CH 131

“……What?”

Dad’s eyes widened. I reworded it to make it easier to understand.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard the news, but I am the Saint who just appeared in the Church. I also received the Title of The Holy One because I know how to use Descent of Divinity.”

“……”

Dad was silent for a while, his mouth wide open. I guess he can’t believe it. Should I cast Mercury’s Barrier once?

“How can this be?”

“Dad?”

“To think my daughter gave up healing potions to became a healer. The greatest promised alchemist of the century was stolen by the church……!”

“……”

As expected, the alchemy industry has some inferiority complex about divine powers.

At that time Thesilid, who had chewed down a piece of roasted goose, opened his mouth.

“Father.”

“Yes. Tell me, son-in-law.”

You said you would call him Sir Thesilid!

Unlike me, who screamed internally, Thesilid was rather calm. As expected of the 17th round, his years of experience are solid. 

“A while ago, a dungeon burst occurred on the border between the Holy Country and the Republic. If it wasn’t for Eli’s divine power at that time, more people might have been sacrificed. I hope you can be proud of her divine power awakening.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Dad nodded his head as if possessed by the voice that seemed to be reciting the Bible.

This time Mother asked Thesilid.

“So you’re like our daughter’s escort paladin?” 

“An escort is too much for my humble station. The one who’s being protected is me, so I just……”

He seems to be worried because he can’t choose the back story.

[‘The Critic who adjusts the balance’ says he seems to have realized that his position is a Tank Shuttle.]

I stepped out to build a healthy relationship.

“He’s the vice-captain of my Paladin’s Order. He’s a reliable tank. I became a Saint to heal him.”

Mom and Dad stared at Thesilid and nodded earnestly.

“To give the Lord healing.” (Dad)

“You become a Saint.” (Mom)

“Right.” (Dad)

“I see.” (Mom)

Then.

“Please take good care of our daughter.”

“Please take good care of our daughter.”

They asked a favor from Thesilid with eyes filled with self-interest.

Oh, I’m really going to have an upset stomach.

I feared something bad would happen if I left Thesilid alone at The Vatican, so I brought him here, but what the hell is this?

“Please take good care of me, Mother, Father.”(Terry)

“……”

It seems that Thesilid, who is accepting everything, is also a problem. The purpose of informing about my situation to my parents has been successfully completed.

I sipped my cool drink and said.

“I am going to stay overnight. I got permission from Countess Gillette through the Head Maid when I entered the castle earlier.”

After proving Terry’s identity with the Holy Sword and delivering a letter from Cardinal Cattleya, permission was readily granted.

“I guess we can give him Frintz’s room. Oh, Frintz is Eli’s older brother, but now the room is vacant because he’s in Wilhelon.”

“I see. I owe you this grace.”

“No need for debts. Make yourself at home.”

After the meal, I took Thesilid to my brother’s room. Frintz’s room, which was cleaner than mine, had no shortage to house Thesilid.

I felt proud for some reason. 

After entering the room, the two of us sat face to face and talked for a while.

“Forget what my mom and dad said.” 

“Why? I want to leave it as a pleasant memory.”

“That?”

“A harmonious couple in a harmonious family……It was nice that I could be part of that painting for a little while.”

He smiled brightly

“So, you too, don’t forget and remember.”

“……”

The talk seemed to be an everyday chat about the weather, but I became solemn for nothing.

For some reason, the longer I spend with Thesilid, the more I seem to attach meaning to every word he says.

“Well, let’s play for our heart’s content and make it up for yesterday and the day before.” 

“Yes.”

In fact, today was the third day of our vacation.

For the past two days, we’ve traveled around the continent of Serentra, eradicating bandits, and subduing undiscovered A-class dungeons and below.

It was an activity to earn money.

A treasure chest was dragged out of the air at my gestures. Thanks to the Bag Decoration, the 2nd reward of the Missionary Quest, the Satchel Bag has been fully inventoried. Now it seemed that the only time I had to take out the bag in front of me was when I had to organize the items stored inside. 

“If I dispose of all of this, would it be around 20,000 gold?”

“That’s enough money to run the paladins for the time being.” 

“Well, no. It’s not enough.” 

“Why?”

“In fact, there is a place where a large amount of money goes in besides the operation of the Order.”

“Where?”

“Now I have to do my part as a bishop and that’s to make my own parish and build a church.”

“Ahh.”

I faithfully prepared for the 3rd part of the Missionary Quest.

Then the necklace rang.

<The dungeons we subdued the day before yesterday had no real value other than Boss rewards, so we closed all of them. If you want to earn money, wouldn’t it be better to attack dungeons where resources are continuously produced?>

I immediately answered with pleasure. 

“Wow, Agnes. Long time no see. Are you not angry anymore?”

<……I’m still mad, but I’m bored because there’s no one to talk to.>

“I was bored without Agnes, too. Let’s not fight from now on, let’s get along well.” 

<It wasn’t a fight. You were unilaterally in the wrong.>

“Yes, yes. I will do well.”

I smiled and touched the pendant.

Then Thesilid brought the conversation back to its original subject.

“If you want to make money, wouldn’t it be better to attack dungeons where resources are constantly produced?”

“……”

“What’s the matter?”

“You said the same thing as Agnes.”

Thesilid, who I thought would be embarrassed, only let out a rigging laugh in his throat. It was a pleasant sound to hear, like the echo of a thick string.

I said.

“It’s a matter of course based on what we were talking about. But it’s not good to overdo it. We might be checked by other punitive forces.”

There are two ways to make money using dungeons that yield resources.

The first is to keep it secret and monopolize it. My dungeon farm can be sorted in this group.

The second is to receive a certain distribution of the generated output as a subjugator. It’s a kind of commission fee for business.

Dungeons are, by default, owned by the landlord of the place where they were created.

For example, in the ‘Contaminated Crystal Cave’ dungeon in Gillette Fief, the mine workers dig up ore and pay a certain tax to Count Gillette, and the Count pays part of such profits to the subjugator.

Using the second method, the name of the subjugator will inevitably become known.

There is nothing good about the rumor that a Saint is monopolizing a dungeon that makes money. 

‘I’ll just have to pick a few dungeons with very, very good stuff and register them.’

I already had one thing in mind.

Thesilid thought similarly and finally came up with an opinion.

“Dungeons with materials for space transfer stones and advanced healing potions are more efficient. How about a dungeon where mermaid tears are produced? It’s an ingredient for the highest quality potion.”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that again?”

“Ah, you said the same thing as Agnes again.”

“……”

Oh, you’re not making a pleasant laugh this time. I decided to confess my true feelings.

“Mermaids have only females due to their racial characteristics. My blood pressure suddenly rises when I think of you being kidnapped again.”

[‘The Scales that Judges the Soul’ whispers that he must be deliberately trying to provoke you by making you jealous.]

[‘The Troubled Architect of the Tower of Trials’ tells you to understand, what you can do about him being born with a harem buff..]

Oh, I want to see World God.

“……I’m not that weak anymore.”

Thesilid covered his mouth with one hand, pretending to wash his face dry. It was certainly an embarrassing subject for the paladin.

“I know. It’s just that I’m worried and angry. Anyway, let’s think about a dungeon with mermaids.”

“Yes.”

This time Agnes gave her opinion.

<Do you know anything about the dungeon where Unisus appears? Their horns are used as material for the space transfer stones.>

Unisus is a beast in the form of a horse with wings and horns.

“Ah, Unisus.”

The moment I repeated Agnes’ words out loud, Thesilid’s expression hardened. It seems a quick denial is needed here.

“I know of one place, but it has yet to be created, and Unisus are beasts that like to catch maidens so I’m a little reluctant to do it.”

“……Well thought out, Eli.” 

Yes. I’ll sneak out behind your back.

I’d better change the subject.

“Terry, are you tired?”

“No. why?”

“I was thinking of showing you around the Count’s castle if you have enough energy. There are places and friends I would like to introduce you to.”

“Good.”

We got up right away.

✠

Unlike me, who took a moment to change into comfortable clothes, Thesilid stuck to his paladin uniform.

I walked alongside him in the hallway where sunlight poured through the windows. 

“We are going to the library. I was originally a servant here, but I am friends with the Count’s Young Lady, and my mother is also a friend-like sister with the Countess. So I was given special permission.”

While bragging, I arrived at the library.

It is a law to be quiet in the library, so I whispered into Thesilid’s ear.

“Actually, the final destination is a dungeon.”

“Is there a dungeon in the Count’s Castle?”

“Yes. This is the place I subjugated when I was 10 years old.”

After another boast, I took a particular book off the shelf. The entrance to the dungeon appeared from the created gap.

“Let’s go!”

I grabbed Thesilid’s wrist and jumped inside.

The view waned and widened, and a farm surrounded by an idyllic landscape appeared as if jumping from a painting.

“This is……”

“This is my herb farm.”

Clattering!