Chapter 174
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ferris learned of the place where I had been hiding Ms. Sakura. She didn’t come to expose it, only to claim the black mini tomatoes—those still glowing faintly red on their vines. In the end, she allowed me to harvest them under one condition: that I record the name of whoever received each fruit.
Those tomatoes were rumored to enhance skills, though no one yet knew how. The thought of handing them out was uneasy, but if the recipients turned into allies, it could shift the odds in my favor. And now that the location had been discovered, it would be impossible to prevent others from stealing them entirely.
When our talk concluded, Ferris announced that she would return to the base.
”From what you’ve told me,” she said, brushing a lock of hair aside, “the Holy Church’s moderate faction is under surveillance by the hardliners, right? I’d love to tag along, but… well, I’m not exactly free these days. You’ll manage just fine with Koji around, won’t you?”
Even with the ‘Gem Snake’ gone, she couldn’t afford to slack off on security. Profit waited for no one.
She gave a brief wave. “See you!”
Then she launched herself down the mountainside. Her boots scraped the sheer wall as she descended, controlling her fall by pressing against the stone. It wasn’t to save herself—she could have survived the drop easily—but to keep the hem of her red cheongsam from flying up. Not out of modesty, really, but because she refused to let anyone who hadn’t earned her trust see her that way.
Once Ferris vanished below, Ms. Sakura and I teleported directly to the small inn where we were scheduled to meet Martina and her companion.
[Knock knock knock.]
When I unlocked the door, two figures stood waiting—Martina and Roselia—dressed like ordinary town girls with small travel bags. Just as planned, it made them appear to be visiting on personal business rather than as envoys of the Church.
Still, we assumed the hardliners had eyes on them. The disguise would fool no one for long, but if we could delay suspicion even a little, it might buy time before the watchers acted. After all, this was a world where messages could travel faster than teleportation itself through magic or skill.
It was unusual for guests to arrive this early in the day, but adventurers returning from deep dungeon districts often came back at dawn—and sometimes sought food, drink, and company right after. I made sure our meeting looked no different. Anyone observing would assume I had summoned two women for… personal reasons.
Martina bowed slightly, then touched her hair twice, smoothing it behind her ear—the signal I’d set for confirming that we were under surveillance.
”Thank you for meeting us today,” she said quietly.
I nodded once, keeping my expression neutral. Whatever she suspected, we had to act as though the eyes upon us were real.
To keep up appearances, I stepped closer and brushed a hand across her chest—and Roselia’s. Both women stiffened, their faces coloring, but they made no sound of protest. They understood. This was part of the performance—a show for whoever might be watching. The story was that I’d saved them from pursuers and demanded physical payment in return.
”Let’s move inside,” I murmured with a sly smile. “A hero deserves his reward… in full.”
Their sharp gasps followed as I pinched lightly, enough to sell the act but not to humiliate. The door shut behind us with a soft click, cutting off the outside world.
Once inside, Martina looked up, still flushed but composed. “Um… where is Lady Sakura?”
Roselia bit her lip. “Were you… truly planning to…?”
Before they could finish, a soft rustle came from behind the folding screen near the bed. Ms. Sakura stepped out, her presence calm and graceful.
”I’m Sakura,” she said politely, “though most just call me that. It’s nice to meet you.”
Martina exhaled in relief and bowed deeply. “I’m Martina, and this is Roselia. Forgive us, but we must confirm something—after we verify that you are indeed the Saint.”
”That’s quite all right,” Ms. Sakura replied gently. “I understand your position.”
”Thank you. Then, would it be possible to show us your power?”
Sakura nodded, her expression composed. “You’re aware of the nature of my ability, I assume?”
”Yes,” Martina said. “You can move instantly to any location you designate.”
A faint shimmer flickered in Sakura’s eyes as she smiled. “Then let me demonstrate.”
The air hummed softly—calm, controlled, inevitable.
”Yes,” Ms. Sakura said softly. “If I specify latitude, longitude, and altitude—and there’s nothing at that position—I can move there. Where shall we test?”
Martina tilted her head. “How far can you travel at once?”
”I’m not sure there’s a limit yet,” Sakura replied, a faint crease forming between her brows. “But perhaps as far as a person could walk in a day?”
”Then,” Martina suggested, “perhaps you could start with a short distance? That way, if it fails, you’ll still have demonstrated your ability.”
Sakura hesitated and looked at me. I could tell she wasn’t thrilled—testing at short intervals would mean several attempts, each separated by the ability’s three-day cooldown. That would drag the verification out far too long, and the hardliners would have time to act.
I stepped forward. “If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be safer to try from a distant point? If we start close, they’ll have more chances to notice she’s here before the test ends.”
Martina pressed her finger to her chin, thinking. “A distant point… I see. But the place must be one whose coordinates we remember clearly. Unfortunately, the only ones I recall precisely are crowded or notable locations—and it would be unwise to appear in public before sainthood is confirmed.”
”So that’s what’s troubling you,” I said. “Then how about this—keep the same latitude and longitude, but set the altitude higher. The open sky above the target point.”
”That would drop us to the ground afterward,” she replied, brows knitting.
”True,” I admitted, smiling faintly. “But I can handle that.”
With a flick of my wrist, both Martina and Roselia lifted into the air.
”Ah!” Martina gasped.
”W-wait!” Roselia clung to her sleeve, eyes wide.
They floated, feet leaving the floor as soft wind circled their skirts. I rarely revealed this ability, but wasting time now would only risk Ms. Sakura’s safety. If we could ascend unnoticed, I could always render us invisible before the teleport.
The thought of someone like Ferris seeing through invisibility wasn’t ideal, but I’d descend fast enough to avoid exposure.
I explained calmly, “That’s why it’s safe. Even if we appear in the sky, I can bring us down without harm.”
Martina adjusted her robe as her feet touched the floor again. “I see… then when you rescued us before, you controlled that firearm with this same ability?”
I nodded once. “Exactly the same principle.”
The two women exchanged a silent glance, then both nodded, decision reached.
”In that case,” Martina said, “may we use the Holy City—the capital where the Church’s headquarters stands—as our target?”
Sakura looked thoughtful. “I suppose we won’t know until we try.”
Martina recited coordinates quietly. Sakura listened, then turned to all of us. “Before we begin—are you leaving your luggage behind?”
”That’s fine,” Martina assured her. “Per Mr. Koji’s advice, we brought only what’s essential.”
”In that case,” Sakura said, smiling faintly, “everyone, please hold on to Mr. Koji. Physical contact ensures the teleport links properly.”
”Wait—why me?” I asked.
She blinked innocently. “Well, you seemed quite interested in the ladies earlier.”
Ah. So she’d noticed the earlier act.
”Was that unnecessary?” she asked.
”…No,” I said, half-laughing.
She wasn’t jealous—just teasing. And Martina and Roselia, catching the tone, each took one of my arms. Their warmth pressed close as Sakura stepped in and wrapped her arms around me from the front.
”Ready?” she said, voice low.
”Go ahead,” I answered.
Her breath brushed my neck. “All right then… three, two, one—go.”
The world blinked out.
Wind roared around us, cold and thin. When vision returned, we were five kilometers above the earth, the Holy City sprawled below—its white towers and marble streets gleaming around the great cathedral at its heart.
Martina gasped, awe and fear mingled in her voice. Roselia clutched my sleeve, speechless.
Ms. Sakura only smiled, calm in the thin air.
[Teleportation successful.]
[Altitude: 5,000 meters. Coordinates confirmed.]
The world hung silent beneath us, radiant and vast.
Notes:
• Ferris – The representative of Silver Orchid
• 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.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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