Free Web NovelLower City, a small shop.
Anna stepped into the shop in the sunlight, swept her gaze left and right across the little place that seemed unchanged in the slightest, and reached out to shake the bell on the door.
But the old man in the rocking chair was still dozing.
"I’ve been gone for so long, and you’re not even going to greet me?"
"After coming back, instead of coming to see me, your foster father, the first thing you did was go looking for your lover. And you’ve still got the nerve to ask me to greet you?"
The old man sounded like he was talking in his sleep, yet he deliberately mocked her anyway.
"What, you came crawling back with your tail between your legs and didn’t even get to see him? Heh... looks like you, the Swordbearer, still can’t beat His Majesty of the Empire in the end."
"At your age, you should stop saying things that’ll just make you mad at yourself."
Anna found a chair and sat beside the old man. She reached out and held his arm, already mottled with age spots. Behind her, darkness stirred faintly, and an invisible force slipped into the old man’s body like that.
After a careful examination, Anna’s pretty brows eased. She smiled.
"Looks like you’ve been doing fine lately. At least you didn’t waste all those precious potions I sent you."
"Heh. The potions were so-so. But these days I’m unburdened and free. I just play cards and chess with a few old friends who retired with me. Of course my health’s gotten better." freewёbnoνel.com
The old man finally showed a bit of a smile, nothing like the cold rigidity he used to have when he still held the position of Swordbearer. He opened his cloudy eyes and glanced sideways at Anna.
"So. What is it? Trouble?"
"Trouble? Not really. I’m just once again amazed at someone’s talent for causing disasters, that’s all."
Anna sighed a little and brushed her hair back.
Outside the shop, not far away under a big tree, several old folks were gossiping. They were all leaning in close and acting like they were being discreet, but every word still fell clearly into Anna and the old man’s ears.
"Hey, hey, hey, did you hear? Some big noble’s son from the Upper City—think his name was Muen Campbell—got something going on with an evil god!"
"I know, I know! I heard it’s even a love triangle! The first evil god got dumped after being used, and now it’s ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) screaming about killing him!"
"I heard that too, but isn’t his name Muren Danbell or something? I heard that guy’s juggling a bunch of boats—he even got several evil gods pregnant!"
"Huh? That’s terrifying!"
"Tch. Scumbag!"
"..."
Small-town gossip was always a little off from the truth, but when even the aunties on the street were talking about it, that meant the Bugaard family’s report accusing Muen Campbell of colluding with an evil god had already blown up into a citywide storm.
Whether it was true or not didn’t matter. What mattered was that this had already grown beyond the point where any one party could cover it up alone. It was bound to go to the Empire’s Tribunal for a joint hearing with all sides present.
"Heh. Interesting."
Even though the content of those words left the old man blank for quite a while, he still reacted after grasping the underlying logic. He shot Anna a look that was frankly schadenfreude and smiled.
"I’ve always known that kid would get caught sooner or later. So? As the Swordbearer of the Silent Bureau, what are you going to do?"
"What am I going to do?"
Anna thought for a moment, then propped her cheek up in her hand. Her seductive eyes brimmed with limitless allure.
"What else can I do? Do you really think I could bear to hurt him?"
...
...
"Your Grace, this is what the Campbell family sent over."
"Oh? It’s finally here?"
Canterbury, the Archbishop, kept the delight off his face with practiced ease. He maintained his lofty posture as he unhurriedly accepted the gift box the nun delivered.
The box had no decoration and looked completely ordinary, but a gleam flickered in Archbishop Canterbury’s eyes. He was clearly full of anticipation.
He opened it.
There wasn’t much inside.
Just a deed, and a black crystal card issued by the Imperial Bank.
"Good. That kid really didn’t break his word."
Canterbury stroked his beard with satisfaction. All that suffering when he fought the Indra King hadn’t been for nothing—his beard had nearly been yanked off. Now he could finally build another grand cathedral in Berland in his own name!
"Oh, right—Your Grace, the Campbell family also asked me to pass along a message..."
"Alright, alright, I already know what this is about. That kid never lets anyone have peace. Don’t worry. At the joint hearing, I’ll lean his way a little."
Archbishop Canterbury waved his hand dismissively, clearly not interested in the matter. He muttered to himself.
"An Honorary Hall Knight personally appointed by His Holiness the Pope—how could he possibly be colluding with an evil god? The Bugaard family running around spreading this everywhere... aren’t they slapping our Church in the face?"
"Then I’ll respond that way."
The nun bowed and withdrew.
But before Archbishop Canterbury could even properly enjoy figuring out where exactly his future cathedral land was located, the nun hurried back in again.
"That fast? You already sent the Campbell family away?"
"...No. There’s a visitor."
The nun looked at the archbishop, visibly tense. "Someone from the Holy City!"
"What?"
Archbishop Canterbury froze for a beat, then abruptly stood.
"At a time like this... which one is it?"
The nun didn’t answer.
But for her to rush in so quickly to report it, and with an air like she was about to invite him out...
Then the Holy City visitor’s status had to be comparable to his—or even... slightly above him.
...
...
"I didn’t expect you to come to Berland personally, and yet I received no word at all."
Archbishop Canterbury looked at the silhouette outlined behind the curtain, his expression complicated, and sighed.
"I failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me."
"No, Archbishop. There’s no need for formalities."
From behind the curtain came a voice as crisp and lovely as a songbird.
"This time, when I came to Berland, I deliberately didn’t alert anyone. Archbishop, you know this as well—if my arrival became known to certain fanatical believers, it would definitely put enormous pressure on Berland, which has only just recovered order. I don’t want chaos to descend on this battered city again."
"Your Highness is merciful."
Archbishop Canterbury gave a slight bow and then asked, "So why has Your Highness come?"
"Something that big happened in Berland. Of course I had to come take a look."
"But those matters are already over. Your Highness seems to have arrived late."
"Yes. I arrived late."
The voice behind the curtain carried a faint regret, but at the end, the topic suddenly turned.
"That said... I’ve heard that recently there’s another matter that seems to have caused quite a stir in Berland..."
"...So it really is like that, huh?"
The corner of Canterbury’s eye twitched. He sighed, as if he’d expected this all along.
"That matter isn’t something Your Highness should personally step into. It would only backfire. If outsiders think the Saintess traveled thousands of miles just to openly favor a man, then without anyone else lifting a finger, the fanatics will tear that kid into pieces."
"I... I’m obviously not going to personally step in! Who would personally step in? Doesn’t he have that fiancée and that senior of his? Let them handle everything for him!"
The curtain shook. It was only a voice coming through, yet it was as if one could see a bright, youthful girl puffing out her cheeks in irritation.
But the irritation didn’t last long before her tone shifted again.
"Still... just in case, I should go take a look myself, right? Don’t you agree, Archbishop?"
"..."
If you’re going to say it like that, why are you asking me? frёeωebɳovel.com
If I deny it, will you not go?
Archbishop Canterbury grumbled inwardly, but still answered calmly.
"Then we’ll arrange everything according to Your Highness’s wishes... For this three-party joint hearing, the Church of Life’s side will be represented by you personally."
