230-224 Promise

As I exit the stacks, I speak to Kefin.

'Did you find anything new?'

'There wasn't much. Also, they touted human supremacy, but there wasn't much material on that.

It's a bit odd to know that the head of the church is a high half-elf and that he's a bit of a human supremacist, too.

Maybe it was just camouflage to get control of the executive branch.

''We don't know if there's any information in the other rooms, so let's go back to the big training ground.

''If you'll give me permission, Luciel-sama, I'd like to check out the other rooms a bit more, if that's okay with you?''

What's on your mind?

''Yes. We couldn't find the drug that turned him into a demon in this room. That's why I would like to check the other rooms to corroborate the will.

All right. Most of the executioners are already in custody, so do what you want. But don't make any sudden moves or reckless moves.

Ha!

I then asked Kefin to lead me to the entrance of the annex and then I asked him for directions to the grand training grounds and we parted ways.

When they returned to the large training ground, they found their master and Lionel bleeding there, and most of the knights weren't even hurt at all, except for a dozen or so knights who had fallen and were no longer moving.

However, their expressions were not calm.

'Keti, what's the situation here?'

''Ah, Luciel-sama. Lionel-sama and Whirlwind are dealing with each other handlessly, because in their current state, they're going to kill them without being able to add or subtract,

Do you want to fight that hard?

It's true that those two are battle freaks.

Well, they must be very good training partners for the Order.

It might be a shock to you, though.

It's best if the training is hot and stuffy. And when it comes to the real battle, it's better to keep a cool head and fight smartly.

Ketty looked at her mentors, crossing her arms as she stared at them.

'That's cool. But I think the two of you just want to fight as hard as you can...''

Well it's too late now. Then when Luciel-sama returns, the ban on their weapons will be lifted.

Keti announced this as if she was giving up and went to the two of them.

And when I finished speaking something, Master and Lionel's gaze caught mine, and they laughed ferociously, then both of them smiled fiercely and took out their weapons before declaring to the Knights.

''Well, playtime ends here.

We are going to lift the ban on weapons. Rest assured, with Master Luciel here, he'll be able to heal an arm or two in no time.

''Anyone who's not careful will be on their way to the other side in no time, so if you want to finish your training, expect Luciel to run out of magic.

Come on, you can have it.

If you're not coming, we'll come to you.

Right after Master and Lionel swore an oath to sip a shouting match, they rushed into the Order.

And since you're involved in it so easily, it's too bad in nature.''

My mutterings were not supposed to be heard by anyone.

''Still, those people are your warrior masters, aren't they, Luciel?

However, Lumina appeared behind me and called out to me.

I was surprised because my attention was so focused on my masters that I couldn't notice her.

''When were you there?''　I hadn't noticed that at all.

'Hmph, Luciel, you've been so focused on that one. I thought I'd surprise you a bit.

Lumina-san smiled gently at the success of the prank.

She decided to tell Lumina-san a bit about what she thought of her masters and Lionel.

''My masters are my martial arts masters, my seniors in life, and they could be like my father and brother who show me how to live as a Han (cousin),''

You have a lot of faith in me.

'Yes. If it wasn't for my master, I'm sure I'd still be a healer in Meratni, and if I hadn't met Lionel and the others, maybe I'd have scattered in Yenis. In that way, you might have some interpersonal luck. Including the fact that Lumina-san saved me in Meratni, though.

I'm a little embarrassed to hear that.

But if I hadn't met Lumina-san in the first place, I wouldn't have been able to go to the Healer's Guild so easily, and I wouldn't have heard about the reputation of healers, so I couldn't have taken the plunge.

Looking back on it now, if I had known that the adventurers were alienating me, I might not have gone to the Adventurers Guild.

When I think about it, I feel like that was my turning point.

''It's all thanks to Luciel-kun's hard work. Now you have reached the level of a wise man. It's not something you would normally be able to do.''

I just didn't have the option of giving up, because I always risked my life.

It's nice to be praised, but if I really had given up somewhere, I wouldn't be here now.

''By the way, there seems to be an increase in the number of dwarves and elves?''

'Oh, my followers are all those who were slaves. I healed them when they were wounded, and they became my followers because they felt indebted to me.

Are there any problems with the multiracial population?

Unusually for Lumina-san, the topic of species came up.

I thought for a while after hearing Lumina-san's words, but I didn't hear or feel that there was a problem.

''Yes. On the contrary, I'm always grateful to them. For example, Keti the cat-beast man and Kefin the half-wolf-beast man have taken on the role of dirt and such without my notice, and Dolan the dwarf, Paula, and Lisian the elf have developed an amphibian to help you all, and it doesn't matter what race you are.

Lumina-san listened to my words and nodded her head in silent agreement.

'Really?　I'm glad to hear that. I was aware that I hadn't been able to build a good relationship with the church.... I just wanted to build relationships where we could respect each other as much as the people we were always with.

It was lonely when the War Maiden Holy Knight Squad, other than Lumina-san, started to treat me somewhat more reservedly after I became an S-class healer.

''Luciel-kun is still different, isn't he?''

Lumina-san smiled that way, but it wasn't like she was happy that her prank had succeeded earlier, but a smile that seemed nostalgic somehow.

''.........I've often been told, is it really that strange?''

Luciel's position in the church is high, but when I go to town, everyone treats him with ease. ─ You have a high position in the Church, but when you go to town you are treated with a certain ease by everyone. I think you can and very rarely do that.

'It's not that I'm not a great person myself, you know. I would normally like to spend time in a similar position in the church...

I don't intend to get involved in any more troublesome matters such as taking control of the inside of the church or the knights' group.

''........What are you throwing yourself into the fight for, Luciel-kun?　We could have avoided the battle if we'd tried.

It's not that I've never once thrown myself into battle for the love of it like my masters have.

''You make me sound like a battle fanatic when you talk like that.

'Oh, no, I didn't mean to do that, but...'

I respond with a smile, and Lumina-san laughs at me as if she were in some kind of trouble.

She must have been worried about the fact that her life was in danger.

I feel like Lumina-san is always worried about me.　

But why do we fight........?

I have no doubt that the beginning of it was the encounter with the Holy Dragon.　

He learned the truth that if he didn't traverse the labyrinth and release the reincarnated dragon, the brave man would lose in the future.

That's why if we don't act even to the extent that we can, I'm sure that many of us will lose our lives unreasonably before then.

I don't want to admit that, and when I was given the power to counter the demon race, I promised to do so to the extent that I could. I can't go wrong with that.

And although it's somehow unreasonable to talk about it, it's really disgusting because it's actually the most correct option for survival.

After all, this world has the concept of levels....

'In fact, I've recently realized that I'm apparently a bit of an enmeshed person, and besides, if I let things I'm involved in go, it's going to be the worst case scenario.

The evil gods, the demon race, and the problems that come up one after the other, if we don't aim to solve them as soon as possible, we'll definitely get caught up in the end.

Well, since we're already involved, if we don't move here, it will surely be a worst case scenario.

''........Luciel-kun, you don't plan to come back to the church anymore, do you?''

...Why is that?

I had a vague feeling that way.

I felt like I was being guessed as she looked at us.

''I see.......I will be honest with you, Lumina-san. I have no desire to intervene in the church any further. I'm not going to be trapped in the church, and I'm going to keep an eye on it, healing people as I have been.

'Well if you could, I mean it would be nice if you could come and see me once in a while...'

Lumina-san's slightly embarrassed expression made me feel like all time had stopped.

I managed to think of something to say to her before replying anyway.

''Um, yes. 'Luciel, let me recover as soon as possible. Lumina-san, once the series of events is over, we'll take some time to talk this time.

Then my mentor called me in at the perfect time.

Good job, I thought, but I decided to procrastinate.

It would be easy to talk about something as simple as liking or disliking it, but I didn't want to do anything too rude, such as replying without knowing how I felt about it.

Maybe it's not fair, but right now I think I need time for a lot of things.

'Hmmm, okay. Go ahead and do it quickly.

Lumina-san didn't have a single disagreeable look on her face, on the contrary, she smiled and hurried me down to her master.

''Yes, see you then.''

Yeah, again.

This is how I would go to the knights lying at the feet of my masters and recover them.