Chapter 22: A very unpleasant day. (1)

Despite being called work, no formal duties were assigned to the Hero's office besides answering letters from the royal family and high nobles. We also lent a hand whenever our cooperation was needed for monster subjugations.

Of course, we didn't waste our time. We spent most of our training. In fact, answering letters and showing up at events wasted the Hero's time. The stronger I become, the more likely I am to survive and defeat the Disasters. It wasn't long before I set out to destroy the Fourth Disaster. The red marks eating away at the white spaces on the calendar seemed to be gnawing at my mind.

"You look busy."

Georg said to me out of nowhere. We were writing reports about our fight with the Third Disaster. Since I didn't know how the fight went, my job was to pretend to listen to him. Other than that, we had a brief meeting about our plans for the coming days, which was unproductive.

"Have you ever heard of a swan's foot under the water?"

"You must keep trying, even if others don't recognize it. Even a swan drowns when it stops swimming."

Georg was getting better at understanding my words. Except this time, I wasn't joking. I sighed and stretched out on my desk. The Holy Sword had been training me lately. It focused on training my body first. A weapon in the hands of a weak swordsman is not a threat.

Since the first awakening of the Holy Sword speeds up my body's recovery, I've been able to train with little sleep. I would fall asleep around 2 in the morning and wake up three hours later to begin my "Miracle Morning" training. It was a shock to realize that I had little fatigue. It was even more shocking to hear Holy Sword's tongue-in-cheek voice saying it was better than medicine.

"I brought you tea."

Daphne poked her head out of the door of the breakroom. Her clear, beady voice was like sweet rain. The teacup on my desk made a pleasant clinking sound. She had skillfully poured the cold tea. I wrapped my hands around the chilled mug, savoring its coolness. It was the perfect early summer beverage.

"It's getting a little hot, so I thought I'd try making something to cool you down."

"You're the best, Daphne."

I muttered with a happy sigh, and Daphne's face watched as I picked up the cup. I took a sip of the tea, letting the scent of jasmine and green tea wash over me.

"Nice."

She smiled broadly. Ever since the confrontation with Nella, her expression had brightened. I took another sip of my tea, appreciating the smile I'd come to see more often.

Suddenly, we heard a knock on the door from the first floor. I rose from my seat to greet our guest. Daphne followed me out of habit as I left the room.

"Who is it? Did we have any guests for today?"

"...I don't think so. However, I hope it's not the same unwelcome visitor as last time."

Reaching the first floor with a grim feeling, I opened the door with an unsure hand, and the figure standing in the doorway was a man I wasn't sure whether to greet.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it, Hero?"

Bishop Andrei was dressed in his sacramental robes and had a silver rosary in hand, a gleaming smile on his face. 'At least it's not Nella.'

"Well, I hope it's not rude of me to come visit now."

Bishop Andrei said, smiling at my fat expression. I shook my head nervously. He'd been nice to me during my last hearing, but this is basically the head of the Inquisition. That means he's not to be taken lightly or trusted completely.

"Come on in."

I held the door open for him. Bishop Andrei entered, looking around the lobby appreciatively.

"You've stayed in the kingdom longer than I thought."

"I've had more to deal with while in Kairos. It's all thanks to you and Iris."

He gave a low chuckle. I can't refute what he said. Iris had disappeared after entering the kingdom, so he would have to stay for a while to learn of her whereabouts or hear from her. We walked to my office, where we could talk comfortably.

"You're here because...."

"There are a few things I need to tell you. I have some news that you will be pleased to hear.

Bishop Andrei shrugged expectantly. When we reached the office, Georg, who was in the room, saw Bishop Andrei and greeted him with a polite bow.

"Welcome, Bishop."

"You don't have to be so formal; just treat me like a regular guest."

Bishop Andrei took a seat on the couch set up for the reception. I sat across from him, and Daphne scurried to the parlor to get more tea. Bishop Andrei, glancing at her, murmured admiringly.

"Is that Daphne? You've grown well from the last we met."

"... Is that so?"

"Yes. Congratulations on that, for you have accomplished quite a bit. You've become a wizard worthy of being in the Hero's party."

The Bishop turned to me again, looking amused. I wondered what bombshell that smiling face had in store for me today. Daphne served tea, and Bishop Andrei sipped his jasmine green tea over ice.

"I found Iris."

I nearly spit out my tea. I blinked, swallowing the tea down with saliva that rattled the back of my throat. Surely he wouldn't break his promise to me and do something stupid.

"You...found...Iris?"

"I don't know when she went there, but she's in a city quite far from the capital. She's been spotted a few times by the Adventurer's Guild, and now she's staying at an inn in Kolda. There are churches and believers everywhere, so finding out where she is shouldn't be too hard."

He took another sip of his tea.

"Iris hasn't come to the church yet. I don't know if she has a purpose or is looking for someone, but she can't stay away from the church forever, so I'm sure she'll make an appearance before long."

That someone had to be Arjen. Had they even met? It was one of those scenes that I'd been quite impressed with in the original, but now that I thought about it, I could only feel my stomach twist.

"What will you do when you find her?"

"If I can get hold of her, I will ask her to do some post-war training. Kolda happens to be close to Bactins, where the Third Disaster appeared, so I'm sure they wouldn't mind hearing what you had to say."

Fortunately, the Inquisitors didn't have the wrong idea. I was fine as long as I didn't try to kidnap Iris or mess with the main character.

"...I see."

"Thanks to what you said at the hearing, the Holy Land and the Saintess were able to get out of an awkward position, for which I must thank you again."

Bishop Andrei sighed.

"We won't be sending the Saintess back into the monster-infested battlefield. However, if you continue hunting the Disasters, you may have to face her again at some point."

Iris. Honestly, I had no desire to get more involved with her or the main character. But as long as I remain the Hero and she remains the Saintess, I have no choice but to meet her occasionally.

"My hope is that if such an opportunity arises, we will be able to resolve the misunderstandings that have accumulated between the Saintess and the Hero. Apart from the relationship between the Holy Land and the Kingdom of Kairos."

'I don't see the point in messing with a broken relationship; it will only cause a fight.' I gave him a curt nod and slurped up the rest of my tea. Seeing my lukewarm reaction, Bishop Andre shrugged with a wry smile.

"Do you still have something else you want to tell me?"

He held out his palm. Judging by the anticipation in his eyes, it may not be news I'd like to hear.

"Whatever the case, the Mercenary and the Saintess left the party. Meaning the true fighting power of the Hero's Party is greatly reduced."

"... That's right."

"Since the Holy Land owes you a debt of gratitude, I have prepared a small gift..."

'Gift?' I scratched my head.

"I'd be very grateful if it was in money."

Bishop Andre chuckled at my comment. I wasn't kidding.

"The Holy Land is in a tight spot these days, so I can't give you money, but I have something for you that money can't buy. I believe it will be of great use to you."

An item. That's somewhat unnerving.

"You mean you brought the item here yourself?"

Bishop Andre shook his head.

"It's not something I can personally carry back and forth, and it took quite a bit of care to move it from the Holy Land to here."

"Then, where is it now...."

"It is currently being stored in the basement of a church in the Kingdom."

The Bishop replied, rising from his seat. He looked at Daphne and Georg.

"Only the Hero and I are authorized to enter the basement. You two will have to wait here until we return...."

I shrugged and held out my hand.

"You don't have to wait for us; you can leave first."

Georg nodded and left. However, it took some time to convince Daphne, who looked worried and insisted on waiting until the end, to go. Bishop Andrei watched the scene with a smile.

"I see you have good company."

"... Let's go."

***

The Puritan church was not large. I was expecting something like the grandeur of a Gothic cathedral. Still, I saw a normal-sized church closer to the crudeness of Gregorian and Roman churches. Perhaps such massive cathedrals are primarily found in the Holy Land, not here.

"The churches of the Kairos Kingdom have history and tradition. This is one of my favorite churches."

Bishop Andrei said as he pushed open the creaking doors of the cathedral and entered. The church, built with its back to the sun, felt chilly despite the approaching summer. The Bishop briskly walked past a pastor seated on a chaise longue.

"...I see no one is here."

"There is no mass today, and I asked the believers to leave for a few minutes as I'm bringing a guest here today, and they graciously obliged."

I fidgeted unnecessarily with the hilt of my holy sword.

(I wonder what he wants to give to you.)

...Well, the Holy Sword seemed slightly interested.

"Now, this is the place."

Bishop Andre said, standing before a wooden door on the edge of a cloister-like area. The Inquisitor was opening a door that led down to the basement, and I had a feeling that what lurked behind that door was a dungeon for heretics.

"Come in."

He said while holding up a lantern. 'When did he get that?' I swallowed hard and followed him into the darkness. It was dark enough, but a chill began to creep through my body as we made our way into the basement.

"There's something called a Holy Relic. Have you ever heard of it?"

The Bishop's voice cut through the footsteps descending the stone steps. In the lantern's flickering light, his shadow appeared and disappeared on the wall like a ghost.

"You mean like relics left behind by saints of old?"

The Bishop nodded and smiled.

"Yes. They often have special powers, like the Holy Sword you wield."

I glanced down at it. It spoke immediately, not giving me the chance to say anything.

(None of them will be as strong as I am.)

'Yes. There can't be anything else as powerful as a Holy Sword. If they have something with similar power to you, it might be better to call them an armed organization.'

"I would like to lend you one of those relics now."

Reaching the basement, Bishop Andrei hung the lantern from the ceiling. A glass casket wrapped in black cloth stood out in the flickering light. He slowly approached it, grabbed the fabric, and pulled it down.

"An object left behind by a saint in a time far, far away, unimaginable now."

Inside was a crown of thorny vines.