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Chapter 72

“Is the Holy Knight Brigade not going to track him down?”

After finishing breakfast, it was finally time to depart.

Ceres stretched languidly and blinked at Scarlet, who remained quiet for a moment before slowly responding.

“The suspect is either a vampire or a lich. Since there are no traces of magical energy, it’s very likely a vampire… So, we’ve gathered this information, and now we’re done. Even if it’s one of those two, our current Holy Knight Brigade forces can’t handle it. Plus, it’d be easier to figure out their intentions if we just wait a bit.”

Hearing that blunt answer, Yona suddenly had a thought.

If they just turn back without tracking, wouldn’t that vampire attack other civilians?

That could lead to a massive amount of damage for innocent people.

But asking that outright… well, it was terrifying.

Scarlet was still kind of scary.

“Hey, bald head.”

“Huh?”

In the end, Yona decided to ask Alex.

“Can’t we just call for support while tracking? What if the vampire or lich attacks another town?”

Alex scratched his nose.

He somewhat understood the hidden intent behind Scarlet’s words.

The findings were true.

It was also true that their current Holy Knight Brigade force couldn’t respond.

The idea of waiting was… well, if Alex understood correctly, Yona would definitely throw a fit upon hearing it.

Saying they’d wait means they’re prepared to let another town get hit.

It’s like saying they want to see where it’s heading next.

“…Um, I mean, before that, it would be better to bring in more troops and catch it, right?”

To be honest, Yona would definitely throw a fit.

He might say his own life was the most important and prioritize his safety, but when push comes to shove, Yona never acted that way. Just like when he saved Rubina.

“So, we just need to do our job. Yona, got it?”

“Who’s saying anything? Once we reach Infula, we’ll head to the community.”

Yona replied indifferently, turning his gaze out the carriage window.

Clunk—

After the sound of the fixed pole popping out, the carriage began to move.

It was too intact for someone to say a wave of the undead had hit the village.

There were occasionally some collapsed stone walls which might suggest zombies or skeletons stumbled through, but that was a minor issue and nothing else seemed to be ruined.
But that was within a range that was definitely worth considering, and aside from that, there was almost no sign of houses collapsing or anything like that.

“There’s no vitality at all…”

“Well, people will be back soon, so won’t it get better, Saint? Don’t worry too much. Since you’re so concerned, why not ask them to pay a bit more attention once you get to Infura?”

Suddenly mumbling, Priest Vigrind was slightly startled by the quick reply and turned to his side.

Ludvik was looking at Vigrind with a big smile on his face.

“Y-Yes, that sounds about right.”

“When you get to Infura, won’t the Saint receive an ordination as well? If that happens, you’d basically be on the same level as the Pope in the Church of the Celestial God. Every word from the Saint will indeed carry weight, so if you say we should pay more attention to restoring Semek…”

“Is that… really how it will be?”

In the small border town of Evian, Priest Vigrind, who belonged to the cathedral there, had certainly shown an exceptional amount of divine power, but that was all there was to him.

Yet, Vigrind was becoming a Saint, elevating his status to that of a precious individual on par with the Pope.

“I can’t quite grasp it yet.”

“With the miracles you’ve shown just by coming this far, no one will doubt that you’re a noble person.”

Ludvik spoke slowly, as if trying to comfort Vigrind.

“Right…”

Vigrind couldn’t finish his sentence and fell silent.

The carriage was moving.

Slowly, oh so slowly.

Heading toward the Infura Church Region.

*

“Excuse me, Regent.”

Ceres turned from her seated position to look at Yona.

Yona was standing awkwardly beside her, calling out to Ceres.

Scarlet, who was sitting not too far away, seemed to be slightly uncomfortable, so Yona was glancing nervously at Scarlet while calling out to Ceres, and somehow that made her look a bit cute, causing Ceres to feel like laughing.

“What’s the matter, Yona?”

“Well, I was hoping to talk for a bit.”

“Really? Alright. If it were someone else, I’d probably tell them to talk here, but if it’s you, Yona, I suppose I have to go. An adventurer summoning a regent? That’s something only you could dream of.”

“Ugh.”

Yona had hesitated, but seeing Ceres react just as she feared made it even more embarrassing.

“I’m just joking. So, where shall we talk?”

“…On, on the carriage.”

Noticing Scarlet’s helmet awkwardly turning to look at her, Yona forced a smile, biting her lips nervously.

Seeing that, Ceres nodded readily, finding it somewhat pitiful.

“Brr, it’s cold.”

It was now truly winter.

The chill was evident in the air.

Even though the carriage wasn’t moving fast, the wind felt sharper and colder than just yesterday, as if it were cutting through their skin.
It was both sudden and sharp.

The icy blade that pierced through their clothes made Yona and Ceres shiver.

“Let’s see…”

As Ceres lightly snapped her fingers, the wind ceased instantly.

From the carriage, the branches outside were still shaking wildly, so it was clear she had done something to shield Yona and herself from the wind.

“Now it’s bearable.”

“Yeah…”

Yona didn’t voice it, but in her nun’s outfit, she was just as cold, having borrowed an outer garment from Alex.

Even with the wind blocked, Yona kept the outer garment wrapped around her.

“You seem very close to Alex?”

“Uh, yes. That’s right.”

Ceres, lounging casually on the carriage, grinned and asked Yona.

Yona felt the question was obvious and replied while slightly distancing herself from Ceres.

“By the way, I heard you’ve worked together for three years?”

“That’s right. More like two and a half years, though?”

“With that much time, it’s natural for a romance to brew.”

“Romance? No way! There’s absolutely nothing like that. In the first place, I—”

Oops.

Yona stopped short before she could finish.

She was hesitant to share the truth with Ceres, so she didn’t want to say it.

Ceres stared at her with a puzzled expression, and Yona awkwardly smiled again.

“Anyway, it’s not like that between us. I have no romantic feelings for Alex whatsoever.”

After all, he’s a guy.

She had no intention of ever wanting to date a guy.

That kind of thing would never happen.

“Then aren’t you being a bit harsh on Alex?”

“Excuse me?”

Ceres’s comment took Yona completely by surprise.

Harsh? What did she mean?

Yona pondered what Ceres might be getting at, but nothing came to mind.

“Alex is already twenty, you know? Yet he only hangs around you. Plus, you make sure to block any other potential suitors from approaching him, don’t you?”

Unlike Ceres, who was grinning as she spoke, Yona was left speechless.

She didn’t even know what that meant, and she couldn’t grasp the idea of blocking anyone else from approaching.

It was because it had never happened in the first place that Yona found it utterly incomprehensible.

“I haven’t done anything like that…?”

“Oh, really? Well, let’s just say that’s the case.”

Every time Ceres glanced at Alex, Yona subtly blocked that gaze.

She either shielded with her body or, just like that morning, when Ceres was looking at Alex, she had simply dragged over a milk jug to block his view, hadn’t she?
“Still no romantic feelings? Ceres was just flabbergasted.

“Well, anyway, it doesn’t matter. So, Yona, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Ah, that’s it. I wanted to discuss our schedule after we arrive in Infula…”

Since they landed in Infula, Ceres planned to turn down any requests she might have, so Yona wanted to share their itinerary in advance to avoid any awkwardness when Ceres made her plea.

“We’re planning to leave Rubina at an orphanage when we get to Infula.”

“Leaving Rubina at an orphanage… Okay, I understand that part. I’ll make sure Rubina can be placed under my guardianship at the Church Region’s direct orphanage.”

What kindness is this?

Yona felt a wave of relief wash over her.

She knew all the things Rubina had been through and how she called her ‘sister,’ but they’d have to part ways. Just thinking about it weighed on her heart. If Ceres—the regent of Kapatia Port and the chief elder of the Church of the Celestial God in Kapatia—became her guardian, then Rubina’s future would definitely be secure.

Rubina might even live a much better, peaceful life than Yona.

“Th-thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ve grown quite fond of Rubina, you know. Anyway, what else?”

“Ah, and… After that, um… James is going to return home, while Alex and I will head to the Mage Community along with Kaiyak.”

“The Mage Community, huh? Hmmm.”

Ceres seemed to be contemplating something while stroking her chin. Every once in a while, she glanced at Yona with a vague smile that made Yona feel a chill run down her spine.

“Yes, yes, the Mage Community. Anyway, I thought it best to let you know that it might be difficult to take any additional requests from there…”

“Thanks for letting me know! Actually, I planned on going back to Kapatia after spending a few days in Infula, and I was hoping to ask for an escort again. What a bummer.”

Good thing she mentioned it beforehand. But speaking of escorting…

“You could make a solo request to James since he’ll pass through Kapatia too. He’s an excellent archer.”

“That’s good to know… So, Yona, you’re saying you’re going to the Mage Community, right?”

“That’s right.”

Her heart was finally starting to calm down.

Ceres had this strangely charming quality. Talking to her felt a bit soothing.

“So, you’re going back to being a guy, huh?”

And just like that, her heart went back to being unsettled.

“Why the expression that says you already knew?”

With a sly smile, Ceres chuckled softly, her eyes curving playfully.

“Well, I heard it all from the Alebians.”

Yona felt shivers at the mere mention of that name after such a long time.”


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