Chapter 11
The Retired Saintess Raises House Prices Episode 11
Episode 11
Just in case, I packed all the maps. I'd memorized every terrain feature from the ones Paul brought me, but you never know what might happen.
It takes over a week just to leave the Temple and reach Floriana.
Could I escape during that time?
Or would it be safer to board a ship after arriving at the port?
The Holy Knight assigned to go with me today was Malik.
The coward who'd nearly died of fright all by himself in that tunnel with me before.
Of course, since it was quite a distant place, it wasn't just Malik and me going alone.
Other Holy Knights would come along too, but most were apprentices and low-rank ones handling odd jobs like packing luggage or reading maps to guide the way.
Malik couldn't hide his beaming smile, clearly thrilled to be heading out with me.
"Thinking of heading out for purification prayer with the devout Saintess Shuana already fills my heart with faith."
"Me too, Sir Malik. Please take good care of me today as well."
"Oh, that's what I should say. Ah, of course, I'll do my utmost to protect you with my Holy Sword! Please watch over me with your faith, Lady Shuana!"
I smiled wordlessly.
Malik was so timid and naive that if I pretended to see a ghost and scared him, he might just bolt.
Just as my escape hopeful Malik was about to saddle up his horse, Mikhail suddenly approached with the Great Saintess.
"Malik. Stop."
The Great Saintess approached with her usual flawless, perfect smile.
"Today's Holy Knight accompanying Saintess Shuana for purification prayer will be Mikhail Severino."
"Huh? Not me?"
"Yes, it's been changed. Since it's such a dangerous place, wouldn't it be best for the Knight Order Captain to go personally? That's alright, isn't it?"
The Great Saintess's final question was directed at me.
Responding to her benevolent smile, I also smiled softly and replied.
"No matter who I go with, I will only carry out the task of spreading Moandalla's words."
Pleased with my answer, the Great Saintess nodded briefly.
Then Malik reluctantly stepped back.
The Great Saintess whispered something to Mikhail as if giving an order, then withdrew.
Normally, after Mikhail mounted his horse, I would board the small carriage at the rear.
But Mikhail merely glanced at the saddle on his horse before walking to the carriage where I stood.
He personally opened the carriage door, took my hand to help me in, and then naturally entered the carriage after seating me inside.
Before I could say anything to stop him, the carriage set off.
"...Sir Mikhail?"
"You know that Holy Knights protect saintesses, right?"
His long legs looked like a latch barring the carriage door.
"Yes, but?"
Mikhail looked at me with an expressionless face, his yellow pupils gleaming.
"That means we also have the role of surveilling saintesses to prevent them from escaping."
The moment he finished speaking, I racked my brain.
Did I give away that I was planning to escape? Or leave some trace?
No.
I widened my eyes and played dumb.
"Are there saintesses who run away?"
"Occasionally."
Mikhail's expression hadn't changed at all from before he spoke, making it hard to read his intentions.
I drooped my eyebrows pitifully and replied.
"Oh dear. To abandon God's arrangements and choose to leave the peaceful Temple..."
I added as if I truly pitied those who'd left the Temple.
"But Sir Mikhail."
"Yes."
"'Escape'? Isn't that word choice too negative? 'Escape' is usually used for fleeing from something bad, but the Temple isn't like that."
Mikhail nodded with a faint smile.
"You're right. The Temple is the saintesses' home and a sacred space for serving God literally."
"Exactly."
"So I can't understand those who leave the Temple."
"Oh."
Mikhail clasped his hands, crossed his fingers, and placed them neatly on his thigh.
"Sometimes, on these distant trips, a saintess and knight don't return together."
"...Ah."
The corner of Mikhail's mouth twisted upward.
Come to think of it, when I looked at the escape records of saintesses who'd left the Temple in the document archive, I seemed to recall seeing knights' names occasionally.
They were written so small in the corners like footnotes that I hadn't paid attention.
So those were records of knights who eloped with them.
Now I understood.
Malik had been especially nice to me since the tunnel incident.
Generally, Holy Knights were curt or strictly businesslike with saintesses, but Malik always approached me with unusually obvious delight.
And today, ever since learning he'd go with me, he'd been grinning nonstop.
Mikhail and the Great Saintess weren't worried about me escaping.
They changed it because they were worried Malik might seduce me and we'd run off together.
"Holy Knights and saintesses are God's son and daughter. For the two of them to fall for each other and become intimate—it's absurd."
"Right. A saintess devotes her life to God, as his messenger spreading his words. How could she seek personal pleasure?"
I pretended to agree fervently with Mikhail while sneering inwardly.
After that, we chatted at length about useless topics like how comfortable life in the Temple was, learning doctrine by God's side, and how reciting prayers day and night brought peace of mind.
Only then did Mikhail's expression soften a bit.
What a devout Holy Knight we have here.
He looks only five or six years older than me at most, so why is this Mikhail so fervently faithful?
As if he'd never doubted once.
...Did he get brainwashed somewhere?
Pretending curiosity, I asked Mikhail.
"What happens if a Holy Knight and saintess run off together?"
Perhaps reassured that I had no intention of escaping, Mikhail spoke in a much softer tone.
"We hunt them down."
"Oh my, I see. But can those who abandon their training and ignore God's call return? Their hearts are already tainted with evil energy."
Mikhail answered briskly.
"Correct. They're no different from living demons."
His curt addition showed no mercy.
"So we exorcise them with the Holy Sword."
"...Ah."
So if I leave the Temple, this crazy blond fanatic Mikhail will hunt me down and kill me.
Can I even leave the Temple?
I quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, you've risen to captain at such a young age."
"Unlike others, I've lived in the Temple since I was young."
"Ah, I see."
"My parents abandoned me in front of the Temple. Thanks to that, I grew up under Moandalla's care."
As if Moandalla cared for you.
The Temple people changed your shitty diapers.
Thankful he couldn't hear my thoughts, I kept smiling brightly.
"I see. My mother and father told me to become a saintess. Ah, not that I'm complaining! I like it now!"
As I waved my hands as if startled by my own words, a hint of sympathy appeared on Mikhail's face.
"Have you never imagined yourself doing something else?"
"Something else? Well, as I just said, I'm happy now. Why? Are you not satisfied with your life as Holy Knight Captain, Sir Mikhail?"
"I consider it my calling."
When I asked as if challenging him to a faith battle, Mikhail answered promptly.
Since it would take over a week to reach the port village, we couldn't stay awkwardly like this forever.
To ease Mikhail's tension, I kept emphasizing how devout and faithful I was.
