The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 41

I couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched Viscount Luca LeBlanc, son of Duke Jean LeBlanc, enter the guild headquarters with his servants. It had been announced beforehand that the LeBlanc family would formally become the patron of the dark guild, the Michino Family, and that the contract would be signed here in the Loser’s District, but seeing a noble in such a slum was surreal.

Little Sani didn’t seem to understand the situation, but Kano was tense. I asked Sofia for support to avoid rudeness, but she had yet to arrive. It seemed I had to handle this myself.

When I greeted him politely, Luca LeBlanc extended his hand with a friendly smile. “You must be the famous Don Michino. My sister Elena has been under your care before. The only people she has taken a liking to are you and the former Holy Knight, Leon Stein.”

As I shook his offered hand, Luca LeBlanc continued, “My father was also impressed with how you handled a request recently.”

Afterward, a memorandum was smoothly exchanged, making the LeBlanc family the official patron of our Michino Family. I tried to figure out why such a prominent noble would deal with a small dark guild, but nothing about Luca LeBlanc’s behavior gave anything away.

There was one odd thing, though. Luca LeBlanc seemed nervous the entire time. He had his servant prepare a mirror repeatedly to check his appearance. What was the reason for this?

“What seems to be the matter, Viscount?” I asked, prompting Luca LeBlanc to look even more tense.

“Don Michino, is it true that Sofia-sama will visit here?”

“Yes, she’ll arrive shortly, albeit a bit late.”

“I am truly grateful to you, Don Michino!”

“Eh?”

As I stood there confused, the loud sound of a carriage indicated the late arrival of Sofia and her entourage.

When the carriage stopped, Luca LeBlanc stood frozen as the door opened. Seneca led the way into our residence in formal attire, looking serious and devoid of her usual childlike demeanor.

Following her were women from the brothel, carrying baskets filled with liquor. I remembered Sofia saying she would entertain Luca LeBlanc at the feast. Finally, Sofia Gracier arrived.

Sofia’s demeanor was dignified, contrasting with her gentle expressions when with me. To my surprise, Luca LeBlanc knelt before her.

“It is an honor to meet you, Sofia-sama.”

Looking down at the viscount, Sofia said, “Viscount Luca LeBlanc, I appreciate your family becoming a patron of the Michino Family. I will personally thank you today.”

“It is my pleasure, Sofia-sama. Please feel free to ask anything of me.”

I could only stare in astonishment as the eldest son of the LeBlanc family prostrated himself before Sofia. What kind of power dynamics were these? It was as if the noble son was like a dog in front of Sofia.

Seneca, who had appeared beside me, muttered, “Even nobles need to book half a year in advance to meet Sofia-neesan. And even then, they can’t lay a finger on her. Only Aniki in the royal capital has that kind of freedom.”

No way. She had pressed her chest against my face just the other day. Of course, I couldn’t mention that to Seneca.

Before I knew it, the guild’s reception area had become a banquet hall. Luca LeBlanc, with a look of adoration, watched Sofia Gracier, who was sitting cross-legged, as he drank.

Understanding the viscount’s expression, it dawned on me that, inadvertently, we had gained the trust of the father, son, and daughter of the LeBlanc family.

As I observed the feast, Sofia smiled gently and waved at me, signaling everything was under her control.

I left the bustling first floor and went to my private room on the second floor, browsing through the royal capital’s newspaper published this morning. Days had passed since the incident, yet there wasn’t a single article about an intruder in the Giant Stone Castle. An intruder in the castle, especially one that the Captain failed to capture, would tarnish the Knights’ reputation. It seems they intend to keep the matter under wraps.

What Nadale and the others discussed in the underground of the Giant Stone Castle still concerned me. What exactly is happening within the Knights? Is there a scheme that even Captain Cecil is unaware of? As I finished reading the newspaper, there was a knock on the door.

“Don, may I come in?”

It was Kano who entered the room. “I never imagined VIPs like Viscount LeBlanc and Sofia-san would visit the Loser’s District.”

“Yeah, me neither. So, Kano, how is the investigation regarding Nina’s convent going?”

Kano’s expression turned serious. “Just as the Deputy Captain said. On the day Nina-chan arrived here, a sister at the convent was murdered. It seems heretics were involved, and Captain Saintess herself conducted the inspection. The Knights are pursuing Nina-chan as a key person of interest in the sister’s murder.”

“Has there been any change in Nina’s condition?”

Kano nodded. “She doesn’t look unwell, so I think she’s physically healthy.”

Since Nina displayed her overwhelming power against the relentless Kirke, days have passed with her lost in an unending slumber.

Kano sighed. “The protection offered by our ties to Duke LeBlanc shields us from the Knights’ casual scrutiny, yet the crime of murdering a commoner breaches a universally acknowledged taboo, doesn’t it?”

“Of course. The murder of a commoner by heretics is a grave sin, especially when the victim is a clergy member. It’s an unquestionable case for investigation.”

That’s the case not only for us but also for the three major dark guilds. Even if members of dark guilds with noble patrons kill each other, the Knights cannot easily intervene. However, killing a commoner or clergy changes everything. Regardless of who is behind it, the Holy Knights must capture the perpetrator under the banner of justice.

“Of course, even if it was murderous, Nina didn’t do it.”

Kano sighed again before speaking. “If Nina-chan is involved, it’s the work of the Demon Lord, right?”

“Yes.”

Manina could easily kill humans if she wanted to.

“But would she kill a sister who seems neither powerful nor significant?”

“Hmm, the Demon Lord’s thoughts are beyond my understanding.”

Regardless, we can’t do anything until Nina wakes up.

I stood up and put on my jacket.

“Ah? Don, are you going out? I’ll accompany you.”

“I’ll be fine alone. I’ll be back soon.”

Coincidentally, today is the last day I arranged to meet Cecil through Bumpy. She probably won’t come today, but I need to check just in case.

Little did I know on this day, I would become involved with Cecil unexpectedly.