Chapter 87: Light(2)
Chapter 87: Light(2)
The tip of Lina’s sword trembled slightly.
As if she hadn’t even noticed, she stood frozen stiff, staring at the woman before her.
“Turn to dust and disappear, you who disturb the natural order.”
The owner of that beautiful voice was gorgeous.
Beautiful, orange-hued hair cascaded down to her waist.
She wore a nun’s habit that clung to her body, flaunting her feminine curves.
On top of that, it looked like she’d cut the hem short, as it clearly exposed her legs above the knee.
By this world’s standards, a skirt that showed anything above the knee was extremely promiscuous.
She was even holding a tobacco pipe in one hand.
In short, she was a total bombshell, the sultry older-sister type.
The kind of woman who could seduce a man and devour him whole.
If I had to compare her to someone from my beloved homeland, she was like a ridiculously hot bad girl.
Just then, Kerry overheard Victoria muttering to herself.
“Why is the Saintess in a place like this…”
“…”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard.
“The Saintess?”
“Yes. There’s no doubt. I saw her once in the capital. An impression like that is impossible to forget. She is most certainly the Saintess.”
That bombshell is the actual Saintess?
The image—no, the prejudice—I had of a saintess was shattering into a million pieces.
I’d heard the rumors about the Saintess a few times myself.
A woman who always looked after the people before herself.
The incarnation of the Goddess Elena. A massive benefactor to orphanages.
“It seems someone recognizes me. Did you live in the capital? Or are you a noble?”
“I had the honor of seeing you once in the capital.”
This was the first time I’d ever seen Victoria use such formal language.
Then again, this was the Saintess of the Elena Church, the number one religion in the Empire. A provincial noble like Victoria was no match for her.
“So you’re a noble who’s seen me before. My apologies, but I don’t recall who you are. More importantly, who are you all? Why are you here?
Just in case, I’ll ask—you’re not the heretics who did this to the village, are you?”
“…”
Usually, Lina would step forward and explain things in a situation like this.
She had always handled that role well.
But for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to step forward now.
“Someone, say something. Who in the world are you?
You don’t seem like heretics… which is why I’m being civil… but you’re starting to look more and more suspicious.”
Just then, knights clad in armor came running from behind, their armor clanking.
“Your Holiness! We told you it was dangerous to wander off alone…”
“Hmph. Isn’t it your fault for being so damn slow?”
Yep, the bombshell before me was definitely the Saintess.
More importantly, is a saintess even allowed to smoke?
No. The idea that a saintess can’t smoke is just my own prejudice. I need to let it go.
In place of the frozen Lina, Kerry stepped forward and spoke.
“Greetings, Your Holiness.
This may be hard to believe, but we are the hero’s party.
And this is Lina Knightly, the hero chosen by the Goddess Elena.”
“Hoh?”
The Saintess put the pipe to her lips and took a deep drag.
She exhaled, and smoke billowed out. So damn decadent. How is that a Saintess?
“Your Holiness… didn’t you agree to put out your pipe in front of others?”
“Shut up. I have no memory of making such a promise.”
“…”
Wow, the Saintess has such a fucking lovely way with words. Damn it.
Pipe in her mouth, the Saintess slowly walked forward.
Each step felt strangely erotic, perhaps because of her form-fitting habit.
“The hero party, you say… I’ll believe you. You match the members Elena described perfectly.
I’ve heard a lot about you from the Goddess.
You’re the hero, Lina Knightly? Hmm. You don’t seem as ill-mannered as I heard.”
“…Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Lina Knightly.”
“Right. But why are you so tense?
You’re reacting like a virgin who’s never seen a woman before. Or do you perhaps like women?”
“…”
Lina shook her head.
She still didn’t look well.
The always-confident Lina now looked like a herbivore before a predator.
I feel like I should do something.
But there was no need for Kerry to do anything.
The Saintess, having lost interest in the frozen hero, had turned her gaze to Kerry.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, too, from the Goddess. In fact, she spoke more about you than the hero. Hahaha.”
What the hell did that bitch of a goddess say about me?
Probably nothing good. So what? If she’s got a problem, she can bring it.
I’ve got Natasha, and I’ve got Victoria. Lina would probably… take my side, too.
“As you may know, I am the Saintess, Grace. A pleasure to meet you, Kerry.”
Surprisingly, the Saintess seemed to be showing some favor.
No. That expression was less favor and more curiosity.
She definitely didn’t mention the insults I threw at her mother.
Then again, if I were a goddess, I’d be too embarrassed to mention that, too.
Kerry took the hand the Saintess offered. Her hand was so damn soft.
“A pleasure to meet you, Your Holiness.”
“Hehehe… I have high hopes for you.”
What kind of hopes? What in the world did that goddess tell the Saintess?
Just then, Natasha came up to Kerry and linked her arm with his.
As if to say, this man is taken.
“Now that the hero is here, I can go back and rest. Next time, I expect you to handle things before they reach my ears.
This kind of grunt work… is a pain.”
“…”
“I’ll be taking my leave. I don’t know why Elena chose a hero, but do your best.
And don’t you dare come asking me for help.”
The Saintess waved coolly and walked away.
I could see her hips swaying beneath her tight skirt. Damn, that’s hot.
But this was no time to be staring at the Saintess’s ass.
Kerry called out to her retreating figure.
“Your Holiness! By any chance, did you see a man here?
He has a lot of piercings and is stick-thin. We tracked him all the way here.”
“I haven’t seen a man like that. But… I did find some suspicious tracks.
I found them in the forest west of the village… You can look for them. Or not. I can’t be bothered, so I’m leaving.”
“…Thank you for the information.”
Something about the Saintess felt off.
*
It was after the Saintess had left.
Only then did the dark shadow lift from Lina’s face. Looks like there really is something between her and the Saintess. Probably from her past life.
“I’m sorry. I showed you a pathetic side of me…”
“Lina, were you acquainted with the Saintess? She seemed not to know you…”
Victoria also seemed to question Lina’s behavior.
It was so different from the usual Lina that it was impossible not to notice.
“No. I don’t know her. It’s just… just… yes. I just wasn’t feeling well.”
Anyone could see that was a lie.
But seeing Lina’s mood, Victoria didn’t press any further.
Lina said she wasn’t feeling well and asked to be alone for a moment before leaving.
What the hell happened between her and the Saintess in her past life?
And why was the supposedly devout Saintess acting like a thoughtless delinquent?
Since Victoria seemed to know the most about her, I decided to ask.
“That is the Saintess’s true nature. The rumors circulating among the public are nothing but nonsense spread by the Empire.
That is how they get the foolish masses to believe in and follow the Saintess, allowing the Empire to use her.”
“…So you’re saying that’s what she’s really like?”
“Indeed. From what I’ve heard, she is the biggest troublemaker in the imperial family. You can tell just by looking at her.
She’s not a prostitute. For a woman called a Saintess to dress like that… Tsk tsk.”
Victoria may have been a lewd noble, but her usual attire was at least proper. Not that it made her any less lewd.
In any case, to put it nicely, the Saintess was a rough, Joan of Arc type who fought on the front lines.
That’s putting it nicely.
Putting it badly, she was just a delinquent Saintess.
The future of the Empire looks bleak.
Natasha, who had been listening quietly, got angry.
“I don’t like that woman! Winking at my husband and wagging her tail at him. My husband is a married man.”
“I’m not a married man, Natasha.”
It seemed that in Natasha’s eyes, the Saintess was hitting on me.
From my perspective, the Saintess was… ambiguous.
She wasn’t hitting on me, but she was definitely curious about me.
It was surely because of some nonsense that bitch of a goddess spouted.
‘Don’t tell me this is one of those plot twists where the Saintess is the secret mastermind of the continent.’
For Lina to be that shocked, there had to be something about the Saintess.
But if the Saintess were the mastermind, Lina wouldn’t have shown hostility.
It would be more accurate to say she was trembling in front of the Saintess, rather than feeling hostile.
“Ah, I’m so curious! Fucking curious!”
“Kerry, what are you so curious about?”
“H-Husband. Are you perhaps interested in that woman, the Saintess…”
“No, it’s not like that. I was just… talking to myself.”
I was dying to know what happened between Lina and the Saintess in the past life.
I can’t just let this go.
I needed a plan.
I should ask the Witch for some ideas.
If it’s an intermediate-level spell that can be used with a Hero-grade orb, I might be able to do something.
“Lina, please rest here for a bit. We can handle the preliminary search ourselves.”
“No, I can’t do that. I’ll go with you.”
So stubborn.
The party investigated the western forest the Saintess had mentioned.
Sure enough, there were tracks in the forest that looked like someone had moved in a hurry.
“If we follow these tracks, I think we can find Nassen.”
The party nodded.
They prepared to begin the chase, leaving the empty village behind.
Kerry said playfully,
“This time, I’d like a piggyback ride from you, Lina.”
“!”
It was just a joke, but Lina’s face turned bright red.
What’s this? Her reaction is a little different than before. In the past, she would have just deadpanned, ‘That is not possible.’
Just then, Natasha threw a fit.
“No way! How can you even think of getting a piggyback from another woman when I’m right here, Husband!”
“Because your back is so shaky it gives me motion sickness, Natasha.
The grandmother who rode on Lina’s back slept comfortably.
I want to travel comfortably, too.”
Was I asking for too much?
“…”
Natasha looked shocked. Lina was fidgeting, looking troubled about what to do. Why is she acting so out of character?
“I was just kidding, Lina.”
“Ah… is that so.”
In the end, Kerry got a piggyback from Victoria this time.
“Hehe. It’s finally my turn.”
I’m a little worried about Victoria.
Once ready, the party ran through the forest, following Nassen’s tracks.
Nassen’s trail was quite easy to follow.
It was as if he was a man with nothing left to lose, paying no mind to being tracked.
Victoria, running through the forest, began to fall behind the group.
As a tank, her agility was low to begin with, so it was only natural since she was carrying me.
But it seemed that wasn’t the only reason she was falling behind.
“Could you please stop touching my ass, Victoria.”
“This is just a natural part of the piggybacking process, Kerry.”
“…”
So shameless. Is this what they call sexual harassment within the party?
I can’t believe it’s happening to me.
The trail continued for quite a long way.
Even though we were running at a decent pace, Nassen’s tracks stretched on and on.
Eventually, night fell upon the forest. A dark forest is a dangerous place.
The party was also exhausted from running all day since leaving the hot springs. Lina, who was running at the front, spoke.
“Let’s rest here for the night.”
At her words, the party began to set up camp.
As always, the preparations were Kerry’s job.
I couldn’t very well ask the others, who had carried me all day, to prepare dinner as well.
My two years of experience as an adventurer hadn’t gone to waste, and the preparations were finished in no time.
Kerry started a fire and began to cook. As long as there were ingredients, cooking was a piece of cake.
He started by butchering and grilling a wild boar that Natasha had caught nearby.
As the meat sizzled, the party swallowed their dry saliva.
When I added a bit of the seasoning I’d gotten from the Undine, the fragrant aroma made everyone’s mouths water.
“Let’s eat!”
“Kerry, thank you for the meal.”
“You worked hard, Kerry.”
“Son-in-law, I’ll eat well.”
The party enjoyed a delicious dinner, just like always.
The moonlight was bright. Kerry used the excuse of needing the bathroom to step away from the group for a moment.
After carefully checking his surroundings, he took out the White Witch’s seal.
There was something Kerry needed to ask the White Witch.
‘The Witch might… know a spell that can read memories. Magic is the mystery of miracles, after all!’
Even if not, she might know another way.
Kerry activated the White Witch’s seal. In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed.
“Witch.”
“Kerry? It’s unusual for you to visit two days in a row.”
There was no time to waste.
Kerry gave the White Witch a perfunctory greeting and got straight to the point.
“A spell to read someone’s memories, you say?”
“Yes. Is there such a spell among the intermediate magics?”
“…Reading memories is a considerably high-level magic. Even a Hero-grade storage orb wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Besides, the stronger the target’s mental fortitude, the harder it is to read their memories.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
“But from what you’ve told me, I don’t think it’s entirely impossible.”
“Is there a way?”
“If this woman, Lina, met someone who caused her great emotional turmoil… she might just dream about that person tonight, don’t you think?
A spell to peek into someone’s dreams… that’s well within the realm of intermediate magic.”
So there was a silver lining after all.
I might get unlucky and see some random dream, but it was better than doing nothing.
“Witch, then please inscribe the dream-peeking spell into the orb. I’m counting on you.”
“I will do so.”
Kerry handed the Hero-grade Magic Storage Orb to the White Witch.
Taking the orb, the White Witch headed for her workshop.
She cast a lingering glance at Kerry, who was leaving as soon as his business was done.
But it couldn’t be helped. The party was waiting for him outside.
Kerry made a plan to peek into Lina’s dream tonight.