Chapter 3: A Small Helping Hand 2

“What do you mean, you failed?”

The Archbishop Maxim showed an expression filled with anger.

Faced with her demeanor, Nunne and Tine cowered and spoke in trembling voices.

“We’re… sorry…”

“But… we couldn’t help it. That woman invoked the authority of His Holiness the Pope…”

“No, even so, that’s no… Ah… no, I was foolish to have entrusted anything to the likes of you, even if just a little…”

Unable to offer any rebuttal to the Archbishop’s words, the two could only mumble. Seeing their pathetic state, the Archbishop leaned back in her chair, feeling a slight headache.

‘Even though I assigned this task to those foolish wenches, thinking they might be of some use, it ended up like this in the end. With this, I have no choice but to give up on obtaining the cash.’

At that moment, the two spoke to the Archbishop in a cautious tone.

“Um… Your Grace. What should we do now?”

“Now that it’s come to this, not only the cash, but the documents and land deeds inside are all…”

“No, there’s no need to worry about that.”

“Huh?”

“What… do you mean?”

Showing bewilderment at her unexpected words, the two looked perplexed. Seeing them, the Archbishop wore a cunning smile and spoke.

“No need to worry. Even if we can’t get the cash, he’ll never be able to dispose of the building and land.”

“…?”

The two wore expressions of incomprehension at the Archbishop’s words.

Putting aside her regret over the lost cash, she decided to maintain a calm demeanor and wait for the week to pass.

‘The best scenario would be to completely restrict his movements until his formal excommunication, but even if that fails, there’s nothing he can ultimately do. The vast wealth he has accumulated will soon become mine… no, the Lord’s!’

Thanks to Cazeros’s consideration, I was able to enter the quarters. Before starting anything, she tended to my injury.

Healing using the sacred power of Aura.

Although Cazeros’s power was not particularly strong, it was enough to heal such a minor wound.

“All done.”

After confirming the bleeding had stopped and the wound had closed, Cazeros spoke in a bright voice.

In response, I showed a smile and sincerely expressed my gratitude.

“Thank you truly. I was almost forced to leave penniless. On top of that, you even healed my wound…”

“Not at all. No matter your excommunication, as someone who has benefited from Lord Santana’s kindness, this was simply what I ought to do.”

Cazeros spoke with a regretful smile.

Her sincere, caring demeanor automatically brought a bitter smile to my face.

“But… are you really sure this is alright? You saw what happened earlier, didn’t you? The Archbishop was behind it. If she takes issue with this…”

“Perhaps so, but it’s fine. At the very least, I did not wish to act in a way unbecoming of a holy knight before the Lord. And…”

“And…?”

Along with those words, Cazeros showed a somewhat flustered expression.

However, she soon dispelled the reddening of her face and continued in a composed voice.

“…No, never mind. In any case, I’m truly sorry for not being able to offer more than this meager assistance, when I’ve received so much help from Lord Santana over time…”

“Cazeros…”

The sincere regret on her face…

Although nothing had changed, I began to feel a profound sense of gratitude that there was at least one person who appreciated the efforts I had made.

At that moment…

“Um… and this…”

“?”

The next moment, she handed me a small pouch.

I carefully accepted it and checked the contents.

And inside was…

“This is…?”

“I’m sorry, but this is all I can offer you right now… You’ll be traveling far, so please use this as travel funds.”

“But… how can I accept this…”

“Money I would never have been able to save without Lord Santana’s help. Please take it. Compared to all you’ve done for the Order of Holy Knights, this is nothing, but still…”

The pouch was filled with silver coins.

Although it was not a particularly large sum by my own standards, having earned considerable wealth through my efforts…

For Cazeros, an ordinary holy knight struggling to get by on a meager salary, this amount was practically her entire life’s savings.

Seeing her pure-hearted gesture, I began to feel a lump in my throat.

‘Even so, there are still some proper people among these holy knights.’

Foolish beings, blinded by their desires and unaware of the impending calamity, cutting off the very helping hand trying to save them with their own actions.

Yet, the fact that there remained someone like her filled me with a profound sense of gratitude and sorrow.

‘But in the end, she too will likely die before long if things continue this way.’

The moment those fools excommunicated me on such ridiculous pretexts, the fate of the Order of Holy Knights and the Church had already been sealed.

Floundering amidst the coming destruction, meeting death in agony or living a wretched existence licking the dirt.

As for that outcome, having already been excommunicated and cast out, I felt no need to take responsibility.

Witnessing this state of affairs, I realized that the downfall they would suffer was essentially their own doing.

‘Is it true that an individual cannot change the course of the world with their own power? I had thought things would work out, but for matters to take such a ruinous turn…’

However, separate from that predetermined future of destruction…

In this moment, I felt a desire to somehow save this one person before me, no matter what.

Cazeros was the only one who acknowledged me and tried her best to help, even if only a little, when everyone else turned their backs on me and trampled my efforts.

Offering what little money she could from her modest means… And more importantly, her actions earlier that allowed me entry here.

Especially the latter, while it may seem simple, I knew it carried no small weight.

‘It may have been done under the guise of principle, but her life will undoubtedly face difficulties as a result of this incident.’

Having defied the Archbishop’s orders, it was certain she would face an unpleasant situation as a holy knight here.

Moreover, as a foreigner who already faced occasional discrimination, the degree would likely be even worse for her.

Even if she somehow endured that, considering the hell that would follow, I could not simply leave her behind.

‘But what do I do… In this situation, even if I warn her about the future, it likely won’t be of much use…’

Even at this point, there were occasional signs of danger, but no matter what, the notion that these omens would eventually turn this city… this country into a wasteland would be utterly unbelievable without prior knowledge of the future.

And from that perspective, the only way for me to save her in this moment was a single option.

It was a method she might refuse, depending on the circumstances… or to be frank, one she was highly likely to reject. Yet, I could not think of any other recourse.

“Cazeros. This may come as a sudden request, but I’d like to ask you for a favor, the first and last.”

“A favor…? Please, tell me. If it’s something within my power, I will gladly oblige.”

Showing a willing attitude, Cazeros responded to my words.

However, seeing her disposition, I cautiously spoke to her, anticipating a high likelihood of rejection.

“Cazeros… if it’s alright with you, won’t you come away with me?”

“…Pardon?”

As I expected, Cazeros showed a bewildered expression at my words.

Thus, in what I deemed to be the best possible way, I extended a hand of salvation to her.

If she refused… even if I was treated as a madman, I contemplated whether I should tell her about the future.