My Nerdy Neighbor Is the Master of the Magic Tower
Chapter 38
A flash of reasonable suspicion crossed her mind. If that were the case, the Capital might harbor even greater dangers.
But….
“Who knows when the culprit will be caught? You know as well as I do that it’s better to go and obtain approval, if only for the reputation of the Grand Temple and Weberdin.”
“I have no intention of sending you into the lion’s den just to restore a bit of reputation.”
“If something happens to the Saintess in the Capital, everyone will assume it was the work of the Delanche or the Imperial Family, even without evidence. So, they won’t be able to plot anything as grand as this time.”
“There is no guarantee of that!”
“I’ll take as many knights as you want, Father, and I’ll be careful. Please, let me go.”
The Marquis frowned at her repeated persuasion.
After letting out a long, heavy sigh, he finally opened his mouth reluctantly.
“……Instead, I will personally assemble the knight order. You are to return the moment you receive approval from the Emperor. Understood?”
“Yes!”
Cecilia nodded, inwardly hoping that Knox wouldn’t be among those knights.
Directly following the meal—where one person’s sorrow, another’s worry, and a third’s thoughts had deepened—the gathering came to an end.
Cecilia caught Knox as he was leaving the table after the Marquis.
“Cece?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor for me…? What is it?”
“There’s something I want you to investigate before I leave for the Capital.”
“An object?”
“This.”
She then dropped ‘it’—which she had been clutching inside her clothes throughout the meal—onto his palm.
Time flew by, and the day of departure for the Capital dawned.
In the meantime, she had researched the past Cecilia’s personality and actions and studied the Divine Power that might just save her life.
Additionally, she had investigated the Imperial Family and the Capital on her own to prepare for the events that would unfold there.
It might have been more efficient to ask Lien for help. However, Cecilia had avoided her lessons with him, making all sorts of excuses.
Each time, seeing his dejected back as he turned away weighed on her heart, but she told herself that survival was the priority.
Thus, when the intense summer sun had slightly mellowed, Cecilia found herself packing luggage far larger than what she had taken to the Temple.
Passing by Melanie and the maids, who were busier than the person actually leaving, she approached the line of carriages and was greeted by those waiting for her.
“Cecilia, it’s not too late. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
“The knights have already been mobilized, Father. What are you saying?”
The Marquis still couldn’t shake his worry even on the day of departure, and Knox looked utterly exhausted.
Behind them, dozens of the family’s knights stood in formation, waiting.
“Are all those people my escort?”
“Indeed.”
“……With this many people, it looks less like a visit and more like an invasion.”
“It’s too early to be horrified, you know?”
“What?”
Knox suddenly chimed in, grabbing her shoulders and spinning her 180 degrees. She immediately came face-to-face with a man standing tall behind her.
A very familiar man clad in silver armor.
“Saintess-nim, it is good to see you again.”
“Sir Miguel? Why are you here…?”
Why was Sir Miguel here? And accompanied by several Holy Knights dressed in the same attire?
‘Surely he doesn’t mean he’s coming along.’
But ominous premonitions rarely missed the mark.
“I will be accompanying you on this trip to the Capital. I look forward to your favor.”
“Pardon? Why a Holy Knight? We have so many of our family’s knights coming along already. Is it necessary?”
To Cecilia’s horrified question, Sir Miguel pulled a letter from his vest and held it out instead of answering.
The sender was none other than His Holiness the Pope.
Are you feeling better now? It is a pity that I must settle for a letter instead of meeting you in person.
I heard from the Young Marquis that the Saintess is heading to the Capital to seek approval.
Such a noble decision must be for the sake of the Temple and your family.
Lately, it pains my heart to see the Lord bestowing trials, both great and small, upon the Saintess. While I have no doubt that you, like a lotus in the mud, will grow magnificently within them, the fact that I cannot set aside even a grain of anxiety must be due to my own inadequacy.
The people sent with this letter are those who stepped forward willingly the moment they heard of the Saintess’s journey to the Capital.
Please, I ask that you give my children the honor of protecting the Lord’s treasure.
Praying that you return in good health so that we may meet again with hearts full of nothing but joy.
Yours in the Lord, John.>
She had ruined a major Temple ceremony so spectacularly, yet there wasn’t a single word of blame—only concern.
For a moment, she was moved, but the sentiment was short-lived.
‘With a group this size, people really will think I’m coming to invade.’
It was as if she were advertising the Saintess’s presence. The group had become so massive it could be seen from miles away, making her head spin.
However, even this seemed insufficient to the Marquis, who repeatedly urged her with a mountain of worry.
“If anything happens, return immediately.”
“I will.”
“And…….”
The Marquis cleared his throat significantly before continuing.
“The knights will surely protect you, but this is your first time going to the Capital. You’ll have to attend banquets, yet you have no chaperone.”
“……That’s true.”
“So, I asked someone who could assist with your life in the Capital to accompany you. Though not a noble lady, they will be of some help.”
“Pardon?”
The surprise event with the Holy Knights was quite enough.
Someone who wasn’t a noble lady but could help with life in the Capital.
The description alone made her uneasy. And that unease manifested into a person, appearing before her with a “Ta-da!”
“Cecilia-nim.”
In the form of Lien.
“Lien—no, Teacher, you’re coming along?”
‘I’m supposed to stay close to a suspect who might have tried to kill me? And while heading into enemy territory at that?’
At this point, it felt like the whole world was actively trying to screw her over.
In the face of this unbelievable reality, she felt a hollow laugh bubbling up.
Taking her faint chuckle as a positive sign, Lien replied brightly.
“My vacation happens to be over. I was just about to head up to the Capital, and I am glad to be of service to Cecilia-nim.”
“He is the one who even dove into the lake to save you, so he will surely assist you with all his heart and soul in the Capital as well.”
She wondered when he had managed to win the Marquis’s favor to such an extent.
‘Lien dove into the lake that day too.’
Now that she thought about it, he had seemed soaked when she saw him before passing out.
‘……He’s a mage without a drop of Divine Power, so it would have been even more dangerous for him.’
Lien was a contradiction.
He was most likely on the side of the Imperial Family and was connected to every incident. Yet, he had tried to save her in every one of those accidents.
Should she believe in that desperate appearance of his, or in the timing that was always one step too late?
‘Even if I refuse now, he’ll probably follow me all the way to the Capital anyway.’
Cecilia, looking at him with a troubled mind, gave a weak nod.
It was the beginning of an uncomfortable journey.
Less than an hour after boarding the carriage and heading for the Capital.
Cecilia was certain. The world definitely hated her.
The distance between the Capital and the Grand Temple was so great it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they were at opposite ends of the Empire. Even using the very fantasy-like ‘Gates’—which had fixed coordinates—twice, the journey would still take a full week.
Because of this, they were on their way to the first Gate, but the problem was that the path was a mountain trail.
As they traversed the steep mountain path riddled with rocks and puddles in a carriage, she found herself missing the road to the Temple.
‘My poor backside is going to be worn raw.’
She had long since given up on her head, stomach, and rear.
Driven by the determination that she shouldn’t be the one to cause a delay given the size of the party, she endured for half a day.
Only when a break was called around lunchtime did Cecilia stagger out of the carriage.
“Please step down carefully.”
Sir Miguel, who had been waiting below the carriage, supported her as if her swaying figure was quite precarious.
“Ah, thank you.”
Cecilia descended from the carriage, practically leaning into the man as if he were a lifeline.
Even in her dazed state, she caught a glimpse of a robed man—also standing by the carriage—raising his hand before letting it drop limply.
However, Cecilia made an effort to ignore it and was escorted by Sir Miguel to the shade of a tree.
The Holy Knight carefully seated her on a soft spot with no rocks or dirt, where only green grass grew.
“Since it is your first time traveling such a long distance, it seems to be harder on you. Shall we slow the pace a little?”
“No, it’s the first day; we can’t delay the schedule.”
“But……. Then, please excuse me for a moment.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Miguel removed his gauntlet and placed his bare palm lightly over her wrist.
Clear and pure Divine Power surged into her arm like a rolling wave.
The languidness, much like soaking in warm water, naturally caused the tension to bleed from her body.
“Wow, I feel like I can finally breathe.”
“I am glad it was of help.”
The eyes of the man, usually as stern as a fortress wall, melted softly.
Facing that refreshing smile spreading beneath the greenery, the back of her neck heated up for no reason.
Cecilia, subtly averting her gaze, began to speak haltingly.
