TOM CHapter 24

"That won't be possible."

I was immediately turned away at the door.

It was one thing for me to be refused, but I was surprised that even the infamous name of Duke Whitedesert didn't work.

"Outside interference compromises fairness. The investigation is in its final stages, so please wait outside."

"I've brought additional evidence."

"We have secured sufficient evidence."

"Then I would at least like to meet with Saint Mamik."

"Please request another visit once the investigation is complete."

How annoyingly resolute.

It seems the temple is taking this matter more seriously than expected.

Requesting to meet with the theater producer would be out of the question.

If I keep pushing, instead of uncovering the truth I'll become the troublemaker myself. Hmm.

"Then—"

Squeak.

I heard a familiar sound from somewhere.

What? Is that Gavotte's pet mouse nearby?

I looked around but couldn't see it.

Then something tugged at the hem of my skirt. I looked down.

"A winter lynx?"

Isn't that the cat I met at the harvest festival?

I thought it had run away long ago, but had it been protecting the divine beasts here?

"Kitty!"

Squeak, squeak!

I hadn't expected to see it again, so I was delighted.

It seemed to feel the same way, as the excited winter lynx kept crying out.

"Huh? Wait!"

Eventually it climbed up my body and settled into my arms.

It rubbed against my cheek as if asking why I had only come now. Good heavens.

It was adorably touching.

"You're going to be the death of several people."

"My goodness, that child...!"

The priest muttered in surprise.

"It seems to have taken a liking to you despite this being your first meeting."

Kruelo's words brought me back to my senses.

Oh right, I shouldn't act familiar. I have nothing to do with that harvest festival incident.

I tried to put the winter lynx down, but the cat cried pitifully and clung to my clothes with its claws.

Hmm, hmm...

"Priest, may I hold this cat for a while?"

"Please try feeding it this!"

"Pardon?"

Another priest hurriedly held out a plate and fork.

On it was a yellow star-shaped tropical fruit.

A lynx eating fruit?

"Divine beasts don't eat meat."

"......"

It stings my pride to be outdone by Kruelo in this kind of knowledge.

When I speared the flesh with the fork and held it out, the lynx grabbed the fork with its front paws and gnawed at the fruit.

The priest exclaimed excitedly.

"It ate!"

"Oh, yes. A lynx eating fruit... Excuse me?"

"It's been several days since it arrived here, and sob, it wouldn't eat anything, so we were so worried. Sniff!"

She's crying.

She was so firm with humans, but she can't handle herself in front of a kitten.

The cat itself was absorbed in eating and didn't even look at the priest.

Regardless, she pressed her sleeve against her eyes to wipe away tears.

Then a resolute light appeared in both her eyes.

"Very well, I'll arrange for you to meet Saint Mamik."

"P-Priest Freega!"

"Just look how affectionately the divine beast treats them. They haven't come with ill intentions!"

Right? Seeing her bright smile, I smiled back.

And I thought to myself:

She'd be so easy to swindle.

With the lynx's help, we were able to enter the temple.

The winter lynx was reluctant to leave, so it stayed in my arms.

It's cute, so it's fine.

Saint Mamik was located quite deep within the capital's grand temple.

We walked along corridors for quite a while, finally stopping our steps only when we reached the end of a secluded hallway.

Knock knock. The priest from earlier knocked.

"Saint, this is Freega. I've brought two believers to see you."

"Ah, please come in."

When we opened the door and entered, the first thing that caught my eye was something long.

Dark green curly hair. Something about it...

"Seaweed?"

"Did you have a good lunch? The reason I've come is..."

I hurriedly shut my mouth.

Fortunately, Freega was explaining the situation, so no one heard what I said.

"Hmm."

...Kruelo seemed to have heard, but he's not human anyway.

"Then please have your conversation. I'll step out."

The priest who had guided us left.

There were two people in the room.

One was a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties—this must be Mamik.

Her face had a grayish tint, her deeply sunken eye corners and purple irises were gloomy.

She was tall but terribly gaunt, with no trace of vitality to be found.

The man beside her was a holy knight with light purple hair. He seemed to be in his mid-twenties.

A cold-looking handsome man with long hair tied at the nape of his neck, and I could feel intense holy power from his golden eyes.

First, greetings.

"Hello, Saint Mamik. I'm Siora Bonetti."

"Kruelo Whitedesert."

"Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Mamik. I'm embarrassed to say I'm called a saint. This is..."

"I am Rho Blue, in charge of the saint's protection."

I offered Mamik a handshake.

While doing so, I confirmed what I suspected—I couldn't feel any holy power from her.

The theory of Mamik's legitimacy is discarded!

"So what brings you two to see me?"

I want to see the holy relic!

I'd like to say that, but I'm now a fairly socialized person.

I should say it tactfully, I thought.

"We came because we want to see Rekaenon's holy relic."

That wasn't what I said.

The culprit was Kruelo.

"Pardon?"

"Another believer of Rekaenon was suspicious. Whether the 'Saint Mamik' was intentionally created by the temple. Whether that holy relic is even real."

Hmm...

"Since she's not a follower of Rekaenon, there's no reason she'd have any inclination to help them out, so they're demanding a fair and proper investigation, mmph."

I quickly covered Kruelo's mouth.

But the words mixing truth and lies had already been spoken...

"How impudent! Show proper respect to the saint!"

「Do you think you can claim that duty while you don't even bother to care for the believers of your own sect?」

Kruelo, whose mouth I had blocked, wrote letters in the air.

Somehow I felt like I understood Gavotte's feelings.

The unfair thing was that back then, I was playing Kruelo's role.

Why do I always end up being the one stopping things whenever I meet Kruelo?

In my anger, I let go of his mouth.

"It's not the saint's duty to cover up the crimes of wicked heretics. Moreover, the saint is merely a descendant of an old Rekaenon saint, not someone who still believes in Rekaenon now."

"That's... right, there seems to have been a misunderstanding."

Oh my.

Since I had freed Kruelo, I decided to join the battle.

"But it's true that you became a saint thanks to Rekaenon, isn't it?"

"That's..."

"Would you have received the same treatment you do now if the name Rekaenon hadn't existed?"

"There's no point in discussing this further! Please leave now!"

"I'm not sure who's being rude to the saint."

Kruelo sneered at Rho Blue.

Even while his eyes smiled gently, it was annoying even though we were on the same side.

"Acting like some spokesperson, not letting her say a word—are you treating her like a child left by the waterside, or like a tool for external appearances?"

That's right, why is only Rho Blue doing all the rebuttals?

He was about to flare up in anger but clamped his mouth firmly shut.

He must have realized that continuing the argument would truly end up being an insult aimed at Mamik herself.

Only then, belatedly, did Mamik finally speak up.

"Of course I... would like to help Rekaenon's believers too. But using poison is a serious crime that cannot be covered up."

So she won't get involved in mudslinging?

"That's why I prepared this."

Ta-da!

I pulled out a holy water bottle from my bosom.

Then I opened the cap and turned it upside down to show them.

At the clear traces of poison, Rho Blue pulled the saint back.

"You understand how it became poisoned, don't you?"

"Is that... the holy water bottle from that day?"

"Yes, I received it directly."

Mamik hesitated, unable to reach out carelessly, and Rho Blue took the holy water bottle in her place to examine it.

His demeanor softened a bit.

"We'll need to verify this isn't evidence fabricated by Rekaenon's side."

"If that were the case, they wouldn't have used black poison. They used black as if they wanted it to be discovered immediately when the holy water changed color, didn't they?"

Since holy water is white, black poison mixed in would be immediately noticeable.

If Rekaenon had spread the poison, they would have used white poison.

I hadn't told Joel about this kind of thing.

Rho Blue stared at me intently, then let out a slight sigh.

"...I understand. I'll submit it as evidence."

Okay, solved!

...But wait, why am I arguing this so earnestly?

I just came to hand over evidence and look at the holy relic, didn't I?

Let me retrace what just happened to find when the flow changed.

Kruelo!

He had somehow retreated to the back and was blinking innocently.

I've been completely drawn in by this guy!

Then a tremendous roar was heard from somewhere.

It's quite far from here—did a divine beast cause an accident?

"Then if there's nothing more you'd like to say—"

"This is terrible!"

Someone threw open the door without even knocking.

From his attire, a holy knight. Rho Blue's face, which had finally relaxed, crumpled again.

"Follow proper procedures."

"Ah, yes! I'm Lucas of the 2nd Halo Holy Knight Order! One of the Rekaenon believers currently under interrogation caused a disturbance, injuring five priests!"

Huh?

"Also, those claiming to be Rekaenon believers from outside attacked the prayer hall, damaging about half the building!"

Excuse me?

"Seven believers who had come to visit the prayer hall are being held hostage! They warned that if Rekaenon's holy relic isn't returned immediately, they'll kill one person every five minutes!"

Uh...

"The high priest orders that you escort the saint to safety immediately!"

In the rapidly unfolding situation, I tapped Kruelo.

When he looked at me, I mouthed:

'Gate.'

Let's run.

We need to escape right now.

For this to happen right after I defended Rekaenon!

Kruelo's eyes curved into a sly, mischievous squint as he silently mouthed back:

'Refuse.'

That rotten bastard!

Whether I was on pins and needles or not, Rho Blue seemed to have organized his thoughts and turned to Mamik.

"Saint, depending on the situation, we may not be able to protect Rekaenon's holy relic."

"...It's fine to give it to them. A believer's life is more important than a holy relic that has lost its miracle."

"Huh? It lost its miracle?"

"I'm ashamed to say that when I discovered it, only traces of holy power remained. I couldn't even tell what kind of miracle the holy relic could perform."

Saying this, Mamik went to the inner part of the room and brought out a box.

What came out of it was a white donkey statue with only the head.

Blue divine stones were embedded in both eyes, but only traces of holy power could be felt.

It feels more real than just hearing about it.

Rekaenon, which was among the most powerful of the ancient sects, has come to this state.

Even though they're enemies, this kind of thing feels lonely.

Rho Blue spoke to us.