face and ears flushed crimson, was looking over some documents.
Just then, a knock came at the door to the Sage’s chamber.
With the Sage’s permission, a man entered the room and began his report.
“We continue to receive reports of unsettling movements from the Kingdom of Astria.”
Astria.
A nation locked in a prolonged power struggle with the Empire. The feud between the two countries was old enough to be recorded in the history books.
“Details.”
“Along with rumors that Astria is gathering troops, they are also conscripting a large number of mages. Not only that, but they are also reportedly attempting to contact that renowned righteous outlaw. Astria is…”
The subordinate’s report continued.
It sounded like a prelude to war.
As a Sage who had lived for ages, he had seen more than his fill of war.
“And while investigating Astria, I heard something that weighs on my mind.”
“What is it?”
“The hero… Lina Knightly is said to be from Astria.”
“…”
Lina Knightly was known to be the hero chosen by Elena. For that hero to be from Astria, of all places…
The two nations were on terrible terms, yet the Goddess Elena had chosen a hero from Astria. Something was strange.
It seems there are circumstances I am unaware of.
The Sage had met Lina once.
Her righteous eyes and dignified air did not give the impression of someone who would act as a spy or tell lies.
But it was also a fact that Astria was clearly preparing for war.
“What in the world is Lady Elena planning…?”
It wasn’t a frequent occurrence, but there had been a few times when the Sage found it difficult to comprehend Elena’s will.
The work of a god.
For that reason, he hadn’t looked into it too deeply.
More than anything, his biggest worry right now was his brother, Kerry.
May peace be with the hero party and my brother…
The Sage gazed outside, his eyes clouded with a faint dizziness.
Watching him, his subordinate decided not to disturb the Sage’s thoughts and quietly exited.
Of course, the Sage was merely busy toying with his secretary’s body using invisible threads of mana.
*
Meanwhile, in the Saintess’s garden.
The young nobles in the garden were covering their mouths, their eyes wide with shock.
Who was the Saintess?
She was a figure of power whom even the Emperor and the Pope could not treat lightly, the very spokesperson for the Goddess Elena.
That Saintess had just been slapped. And slapped hard, at that—hard enough for the sharp crack to echo loudly.
A few of the nobles who knew the Saintess’s true nature looked on anxiously, worried that the fallout might hit them.
“You will apologize… apologize to Kerry this instant!”
It was the first time I had ever seen Lina raise her voice.
It was also the first time I had seen her so forcefully demand an apology from someone. To be honest, I was a little moved.
I could have just… endured it and let it go…
Of course, I’d be pissed… but I had my own ways of dealing with that later.
Still, seeing Lina get this angry on my behalf didn’t feel bad at all.
The Saintess’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Then, she caressed her own cheek.
It stung with a throbbing pain.
It had been a long, long time since anyone had hit her. It was a pain she had only tasted in a past she never wanted to recall again.
And the hero before her had just forced her to remember that unpleasant past.
Was it because she was so dumbfounded? Or was she so furious that her anger had looped back around and vanished?
The Saintess was perfectly calm.
She used Heal on her stinging cheek.
“Do you… have any idea what you’ve just done? Hero.”
The Saintess and the Hero.
The Saintess was the Goddess’s spokesperson. Then what was the Hero? The Hero was a savior sent by the Goddess to deliver the sullied world.
Both were key figures in the Elena Church, the faith of most of the Empire’s citizens.
Since the Hero was a first in history, it was difficult to compare their authority, but one couldn’t say her position within the Elena Church was inferior to the Saintess’s.
“I asked if you know what you’ve done!” the Saintess suddenly roared.
It looked as if the reality of the situation was finally sinking in, and she was starting to lose her temper.
Lina flinched at the sight. You were doing so well, why are you getting scared now? Don’t chicken out, Lina.
But it seemed to be a struggle for her, given her trauma. In a voice smaller than before, Lina spoke.
“…I know very well what I have done. I am defending the honor of a comrade who was insulted. That is all. I will say it again. Apologize for your abusive remarks toward Kerry.”
Lina fought against her trauma. Fucking awesome. That’s my Lina.
“…”
The Saintess glared at Lina.
Lina met her gaze and didn’t back down an inch.
When I first saw her… she couldn’t even meet my eyes properly…!
But Lina couldn’t back down now. Kerry’s honor was on the line.
“Hmph. It seems we’ll have to end today’s social gathering here. I ask that you all leave. I need to have a word with the Hero…”
“No! This gathering ends after you apologize in front of everyone. Everyone, stay where you are.”
“Must you really take it this far! Hero!”
The Saintess was furious.
She was trembling as if she had never been so insulted in her life.
The nobles attending the social gathering were frozen, not knowing what to do.
The Saintess’s station was high, but the Hero could not be ignored either.
No one knew what kind of influence the Hero would have in the Empire’s future, but in an Empire where the vast majority of citizens followed the Elena Church, her influence would surely not be small.
The nobles, merely testing the waters, were stuck.
“I said the social gathering is over. Can you all not hear me? Disperse at once.”
The Saintess barked again.
“I said the gathering will disperse after everyone has heard your apology!”
Lina didn’t yield.
She knew that if she backed down now, another opportunity for Kerry to receive an apology would never come.
“…Are you truly trying to make an enemy of me? Over a mere, insignificant man!”
“He is not a mere, insignificant man!”
“He’s just a commoner! What’s so great about him?”
Lina ground her teeth.
A ferocious aura leaked from her body. The clothes and hair she had taken such care to style fluttered in the wind of her power.
Startled by Lina’s aura, a few nobles collapsed to the ground with a thud.
“I’ll ask again. It seems the Hero still doesn’t understand the situation. Making an enemy of me is no different from making an enemy of the Goddess Elena. Are you really… going to make an enemy of the Goddess Elena for that man?”
“How arrogant, Saintess. To compare yourself to Elena. But whatever the case, it has little to do with me. I was never a follower of the Elena Church to begin with!”
Right. I remember hearing that before. It was when I was first invited to the Goddess’s Holy War.
The question of why Lina, who wasn’t even a believer, was chosen as the Hero remained unanswered.
“How shameless, Hero. Even if you claim not to be a follower of the Elena Church! Surely you’re not unaware that Lady Elena is granting you certain conveniences.”
“…”
Lina fell silent, seemingly having nothing to say to that.
Elena is granting Lina conveniences, huh? Feels like I just got some useful information.
Keep talking, Saintess.
“That has nothing to do with this matter. I am simply demanding a rightful apology for your rudeness.”
Lina’s stubbornness was something else. Then again, it was a stubbornness that even Victoria and Natasha couldn’t break.
But watching her, I was at the point where I wanted to step in and tell her it was enough.
Let’s stop, Lina. This is enough.
But Lina was still glaring at the Saintess with blazing eyes.
The Saintess’s face twisted in fury. How is that the face of a Saintess? She looks like a straight-up villainess.
“Hmph! This is so low-class I can’t even be bothered. Continue the gathering or don’t, do as you please. I’m returning to my room. And Hero! You will regret what you’ve done today.”
Yeah. You’re the one who’s going to regret this.
The Saintess spun on her heel and began walking toward her mansion.
“W-Wait… you still haven’t apologized!”
I grabbed Lina’s wrist. It was enough.
Besides, unless Lina held a knife to the Saintess’s throat, she would never apologize.
Though considering Lina’s ferocity just a moment ago, it seemed like she might actually do it.
“Lina. I’m fine. What happened here doesn’t mean anything to me anyway.”
“But…”
“It’s more than enough. You’ve defended my honor plenty.”
I could see the nobles, their expressions now filled with fear, unlike before.
They’d be too scared to open their mouths about this anywhere.
Kerry aside, if any nasty rumors about the Saintess started to spread, an inquisitor might just pay a visit to everyone who was here.
“…If you say so, Kerry. And I apologize to the ladies and gentlemen present here as well.”
Lina bowed politely to the nobles.
Waving their hands in dismissal, the nobles finally scurried away. Serves them right, watching them flee with their tails between their legs.
…But if this is how it ends, how am I supposed to give her the necklace… the Star of Bondage?
The whole reason I came here was pretty much to give the Saintess the Star of Bondage.
This was a bit of a problem.
It was then that I saw Natasha and Victoria running toward us from a distance, both in dresses.
“Husband!”
“Kerry!”
Where have they been all this time? Lina also appeared out of nowhere.
It feels a little inappropriate to say this in this situation, but Natasha and Victoria looked absolutely beautiful.
Natasha was wearing a red dress that perfectly matched her red hair.
It was a dress that seemed to suit her bubbly personality as well.
Victoria was also in a white dress, which revealed the curves of her body just enough to look seductive.
She looked so good I wanted to lift that skirt and pound her right then and there.
“Husband! Husband! Sob, sob. I missed you so much! Why were you so late? You promised you’d be back soon!”
“I’m sorry, Natasha. I had a lot of things to take care of.”
Who knew I’d have so much… fucking to do.
“Kerry. I’m glad you returned safely. You were so late, I was worried something had happened. From now on, try to be back earlier.”
“I will, Victoria.”
It was a relief that all the nobles had fled.
Now I didn’t have to show them this embarrassing scene. As expected, all nobles except Victoria are scum.
“Thank you as well, Lina. You surprised me. I’ve never seen you so angry before.”
Only then did Lina seem to realize how worked up she had gotten, and her face turned bright red.
“I-It was the right thing to do, of course. A comrade’s honor is… precious.”
“Honor? What do you mean? Did someone insult my husband?”
“Who dares insult my Kerry?”
“What do you mean, your Kerry! My husband is mine.”
Best to just stay quiet here.
If I told them what happened now, they might throw a fit, declaring they were going to march right over and grab the Saintess by her hair.
I sent a signal to Lina to keep quiet, and she nodded.
After calming down the curious Natasha and Victoria, we returned to the inn.
Seeing the women change into their regular clothes was a little disappointing, but it’s not like they could walk around the inn in dresses.
Lina had even completely washed off her makeup. She was beautiful without it, though.
“Alright, tell us now. I need to know what happened to you, Husband.”
“I would very much like to hear this story as well.”
“…”
I decided it was better to tell them myself rather than leave it to Lina.
I carefully recounted the events, trying my best not to provoke Natasha and Victoria.
“I’m really fine. Thanks to Lina stepping in, my pride is completely intact… Natasha? Are you okay? You can’t get worked up. Victoria, why are you like this too? Wait, sit down. Where do you think you’re going!”
I barely managed to stop the two women, who were in an uproar and about to go back to confront the Saintess immediately.
I’m telling you I’m fine, so why are you two making such a fuss?
I finally calmed Natasha and Victoria down, who were repeating like parrots that I had to properly confront the Saintess and get an apology.
I’m completely drained. I feel like I just got back from clearing a dungeon.
Before the two could bring up the Saintess again, I changed the subject.
“By the way, where’s Grandmother?”
Lina looked at the innkeeper.
The stout-looking woman answered as if it were nothing.
“The old lady? She hasn’t come down from her room. She was still sleeping when I brought her lunch.”
Still sleeping? This carefree old hag!
It made me wonder if the one really living the sweet life wasn’t me, but her.
It was then.
Victoria, her anger gauge having lowered a bit, began to change.
She started sending me lewd signals, hidden from the others.
But these lewd signals were a little different from usual.
She made a circle with her hand and stuck her finger in it, same as always, but the intensity was several times more frantic than usual.
She was pumping the hole so fast it looked like her finger might wear away.
It was as if Victoria was expressing ‘I’m incredibly desperate right now’ through her hand sign.
But what am I supposed to do? It’s broad daylight, so Natasha isn’t going to leave my side.
Has it been ten days since I last had sex with Victoria? She must have been holding back for quite a while.
Victoria, her patience apparently at its absolute limit, showed no signs of stopping her lewd signal.
She pumped the hole with her finger more and more violently.
Please, stop with the finger, you wench. Someone’s going to see you