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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The day after training, after lunch, I was relaxing in my room.
“Finally, some peace and quiet.”
Why were the children so energetic from the moment they woke up? Weren’t they ever tired?
“Or is it just the age difference…?”
Sigh.
I checked my desk. Two letters. Letters from Luna and Saten to their parents.
“I need to send these… and I should probably do some grocery shopping too.”
With Luna’s appetite, we were running out of food. And my wallet was feeling the strain… At this rate, I might have to take on some requests to earn money.
“I should think about that…”
I tucked the letters into my pocket and opened the door. Standing there, waiting for me, were two noisy individuals, each holding a sign.
— Give us holy water, you kidnapper!!
— We demand holy water! Give it to us now!!
Luna and Estia.
The moment they saw me, they started chanting.
“Give us holy water! We want holy water!”
“That’s right, Mister! Give us holy water! Give it to us!”
Luna and Estia were protesting for holy water. Estia’s participation was expected, but I didn’t understand why Luna was there.
Could it be…
‘Did she drink holy water…?’
To quell my growing unease, I asked Luna,
“Luna, why do you want holy water?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes, you, Luna.”
“Um… it just looked like fun …?”
… So she just went along with it?
Judging by the different handwriting on the signs, Luna was just imitating Estia. As long as she hadn’t drunk any holy water, it was fine.
I turned my attention to Estia.
“Give it to me! Give me holy water now!”
“Estia.”
“Keep your promise, kidnapper! Keep your promise now!”
Keep your promise! Keep your promise!
Estia’s behavior was more suited to a public demonstration than a religious order.
I replied simply,
“Alright, I’ll grant your wish, so stop protesting.”
“Good thinking, Brother! Now we don’t have to resort to violent protests!”
“… That’s… good.”
Negotiations complete.
I was slightly curious about Estia’s “violent protests,” but since she had stopped upon hearing my promise, I started walking.
Estia, puzzled by my actions, asked,
“But Brother! You said you’d give me holy water, but where are you going?! That’s the front door!”
“Estia, I have things to do. I’ll give you holy water in the evening.”
“T-This is a scam! You’re a liar!”
If I gave Estia holy water now, the entire day would be wasted. It was too precious to waste, so I promised to give it to her later and left the house.
And Estia…
“You liar! Give me holy water now! I want holy water!”
… continued to wail behind me. Her cries followed me even after I left the house. It was deafening.
“Holy water! Give me holy water! Holy water!”
“Be quiet, Estia. Be quiet when we’re outside.”
“I won’t be quiet until you give it to me! Holy water! Give it to me!”
So noisy.
“Just be quiet for a little while.”
“You liar —“
Snap.
I used magic to silence Estia.
She seemed to be saying something, but I couldn’t hear her. It was better for her to be quiet outside, so I decided to leave the spell on until she calmed down.
‘Taking Estia outside… this wasn’t part of my plan…’
I hadn’t anticipated this. It wouldn’t disrupt my schedule too much, but it would cause a slight delay.
‘First, the post office.’
I had to send the letters at the post office. Taking Estia with me was risky, so I walked quickly.
Of course, I had to help Estia, whose stamina was practically nonexistent.
“Wait here for a moment. If you try to run away, you won’t get any holy water.”
“…!!”
Nod, nod.
Estia nodded vigorously, promising not to run away. The power of holy water was truly remarkable. She wouldn’t run away even if I told her to.
‘This alley isn’t a good place to bring Estia…’
The slums were teeming with beggars. Among the gaunt faces, I searched for someone who looked desperate enough to do anything for money.
Someone with a strong survival instinct.
‘That one will do.’
The most subservient beggar, his head bowed to the ground, his hands outstretched.
“You there.”
“Y-Yes… I-If you could spare some change… I-I would be grateful…”
“Take this letter to the post office. I’ll give you a generous reward.”
“… R-Right away!!”
The beggar didn’t take long. Perhaps he was afraid I would disappear. He returned quickly with a new letter addressed to my alias.
‘One is from Saten’s family… and the other is…’
I paid the beggar, tucked the letters away, and returned to Estia.
She was waiting patiently, like a loyal guard dog.
“I’m done. Let’s go. Follow me.”
“…”
Why isn’t she answering?
Oh, right. The magic.
I snapped my fingers, releasing the silencing spell.
“Stupid Brother! Stu~pid! You can’t even hear me anyway! Hehe, idiot! Just you wait, I’ll get you back for ignoring Saintess Estia-“
“… I can hear you, Estia.”
“Eek …! I-I’m sorry! My bad! I didn’t say anything!”
At least she wasn’t chanting about holy water like a broken record.
Still…
“Estia.”
“N-No…! It wasn’t me…! A demon possessed me…! The devil made me say it…!”
“If you insult me again in front of me…”
‘… you won’t get any more holy water.’
Estia nodded vigorously, promising never to do it again.
‘Honestly…’
At least she was always obedient.
We continued walking through the streets.
“Brother, what is this place?”
“It’s a market where you can buy ingredients or ready-made food.”
“Really!? I’ve been to markets before! But this is my first time looking around! I was always busy with missionary work!”
Estia looked around with interest.
She had been confined to the Church, only leaving for official events. She seemed to be enjoying the outside world.
“Brother! What’s that!?”
“It’s a snack made by coating fruit with sugar.”
“I love snacks! Buy me some! Buy me some!”
Estia pointed at the candied fruit, known as tanghulu where I came from. Even a holy water addict like Estia couldn’t resist sweets.
Estia shouted at the vendor,
“Hey, baldy! Give me that!”
“…Estia, the candy man isn’t bald.”
“What are you talking about! He’s practically bald! Brother, don’t lie!”
“…”
The candy vendor’s expression soured.
He was selling sweet treats, but his face was as bitter as medicine. He handed Estia the candied fruit with a strained smile.
“Haha, your daughter is so energetic. Ha, haha…”
“Thank you! Baldy! But I’m not his daughter!”
“…Right. Enjoy.”
Estia happily munched on the candied fruit.
Daughter? From afar, did we look like father and daughter?
Hmm…
I glanced at Estia.
“Hehe, this is delicious! Not as good as holy water, but…! Not bad!”
Estia looked around, her eyes filled with curiosity. She seemed to be enjoying the new sights. She was like a child visiting the city for the first time.
‘Should I take Estia out more often?’
She had been confined for so long that she was ignorant of the world.
Perhaps experiencing new things would lessen her obsession with holy water. Maybe it would reduce her cravings by half.
As I was pondering this, Estia, her mouth full of candied fruit, tugged on my sleeve and asked, her eyes unusually serious,
“Brother.”
“Yes?”
“Do we look like father and daughter to other people? Do fathers and daughters act like this?”
“…It varies from family to family. Some families do things differently… They might look similar on the outside, but the inside is different.”
Just like us.
To others, we might look like a normal father and daughter, but in reality, I was a kidnapper and she was the Saintess.
In the end…
“It’s not about how it looks on the outside, but about how much they care for each other.”
“Really? Then how do you think of me!?”
Estia looked at me with expectant golden eyes.
I wasn’t sure what kind of answer she was hoping for, but…
‘It’s better to be honest than to lie.’
A high-maintenance Saintess.
A Saintess who reminded me of my sister.
A Saintess who was somehow… pitiful.
I answered honestly,
“I think of you as the Saintess.”
“Hmm, I see. The Saintess.”
Was that not the answer she was expecting?
Estia looked momentarily dejected. But only for a moment. She quickly recovered and exclaimed,
“Same here! I think of you as a kidnapper! A bad kidnapper!”
“That’s fine. You can think of me however you want.”
“Hmph, annoying!”
Estia turned away, seemingly sulking. I wasn’t sure what kind of answer she wanted… but that wasn’t important right now.
‘Six of them…’
They were staring openly.
Six pairs of eyes, hidden in the surrounding buildings, watching me.
Their gazes were anything but friendly. If I returned home now, there was a high chance they would discover the Hero’s party’s hideout.
I had to make a choice.
An easy choice, even without the answer sheet.
My choice was, of course…
‘Deal with the followers in an alley.’
…Option 1.
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