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Veronica didn’t really imprison me, despite her harsh words about house arrest.

If I wanted, I could go anywhere in the Cathedral of Saint Basil. I just couldn’t leave the cathedral grounds.

So, my freedom of movement and relocation was slightly restricted.

“Is it humane to lock a diplomat in the cathedral? Do you think you’ll get away with this, Veronica?”

“It’s fine! I’m pretty!”

“Cut the nonsense!”

Veronica showed no signs of backing down.

I desperately wanted to return to the hotel, but she wouldn’t allow it. Instead, she insisted I stay in the cathedral until my wounds suffered from the demon had healed.

Well, it wasn’t so bad. They were providing free food and treatment, after all. I couldn’t complain.

But—

Isn’t this a bit much?

“Alright, here’s the room where Colonel will be staying for the time being. Do you have any questions?”

“Uh, Saint Veronica?”

“Yes?”

“Everything else is fine, but why are there iron bars on the windows?”

“Don’t worry about it, just focus on your treatment.”

Episode 12 – The Unmatched Archmage

Unlike other clergymen who just throw around prayers weaker than a band-aid, Veronica’s healing was undeniably effective.

She wiped away minor wounds in the blink of an eye and even stitched up torn skin with a flick of her wrist.

“Do you feel any pain, Colonel?”

“Of course there’s pain—I’ve had flesh torn. Give me some medicine.”

“No painkillers, just tough it out.”

I decided to just go along with the treatment.

“Hmm. The healing seems to be working well today. The wounds on your arms and back probably weren’t from the demon after all?”

With her lovely eyes squinting and smiling at me, Veronica closed her eyes.

The treatment didn’t take long.

For someone who could even reattach a severed finger, fixing my barely injured body was a piece of cake.

This was good news for me, as I was eager to escape the cathedral as soon as possible.

“Now, could you move your arm?”

Following Veronica’s suggestion, I moved my arm. The minor wounds had disappeared, leaving me no different from usual.

“Wow.”

A combination of satisfaction and awe escaped my lips.

Veronica chuckled and crossed her arms in a haughty manner, causing her two ample mounds to defy gravity in a miraculous display.

“……”

I always thought this, but it seemed Veronica was utterly shameless. There was no sense of propriety at all.

“It’s impressive, isn’t it?”

“Uh, yes… it is…”

“What’s with that lukewarm reaction? You’re making me feel bad.”

“Now, the only thing left is the wound on your chest, right?”

Ignoring Veronica’s pouty expression, I tried to take off my shirt.

“Hold it right there.”

At that moment, Veronica seized my hands as I was undoing my tie and buttons.

I looked at her, bewildered, wondering what silly game this was.

“What is this?”

“Colonel, what did I say earlier?”

“You told me to stay quietly in the cathedral until my injuries healed.”

“So once this injury is healed, you’ll be leaving the cathedral, right?”

“Uh, I suppose so.”

“Right?”

A peculiar smile appeared on Veronica’s face, resembling a mischievous boy plotting to prank someone, filled with wicked intent.

“Then, let’s treat this injury later.”

“Huh?”

There was no need to ask what she meant.

She pushed my hand away and exclaimed, “Hey! You’ve come all the way to the Cathedral of Saint Basil that the cult boasts about, and you expect to just leave?”

“……”

“Surely, you aren’t thinking of only getting treatment and leaving, are you?”

Veronica began buttoning up her shirt and, with gentle hands, even tied my tie for me.

“Your friends are waiting for you, so stop making that foolish face and let’s go.”

I followed Veronica, who was pulling me by the hand, as we left the room.

*

Under the intentions of Emperor Nikolai VI, who loves religion more than anyone, the Kien Empire is collecting astronomical amounts of taxes related to religion.

It was a truly brutal act that could make one’s knees tremble and make a priest’s spine shiver, but the empire’s laws could not prevent the expansion of faith.

The Cathedral of Saint Basil served as undeniable proof of that truth.

A testament to the hero of the Magic Tower independence war and the great archmage, Nikolai VI’s aunt, it stood proudly in the North, governed by the Duke of the Northern Regions.

The cathedral boasts a history of a thousand years, far surpassing the glorious century-long history of the Magic Tower and the enduring centuries of the Kien Empire.

The grand scale of this stone architecture, housing a millennium’s worth of history, is beyond words.

The pressure rising from the low hill and the serene atmosphere felt from a distance, the sacred aura filled with fervent faith.

Despite being the cathedral of the cult, the Imperial Foreign Affairs Department desperately registered the cathedral as a cultural heritage of the empire.

Even I, just a common person, felt enchanted by the cathedral’s atmosphere; how much more would a believer feel?

If I were a believer, I’m certain that the moment I stepped into the cathedral, my mind would have been blown.

Thinking about the fact that I shared a bed with a saint in such a place made me feel a bit strange.

Saints are the favored children of God, the closest to Him, and isn’t the cathedral a space of faith connecting God and humanity? If I think about it, I was essentially having relations with a woman in the same house I lived in with my parents.

“……”

Should I pray and express my gratitude even now?

Just as such ridiculous thoughts crossed my mind, Veronica, who had been leading the way, flung open the restaurant door, snapping me out of my contemplation.

“Here we are! Let’s see if my sister and the hero are doing well!”

The restaurant was bustling for an unexpected guest arrival.

There were only two guests, but if they were the saint’s companions, it was a different story.

“Check if they need anything!”

“What about drinks? Right. I’ll bring some right away.”

“Prepare Stollen for dessert! It’s year-end and the big feast is coming up, so it’s the best choice.”

The monks were busily moving food around. For just three people—Camila, Francesca, and maybe Lucia—the amount of food was excessively large.

Surely, Francesca wouldn’t eat it all.

That would leave only one person.

“……”

Guessing whose stomach would ultimately bear the burden of all that food, I covered my face with my hands.

Veronica seemed to have anticipated this, as she started to laugh cheerfully.

“It looks like they’re doing well. We should at least show our faces out of courtesy, right?”

“*sigh*….”

“Stop sighing and let’s go! Everyone will be waiting.”

As expected, the biggest culprit behind the food consumption was Camila.

Opposite Francesca, who dined with noble elegance, a stack of plates was piling high. Even as the Inquisitor cleared away the empty plates, it showed no signs of diminishing.

A mountain of plates that could withstand three slaps from the mountain range. In the midst of it sat the extraordinarily happy Camila, enjoying her meal.

“…ugh.”

I knew she could eat a lot, but I could hardly believe my eyes.

It was as if she were a representative athlete training at Taereung.

At a glance, it seemed she had cleared a whole table’s worth of food. I wondered where all those calories were disappearing to.

“How are you both enjoying the meal?”

Veronica, sporting a blissful look and a saintly soft voice, initiated the conversation, causing the two lunching individuals to react.

“Ah! You’ve arrived?”

Camila greeted warmly, while Veronica asked kindly.

“Oh, Hero! Is the food to your liking? The food in the cathedral where the Archbishop is staying should be impeccable, but I’m just checking to see if you find anything uncomfortable.”

“Thank you for your concern. It’s delicious!”

“I’m glad to hear that! How about Lady Ranieri?”

“It was a satisfying meal.”

While Francesca responded to Veronica’s inquiry in a flat but polite tone, Camila’s friendliness was evident.

Knowing their connection, I felt a bit puzzled, but soon realized where we were—the cathedral—and quickly accepted it.

It wouldn’t do any good for the priests to know that a high-ranking cleric and the Magic Tower Secretariat executive were on friendly terms.

Especially if the news reached the ears of a fundamentalist high-ranking cleric, that would surely put Veronica in a tight spot.

Of course, I had no way of knowing whether someone as unrestrained as her, who had handed over sacred objects to gamblers for betting and snuck out during work hours to enjoy cigarettes at a café, would even care about such trivial matters.

It’s said that an arm bends inward, but wouldn’t it be the ironic opposite if the arm’s owner here happens to be Veronica?

But it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.

“Hmm. Well, that’s a relief. Brother?”

At Veronica’s gentle call, a priest rushed over.

“Yes, Saint.”

“When the hero finishes eating, could you please give them a short tour of the cathedral? Of course, after they taste the dessert.”

“Dessert?”

Camila’s eyes lit up upon hearing the word, her love for dessert evident.

“Yes! The cathedral has everything you can imagine. If you want, feel free to try it all.”

“Really? Can I just take a bite and then throw it out?”

“Feel free to have a taste and toss it out of the window! I won’t be the one cleaning up anyway!”

“Wow!”

As I observed Camila and Veronica laughing and joking, the priest and monk exchanged glances, their shoulders drooping and their faces somber, reflecting their troubled hearts.

“I’ve had enough.”

Amidst this, Francesca rose from the table.

She had begun with fish paired with Roquefort cheese, truffle-oil-roasted potatoes, and roast chicken, now transitioning to her more high-end vintage wine of raisin.

As I translated this, the text abruptly ended.

A meal finished off with cheese.

Francesca stood up from her seat with a satisfied expression.

Saint Veronica smiled gently as she watched Francesca leave the restaurant, saying, “Take your time. The Cathedral is large, so you might get lost if you’re not careful.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

Before long, only Camila, Veronica, and I were left in the restaurant.

Francesca left without saying when she would return.

I had a strange feeling about this.

As expected, Veronica began to whisper sweetly to the distracted Camila, who was preoccupied with the dinner.

“Hero, I suddenly remembered a place I need to go, and as your host, I hope it’s not rude to step away for a moment?”

“That’s fine! I’ll be okay, so feel free to go!”

“How kind of you.”

Veronica smiled kindly and insisted that Camila shouldn’t feel lacking in anything. The priest nodded with a bow, assuring her that it would be done.

With that, Veronica succeeded in distracting Camila and sauntered out of the restaurant, adding, “Oh, Colonel, I’ll borrow you for a bit!”

Her tone was as if she were just fetching something she forgot.

Since her tone was light, Camila answered without any particular concern, “Go ahead!”

“……”

Did I just get treated like an object?

I wanted to ask but was a moment too late.

Veronica, with a playful smile, took my arm and whispered in my ear so Camila wouldn’t hear.

“Come on, let’s wrap this up and get back quickly before the Hero thinks something strange is going on.”

As I was led out of the restaurant by Veronica, who was smiling brightly, I shook my head disapprovingly and glanced back over my shoulder.

Even if it’s called a dining hall, it was truly a restaurant.

Camila sat at the large table, holding her motionless utensils, meeting my gaze.

“……”

“……”

That was enough of a conversation.

I turned my gaze away, while Camila once again smiled, complimenting the charcuterie and stollen that were served for dessert.

*

With my arm still tugged along, we were dragged to an office within the Cathedral. It was the makeshift office used by Veronica.

Having left behind the knight who was on escort duty and the priest serving her, Veronica only brought me along to the office.

There, a very familiar person was seated.

“You’ve arrived.”

Francesca.

Dressed in a luxurious suit reminiscent of the upper class of 19th-century Europe, she greeted us while gazing out the window as we entered.

Seeing her, Veronica beamed and responded, “Were you waiting long? I hope you weren’t bored!”

“Not really.”

“Oh dear… My sister, come here and let me hug you!”

With a beaming smile, Veronica opened her arms wide, attempting to embrace her.

It was as if she were running to hug a giant doll called Francesca.

“Don’t.”

At that moment, Francesca rejected her with a serious look on her face, her tone firm.

Veronica’s expression dropped as her arms fell to her sides. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes turned downcast.

“When did you grow so big… You used to have a bit of cuteness back in the day.”

“……”

“Fine! But really, raising these girls is pointless. Lucia and Francesca, both of them….”

With her mood visibly lowered, Veronica muttered incomprehensible nonsense as she trudged over to the desk. I quietly inquired of Francesca, “What’s going on here?” but she merely sighed and turned away, offering no further explanation.

“Um….”

It was clear that neither Francesca nor Veronica denied their friendship. Since Veronica often referred to Lucia and her as ‘sisters,’ it suggested they were especially close.

Even though Lucia was technically her step-sister, I didn’t understand why Francesca called her ‘sister’ too.

On closer inspection, it seemed the connection between the two extended far back beyond my assumptions.

Dragging her way to the desk, Veronica pulled out a chair. Then, she plopped down while waving her hands in the air.

“Sigh… I shouldn’t say anything. Come sit down. Colonel, you should take a seat here too.”

I quietly dragged a chair over and sat down. Francesca, who had been standing by the window, also took a chair.

“So, why did you suddenly call for us?”

From the moment Francesca left her seat, I had a hunch she would have some contact. Typically, she wouldn’t leave the table unless everyone was finished eating.

While it wasn’t the case every time, after hearing Veronica and Camila’s conversation, I felt certain. It was clear she intended to leave Camila behind.

Of course, Camila, noticing the situation, had obliged appropriately.

“What exactly are you planning to discuss by separating us from Camila?”

“Colonel, saying that makes it sound like I schemed with my sister.”

“Wasn’t it?”

“Well, actually, it was!”

Veronica readily admitted it. She acknowledged that she had intentionally left Camila at the table and had coordinated with Francesca.

Her cheerful acknowledgment was as striking as her lively voice.

However, what was troubling was that it seemed obvious she didn’t want to get into details that would subject herself to questioning. Veronica was hinting at that.

“Well, I really don’t mind. What do you want to discuss?”

“What do you mean by ‘want’? I simply called the two over for a little chat!”

I glanced at Francesca next to me.

“Is that conversation really something that needs the administrator’s involvement?”

The person answering the question wasn’t Veronica. Francesca, sitting quietly, let out a soft sigh, turning slightly to drape her arm over the back of her chair.

“Originally, it was just supposed to be a one-on-one talk with my sister, Colonel.”

“So, you got dragged into this as well? What were you planning to discuss?”

“It was about some grievances emerging among the magicians and news that would aid in the inquiry. Also, we could catch up a bit.”

Francesca sighed deeply, giving an irritated glare to Veronica.

“I wanted a private meeting, but somehow it turned into a trio confrontation. How surprising!”

Although she wrapped her words carefully, it was clear she didn’t understand how things came to this.

To sum it up, it was Francesca who sought the conversation with Veronica, but it was Veronica who had arranged the current meeting.

The exact topic was still unknown, but it was evident that bringing both me and Francesca together was Veronica’s intention. Moreover, the fact that she had purposely kept Camila apart—exactly to prevent me from leaving the Cathedral—was also Veronica’s design.

I shot her a look that asked what was going on, and Veronica made a dismissive sound, looking slightly aggrieved.

“I said I called you to talk. Important talk. Did you think I was gathering you two for a threesome or something?”

“Of course, you’re just joking again—Wait, what?!”

“……”

In my shock over her crass language, an expletive slipped out. Francesca looked at Veronica with a blank expression, as if to say, “What did I just hear?”

Yet, it was Veronica, who had uttered the vulgarity, who appeared unapologetic.

“Anyway.”

Veronica quickly brushed off the situation.

She smoothly changed the topic, opening a cigar box and took out a cigar. She busily moved around with a cutter and matches, exhaling sharply.

“The conversation we’re about to have is very important. I hope it doesn’t leak outside, and that fewer people get directly involved, which is why I called only the Colonel and my sister over. That’s also why I separated you, Hero.”

I licked my dry lips.

I was too stunned and bewildered for words to come easily, but I made an effort to collect my thoughts.

“Alright then, let’s hear about this important matter.”

Snip. The cap of the cigar was sliced off and landed on the desk.

Veronica brushed away the scattering filler fragments with her fingers and took a few draws on it before retrieving a matchstick and lighting it.

– Sizzle!

The slight smoke followed her breaths in and out, the flames flickering and shrinking repeatedly.

Confirming that the fire was evenly lit across the entire cigar, Veronica tossed the match into the ashtray.

Even from a distance, the flame burned brightly, but oddly, Veronica’s expression didn’t seem that bright.

“……”

Without saying a word, she inhaled and exhaled the cigar smoke quickly. Oddly fast compared to her usual pace.

If she smoked like that at such short intervals, the taste would just get charred, ruining the cigar’s flavor. Knowing that, Veronica kept drawing in smoke without stopping.

Her expression was one of strange focus, revealing nothing of what was on her mind.

Amidst her anxious smoking, Veronica finally spoke.

Her first words were brief and straightforward.

“The demon is still alive.”

 

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