“Your hands are smooth, huh?”
“When working, you have to do it right.”
Southwest of the continent, maybe.
Since Principal Merlin sent me a message, it was time for the Knights Templar to clean up the area where the Stork is located.
Well, the Stork probably already took care of everything.
Distract their minds, repeatedly brainwash them to recognize the Harpas Cult’s priest attire as Kalon Church’s priest attire, and incite a tragedy of kin slaughter using their hatred towards the cult.
Finally, using the signal stone I kept in my possession, I would contact the Knights Templar dispatched around the area and move them to wherever the signal stone is activated to wipe out the Harpas Cult.
They probably didn’t move directly to the main force, but it’s highly likely they moved to a pretty significant branch, considering the Harpas Cult’s executor held a rather high position. It’s akin to the rank of a knight in the Empire.
Anyway, if the Knights Templar aren’t complete idiots, there should be some fruitful outcome this time.
“That aside, we need to keep the festival going, don’t we?”
There’s still the closing prayer left, and other faculty events are nearing completion, so just because the assassins have all been delivered to the funeral home doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. I stretched and approached Karina, who was watching me from afar.
“…Good job.”
“You were quite fierce. I didn’t expect you to go for it without hesitation…”
“Hunting should be done efficiently.”
“…Good job. Thanks to you, I feel a bit relieved. For a while, those bastards won’t try to mess with you, Karina.”
“…Well.”
“What do you mean by that ominous answer?”
“Since we started hunting, it’s best to see it through to the end.”
“Are you saying you want to catch the Harpas Cult?”
“That’s the only way to lift the curse embedded in Karina’s body.”
The problem is that the one I likely need to deal with is Harpas himself. If I think about who can curse a saint, it must at least be someone of Harpas’s caliber.
It’s tough to inflict harm on a saint from an executor level…
“Catching him isn’t going to be easy… How do you plan to do that?”
“Do you think I intentionally let him go?”
If I wanted to obtain information, it would have been much better to keep him restrained and interrogate him, but I deliberately let him go while brainwashed.
To die in confusion.
In some way, the war-mad Harpas took the bait I offered.
…However, how will a demon driven mad by war react to my provocation?
After all, from his perspective, the cult is merely a pawn, so he should respond to my provocation in some manner.
Regardless of how he reacts to my provocation, I intended to annihilate the Harpas Cult a year earlier.
Sticking to the original story may be safer, but from the moment the curse was inscribed on Karina’s heart, sticking to the original story isn’t a wise choice.
…It’s not that I keep thinking of Karina in a wheelchair.
“Well…I somewhat understand. Just don’t push yourself too hard. If you need my help, feel free to talk at any time.”
“You protect Karina.”
After all, there are plenty of folks I can use, or rather, people to engage in the hunt with me.
Now I have an excuse to gather all those useless guys up.
“Ugh, if only some useful folks came along.”
I can’t trust the security force because of their track record. The Knights Templar? How can I trust those idiots? The Imperial Knights are total scrubs. Even if the Knights provide thorough security, they’re still less capable than Renny.
…Ugh. If only I could take Renny along and do a tactical Renny throw, things would be a lot easier.
“This isn’t something to happen right now, so let’s talk about it later.”
“Uh, yeah. There’s still a schedule to follow…”
“The festival is about to end, isn’t it…”
Karina looked at the academy building in the distance with a face full of regret. People moving busily, the noisy crowd, and happy smiles mixed in among them.
“It’s a pity you couldn’t enjoy the festival.”
“I’m a saint. Rights come with obligations. I’m carrying out my duties so that those people can smile.”
“Karina…”
…It’s not wrong, but somehow I feel a sadness in Karina’s voice.
“If you get better, how about going somewhere nice?”
“But…”
“It’s fine. Even wild animals who fight death every day take breaks when necessary. Don’t get too bogged down by obligations. A saint is also a person.”
“Johann…”
“…I’m here too…”
Looking at the blushing Renny, I noticed she was scratching her cheek and looking away. I didn’t think I said something that cheesy, but it seems Renny is more susceptible to this kind of thing than I thought.
[Contractor, you really are bold…]
What does that even mean?
—————–
“…With this, I conclude the Feast of Saint Sabrina. See you next year.”
Is it really over? I listened to the cheers greeting the end of the festival filled with chatter and incidents as I looked at Karina, approaching from the podium. Karina gazed at me, seemingly relieved after being tense until the end.
“It’s over.”
“Yeah.”
“Then shall we head back? Everyone must be busy…”
In many ways, it’s a pity. It was a festival, yet I didn’t get to enjoy it. If my body were alright, I would have at least toured the festival a bit.
There are still opportunities next year and the year after, but… still, it’s a regret that can’t be helped.
…Now that I think about it, can’t I just do it?
“Renny. Karina. I need to step out for a bit, so you two stay inside the Yeomyeong-gwan. And Renny, come here for a second.”
“Why?”
I whispered my recent plan into Renny’s ear as she approached with a puzzled face. After hearing my plan, Renny nodded as if she thought it wasn’t bad.
One accomplice added.
“…So I’m going to meet someone for a bit.”
“Uh-huh. Go quickly.”
“Johann? Renny? What were you just talking about?”
“It’s a secret, Karina.”
“Huh?”
“Alright, it’s getting chilly, so let’s head back~”
I quickly glanced back at Karina, who was disappearing into the distance toward the Yeomyeong-gwan, then turned away since I needed to start moving busily.
“I hope everyone has some free time…”
—————-
“Where did everyone go…”
Karina closed the book she was reading and looked out the window. The sunset was fading, and night was gradually revealing itself.
Karina tilted her head as she watched Johann suddenly leave for somewhere and Renny, who was acting strangely and not telling her anything.
This was her first experience with something like this.
No one had ever not answered her questions before.
‘Shall I go out?’
Her weakened body had made it difficult to even walk, but sitting in a wheelchair was no big deal. She quietly transferred herself to the wheelchair and tried to wheel herself towards the door.
“Oh, Karina! Are you going to the restroom?”
“I’m just feeling a bit stuffy. I want to get some fresh air.”
“Hmm… Could you wait just a moment?”
Renny stopped Karina with a troubled expression. Karina couldn’t understand Renny’s intentions and felt her mood dampening. After all, this was her first time experiencing something like this.
She felt a bit disappointed in Renny.
“Renny, are you hiding something from me?”
“…Uh, I want to tell you, but I can’t say anything right now… Could you please wait just a little longer? It’ll be really good in just a bit…”
“Karinaaaaaaa!”
Before Renny could finish her words, the door burst open. Millia, dressed as a maid, breezed in with her hands on her waist, puffing. Both Renny and Karina stared in surprise at the cute red-haired maid’s sudden appearance.
“Hehe! Master! I’m here to take you!”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go!”
“Where to?”
“You’ll find out when we get there!”
Before Karina could react, Millia grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and rushed out of the room. A dazed Renny hurriedly followed beside her.
And so, they ran down the corridor. The hallway was dark since all the windows were covered with curtains. But before Karina’s questions could be resolved, Millia and Renny lifted her wheelchair down the stairs. As they charged ahead, somehow they found themselves standing by the back door.
“W-What’s going on?”
“Hehe. Just wait and see! It’s about to be revealed~”
Millia grabbed the doorknob of the back door and flung it open.
“Tada~”
“This is…”
Karina looked at the large altar that filled her view.
The Tower of Fire. A fiery sphere that could surely be called so warmed her body. While she was blankly staring at the flames, a familiar voice reached her ears.
“It’s a campfire.”
“…Johann?”
Her versatile escort pointed at the food set up on tables surrounding the campfire and flames with a grin.
Many dishes were piled up on the table, lavishly prepared, showing they put extra effort into it, which left Karina gazing at the table in surprise.
“It may not be as grand as the festival, but I tried to decorate it nicely.”
“Karina! You worked hard!”
“Karina, you did a great job. I’m looking forward to next year.”
“Karina, you really worked hard.”
Everyone gathered around the campfire, noticed Karina’s arrival, and came over to greet her. Karina looked up at Johann, her expression one of disbelief as she struggled to comprehend the situation.
“Johann… Was this what you rushed off for?”
“Yeah.”
Karina looked down at the flames. The size of the flames was on another level compared to a bonfire. Surrounding the fire with rocks to prevent it from spreading must have been Johann’s doing. Karina didn’t need to see to know that;
Finding something he couldn’t do was more difficult for him.
“…Thank you, everyone.”
“Oh, rather, I feel honored to be invited to a party like this.”
“Right! Lewis thinks that too, doesn’t he?”
“That’s right.”
“Uh… I feel honored too? Saint.”
Sif, in charge of transporting wood, mumbled awkwardly.
Karina’s eyes grew misty as she saw everyone saying they worked hard.
“Really, thank you.”
“Don’t cry. Festivals are meant to forget sad things and make you smile.”
At his words, Karina managed to stretch her lips into a smile.
Brighter than ever.
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