-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Count's Messenger
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“I have failed to protect the Grand Temple. Please, deliver my punishment. I will accept whatever it may be.”
Confessing his sin with a somber air, Seth looked as pious as a clergyman receiving God’s grace.
But I was long past being fooled by his appearance... not after seeing him punish the spies we rooted out without a hint of hesitation.
My heart pounded just thinking of the countless scenes where those merciless male leads had ruthlessly disposed of the original Ordel.
“It is a sin that cannot be overlooked. If you but give the word, I will relinquish my position as Captain of the Holy Knights at once.”
But not this! Where do you think you're going?
“Don't say such things. If not you, Captain, who can I possibly trust? I'll pretend I didn't hear that.”
“But I failed to protect the Grand Temple...”
“By that logic, shouldn't it all be my fault? The spies were planted by Count Kiris. If I had paid just a little more attention, I would have noticed sooner.”
Honestly, the only reason the spies could operate so freely was because Ordel had been secretly helping them embezzle money.
How could Seth have possibly known?
Besides, he was often dispatched on missions like a mercenary to support the impoverished Grand Temple, making it even harder for him to find out.
“You are not at fault, Saintess!”
My impossibly naive Holy Knight, completely oblivious to the truth, cried out with a pale face.
“If I am without fault, then so are you, Captain. And in such an unstable situation, the idea of our strongest knight stepping down is even more unsettling. So please, don't go anywhere. Continue to keep this place safe.”
That's right, where would you go?
For a weakling with only 5% divine power to survive in this harsh world, the existence of a male lead candidate and swordmaster like him was absolutely essential.
“...I understand. I swear I will protect you and the Grand Temple with my life.”
I don't need your life... But with that grim look on his face, he doesn't seem like he'll listen. I'll just let it be.
“This isn't the time to assign blame. We need to prepare for what's to come. When Count Kiris loses contact with his spies, he'll know immediately. He'll most likely use our donations as leverage to threaten us.”
Currently, the Grand Temple of the Sun God was barely staying afloat, relying on the paltry donations from Count Kiris.
If that support disappeared, the Grand Temple would surely fall.
“We have no other source of income, so we can't afford to make an enemy of the Count right now. Which means we can't even protest about the spies.”
“Then what do you intend to do?”
“The Grand Temple will do nothing. I will deal with Count Kiris myself.”
“But that's—!”
I shook my head firmly at the two men who were about to object.
“When the Count's man arrives, I need you both to put on a show of refusing to leave us alone, then reluctantly step aside as if you have no other choice.”
I need to put on a bit of a performance, and I can't do that with both of you there.
Don't worry, just trust me. I'll take care of everything!
* * *
A dim room, filled with hazy smoke.
A man with a sturdy build was sprawled in a large chair, as if swallowed by it.
His hair, carelessly tied back and half-undone, and his loosely worn glasses bespoke a certain weariness, but his face was twisted into such a grimace that it was hardly noticeable.
With each deep drag and long exhale of his cigarette, the furrows in his brow smoothed out slightly.
Though he loathed the acrid smell wafting from its tip, the man couldn't bring himself to put it out.
It was the only thing that made life bearable.
“My lord!”
Just then, someone burst through the door.
The intruder, now enveloped in a thick cloud of smoke, began to cough relentlessly.
“Goodness, I can never get used to this smell.”
“...Quiet. My head hurts, so keep your voice down.”
At the man's irritated tone, the intruder quickly suppressed his cough.
“My lord, we've found it! The location of the thing you've been searching for day and night!”
At that cry, the man who had been slumped in his chair shot upright.
“Don't tell me...”
“Yes! We've discovered the location of the 'Holy Relic of Light'!”
“Where is it?”
“A temple in the northwestern part of the empire.”
“The northwest? There was a temple there?”
The man's urgent questions continued. The intruder, his subordinate, answered quickly, barely pausing for breath.
“It's on the verge of collapse, so it's not well-known. I'm not even sure which god they serve. I only learned of its existence during this investigation.”
Damn it. No wonder we couldn't find it. Of course it was impossible to find, tucked away in a place like that.
“Get ready. We leave immediately.”
“Yes, my lord!”
After his subordinate left, the man sighed and ran a hand over his face.
This was his last hope. If this failed, he would have nothing left.
Therefore, he would obtain the 'Holy Relic of Light' no matter what, no matter the cost.
He was sick and tired of cigarettes.
* * *
“*Pant, pant!* This stupid body... *huff*... when is my stamina ever going to improve?!”
7 AM.
Having finished my walk, I collapsed onto what had become my personal bench, drenched in sweat once again.
In my past life, exercise wasn't this agonizing. In fact, the more I sweated, the happier I was!
But now, the dizziness that made the world spin just made me want to give up on everything.
“The day I can run fifty meters without any issues, I think I'll actually cry...”
“Good work, Saintess.”
Just then, a female knight with her red hair tied into a single ponytail offered me some water.
I gratefully accepted the waterskin with a trembling arm.
“Thank you, Knight Victoria. I've somehow managed to survive another day...”
“Still, it seems your stamina has improved slightly. When I first saw you a week ago, I thought your condition was quite serious.”
I was happy—I should have been proud that even an expert noticed an improvement—but her blunt assessment was so sharp it almost brought tears to my eyes.
“It will improve if I keep at it... right? For some reason, I'm not seeing much hope.”
“...It does seem you'll need to put in more effort than others.”
Damn it! I swallowed my tears along with the water.
Victoria Lawrence.
Characterized by her red hair that shone vividly in the sunlight, she was the Holy Knight Seth had assigned to me.
After a Holy Knight was discovered among the spies, Seth, feeling a great sense of responsibility, implemented a major reorganization of the Holy Knights.
That was when the 2nd Division, the Saintess's personal guard, was formed.
Victoria, the top talent selected through Seth's rigorous vetting process, was appointed as the captain of the 2nd Division.
In other words, she was my direct escort.
Given my notorious reputation, Victoria had also treated me with detached professionalism at first.
No, it was more than that.
‘...You intend to exercise every morning?’
*You?*
She didn't laugh outright, but her eyes conveyed the message with piercing clarity.
Instead of offering a lengthy explanation, I simply exercised every day for a week without fail.
I ate with everyone every day and spent a few days being friendlier than usual with Airic and Seth.
‘...Pace yourself. You might die otherwise.’
I couldn't tell if she was joking or serious, but in any case, we were on more comfortable terms than before.
At this great leap in progress, I nearly shed a tear for the first time.
...Though everyone else, aside from Victoria, still flinched and avoided me on sight.
I still have a long way to go.
“Someone is coming.”
I turned my head at Victoria's words as she handed me a towel.
A pale-faced maid was running toward us.
“S-Saintess. I'm so sorry to disturb you.”
And as soon as she arrived, she prostrated herself on the ground.
I really do have a long, long way to go...
“Please get up and tell me slowly what's happened.”
I asked as gently as possible, so as not to startle her.
Victoria quickly helped the maid to her feet and brushed the dirt from her knees.
The maid's face grew even paler, but as if the matter was urgent, she stammered out her message.
“Th-there is someone outside to see you, Saintess. He said he has a message from Count Kiris.”
Ah, he's finally here!
“Are you sure you'll be all right meeting him alone?”
She must have heard the gist of the situation from Seth, which would explain her concern.
Sorry, Victoria. But I'm not the one who should be worried.
Because I'm about to fleece that bastard for all he's worth.
