Chapter 167
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Martina frowned when I suggested a high place as the hiding spot for Ms. Sakura.
”A high place…?” she asked, uncertain.
”Well, the details are a secret,” I said. “For now, just keep acting as though the ‘Saint’ hasn’t been found yet.”
The results of the Ceremony of Benediction would be recorded and shared with the Holy Church. If the hardline faction came to this town, word would spread quickly. In that case, pretending the Saint hadn’t been discovered yet might lull them into carelessness. That was why I thought it best to bring Ms. Sakura somewhere harder to approach.
I didn’t explain the exact location here, since even Martina’s expression might betray the secret to the hardliners. Once I explained, she and the others understood, though Martina still looked worried.
”Not being found is one thing,” she said. “But is the place really safe? If the Saint has already been identified, wouldn’t it be better to ask the lord for protection?”
”Leaving Ms. Sakura in the lord’s care would seem suspicious,” I replied. “Even if we disguised her or smuggled her in a crate, it would only attract attention.”
”I suppose so…” Martina murmured.
”And if the hardliners found out,” I continued, “the lord might be pressured to hand her over. After all, they could simply argue that they’d have to search the entire town otherwise.”
Martina grimaced. She knew I had a point.
”That’s why I’ll take responsibility for Ms. Sakura’s safety,” I said firmly. “Three days from now, I’ll return her without fail.”
”W-well, if it’s you, Mr. Koji…” She hesitated, then nodded. “You do have… that item. I can trust you.”
That item? Ah—she must mean my pistol. I’d told them it was a magic tool, and since I’d already used it to save them before, Martina seemed reassured.
From beside her, Roselia spoke up. “Then, where should we meet three days from now?”
”There’s a merchant guild called Hooters,” I said. “I’ll leave word with Ms. Wendy there.”
Ms. Sakura’s room might be under surveillance. If I returned there directly, the hardliners could confirm I was using teleportation. That would force me to wait another three days just to throw them off. Useless. Instead, I’d ask Wendy to secure a hidden spot where I could teleport back safely.
It would’ve been simplest to have Martina and Roselia accompany us from the start, but I needed to prepare certain tricks along the way. Fewer companions would make that easier.
”I understand,” Martina said. “Then please watch over the Saint until then.”
”I will. Just be careful yourselves—the hardliners won’t make things easy.”
With that, we parted ways at the church. From there, I headed straight for Hooters with Ms. Sakura.
* * *
When we arrived, Ms. Wendy received us promptly. Ms. Sakura was visibly tense, but that was natural. Wendy was the daughter of her employer, after all, which put her far above Ms. Sakura in status.
For me, it was different. My relationship with Wendy was already close, though of course I had to maintain some distance in front of others.
”Welcome, Mr. Koji,” Wendy greeted warmly as we entered her room.
Because Ms. Sakura was with us, she kept a proper sense of distance, though she offered her thanks to her as well.
”You’re Ms. Sakura, correct? Thank you for always managing the apartments for our guild.”
”Y-yes! Ah, but…” Ms. Sakura trailed off, looking conflicted. If she became the Saint, she wouldn’t be able to continue her work. She looked at me, silently asking what she should say.
”Is something the matter?” Wendy asked, curious.
I stepped in smoothly. “Actually, there’s reason to believe Ms. Sakura may be the Saint. To confirm it, we’ll need to keep her hidden for about three days.”
”W-what!?” Ms. Sakura gasped, but I raised a hand to calm her. It was fine.
”Oh my,” Wendy said, eyes widening. “So she truly is the Saint?”
”Well, we only just found out,” I admitted.
I explained the situation again, including what I’d already told Martina about the Ceremony of Benediction and the rumors we’d heard. I made it clear that we needed to keep Ms. Sakura safe from the hardline faction.
”So you want to use one of our places?” Wendy asked. “Of course, we do have a certain level of security, but…”
”No, I’m not asking you to guard her,” I said. “I just need an empty place secured. Somewhere nobody else will be.”
”I see,” Wendy nodded. “If we used her own room, or one of the apartments, it would be searched right away.”
She seemed to agree that it was best to avoid any contact between Sakura and the hardliners. Still, she frowned slightly and added:
”In that case, wouldn’t one of our facilities also be suspicious? It wouldn’t take long for them to connect Ms. Sakura with our guild. If she isn’t at home, their search will eventually reach here.”
”It’ll be fine,” I assured her. “We only need the place on the third day. By then, they’ll have already scouted it. All that will remain is simple surveillance. When the moderate faction arrives, just guide them there.”
”Only the third day? And until then…?”
”That part’s a secret,” I said with a faint smile. “If anyone asks, you might not be able to hide the truth with your expression.”
”…I understand,” Wendy said at last. After thinking for a moment, she proposed a location.
* * *
When Sakura and I arrived at the place Wendy had suggested, we stepped inside. There was a small counter, with a screen that hid our faces from the clerk behind it. Still, the man noticed us right away and called out.
”Well, well. Pretty lively for this early in the day.”
”…”
Sakura’s face went crimson and she fell silent. Even though she was used to our… activities, having them pointed out by a stranger was embarrassing.
As for where we were…
”So then, a short stay? Or overnight?” the clerk asked casually.
That’s right. This was a tsurekomi yado—a so-called love hotel.
The merchant guild Hooters ran several of these facilities. Because so many people came and went, a room already in use here wouldn’t be subject to serious searches. That was why Wendy had suggested it. I’d agreed, and we’d come here in disguise, cloaked in my mantle.
I handed the clerk Wendy’s letter of introduction. He looked suspicious at first as he took it.
”What’s this…?” he muttered, scanning the contents. Then his expression shifted in an instant.
”Ah! …Use the room at the very back.”
He returned the letter and handed over a key. The letter explained that one of the rooms should be reserved, starting today, until the third day. He didn’t mention it aloud, though—proof of both Wendy’s influence and his own professionalism. No doubt that was exactly why she’d chosen this place. He was a man who could be trusted.
”Much appreciated,” I said as I accepted the key.
We made our way down the hall and entered the last room. Once inside, I turned to Sakura.
”Now, remember this place,” I told her.
”Y-yes,” she answered, still flustered.
She would need to memorize the room as a teleportation landing point. After hiding elsewhere, she could use magic to jump here. That was the only reason we’d entered the room. With the task done, we left quickly and returned to the apartment.
* * *
Over the next two days, I prepared to keep Sakura hidden from the hardliners. Finally, I gave her the last instruction.
”All right. Climb inside here.”
She stared at the wooden crate I’d set before her. “A crate? You’re going to carry me in this?”
She looked uneasy. At first I thought she was worried about the destination. But what she said next made her real concern clear.
”Um… I won’t be too heavy, will I?”
So it was her weight she was worried about. She didn’t know about my Magic Armor, and judging from my build, she probably doubted I could easily carry a grown woman.
To erase her doubts, I stepped forward and lifted her into my arms.
Clack. Lift.
”Kyah!?” she squeaked.
It was, in other words, a princess carry. I held her lightly and strolled around the room. Then I asked, “See? Light as anything. Besides… I’ve carried you while doing other things, haven’t I?”
”Ah…” Her face turned scarlet again, this time with a mischievous smile. She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Y-you’re right. If you can move like that while holding me, then there’s no problem at all♡”
Her worry seemed gone. I gently set her back down, and we returned to the crate.
”Once you’re inside, we’ll arrive in twenty or thirty minutes,” I explained. “I’ll close the lid. Don’t open it no matter what, even if you hear noises.”
”O-okay,” she said, obediently climbing in. She didn’t question me further. Trust, perhaps. I closed the lid, sealing her inside.
Then I donned my Magic Armor, wrapping both of us in its power. Cloaked and invisible, I floated out into the open.
* * *
Some time later, I arrived at our destination. Opening the crate, I helped Sakura out. She blinked in surprise, looking around.
”Already? Wait, where is this…?”
From her perspective, all she could see was a wide stretch of grass, dozens of meters across, and the sky above. Confusion flickered across her face.
”This,” I said, “is the summit of a mountain in the Dungeon’s fourth district.”
”…Huh?”
Her reaction was priceless. She froze, completely unprepared for that answer.
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.
• Wendy – The daughter of merchant guild Hooters
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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