Chapter 48
The day after we defeated the Forest Dragon.
Erika said we should go hunting again today, but I showed her the torn-up equipment and convinced her that we couldn't.
Not because the damage meant we'd taken a serious hit, but because she wouldn't let me go to work wearing clothes with holes in them—that's so like Erika.
Still, replacing gear... My frugal instincts, honed growing up in a poor viscount family, were screaming at me.
Back in the Faltarl Kingdom, I used to mend things myself.
We had money from selling the Forest Dragon's magic stone, so we didn't need to worry financially, but adventurers are notorious for blowing through money without thinking.
Gear for adventurers is ridiculously expensive.
That's why I'd planned to patch up the holes myself if they were small, but this time the damage was far too severe, so I had to give up.
So I went to the armor shop—the one with that slightly unhinged shopkeeper—to get some new gear, and Erika and I were having a slightly late lunch at the diner when it happened.
We heard a voice that had become familiar recently.
"Mr. and Mrs. Longdagger, I've been looking for you."
"We're not going out on a hunt today."
I replied to Shara, a little exasperated.
We'd agreed to inform each other in advance before heading out on a hunt, so it should've been obvious.
"I know that."
Shara gave a wry smile. "Even I know there aren't adventurers reckless enough to go on a hunt the day after defeating a Forest Dragon."
No, you don't get it—Erika was totally ready to go hunting again today.
"What do you mean you were looking for us?"
Erika asked as she invited Shara to join us at our table.
Honestly, I didn't even want to know.
"Actually, I have something I'd like to tell you both."
Shara sat down and ordered some tea from the server.
"The Bishop said he'd like to meet the two of you, so I was hoping to ask when would be convenient... What's wrong?"
Shara looked at us with a puzzled expression.
Probably because Erika and I had exchanged glances in surprise.
"No, it's fine. But still, how did that come about?"
I asked, though I already had a bad feeling about it.
*
After parting ways with us following the Forest Dragon hunt yesterday, Shara had braved the suffocating pressure that made everyone around her seem like a robber and safely delivered the donation to the orphanage.
Then she reported the Forest Dragon's defeat to the Bishop.
The Bishop was apparently both shocked and deeply impressed upon hearing that. Not that he needed to be.
And since one of his Sisters had been under our care, he thought it might be nice to have a proper conversation with us.
Sounds shady to me.
Most likely, it's something like "the enemy of God is getting too full of himself" and he wants to say something about it.
Or maybe it's an assassination.
Though I doubt they'd try that in the middle of town.
Either way, I concluded it was going to be a hassle. It wasn't just a bad feeling—I was certain trouble was coming, and I felt utterly drained.
*
If the Bishop has summoned us, we can't very well keep him waiting.
Thanks to Erika's words, we ended up agreeing to meet him that very day.
Which meant we had no time to prepare at all.
All I managed was to ready a hidden weapon in case they tried to take our weapons.
Erika saying "let's go today" was one thing, but what kind of Bishop replies with "then let's meet right away"? Is he that free?
I felt bad for Shara, who had to sprint back and forth between the Church and the diner drenched in sweat, but I really wanted to tell her that her Bishop should think more about preserving his dignity.
But complaining wasn't going to change anything, and before long, Erika, Shara, and I were standing in front of the Church.
My first impression was that it looked like a fortress.
As expected of the Church in Hekatai.
It was built to shelter citizens in case of emergency.
For the townsfolk here, a monster attack on the town must be a very real threat.
You could tell just by looking at the sturdy walls surrounding the Church.
On the flip side, it also seemed perfect for trapping anyone who got invited inside—or maybe I was just being paranoid.
"This way, please. I'll show you in."
Shara didn't look like she was scheming anything as she said that.
*
To our surprise, we were led straight to the Bishop's office.
I'd expected to be shown into a reception room or something, so I couldn't help being caught off guard.
When the heavy old door opened, we were greeted by the scent of aged paper filling the room.
"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Longdagger."
The Bishop stood up from a modest but dignified sofa—not worn from age, but steeped in the weight of history—and smiled.