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''Please─!''
A shout. The booming voice, which could be described as a roar, was bound to attract attention in the solemn atmosphere of the monastery.
The strange visitor, whose face was covered by a crude helmet that didn't fit his head, and who was bragging endlessly about his thunderous voice to the receptionist, who seemed to be in a panic, was not even dared to be dragged out by the guardian priests of the monastery, who were said to be quite powerful, for the following reasons.
The first was that he was a man of uncharacteristic dignity, which was obvious even to the untrained eye of a criminal.
The second was that several fearless priests who had previously tried to take him down had already been overpowered by him and were lying on the ground like tumbleweeds in a western movie.
The third was that the object he held out as his identification upon repeated questioning by the receptionist was a votive offering that proved his royal connections.
It was a mind-boggling combination that was completely beyond the scope of any single employee's ability to handle, and it was only natural that the poor receptionist would panic.
''Sin, I'm sorry. ''Sir. No matter how much you claim to be a royal official, the list of priests is a confidential matter of our Order, and we cannot show it to you without permission from the Holy See.''
''I see, but could you please reconsider that judgment, I have an important matter that must be verified through that list!''
''Ha, but----.''
''You'll be reprimanded and compensated for your disrespect in the future, please!''
''Ah, but no matter what----.''
''Please!''
Please spare me.
The receptionist, who instinctively realized that even if she tried to plead for salvation from time to time with her eyes filled with such pitiful pleas, she would never be able to penetrate the strength and power of those magnificent waves, was shedding tears in her heart.
''What is it?''
''Sue, Sister!''
The calm voice cut through the commotion like rain on a flame, and the receptionist's sullen face suddenly brightened like a light in the darkness.
''I am the general manager here. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our sect, you are welcome to speak with me, nameless knight.''
''I see, you're the one in charge here, excuse me, nice to meet you!''
◈◈◈
The aroma of fragrant black tea, the cozy atmosphere created by the refined decorations, and the murderous aura that filled the room were all insufficient to disguise the murderous aura.
''Preliminaries aside, let's get straight to the point: I want you to hand me a list of all the priests employed at this monastery!''
What a bold and blunt proposal.
No knight, even one with direct ties to the royal family, would show up at a monastery unannounced and blurt out such confidential information.
No. Ignorant. Disrespectful.
These one-sided words do not even begin to describe his behavior.
The suggestion was so outrageous that the only reasonable inference was that he was a socialite's pawn, sent to disrupt the relationship between the Holy See and the royal family.
''May I ask why?''
However, despite the knight's brashness, the nun's composed demeanor was so well-groomed that there was not a crack in it.
As if the mask that concealed her expression was merely a decoration, as if she wore an intangible mask over her entire body, the series of neatly arranged words made her look like an emotionless doll.
''In fact, we are looking for an old colleague with whom we were unavoidably separated, and now that we have information and testimonies that he has been seen in the vicinity of this monastery, we have the reasonable inference that he may be employed here, which is why we have come to you!''
''Haoh, since you go so far as to say so, he must be quite a valued fellow.''
''Yes, I am!''
The silence between the two didn't last long.
At most, a moment where the nun brought the teacup to her mouth once and enjoyed its aroma.
A moment not fit to gather her emotions, not fit to control her breathing.
Unexpectedly, it was the nun who was the first to break the silence.
''However, it's a bit strange. If she was separated from the knight due to unavoidable circumstances and simply disappeared, wouldn't it also be possible to interpret that she's engaged in a new livelihood in a different town and has no intention of running into the knight's company?
''----''
''Favors are relative, and while I cannot disagree that your concern for your companion is beautiful and noble, favors without consideration of the other party's intentions can sometimes cast a darker shadow over the retina than malice. If you truly care about your companion, don't you think it would be more appropriate to consider her reasons for leaving your side and respect her wishes?''
''----''
Gulp.
The knight's gaze sank lower and lower to the floor, unable to find a worthy rebuttal to the nun's lecture, unable to utter a word save for the crude sound his helmet made as it swung around his body.
Once again, the nun began to speak slowly, in the soothing tone of an adult soothing a child.
''As for the roster, I can show you as much as I want at my discretion. But even if you were to reunite with that fellow in this way, it would be impossible to change his original intentions. After all, a person's will is----.''
That was it.
Quadrup!
A terrifying roar mixed with the sound of crunching iron and splintering wood instantly tore apart the calm atmosphere of the reception room.
''Mu, what----!''
The table between the nun and the knight snapped in half.
The nun, who realized in hindsight that it was the result of the knight slamming her head against the table, was unable to contain her emotions of agitation, which even the mask covering her face could not hide.
A man's gravelly voice rose like a sword through the splinters of wood and shattered helmets.
''Please, please-!''
The head, which had burst through the table with an unusual momentum, was now clinging to the floor.
It was a frivolous and frivolous way of begging for someone's favor.
The nun's calm demeanor crumbled for the first time at the sight of such a humble figure, so far removed from her regal demeanor.
''Please, if you want a case, I'll give it to you, I'll do anything within my power, so please, please hand over the list to me!''
Yi, I didn't expect it to come out like this!
If words could describe the nun's bustling behavior, this would be it.
She had already discovered the identity of the nameless knight in front of her the previous evening, and she knew all too well how unnatural it was for him to bow to her.
''Eh, you can't do this, please raise your head!''
''No, until you do me a favor, this head won't leave this floor, not even an inch!''
He was confident that he wouldn't lose to anyone in a fight.
If they were intimidated by his strength, he would take advantage of the situation.
However, she had never thought that a great nun who was the envy of all, whose every move was hailed as a hero's achievement, would take such a cowardly attitude.
It was inevitable that she would not be able to keep up with the alarming reality before her.
But alas, this was not the only unexpected variable.
''Hey, warrior, didn't I tell you not to stick your head in the sand like that?
''Apis, how many times have I warned you that you shouldn't move around so wildly! Look at this, the invisibility spell you put on yourself has broken again!''
''Hmm----.''
Beyond those transparent fragments, which slowly peeled away from the body like the bark of an old tree slowly peeling away from its trunk, were figures of great renown that no one in this system shouldn't know about. Great heroes.
A party of heroes.
"No, no, no----!
A horrifying assumption flashed through the nun's mind.
She had already been informed, through a reliable source, that a party of heroes was following the priest's whereabouts using their own special methods.
She had expected that only one of the warriors, or perhaps one or two of the party, would be in charge.
"Are we there!
At that moment, the scream that erupted from her heart was comparable to the roar of a dragon.
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