Chapter 43: The Old Man Makes the Sisters Fall to the Dark Side

I instinctively tried to stop Fel.

She may be an orphan, but what’s with her values?

Or is beastman society just this grim?

Besides, I’m not the victor here.

We didn’t even have a match to begin with.

I just ran away.

“…It’s no use.”

One of the Sisters muttered with a self-deprecating tone.

“Either way, shadow-operatives like us who have failed a mission once are as good as useless. The only path left is to be purged by the Church… only death awaits.”

The other Sisters also cast their eyes down, as if in resignation.

Failure… purged… death… huh.

For some reason, those words echoed heavily in the depths of my heart.

It reminds me of the exploitative company I worked for in my past life.

Impossible quotas, interrogations and verbal abuse from the bosses for any failure, and then… spiritual death…

Maybe, just like me, they’re just beings to be used up and thrown away for the convenience of an organization, with no way out…

No… they have to be prepared to die for a single failure.

That makes the company I worked for seem tame by comparison.

In any case, I can’t just treat this as someone else’s problem.

Besides, even if it was based on a false accusation, I’m the root cause of all this. The thought of ignoring the situation and letting them die leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

And… most importantly, it would be incredibly inconvenient for me to continue being targeted by the Holy Church.

Which means… in this situation…

I timidly opened my mouth.

“Um… I’m well aware that it’s not my place as an unrelated party to interfere, but…”

The Sisters turned their suspicious gazes on me.

Alicia-san and the others were also watching me with dubious expressions, wondering what I was about to say.

“Um… if there were a way to somehow survive… I was just thinking… maybe it’s worth a try…”

The Sisters showed a slight reaction to my words, but the suspicion deep in their eyes hadn’t vanished.

“…What are you trying to say?”

The one who seemed to be their leader asked in a low voice.

“Well… how about you change your report just a little? Say that you eliminated the man who was bewitching Alicia-san… meaning me… And that Emma-san’s involvement was a misunderstanding… That it was all my fault… You can… uh… make up whatever you want about me… haha…”

I voiced the “Escape from the Holy Church Plan” I’d just improvised.

That’s right… it’s more convenient for me if they just think I’m dead.

I’m just a rootless, F-Rank adventurer to begin with.

I have no official identification or anything, so my life or death is a mystery anyway.

So, even if the Holy Church certifies me as deceased, a person like me won’t have any trouble in my day-to-day life.

And if it means the Holy Church will stop chasing me, that’s far more convenient.

The only question is whether these Sisters will accept my proposal…

As expected, the Sisters were completely taken aback by my outlandish suggestion, looking utterly stunned.

“A-Are you… serious…?”

“You would… protect us? With nothing to gain…?”

“Impossible… What’s your objective…? There has to be an ulterior motive…”

Their eyes were filled with confusion and intense suspicion.

Well, of course they’d think that.

It’s hard to believe that they, who’ve likely lived their lives as assassins amidst betrayal and deceit, would go along with such a selfish and half-baked proposal I just came up with on the spot.

Just then, Emma-san spoke up.

“Honestly… Are you all still saying such things? There is no way Shuzo-san would have an ulterior motive. He is the kind of man who would show mercy even to those who tried to take his life. In the battle just now… with his power, it would have been easy for Shuzo-san to take your lives, yet he went through all this trouble… You all place yourselves in the world of combat, so you must understand how difficult it is to disarm an opponent without injuring them… And… you must also understand the difference in skill between you and Shuzo-san as warriors…”

I tilted my head, blinking in confusion at Emma-san’s words.

Why is Emma-san saying things that are completely different from the truth…?

Just then, Emma-san turned toward me. Our eyes met.

Emma-san smiled and winked her beautiful eye.

I see… so her judgment is that running a bluff is the best move here…

But a lie this blatant seems like it would be exposed immediately…

However, contrary to my expectations, Emma-san’s words seemed to have stirred the Sisters’ hearts, strongly and deeply.

Their eyes, which moments before held only murderous intent and despair, were now filled with confusion, surprise, and even what looked like a faint hint of affection.

The cheeks of several of the Sisters seemed to be blushing, taking on a warm hue.

Huh…? Are the Sisters really this gullible?

No… wait, they’re Sisters who have dedicated themselves to God, so maybe they were raised in a bubble within the Holy Church?

Well… this whole incident was based on a flimsy accusation anyway, so maybe they are just simple-minded.

Which, in its own way… is kind of scary…

Meanwhile, Emma-san approached Alicia-san and whispered something too quietly for me to hear.

“Alicia-san… could it be that Shuzo-san… intends to uncover the mastermind by deliberately letting these women live?”

“Yes… If it’s Sensei… he would naturally have thought that far ahead. Still… to forgive an opponent who targeted his life without any punishment… even knowing his plan… that is not something just anyone can do. And… to disarm the ‘Shadow Needles’ so easily without injuring a single one of them… Sensei truly is a man who cannot be measured by a normal ruler… But… that is precisely why women flock to him…”

They’re whispering to each other again…

It’s probably about how to handle the annoying cleanup after this.

I’m just an F-Rank adventurer, but they have social standing.

They have the responsibilities of a Saint and a Guild Master.

They can’t just spout some nonsense and “escape” like I can.

In any case, it probably has nothing to do with me.

Besides… I still have some ringing in my ears from the fight, so I can’t hear them well anyway…

“…Hah… Alicia-san… this is… as I feared… becoming a problem…”

Emma-san whispered in Alicia-san’s ear again, a troubled look on her face.

This time, unlike before, her expression was mixed with a clear sense of urgency.

“Look at their eyes… The way they’re looking at Shuzo-san… it has clearly changed.”

Now it was Alicia-san who shot a sharp glance at the Sisters.

She then gasped, her complexion changing as she whispered back to Emma-san.

“Yes… it’s as if… as if they’re seeing the grace of God for the very first time… No, it’s more than that…! That feverish gaze…! It’s… the same quality as the looks we give Sensei! At this rate…!”

“This is bad! At this rate, even these vixens will fall for Shuzo-san’s charms… Honestly… and we have so many rivals already!”

The two of them nodded in an instant, exchanging a look of perfect understanding.

“Ahem… We will discuss your treatment with the Holy Church later, but for now, we will take you into our custody. Now, come this way.”

Emma-san announced to the Sisters in a resolute tone that permitted no argument.

“That’s right. A decision on your fate will come later. Now, please stand up.”

Alicia-san agreed, moving to help the Sisters to their feet.

Emma-san and Alicia-san then led the Sisters toward a corner of the room, as if to pull them away from me.

The Sisters, perhaps having lost the will to resist or perhaps still shaken by Emma-san’s words, followed obediently.

However, their gazes were repeatedly, and somewhat reluctantly, darting back in my direction.

…They must still think badly of me after what happened.