Chapter 71
“A house?”
The word came out of nowhere, and I couldn't help flinching.
What did she mean, a house? Sure, I'd wanted one and had actually been looking, and I remembered mentioning it to Lucy, but still.
“That's what I mean. What, you don't want it?”
“No, hold on. This is moving way too fast, and I'm confused.”
Look, even Ibroi-san had a look on his face like, “What?” How does a conversation suddenly turn into offering me a house as a reward?
The information I'd gotten was sudden and far too limited. When someone suddenly asks if you want a house, the normal response isn't, “Sure, I'll take it.”
“I mean exactly what I said...”
Maybe my confusion had caught her off guard, because Lucy said in a slightly dejected tone.
The offer itself was certainly appreciated. But why did she think that one sentence would be enough?
“Ah, now that you mention it...”
At that point, Ibroi murmured as if he'd just remembered something.
“Lucy, you had another house before you bought this one, right?”
“That's right. That one.”
Apparently, Ibroi knew which house Lucy was offering.
Though I'd thought so since we first met, Lucy and Ibroi had known each other for quite some time. I didn't know when she'd bought this house, but the fact that he knew about her previous one meant they weren't just casual acquaintances.
From the way Ibroi put it, Lucy owned another house before she bought this one. And now she was trying to give it to me as my reward.
Huh? Is that really okay? I mean, a house isn't something you can just hand out like candy, is it?
“I-I appreciate the offer, but... is it really okay for me to take it?”
“Of course, of course. I have it cleaned regularly, but no one lives there. In fact, this would be just right for me, too.”
I asked just to be sure, but it seemed that while Lucy owned the house, no one was living there.
Then why not put it up for sale? Well, I suppose there must be some reason or other.
“You're still living in an inn, aren't you? I thought it would be just right.”
“Well, yes, but...”
If this offer had come from a stranger, I'd have been almost certain there was some catch and treated it with suspicion. Since it was Lucy, I could just barely bring myself to trust it—but it still seemed suspicious.
“I'd be happier with that, too. I mean, it's awkward sending your reward to an inn.”
“Uh-huh...”
Ibroi joined in with Lucy's proposal.
Objectively speaking, I understood that it wasn't great for a grown man to have no fixed address and live in an inn.
I didn't care too much about appearances, but I was, after all, the Order of Knights' Special Instructor. I did feel I should at least have the basics in order. That's why I'd been looking for a house whenever I had time.
But still. It was all so sudden.
Given it was Lucy, I knew she wasn't trying to trick or entrap me or anything.
But come on, your reward for a little help is a house? Of course that's going to shock me.
“W-well, I'll give it some serious thought...”
“Really? I thought you'd jump at the chance.”
Who'd decide that on the spot? I'd like to see the face of anyone who would.
“A-anyway, let's talk about Bishop Levios. That's what's important.”
Since the conversation had gone way off track, I brought it back around.
To be honest, I wasn't that hung up on the reward. I understood that if I'd accepted a job, I should receive fair compensation; otherwise, the word “job” wouldn't mean anything. But I didn't need an excessive reward.
Those usually led to trouble or another job—one that wasn't worth the effort, at that.
Of course, I wasn't saying that was always the case, but I couldn't help being wary anyway. That was just how I was, regardless of who I was dealing with.
“That's right. As someone who serves the Sphen Church, it does leave a bitter taste in my mouth, but... well, he'll likely be stripped of his position as bishop.”
“And then you'll take that vacant seat, Ibroi-san?”
“Ha ha ha. You're getting ahead of yourself, Beryl-kun.”
I couldn't tell what Ibroi really meant as he laughed.
There was no way the whole thing had been his scheme from the start. That would be far too grand and far too sloppy a plan.
Still, whatever the case, my impression that this man was a crafty old fox hadn't changed. He was impossible to read.
“Also, there were several people who looked like knights guarding Bishop Levios. They were using estocs...”
I also told them that the bishop hadn't been alone at the scene.
Allucia had said they were members of the Order of Church Knights, but was her guess right?
“That... was almost certainly the Order of Church Knights. I see...”
Apparently, Ibroi also thought they were the Sphen Church's Order of Church Knights.
After hearing my report, Ibroi fell into thought for a while.
“...Well, there's not much we can do by speculating about what comes next on our own. For now, let's celebrate the success of the job.”
But before long, Ibroi's expression softened.
Well, he had a point. Even if some kind of conspiracy was afoot, there was no way the three of us could predict it here and now.
Bishop Levios had acted the way he did, so I was sure he'd loudly expound on the importance or significance of miracles during questioning, too. I didn't know exactly what laws he'd broken or what punishment he might face, but it was hard to imagine he'd be let off.
At the very least, he was certainly guilty of conspiring with bandits to abduct innocent people.
What happened after that, I couldn't say. That was something only God knew.
“You really did a fine job. Well done.”
“Ha ha, thanks.”
Lucy said, patting my shoulder a few times.
The sight of a forty-something man being comforted by a little girl was pretty ridiculous.
“Well, shall we go take a look at the house I'm planning to give you?”
“Huh? That's where this is going?”
How did we get to that?
I could feel Lucy's strong determination to make absolutely sure I got a house.
“You might as well accept it. You can't go on living in an inn forever, Beryl-kun.”
“Well, you're not wrong...”
When I hesitated, Ibroi started seriously pushing the idea as well. Now it was two against one. Not that I was strongly opposed or anything.
Hmm, well, getting a house was unexpected, but it was a generous offer. There was no need to decide on the spot; if I could see the location and interior before deciding, that might be the sensible thing to do. I was starting to get confused myself.
“You can decide after you've seen it. I'm not forcing you.”
“Hmm... Then I guess I'll do that.”
“Good, good. Let's go, then.”
When I gave a positive answer, Lucy's expression brightened even more, and she rose from her chair.
Thinking about it again, Lucy really was quick to get moving. It was almost as if she always acted on the spot, without hesitation.
“I think I'll head back, too. The church will probably be busy for a while.”
“Indeed. You'd best do your best on your end.”
It was true that the church would be thrown into a commotion now that a bishop had been arrested. How things would be settled would depend on Ibroi's skill.
“Oh? Are you all heading out?”
“Yes, just for a bit.”
The three of us left the sitting room together, and Harwi-san called out to us.
Well, she'd only just been told we were going to look at a house, and it had only just been decided. It was no wonder Harwi-san was surprised.
“We're going to take a look at my other house.”
“Oh my, is that so...? Heehee, understood.”
When Lucy briefly explained why we were going out, Harwi-san smiled.
I wonder what it was. She seemed to match Lucy's personality perfectly, and had the air of someone with years of experience. In a different way from Allucia, she seemed like a very capable woman.
“Have a nice day.”
After Harwi-san's farewell and bow, we left Lucy's house.
Well, I still only understood about half of what was going on, but since things had moved forward, there was nothing to be done about it now. I might as well switch gears and enjoy a look around the house.