Chapter 176 Political Maneuvers and the Saint’s Burden
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Clad in our borrowed Cleric garb, we slipped out of the lodging house by the back way. We cut behind the Grand Cathedral, heading for the building on the opposite side. That structure, I learned, was the Administrative Hall, the place where this town’s political affairs were managed. Martina led the way, bringing us to the facility’s back entrance.
”They don’t keep a guard posted here, do they?” I asked.
”No, that’s right. It ain’t an entrance that sees much use, see?” Martina responded to my question, pulling out a key to unlock the door.
A gentle click preceded the drawn-out screech of the hinges.
”The keys to this place are strictly controlled, but I borrowed this one from my superior. Officially, they’re still supposed to be holding it, but… yeah, looks like we’re fine. C’mon, let’s go inside.” Martina explained about the key, then slipped through the back door. Judging that the inside was clear, she waved us through.
We stepped inside, with Roselia, the only one still fully armed, taking up the rear as we moved deeper.
The Administrative Hall seemed busy—it was morning, after all—with a lot of people hustling up and down the corridors. We blended into the foot traffic and made our way up to the third floor. Turning right down a hallway, we passed several doors until we spotted one that was notably larger than the others, guarded by a soldier.
”There’s a guard right there, though,” Ms. Sakura whispered nervously.
”We’re alright now. For the security of that room, they’re on our side,” Martina assured Ms. Sakura, walking confidently forward with us in tow.
The guard, seeing us approach head-on, didn’t make a single move, simply waiting for us to reach the door. When we arrived at the room—clearly our destination—the soldier challenged us, asking our business.
”Your purpose here?” the guard questioned curtly.
”We’ve brought the Saint to see the Bishop,” Martina declared.
”You’ve returned awfully quick. Did y’all make it to the Dungeon City that was foretold?” the guard, a presumed member of the Moderate Faction, responded.
It was only natural for a guard to be suspicious, even if we were supposedly on the same side. We shortened the trip considerably: I’d flown us part of the way out, and Ms. Sakura’s teleportation had handled the return. It wasn’t the sort of distance one could cover, even if they had set off for Dungeon City from Moktaris’s western edge, and be back in just a few days. So, yeah, he had good reason to doubt we’d actually gone, found the Saint, and come back. Martina, however, had a smiling answer ready for him.
”Of course, we went. We were ambushed by a pursuit force, but this here Mr. Koji helped us out. His destination was the Dungeon City, too, so we traveled together, and thanks to that, we arrived ahead of schedule,” Martina explained.
”And the return journey?” the guard pressed.
”Why, thanks to the Saint’s own power, natch,” Martina shot back, grinning wryly.
”I see,” the guard stated, nodding once. He then knocked on the door and spoke to the inside.
”Deaconess Martina has brought the Saint.”
The door opened, and a heavily armed female soldier stepped out. She wasn’t wearing a helmet, so it was easy to see she was a woman. She was tall, definitely around 170 centimeters, taller than Martina. She had short, neat brown hair and was a sharply featured, severe-looking beauty.
What really stood out was the fierce, heavy armor she wore. It looked spiky, almost ominous in its design. What the heck was that? Ms. Luka of the Silver Orchid wore white, knightly armor, but this was the complete opposite.
While I was distracted by the armor, the armed woman focused her attention on me.
”And this gentleman is?” she asked sharply.
”He is the Adventurer Mr. Koji. He lent us his considerable strength…” Martina gave the same explanation she’d just given the guard.
The female soldier’s sharp eyes swept the surrounding area before she turned back to Martina.
”No connection with the others¹, I trust? Does he have any weapons on him?” she demanded.
Even though we were disguised as Clerics, we certainly weren’t without a place to hide weapons. It was only natural for her, the expected guard of the Bishop who managed this ‘moderate faction’ territory, to be concerned.
”No need for alarm. He’s someone who was already friendly with the Saint, and his weapons are currently in our safekeeping,” Martina reassured her.
”Very well… come in.” Hearing Martina’s answer, the soldier glanced toward the back of the room, presumably giving a small nod to the room’s occupant before opening the door wide.
Stepping inside, I noticed that unlike the Clerics’ dormitory, this room was furnished with richly decorated pieces. Paintings, a reception table, and sofas—all were clearly the work of skilled craftsmen, even to my amateur eye. It wasn’t exactly opulent, but it definitely held the dignity befitting someone of high standing.
From behind the large desk at the back of the room, a figure stood up. Dressed in vestments decorated differently from a typical Cleric, as befitted her position, she was a beautiful woman with long, smooth blonde hair and a gentle smile.
I’d guessed as much since she had a female soldier as a guard, but the Bishop, Martina’s superior, was a woman. It made sense; if there were no issues with her competency, a person of the same gender would probably have more opportunities to act as a bodyguard.
She walked toward us. Clip-clop-clip-clop… Each step made her large chest wobble and sway. She had to be wearing a bra, but the sheer size of the mass meant it still moved around. It was about the same size as Ms. Hilda, the Cleric I met at the Gavrett household. Their ages seemed similar, too, though I doubted there was any connection.
I hadn’t thought two women that size existed, but if there’s one, two isn’t impossible, I suppose. Still, it seemed I ran into busty women, a definite minority in this world, more often than not. It was probably just a coincidence, and there was no point dwelling on why.
As she arrived, Martina introduced Ms. Sakura.
”Your Grace, I’ve brought you Saint Sakura,” Martina announced.
”Thank you for your hard work,” the Bishop replied with a nod.
She then introduced herself to Ms. Sakura.
”Lady Sakura, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Kanon, the Bishop overseeing the entire Moktaris General Headquarters.”
She gave a calm bow, and in sync with the motion, her chest jerked down, pulled by gravity. My eyes were drawn to it for just a moment, and the protective female guard’s already sharp gaze intensified.
Gasp! Stare!
It’s instinct to look at something prominent, so there wasn’t much I could do about it, but how the person being looked at felt was up to them, so I figured I deserved the glare. I simply averted my eyes, deciding not to interrupt the conversation since no one had actually scolded me.
”O-oh, I-I’m Sakura!” Ms. Sakura stuttered out, quickly bowing her head.
The Bishop smiled gently at her.
”Please, raise your head. We are the ones who asked you to come,” Kanon said.
”Ah, y-yes, ma’am.” Ms. Sakura lifted her head.
The Bishop nodded, then turned to me.
”And you… I hear you’re an adventurer. Who might you be?” she inquired, clearly having heard the conversation at the door.
”Yes, ma’am. My name is Koji,” I replied.
”I see…” The Bishop glanced at Martina and Roselia.
“…” They gave small, discreet nods in return.
The Bishop accepted their silent confirmation and ushered us toward the reception area.
”It’s rude to have you stand. Both of you, please take a seat over there,” she offered.
We complied, taking seats. The Bishop sat across from us and started the conversation about Ms. Sakura and her current situation.
”Again, welcome, Lady Sakura,” she began.
”Oh, well…” Ms. Sakura trailed off.
With that, the Bishop requested a formal report from Martina.
”Martina, please detail the circumstances of how you verified Lady Sakura as the Saint.”
”Yes, Your Grace.” Standing alongside the Bishop’s guard, Martina then explained Ms. Sakura’s teleportation ability, recounting how they had actually jumped from the Dungeon City to a point near this town.
The Bishop considered this for a moment, then spoke to Ms. Sakura with a somewhat apologetic expression.
”Lady Sakura, Martina is a trustworthy aide, and I have no doubt regarding her account of your power. However, certifying you as the Saint means we must, by necessity, ask you to utilize that power for the Church… might we ask for an opportunity to confirm your ability once more?”
”Again?” I thought, but it was to be expected. Being the Saint guaranteed special treatment, and apparently, there were people who’d fake the title to get that privilege. We’d figured another confirmation would be requested.
Yet, the Bishop looked truly strained, almost apprehensive.
This was probably because if Ms. Sakura took offense and went to the Hardline Faction, it would spell trouble. Proving her power was real would be pointless if she ended up on the other side. But certifying her without proof risked the Moderate Faction’s authority if she turned out to be a fake. If the Saint was found to be a fraud, the financial costs alone would be huge, and the Bishop would be held responsible. She was only asking for a second confirmation out of political necessity.
Ms. Sakura understood this, of course. She glanced at me, then accepted the request.
”That is fine. As was reported, I can’t use it for three days, but after that, it should work fine. Besides… if it doesn’t work, I can always just return to the Dungeon City.”
Faking the Saint title was punishable, but in this case, the Holy Church had requested her presence. So, even if the teleportation didn’t work the next time, she wouldn’t be charged with a crime. She accepted, not worried about the outcome.
Relief washed over the Bishop’s face.
”Phew… I’m so glad. We have had people in the past who refused to become the Saint because they were doubted…” Kanon confessed.
”Oh really? What happened in that case?” Ms. Sakura asked, surprised.
The Bishop answered with a conflicted look.
”Well… let’s just call it a settlement fee, shall we?”
”They solved it with money?”
”Yes, well… in the event it was found that they weren’t a Saint, the person who certified their ability took the blame for the costs,” Kanon murmured.
”I see,” Ms. Sakura murmured back.
Taking responsibility included covering the financial losses if the Saint turned out to be a fake. I didn’t know what kind of Saint that person was, but if their ability was suspicious yet real, the Church must have been desperate to secure them, even going to such lengths.
Money gets a bad rap sometimes, but it’s certainly better to have some negotiating material than none at all. I listened to the story without any ill will toward the former Saint. The Bishop then informed Ms. Sakura of the current plan.
”Given that Martina and Roselia have returned, the Hardline Faction will likely suspect that Lady Sakura is here. Therefore, I believe it would be best if you laid low for three days without a conspicuous escort.”
”Where will I go then?” Ms. Sakura asked, looking slightly downcast at the thought of hiding again.
But the reply surprised her.
”To my private chambers in the Grand Cathedral. The security there is entirely comprised of our faction members.”
”Huh? You mean that?” Ms. Sakura gaped.
”Yes. Only Ivrita and I practically live there, so I think we can manage to accommodate the two of you easily.”
”O-oh, alright, then…” Ms. Sakura seemed hesitant, likely overwhelmed by the offer to stay in the personal room of the Bishop, who was essentially the ruler of this Holy Church-governed town. She was, after all, just an ordinary person in her previous life.
I was an ordinary person in my previous life, too, yet I managed to hook up all the time at that noble’s house. Still, I hadn’t sought it out—I was just going along with a powerful person’s intentions, so there was no point in feeling guilty about it.
The issue now was Ms. Sakura. Unprepared for an invitation to the private quarters of the territory’s administrator within the Grand Cathedral itself, she gave an ambiguous response and looked toward me.
If the security was entirely made up of our allies, the chance of the Hardline Faction making a move would be low. It would be a waste to refuse such an offer.
”…” I simply gave a small nod.
With my silent confirmation, Ms. Sakura decided to accept the Bishop’s proposal.
—
Summary:
Koji, Martina, and the nervous Saint Sakura infiltrate the political heart of the city—the Administrative Hall—to meet Bishop Kanon of the Moderate Faction. The tension is thick as Martina expertly navigates a suspicious guard’s interrogation, fabricating a story about the perilous journey to the Dungeon City and leveraging Koji’s help and the Saint’s teleportation ability. The meeting culminates in a risky political move: to keep the Saint out of the Hardline Faction’s hands, the Bishop offers her own private chambers in the Grand Cathedral as a secure, temporary sanctuary, placing the Saint right at the core of the church politics.
—
Character Insight:
Bishop Kanon is revealed to be a diplomatic, yet deeply nervous, leader, burdened by the political risks associated with securing the Saint. Her intense relief when Ms. Sakura agrees to a second ability confirmation shows the high stakes of her position within the Holy Church’s internal power struggle.
Ms. Sakura, despite her fear and reluctance to constantly hide, is beginning to assert herself by making an agreement conditional on her own ability, showing the start of a quiet strength in the face of political intrigue.
—
Behind the Scene:
The Bishop’s guard, Ivrita, is highly protective of Kanon, displaying immediate suspicion towards Koji, which is a natural response for a personal bodyguard in this volatile political environment. Martina’s fabricated story about the Saint’s return and Koji’s role as an adventurer is a calculated lie, designed to explain the impossibly fast travel time without revealing the full extent of the Saint’s magic or Koji’s true ability. This scene is built on high-stakes deception to protect the Moderate Faction’s most valuable new asset.
—
T/L:
1 “The others” (あちら) refers to the Hardline Faction within the Holy Church, who are their political rivals. It’s a key term for the factional struggle in the story. ↩
Notes:
• Martina – Cleric of Moktaris’ Holy Church, moderate faction. Met Koji in Dungeon City while posing as “Tina,” an adventurer’s companion to secretly investigate rumors of the new Saint. Trademark: long black-hair majime-chan (serious beauty, stiff even when undercover). Later revealed her Church role at Lord Brandl’s audience, warned of hardliners, and recognized Sakura as the Saint.
• Sakura – Orphaned, raised by merchants, later became manager of a women’s apartment house. Met Koji when he sought a room, reluctantly accepted him with Frederica’s backing. Trademark: black-hair kuudere manager (strict outside, shy inside). Revealed by the Ceremony as the Saint of Ten’i (Teleportation Saint), marked by both factions of the Holy Church. Holds memories of a past life in Japan.
• Hilda – The Cleric invited by Iris Mother.
• Ms. Hilda – The Cleric invited by Iris Mother.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply