Chapter 166
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After that, I ended up staying with Ms. Sakura until she was satisfied.
If she revealed herself as the Saint, there was a chance I wouldn’t see her for a while.
So we spent the night together, resting in between, and after cleaning up the next morning, we had breakfast and went out.
The destination wasn’t the Silver Orchid office where Tina—Martina—worked, but the church.
I wasn’t supposed to know that Martina and the others were looking for the Saint.
If I showed up with Ms. Sakura at their place directly, people would wonder how I got such information.
During the lord’s audience, suspicion would fall on Frederica’s escort.
If they realized it was Koji, Frederica herself would face questioning for bringing me in.
Though she acted on her own, I had pushed to confirm Martina’s business.
It would be unfair to let her take the blame, so I chose this path instead.
Besides… she had given me dedicated “service” (T/N: euphemistic expression for intimate devotion).
That was the situation.
We would make it look like we knew nothing of Martina’s search for the Saint.
A casual talk had led to the topic of Ms. Sakura not yet receiving the Ceremony of Benediction, so we were simply trying it out—that was our story.
From what I had gathered from the lord and Martina, even if you took the ceremony, it didn’t automatically confirm you as a Saint.
They would likely reveal only your ability.
This town’s church didn’t yet know the Saint was under search, so we should be able to leave smoothly afterward and head to the Silver Orchid office.
The plan was to let them overhear: Ms. Sakura’s teleportation might be useful for supply runs into the Dungeon stronghold of the Silver Orchid.
That way, Martina’s group would learn of her ability naturally.
Since teleportation had a cooldown, we couldn’t test it repeatedly in one day.
The soonest second test would be three days later. Still, reproducibility was enough.
The lord had already refused interference with the hardline faction.
Sooner or later, word of the Saint would spread, and Martina’s side couldn’t risk Ms. Sakura being tied to a Silver Orchid contract.
Thus, they would surely try to draw her toward the Holy Church as a Saint.
So we went to the church. On the plaza in front of the Dungeon, Seria spotted me from a relief tent.
But seeing Ms. Sakura beside me, she hesitated to come over.
I waved, and she waved back before we continued on.
”An acquaintance of yours?” Ms. Sakura asked.
”Yes. She comes along when I enter the Dungeon.”
”I see.”
We entered the church and went through the procedure for the Ceremony of Benediction.
A donation, a fee—that was the price for being led into the ritual room.
”Is it really okay?” she asked.
I paid, so Ms. Sakura looked guilty.
But it was also for my own convenience.
”If it bothers you, then do your best next time,” I told her.
”Ah—y-yes!” Her face flushed red as she answered.
We waited, and soon an older, small man came in with surprising vigor.
”Sorry to keep you waiting. Who will receive the rite?”
”M-me,” said Ms. Sakura.
”I see.”
He nodded, then glanced at me.
”And you—will you be present as well?”
Abilities and titles weren’t always favorable, so usually only family attended.
My own case had been proof of that.
He seemed puzzled at my presence, but Ms. Sakura answered firmly:
”It’s fine. He’s… someone important to me.”
”…”
Dangerous words, perhaps, but denying it would only make him suspicious.
So I kept quiet.
”Ah, I see. Then let us begin.”
He smiled and placed her in position—kneeling, hands folded before her chest.
He too folded his hands, eyes closed. His body glowed faintly… then the light vanished.
”Hm. You appear to bear a power called ten’i (T/N: literally ‘heavenly relocation’, a rare teleportation-like ability).”
Opening his eyes, he spoke the result aloud.
So it wasn’t just “teleportation,” but that.
With this, she was almost certainly the Saint.
Almost—because the rite revealed only the name of the ability.
The so-called Oracle’s Saint had spoken of Instant Step (T/N: shukuchi, a space-compression technique), but whether that was truly her ability remained uncertain.
Even within the Holy Church, the belief that it was teleportation was speculation.
Thus, we still couldn’t say Ms. Sakura was the Saint for sure.
But the record was made, and if judged differently later at the Holy Church, she could not be blamed.
No one could accuse her of lying about being a Saint.
With the results in hand, we prepared to leave for the Silver Orchid office.
Just as we thanked the officiant and stepped out of the church, an unexpected voice reached me.
”Oh my, Mr. Koji?”
”Huh?”
I turned. A woman in cleric’s robes—Martina—and a soldier in Holy Church uniform—Roselia—stood there.
They were clearly church affiliates.
Since the search for the Saint was now official, they no longer needed to hide their status and could appear openly.
Others of their faction must be in this church too.
They had likely come to explain matters and seek cooperation for what was to come.
The moderate faction had to handle both the search for the Saint and the restraint of the hardline faction. They would need all the people they could get.
Of course, I wasn’t supposed to know Martina and Roselia were with the Holy Church. So I played surprised and asked them:
”Ms. Tina, Ms. Rosie? Those outfits…”
”My apologies,” Martina said, bowing slightly. “We were on a secret mission and used false names. In truth, we belong to the Holy Church. My real name is Martina.”
”I’m Roselia,” the other followed, equally apologetic. “I’m sorry as well.”
”I see… well, it’s not something I’ll hold against you.”
They looked relieved and asked why we were at the church. Their attention shifted to Ms. Sakura. Adventurers like me were common; she was not.
”What business brings you here?”
”Ah, that’s…”
Under their gaze, Ms. Sakura hesitated. It was unexpected, and she didn’t know how to answer.
Alright. Time to change the plan.
I decided we would say the ceremony was for confirming the teleportation that had suddenly triggered in her. And this timing—encountering Martina’s group—was the perfect chance to reveal Ms. Sakura’s ability.
Originally, I had planned to sell the idea to the Silver Orchid. The point was to let Martina’s people hear of it naturally anyway. But this open space was too risky.
So I suggested:
”Could we speak in another room? This is a private matter.”
”That’s fine… this way, then,” Martina replied.
It was normal for the results of a rite to be kept secret. If something couldn’t be shared openly, then it should be treated even more discreetly. Martina likely assumed Ms. Sakura’s results fell under that category.
We were shown to a small room used for clerics meeting with hired adventurers. Roselia stood guard outside while the three of us sat down.
”So, what is this confidential matter?”
”Well… Ms. Sakura seems to have a special power. She can move herself far away in an instant.”
”—!?” Martina’s eyes widened.
”Wh-what do you mean by that?” she asked, shaken. Though she tried to stay composed, it was clear she had not expected the one they sought to appear so soon.
I explained: Ms. Sakura had teleported suddenly, then recalled she had done it before, which led us to try the Ceremony of Benediction.
Hearing this, Martina took her hands gently.
”So that’s how it was. You must have suffered.”
”Not at all,” Sakura answered softly. “After the merchant guild took me in, I was able to live normally.”
At that, Martina asked carefully about the result.
”And… what was revealed?”
”Ah, yes. It seems I have a power called ten’i (T/N: lit. “heavenly relocation,” teleportation-like ability).”
Clatter! Martina shot to her feet, then immediately dropped to one knee.
”I have come to receive you.”
”Uh, um…”
”It is natural to be confused. Please, allow me time to explain.”
”O-okay…”
Startled by the sudden respect, Ms. Sakura listened as Martina explained why they had come to this town.
”…So, before the hardline faction could arrive in their search for the Saint, we rushed here first.”
It seemed even the Oracle’s Saint had worried about the hardliners’ movements. Information about the Saint of Instant Step had been sent first to the moderate faction.
Still, a leak had allowed pursuers were dispatched. Maybe there was a spy among the moderates.
Even so, they had managed to reach the Saint before the hardliners, and Martina was overjoyed by that.
Still, I raised a point:
”Just hearing this doesn’t prove Ms. Sakura is the Saint, does it?”
”Of course, we’ll confirm it. But with the rite’s result and what you’ve told me, it’s as good as certain.”
Then Martina turned toward Ms. Sakura.
”Lady Sakura. Because the record of the ceremony exists, the hardline faction will soon learn of you. Until you have another chance to use your power, we must hide you.”
”The hardliners are coming already?”
”It won’t take long. Even if their main force takes time, their allies here can be moved with just a letter.”
So it had come to this. Martina and Roselia had gone ahead quietly to conduct the search for the Saint and obstruct the hardline faction in secret.
They had avoided informing the local moderates, fearing leaks, and instead appealed directly to the lord.
But the hardliners had no reason to hide anything. They could send letters freely and mobilize allies in this town. It wouldn’t be strange if a search began at any moment.
In that case… we needed a place where the hardliners could not reach.
”I know a place,” I said. “It’s a bit high up, but it will do.”
Notes:
• Tina – Female. A magician. She has a slender build, and her chest is described as soft. She is initially rescued by the protagonist and expresses a desire to accompany him. Her relationship with the protagonist develops quickly, and she seems to be attracted to him.
• Frederica – The receptionist. The daughter of powerful figure in the town.
• Seria – The first cleric.
• Rosie – Female. A swordswoman. She wears armor but has an exposed groin area for ease of movement. She is also rescued by the protagonist and joins Tina in expressing interest in him. Her relationship with the protagonist is similarly developing.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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