326 – The Holy Sword Contest -3-

“Slurp.”

After the academy group had all departed.

In the soup house, where I found myself alone with this mysterious woman, I let out a chuckle as I watched her bury her head in a black stone bowl. She had already polished off five servings with that small frame of hers.

“How audacious for commoners to eat such food!”

“Puha-ha…!”

“Lady Shuen of the Tetra family…! I believe such establishments are needed even in the capital!”

“Is it really that delicious?”

– Nodding. Nodding.

Shuen nodded as she poured out her frustrations, recounting the grueling journey of the past three days.

“I thought I was going to die of hunger after eating nothing but jerky for three days! Cold, hungry, and broke!”

“I see.”

“It was tough! I never imagined I’d run into a commoner along the way!”

“Umm.”

I never expected to meet you here.

It was nice to see Shuen enjoying her meal, but how should I put it? There was a strange sense of pity as I watched her, a noble, abandon her dignity and eat ravenously.

As I placed a side dish atop the heaping spoonful of rice she had taken, I asked,

“I never thought I would run into you here, Shuen.”

“I never thought I would see a commoner here either! I guess being a jobless bum means you can be found anywhere!”

“I came here for work.”

“Hoohm.”

Shuen nodded, giving a thumbs-up.

“So, you were busier than I thought for a commoner.”

“What made you think that?”

“I saw you as a bum.”

“…”

I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head. I could see how I might come off that way.

“Shall I order you another bowl?”

“Yes, please!”

“Understood.”

Whatever it was, seeing Shuen clean her plate was a pleasant sight, so I didn’t feel too bad about it. It was something I often heard, and she surely didn’t mean it in a hurtful way.

To be honest, I still didn’t understand why Shuen had come to the North. In the novel, she was a character who had exited the stage. After being rejected by Mikhail, her only role was to sulk away, and I couldn’t fathom why she would suddenly appear in the North.

Especially since it coincided with the time of retrieving the Holy Sword. It didn’t seem like Shuen had come to the North for the sake of the sword.

“It’s delicious!!!!”

“…Heh.”

Well, whatever the reason, it was fine by me.

I set my spoon down and turned to Shuen. After all, it was best to ask when curiosity struck.

“Um, Shuen.”

“Why do you call me? Commoner. I still haven’t finished my bowl…!”

“Uh… what brings you to the North?”

“Eh…?”

At my sharp question, Shuen flinched, her shoulders trembling slightly, and then she began to mumble, glancing at me nervously.

“Well…”

“Yes.”

“That…”

“Please, speak slowly.”

“It’s…!”

I smiled gently as I brushed away the rice grain stuck to Shuen’s lips.

And Shuen’s heart.

‘…Irregular heartbeat!’

It was racing like a mad thing.

“You have rice on your face.”

“This… this is scandalous!!”

“Pardon?”

“Sca… scandalous…!”

It seemed she was malfunctioning.

Watching the broken Shuen, I let out a chuckle and ruffled her hair. I thought for sure I had misjudged the reason for her being in the North.

‘It can’t be because of the holy sword.’

After all, she was a sorceress.

Just as the broken Shuen began to regain her composure, she picked up her spoon again and this time looked me straight in the eye, asking,

“What business does a commoner have in the North?”

“Are you referring to me?”

“Yes!”

“It’s a trade secret, so I’m afraid I can’t share.”

“Then I have a secret too.”

With a huff, Shuen turned her head away, and I nodded, speaking in a low voice.

“Still, please don’t venture into the northern snow mountains.”

“Why not?”

“Because there are monsters in the northern snow mountains. They say ghosts come out at night. Spirits lost in the mountains…”

“Ahhh!!!!”

With a clatter, Shuen jumped from her chair, forming a cross with her fingers and thrusting it toward me.

“Stay back!”

“Ah…”

He truly is a funny one.

After exchanging a few more words with Shuen, I bid farewell. She had her tasks, and I had mine.

Of course, I was the one who paid.

– I’ll take care of it!

– Shuen.

– What money does a commoner have…!

– It seems you’re barely able to afford the fare back.

– …

There was a moment when Shuen, trembling as she offered to buy me a meal, revealed the contents of her wallet, but all in all, it was a welcome encounter.

Anyway.

It’s tomorrow.

The procession of those seeking the Holy Sword will begin at the break of dawn.

The conflict between the forces of the heretics and the Empire.

Given that the nearby inn was fully booked, it seemed the royal family was putting in quite the effort. The absence of Rowen suggested he would likely arrive by dawn.

Considering the Empire’s sword could not afford to leave its post, I thought it was a decent strategy.

Above all.

– Saintess.

Elysia was on our side.

‘You have come.’

I turned my head toward the direction of the voice I heard. And as I caught sight of the woman cloaked in robes, her face obscured, I swallowed hard.

She sat there, demure.

In a posture reverent as if waiting for the divine,

With black hair,

And captivating eyes.

Though her hood covered her head, the aura she exuded was unmistakable, and I could guess who she was in an instant.

‘The Apostle of Gentleness.’

The moment I took a step closer to the bench where she sat, the space began to warp. As if preparing a realm for just the two of us.

The trees twisted like threads, yet no one passing by seemed to notice, and the street began to transform into a hushed space occupied only by her and me.

‘…A monster.’

It struck me anew, the realization settling in once more.

She was one who held the title of Apostle.

“Huuh…”

I slowly approached the bench where she sat and took a seat beside her. After a moment, a soundless ringing began to echo in my ears.

—I have been waiting.

‘Is it a premonition?’

I nodded and asked Elysia.

—Have you been followed?

—I handled it on my end.

—Saint.

—That title is not to be used.

—…

—It cannot be helped, then.

Releasing a short breath, I turned to Elysia.

—Before we begin the tale, there is something I wish to ask with certainty.

—…I will answer any question.

—Then I shall ask without concern.

—Nod.

—Whose side does the Apostle stand on?

—…

—Are you with the Empire? Or with the Order?

—I am.

Elysia clasped her hands, her voice unwavering as she replied.

—I am on the side of the Saint.

—…

—Not the side of anyone else, but the Saint’s side. The Saint is my pillar.

I nodded heavily.

‘My side, then.’

It was still difficult to fully trust Elysia, yet I found a sense of reliability in the words she had spoken.

[Elysia Lv. 100]

[Affinity: 100]

—

Preferred topics of conversation: son, saint, resurrection, family, warmth…

Disliked topics of conversation: apostle of temperance, heretics, ugliness, filth…

The convenient feature of the affinity window reveals her true feelings.

What is certain is that this endeavor has granted us tremendous power. Just by her remaining passive, the Academy’s party gains significant strength.

If one were to think that Rowen, who had kept the two apostles in check, would now take on the apostle of temperance alone, perhaps this situation could lead to severing one of the apostles. I nodded, clenching my fist.

– Very well.

Having confirmed each other’s trust, I thought it was time to get to the heart of the matter.

As if reading my mind, Elysia began to spit out information about the heretics without a hint of hesitation.

– I have located the holy sword.

– You’ve grasped it quicker than expected.

– Yes. While I have not yet pinpointed the exact location, I have confirmed that there is a temple at the edge of the Andes where the holy sword lies dormant.

– We cannot enter it now.

– The order’s personnel are breaking through the barrier.

– They are mere lab rats.

– Indeed.

I posed the most crucial question to Elysia.

– What is their strength?

– …

– Two apostles and one archbishop?

Elysia shook her head.

– Two apostles. Five archbishops.

– …Five?

– Yes. And…

– …

– There are about a hundred ordinary believers.

I steadied my trembling heart and asked.

– Are you mad…?

A hundred,

Though it was merely a number, the thought of over a hundred ‘madmen’ losing their sanity made my eyes widen.

If that were the case, the imperial army would be consumed in holding back the heretics’ forces, while the archbishops would face the Academy students head-on.

—

The imperial army was indeed a formidable force, yet without the elite troops, it was hard to expect any significant strength.

Then…

‘This is dangerous.’

I asked Elisia in a trembling voice.

— Surely not…

Elisia nodded, her face heavy with concern.

— It seems the Restraint has caught on.

And then.

— They appear to be seeking a new Apostle.

‘Damn it.’

— It seems Restraint has found someone to fill the vacant position of the Apostle of Mercy.

A variable.

A variable I had not anticipated.

Perhaps.

No, if, by some chance, more than one Apostle-level contender were to enter the Holy Sword contest, we would be utterly overwhelmed by their power.

If that were to happen…

I might have to forfeit the Holy Sword.