Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

53 – Renegotiation

A brackish scent of blood lingers at the tip of my nose.

A deep, potent odor I’ve encountered many times before.

After a shock powerful enough to make this concealed place reverberate,

suspiciously well-timed droplets of blood fall.

The heat tells me it’s freshly spilled blood,

but I glean no further information beyond that.

Of course, this is how it is for me.

The Saintess, her head bowed as if resigned, suddenly stilled, her eyes widening, fixated on the droplets of blood trickling from the ceiling.

“Th-that? J-just a moment, I need to get out–”

“Where do you think you’re going? Did my words just now mean nothing to you?”

And then, forgetting to even retrieve the robe draped over her shoulders, she dashes outside, half-naked.

I barely manage to block her path, retrieving the fallen robe and fastening it back around her.

Barely holding back my anger, I lecture her once more.

Judging from the way she keeps glancing at my face between my words, my expression must be less than pleasant.

That must be why she’s being so cautious.

But even so, the Saintess does not relent in her desire to leave.

Even now, she continues to push and prod at me.

“What is it?”

“Hm?”

“I’ve become curious as to why you’re suddenly like this.

You must have felt something even after hearing that noise just now.”

“…”

“At the very least, tell me why you’re rushing off like this all alone.”

“…Something has happened at the Order.”

Something has happened at the Order?

The explosion just now was enough to deduce that much.

Even the blood dripping just now implied it.

But that’s no reason to be in such a hurry.

Especially not for someone who was nearly violated just moments ago.

But, as I can tell just by looking at her eyes, the Saintess seemed extremely impatient.

I wonder if she is the same composed girl from before?

“That blood… it contained Divine Power.”

“….”

“A considerable amount, at that. Do you know what this means…?”

“…I think I have a rough idea.”

Even someone as oblivious as myself can’t help but notice when things have reached this point.

Blood containing a large quantity of Divine Power.

A massive shock echoing throughout the entire Order.

Someone is attacking the Order.

And violently enough that casualties are occurring.

“If you understand, then let me go!! This is urgent!”

“That is not possible.”

I wouldn’t just send her on her way, you see.

From the start, this Order’s deity they so fervently worshipped sat ill with me.

Whether this entire Order crumbled to dust was, to me, a matter of indifference.

The system window’s quest? It made no demands to safeguard the Order.

Only to rescue its appointed vessel.

Thus, from the moment I secured this Saintess, my task was complete, finished.

The thought had barely settled before the window flared into existence once more.

≪You have rescued “The Sun’s” agent, Saintess Hildegard.≫

≪You have successfully fulfilled “The Sun’s” request.≫

≪Reward: The Rosary of the Sun is awarded.≫

≪The “Observation” function has been added to the system window.≫

≪”Observation” has no set activation phrase. It will automatically interpret and activate based on the user’s intent.≫

A rosary, radiant with gold ornamentation, rested in my hand, seemingly from nowhere.

Surely, as a reward, I wouldn’t simply receive some ordinary beads.

As if summoned by my doubt, new text materialized within the window.

≪Rosary of the Sun: Bestows upon the user, once per day, a potent surge of power.≫

≪The magnitude of the power granted is contingent on the user’s will.≫

A limit of once per day existed, but it at least validated its artifact status.

Furthermore, the extent of the power was unbound. Simply dependent on conditions.

I considered it a decent reward.

Apart from the brief sprint, it hadn’t even been particularly taxing.

And then there was the additional system function I’d acquired.

Judging by the name, it seemed a skill that allowed me to glean information about others.

To test it, I focused on Rignil, slowly bleeding out over there.

Merely thinking of scrutinizing his information caused a new window to manifest before me.

≪System Window—Observation, Target: Rignil≫

≪Race: Human≫

≪Title: Bishop of the Aslan Empire Order≫

≪Formerly just a regular person but discovered a large quantity of divine power through some event.

Thereafter, he entered the Order, feigning devotion to countless individuals.

Finally, after becoming Bishop, indulged his desires to his heart’s content.

Exploited his position within the Order to harass many women.

If a woman caught his eye, he would resort to any method to violate her.≫

≪Trait: Desire Emission≫

≪The stronger his desires, the more potent his magic becomes.≫

Looking at it again, he was suited to meet such an end.

I clicked my tongue while looking at him, and the Saintess in front urged me.

She asked to be sent, saying it was when she needed to go.

“Even if you go now, Saintess, the situation might already be over.”

“It doesn’t matter!!”

“The Saintess might find herself in a situation beyond her control.

And she might suffer such a thing again.”

“Yes, I… I am powerless, and without someone to protect me, I can do nothing alone, that’s true.”

“It’s good you’re aware.”

“But the people I’ve lived and breathed with at the Order for years could be hurt, couldn’t they?

My… ah… my father might be injured in there, mightn’t he?”

“….”

A sob trembles in the Saintess’s voice.

Her round eyes, too, are damp, threatening to spill tears.

“Little Rimel, who used to tug at my sleeve, begging for a single candy.

Sir Vehorn, who always stood guard so proudly at the Order’s entrance.

Even Priest Herrn, taciturn as he was, who would silently listen to others’ troubles.”

“…”

“That blood they shed could be there, and you’re telling me I, the Saintess, should just stand idly by?”

“….”

“I’m truly grateful you saved me, brother. But… I can’t just stand by.”

It seems no words will sway her now.

Her face holds the look of someone who has already steeled herself.

Frankly, I received my reward, so I no longer need to protect the Saintess.

The Order’s support is a little regrettable, but I can do without it.

Grudgingly, I step aside, as if acquiescing, and she gives a hasty bow, then darts outside like a shot.

Behind her, I hear a faint, “I… I al… so…” but I ignore it.

These ears weren’t remade so I could listen to such garbage.

And so, as I prepare to quietly slip away from the Order with my reward,

letters appear before me once more, tireless as ever.

≪”The Sun” says if he lets her go like this, his proxy will be in danger again.≫

≪”The Sun” begs you to protect her one last time.≫

“I refuse. I clearly saved her once, and it was she who left.”

≪”The Sun” says the Order’s members are like family to her, that is why.≫

“That’s not my concern either. They aren’t my family.”

≪”The Sun” offers another reward, with his earnest plea.≫

≪A quest has been generated at “The Sun’s” request.≫

Another quest, appearing once more.

However, the wording this time is different from before.

≪Save the Order from this crisis.≫

≪Reward: ????, ????≫

≪This quest can be refused.≫

That it can be refused…

It’s an action I can hardly believe would be issued by the fellow who cherishes the Saintess so dearly.

Considering it again, however this ends, the Saintess survives.

But it was clear this would badly impact her future, and that’s why he asked for help.

My following thought, however, didn’t let me relax.

The Saintess living was a boon for me as well, but

what if she lived a life that wasn’t really living?

Later, hearing news of her, could I truly escape the guilt?

What if she lost her smile?

Lost her family?

Lost her trust in others?

And, most importantly, abandoned her faith, finally broken beyond repair?

Could I hear that and remain unaffected?

I worried about it for a long while, standing there.

Long enough that I lost track of how many minutes had passed.

Finishing my thoughts, what to do was simple.

“…Goddess, reduce the conditions.”

≪”The Sun” questions what I mean.≫

Pointing a finger upwards, I continued, speaking calmly, with a grave voice.

As if implying that missing this chance would be a great misfortune.

“Change it to rescuing the Saintess from the crisis occurring up there.

If you do that, I’m willing to agree to it.”

≪”The Sun” brightens and accepts the condition.≫

≪”The Sun” offers heartfelt thanks.≫

“Enough of those useless words, give me the information.”

≪”The Sun” asks what information I am requesting.≫

“Location details.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the status window changed again.

Like before, it formed a map displaying the entire region in detail.

This time, unlike before, it seemed to show the Order’s people and the enemy,

and after watching for a while, I realized the situation was even more dire than I thought.

Enemies were everywhere, and the number of the Order’s members was steadily decreasing,

and that was enough of a catalyst to make my footsteps involuntarily quicken.

*

Meanwhile, even amid this chaotic situation, a man was engaged in prayer in a prayer room.

However, unlike other prayers, this was not prayer to an ordinary crucifix,

but to an inverted cross.

For a time, the man lowered his head, remaining completely still as he prayed.

Then, slowly raising his head, he exclaimed in a voice filled with madness.

“Finally… It’s not long now…!

Our… Moon…”