Life as an Adventurer with the Banished Marquis' Daughter - Chapter 37: The Exiled Marquis' Daughter is Faithful, Part 4

Chapter 37: The Exiled Marquis’ Daughter is Faithful, Part 4

This is probably what it means for one’s mood to deflate in an instant.

Watching Shara approach our table, her face slightly flushed, perhaps from running around, I thought about this.

“What was that donation about!?”

That was the first thing she said.

“Was it still too little?”

Both Shara and I were taken aback by Erika’s apologetic tone.

“N-No, that’s not it.”

Erika’s expression showed she was serious about it, which made Shara at a loss for words. 

I understood how she felt—it’s confusing when your common sense doesn’t apply to the other person.

“No! I’m saying it’s too much!”

Shara, looking flustered, slammed her hand on the table and then looked up to the sky, holding her head. 

She was a busy person.

“Why does it seem like I’m the one who’s angry!?”

Even if she asked us that, we wouldn’t know.

But she might actually be more interesting than I initially thought. 

Her first impression was pretty bad, so maybe any change would be for the better.

“If it was too much, then that’s good.”

“It’s not good at all!”

Shara looked as if she wanted to say, “What are you talking about?”

“Do you know how I felt going to the orphanage!? As a nun, everyone around me looked like a robber!”

That must have been a traumatic experience.

“It’s a donation to the orphanage; such resolve is necessary.”

Erika nodded approvingly, making Shara seem pitiful. 

It was amusing, though.

“You don’t understand!”

“How rude, I do understand.”

Erika responded, looking genuinely offended.

“Why must I be blamed for ‘too much’? If it were ‘too little,’ I could understand, but what is ‘too much’ supposed to mean?”

“Think about the person carrying it! Consider that!”

“That’s why, despite being a nun, you took on the responsibility of carrying it to the orphanage with the determination that everyone in town was a robber, right? My choice was not wrong at all.”

Shara looked up to the sky again.

It’s different, but it’s a little irritating that it’s pleasing!

I get that you want to scream that, but could you please quiet down now?

I thought about this while drinking some water.

＊

It seemed like we were about to get kicked out of the restaurant, so I made Shara sit down to calm her.

Since it was a diner used to dealing with adventurers, they were accustomed to some commotion, and only frowned a bit.

“So, why were you looking for us? Surely it wasn’t just because the donation amount was large?”

Actually, I had a feeling she might do just that. 

When we first met, she was ready to face a Golden Ogre despite being seriously injured. 

She didn’t have a quiet personality.

“Well, that’s a big part of it.”

Shara drank the water offered by the restaurant to moisten her lips.

“Since the amount was significant, I thought I should report it to the bishop after delivering it to the orphanage…”

Summarizing Shara’s story: After reporting the donation to the bishop, she ended up explaining that the adventurers who helped her were us, the couple.

The bishop, impressed by this, told her to assist the adventurer couple who had helped her.

What an inconvenience.

From Shara’s perspective, we must have seemed like exemplary adventurers who took on a little girl’s request for free, defeated the Golden Ogre threatening the village, and donated most of the money from selling its magic stone to the orphanage. An ideal scenario for the church.

When you gain favor with the church, they sometimes send specific requests your way. I feared that, but instead, they sent a nun directly to us.

The church sometimes dispatches priests or sisters to adventurers they recognize.

There’s a faction within the church that believes in supporting adventurers who fight monsters to protect the weak.

Apparently, Shara belongs to that faction. 

From an adventurer’s perspective, church members are magical specialists skilled in healing magic.

Normally, their presence is appreciated, not resented. 

However, I disliked the patronizing attitude that comes with being assigned help. 

So, Shara had been searching for us in the taverns where adventurers gather since early morning.

“That’s quite a fortunate turn of events.”

I was startled and looked at Erika.

“We were just discussing raising our rank.”

Seeing her look at me, I nodded.

“If Sister Shara can join us, that would be helpful.”

“Just call me Shara, Madam.”

“Then please call me Erika.”

How can you talk so amicably with the church people who took away your bright future? I thought.

“My nature and the church’s principles are a good match.”

She laughed cheerfully.

These are the same people who told you to die.

“Um, Erika? Your husband looks really upset. Did I do something wrong?”

Shara asked Erika in a whisper.

“Don’t worry about it. He’s probably just overthinking things again. Shin.”

Erika’s voice brought me out of my brooding thoughts.

“You don’t need to think so hard that it shows on your face. My best friend has been greatly helped by the church. They are her protectors. So, there’s no need to worry.”

I guess she meant I shouldn’t worry about her feelings regarding the church.

But if she says it’s okay, then I should respect that.

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

“Alright, if you say so, I’ll stop thinking about it.”

I said, trying to smile.

“I’m Shin Longdagger. Nice to meet you, Shara.”

I said to Shara, who still seemed confused.