Chapter 97 – Anecdotal – Necessity Named Fate (7)

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Luca. Thanks to you, it was resolved very easily.”

“It might have looked easy to see.

“I was also at the scene. Watching lightning and rocks gushing out around me was a kind of labor.”

“You don’t seem to be nervous at all, Mr. Weather, for that matter. You don’t look frightened at all.”

“Because I’m so strong-hearted.”

Weather shrugged slyly. Seeing that, Weather wondered if he hadn’t expected things to turn out this way from the beginning. The situation at that time was not something this girl who was shorter than Ellie could endure.

Of course, it wasn’t that important. Anyway, Nadia has been arrested and she will be going back home. Back at the boundary, I watched the old teacher leave until the end. And she earnestly hoped that this incident would serve as an opportunity to curb her ambitions.

“More than that, Mr. Luca. Do you have any last words to say to Nadia Leonhart? I thought she must have more to say.”

“I’ve done enough. Rather, what’s going to happen to her now?”

“She’ll be stripped of her title and go to her hometown. And there’s going to be a dirty political fight going on. After all, Lord Leonhart still has a lot of friends. More than anything, a lot of money.”

“Sir Leonhart is a wise man. Now you know it’s time to put a stop to her daughter’s rampage.”

“A person cannot become strong without going through trials. And Sir Leonhart hasn’t gone through enough trials yet.

The last word was something someone else I know would have said, so I involuntarily frowned. But he didn’t point that out. Anyway, it’s a story that no one else knows.

“Anyway, I’m really glad it ended well. Really.”

In the meantime, Weather left a brief impression of the situation. Then Vanessa intervened this time.

“It ended well. I think there are still problems with the settlement, Mr. Weather.”

“If it’s a settlement, the imperial family will take care of it, so don’t worry. I’m not the financial officer.”

“But the fact that the contract was clearly violated should be questioned by a person in charge like you, isn’t it?”

“Nothing was violated. Anyway, you did your job as a guide, and you came back after finishing it.”

“But there was no mention of lightning strikes, earthquakes, or dragon raids.

“You broke away. Thanks to Mr. Eli for protecting you well. In terms of the result, it’s true.”

“Her…”

Vanessa raised the corners of her mouth in amusement at Weather’s brazen and brash attitude. But it didn’t feel like a genuine smile. Vanessa, the director of an orphanage who beat gangsters in dangerous Harlem, was not such an easy person.

“You’d better not annoy me, Mr. Weather. He’s such a bad-tempered person.”

“It’s a coincidence. I’m a bad talker. And you don’t want to swing your fist at a special advisor belonging to the imperial family.”

“Maybe you’ll get dragged into the church and get a little bit of a curse. And I’ll protect you from being dragged into the imperial family. But if you’re beaten properly, you’ll suffer for at least two months. If you’re unlucky, you’ll break your teeth.”

“Well… I guess I’m lucky enough to handle it on my tongue. I don’t know if only Vanessa can do that.”

“Really pissed off…”

In the midst of the busy exchange of words, Vanessa’s patience eventually reached its limit first. She looked at her weather with her childish gaze of rage, then swung her fist impatiently. It was an accurate and quick blow that made her origin as a priest unbelievable.

However, Weather dodged his fist so lightly that his skill was futile. Vanessa panicked and tried to swing her fists around, but Weather kept her eyes closed and let the blow slip away. Then, at one point, he deliberately provoked an attack, causing Vanessa to hit her wall.

Just like that, when Vanessa’s fist hit the wall, rocks splattered all over her, digging a hollow in her. Weather dodged all the fragments and quietly hid behind me. Then, when I sent a strange look, he winked lightly in this direction.

“I told you. Luka-san, only you can’t see the future.”

“I guess there are real prophets in this world.”

“There are more areas that even Luka-san doesn’t know than I thought. Just like there are many areas that I don’t know about.”

“So it’s just a pity.”

“Ha… I’m really pissed off…”

Meanwhile, Vanessa sighed and swallowed her anger. Seeing that she didn’t groan even after she smashed her wall like that, Vanessa was also a great person. She did those things even when her limbs were crippled, so she’ll do more now than then.

I tossed her a water bottle at her and quietly gave her words of comfort.

“Wether said it that way, but since you’ve had such a hard time, he’s sure to take it into consideration. Getting angry in a place like this will only hurt your body.”

“It’s natural for a priest of the Ennessic Church to hurt himself. But Mr. Luca is right. In the end, it’s all my loss.”

“Are your fists okay?”

“I can’t even count this much on the axis of injury. More than that, Luka-san, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re amazing. I’m starting to wonder what Luca really is.”

It was a joke thrown out like a joke, but there was something that bothered me a little. As I pondered over what to say, she leaned over to me.

“Rather than that, the story we were talking about back then. Shall we continue?”

“What…Ah.”

“If you really care. Giving is the fastest way to heaven.”

“Well. I’m not sure about that.”

I gave a rough answer and glanced at Ellie. Fortunately, she was busy talking to Weather. She secretly felt guilty, but still, this was her chance.

“Shall we talk quietly for now?”

“That’s my specialty. So how are you going to make the donation? Cash? Or, in kind?”

“Which one is more comfortable?”

“Cash, of course.”

Conversing in a quiet voice, I felt as if I had become a villain plotting a crime. Of course, it wasn’t that different.

“You gave me a message at the right time, Mr. Luca. I was thinking of setting up a group of donors.”

“I’m not interested in that.”

“As time goes by, you may change your mind. There will probably be a lot of high-ranking people gathered at that meeting. The nobles of the capital. The warrior who defeated the dragon. Or the wealthy enough to know just by hearing the name. It might be fun if you visit it. I don’t know.”

“…Who is the hero who defeated the dragon? Was there such a person?”

“You’re here now.”

For a moment I couldn’t understand what she was saying and just stared at her dumbly. Then, suddenly realizing, I sighed deeply.

“I’ll donate, but please don’t use me for that. I don’t want to be famous unnecessarily.”

“I’ll try, Mr. Luca. Anyway, thank you for expressing your intention to donate. Goddess bless you.”

“Don’t even get a blessing.”

“It’s a bit embarrassing to come out like that. There is no such thing as a donation without a purpose. Is it really just out of goodwill? Or do you want something else?”

“Just…Let me know about the kids from time to time. That’s fine.”

“Hmm…”

Vanessa looked at me suspiciously. She used to penetrate the world with her only one eye, so now that she has two eyes, that insight would be more and nothing less.

But she shrugged her shoulders and put on a look that seemed okay. She then glanced towards Ellie.

“Rather than that, can I not tell her wife? I’ve seen too many married men do this to their unfortunate end.”

“What…”

Only then did I turn my attention to it. Ellie was still talking to Weather. Looking at the figure, I muttered a hope that was not certain.

“You’ll find out later.”

“…Well, it seems like they’re talking about something like that. Secretly donate to the orphanage. There’s no such thing as an angel. You don’t have to stop, Mr. Eli? You’re just trying to spend money without consultation.”

“That’s cute, right? It’s nice anyway, but you’re using it, right?”

I smiled and looked at Luca. Luca hadn’t dreamed that I was having such a conversation with Mr. Weather, and he was still keeping her voice low.

“And most of all, you have to attach a hobby to something like that so that you don’t do stupid things later, right?”

“I totally agree. It’s easier for everyone if someone like Luca-san stays as calm as possible.”

“That doesn’t sound nice.”

“The truth is inherently uncomfortable for everyone, both to the listener and to the speaker.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just like a saying among the prophets. Never mind.”

Propheticly, she ended with an ambiguous story. Then she held out her hand with a somewhat relieved expression.

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Eli. The same goes for the imperial family, but I can’t help but say that I was relieved thanks to you.”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“Half of it is thanks to Ellie for sending Luka-san.”

“I’m glad you know. Just know that this won’t happen next time.”

I held her hand and smiled softly. Seeing his tired expression relieved, I felt relieved for some reason.

“So, are you going to enjoy your vacation again now? You look very tired, but I think you should rest soon.”

“No. There’s going to be an incident related to the possessed person in Erendel, so I’m going to go see it. It’s easier to deal with it in advance. If you give Professor Sera a few words, she’ll probably take care of it.”

“I don’t know what the possessor is, but this time he’s trying to harass Sera? He must have some ill feelings toward Laurenheim.”

“I have no ill feelings. I don’t know anyone else.”

“Yes?”

“Anyway, it’s not dangerous, so don’t worry. And for at least five years, there won’t be any uninvited guests like me knocking on your door.”

Mr. Weather shrugged her as if nothing was wrong, but he couldn’t get past the realistic unit of five years. After a bit of hesitation, I ended up asking the question.

“May I ask what you mean?”

“You’ll know when the time is right, Mr. Eli.”

“Hmm…”

“Just support Luka-san, okay?”

She whispered to me in a low voice. Then she added something like a joke.

“And watch out for rabbits.”

“Yes?”

“I’m not as bad as I thought.”

“What about you…”

“Then I’ll go. I’m quite busy with work.”

Mr. Weather gave me the first thin smile, and before I could reply, she had gone away. I looked at her back as she shot through the crowd again, and I blankly waved her hand.

Meanwhile, after the conversation, Luca approached me. Then, with a puzzled expression, he caught my gaze and looked into the distance.

“Looks like Weather has just left. He’s done his business.”

“I’m busy. I have a lot of work.”

“I guess that job didn’t include saving the world. Seeing as I don’t remember encountering them before.”

“Don’t be like that. The Prophet must have had his own circumstances.”

“And above all, there is only one prophet I know.”

The unit of one person, not one person, sounded especially meaningful. Luca still had too many secrets I didn’t know. Although she confessed the whole truth to me, she wouldn’t have been able to unravel all the emotions and feelings contained in it.

In particular, there were so many things I hadn’t heard about the red-haired detective. It was probably one of the most painful parts for Luca.

Her story about her rabbit probably had something to do with her too.

…

But as she said, the truth is painful both to the hearer and to the speaker. That’s why I gently wrapped Luca’s arm instead of questioning him.

“Rather than that, what should I say? I finished my work quickly, so I can go out and play, right?”

“I haven’t really thought about anything.”

“I’ve been to the past, but out of all the places I liked, I’m sure there’s at least one.”

“Well. Most of them have only memories of being dragged around by Nadia.”

“Come to think of it, you seem to be very involved with that woman, don’t you?”

“Uh… Huh?”

At my words, Luca was terribly embarrassed and stuttered her words. Even though I knew it wasn’t like that, I stabbed her in the side for no reason.

“Actually, it’s as if I came here because of Nadia. Looking at that, it seems like there were just as many good memories as there were bad ones.”

“No, that’s…”

“At this point, I start to wonder what happened to Vanessa. Why did she think the priest she met was a woman again?”

“It’s just a coincidence.”

“Come to think of it, it seems like every time I go there, I always make a woman. Isn’t it?”

“Uh…”

“Um… That sounds suspicious…”

As she narrowed her eyes and looked at her, Luca blushed at her in embarrassment, as if she were a child. For some reason, I was happy to see him, so I crossed my arms and cast my eyes into the distance.

At that moment, the figure of a rabbit blinking bright red eyes caught my eye on the hill. But when I looked over there with a frown on my face, it quickly disappeared somewhere.

Did you see it wrong? It was too bright for that.

“…What’s wrong, Ellie. What’s there?”

“…”

Suddenly, Mr. Weather’s advice came to mind. So instead of answering seriously, I opened my mouth in a playful voice.

“… I think I can see her husband’s promiscuous past and bizarre secrets. If I pay more attention, I think it will become clear.”

“Because it’s not like that…”

“Well. You’ll know that when you look further.”

Then, winking with one of her eyes, she gently turned Luka’s body to the other side. Luka’s face still contained so many secrets and worries that if she was not careful, she would fall into a deep swamp at any moment.

So sometimes it was necessary to turn away. From the world. From the truth. From the past. To get him to turn his back completely like that, he’d have to put a pretty girl on the other side.

“Luka.”

“Huh?”

I believed that was my role, so I smiled as always.

And it was, after all, my favorite thing in the world.

“So where shall we go now?”