0% The masked assailant.
The first ti I beca aware of their presence was in the Percus territory. They broke into the mansion, knocked Da Irene unconscious, and forced Ria into a frenzy, rendering incapacitated.
The timing of the ambush had been impeccable. It was reasonable to assu they had prior knowledge of the Dark Order’s plans.
In other words, the masked assailant was in cahoots with the Dark Order.
That alone was reason enough for them to die. So I listened carefully to what the Saintess had to say.
“It happened last night. The masked assailant attempted to infiltrate the orphanage but was discovered.”
“Discovered, you say?”
The elusive figure who’d been impossible to track?
It seed suspicious, but the Saintess had a different opinion.
“Yes, because soone just happened to be passing by.”
Only then did I give a slight nod. ‘Coincidence’ could account for most problems.
Because, in the end, that’s all it was—a coincidence.
Unless one was a god, who could predict and account for every situation? Reality was such that even the most perfect plan was bound to fail if luck wasn’t on your side.
It made sense If the masked assailant was simply unlucky that day.
We had similar luck in the Yurdina territory too.
Thanks to the Imperial Princess spotting the masked assailant, we knew about Marquess Yurdina’s betrayal in advance. That was also why Senior Delphine had t the Marquess alone on the day of the decisive battle.
But I still had doubts.
“Even so, isn’t this too careless? The Head Nun was so confident last ti that such a thing would not happen, especially within this orphanage... And yet, on the very night the security was breached, soone just happened to be passing by and discovered them?”
“There are... complicated circumstances regarding that.”
The Saintess sighed wistfully.
Her face was etched with bitterness and a faint weariness was visible in her eyes.
“Let’s talk about that later. I need to investigate further... it would be great if you could lend a hand.”
“And how exactly should I do that?”
“Interview the witness.”
It was what I wanted. I needed information too.
The only thing that bothered was having to jump straight into the investigation without a mont to even catch my breath. After all that fighting, I wasn’t able to properly rest.
At my bitter smile, she seed to realize sothing and gave a worried look.
Glancing at cautiously while looking around, her hand gently stroked the back of mine. It seed she was trying to comfort when no one was looking.
“I’m sorry, Ian... It must have been tough coming from far away. So, did you have any success?”
“Yes, thankfully. Let’s talk about that later as well.”
But since my expression didn’t improve, the Saintess seed a little flustered. Once again, she quickly looked around. After a while, she stood on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear.
“Shall I give you a reward?”
It was a sweet voice I hadn’t heard in a while. Combined with her uniquely subtle tone, it felt even more powerful.
I couldn’t hide my intrigue and ended up clearing my throat.
A reward from the Saintess, huh?
My eyes drifted downward. At such a close distance, I could feel a soft pressure against my arm, originating from that area. It was truly an ‘inevitable’ reaction.
Who wouldn’t react that way?
Given all the things that had happened with the Saintess, certain mories instinctively ca to mind. I was rely following my subconscious.
As a result, I was t with the Saintess’s cold gaze.
“......Where are you looking?”
“The reward pouch?”
Smack, the Saintess’s palm landed on my back. Thanks to my improved skills, it didn’t hurt that much, but I winced slightly out of courtesy.
Seemingly dumbfounded, she grumbled.
“Geez, I shouldn’t have bothered comforting you... You might end up in a trial at this rate.”
“I’ve already been in one.”
“For your information, if you’re tried for the sa offense twice, the punishnt gets harsher.”
That was really comforting to hear.
As we bantered, the Saintess suddenly asked .
“Co to think of it, why did you co back alone? What happened to the others?”
Upon hearing that, I glanced behind .
There, only the Holy Knight who had driven the carriage was exchanging greetings with the Head Nun. The rest of the Holy Knights who had previously been guarding the carriage, as well as Ria, and Mr. Reynolds, were nowhere to be seen.
It was because our paths had diverged on the way to the orphanage.
“Ria went to find a way to transport the demonic beast carcasses. There are also negotiations with various trading companies to handle... As for Mr. Reynold, I’m not sure. He said he had sothing to do.”
The Saintess nodded quietly at my words. She didn’t seem particularly interested in those two anyway.
Once again, she glanced around cautiously, then whispered in my ear.
“Later, co to my bedroom, alone.”
“To give a reward?”
There was no answer. Still, I felt like I could understand Saintess’s intentions.
After a mont of hesitation, a clear voice escaped her lips.
“Besides, it’s fine occasionally.”
At those words, I gave her a puzzled look.
Just a mont ago, I thought I understood her intention, but now I was confused again. The Saintess cleared her throat and subtly lifted her breasts with her arm.
My pupils were drawn in as if srized.
She murmured as if talking to herself and moved away. I remained frozen in place for a long while afterward.
Resolving that I absolutely had to visit her bedroom later.
Though I had to hurry after the Saintess because I hadn’t heard who the witness was.
**
I headed to the clearing behind the orphanage to find the ‘witness’. The overgrown weeds revealed that the place was unmanaged, but it provided a suitable sanctuary for those seeking a place with little human presence.
A girl was standing there.
Her vacant, hazel eyes, staring blankly at sothing, seed to be wandering in a dream. Her neatly tied black hair flowed down her back.
Celine Haster, my childhood friend.
A bitter smile ford on my lips. When I heard the identity of the ‘witness,’ I was amazed at such a coincidence. Of all people, it was Celine who had spotted the masked assailant that day.
I hadn’t had a chance to talk to Celine alone recently.
Let’s take this opportunity to have a heart-to-heart talk with her.
Just as I took a step forward with that in mind.
Suddenly, I thought Celine’s appearance seed strange.
Her eyes, which were staring blankly sowhere, were focused. It ant she wasn’t simply taking in the scenery, but staring at a specific point.
I decided to follow her gaze.
But no matter how much I looked, there was nothing in the clearing. Just knee-high weeds adding a green hue.
My head tilted in confusion. The solution to such an unsolvable question was simple.
Simply ask the person involved.
As I walked over, my hand fell on Celine’s shoulder.
“Celine?”
“KYAAAAAAH!”
With a strange sound, Celine’s body shot up like a spring.
She was so startled that it seed like every hair on her body stood on end. Crouching low, she looked at with wide eyes, her face filled with shock and fear.
Though that expression faded considerably after she confird my identity.
Soon, Celine’s palm struck my back forcefully. A scream involuntarily burst from my mouth.
It was shockingly strong—a strike that showcased Celine’s recent efforts.
“Aaagh! Celine, you’ve gotten surprisingly stro—”
“A-A-Are you crazy?!”
Of course, my praise didn’t reach Celine. Instead, a torrent of complaints poured out.
“W-W-Why did you suddenly appear like that! You scared ... I thought I’d lose my child.”
“Since when did you have a child to lose?”
When I asked back in disbelief, Celine snorted and puffed out her chest. Judging by how she even placed her hand on it, she seed to want to appear nonchalant.
Unfortunately, having just seen the Saintess before this.
A strange sense of disappointnt crossed my mind, but I tried hard not to show it.
“I might have one soday! So you should be careful!”
“Of what?”
Celine’s index finger poked repeatedly. A aningful smile ford on her lips as she grinned.
“Children are precious, aren’t they?”
“Well, I guess so....”
As I answered, I imagined Celine’s child.
Would they like mischief, taking after their mother? No, actually—Celine had been a rather quiet child. It was only after learning the sword that her true nature seed to awaken.
If she had a daughter, I’d better keep her away from swords. It would be impossible to handle them.
After indulging in idle fantasies for a mont, I soon snapped back to reality. Co to think of it, I had an unresolved question.
“By the way, Celine, what were you looking at?”
“Huh? What do you an? Of course, the woman standing over there... Huh?”
Celine’s body leaped again as she turned her gaze with a puzzled expression.
She seed genuinely surprised. My brow furrowed even more.
“W-Where did she go? She was definitely there... Ian Oppa, did you really not see her?”
“What are you talking about? There’s been no one but you here for a while now. Are you really okay?”
Despite my worried question, Celine just tilted her head.
“No, she was definitely there... A woman.”
I shifted my gaze once again to where Celine had been looking. There wasn’t even a trace left there.
If a woman had been standing there, the grass should have been flattened at least.
But given that there was no such sign, the most plausible inference was that Celine had seen a hallucination.
“Celine, you must be really struggling these days.....”
“N-No, I’m telling you! Or, maybe not......? Did I imagine it...?”
Now, even Celine herself seed uncertain. I made a ntal note to talk to her about this later.
Hallucinations were a serious problem. And the term ‘woman’ bothered for so reason.
Why was she seeing visions of a woman, of all things?
There would be plenty of opportunities later anyway. More importantly, I decided to ask about the most urgent matter.
“Anyway, we’ll talk about that later... Celine, you said you saw the masked assailant.”
“Huh? Oh! Right, yeah, I did.”
But sothing about her response felt off.
Until just a mont ago, she seed as lively as usual, but suddenly, she was avoiding eye contact and even seed to be fumbling with her words.
As my eyes narrowed, she hurriedly ca up with an excuse.
“I did see them, really! But you see.......”
Scratching her cheek, Celine let out a weak laugh.
Ahaha, like that.
“My vision flashed... and then I blacked out.”
What the hell is this nonsense?
I had to swallow the curse that was rising to my throat.
Reviews
All reviews (0)