Chapter 102

“Please, for goodness’ sake, clean up!”

Serena de Verchello jumped up and yelled.

A duster in one hand, a broom in the other and a cleaning bonnet on her head, tying back her long black hair, suited her quite well.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Why do you think I haven’t?”

“Because it’s obvious to anyone that you haven't!”

Dust, dust, dust!

Occasionally something sticky, and then more dust!

The Art Gallery Lamponé was unbelievably filthy.

At first, she had started cleaning to repay me a little for bringing her victory, but now it felt like charity work for the less fortunate.

What on earth do you have to do for this much dust to accumulate in a single year?

Serena grumbled but worked hard.

Endless dust billowed up from between the stacks of old books, making her cough repeatedly.

“I really hate nagging, but I have to. Shion, you know that the most important thing for old books is their preservation. At this rate, the paper will all be damaged… My goodness! Could this be Jean-Pierre's autobiography?”

It could only be found in Horm!

Serena, who had been coughing, pulled out a worn book.

Her raspberry-colored eyes sparkled.

I smiled broadly.

“You've got a sharp eye.”

“Oh my, look at how yellow the paper is. To treat such a valuable item this way…”

Clutching the duster and broom, Serena looked more vibrant than ever.

Was it because of the victory in the duel with the Del Contis?

“One day won’t be enough. I'll have to come all week. Come on, let's move the books to the storeroom so they don't get wet.”

She carefully took out the books and stacked them one by one.

I didn’t complain and moved them onto a handcart.

The bookshelf from which the books were removed was in a terrible state, covered in sticky dust and something else.

Serena felt dizzy.

She handed me another pile of books.

“Take these, Mr. Amethus.”

“…Yes.”

The jade-eyed man took the books and glared at me.

I gestured with my chin as if asking what he was waiting for.

Amethus obediently followed but didn't look pleased.

The cleaning continued for a long time.

It was as Serena had said; the place had not been cleaned even once since I had settled in Merion.

‘…We did use it a bit dirtily, Amethus.’

‘Originally, truly valuable items are kept elsewhere and maintained with magic, but… this is a bit much.’

Amethus and I whispered to each other.

With all the books removed, the true state of the gallery was revealed.

It would not have been strange for thousands of insects to crawl out if a spell to repel them had not been cast.

‘But Shion, should we let the Lady of Verchello rummage through this?’

‘As I said, all the really important stuff is in the basement. Why does your intuition pick up on something?’

‘No, it's not that. It just feels strange.’

‘You’re so shy. This is much better than hiring a servant.’

Seven years had passed since we pledged loyalty on Arete Island.

The master and servant, who shared the same hatred, had a closer bond than before.

Serena, who was cleaning diligently, seemed to be having fun.

I secretly helped her using my ‘Fantasy Finger,’ subtly lifting heavy objects or catching her when she was about to fall.

“Let's stop here for today.”

Phew.

Serena de Verchello wiped her sweat.

The cleaning bonnet she wore on her head was gray.

It had definitely been white at first, which was strange.

Still, she had managed to clean three entire bookshelves.

The sweat felt good.

“You and Amethus worked hard, too.”

“You’re the one who worked the hardest, my lady.”

“This is what I do all the time.”

Please wash your hands.

Amethus brought a bucket full of clean water and offered it to her.

Serena washed her hands very willingly.

After shaking the water off, she brought a bag she had left outside the shop.

“Take this, too, Shion.”

“…What is this, Lady Serena?”

“Open it and you’ll see.”

I felt like I knew what it was even before opening it.

It smelled savory.

I scratched my cheek.

“Is this bread?”

“Our mill also bakes bread. I baked this this morning.”

“I’ll eat it gratefully. You take some, too, Amethus.”

The jade-eyed man, who had taken the bread, spoke in a rather cold tone.

“You don’t have to go to the trouble of bringing bread like this every time… It’s delicious.”

Amethus’s eyes widened in surprise. He then uttered a series of exclamations.

“My goodness, this bread, what is this!”

It wasn't soft like white flour bread.

Yet, it had a strange chewiness that seemed to wrap around his mouth.

I chuckled and broke the bread in half.

I had known the quality of the Verchello mill’s bread even before the regression.

Serena placed her hands on her hips and smiled proudly.

“Hehe, I milled it myself! And it’s from freshly harvested wheat!”

“…You can even operate a millstone?”

“Of course. I have to be able to do at least this much.”

She showed off her rolled-up sleeves as if to prove her point.

To me, her arm looked so thin that it made me smile.

Nevertheless, there was pride on Serena’s face.

The mill she spoke of was the Verchellos' last remaining business.

It was also the last traditional mill left in Merion.

While their traditional methods were a bit less efficient, the quality was exceptionally high.

It was even competitive when compared to the Del Contis’ mill, which had actively adopted Imperial industrial methods.

“Actually, I don’t usually mill it myself, but two of the workers suddenly quit.”

“Why did they quit?”

“It’s obvious. It must be Del Conti’s doing.”

She said that they had been interfering more openly since their defeat in the duel.

Serena had no intention of blaming the workers who had quit.

They had families too, didn't they?

All it meant was that she had to work a little harder.

“Eat a lot. I’ll bring more next time.”

“Hmm?”

Amethus, who was eating the bread, looked up.

My eyes also shifted.

We looked at the empty sky, but still in the same direction.

“Lady Serena, watch your head.”

“Huh?”

Before she could react to the strangeness, I suddenly stood up.

There was a fluttering sound from the window, and Serena let out a high-pitched shriek.

I stood as if to protect her and grabbed a white object.

The white object continued to flutter even after being caught.

“What a cheeky bird. You almost hurt the lady.”

“…What kind of bird is it? It looks like a pigeon…”

“I wonder.”

I smiled faintly.

A rolled-up letter was attached to the pigeon's leg.

It was magically sealed so that no one but I could read it.

My eyes were a deep blue.

“It seems someone has a job for me.”

***

East of Merion.

A strong, high church made of stone.

The old man was in the highest room.

He knelt on the cold stone floor, on which a worn rug lay, and the chill seeped into his old body.

The entire city was visible through the window.

The kneeling old man had nothing in front of him.

However, he wore a ladder-shaped necklace.

They used a ladder as their symbol.

Is it for climbing up or for going down?

Or is it simply there?

He couldn't know it all.

Even if it were the truth, the moment he said he knew it, it would become a lie.

Therefore, the old man simply knelt down with the utmost politeness, closed his eyes, bowed his head, and clasped his hands together.

Someone called this act prayer.

That was what he prayed for.

He prayed for peace.

He confirmed countless hopes for this city, chewed on the helplessness he felt and thus relied on what lay beyond the ladder.

He even confessed that he was waiting for the one who had not given them a name.

Only then did the old man slowly raise his head. “Come in.” “I didn’t knock yet, so how did you know?”

I slid in through the window.

It was a shamelessly handsome face, not bothered by the five-story height.

I grinned.

“Were you in prayer?” “Why ask? That’s all this old man does. Would you like to try?”

“No, thank you. I don't have a connection with that.” I whistled softly.

I hadn't prayed to anyone from before the regression until now.

My Seven Secrets were enough for me to rely on. “Besides, this room is always so desolate, Bishop Hille.”

“Hmph, it’s quite luxurious for a clergyman, isn't it?”

The old man with the stern expression, Bishop Hille, snorted.

He felt like throwing away the bed and the table and just eating and sleeping on the stone floor.

It was what an old man who had gone through a long period of asceticism was used to.

He was only enduring it because of the earnest request to maintain the dignity of a bishop.

“Is this room luxurious? Did you know? Archbishop Maesh's room has a golden statue in it.”

“I’ll set fire to that guy’s room someday.”

“Oh! Be sure to call me then. It’s a sight I can’t miss.”

“…I can’t even joke with you.” Bishop Hille clicked his tongue.

“But Shion, why did you get involved in the duel between the Verchellos and the Del Contis? It was so hard pretending I didn’t know.”

And what was with the name Viscount Rampo!

The old man complained.

How flustered he was when I appeared as the duel’s representative.

“I got involved because I received a request.” My face was mischievous.

“I’m not a personal servant of your eminence, am I?”

“You're just impossible to figure out.”

“And what is it you want to ask me, this incomprehensible person?” I asked back suavely without getting offended.

Since it was a regular occurrence, Bishop Hille calmly rummaged through a drawer.

“First, let’s have a cup of tea.”

“If your eminence gives it, I must accept.” Slosh.

Bishop Hille poured an amber-colored liquid and offered it to me.

It had a strong fruity smell and seemed to sting my nose.

I looked into the glass blankly.

“…Since when did brandy become tea?”

“If I say it’s tea, it’s tea.”

Bishop Hille poured the brandy into his mouth.

It must have been quite strong, but his face didn't change at all.

I don’t really like alcohol… I grumbled as I took a sip of the brandy.

“Anyway, Shion.”

The old man said, refilling his empty glass.

“I need your help.”

“Just say the word.”

“…It's hard to begin, it’s an embarrassing matter.” He drank from the refilled glass again.

The second shot of strong alcohol disappeared down Bishop Hille's throat.

The smell of alcohol was strong.

“A priest has disappeared. It’s definitely a desertion.”

“It doesn’t seem difficult to just go catch a single runaway.”

“No, it's two of them.”

“Two?” Bishop Hille scratched his forehead.

He frowned deeply in embarrassment.

“…A priest and a nun were having an affair.”

“…Oh dear.”

The Original Ladder Church’s tenets were strict.

For clergymen to elope without going through the proper procedures of secularization or dismissal, it was something that could not be overlooked for the sake of the church’s dignity.

“Your eminence, but why me?” I didn't hide my confusion.

I was an outsider to the church.

They shouldn’t be happy about revealing embarrassing internal matters.

“The Merion Diocese must have its own special agent.”

There were people who performed sacred duties in the shadows.

They were priests who took on the dark, blood-stained tasks that someone had to do but couldn't be shown openly and they were called agents.

“Of course, we have one.”

Bishop Hille opened his stern lips.

“The name of our diocese’s agent is Dussel. He has dark blonde hair, is tall, and has piercing eyes.”

“…”

The agent of the Original Ladder Church was a shadow-like existence.

All information related to them was treated as top secret.

Normally, it was not something to be blabbed about to an outsider like me.

I realized the gravity of the matter.

“Surely, the man who fell in love with the nun couldn't be…”

“It’s a very embarrassing thing. For an agent, no less!”

I put my hand on my forehead.

The situation became clear.

The agent, whose job it was to handle the dark work of the church, such as catching runaway priests, had himself run away.

“Furthermore, he is such a formidable man that our diocese’s guards can’t handle him. We could ask for support from other dioceses, but…”

“Why would you create a stir? The Council of Bishops is coming up soon.”

“Hmph, you know that well.”

Bishop Hille took a pouch from the table.

It jingled and felt heavy.

It was full of Maesh gold coins.

There seemed to be about eighty of them.

Though he didn’t say it, it was an advance payment for the request.

“My already heavy mouth is about to get even heavier.”

“I wish their mouths would be as heavy.”

“Would you like to silence them yourself, or should I?”

“Do as you see fit.”

The bishop motioned with his hand.

There was a small note inside the pouch.

“The detailed requirements are written on it.”

“Very well, your eminence.”

I, who had taken the pouch, gave a small bow.

I intended to disappear out the window, just as I had appeared.

“Thank you for choosing the Art Gallery Lamponé. I will prove that it was a wise choice.”

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