“Are you planning to stay here?”
“For now, yes. We’re not exactly going to the South alone, so it’s good to familiarize ourselves with the people here.”
When I asked if it was alright for me to stay at the cathedral, Adrian looked at me as if surprised.
The conversation from the Moon Tower was simple. Just to hear about the schedule for going south and to get permission to stay here. After a moment of hesitation, Adrian slowly lifted his teacup.
“Well, since this is something I never imagined… it’s not that I dislike it. I just thought I’d stop by briefly and return to the ducal residence.”
“I’m not that fond of home.”
It was meant as a joke, but Adrian remained frozen in place, sipping his tea while gazing at me quietly. The sigh he let out cast a shadow over his expression. Whatever he was imagining, it was clear he was taking my words very seriously.
“…Is that so? In that case, I can offer you a place to stay in the Moon Tower… I mean…”
“If it’s inconvenient for you, you can refuse. I can just go back to the ducal residence—”
“That’s not an option for me. You can stay in the Moon Tower.”
His firm reply left me speechless. The transparent eyes peering out from behind closed lids were clearly scrutinizing me, so I couldn’t even muster a question about Adrian’s enigmatic demeanor. Why was he reacting so strongly to the idea of me returning to the ducal residence?
However, that expression flickered away quickly, and Adrian reverted to his usual demeanor, hesitatingly speaking up.
“There is one issue…”
“What issue?”
“It’s the first time I’ve had a man in the Moon Tower. This space was solely mine, so even if it’s the lower floors, His Holiness the Pope might think it’s odd. Or Lord Berod, for that matter.”
I tilted my head at the thought of it being the first time a man stayed. I was sure I had seen Paladins down there, hadn’t I?
It didn’t make sense for them not to know that men had been welcomed into the Moon Tower, given they’d have had to live there.
So when I asked, Adrian replied as if it were obvious.
“Well, I’ve known the Paladins since they were children, so thinking of them as men… is, well, a bit different?”
So, he had never thought of them as men to begin with. Suddenly, the face of the Paladin I had seen standing below came to mind, and I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
#
It’s normally not allowed for outsiders to stay in the Moon Tower, but being friends with a Saint changes the situation.
Since the Princess had even stayed there occasionally, I was able to see a bit more of the Moon Tower’s interior as I went downstairs with Adrian.
As it was the place to catch the moonlight from the highest point, crystals embedded everywhere sparkled softly.
Moonlight seeping in through the pillar in the center transformed into magic power, supplying the tower with energy, and that energy became light, brightly illuminating the tower even on dark nights.
“I heard the Moon Tower was built when I was young. It started being constructed after His Holiness the Pope received the prophecy and began searching for me.”
“That must have been about 15 years ago.”
“Now that I think about it, I’m actually a year older than Robert. Isn’t that right?”
“Isn’t that so?”
“That’s true. I’ve just turned twenty.”
Adrian, who was chuckling a bit, suddenly grabbed my arm to change direction.
Even if I knew the terrain around here, it was difficult to move alone.
So, naturally, he had to hold onto me.
Even though he was just lightly grasping me to follow along, I let out a small sigh at the sudden gaze I felt.
“Ahem.”
I had seen it earlier, but inside this Moon Tower, there were ‘quite a few’ Paladins for Adrian’s protection.
Most of the Paladins were male, and they had been with her since Adrian’s childhood, especially cherishing her.
That was probably why they found me uncomfortable.
Having a stranger like me with Adrian would be quite strange in many ways.
After all, Adrian was at the age of becoming an adult.
However, I wish they understood that I had no ulterior motive.
Holding onto his arm was solely to help; the Paladins’ gazes were all discontented.
“Robert? Is something wrong?”
“…Nothing’s wrong.”
“I’ll show you the room where you’ll be staying. You can walk a bit faster.”
It just so happened that Adrian’s voice was slightly more excited than usual, and I could see the Paladins purposely passing by my side.
They tapped their hammers at their waists, as if to say, “What are you doing?”
But that didn’t mean I couldn’t understand their feelings at all.
If I had to describe Adrian, “pure white” would be quite fitting.
She seemed untouched by dirt, clean, and pure in every sense, embodying innocence.
The fact that she couldn’t see drew compassion from people.
Thus, it made one want to protect her and feel a little more considerate.
I guess the Paladins viewed Adrian with similar sentiments.
I personally felt my heart soften when looking at Adrian, so I could understand that they were a bit harsh.
As we passed the Paladins and reached a certain point, Adrian suddenly released my arm and came to a stop.
“Wait a moment. I think we just passed it. If we take two more steps back, isn’t there a door?”
“That’s right.”
“That should be an empty room. I don’t sense any presence inside.”
Following her words, when I opened the door, cold wind indeed rushed in.
It was a room where not a single warmth of a person could be felt.
It seemed to be a room that had not been used for a very long time.
However, it had some somewhat luxurious decorations, so it seemed to be intended for guests.
“Miragen often slept here. Other than this, there aren’t any rooms for guests, so if it’s inconvenient, should I provide another room?”
“It’s fine. It’s been a long time, so it doesn’t matter. I’ll seek understanding separately.”
“Please wait a moment. It might be dusty since it’s been left empty for a while.”
Saying that, Adrian lightly clasped her hands together and released her Divine Power.
Brilliant light began to swirl around us.
Like a small torch, the slowly spreading light scattered a bit of dust in the air, causing it to break apart in the atmosphere.
Like a torch, the small dust particles scattered in the air, breaking apart as they slowly spread out in the surrounding light.
After a little time passed, the dust in the room completely disappeared, revealing a space that was left with nothing but pure white.
“Now, things should be a little better, right?”
“You really didn’t have to do this. It wasn’t necessary.”
“Necessary? Come on, I’m a Saint, you know.”
She smiled a little proudly, her face reflecting that emotion. It felt a bit different from when I looked at Adele. It was like looking at a white puppy.
Without realizing it, I reached out my hand toward her head, but suddenly recalling she was a Saint, I quickly withdrew my hand.
If I had petted her like that, I would have been treated strangely.
For a moment, as I stared intently at Adrian, he turned toward me and gently grabbed my arm.
“If you’re going to unpack in the room, it might be better to do it a little later. Today is Lord Berod’s day, so Robert needs to be informed.”
“Lord Berod, you mean the head of the Paladins?”
Lord Berod Alistan, I had heard that name a few times already in past chapters.
While I hadn’t interacted much with the Order, he was regarded as one of the strongest within it.
I had encountered him a few times when the hunt order against me was issued, so I couldn’t say we had no connection at all.
He was of an age suitable to be called an old man.
Still, his stern and righteous character, along with his unmatched strength, had placed him at the pinnacle of the Paladins.
Adrian nodded, agreeing with that sentiment, then suddenly seemed to recall something and opened his mouth slightly.
With a somewhat troubled expression, she bit her lips and spoke.
“…Speaking of which, I offered a short prayer today, but you won’t scold me for that, right?”
“Did you get scolded?”
“Well, Lord Berod is like a father figure to me. He raised me almost single-handedly since I was a child and we met much more often than with other Paladins. I hear he still cherishes the flower ring I made for him.”
So, that fearsome-looking old man had someone he cherished? I nodded in surprise at that thought.
When he fought me back then, it felt like facing a berserker.
He swung a hammer much bigger than my height, healing his wounds with Divine Power whenever he got a little hurt.
His body was clearly not one that could go down easily, so when he charged at me like that, it was quite troublesome.
In the midst of those thoughts, Adrian continued to talk about Berod.
He was a good person, albeit a bit overprotective, and it seemed they had quite a close relationship.
After chatting for some time, Adrian finally began talking about other Paladins.
“The Paladins always seem to like me. Even the priests do, but especially the Paladins.”
“That does seem to be the case.”
“Really? When I was younger, they always followed me around, and when I said I didn’t like it, they promised not to do it anymore.”
“…Oh, I see.”
So that’s why they were sneakily following me. There were about five Paladins stealthily trailing behind.
Am I being followed? There are roughly five paladins stealthily tracking me without a trace.
I let out a hollow laugh and glanced back.
Even when our eyes met, they didn’t shy away. Instead, they sent me sharp glares.
Their looks seemed to say that if I was touched, I wouldn’t walk away unscathed.
I really can’t tell what they think of me.
If they think I’m just some bumbling idiot targeting Adrian, that would be a relief.
But the way they look at me feels less like a bumbling fool and more like an infidel being sized up.
There were even those who gritted their teeth when Adrian came too close.
I was just trying to help, but if they heard about what happened on the roof of the Moon Tower, I might end up crying instead.
“Looks like we’re almost there. I can feel Lord Berod’s presence.”
True to his words, as we walked further behind Adrian, a menacing and powerful aura loomed closer.
Just being nearby sent shivers down my spine with its overwhelming pressure.
Since he was my nemesis during my days as the Swordmaster, this kind of feeling is probably to be expected.
However, perhaps because he’s younger than I remember, his energy lacks the maturity it had back then.
“Berod!”
At Adrian’s voice, that energy began to shift,
and soon, a heavy footsteps signaled an old man appearing.
His beard remained untouched by gray, but his massive frame was still impressive.
He revealed muscles that seemed on the verge of bursting out of his armor, radiating an incredible presence accompanied by a bright red cross on his chest.
“Saintess, you’ve arrived.”
“It’s been a while, Berod. You seem healthier than before.”
“Of course! I’ve been exercising quite a bit lately.”
The warmth in Berod’s eyes as he met Adrian’s gaze was gentle.
It was a kindness completely different from the gaze I was used to, prompting a brief chuckle to escape me.
It seems he’s softer to those he truly cares about.
Separating from me, Adrian approached Berod, who inspected him closely.
As a small divine power enveloped Adrian, Berod smiled softly and affectionately ruffled Adrian’s hair.
“I’m glad to see you well. But what brings you here?”
“I think we’re going to have a guest at the Moon Tower starting today. I came to let you know.”
“Oh, a guest then.”
As I pulled my gaze from Adrian, the warmth in Berod’s eyes swiftly returned to the piercing gaze I remembered.
The holy knight who had rampaged on the battlefield, meeting those twilight-like eyes made my shoulders instinctively twitch.
“A man?”
“He’s my friend, Berod. You may have heard of him—Robert Taylor.”
“Haha, a friend?”
While he laughed, the intensity in his eyes gradually grew.
I knew he wouldn’t dare act recklessly in front of Adrian.
The arm Adrian held was trembling slightly, but beyond that, he remained still.
However, I could definitely sense that Berod’s attitude towards me was different from previous paladins.
While the others merely shot me unpleasant looks, this paladin named Berod would surely be a threat to me…
That instinct nagged at me.
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