Chapter 140: 140
Chapter 140 – Holy Knight Lishua
Following Lishua, we entered the city area .
During my last visit, I stayed in a lodging house further away from here .
The reason being the strict status system employed by the late city lord Rudolph Lanchester . Only the residents were allowed to enter the city, while a visitor couldn’t .
Back in the day, the city was run according to the rules that the Lanchesters set .
But it’s different now . The gloomy feeling that covered the city had been fading away . The faces of the passers by were somewhat more brighter . But it’s just superfluous feeling…
[I can see it, the residents are anxious . ]
[Yes, it’s beyond my power to fix it . There is still a lot of reserves left, so it’s not a problem at all…]
[So the desert monster is the cause? I can tell because similar thing happened in the capital recently]
[I regularly received reports about what happened in the Capital… just what is happening to this world?]
[Well, we are going to stop whatever it is before it becomes even more disastrous . ]
I pulled away my hand, which for some reason somewhat saddened Lishua .
[I’m just too inexperienced . To even trouble Fate-sama and the others…]
[As I said, it’s not a bother . In any case, even if we managed to avert the disaster, it’ll be no use if we lose what we are meant to protect . Of course, that includes everyone in this city, and Lishua as well . ]
[Fate-sama…]
After I said so, Lishua then turned towards Roxy, Eris, and Mimir who were walking behind me .
She said to all three of them .
[Everyone… thank you very much . ]
A short while later, we arrived at the mansion . It used to be the mansion where the Lanchesters lived, but now it’s been turned into a dormitory for Lishua and her men to stay .
It’s quite big for a mansion . A bit bigger and it could be considered a castle .
[This mansion really doesn’t suit me . Anyways, please come in]
Accompanied by Lishua, we entered the mansion . She actually guided us to what seems like a welcoming banquet .
Maids had lined up in advance . Drinks and snacks had been prepared neatly on the tables .
Lishua chuckled when I thanked her .
[We are both Holy Knights, but Fate-sama is the head of Barbatos family, one of the Five Great Family . No need to be so humble . ]
[I’m originally just a commoner . It was Aaron who adopted me into the family . Roxy here is a more amazing person than me . ]
I turned to Roxy who sat next to me on the left .
[No no, it’s not that much . ]
[I don’t think so . Even when I was still a commoner, I’ve always admired Roxy . ]
[Fai, if you say something like that all of a sudden…]
Roxy started hitting my shoulder playfully . Her face was beet red .
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Just when the atmosphere was about to become uncomfortable, I felt Eris elbowed my ribs from the right .
[Gah! What was that for!?]
[A~gain, you’re the one who started it . Please do that kind of stuff when there is no other people around . Don’t we need to talk about something more important, do we now~? Do you two understand?]
[ [ Pardon me ] ]
[It’s just as Eris-sama said! The recent lovey dovey Fate-sama and Roxy-sama is too much for me!]
There was no way to refute when even Mimir said it .
I didn’t even realize that I did such a thing, which is a problem . The same thing applied to Roxy as well, as we looked at each other in shame .
In any case, all we can do right now is,
[ [ Sorry ] ]
[Good if you understand!]
I saw Mimir smirked right away after that . And Eris sitting on my right looking smug .
Those two are… so hard to keep them in line! Seeing both me and Roxy sighed in defeat, Lishua laughed .
[Fufufufu, pardon me . ]
[No, it’s fine . It’s always like this . ]
[Is that so…? But I’m glad . ]
[You mean?]
She looked at us in what seem like a brand new light .
[I thought… that Eris-sama, being the High Queen of this kingdom, was a scarier person…]
[No no no, I’m certainly a kind person . And I prefer peaceful solutions over conflict . ]
Are you sure about that!? You’ve been shooting at me before we arrived in this city .
As I gave Eris’ pretty face a look, someone stepped on my foot under the table .
[Ouch!]
[What’s the matter, Fate-sama?]
[I’m alright, I’m alright, don’t worry . Please, go on . ]
[Yessir!]
Of course talking to Eris would give so much pressure for a regular person . Whenever Lishua spoke to Eris, at first she spoke nervously, but quickly regaining her confidence .
She’s a good woman . As I thought so, someone stepped on my foot again .
Don’t tell me… Although I doubt it, could it be Eris actually has Mind Reading skill?
[As Roxy-sama probably remember . We have met once before at the Royal Palace . ]
[Oh, really?]
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[Yes… it was my first day as Holy Knight, and I kind of got lost in the place… then…]
[Aaaah, from that time!? I remember . ]
[Thank you for showing me the right way . And I’m sorry for leaving immediately . I was so embarrassed back then . ]
[It is fine . So that young girl from back then… has grown up to be so big…]
While saying so, I noticed that Roxy’s eyes were directed at Lishua’s chest area .
Nn!? What’s the meaning of this?
Roxy seemed to notice my gaze, so she immediately turned her reddening face elsewhere .
This…could it be? No, let’s not pursue the matter .
As expected, I could already tell what is going on . If she truly has Aishsama’s blood coursing in her veins, then it’s only natural .
Un, un . While I was satisfied with my own conclusion, Roxy elbowed me in the ribs .
[Ouch! Roxy?]
[Muu~!]
Why is she sulking now!?
[Fai, I need to have a talk with you later . Is it alright?]
[Okay okay…]
What will we talk about this time around? But seeing Roxy smiling gently at me, I can only imagine that it’s something important, which in turn thrilled me .
While I was mulling over it, I heard Lishua’s laughing once more .
[You two are really close to each other, aren’t you?]
[ [ Ahahaha ] ]
In response to that, me and Roxy looked at each other, then laughed .
Seeing the situation, Lishua went in to confirm something .
[Fate-sama, can I ask you one thing?]
[I don’t mind, what is it?]
[Is it true, that you killed Tenryu on your own?]
[U~n, I wonder . It’s half right, half wrong . ]
[What do you mean?]
Lishua asked while tilting her head . So I put my black sword on the table and explained .
[It’s not just my power alone . I wouldn’t be able to defeat it without the power of this Black Sword Greed . There was also some circumstances after Tenryu was defeated . On which I needed Roxy’s help… So honestly, I can’t defeat Tenryu on my own . ]
[I see . But it is true that Fate-sama was the one who defeated it . ]
[Guess so . ]
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[Fufufu, you are really humble, aren’t you?]
[I’ll consider that as a compliment, thank you . ]
It may not be much, but Lishua’s words genuinely made me happy .
She then sighed and began speaking about the main topic .
[Everyone, I will need everyone’s attention, as I will now explain about that monster appearing on the eastern desert . It started appearing approximately two months ago . It has two large pincers, and even my attack couldn’t scratch it . Perhaps… it’s on the same level as Tenryu . Also, wherever it passed, the sandmans nearby would change form and become aggressive . ]
I closed my eyes and sighed .
Yet another Area E enemy… If it’s really an extinct ancient monster, then it’ll be no wonder if it’s that strong .
In that case, only me and Eris could hope to defeat it, since both of us are of the same realm .
[When does the monster usually appear?]
[Usually late at night . It spend the daytime by lurking under the sand . It appears when the sun has gone down and the temperature falls . Its size is quite huge that it can be seen even from this city . ]
[We still have some time until then . ]
Looking out from the window, I saw the sun had only began to set .
There is still a lot of time until midnight to make preparations .
Eris also said while I was looking out .
[In that case, I will be sleeping then . Being well rested before battle is important . ]
[Myne also said similar things . ]
[I know right? It’s the basic of battles after all . Why don’t Fate take a rest as well?]
[I’d rather walk around the city to distract my mind . ]
[Well, to each their own . Then call me when the time comes . Mimir, let’s go already . ]
[Yes . ]
Mimir would not be participating in this subjugation . Despite her capability as a Holy Knight, the rules forbade her from fighting . The only time she’s allowed to draw her sword was when her Lord was in danger .
In the battle against the ancient monster goblin shaman, she went out and broke the rule to save me . Despite not getting too harsh of a penalty, the White Knights probably still scared the hell out of her .
What’s done is done, from now on, if she were to use her holy knight abilities, she would definitely regret it . Therefore, for me and Mimir too, it must only be used as a last ditch effort .
That leave me and, I took note as I looked around, Roxy who were still staying in the room .
[What about you? Do you want to walk around the city with me?]
[No . It is an important battle, so I would like to be alone for a while . ]
[Understood . ]
Roxy is about to challenge yet another Area E opponent . I couldn’t find the right words to encourage her, so I decided to leave quietly .
As I left the meeting room, I heard Lishua calling out to me .
[Can I ask you to watch over Roxy for me?]
[Yessir . I may not look dependable… but I’ll do my best!]
Roxy understood . That her low stats might end up hindering me in this battle .
I tried to not think about it too much… but her situation right now reminded me of before I awakened the power of Gluttony .
My stats were so low, that a holy knight like Roxy felt like they were so high in the sky . I sensed a gap that I would never managed to cross no matter how hard I tried .
Perhaps, it’s similar to how Roxy felt at the moment .
In that regard, I’m not the right person to encourage her, because it would only remind her of the gap in our power . This is where another Holy Knight like Lishua comes in .
[Thanks, Lishua . ]
I left the mansion, and walked towards the city .
Greed then spoke to me via 《Mind Reading》 .
『I thought that you are going to stay by Roxy’s side just now . 』
[I don’t need to . She’s a strong girl… If she said that she wants to be alone, then there is nothing I should do to change that . ]
『But you are still worried nonetheless, so you asked that Lishua girl to help . 』
[Well… I guess that’s the case . ]
Greed knew me really well . Perhaps because of our long lasting relation .
[I’ll be strolling around the city until midnight . Is there a street stall that sells delicious food around here? When I visited this city back then, I didn’t get to look around the city area, so I’m kinda looking forward to this . ]
『My bad if I just crushed your hope, but have you forgotten one thing?』
[What is it?]
『Right now, with the monster you are about to defeat still running rampant, wouldn’t the supplies of the city became stagnant?』
[Ha…? Aaaaaaaaaah]
『Still a long way to go . Fate still cannot think properly without this me after all . 』
[I just forgot that small detail . ]
『Sure sure . 』
[Oi, listen to me!]
Good grief… Greed being the usual Greed .
Even if I’m worried about Roxy right now, I still had no idea what should I do to help her out . The only thing I can think of, is that the upcoming battle against the desert monster might be her chance to reach it .
However… the girl herself was hesitant about entering Area E .
Greed said it best . From that point on, it’s outside the realm of regular humans .
Perhaps that’s why . Between Roxy and me, I can’t create the same bond I had with Aaron…