Volume 3 Chapter 61 Yeah, Sorry. That's Also Me
After saying goodbye to Cecilia and Luke, Randy and the others were walking down the street to take Annabelle home. The main street of the capital was really busy today.
Among all the hustle and bustle, the new store that just opened was especially popular.
"'Photo studio'... It's pretty crowded, huh?"
Randy nodded as he noticed the crowd out of the corner of his eye.
Because film is rare, the main customers for cameras are usually rich nobles or wealthy merchants. But Randy had the idea to open a photo studio so that common people could enjoy it too.
In the future, if they can regularly get liquid from live Valions through Cecilia's territory and Cory's research, they could lower the price of film.
Until then, they want common folks to enjoy family photos at the studio.
Of course, once film becomes more available, the studio can switch to offering dynamic photos with large film and special outfits for fun, which is a popular business style even in modern Japan.
Cedric is already working on that, so Randy doesn't need to worry about it anymore.
"I, um, next time... I'm going to take pictures with my mom and dad."
Annabelle looked really happy, and when Randy offered to lend her a camera and film, she quietly shook her head.
"Just your kind thoughts... Gifts and luxuries can create gaps in the heart."
Randy was impressed by Annabelle's modesty and nodded. People like Annabelle and her parents are what you would call true saints. It's hard to tell who the real saint is, Randy thought, and then he clapped his hands.
"By the way, what happened with Catherine?"
Since that day when Harrison sent her off, he hadn't heard anything about Catherine. The only talk was about her future and responsibilities, but no one mentioned what she was doing now.
"Yeah, we haven't heard anything since then," Liz said, looking at Annabelle as if she just remembered.
"Lady Catherine?"
Annabelle tilted her head and told them that Catherine goes down to the Cathedral's basement every day with the Church Knights and Kingdom Knights.
"What's that? Is she doing okay?"
"Maybe?"
The two looked at each other, puzzled, and then Annabelle chuckled, saying, "She comes back all worn out every day."
"Apparently, there was a dungeon 'hidden' under the Cathedral..."
Annabelle explained that when the Kingdom Knights searched the Cathedral to catch the Pope, they found stairs leading down and a huge dungeon.
The Cathedral is owned by the Church, and the mysterious dungeon below it is something the kingdom can't touch. Even though the Cathedral is in the capital, the Church still has a lot of influence across the continent.
But there could be other evidence hidden inside the dungeon. That's why they decided to include Saint Catherine in the joint team of Kingdom Knights and Church Knights, so that other Churches wouldn't complain.
"I see. It's like a good way to show off."
Even though it seems like she's being used, Annabelle said that Catherine is really motivated and wants to build her strength, so Randy didn't have anything else to say.
Even if it's a role she was given, if Catherine finds meaning in it and moves forward, that's a great step for her.
"Still, she technically has the title of Saint, huh?"
"Yeah, she's been doing steady work as a Saintly Lady after all."
Annabelle looked like she was having a hard time speaking, and Randy and Liz exchanged surprised glances. They couldn't believe that Catherine was actually acting as a Saint.
Of course, she was just going through the game events, but no one knew that.
Back then, she had her own selfish reasons, which was kind of hypocritical, but if the people who received her help thought it was good, then it was probably a real good deed.
Randy felt a bit relieved when he realized that there was still something left in her. At the same time, Liz let out a sigh too.
When their eyes met, they both smiled. They really were similar.
Even though they were saying all sorts of things, they were actually worried about the real challenge that Catherine would face soon. The consequences of her past actions would definitely catch up to her. Still, they believed she could handle it now.
"Building up her strength... sounds good, right?"
"Yeah. But the Church's basement, huh..."
Liz mumbled, and Randy remembered what she said about the staff.
The Church's basement.
Cathedral.
Dungeon.
Staff.
Those 4 words connected in Randy's mind.
(Is that dungeon... the one I'm thinking of?)
It was probably the place where Liz and Ellie had the Staff of the Universal Law (Elexion).
"Well, I don't really get it, but if she's doing well, that's good, right? It's not something we need to worry about."
"That's true."
"Yep."
As they came to that conclusion, they saw Annabelle's house ahead.
"That's enough for me."
"See you next semester."
"Lady Annabelle, take care."
As they waved goodbye to Annabelle, the two of them started walking back to their rental house.
"It's been a while since we saw Victor territory since the harvest festival."
"I hope everyone is doing well."
"Yeah. I need to buy some souvenirs."
"Like Sugar Star Puffs, right?"
"You always say that."
The 3 of them laughed as they disappeared into the crowd.
* * *
Edgar was looking down at the busy city from his room, letting out a big sigh.
"A contact ban, huh..."
He mumbled, and Dario quietly added, "We're also under a contact ban."
"It's weird that we're banned from contact after being freed from brainwashing."
Arthur sighed, and Dario hesitated before speaking.
"Did you know Cathy was called the Witch of the Fallen Kingdom?"
Edgar and Arthur shook their heads.
Catherine, who captivated the sons of powerful families, was secretly called 'The Witch Who Brings Ruin to a Kingdom'. And it was true...
"Your Highness and I both lost our fiancées after hanging out with Cathy... I mean, Miss Evans..."
Dario slumped his shoulders, and the other 2 nodded in agreement. It was a childish way to escape reality, but unfortunately, no one was there to call them out on it.
From Randy's perspective, he would say, "You made that choice, and the responsibility is yours," but only their parents could say that to them.
Not having anyone to point that out might have been unfortunate for them. Or maybe if they hadn't abandoned Catherine and had supported her, she might have responded to them.
But what they chose was...
"I'm just a fool who got used by the Church and fell for a honey trap, losing my fiancée."
...a weak position of being a victim.
Dario and Arthur only said, "It's the fault of the one who used you," as Edgar laughed bitterly, playing the victim.
If they had friends like Randy or Luke who would say, "Yeah, you're a big idiot," or "You're the worst for not trusting Elizabeth," Edgar might have been able to move on.
But in the end, all that remained for them was the feeling of being pitiful victims who had been deceived.
"Will I ever be forgiven?"
That's how Edgar fell into the mindset of a tragic hero.
A guy who thinks he's a tragic hero will never be forgiven. He doesn't care about how others feel, and worrying about whether he'll be forgiven would just make Randy laugh.
Without even realizing this, he says "I'm sorry" without understanding his mistakes. Who would accept that?
No one knows yet what Edgar, who has a victim mentality and doesn't get this, will do next.
* * *
While Edgar and his friends are being all weak, Randy and the others are happily getting ready to go home. Catherine, on the other hand...
"I did it! I finally defeated the 'Undead Orc General'!"
Even though she was hurt, she was desperately using healing magic on the knights who were groaning in pain.
"So, this is what real pain feels like? It's not like a game... bring it on!"
Thanks to Randy's excitement, the Undead Orc General showed up. This unexpected tough enemy had been stopping Catherine from getting stronger for days, almost taking out all the knights who came with her.
But if they kept trying together, their teamwork would get better.
Catherine's buffs and healing magic.
The knights acting as a wall.
The Church Knight who used Holy Magic to deliver the final blow to the Undead Orc General.
Everyone worked together to push back the Undead Orc General and clear the way.
The knights were looking for various evidence, but what Catherine really wanted was to level up and get the strongest weapon for a Saint, the [Cursed Staff].
(Even though this isn't a game, I'll use whatever knowledge I can. What I need right now is the strength to keep moving.)
Catherine couldn't hold back her excitement, and her feet moved faster.
She rushed through the dungeon, which only had weak monsters left, and hurried to the courtyard. She was exhausted and her legs were shaky, but she didn't care and ran with all her might.
Ignoring the knights who were falling behind and the rude voice saying, "Saintly Lady, don't go alone," Catherine finally reached the courtyard...
"Huh?"
A big question mark came out of her mouth.
The staff she expected to find was missing.
There was a crater like something had been dug out.
Broken glass pieces were scattered around.
And then...
"Is that a Lich's robe?"
A knight who arrived late picked up a unique black robe, which belonged to a high-level undead called a Lich.
"Did you defeat the Lich before we got here, Saintly Lady?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah?"
She only answered with "huh," but everyone around somehow praised Catherine, saying, "As expected of the Saintly Lady." After days of battling in the dungeon and facing danger, they were starting to see Catherine in a new light.
"Wow. You're surprisingly good."
A knight who said this was the youngest Church Knight in the group. She heard he was supposed to accompany Catherine on her Saint mission after she graduated.
"Is it over now?"
The young knight tapped Catherine on the shoulder, who was still in shock, and turned to leave.
"Come on. Let's go home, Saintly Lady."
As he pulled her along, Catherine kept repeating, "Huh? Uh, yeah?"
"Wait! Elizabethhhhhh! No, that big guyyyy! It's definitely him!"
That night, Catherine hit her pillow hard in her bed, and it goes without saying.
*This concludes this Volume.
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