The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 64

(Being with this man makes me act in strange ways…)

We found ourselves in a dubious inn within the District of Divine Will. I could only be puzzled as I glanced at Don Michino, with whom I had infiltrated the place.

Leaving the LeBlanc family mansion to my subordinates and acting with Don Michino seemed utterly foolish, especially coming to such a place.

However, in the company of this enigmatic man, thought eludes me.

From the outset, Don Michino’s motives were an enigma. Stirring trouble in Pornai, the Gambino Family’s territory, assisting Leon in combat against Grittz, a young boss of the Capone Family, and making enemies of two dark guilds seemed recklessly brave.

The subsequent developments were also baffling.

According to the investigation by the Holy Knights, while it was expected that Kirke from the Gambino affiliation would retaliate, the Michino Family instead turned the tables and left them in a critically injured state. Moreover, in the past two months, several powerful heretics from the Capone faction, all of whom were also defeated, were sent to the Loser’s District.

What’s peculiar is that many of the heretics sent there, for some reason, ended up joining the Michino Family. And not just any heretics, but strong ones like the jailbreaker Socrates, the swindling gambler Hegel, and the merciless Kirke. The reason these individuals are drawn to the Michino Family, which doesn’t seem to be flush with funds, remains a mystery.

Today, my perplexity regarding this man deepened further.

(Why is the boss of a dark guild doing guard duty…)

I was aware of the LeBlanc family’s private request for Lady Elena’s protection of the Michino Family through internal reports.

Yet, when Don Michino himself stood before me, adorned in LeBlanc family armor, words escaped me. It’s unheard of for a dark guild boss to take on a protection job personally.

While his subordinates work, the norm would be for him to be indulging in a pleasure-filled life, drinking.

His demeanor towards me is equally baffling.

Two months ago, I asked Don Michino to find Leon. I offered him more than a hundred gold coins, a large sum for a small dark guild, and humbly requested his assistance, bowing sincerely despite being the commander of the Holy Knights. Yet, this man hasn’t sent a single report in these two months.

It seemed as though he held no regard for me, even as the commander of the Holy Knights.

Even today, despite my proposal to cooperate in protecting Lady Elena, all he said was, “You should leave,” “You should get out of this city.” Wait, I am Saintess Cecil Wave, the commander of this operation.

“You shouldn’t be in a place like this.”

When Don Michino issued the umpteenth notice to leave in a dimly lit corridor echoing men’s and women’s lascivious voices, I couldn’t help but get irritated.

“After all, we had to come to such a place because your subordinate, an elf, was lured out by Capone, isn’t it?”

“If my subordinate hadn’t been there, Lady Elena would have been kidnapped by now. What were the Holy Knights, who were supposed to be monitoring her, doing? At least three of them should have been deployed, right?”

I had no comeback to that. My subordinates should have protected Lady Elena in time and taken her out of the mansion. This wouldn’t have happened if only the adept Leon had been here.

Well, anyway, protecting Lady Elena is the priority now. I took out a bottle containing an antidote from my leather bag and drank it all at once.

As the antidote circulated through my body, the effects of the aphrodisiac that had been impairing my abilities temporarily vanished.

Several of Capone’s heretics were already on their way to this inn. I began to chant a holy word to capture the heretics pursuing Lady Elena when suddenly, Don Michino grabbed my wrist.

Don Michino’s eyes, gazing at the bottle, were filled with anxiety.

“What is this?”

Of course, I couldn’t explain that I had been drugged with an aphrodisiac by Prince Raymond, causing my mind and body to go haywire.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. So, have you heard from your elf companion? It would be pitiful for Lady Elena if we don’t protect her soon.”

“It seems that matter went well.”

“Went well?”

Caught in my confusion, one of the corridor doors suddenly swung open with vigor, and an energetic voice rang out.

“Aniki! Mission accomplished!”

A boy, hardly of significant age, emerged from behind the door, skillfully twirling a knife with pride.

“Lady Elena and Kano are unharmed as well!”

True to his words, behind the boy were Lady Elena and a young female elf. Lady Elena, with tears in her eyes, ran up to Don Michino.

“You’re late, Don Michino! I was scared!”

“I apologize, Lady Elena. There were some… irregularities. Was Kano treated well?”

Before Lady Elena could answer, the elf named Kano spoke up in dissatisfaction.

“We were chased by a really dangerous heretic! If Seneca-kun hadn’t driven them away, we’d be dead by now. Make sure to praise him!”

Don Michino gently stroked Kano’s head before turning to me.

“Then, Saintess Cecil, please take Lady Elena and leave this place immediately. Your presence in this city any longer will only escalate the situation. When escaping, please refrain from using any conspicuous holy magic to avoid drawing attention.”

In a rush, I called out to Don Michino just as he was turning to leave.

“Wait! What about you?”

“We’ll escape through a different route and draw Capone’s attention. As you know, many heretics are already converging here.”

“Then let me help too. We should cooperate and escape together.”

Don Michino shook his head.

“You should return immediately and give direct orders to the Holy Knights. Leave this place to us.”

Then, Don Michino looked me in the eye.

“I may have been rude today, but I truly enjoyed running through the royal capital with you.”

With those final words, the three members of the Michino Family vanished. I stood there for a moment until Lady Elena pulled my hand, bringing me back to my senses. I quickly applied a protective holy charm on Lady Elena.

It must have been their doing. Soon after, a loud explosion sounded from the direction of the city. I left the inn and hurried through the chaotic streets with Lady Elena in my arms.

This maneuver secured the safety of the entire LeBlanc family. Using the LeBlanc family as bait to flush out the rebels was a gamble by Duke LeBlanc himself, but it seems we managed to pull through at the last moment.

Identifying the mastermind behind this rebellion could lead to a new phase in the conflict with Capone. For the sake of the fallen Holy Knights and Leon, who has been declared a target for revenge, we must continue to fight relentlessly.

Yet, why is it so? Despite the nerve-wracking plan going well, I find myself constantly thinking about Don Michino.

I found myself bewildered, entertaining the thought of how enjoyable it would be to join forces with him, sans my Saintess powers.