* * *
“I told you everything already! Just—just let me go!”
Should I even let this bastard live?
Wouldn’t it be better to just hand him over to Batista and let him beat the crap out of him?
That would prove I didn’t fall for Gaspar’s bullshit.
…Wait.
‘That’s it.’
This is the answer.
“…So, you’re telling me you kidnapped him?”
Arthur looked thoroughly unimpressed.
“Yeah. Want to hit him?”
Gaspar was the reason Arthur had to waste his time in Hiskers listening to nonsense about curses.
He might want to let off some steam.
But instead of taking me up on the offer, his already sour expression only darkened.
“Do it yourself.”
“What do you mean, that kind of thing?”
He was making it sound like I was the one being unreasonable.
Gaspar was the one who tried to use me for his own gain!
If you try to manipulate others, you should at least be prepared to have the tables turned on you.
“I didn’t bring him here just to beat him up.”
“Then what did you bring him for?”
Arthur’s confusion was evident.
Did he really think I kidnapped Gaspar just to beat him?
But he didn’t try to stop me—he just told me to do it alone?
He must be really pissed off.
Normally, he’d be the first to say that personal revenge wasn’t a good idea.
But considering Vasco was still stuck in Hiskers with the prisoners because of this bastard, I guess it made sense.
Honestly, I did feel a little bad about that.
“…You’re not planning to kill him, are you?”
“Of course not!”
I mean, I thought about it, but no.
Because Batista would be sad.
Letting someone like this make Batista waste even an ounce of grief?
That would be a disgrace!
Even if I do want to kill him!
Anyway, that’s why I kept him alive.
“I’m taking him to Batista.”
“You’re bringing someone he hates straight to his face?”
“There’s a difference between setting up a fancy dinner to give Gaspar a chance to talk his way back in, and tying him up and throwing him in front of Batista unconscious.”
The first option would mean I was still letting Gaspar influence me.
But the second?
It made it very clear that I found him just as disgusting as Batista did.
If Batista cut me off because he was afraid I’d take Gaspar’s side—if he got scared and pushed me away before I could betray him—
If his reaction was because of all the times he had been burned before—
Then maybe, if he sees how I treat Gaspar, he’ll finally feel reassured.
Maybe he won’t have to be anxious anymore.
And if he still refuses to believe me after everything, I’d even take a truth serum right in front of him.
If it would put his mind at ease, I wouldn’t hesitate.
The side effects would suck, but I’m sure the ever-righteous Hero would help me through them.
“…And what do you plan to do with the prisoner?”
“About that… could you hold onto him for a bit?”
“Me?”
“If Gaspar was so desperate to protect him, then that guy was probably a stand-in, paid to take the fall. We need him as a witness. Otherwise, we can’t punish the real culprit properly.”
“…That’s true. But why me?”
“You’re a high-ranking priest with influence in the temple, right? Just say you’re holding him for an investigation.”
Arthur’s expression twisted slightly.
“…Why do I have to clean up your mess?”
“My mess?”
I made a point to act deeply offended.
As if I couldn’t believe he’d say such a thing.
“I was just minding my own business when I happened to find two criminals. And not just any criminals—one of them is guilty of murder.”
“…That’s—”
“And this one?” I gestured toward Gaspar’s unconscious body.
“He committed murder, bought someone off to take the fall, and didn’t even flinch while doing it.”
“You wouldn’t just turn a blind eye, would you? You, a priest who serves as the hands and feet of God?”
“Sigh…”
Arthur let out a deep sigh.
“You’ll help uncover the truth, right? Huh?”
“This feels like I’m just being dragged around, which is honestly annoying… but fine. God would want a sinner to face their sins and repent properly.”
Yes!
Honestly, locking Gaspar up in prison wouldn’t make him truly repent.
But who cares?
As long as he’s behind bars, he won’t be able to freely go out and bother Bati.
That alone will save me a lot of stress.
“I don’t want to dump everything on you, but I have to deal with this for now. I can’t exactly drag this thing into a prison, can I?”
I gave Gaspar’s head a light tap.
That seemed to snap him back to his senses a little, as his fingers twitched.
Then, his thick-lashed eyelids slowly lifted.
His annoyingly pretty face only made me more irritated.
How many people has he deceived with that innocent-looking face?
Before he could fully open his eyes, I smacked him hard on the back of his head. His body went limp again.
“Right?”
“…Yeah, sure.”
Arthur replied begrudgingly, adding that I should take it easy.
Of course he’d say that—he is a priest, after all.
Now what?
Should I head to Swindlin?
A place like Swindlin, where information flows freely, would be the perfect place to track down Batista’s whereabouts.
But what if the local lord already sent someone to fetch him?
If he’s still nearby, going all the way to Swindlin would just be a waste of time.
Maybe I should gather some intel around here first.
Then again, I don’t really socialize much.
Do I even know anyone here…?
Ah!
‘I should check the temple.’
That should’ve been my first move.
When I was sulking and burying myself in misery, I swore I wouldn’t go near the temple again.
But it wasn’t because I had no reason to go—it was because I didn’t want to step foot in a place that reminded me of my own wounds.
Who knows?
I’m at least somewhat friendly with Fer, so maybe Bati told him where he was going before leaving.
And if the lord really did send someone, and Bati was still in the area, then they would’ve checked the temple first.
That’s probably where they would’ve taken him.
I rushed to the temple and immediately hunted down Fer, demanding to know if Batista had said anything before leaving.
Fer’s face crumpled into an anxious expression.
“He was really scary!”
I bet.
“He was so furious that no one could even get close! Even from a distance, it felt like I was suffocating. Everyone ran for their lives!”
…So it was that bad.
He was that mad.
Can we even reconcile after this?
Was I being too naïve about all this?
What if… what if he never wants to see me again?
No, no.
It’s not like I pulled a Gaspar and tried to squeeze money out of him or anything…
I-it’s fine.
I can do this!
If he rejects me, I’ll just figure out what to do next!
I’m not giving up that easily!
I clenched my fists.
“So? You have no idea where he went? No visitors came looking for him?”
Fer shook his head.
“No visitors, no nothing. Bati packed his things and left the temple that very day. He was so intimidating the whole time that no one even dared to talk to him.”
No leads on his whereabouts—just confirmation that he was beyond furious.
That alone was enough to send chills down my spine.
If we meet again, what kind of look will he give me?
‘I have to be prepared!’
Should I just drop to my knees as soon as I see him?
* * *
