episode_0067

“Yes. I’m finishing up the organization… .”

“It takes a long time to move with that body. I went to treat you again in the morning, but you weren’t there. That’s why I came to treat you now.”

“Thank you for your attention.”

“… Because it’s something that has to be done.”

I stared at Sister Melody.

“Then, let me check your physical condition.”

“Yes.”

I don’t think it’s because of my mood.

‘It’s become softer.’

When I say soft here, I mean in terms of the way you treat me.

I was surprised at how soft her expression and voice were, to the point of being unrecognizable.

To the point where you feel like the person has changed.

Of course, it’s not certain yet.

Because we haven’t had a proper conversation yet.

But I was convinced by feeling.

I’m saying that Sister Melody’s attitude toward me has changed.

I know I shouldn’t use this analogy with people, but… .

‘It feels like I’ve lured a stray cat home.’

Even if you bring a stray cat home, you will still be wary.

For now, I’ll pretend not to know and just try to help him be as comfortable as possible.

“Oh my, I just barely managed to put it on… .”

Her physical condition was not good even after receiving treatment once.

He quickly treated the injured area and restored his health.

“Ah… .”

She moaned softly as she felt her stamina rising.

Her pale complexion was gradually improving.

“How are you?”

“Okay.”

“You’re not going out again tomorrow, are you? If it’s an injury of this level, you should rest for a week. In particular, you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

If it were any other patient, I would have discharged them, but I felt that I shouldn’t have done that to Sister Melody.

If I leave it alone, I don’t know how I’ll end up abusing my body again.

“I won’t bother with that anymore. My job is to protect Father Arthur.”

“Well, you have to be careful because you’ll have to enter the labyrinth soon.”

“Yes. Because I can’t neglect my duty.”

After listening to Sister Melody’s story, I was able to relax and be confident that I wouldn’t push myself any harder.

However, I was concerned that the rest I was taking was not for the sake of my body, but rather to fulfill my mission of protecting myself.

“What do you usually do when you rest?”

A question that would have never been answered in the past.

“Meditate or do some light exercise.”

“Please take a break from training this time.”

“Training must be done every day.”

“Sister, your body has been overworked for too long and is very tired. If you are worried about your body getting stiff, you don’t need to be. Rest is also a form of training.”

Why do athletes take a break?

It is to relieve the excess stress accumulated in the body.

Of course, there is no need to rest because you can relieve this overload with divine power, but that was not mentioned.

‘It’s not over if you just treat the body.’

Your mind also needs rest.

She had been trained to become an inquisitor since childhood, and she went out into society without rest to eradicate heretics, but in a few days, she had to enter a labyrinth.

It was a busy schedule that left me breathless.

“Go to a delicious restaurant and eat, or just lie in bed and rest without thinking about anything.”

“… Is that necessary?”

“It’s necessary. People can’t work 365 days a year.”

In the past, saying something like that would have been counterproductive, but now I think it will work on my sister.

“Trust me and give it a try. You don’t really have anything to do before you enter the labyrinth anyway.”

He said to himself that he would no longer pursue heretics.

So I asked him to listen to my opinion only for the remaining period.

The sister who had been worrying let out a small sigh and said.

“Okay.”

I’m telling you, it’s true that things have changed, right?

“Good idea.”

Since he was not the type of person to break a promise, he infused more divine power into his body and made sure to eliminate the fatigue that had spread throughout his body.

I intentionally left my muscles slightly sore because I was afraid that if I sprouted them for no reason, they would start to bleed and run around again, but now that I don’t need to do that, I just let them heal cleanly.

“Treatment is finished. Get some rest and I’ll come back tomorrow around lunchtime.”

“Is there anything left to treat?”

“Yes. Instead, we will check your condition every day and if it seems really okay, we will let you discharge.”

My sister’s expression softened at the word discharge.

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

The moment I was about to leave the hospital room after finishing treatment, my sister asked me.

“Are you attending worship this week?”

“If nothing big happens, then maybe not? Why is that?”

“I will also attend then.”

“Is it because of the prince?”

Since this incident has nothing to do with the prince, there is still work to be done with the prince.

One of the reasons my sister told me to stay in the hospital was because of the Prince, so when the topic of worship came up, I felt a pang and brought up the Prince without realizing it.

“… I don’t necessarily attend church services for a reason.”

“Ah! Of course. I was wrong. Haha.”

We sing hymns, interact with other believers, and listen to good words from the priest in charge of the service.

There are so many good things about attending church that it’s normal to not need any other reasons.

“If you want, please come without asking. I will be waiting.”

If only I could show my chicks a gentle side like this, they would all have the courage to approach me, but I feel a little disappointed.

◎ ◎ ◎

The intense memories of being in the sewer gradually faded and enough time passed for me to escape the nightmare.

It’s not like there were no incidents at all during that time.

Eventually, word got out that Sister Melody was in the hospital room to other priests.

I had to endure some cute tantrums from the chicks because I kept her hospitalization a secret.

He complained that if he was seriously injured enough to be hospitalized, he would be worried if he kept it to himself.

They cautiously asked me if I would like to visit them to make the apology they had been putting off, and surprisingly, Sister Melody allowed them to visit.

‘I’m glad it worked out.’

The chicks who were allowed to visit the sickroom went straight there and started apologizing.

And as Sister Melody readily accepted their apology, the uncomfortable relationship that could have easily been ruined was resolved, and my heart felt much lighter.

To be honest, I felt bad seeing Sister Melody avoiding the priests.

“Thank you for accepting my apology, kids.”

“Are you saying that now for the first time?”

Her face, after a week of rest, looked the most relaxed I’ve ever seen.

The physical condition is excellent.

As expected, my sister kept her promise to me thoroughly.

“It was something you didn’t have to accept, but you accepted it willingly. If that had happened to me, my emotional wounds wouldn’t have healed easily.”

“… I know they are not bad people. It was something I was not used to. And I am used to it, so it is okay. I was surprised that they apologized when they didn’t have to.”

“I don’t understand why such treatment is familiar. The Inquisitor has no reason to be looked at that way. The Church is always grateful for the noble sacrifices you make.”

“… Yes, I know.”

My sister nodded as if she knew what I said, but it was an unsatisfactory answer.

The moment I was about to ask why she was giving such a cold answer, my sister looked somewhere and said.

“Prince Loras has arrived.”

Prince Loras, who was thought to be too busy organizing the Labyrinth Expedition to come, showed up for the service.

“I thought you wouldn’t come… .”

“He is a person who will not give up until he achieves his goal. He is blatantly targeting you. He will continue to bother you until you give him what he wants.”

“You will eventually give up on me. Because my heart will not change.”

I don’t know how much patience Prince Loras has, but if he doesn’t continue to search for Princess Canabi’s traces, he will eventually run out.

It wouldn’t be strange if he suddenly showed his true colors one day.

I was already prepared for that.

“Your Majesty, are you here?”

Prince Loras approached me straight away, as if he didn’t even notice anyone else.

“Arthur Priest, I have something important to say. Could you spare me a moment?”

“Worship will begin soon.”

“Don’t miss it just today. It’s that important.”

“… Okay.”

I didn’t really like the idea of missing church services, but I knew that if the prince acted out of turn, there was no way to stop him, so I decided to go along obediently.

“Is there a quiet place here where there are no people?”

“Of course. I will guide you.”

I took the first step to provide guidance.

But then something unexpected happened.

Sister Melody started following me.

Prince Loras was not one to let this happen.

“I clearly only spoke to Priest Arthur, why is that guy following me? Now that I look at him, his face looks familiar. He was a very rude priest.”

The prince must have been very angry at Sister Melody because he stopped pretending to be a nice person and started showing open hostility towards her.

Sister Melody was no pushover either, so she responded to the prince’s hostility without a care.

“I was just making a good point to protect Father Arthur.”

The expression on his face hardened at the mention of Prince Loras being my escort.

“Escort?”

“Yes. I am a paladin sent to escort Priest Arthur. I have heard that there is a group of evil men approaching Priest Arthur, and I think I have just discovered what they are.”

“… … .”

Sister Melody calmly changed her status from being an inquisitor to a priest to a paladin, and so on.

One day they might say they’re a paladin, and then another day they might suddenly say they’re a healer.

“Are you lying in front of the royal family right now! How presumptuous. I overlooked your rudeness once because I saw the face of Arthur the priest!!”

The prince had done his own research, and he was furious when she said she was a knight.