One Who Halts Steps (3)

I’m pretty good at self-awareness.

It’s just that everyone I’ve faced so far has been a monster beyond normal standards. I’ve never thought of myself as weak.

My skills are comparable to those of a 7th circle magician.

Of course, Princess Ilina’s quick judgment was surprising.

“But in the end, you couldn’t completely overcome the difference in time and experience.”

Having reached the 7th circle just a little over a year ago.

The amount of mana she’s accumulated isn’t much different from when she was at the 6th circle.

But what about me?

Before circles or anything like that, my body itself is infused with holy power. My blood is sacred blood, and my flesh is sacred flesh.

I am the direct agent of God.

“Is it any wonder priests are considered the natural enemies of magicians?”

If a magician’s job is to understand and twist the natural laws, our existence is to restore those twisted laws.

“Ha! You think you’ve won just from that little demonstration?”

“Then shall we continue? I’m ready, but… Princess Ilina, you seem to have stopped moving.”

“What…? Eek?!”

Taking advantage of the moment’s distraction during our conversation, I wrap chains around her ankles with my sacred domain and lift her into the air.

Ilina Crowley, wearing a flowing robe, is busy grabbing at her skirt rather than resisting.

That’s one hand sealed off. It might be underhanded, but it’s an effective strategy.

“Don’t look this waaaaay!”

“It should be fine if Princess Ilina blocks properly and diligently.”

Even if I have the upper hand, my opponent is still a 7th circle grand mage.

Is there any reason to let my guard down?

Words and actions. Creating an environment through the situation and stalling for time. Earlier she seemed to notice my tactics, but she still lacked experience.

It seems she “learned” such tactics from someone else.

Just a little shake was enough to make her forget that fact. It was that shallow.

“Ultimately, combat is about life and death. If you become incapacitated due to mere embarrassment, your head will fly.”

“You perverted bastard!!”

Well, next time wear some shorts underneath. Or don’t get distracted so things like this don’t happen.

*     *      *

Línea was watching the duel between the two with her own eyes.

“……”

While the two in the arena were shrieking and firing off magic and holy magic, conversely, Línea and her companions in the audience seats were being careful even with their breathing.

-Ho, hoeep…..

Hecate covers her mouth to block the ghostly wail unconsciously escaping.

Lilia, who had been enthusiastically cheering for both sides of the fight, instinctively holds her breath and shrinks her body.

Ratatoskr and Eremus quietly slipped away, and Claire moves a bit away from Línea’s side.

Even Titan looked away, gazing up at the sky.

“That’s right. Combat is about life and death. I almost forgot. Hahah, I should have gone all out…”

Strangely, the part about embarrassment was missing from her conclusion.

No one dared to ask what she meant by “combat.”

*     *      *

The battle with Ilina Crowley continued after that.

For a full three hours, no less.

Though I say three hours, it was mostly me countering Ilina Crowley’s attacks fueled by embarrassment and anger. I thought that would be the most perfect victory.

Crushing all her means completely and winning without a scratch. There couldn’t be a better way to earn her acknowledgment.

“Sob… sob sob. You pervert. How could you do that to me?”

I received her contempt as well, but that’s just a minor side effect.

“…Well, I won.”

“I’m going to tell my father.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize.”

While I could easily defeat Ilina Crowley who had reached the 7th circle only a year ago, it would be a different story if her grandfather Castian Crowley showed up.

If that grand mage caught wind of this, I wouldn’t be able to leave Arcanum in one piece. I’m not even sure if Titan could protect me at that level.

And above all, that bastard Titan probably wouldn’t protect me anyway.

So I begged for forgiveness.

Before being a symbol of the Pantheon Temple, I’m still human.

Besides, I was in the wrong, so I should apologize—what else could I do?

“Hmph.”

Despite everything, Ilina Crowley isn’t hard-hearted enough to refuse a sincere apology.

I wasn’t exploiting that fact.

Just saying.

“You have a dagger, right? You’re a hunter after all.”

“Ah, I do, but… please don’t say you’re going to take your own life because of this humiliation?”

“…What do you take me for.”

Well, honestly, doesn’t it seem like you might?

First of all, she’s a princess and doesn’t seem to have much tolerance in this area…

“But what if I said I would?”

“…Pardon?”

“If I said I would, could you stop me? No, I guess you could. But what about the aftermath?”

“……”

“Honestly, if I made an issue out of this, wouldn’t you have to either marry me or something? Since you caused a princess such embarrassment. I may look a bit innocent despite everything.”

“…That’s true.”

“Right?”

Ilina Crowley looks like a pure and noble princess when she keeps her mouth shut.

The problem is that she can’t do that.

But I didn’t expect her to be this clingy with me.

Honestly, we can’t really say we have that deep of a relationship, can we?

While I did help resolve her trauma, the method wasn’t exactly beneficial to her.

And above all.

-So this relationship ends here. Let’s settle all debts and grudges, so when we meet next time, we can build a new relationship.

We even cut ties once due to that forceful approach.

It can be said that we ended on a rather terrible note for both parties.

Of course, her wanting to pretend none of that happened means she’s forgiven me, I suppose.

But that level of affection shouldn’t be enough to be this clingy.

“Hahah! I’m just kidding. I don’t think that kind of approach would be fun either. So stop glaring at me like that.”

While I was seriously contemplating, Ilina Crowley suddenly said those words with a sneer.

However, the direction she was looking wasn’t at me. I wasn’t even glaring at her to begin with.

While she was playing with her dagger, tossing it up and down, I slightly turned my gaze to check behind me, and…

“……”

I just turned back around.

I didn’t see anything.

“Well, I lost this time. A complete defeat. On both fronts.”

Ilina Crowley said as she took her dagger behind her back and cut her hair.

Her long hair that used to reach her waist was now cut to shoulder length, and with a refreshed expression, she asked:

“How is it? I got rejected once, so I tried a change of atmosphere. Does it suit me?”

I couldn’t say anything.

I knew I shouldn’t say anything from the presence I felt behind me.

And it seemed Ilina Crowley wasn’t talking to me either.

“Rejected… once, you say?”

“Why? It’s not wrong, is it?”

“Hahah, that’s right. Then I hope you find a good love next time.”

“What kind of talk is that? Don’t you think my personality is the type to drag out my first love, turning one try into a second and a third?”

“……”

Ah, of all things to say? And something similar to what I’ve said before…

I feel like I got caught up in their battle of wills. No, to be fair, I am the root cause.

I clearly rejected her. Yet it’s Ilina Crowley who’s saying she won’t give up.

Honestly, it’s not my fault.

“Your hair suits you well. It’s fitting for a loser.”

“Is that so? I think short hair would suit you too. I’m looking forward to it.”

Well, okay. I know exactly what the most effective countermeasure is at this moment.

Those with sick hearts sometimes easily succumb to evil.

Healing them is also one of the duties priests must fulfill.

Countless heart sicknesses I’ve encountered while living as a priest and inquisitor.

Especially diseases that bloom from the emotion called “love” tend to be extremely tricky to deal with.

I learned that through long experience and discovered an efficient way to handle it.

“Ugh… my head.”

“Lost?!”

“Hey! Why are you suddenly like this? Whoa? Hey, he’s going to collapse! Catch him!”

Better to faint than to watch an unseemly scene. So sometimes feigning illness is a panacea for human relationships.

*     *      *

As planned, I pretended to collapse, and the situation subsided.

I was moved to the temple, but…

“Ah, I’m fine now. It was a necessary act for the mission.”

“Pardon?”

“I was faking it.”

“What? Why would you…?”

“It’s a confidential mission within the church, so I can’t tell you.”

Using my position as a high priest, I can get away with this much.

What can a mere priest do if I claim it’s confidential?

Now I just need to stall for time and then return to the inn.

By then, the battle of wills between Línea and Ilina Crowley should be over.

Actually, it seemed to end the moment I collapsed. Am I more important than their battle of wills? The reason they were fighting in the first place was me.

“Then I thank you for your cooperation during the mission, and I’ll be on my way.”

“Yes… but why through the window?”

“Didn’t I mention it’s a confidential mission within the church?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Mind your own business.

It’s for your own good.

I sent a warning glance while climbing through the window and silently landed on the grass. Since temples are basically built as single-story structures, there’s no danger in going through the window.

Building a temple with more than one floor requires the presence of a high priest.

The academic city fundamentally invests less in temples because it’s primarily a city of magicians.

That’s why I can safely escape through the window like this.

“As a doctor, I can spot that kind of fake illness at a glance.”

“……”

No, doctors don’t wait for patients beside windows.

I was shortsighted. Pretending to be sick in front of a doctor—what a misjudgment.

More importantly, it was strange from the beginning that there was no one watching over me when I collapsed. Línea knew from the start.

“It’s okay. Princess Ilina isn’t here either. I wasn’t particularly looking to fight with her anyway.”

“R-right…”

“You threw yourself in to mediate between us, didn’t you? I acted too childishly.”

Línea smiles bitterly.

As expected, she isn’t someone who lets emotions cloud her judgment.

That’s a relief. I was worried I might get caught in the crossfire.

“Anyway, you were already mine, so I was being stupid.”

“……”

“Right? You pretended to be sick on purpose for me, didn’t you? So only I would notice. So we could be alone like this.”

No, Línea’s mature emotions were quite sharp.

“That’s why you deliberately escaped through the window as if running away, isn’t it?”

Línea, starting to distort reality as if I had wanted this situation, slowly approaches and takes my hand, interlocking our fingers.

Romantic in one sense, horrifying in another.

“She’s such an annoying woman, isn’t she? Trying to butt into our relationship without knowing anything—a stupid woman who doesn’t know her place.”

“…Línea, let’s not talk behind others’ backs. It’s not good for you either.”

“Ah! I’m sorry. I was being shortsighted. You’re right. I’m sorry. You’ll forgive me, won’t you?”

“I… guess?”

I can’t say anything more when she apologizes so readily.

Línea takes another step closer. Like we’re dancing a waltz, I instinctively take a step back as the distance narrows.

It was almost an instinctive action.

For a moment, I worried she might be hurt, but…

“Lost. In a book I read, it said that distance makes the heart grow fonder.”

Línea smiles gently and narrows the distance again.

Having just climbed out the window, I have nowhere else to retreat. The distance is as close as if we were embracing.

The priest who was watching me escape through the window quietly closes it and draws the curtains, setting a boundary.

I told him to mind his own business, but I didn’t mean to this extent.

“I realized something today.”

“Línea, it’s the middle of the day.”

“That even if the distance grows, the heart doesn’t necessarily grow distant.”

“…People are watching us.”

“Then what about the opposite? If the distance grows closer, wouldn’t the heart grow closer too?”

Ah, so interlocking our fingers wasn’t a romantic gesture after all.

It was just a means to physically block my movements.

The mana resonance I feel through her palm is completely blocking me from calling upon my holy power.

What kind of technique is this?

I can’t physically stop Línea, who’s a beastkin, with pure physical ability.

“It’s been quite a while since our kiss, and we haven’t made any progress, haven’t we?”

“…Línea, as I said just now, we’re in a public street in broad daylight. You know that, right?”

“So what?”

“Well…”

“Are you afraid I might do something inappropriate? Huhuh, there’s no way I would.”

Línea smiles brightly as if it was all a joke. For a moment, the tension seemed to ease, but…

The distance remained the same, and she didn’t let go of our interlocked hands.

“But…”

And that smile eventually transformed, like a predator eyeing its prey.

“What were you imagining? Can you tell me, perhaps?”

That’s how it had changed.