Episode 50
"Kania, how did the exam go?"
"Me?"
After finishing the final exam and heading back to the dormitory, I posed a question to Kania, who had been quietly following beside me.
"As Young Master knows, I remember the previous iteration, do I not? So naturally, there was no way I could have done poorly."
"...That's right."
At that, she answered me with a look that asked why I would even ask such a thing, then glanced around and began speaking in a low voice.
"And asking such questions outside like this does not seem like a very wise idea. Even right now, Young Master can barely even walk..."
"...Understood, sorry."
Cutting off her words, I leaned against the wall for a moment and exhaled roughly while muttering.
"It was just... one of the things I wanted to say at least once if I ever made a friend... so I took this opportunity to say it."
Hearing those words, Kania sighed quietly and said.
"I apologize. However, in your current state, if even one more person discovers Young Master, it seems like it would be irreversible..."
"No, that just means you're thinking of me that much. Thank you, Kania."
Having answered thus, I was about to quicken my pace when I urgently pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and began coughing.
"Cough! Cough!!"
Then, in an instant, the handkerchief began to stain red.
"Kania, get me a handkerchief with an automatic cleaning spell on it."
With an effort to maintain a calm expression, I stuffed the handkerchief into my pocket and ordered the item I currently needed most from Kania, who had been quietly watching me.
"I will procure the finest quality one."
Having answered thus, Kania opened the door to my dormitory, which we had arrived at without realizing, and began speaking in a serious voice.
"Ah, and there are two important reports."
"...I see?"
Since Kania's expression was unusual, I also began to put on a serious expression and sat on the edge of the bed to listen to her words.
"First... I believe I have found a clue regarding the 'Spatial Transfer Scroll.'"
"...Really!?"
Since considerable good news had come from her lips, I asked with my eyes shining.
"So, which damn bastard switched it?"
Then Kania made a slightly troubled expression and shook her head.
"No, I did not find the person who performed the switch."
"Then?"
"I found the source of the scroll."
Hearing those words, I felt a slight disappointment, but on second thought, the scroll's source was quite an important clue, so I asked for a detailed explanation with my eyes shining again, and Kania tapped her notebook with a fountain pen and continued speaking.
"Do you remember when Young Master asked me to track down the 'Magic Artisan'?"
"Why that suddenly? Wait, don't tell me..."
"Yes, I was able to obtain information that someone matching the appearance Young Master described has recently been doing scroll business in a back alley."
When I frowned deeply at those words, Kania added in a low voice.
"And most of those magic scrolls are frauds, and apparently most of those fraudulent scrolls were spatial transfer scrolls."
"...The level of sophistication?"
"They say it requires precise analysis at the Magic Tower to identify. It makes sense that Ms. Ariane was deceived."
"This is driving me crazy..."
My head is starting to throb.
The proprietor, who had never imposed any scams or ripoffs on me, is apparently going around committing scroll fraud. Furthermore, the sophistication is said to be acknowledged even by the Magic Tower. I knew the artisan's skill was outstanding enough to put ordinary magical tool makers to shame, but... if it's to the extent that the Magic Tower acknowledges it, the story changes significantly.
'Come to think of it... although I was robbed, it seemed strange from the time I was able to fight Isollet to some extent with the magical tools I had...'
Isollet, although currently an academy instructor, is undeniably a person with the qualities of the next Sword Saint. The fact that I was able to hold my own against her to some degree, even though I was ultimately robbed... means the proprietor is not an ordinary back-alley merchant after all.
"...Secure that proprietor. You can buy them off with money, and if money doesn't work, use force even if you have to."
"Understood."
I needed to know what purpose the proprietor had in going around committing scroll fraud, why they hadn't scammed me, and where those extraordinary skills came from, so I gave Kania a strict order and began listening to her next report.
"The second report is... regarding the punishment that the Imperial Family and the Church have decided for Young Master."
"...Punishment?"
When I tilted my head and asked, Kania frowned slightly and answered.
"Yes, although you were under 'mental control' and thus had no choice but to commit the incident... the fact that you sided with the Demon King is true, and public opinion throughout the country is unavoidable, so this is a punishment handed down for show."
"...So what is the punishment?"
Feeling slightly anxious, I asked Kania, and she sighed and answered.
"Forced community service at the orphanage we established."
"This is insane, really."
Having uttered a curse at those words, I urgently threw a question at Kania.
"The relationship between me, my family, and the orphanage is definitely separated, right?"
"Yes, I have taken perfect measures. As long as Young Master does not personally reveal the truth, it will not be discovered."
Hearing that, I thought that at least I wouldn't end up vomiting all the blood in my body and dying, when I suddenly frowned and asked.
"But why... of all places, the orphanage we established?"
"It seems they made that judgment because the orphanage Young Master established is currently the largest in the Empire, is located within the capital, and the difficulty of labor is also appropriate."
"...I see."
Fortunately, judging by Kania's words, it doesn't seem like information has leaked. Well, if information had leaked, I would have died long ago.
"So, when is the community service?"
"Starting today."
"...Ugh."
I, who had been sighing with relief, frowned deeply and grabbed my head at Kania's words that I had to do community service starting today.
"My body is already killing me... and now I have to do community service..."
"...By the way, Young Master. Is it alright for you to do community service?"
I was grumbling since my whole body already felt sore, when Kania asked with a worried expression.
"If by any chance... the community service is recognized as a 'good deed'..."
"...Don't worry about that."
I made an expression indicating there was no problem and opened the 'Unique Skill Window' that hadn't had a single enemy since the freshman welcome party.
[Permanent Debuff: Fate of the One Who Befriends Evil]
Description) Each time your identity as 'One Who Befriends Evil' is discovered, your vitality and lifespan decrease. (Special stacks only reduce vitality.)
[Stacks: 2 Special Stacks: 1]
I, who had been quietly glaring at the debuff window where a description of special stacks had been added at some point, answered Kania in a subdued voice.
"If I slack off as much as possible, show absolutely no cooperation, and don't show any signs of reflection, then even if I do community service, there won't be any penalties."
"But..."
"It's fine. The Imperial Family and the Church probably just handed down this punishment for show anyway. If I just maintain appropriate boundaries while doing it..."
"...Young Master will receive community service guidance from 'Mr. Feruche.'"
I, who had been trying to reassure Kania who had a worried expression, started opening my mouth wide at those words.
"The Church assigned Mr. Feruche as the counterpart to correct Young Master. Therefore, from now on, Young Master will spend a certain amount of time with Mr. Feruche every day."
"Ugh..."
"Furthermore, after community service ends, you must go to the Sun God Church's building and pray together with Mr. Feruche..."
"...Is there no way to change the punishment?"
At this point, being tied to Feruche for activities would cause quite a few headaches, so I urgently asked Kania, but she shook her head firmly and answered.
"...Public opinion is so poor that if we try to intervene here, the situation could worsen."
"Well, that's true..."
Realizing there was no choice, I frowned deeply again due to my stomach and chest starting to feel stuffy and said.
"Then, I'll take a nap, so wake me when it's time to go to community service."
"...I will wake you in 30 minutes."
"Okay, then... wait, 30 minutes!?"
I, who had been slowly closing my eyes, was startled at the words '30 minutes' and asked, and Kania said with a regretful expression.
"Even if it's for show, punishment is punishment... so a time has been set."
"Sigh... lately nothing is going right... Cough! Cough!!"
I, who had heard those words, closed my eyes tightly and muttered, then coughed, and Kania carefully wiped my mouth with a handkerchief and said.
"Lately, it seems the frequency of coughing up blood has increased compared to vomiting blood."
"Seems so... Cough!"
I, who had tried to answer her but ended up coughing again, looked at Kania, who had become covered in blood on her face and clothes, with guilt-ridden eyes and opened my mouth.
"I'm sorry, Kania... I'll do it myself, so you just... ugh...!"
"...A servant exists for times like this, Young Master."
But Kania, who had begun carefully wiping my mouth again, looked down at the handkerchief that had become soaked in blood and said.
"You must go out for community service, so although it will only last about a day and its function will be inferior... I will personally cast an automatic cleaning spell on Young Master's handkerchief."
"Thank you, Kania."
I, who had smiled and answered at her consideration, slowly closed my eyes and muttered.
"You really are the best..."
But unable to overcome the sleepiness that came the moment I closed my eyes, I fell quietly into sleep while feeling Kania's touch.
"...Whatever words follow, that would be too undeserving a title for me."
Just before losing consciousness, I think I faintly heard Kania's voice muttering in a sad tone.
.
"...By any chance, did you undergo another trial this time?"
"No, this time I slept deeply."
When Kania, who woke me up 30 minutes later, asked worriedly, I answered with a smile.
'...So this is how it comes out.'
Of course, that was a white lie.
Since the trial didn't work with either painful scenes or happy scenes, it locked me in a dark, closed space that I hate the most.
"Then, please go carefully, Young Master."
"Okay."
Thanks to that, my condition hadn't improved at all, but I forced a bright smile for her and waved my hand, then opened the front door and took a step.
"...Hello."
"........."
Then, Feruche, who had been wearing a cold expression, came into my view.
"You look quite unwell. So..."
Feruche, who had glanced at me for a moment, was unconsciously emitting holy power and approaching, then stopped in place.
"No, that's not it. This is your karma. So don't expect any treatment from me."
"...I never asked for treatment."
When I answered with a smirk to her speaking with a firm expression, Feruche began to make a slightly troubled expression.
[Feruche Asterayde's Current Emotion: Hatred/Guilt/Hesitation]
I, who was watching such Feruche, urgently used the 'Mind Reading' skill, wondering if she, who has a kind heart after all, was worrying about me again, but fortunately, that was my unfounded worry.
However, seeing that 'guilt' is among Feruche's emotions... indeed, she seems to have an overflowing amount of qualities as a saintess.
Aside from hating me, she, who is skilled in treatment arts, would be able to tell at a glance how seriously damaged I am just by looking.
However, she is currently in a position to bring about my downfall and then kill me, so it's awkward for her to provide treatment.
In other words, she is feeling guilt over the fact that she cannot treat me even though a sick person is before her eyes, even though that person is me, whom she hates terribly.
"W-well then, let's depart..."
As expected, she deliberately turned her gaze from me and began walking down the corridor with a trembling voice.
"...Cough."
"Eek."
I coughed as carefully as possible so Feruche wouldn't hear, but seeing her flinch from walking far ahead, it seems she's grasping everything after all.
"...This is driving me crazy."
It seems I definitely need to buy the 'Vitality Recovery Speed Increase' skill.
.
"Ah, hello..."
When Feruche and I entered, a female staff member who had been working inside welcomed us with cold sweat.
Judging by her expression, she seems to be filled with quite a bit of burden.
Well, from her perspective, two of the Empire's key figures have suddenly become staff at her workplace, so that's understandable.
"Hello! I am Feruche! By any chance, are you the owner of this orphanage?"
"Ah, I... that is..."
"Wow... it's really a wide and pleasant place... it's several times larger than the orphanage the Church operates..."
After shaking hands vigorously with the staff member, Feruche began wandering around the orphanage with her eyes shining.
"E-excuse me... Mr. Frey? That, um..."
"...What is it?"
I, who had been blankly watching her, answered in a disinterested voice when the female staff member spoke to me in a trembling voice.
"Um... you need to change your clothes..."
"I don't want to."
When I said that and made an annoyed expression, the female staff member bowed her head repeatedly and said.
"P-please. We also received contact from the Church yesterday so we're flustered, but... if Mr. Frey doesn't do the community service properly, the budget could be cut..."
"...What does that mean?"
I frowned deeply at the words that the budget could be cut and asked, and the female staff member bowed again and answered.
"Yes, yes... there is someone who sponsors our orphanage anonymously... and the sponsorship amount is quite large..."
"And?"
"Since someone who sponsors that much is surely likely to be related to the Imperial Family or the Church... if we get on their bad side in such a situation, it would be a big problem..."
After listening to her words for a moment, I thought she was quite a sharp person for an ordinary staff member and answered.
"That's not my problem."
"B-but... then the children in the orphanage might end up on the streets again!"
Then she, who had been unable to stay still, finally closed her eyes tightly and screamed.
"Y-you, what's your name?"
Since she was quite to my liking, I asked her name, and the female staff member answered while glancing at me.
"...Ruby."
"Ruby..."
I was repeating the name to remember her, when suddenly she knelt before me and began to sob.
"P-please! Please save our orphanage...!"
"W-why are you doing this?"
Then she grabbed my leg and started begging, and thanks to that, the attention of everyone in the orphanage began to focus on me.
"You! What are you doing right now!"
In that situation, while I was blankly looking at Ruby who was sobbing, Feruche, who had been wandering around here and there in the orphanage, approached me with a deeply furrowed brow.
"...What?"
"Making a kind-hearted staff member cry...! That person has done nothing wrong..."
Then Feruche, who had stood before me, was about to start lecturing me fiercely, but...
"...Hmm?"
Suddenly trembling and looking around.
"...What's wrong?"
Since her appearance looked quite anxious, I asked with a hint of worry without realizing it, and Feruche, who had been looking around until then, suddenly frowned deeply and grabbed my arm and started heading somewhere.
"W-what? Why are you doing this?"
Then Feruche, who had found an empty storage room, glared at me and opened her mouth.
"Just what kind of wicked scheme are you trying to pull again!"
"...What?"
"Oh Sun God in the heavens, please watch over us and save us from the abyss of evil..."
Then she began chanting a spell and emitting holy power, and the holy power that had been emanating from around her gathered together and began pouring down on me all at once.
"I can't stand it anymore! Prepare yourself! Member of the Demon King's army!"
Having sent holy power for a while like that, Feruche exhaled roughly and began sweeping her eyes over me.
"...Why are you unharmed?"
But when I was frowning in a perfectly fine state, she approached me with a flustered expression and began poking here and there with her fingers.
"That's strange... I definitely felt a wicked energy..."
"What are you doing?"
Thanks to that, I, who had become quite annoyed, tried to push her away and leave the room, but Feruche stopped me by grabbing my arm and began speaking in a stern voice.
"You, answer properly to what I say from now on."
"...Fine."
Since my condition was so poor, I had no confidence to argue with her, so I decided to just go along with her words and began listening.
"What is the most dangerous operation among the Demon King's army's recent operations?"
But when I heard the words that came from her mouth, I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
"D-don't laugh! I know too that you belong to the Demon King's army!"
"...I see."
"Yes! I don't know why you're fine even after receiving my holy power... anyway, you are definitely part of the Demon King's army!"
Saying that, Feruche began glaring at me while shooting holy power here and there on my body.
"Whatever, just do the community service..."
"Then, please answer this. What on earth is happening beneath the Church?"
"...What?"
Feruche, who had been shooting holy power all over my body, urgently threw a question when I picked up a broom that was in the storage room.
"What do you mean..."
[Main Quest Generated!]
I was looking at Feruche who suddenly asked about the Church's underground with a puzzled expression, when suddenly a quest window floated before my eyes.
[Main Quest: Secret of the Sun God Church]
- Quest Content: Uncover the secret of the Sun God Church and drive out the darkness
[Reward: Increase in Hero's Armament Awakening Level]
[Failure Penalty: Death of Feruche Asterayde]
"...If you negotiate, I could help."
And having seen the contents of the quest window, I urgently began changing my words.
It seems there is no rest for me after all.