Chapter 226

“…Sir, …?”

A priestess approached me and started talking. I didn’t really catch what she said, and I have no idea how I responded. Did I even respond?

“…Did you…? Then…”

At that moment, a dazzling light pierced through my eyelids.

Bright holy light seeped into my body. A bit of vitality returned to my exhausted body, and my hazy mind cleared up a little.

“Huh?”

My half-closed, dim vision became clear again. In front of me, a naked priestess was smiling brightly at me.

I was sitting down, and she was standing, so my gaze was level with her belly button. Well, actually, it was a bit lower than her belly button… but let’s just say it was her belly button. Yeah, her belly button.

The golden thing I saw when I opened my eyes must have been the holy light.

“How are you? You looked really tired, so I gave you a blessing to boost your energy.”

“…Ah, thanks. I feel better now.”

I thanked her while glancing away. It’s not polite to stare at a priestess’s body, no matter what.

“Don’t mention it. Compared to what Sir Median has done for us, this is nothing.”

The priestess smiled and took a step closer. The scent of fragrant bath salts and the damp smell of her skin wafted over.

Wait, why is she getting closer…! Even if we’re both women, isn’t this a bit too close for a first meeting?

“My name is Lilieth Bianci. I’m a priestess serving Elpinel. Please call me Lilieth.”

Lilieth took another step closer. So close that her feet almost touched mine. Her pale skin filled my vision.

“Uh, yeah, um, Lilieth? You’re a bit too close… Do you have something to say to me?”

“…Your wrist.”

Lilieth whispered softly as she leaned closer to me. Her wet hair clung to her ample chest.

“Huh?”

She pointed at my right hand with her finger.

“This looks like a burn mark on your wrist. Haven’t you gotten it treated?”

Without thinking, I covered the mark on my right wrist with my left hand. There was no reason to, but it was a reflexive reaction.

“Hmm…?”

“Ah, this isn’t an injury. It’s more like a tattoo. Don’t worry about it.”

Lilieth tilted her head and then nodded as if she understood.

“Is that so? I’m glad it’s not an injury.”

“Yeah, so could you maybe step back a bit…? It’s kind of hard to move like this.”

She’s too close. I can see everything. Very clearly. Is this normal distance between priestesses?

“Ah, my apologies! Got it.”

But despite saying she understood, Lilieth leaned her head even closer to me.

What is this? What’s going on? Should I push her away? Is that okay?

“Hey, um…!”

“…Behind the 69th outpost, Mule Alley. Before 4 a.m. Elmain is waiting for you.”

A whisper brushed past my ear.

“What…?”

This was unexpected information. Elmain? Lacey Staldorf, who had gone missing, is here?

“Wait, what did you just…?”

“Ah, sorry. I got a bit dizzy and stumbled. I must have been in the bath too long… I’ll be going now, Sir Median. Get some rest!”

Pretending not to hear my question, Lilieth quickly stood up and retreated from the bath.

Her long, pale legs moved swiftly. She dried herself roughly with a towel and left the bath. I didn’t stop her.

I wouldn’t get the answers I wanted even if I pressed her further. And I couldn’t exactly ‘interrogate’ a priestess.

It’s not that the bathwater was too warm to chase after her. Absolutely not. It was so warm it felt like I was melting, but that’s not the point.

Anyway, if I wait until dawn and go to that Mule Alley place she mentioned, I’ll find out what’s going on.

…So, maybe I’ll rest a bit more. There’s still some time until dawn.

I let out a relaxed sigh and leaned back against the edge of the bath, resting my arms on the side. The warm water loosened my muscles. Soft flesh floated up to the surface.

[…What are you staring at?]

Hersela grumbled. She was awake. I thought she was asleep since she had been quiet for a while.

‘No, it’s just that I’ve never seen floating breasts in real life before.’

[…Hmph… I guess they were small…]

Small? More like nonexistent…

[No need to be upset. Being small is an advantage in battle, isn’t it? That’s a good thing too… *chuckle*]

Interpreting my silence in her own way, Hersela threw what sounded like a mix of comfort and mockery at me.

…What would happen if I revealed I was a man now? She’d probably have a fit.

But that might be fun.

—

After finishing my bath, I returned to the quarters provided by Marquis Ludwig. It wasn’t as luxurious as the guest rooms in the Marquis’s estate, but it was a decent room with a bed, table, and sofa. Is this the taste of power?

“You’re back? You’re later than I thought. Looks like you had a rough time.”

Leonor… no, Renee. Renee greeted me. Unlike during the day’s battle, she didn’t participate in the night raid. The night raid team had to move without their helmets.

“I was fighting in the middle of a hellfire for dozens of minutes, covered in blood. Felt like I was being boiled alive.”

“That must have been tough. Is that why your face is red?”

No, it’s probably because the bathwater was too hot…

Whatever, doesn’t matter.

“What about Rana? Since you’re here, I guess she’s back in her room.”

“She’s sleeping inside. She wanted to treat the injured at this hour, so I stopped her, saying it’s time for kids to sleep.”

Well, Rana is at an age where she’s growing, so she needs to sleep well at night. Otherwise, she might end up growing like a half-human instead of a full human.

It was surprising that Rana agreed to that.

“Rana actually listened to that? I thought she’d stubbornly insist on treating patients, saying it’s a priest’s duty.”

“She did insist. So I had to tuck her in myself.”

Rene spread her palm wide and waved it, laughing.

Wait, if you hit her on the back of the neck to put her to sleep, that’s not tucking her in, that’s knocking her out, dude…

“…That’s not good for her health.”

“She can recover with a healing miracle, right?”

Rene shrugged nonchalantly.

Our ways of thinking are different.

In a world where healing is commonplace, her ideas are pretty brutal.

—

Sitting on the sofa, drinking black tea with Rene, we chatted about night raids.

And the news about Lacey that I heard after returning.

“…Isn’t it a trap? Coming all the way to Landenburg without notifying the border lord, trying to meet you secretly. Is there really a reason for that? It seems a bit suspicious.”

“She is a priest, though. And even if she caused a commotion here, it would be suppressed in five minutes. Who would set such a stupid trap?”

Even the Ghost Sword himself wouldn’t stand a chance.

If it were a trap, the goal would be to kill or capture me, but deploying such forces for that would be suicidal.

So Lacey must be genuine. Though I can’t figure out why she wants to meet me secretly.

“You’re planning to go out, huh? Be careful not to get stabbed in the back.”

“What are you talking about? You’re coming with me.”

“…What?”

Rene’s hand, lifting the teacup, froze.

Why are you so flustered? It’s only natural.

“If it’s a trap, at least one of us should escape to report it. Put on your armor. Are you planning to leave the lady you serve alone in danger?”

No veto power.

If I get caught, she’ll be in trouble too.

Leonor sighed and started putting on the armor she had taken off.

“From what I’ve experienced, you’re not bold, just a bit shameless…”

[That’s an accurate critique. You have a keen eye for people.]

Well, isn’t someone like me pretty normal…?

—

We arrived at Mule Alley around 3:30.

The dimly lit street was eerily quiet, with only the windmills of the flour mill spinning peacefully.

I guess that’s why this ordinary alley was named “Millstone.”

“Is this it? It’s too quiet… Could it really be a trap?”

Rene, with her hand on her sword hilt, looked around warily, ready to slash anyone who jumped out.

But that’s unlikely.

“No, probably not.”

I casually flicked the cigarette.

I wouldn’t say I’m familiar with it, but I could sense the presence I’d felt a few times before.

“…You arrived faster than expected, Sir Median. Who is the person with you?”

A low, calm voice. Brown hair fluttering in the wind.

A tired-looking female knight pulled back her hood, revealing her face. Lacey’s escort paladin, Bels Lugna.

“Ah, long time no see, Sir Lugna.”

“Princess Leonor…?”

Sir Bels, who probably didn’t expect the princess to appear here, muttered in surprise.

“Call me Rene. I’m using that alias now. I’m not a princess anymore anyway.”

“I heard you were in seclusion, grieving over Prince Matthias’s death… It seems that was a disguise.”

“Seclusion? Since when am I the type to do that?”

Rene smirked. Yeah, she’s not that type.

Unless she’s out there flipping tables to avenge her enemies.

“Did you abandon your royal status and join the 1st Prince faction?”

“Yes. In exchange for my safety, I became Count Median’s maid. The former princess of the empire, now a mere count’s escort and maid… Isn’t fate ironic?”

At Rene’s sigh-laced joke, Sir Bels could only chuckle awkwardly, at a loss for words.

“That’s enough introduction. I’d like to hear why you called me. Where’s Lacey?”

“Yes. I’ll take you to her. Follow me. She’ll explain the details.”

She nodded, pulled her hood back on, and walked into the alley.

Rene and I followed.