Chapter 44
Franz was led by Yustia into the Confession Room.
So this is what it looks like.
Franz's eyes scanned the interior of the Confession Room. He knew such a place existed, but this was his first time actually entering one.
The Confession Room was narrow. It was just large enough for one person to sit facing the wall and pray comfortably. If someone else were to enter, perhaps two more people could fit. The Cathedral was enormous, so he naturally assumed the Confession Room would be large too, but it wasn't.
As Franz was observing the Confession Room,
“Phew, that was a close call.”
Yustia said, placing a hand on her chest. She seemed worried about being discovered by someone else. After all, their collaboration on this matter was supposed to be a secret.
But will it really be okay if we only hide? The Cultist we caught is still just floating outside?
Franz couldn't understand the situation no matter how much he thought about it. Instead of hiding in a place like this, he could have just used Teleport to go outside. Then, even if someone encountered Yustia, nothing particularly problematic would happen.
“Yustia, I...”
Franz opened his mouth to explain, but
“Shhh! They're getting closer, aren't they?! Please, be quiet...!”
Yustia said, bringing a raised index finger to her lips as if to say “no way”.
As she said, the footsteps from outside were getting closer. He didn't know who it was, but they seemed to be approaching their location.
He was, separately, a little flustered, feeling as if he had been scolded out of the blue.
*And what's the deal with telling me to be quiet, then speaking even louder herself?*
*Hmm-.*
For now, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I'll go along with Yustia's suggestion for now.
*Click-clack-.*
In the heavy silence that had settled over the Cathedral, the sound of footsteps echoed unusually loudly. Hidden in the narrow Confession Room, the two remained as quiet as mice, hoping the owner of the footsteps would pass by.
*Inhale, exhale-.*
At such a close distance, with them almost pressed against each other, their breathing was clearly audible.
Then, Yustia suddenly spoke.
“D-d-don't breathe...!”
Franz doubted his ears, wondering if what he'd just heard was real. He was so flustered that he couldn't even utter a word.
I can understand being told to be quiet, but not to breathe? That's just too much.
Franz whispered in a very small voice into Yustia's ear.
“Don't breathe? Are you telling me to die?”
“Th-that's not what I meant...! And please, move away a bit...! You smell like sweat...!”
*Sweat smell? What sweat smell?*
Franz carefully retraced his memories. He wondered if he had sweated at all.
But nothing specific came to mind. He had sweated during battle, but not enough to emit an odor.
If anything, it was Yustia who was sweating...
*Ah.*
Franz realized belatedly that the mention of a sweat smell wasn't referring to him, but to Yustia herself.
Indeed, after she had used divine power for several hours, her entire body was practically drenched, so it was understandable that she would be concerned.
The problem was that once he realized it, he started to feel self-conscious.
You know how they say, "How do you swallow your saliva? How do you blink?" If you suddenly hear questions like that, even things you do unconsciously and naturally start to bother you.
Franz was in a similar situation. He hadn't paid any attention to it at first, but after hearing Yustia's words, the smell started to bother him.
But there wasn't any particular smell. Just... normal? In fact, the woody scent from the Confession Room was rather pleasant.
Meanwhile, the footsteps were getting closer and closer. Even though it was clearly nothing serious, hiding like this made him feel tense. His heart seemed to be beating faster than when he faced the World Tree.
Soon, the sound that had been approaching the Confession Room suddenly stopped.
*Gulp-.*
Franz and Yustia swallowed simultaneously. They held their breaths, making no sound.
Then.
“A-a-a Cultist's Specter!”
A loud shout came from outside. It seemed someone had finally seen the bloodied Cultist floating in the air. What an unfortunate turn of events.
And at the same time,
“H-h-hyaak?!”
Yustia let out a startled cry. It seemed she was surprised by the loud noise in an already tense situation.
Who would ever imagine a Saintess making a sound like that? Among the Followers, she's practically God's Representative.
Franz, finding her reaction amusing, let out a snort of laughter.
“D-don't laugh!”
Yustia exclaimed indignantly. Judging by her loud voice, she no longer seemed to be thinking about hiding.
Meanwhile, the footsteps quickly receded. In the middle, a *thump-thump-* sound suggested that the person might have tripped while running away. He hadn't intended to scare them, but he felt a little sorry for them.
Anyway, despite everything, the incident concluded well. Since there was no longer any need to hide, Franz and Yustia emerged from the Confession Room. It had been stifling in the dark, cramped space, so coming out into the moonlight felt much better.
“W-well then, I'll head back.”
Yustia's face, illuminated by the moonlight, was slightly flushed. It seemed she was still embarrassed by what had just happened.
“Why bother? It's already gotten noisy, so someone's bound to come anyway.”
“That's true, isn't it...?”
“Then just pretend you were the first one here. And while you're at it, it'd be great if you could explain things for me.”
Honestly, talking to Clerics wasn't exactly comfortable. They kept looking at him like he was some great hero who saved the world. Being the center of attention just didn't suit him.
*Sigh-.*
Yustia sighed and leaned her back against a nearby pillar.
“Are you going to make me do all the work again?”
“Hey, “make you do all the work” sounds a bit harsh, doesn't it?”
*But honestly, it was true, so he had nothing to say. He'd been dragging her around like a Purification Device powered by an Elixir Battery. She even Self-charged if left alone.
“Hehe, I'm just kidding. I'll stay with you.”
“Alright, thanks.”
“But you know, come to think of it, didn't you know there was a Cultist outside?”
“I did. But when I tried to tell you, you told me to be quiet, didn't you?”
“Oh...?”
After that, Franz and Yustia continued their conversation, which was a bit too unusual to be called ordinary.
A short while passed like that.
*Clank-clank-.*
The sound of metal clashing against metal came from somewhere, and soon, Paladins appeared.
They spotted Yustia and Franz and immediately approached them.
“Saintess, and...”
“I am Magic Tower Master Franz Gilbert.”
“Ah, you're the Magic Tower Master. It's a pleasure to meet you.”
The Paladin bowed his head respectfully, and Franz returned a slight nod.
Next, the Paladin's gaze turned to the Cultist floating in the air.
The Cultist wasn't even twitching, as if he'd fallen asleep. To be sleeping in a situation like this, he must be quite carefree.
Well, he won't be sleeping from now on.
“By the way, that Cultist over there...”
“I caught him on my way here.”
“Ah, then we will handle him.”
Franz released the Transparent Sphere that had been holding the Cultist. The Cultist, who had been floating in the air, flopped onto the ground with a groan of pain. He had been beaten all over, and then suddenly dropped from mid-air, so it was understandable that he would be in pain.
The Paladins quickly restrained the Cultist and took him away somewhere.
Franz, who had been silently watching them, whispered softly to Yustia.
“Yustia, by any chance...”
“H-h-hyaak?!”
Everyone's attention focused on the short shriek that burst from Yustia's lips.
Her face began to flush, and she said,
“Oh, no. Everyone, please carry on with your duties.”
Reassured by her words, the Paladins returned to their duties, and Yustia shot Franz a sharp glare.
“I didn't mean to startle you.”
“So, what is it?”
“I was just wondering if you found out anything.”
That was the goal from the start. If the guy knew anything about the Seven Great Evils, it might be easy to get things started.
“Alright. So, are we heading back now?”
“Well, I suppose so.”
“Then I'll bring back the borrowed clothes later.”
*Clothes?*
Franz was momentarily puzzled, but then he remembered the coat he had lent her and nodded.
“Yes, do that.”
Their conversation ended there.
Franz disappeared from Saint Seraphia Cathedral with a snap of his fingers.
How many days had passed since then?
A letter arrived from Yustia.
Information. To the Cathedral.
That was all that was written on the large letter. Even after the letter was flipped over, or scorched with fire, or soaked in water, nothing else appeared.
*Is she trying to get revenge for that letter I sent before?*
Well, whatever.