MPBAGS Chapter 41

Wow… Are the ethics and morals of these fantasy romance novel people for real? I'm so exhausted I feel like all the energy is being drained from my body.

Suddenly Uriel ran out, and Raphaela was giving me intense looks like he wanted to follow Uriel, so I said let's go check it out, and he ran at full speed.

Uriel and Raphaela were running so fast that I couldn't even catch up to them, so I walked in the direction Jelly had pointed out. As expected, werewolves are canines too, so they're really good at picking up scents.

I walked hard with what little stamina I had left, only to find an absurd situation unfolding.

Why is everyone just standing around staring blankly instead of taking any action when there's a person on fire? It was like watching bystanders who, when something happens, start filming with their phones to post on social media instead of calling for help. And you don't even have phones!

Even when the Donau house caught fire before, everyone gathered around to watch the fire, and now they're just watching when a person is burning? People with no sense of ethics!

"What kind of situation is this?"

Seriously, what kind of situation? What is this really! There's a fire! And it's even spread to a person! This is serious. Where's a fire extinguisher! Oh, there probably aren't any fire extinguishers here, right?

Then water, where's water? I only remember there being a fountain in the garden outside the temple. Where's water? I was looking around when I spotted Jelly holding a water bottle. I felt like shouting "Eureka!"

I hurriedly gestured and took the holy water bottle from Jelly. I opened the cap and poured water. I wish it would gush out, but maybe because the opening was narrow, it just trickled out. What is this, a stream! I got annoyed and gestured, so Jelly cleverly handed me another opened holy water bottle.

After pouring about six bottles of holy water, the flames died down. Fortunately, since this isn't ordinary water, it seems to have excellent extinguishing effects.

Wow… I almost died but survived. All the tension drained away. The person who had been engulfed in flames just moments ago was now soaked and looking at me. No… is this drenched? He looks exactly like a drowned rat. Maybe because he's wet, he looked somehow pitiful. S-sorry! But getting doused with water is better than burning to death, right?

"Sir Michel!"

I guess not. He collapsed from fainting, and Uriel barely caught him. Raphaela looked at me like I was some kind of ruffian. Hey, I even put out the fire, so why are you glaring at me like that! Even Jelly was looking at me like I had hurt him, so I quietly averted my gaze.

This is really unfair. I didn't do anything wrong, but I'm being treated like a criminal, so out of spite I decided to be even more shameless about taking credit. Do you think I just poured regular water? This is holy water!

"Since I poured holy water, there shouldn't be any need for separate treatment."

I earnestly pleaded my innocence. It's not just water but expensive holy water I poured, so he couldn't possibly be hurt! If anything, even existing wounds should be completely healed! Anyway, it's not my fault he fainted!

Only after Michel fainted did the priests belatedly realize the commotion and come rushing over. The priests looked once at the completely burned painting, once at Michel who was soaked and unconscious, and once at me, assessing the situation. Only after Raphaela finished his explanation did they bow their heads in gratitude.

Among them, the most dignified and kind-looking elder began to organize the situation. Then he approached me.

"Young Lady Rohanson, we truly thank you for saving our temple's knight. We will compensate you for the holy water you used to extinguish the flames."

"I gratefully accept."

What a relief! I thought I was throwing away the money I spent on holy water into thin air. Of course, since I saved a burning person, it wasn't really thrown away... Anyway, I'm glad they're refilling it. As they say, people should live virtuously!

"The other believers seem to be in shock, so we're planning to escort them to a resting place."

Shock, my foot. These are people who were just standing around gawking whether someone was burning or not. I swallowed my complaints and nodded.

The kind gentleman seemed to be done with me and now approached Raphaela. He whispered something, but he spoke so quietly I couldn't hear. Somehow it seems like he's glancing at me? They're not talking behind my back, are they?

Surely not... With an uneasy feeling, I stared intently at the two of them. They wouldn't be talking behind my back when I'm right here!

My staring must have been effective because Raphaela cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"Bishop, would it be alright if we excuse ourselves first? I think it would be good to get Sir Michel lying down quickly. Sir Uriel must be tired too."

I just thought he was a kind old man, but he's a bishop! That's a very high position! No wonder he casually offered to compensate for the holy water. That's worth quite a lot!

"Oh my. I didn't think of that. Leave the cleanup to me and go ahead. Young Lady Rohanson needs to receive her holy water, so please come with me..."

"Ah. The young lady should probably come with us too. The captain has something to discuss with her. I'll take care of the holy water before she leaves. There's no need for you to trouble yourself, Bishop, so if you could just let them know in advance, that would be appreciated."

Raphaela fired off a rapid rejection. Right, I need to go see Henna and Kanna too, so I nodded. Our girls have been waiting for a long time already, so I should hurry, of course.

But wouldn't it be better to take the holy water now? If I try to take holy water when the kind elder isn't around, won't I be branded as a thief? The bishop might forget to mention it. Hmm... After thinking about it, I looked at Jelly.

"Me?"

"Take the holy water and bring it to the carriage first."

"Ah, did you really bring me along just to bother me?"

What? Who do you think I am, some kind of thug? Why did we run out of holy water at home in the first place! This happened because I was treating your wounds!

"Listen before I really start bothering you."

"Yes..."

Jelly grumbled and tucked his tail.

"I'll send this person who is my escort."

The bishop nodded with a very reluctant expression.

"Then that's settled, right? Now I'll be going."

When Raphaela spoke, Uriel picked up the collapsed Michel. Despite looking delicate, I was naturally impressed by how he easily carried Michel. While I was watching that, Raphaela quietly approached me. After looking at me like I was garbage earlier, now why are you acting friendly!

"...I apologize for the late greeting. Thank you for saving Michel. He lost consciousness, but thanks to the holy water, he has no injuries. I'm truly grateful."

Raphaela, who had been watching my reaction, hesitated and then gave his thanks. It was such a careful statement that I felt bad for grumbling just moments before. What's this, I'm a little touched.

"Thank you, Young Lady."

Uriel also followed with thanks. Even while carrying a man much larger than himself on his back, he bowed without showing any sign of strain. However, holy water was dripping from Michel's long hair, soaking his back. Isn't that damp...? Uriel himself is fine, but I'm somehow bothered by it.

"But is it alright to send only Mr. Jelly alone?"

Why? Is he worried it might be heavy? Is he worried about Jelly carrying holy water being heavy while he's carrying a person on his back?

"Jelly is fine."

He's not an ordinary person either - he's a werewolf who's definitely a sub-male lead.

"Young Lady, you did well to send Jel… your  guard instead of going yourself. It's better not to get too close to the bishop. Despite how he looks, he's quite a nasty person."

I glanced back to see the bishop looking at Raphaela with a very menacing expression. I couldn't find any trace of his earlier kind demeanor. Why suddenly? Even reviewing the earlier conversation, there was nothing strange... Could it be? There is one thing that comes to mind.

It's because Raphaela left before him. People in really high positions are obsessed with that kind of protocol. I didn't think the bishop was like that, but he turned out to be a crusty old-school traditionalist geezer.