"Slurp."
After the academy party had left, I found myself alone in a pork soup restaurant with a mysterious woman. Watching the lady with her head almost buried in a black earthenware bowl, I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. She was small, yet she had already devoured five bowls.
“It’s outrageous that only commoners eat such food!” “Hahaha...!” “Shoen of the Tetra family...! I think the capital needs a restaurant like this too!” “Is it really that good?” nods eagerly
Shoen, nodding enthusiastically, began to vent her frustrations about her difficult three-day journey.
“I thought I was going to starve to death just eating jerky for three days! It was cold, I was hungry, and I had no money!” “Is that so.” “It was hard! And I didn’t expect to encounter a commoner along the way either!” “Uh-huh.”
I hadn’t expected to et her here either.
It was nice to see her enjoying the food, though I felt a strange sense of pity as I watched her wolf down her al, seemingly forgetting her noble status.
I placed so side dishes onto her spoon, full of rice, and asked,
“I didn’t expect to run into you here either, Miss Shoen.” “I didn’t think I’d find a commoner here either! You really do pop up everywhere, like an idle vagrant!” “I’m here on business, actually.” “Hohm.”
Shoen nodded, raising her thumb approvingly.
“So, the commoner is busier than I thought.” “What made you think otherwise?” “I figured you were a slacker.” “...”
I chuckled and shook my head. It wasn’t the first ti soone had thought that, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
“Would you like another bowl?” “Yes, please!” “All right.”
Seeing her enjoy the al so thoroughly didn’t bother at all. It was a comnt I’d heard plenty of tis, and I knew she didn’t an to offend.
To be honest, I still didn’t know why Shoen had co to the north. In the novel, Shoen was a character who faded out after being rejected by Mikhail. I hadn’t expected to find her here, especially during the quest for the Holy Sword. It didn’t seem likely that she was here for the sword.
“This is delicious!!!” “Hehe.”
But I decided to leave it at that.
I put down my spoon and asked Shoen directly, as it’s always best to ask about things you’re curious about.
“Miss Shoen.” “What is it, commoner? I haven’t even finished my bowl yet...!” “What brings you to the north?” “Eh...?”
At the sharp question, Shoen flinched, then nervously glanced at , her lips starting to fidget.
“Well...” “Yes?” “It’s...” “Take your ti.” “It’s just...!”
As I brushed a grain of rice from the corner of her lips, I gave her a reassuring smile.
And Shoen’s heart...
‘...Irregular heartbeat!’
...was racing wildly.
“You had so rice on your face.” “T-that’s an indecent act!!” “Excuse ?” “I-i-indecent...!”
She seed to short-circuit.
I smiled, amused at the sight of the flustered Shoen, as I gently patted her head. I figured I wouldn’t be getting a straight answer about her reason for being here after all.
‘It’s probably not about the Holy Sword.’
After all, Shoen was a mage.
Once she had cald down and picked up her spoon again, she looked straight in the eye and asked,
“Why are you here, commoner?” “?” “Yes!” “It’s a business secret, so I’m afraid I can’t say.” “Then it’s a secret for too.”
With a defiant huff, Shoen turned away. I chuckled and leaned in closer, speaking in a low voice.
“Still, I’d advise you not to go up the northern mountains.” “Why not?” “The northern mountains are full of magical creatures. They say ghosts roam there at night, lost spirits that...” “Hiii!!!!”
Shoen jumped up from her seat, forming a cross with her fingers and pointing it at .
“Stay back!” “Haha...”
She really was a funny person.
After a bit more conversation, we parted ways, as she had things to do, and so did I.
Of course, I paid the bill.
— I’ll pay! — Miss Shoen. — What money does a commoner have...! — I’m barely scraping together enough for the trip back. — ...
She had insisted on paying, but seeing the state of her purse made her hands tremble, leading to an amusing exchange. Overall, it had been a pleasant eting.
In any case. Tomorrow. The march to find the Holy Sword begins at dawn.
The conflict between the heretics and the empire.
Judging by the packed inns nearby, it seed the royal family was putting significant effort into this. And from what I could sense, Rowan was nowhere to be seen, likely to arrive at dawn.
Considering the empire’s restrictions on deploying their sword, it wasn’t a bad lineup.
Most importantly...
— Holy Saint.
Elicia was on our side.
‘You’re here.’
I turned toward the source of the whispered honorific and saw a robed woman seated on a bench, waiting.
She sat there quietly, like a saint awaiting her god, her posture serene and pious.
With black hair and alluring eyes, even with her hood on, her presence was unmistakable.
‘The Apostle of Compassion.’
As I approached her bench, the space around us began to warp, as if preparing a secluded realm just for us.
The trees twisted like threads, but no one else noticed; the street beca a silent world where only she and I existed.
‘...A ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) monster.’
It struck again, just how powerful an Apostle could be.
I slowly sat beside her on the bench, and before long, her voice resounded in a silent whisper.
—I’ve been waiting for you.
‘Telepathy?’
I nodded and asked Elicia,
—Were we followed? —I took care of it on my end. —Holy Saint. —Can’t we do away with that title? —... —I guess not.
I exhaled briefly and asked Elicia,
—Before we begin, there’s sothing I want to confirm. —...Ask anything. —All right. I won’t hold back. —nods —Which side are you on, Apostle? —...
—Are you with the empire? Or with the church? —I am.
Elicia clasped her hands together, her voice unwavering.
—I am on your side, Holy Saint. —... —I am not for anyone else but you. You are my pillar.
I nodded heavily.
‘On my side, huh.’
I couldn’t completely trust Elicia yet, but her words did inspire so confidence.
[Elicia Lv. 100]
[Affinity: 100]
Favorite topics: Son, Saint, Resurrection, Family, Warmth...
Disliked topics: Apostle of Temperance, Heretics, Ugliness, Filth...
The affinity window, that convenient tool, clearly showed her sincerity.
It was clear that we had secured a powerful ally. With Elicia on our side, even as a bystander, we had gained substantial strength for the academy.
If Rowan, who had opposed two Apostles in the novel, could single-handedly handle the Apostle of Temperance, we might even be able to eliminate one Apostle this ti. Clenching my fists, I nodded.
—All right.
With our trust confird, it was ti to get down to business.
Sensing my intentions, Elicia wasted no ti in delivering information about the heretics through telepathy.
—I have located the Holy Sword. —You found it faster than I expected. —Yes. I haven’t pinpointed the exact location yet, but there is a temple at the edge of the Andes mountains where it rests. —We can’t access it yet. —The church mbers are breaking through the barrier. —Using them as test subjects. —Precisely.
I posed the most pressing question to Elicia.
—What’s the scope of their forces? —... —Are there two Apostles and one archbishop?
Elicia shook her head.
—Two Apostles and five archbishops. —...Five? —Yes. And... —... —About a hundred ordinary followers.
I steadied my voice and asked,
—Are you serious...?
One hundred, hearing about one hundred crazed ‘zealots’ was enough to make my eyes widen.
That ant the empire’s forces would be consud with dealing with the heretic troops, leaving the archbishops to face the academy students.
Though the imperial army was formidable, without elite troops, we couldn’t expect them to hold up under the strain.
In that case...
‘This is dangerous.’
I asked Elicia in a trembling voice,
—Surely not...
She nodded, her face grave.
—Temperance has caught on.
And then.
—It seems they are preparing to appoint a new Apostle.
‘Damn it.’
—Temperance is likely seeking a replacent for the vacant Apostle of Compassion.
This was an unexpected variable. One I hadn’t accounted for. If, no, truly, if two or more Apostle-level entities entered the Holy Sword contest... our forces would be overwheld.
In that case...
We might have to abandon the Holy Sword.
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