134-128 tailing

After a mock battle with the War Maiden Holy Knights led by Lumina-san, we had all come to the cafeteria, including Catherine-san.

In the kitchen, Rosa-san, my old date, was busily working.

'Good evening, Rosa-san,'

When I called out to her, Rosa-san looked up and greeted me with a smile when she saw my face.

''Luciel-sama, it's been a while. Did you come back today?

Yes. By the way, the cafeteria is as quiet as ever.

I hope you're enjoying yourself at least during the meal... as you always have been.

'I was special, wasn't I? Oh, can I ask for a pile of rice as usual?

I'll take care of it. I'll be back in a minute.

Saying that, Rosa-san walked into the back of the kitchen. At the same time, I heard Catherine-san's voice from behind me.

''Luciel-kun, you and Rosa-san are as close as ever, aren't you?''

I turned around and Catherine and Lumina were standing there.

'Well, yes... but it's normal. It's more fun to be congenial. Isn't it better to have fun than to have a boring job, food, and life?

Both Catherine and Lumina-san laughed when I laughed back at them.

I thought that including the two of them, the War Maiden Holy Knights were all beautiful women after all, but I told myself that it didn't matter to me right now because I would be in a state of dumplings rather than flowers.

While I was thinking about this, I looked at Lionel and the others and was glad to see that they were having a conversation about various details with the War Maiden Holy Knights.

From what I heard later, they were interested in the former generals and beast people of the empire, as they hadn't had the opportunity to have a normal conversation with them.

In the meantime, Rosa-san called out to me.

''Hi, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. If it's not enough, there will be another cup of coffee.

Thank you.

I took the food from Rosa-san with a smile and moved to a large table where we could all sit.

Catherine and Lumina-san sat in front of me, and then everyone sat down with a little space between us.

Even though they are slaves, maybe it's because they are my followers, or maybe it's because they were overwhelmed in a mock battle, but everyone in the War Maiden Holy Knights didn't have a sense of refusal to sit with Lionel and the others.

Rather, it was interesting to see them asking questions about this and that, and Lionel and the others answering them happily, even though they were somewhat confused.

I also decided to have a meal while waving the conversation to Catherine and Lumina-san.

'I hadn't heard much of anything that had changed in the past year, but has the pricing changed the impression you all get of it in any way?'

'I never leave the church headquarters, but reports indicate that the healers don't think too well of me. However, I've also heard reports that the new healers are chanting over and over again, just like Luciel-kun taught them, and their skill levels are rising much faster than in previous years.

'We, the War Maiden Holy Knights, also complain about the pricing and guidelines set up at the expedition, but they are all people who have served as healers for more than a few years. On the contrary, the people are more grateful to us than ever before for knowing the price, and I've heard that crime is down considerably in places where there are church branches.

Why commit a crime?

I didn't remember doing anything to improve public safety, so I didn't know why.

'The price of healing has been set, so it's probably alleviated some of the fear of injury and made it less stressful for the adventurers mainly. There are also fewer people who try to make money by becoming robbers and thieves. That's what a healer I know who belongs to another country also said.

'I'm relieved that the fee changes and guidelines seem to have been more acceptable than I thought they would be. If not, we were going to have to think about a new move. We hadn't heard anything from the Pope about it either, so we were a little concerned.

I chuckle and bring my food to my mouth.

'You can rest assured that I've heard the guidelines, along with the Pope and the Archbishops. More importantly, I heard that you went to Yenis and had an awesome desk job, but you kept working out.

'It was a necessary effort to live in safety. And thanks to my squire's love of simulations, there was hardly a day that went by that we didn't train.

The moment I answered that, both Catherine and Lumina asked me about Lionel and the others with a serious face.

''Well to the main question, why is General Lionel as a squire? Why did you become a slave in the first place?

'He's a hero of the Empire who was known as the Warlord. He's such a man that it is said that without him, the surrounding countries would not have been swallowed up so quickly by the Ilmasia Empire.

Both Catherine and Lumina knew Lionel.

The two of them praised him so much that when Lionel was a general, his power must have been great.

He usually knew he wasn't in the normal class, but when someone he knew actually talked about how great he was, he was reminded of it.

'Believe it or not, both Lionel and Ketty were sold in the slave trade. Lionel, in particular, was unable to move both legs.

'Why did you decide to buy slaves in the first place? I believe some of the healers and a few other priest knights went with them.

'It was because the Healer's Guild was buried in the slums and because they were attacked, wasn't it?

They both have a military tone, but I wish they would speak a little more softly, and continue the conversation.

''Yes. The security was even worse than I thought, so I thought that I couldn't let the priest-knights guard you all without sleep or rest, as a matter of course. Besides, I wanted my own protection, so I went to the slave trade. There I spotted Lionel, who shed my intimidation as if it was nothing, and since I was fortunate enough to be able to heal Lionel's leg, I decided to ask him for an escort.

You're really lucky.

''Well slaves are still people too. Don't forget that, okay?

'Yes. I intend to treat you as a servant, not as a slave.

I tried not to mention the fact that Catherine and Lumina-san had told me that Lionel and the others had treated me poorly.

'You've been to other countries and found that the St. Schuler Cooperative State is the headquarters of the Healers, right?

'Yes. I'm so glad the first city we arrived in was Meratni. If it were in Yenis, it would have been the end of my life as a healer. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I think about the fact that from now on, Yenis will become a healer-friendly city like Meratni.

''I see. Speaking of which, tomorrow's mock battle, do you mind if I do a mock battle with your squire as well?

Hmm? I thought the story had changed a lot, but I asked Lionel and the others.

'Lionel, Ketty, Kefin. Can we have a mock battle?

"If you wish, Luciel-sama. As for myself, I am very grateful for the preparation before I fight the whirlwind in Meratni.

Lionel said that on behalf of the team, but he didn't complain because of his ability.

Keti and Kefin nodded quietly, and the three of them decided to join the tournament, but I didn't miss the glint in Catherine's and Lumina's eyes.

It seemed that the fact that we had won today's mock battle outright had lit a fire in both of us, and we were going to be staying for a few days.

After dinner, Catherine informed me that my private room would be left untouched, so I would go to my private room and Lionel and the others would move to the guest room.

Yambus-san will be taking care of them for a few days, so let's go to the stables first.

I walked out to the War Maiden Holy Knights' training grounds.

The walk to the stables, which felt like a maze when I first walked it, was completely reminiscent of what I had just walked through, and I was about to arrive at the Holy Knights' training grounds, when I spotted Estia up ahead.

'What on earth is Estia doing here? ........More importantly, how can you move through this maze of churches without getting lost?

I was suspicious of Esther's behavior and decided to follow her from a distance, being careful not to let Esther find out.