Volume 6 Chapter 25 It's a Troublesome Story, I Think to Myself
The air instantly froze at Julius's words.
It wasn't just because everyone was shocked and frozen in place...
"Young lord──"
It was due to Abel, who was unusually radiating killing intent.
Pushing Randy aside, Abel faced Julius, already in a combat-ready stance.
But that was understandable.
The newcomer might be connected to the enemy.
It was normal for anyone, not just Abel, to be cautious and try to protect Randy, who was linked to his master.
In the suddenly tense atmosphere, only Catherine was alternating her gaze between Abel and Julius, saying, "Huh? Huh?"
"Abel, step back."
"No way. Because──"
"Just do it."
Randy stepped forward, pushing Abel aside, and looked straight at Julius, saying, "Please don't take offense."
"It's fine. A perfectly natural reaction."
Shrugging, Julius glanced at Abel and said, "You're impressive."
"Lucas, the former noble, was the same... but that guy over there is quite strong too."
To Julius's appraisal, Abel released killing intent again, asking, "Want to test it?"
"Abel, stop it. He's a guest, after all."
Randy, restraining Abel once more, glared at Julius, saying, "You too."
"If you understand the situation, I'd appreciate it if you could be a bit more humble."
Randy furrowed his brow, to which Julius shrugged and nodded, "That's reasonable."
Finally, as the tension in the air relaxed, Catherine let out a sigh of relief, which caught Randy's eye.
With Catherine now out of his line of sight... Randy once again stared directly at Julius.
"Your brother, huh..."
"Yeah."
Julius nodded briefly, while Catherine's eyes sparkled slightly as she said, "But, that's some incredible information, isn't it?"
It was information that could potentially get to the heart of the matter.
It was no wonder Catherine was excited...
"A bombshell, indeed. And quite a remarkable one..."
Randy wore a grim expression, as if he had bitten into a bitter bug.
"A bomb? But now we know its true nature."
Catherine nodded in agreement, just like Abel, but so did Julius.
Indeed, as the two nodded to Abel's statement, seeing the outline of the opponent seemed, at first glance, nothing but a positive thing.
"I understand. I get it, but..."
Julius tilted his head, asking Randy with a bitter expression, "Is there something inconvenient?"
"Inconvenient, more like... I've completely fallen behind now."
With a heavy sigh, Randy glanced around and said, "For now, what to do..."
"It's not just a casual chat anymore."
Randy's words were true; if they were already falling behind... no, even without that, having obtained information that got to the core of the opponent, it was undeniable that discussing it in the dungeon was no longer suitable.
"Keith, show our guests to the magistrate's mansion."
"Understood."
Keith, bowing respectfully, urged Catherine and Julius outside.
Watching the two depart, Randy turned back to the men still in the cell and said, "Hey, [Pilgrim of Truth]."
"Who is your leader?"
In response to Randy's question, the men replied in flat voices.
"Do not fear, The [Prophet] sees everything."
It was like a broken speaker.
Just regurgitating what was inputted.
With a "tch," Randy clicked his tongue at the eerie voice and left the scene.
Behind Randy and Abel, the voice repeated, "The [Prophet]──" endlessly.
* * *
Welcoming Randy and the others back to the magistrate's mansion was
"Welcome back!"
a smiling Liz,
"Saint, Julius, welcome to Victor."
and Alan, his father, who was also smiling.
"Why are you both here?"
Upon hearing Randy's surprise, Liz and Alan exchanged glances and opened their mouths almost simultaneously, saying, "Why, you ask..."
Liz gestured to Alan as if to say, "Please," and Alan nodded in agreement.
"It's not a matter of 'why.' The Saint has come from the Church. As the lord, I cannot possibly neglect to make an appearance."
After shrugging his shoulders, Alan said, "I'm a civil servant too," while Liz surprisingly flexed her muscles.
Although she had thin, white arms, something about them seemed dependable to Randy, which was puzzling.
The feeling of having been 'tricked' earlier faded, and now Randy had regained a bit of his composure.
"First, let's all sit down and talk."
Alan offered chairs to Catherine and Julius, while at the same time urging the maid to prepare tea.
Alan's cheerful smile seemed to have taken the sting out of the situation.
Catherine and Julius, whose expressions had been poor due to Randy earlier, now looked like their usual selves.
Alan was seated at the head of the table.
Randy and Liz, as well as Catherine and Julius, settled into the two-seater across from the coffee table.
"Now then. I'd like to express my gratitude for responding to our request."
Taking Alan's outstretched hand, Catherine said, "Thank you as well."
"It was also quite beneficial for the Church."
Randy and Liz exchanged glances, surprised by Catherine's unusually firm reply.
"Hey! You two are being rude!"
Once Catherine finished shaking hands with Alan, she glared at Randy and the others.
"I'm sorry. I was just a little surprised."
Liz stuck out her tongue, to which Catherine snorted, as if to say she should know better.
"By the way, Lady Catherine, didn't you say... after spring break?"
"I did say that."
With a wry smile, Catherine glanced at Randy.
Liz had just repeated the exact same question that Randy had asked earlier.
Catherine must have wanted to say, "You two are too close."
"You two are asking the same question."
"Is that so?"
Looking at Randy, Liz nodded as Randy also gave a wry smile.
"By the way, let me guess your next question."
Leaning back confidently, Catherine faced Liz, looking pleased with herself, as if to say it was about why she had come here.
"No. I know because I saw the announcement."
Liz shook her head, and Catherine visibly slumped her shoulders with a "Ah, I see."
"Ah, but, but, what did you think of that document?"
Catherine tilted her head, but Randy and Julius were inwardly anxious, thinking, "Isn't that question a self-destruct?"
And just as the two expected...
"Wow, that sounds like a lie!"
For some reason, Liz smiled shyly, and Catherine pouted, asking, "Why's that?"
"If it were Archbishop Ridley or Lady Annabelle..."
Liz said something similar to Randy, prompting Catherine to grumble that it was the same statement as Randy's.
"Are you two dating?"
"W-well, dating is..."
Liz became flustered all of a sudden, and Catherine shot her a pointed look saying, "Don't lie."
"That's shameless."
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