"...I feel like I'm going to die."
"Not much further."
For Besia to say this when she didn't even say she'd die from the torture magic, she must be right at death's door.
The good thing was that the path back was close.
The location of the Dark Tower where Ambrosia was had been very near the capital.
No matter how the royal family was protecting it, the moment it was discovered, the church would be outraged. What daring guts.
Thanks to that, we could return to the capital just by walking.
In about half a day.
Given our condition, the speed wouldn't be great at all so it would likely take longer, but since it was a familiar road, it was fine.
Besia planned to go to the church in the capital, while I was thinking of returning to my territory.
Considering the distance between my territory and the capital, it would probably take a full two months on foot, but there was a way to return in one or two days.
The teleportation magic circle in the capital.
Of course it couldn't be used by just anyone, only high officials, nobles, and royalty, but I could just raid it and forcibly use it.
Step step, step step - after walking for a while, I heard the sound of hooves stomping the ground.
Besia stopped and tensed warily, sensing danger, but I wasn't particularly worried.
Since I could sense divine power from somewhere over there.
As Besia was sensitive to divine power as a priest, she also relaxed.
Holy knights in full body armor came into view, and likewise, they noticed us.
"There are people over there!"
They probably didn't recognize Besia right away since we both looked like beggars, but Besia was so moved to encounter people from the church here that she froze up with eyes wide.
Their essence was the same.
Fellow priests and knights, clergy.
A holy knight who had been watching cautiously from some distance away sensed the divine power latent in her body.
"Could it be... Priest Besia?"
"...It's me."
Her brief words broke the ice.
One holy knight called out in an emotional voice.
That was the start.
"Priest Besia has been found!"
"The priest has been found!"
"Are you alright?"
All the holy knights who had been riding over were overjoyed that Besia had been found, cheering.
Besia also spoke in a trembling voice.
"Sh, quiet down and give me water first..."
At these words, one holy knight hurriedly took out a waterskin.
After she had drained one entire waterskin and lowered her head, upon seeing the middle-aged man before her, the strength left the hand holding the waterskin.
"...Bishop."
"Besia."
With a benevolent smile,
and an expression full of boundless joy, he embraced her tightly.
"Thank goodness. You've returned."
"Bishop Rave..."
Besia opened her lips as if to say something.
But it seemed even the bishop couldn't make it out well.
"Hm? What did you say?"
"I really feel like I'm going to... pass out."
"Priest!"
"Besia!"
*Thud-*
And so she stretched out her body and fainted.
She had already reached her limit long ago.
The moment the church arrived, her fainting was an inevitable sequence.
The only issue was me, stuck among dozens of holy knights and priests?
As someone with the body of humanity's former archnemesis, it was a somewhat harsh environment.
A holy knight drew his sword.
*Shing-*
"Who are you?"
"Please state your identity clearly."
They were so overbearing.
While their words were polite, drawing blades before me.
Were they trying to die?
Showing endless implicit trust to their brethren, yet having neither blood nor tears for outsiders.
As I was pondering how to explain, fortunately Besia did what needed to be done.
"He's... my benefactor... so don't touch or I really will... pass out..."
And with that, she really fainted.
The holy knights nervously lowered their swords, and I approached the bishop.
I wondered why I didn't recognize this face.
A bishop with a position in the capital.
With his immense authority and prospects, how could I not know him?
"Were you the one who saved Besia?"
"Yes."
"Then, I offer my deepest thanks. May God's blessings be with you."
The bishop brought his hands together in earnest gratitude.
I had saved her life after all.
Besia could explain the details herself later.
I had to get what I needed from the bishop.
"Might I have a private conversation with you?"
"I... see. We brought a carriage. Let's talk there."
The bishop readily consented without suspicion.
The other priests were diligently treating Besia. Following the bishop, I entered the carriage where it was just the two of us.
Of course, I could feel the pressure emanating from the holy knights guarding the bishop outside, but it held no meaning to me who had overcome even the hero's coercion.
"Let me say again, you have my thanks for saving that child. As such, I intend to do everything in my power to fulfill any request you have."
The bishop's deep-set eyes turned to me.
The bishop seemed to cherish Besia greatly.
While I hadn't saved her targeting this relationship, it was a situation advantageous to me no matter what.
The bishop had demonstrated his resolve to fulfill my demands even using his full authority as bishop.
"The academy's enrollment will be soon."
"Yes. After a year has passed, and the cold winter is ending."
"Please sponsor me there."
"I'm not quite sure what you mean."
It was a question of whether a single sponsorship would suffice.
If he wanted to as bishop, he could stuff any student he wished into the academy.
Without any tests, into wherever he desired.
But my aim was elsewhere.
A class even the student with the top grades would have difficulty entering.
The academy's 1st class.
A place only royalty, high nobles, heroes, and students with verified backgrounds could enter.
Since it gathered the most prominent key figures, it would be hard for me as just a baron who also used magic power to get in.
If I was a completely ordinary commoner, they might let me in just to keep up appearances, but as an ambiguous noble, it was rather disadvantageous for entering 1st class.
Since those spots had already been taken by the highest nobles.
And the biggest factor was magic power.
While my outward appearance didn't seem suspicious without containing magic power in my body, I could still get caught in the process of screening out dark wizards and demons.
Surely Besia had found it suspicious too.
Like this, I couldn't even enter the academy, let alone 1st class.
But with the bishop's sponsorship?
Such worries would be unnecessary.
There's no way they would think the bishop sponsored a dark wizard.
With overwhelming grades and the bishop's sponsorship, I could enter 1st class.
"Let me ask one thing. Is this a trivial request to gain my favor, or does it hold great meaning?"
There was no need to lie.
As bishop, he would have to take the risk of sponsoring a dark wizard.
In any case, the bishop would also grasp my circumstances through Besia.
"It holds great meaning."
"I... see. Then your name is?"
"Argal Britain."
The bishop seemed to commit it to memory, nodding his head.
Then looking over my condition, he said,
"I was too focused on Besia's dire condition to notice earlier, but you aren't ordinary either. Please rest comfortably here."
Of course I had no reason to refuse.
I was also growing tired, and moreover, it seemed the order of knights would return inside the capital.
Using the church's power to easily enter the capital was an enormous advantage.
The moment I laid down on the bed inside the carriage, exhaustion overcame my body, and I fell asleep as if passing out.
**
When I awoke again, I was inside a room in the church rather than the carriage.
How much time had passed?
It seemed my body had been washed and my clothes changed during the process. My body felt soft and fresh.
To think I wouldn't even wake up while bathing.
"That's a bit strange."
While I was still undoubtedly immortal, I wondered if I had really slept that deeply.
I didn't know, but anyway, I was awake now so I had to move.
A dark wizard inside the church.
And even entering the innermost quarters, it was quite a peculiar affair.
If I was my past self, I would be pondering where to start burning, but now I had no reason for that.
I had intended to go outside and walk around, but...
"Oh my, where does the patient think they're crawling off to? Are you going to obediently return to your room?"
Blocked by the priest keeping watch, I was confined back in the room.
...What?
"My clothes do look like patient robes."
I was a patient?
Had my condition been that poor?
To be frank, I couldn't really tell the difference.
What meaning was there in distinguishing the condition of one who couldn't die?
"I'm not sure."
We had entered the capital, and my plan was to use the teleportation magic circle here to return to my territory.
I also had the appointment with Caron.
But what good would it do if I couldn't escape the church?
Moreover, the dagger wasn't in my possession either.
I had to get that back as well.
"Excuse me."
When I opened the door and spoke, a priest from across the way came over very kindly and said,
"What assistance do you require? Should I bring you a delicious snack? Or heal you? Or fetch you a book?"
...Was this the same ill-mannered priest who had forced me back into the room earlier for trying to sneak out?
Oh well, I got straight to the point.
"I'm not particularly ill."
"I see."
Suddenly the priest changed her attitude, holding out her hand.
"Let me see your hand."
"Pardon?"
"Give it here."
When I extended my hand, she sent divine power into it.
"Total muscular dystrophy throughout your body, frankly speaking it's abnormal you can even stand."
And she held her hand over my heart.
This was even more serious, as the priest's expression properly wrinkled.
"Vitality, barely clinging to the bottom. Forcing yourself risks heart failure."
"Well, about that..."
"And you say you aren't a patient? Do you want to die?"
There were a few unfair things:
I had the skill to move my body even with my muscles shredded just after dying and reviving because there were pressing matters requiring me to move.
And depleted vitality wouldn't instantly recover right after being revived.
Some aftereffects were only natural.
While to the priest's eyes I was probably a walking corpse.
...Listening to myself explain makes it sound like I am a patient.
"Alright, lie down obediently. I'll bring some books you can read when bored."
Feeling as if I had just been forcibly institutionalized, I was confined in the room with a peculiar sense of powerlessness.
Without the dagger, I also had no physical way to break through the priest.
While my shredded muscles could at least move to some degree, I couldn't generate strength I didn't have.
"I do need an alternative."
I really become far too helpless without the real dagger.
With a deep sigh, I lay in bed.
And a guest came to visit.
"Besia is asking for you."
The bishop had come for me.
He looked older, but still seemed to have attained some peace.
The priest shot me a displeased look as I, a patient, went outside, but it seemed there was nothing to be done about the bishop.
Following the bishop down the corridor, a somewhat different space appeared.
Entering that room, I saw Besia lying in bed.
While I hadn't noticed well when escaping the Dark Tower with her, her neat, washed appearance was properly revealed.
She currently looked drained even of that.
If she regained her plumpness, anyone would praise her looks.
The bishop glanced at Besia then nudged his head at me, signaling me to go to her.
Without any particular thoughts, I approached her.
"Hold out your hand."
She said that.
Grabbing my hand, she let divine power flow into it, then quietly murmured,
"...I'm sorry."
"For what?"
It was sudden.
What was she apologizing for?
"...You've used up most of your lifespan. Even though I revived you, with this level of vitality... you can't live long."
Was she mistaken because of the depleted vitality after being resurrected?
I'd return soon anyway.
I indifferently said,
"It's fine."
"...It's not fine! Because of me, you scraped away practically your entire lifespan, and yet...!"
That sort of disappointed appearance, as if the results were undesirable.
It seemed she had misunderstood something.
I had only died and been revived.
Yet through an unlikely coincidence, she had been pouring her divine power into me.
So it was an understandable misconception as clergy.
She thought she had revived me.
And feeling guilty after seeing the lifespan that hadn't returned despite reviving me.
"It's not because of you, but thanks to you, that I live again."
Besia's eyes shook.
As expected.
You were under the illusion that you revived me with your power.
Then believe that.
"Just that is thanks enough."
Not empty words, but sincere gratitude.
For hiding that I had returned from death.
Since an immortal's most crucial secret was being undying.
You concealed my greatest weakness.
I don't know if that comforted her, or if it only brought her endless sorrow, but
Besia broke down crying right there.