Chapter 81: Heretic? – 2

Chapter 81: Heretic? – 2

“…So, the owner of that shop is receiving artificial ‘divine power’ from a being with power equivalent to His, and using that to make this ‘potion’?”

“That’s what I thought.”

After returning to our lodging, I gradually told Claudia my thoughts.

…I didn’t think it was a particularly fair explanation, to be honest.

Frankly, there were quite a few parts where I explained things in a way that was favorable to the girl.

There were various reasons for that… but the most obvious reason was that it was still too early.

‘I definitely thought that the girl seemed to have positively changed someone else’s fate.’

Although it was imprecise and impossible to prove, for some reason, I felt that thought might not be wrong.

Most importantly, it was easy to discern that she wasn’t an evil person.

After all, if she were evil, she wouldn’t be selling potions that heal wounds at such a cheap price.

Who would purely engage in business with something that could easily yield exorbitant profits?

“…I think there’s some truth to it… but what kind of being would dare to challenge ‘Him’?”

“I don’t know that far. That’s why I plan to ask His Holiness for help.”

“To His Holiness? So, you’ll return to the Grand Cathedral right away?”

“I should…”

As I was saying that, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

What if the girl were to meet the ‘Saintess’? How would she react?

Would she show an indelible sense of unease, or would she rejoice, thinking the Saintess had come to bless her?

If the girl was truly being used by some being impersonating ‘Him,’ her reaction would surely be closer to the latter.

If not, and all of this was an act… her reaction would be closer to the former.

“…No, I think I need to meet that girl again after all.”

“Hmm? Well, our Saintess-nim has a cautious personality, after all.”

“So, I have a favor to ask, Claudia.”

“……You know what? That smile you’re making right now, it’s exactly the smile you make when you’re exploiting people with a kind face.”

…I don’t know if it was that obvious, but Claudia was right.

To visit that shop again under the name of the Saintess would require permission from the Grand Cathedral.

And the people who grant that permission are the Cardinals, or His Holiness the Pope.

“Anyway, doesn’t Claudia have to go to His Holiness the Pope to report the inspection results? You just need to deliver one of my letters on your way.”

“It’s not difficult, but ugh. It’s annoying. The Grand Cathedral is usually so far from here.”

“…You’re going to use magic to travel quickly anyway.”

Saying that, I stared intently at Claudia, who, after briefly opening her mouth to say something, let out a deep sigh.

“Alright, I get it. I get it. It’s the Saintess-nim’s request, so what kind of lowly Holy Knight would dare to resist?”

“Thank you, Claudia. Then, just a moment…”

Saying that, I quickly drafted a letter to His Holiness the Pope, requesting permission as the Saintess to visit the Empire’s capital and meet the girl suspected of being a ‘heretic.’

…Along with the thought that things had become more complicated than I initially imagined.

“Oh, Saintess-nim? I’ll leave this one for you, since it’s yours?”

“That’s the potion I bought from the shop, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be better to take both to the Grand Cathedral?”

“One is enough for analysis anyway. And you need one to conduct additional research, don’t you?”

Saying that, Claudia handed me the potion, took the letter back, and set off.

And, shortly after she departed, one of the Holy Knights in charge of escorting knocked on the door.

“Excuse me, Saintess-nim?”

“Come in.”

“…I heard you would be staying a little longer.”

“Ah, I apologize. It’s something I should have discussed beforehand… but it seems there’s a need for further observation.”

“Not at all! However, there have been some minor issues with lodging schedules and supplies… You will need to move to a different lodging tonight.

Also, this evening, all the escorts except for me will be temporarily absent to procure supplies for the extended schedule.”

…At that time, I nodded without much thought.

Looking back, it was truly strange.

The lodging, which was originally near the shop of the girl suspected of being a ‘heretic,’ was suddenly moved far away…

And the escorts, who were wary of leaving my side for even a moment, were all absent except for one person.

***

“…Then I’ll head inside!”

“Alright. Here’s your daily wage. I originally planned to do it weekly… but for now, I’ll give you a day’s pay right after your work is done each day.”

“Thank you! See you tomorrow, Boss-nim!”

After the disguised Saintess visited, the day ended without any particular incidents.

I mostly spent time chatting lightly with Lily, learning about the details of this world that weren’t described in the novel.

Customers came occasionally, but there wasn’t the flood of adventurers like yesterday.

“Now I’ll close the shop and go home…”

*…I’m sorry, but it seems a customer has arrived. And… the most unwelcome one.*

“…Yeah, it seems so.”

A subtly gloomy aura, and a familiar face.

And… now, even the danger signal my body instinctively gave off.

…If possible, I would have preferred never to meet her, but it was Elena, a face that popped up whenever I tried to forget her.

“How have you been, Lucia?”

“…Until I saw your face.”

“Hehe. Why so cold? To someone who came out of concern, no less.”

“…You, concerned about me? Impossible.”

Elena was the kind of person who would be busy figuring out how to use my abilities, not concerned about me.

…Well, in that sense, she might have been concerned about me.

There would be no one else who could make potions besides me.

“It hurts a little when you distrust me like that.”

“The only service I can offer you is pain. I still vividly remember being played for a fool by your words last time.”

“But the outcome was good, wasn’t it? Anyway, this isn’t about that; I came to give you important information. I… don’t want you to get hurt.”

Elena, smiling as she said that… was truly strange.

Her eyes held a subtly omnipotent gaze, as if she knew everything and could know everything.

That unique gaze of Elena’s slowly swept over me.

“Honestly, why does the Grand Cathedral, hiding behind the name of God and doing all sorts of dirty deeds, try to torment such a child?”

“…If the Saintess came, it’s already over.”

“Oh? This is surprising? You saw through the Saintess’s disguise? As expected, Lucia is amazing.”

Elena’s eyes, as she said that, contained a genuine desire to praise.

…Although she spoke as if it were surprising, her gaze was actually closer to admiration than surprise.

“Indeed, you are special, Lucia.”

“…If you want my potions, buy them with money. I won’t stop you.”

“No, no. ‘You’ are special. You are a being that doesn’t exist in the future I ‘saw’ or the future I ‘drew’… but you are the one who is changing the future and destiny more than anyone else.”

“……What did you just say?”

In the novel, Elena was described very little.

Whether the original author left it as a hint for a sequel or something else, information about Elena was strangely scarce.

Only at the end could it be known that Elena had influenced the main characters.

…But, the future I ‘saw’ and the future I ‘drew’?

“It means exactly that. I know many things, and I can know them. However… except for you.

No, beyond excluding you… it seems that for those connected to you, a different future will unfold than the one I saw?”

“What does that mean…”

“Christie. That poor princess was originally destined to die by the imperial family, and the duke should have been a cold corpse by now… but you changed that.

Of course, there’s a possibility it’s not, but at least I’m convinced of it.”

I clearly remember the system saying that Christie’s fate had changed.

Not to mention the duke, who should have died, was alive.

But how did Elena know that…?

“You have a confused expression? Don’t worry. I like you because of that, and I need you.”

“You need me? Me? Even though I’m changing the future you saw?”

“That’s why I need you. To create a better future, a future beyond what I saw and drew.”

The shadowy organization led by Elena clearly aimed to build a new world.

And they chose to subtly manipulate and instigate the war between the Hero and the Demon King as their method.

But, did these words mean she would choose a different method than war? Or what?

Countless hypotheses arose and were discarded. I tried to find answers amidst the confusion… but it was impossible.

I didn’t fully know Elena… and Elena didn’t fully know me either.

“Oh, have you sorted things out a bit?”

“…It’s just that I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll be seeing a lot of you in the future, Elena.”

“And I hope you also understand that you will continue to be used importantly. Therefore… you must not be harmed by those worm-like dogs of the Holy Kingdom here.”

“Huh? But the Saintess…”

“Before they are the Saintess’s escorts and followers, they are inquisitors of the Grand Cathedral.”

…What Elena was saying was simple.

Tonight, whether it was the shop or me, there would be an attack by the Saintess’s escorts, meaning the skilled inquisitors.

“Well, I’ve delivered the information, so I’ll be going now?”

“……You see me as the key to the future you want to create, don’t you?”

“To be precise, if the future without my intervention is the worst, and the future I drew to avoid that worst is the second worst… then you are the variable that will change that second worst.

Because of you, I also cannot see what the future will be like right now.”

“Then that’s fine. Even if I can’t accept kindness without reason… I’d rather accept it comfortably if there’s something you want like this.”

I didn’t know what Elena was plotting, couldn’t know, and couldn’t stop it.

However… I could at least tell that she wanted my intervention.

It was the moment when Elena’s vague intention for approaching me became a little clearer.

“Later, when various problems are resolved, I’ll tell you more details little by little, so don’t worry, Lucia.”

“…Alright. Today…… Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you, I know the night road is dangerous.”

“Pfft. Alright. Then… goodbye? I’d be really upset if you died.”

With that, Elena left the shop. And silence fell.

……And, I drew the greatsword that was strapped to my back.

Questions about Elena? Her identity? Of course, these are problems and questions that need to be considered.

But… first, I need to beat the shit out of these crazy bastards who are trying to kill me right now, then I’ll have time to think.

*…Elena’s existence was beyond what the system had anticipated.*

“I know. You don’t have to make excuses. Anyway, you guys benefit from me being here, right? So you wouldn’t do anything that would harm me.”

*Thank you for trusting me. In that sense… take this. It will help you in this battle.*

And, the trait acquisition window popped up.

…There was a trait with an unexpected effect there.

“…Tch, if you had something like this, you should have given it to me sooner.”