Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Exam (3)

◆  

Carlisle blankly stared at Cardinal Felix.  

The Gray inside the Holy Sword also remained silent.  

It was only natural, given that an utterly unexpected story had just surfaced.  

“I think I must have misheard—”  

“You heard correctly, Carlisle Belfast.”  

Cardinal Felix continued speaking, her face still adorned with a benevolent smile.  

“My desire to keep you by Gray’s side is purely a personal whim of mine.”  

“……”  

Before this, Lionel had made a similar request.  

Considering how exceedingly rare it is for Gray to engage in any form of human interaction, such a request wasn’t entirely out of the blue.  

However, Lionel’s request had stemmed from genuine concern for Gray.  

This person, on the other hand, had unclear motives from the start. Without knowing the reason behind such a proposal, Carlisle couldn’t find any words to respond.  

“May I ask… The reason?”  

As soon as he voiced the question, an answer came immediately.  

“It feels like this might be the last chance.”  

“……”  

…What kind of nonsense is this now?  

“Pardon?”  

“What I mean is, this might be the last time she interacts normally with a man.”  

“……”  

“…She carries too many burdens. This might be the last time she can maintain a seemingly ordinary relationship with someone.”  

Already, there are those in the Imperial family who have taken an interest in Gray.  

Her reputation overseas is already formidable. The fact that many are trying to get close to her through various connections was something he had already confirmed at the previous banquet.  

And given that she bears the role of humanity’s strongest and its guardian…  

Gray’s interpersonal relationships are highly likely to be overrun by those driven by ‘ulterior motives’.  

That’s why he was being asked—  

Before she is completely swallowed by such a path, to remain by her side.  

“…Even now, I get scolded by Miss almost daily. Are you sure you’ve found the right person?”  

“My, my. It seems she already has quite a fondness for you, doesn’t it?”  

“……”  

“As the primary patron of the Chasefield heir, I like to think I understand her fairly well. There hasn’t been anyone Gray has taken to as much as you, Carlisle.”  

From Carlisle’s perspective, he was on the verge of asking, ‘Really?’ But the sheer confidence in Felix’s tone left no room for argument.  

Adding to her words, Cardinal Felix spoke again with a concerned expression.  

“So, though it might be meddlesome of me… I’d like to help improve your relationship with her.”  

“……”  

Hmm.  

“It’s a request, Carlisle.”  

What should he even say to this?  

It was a surprisingly… Human proposal.  

“Even if things don’t work out, I’d like her to have at least some good memories.”  

Compared to the infamy he’d heard about, this was purely for Gray’s sake.  

Given that she was Gray’s biggest patron, perhaps she had some personal affection for her.  

But.  

“I refuse.”  

The moment he flatly rejected her, a strange glint flickered in Felix’s eyes.  

“—Hm? That doesn’t seem like a bad proposal, though.”  

“Of course it’s not a bad proposal. Still…”  

Carlisle sighed and continued.  

And to be brutally honest—  

‘…Shouldn’t you ask for my opinion too?’  

If asked whether Gray was attractive or not, she was undoubtedly an attractive woman.  

But if the question was whether Carlisle could live bound to her, that wasn’t a matter of preference.  

It was a matter of survival.  

Falling in love and dating someone whose first reaction to annoyance was throwing punches?  

And each of those punches could easily pulverize a person?  

Was she insane?  

Besides, after countless regressions, he’d already seen every possible side of her—good and bad.  

Romantic feelings? They couldn’t possibly develop even if he tried.  

[…You dare spout such nonsense right in front of the person in question.]  

‘Prove me wrong, then.’  

[……]  

‘Helping you and becoming your lover are entirely different matters. Aren’t they?’  

[No, even so, you could at least say something nice.]  

Ignoring the grumbling Holy Sword, Carlisle locked eyes with the Cardinal again.  

Frankly, there was no real need to say more, but his words spilled out from pure irritation.  

“No matter how good your intentions are, human relationships are for Gray to decide. Neither you nor anyone else has the right to interfere.”  

“……”  

“Such words should come from Gray herself. Only then would it be worth considering.”  

“……”  

The Cardinal’s expression vanished from her face.  

The shift was so instantaneous it sent chills down his spine.  

As if a mask had been stripped away.  

‘…Did I touch a nerve?’  

Well, someone of the Cardinal’s stature wouldn’t take kindly to unsolicited advice.  

But he had to say what needed to be said.  

Everyone, this person and that person alike, seemed to forget—  

Gray was a person with her own emotions and agency.  

No matter the intent, no one had the right to trample over the choices she should make for herself.  

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. The Miss is likely waiting.”  

With those final words and a nod, Carlisle rose from his seat.  

◆  

As Carlisle exited the room, Cardinal Felix sighed and ran a hand through her hair.  

“What do you think?”  

Her question, directed at an empty room as though someone else were present, was eerie.  

No answer came.  

But.  

Under the light, her shadow writhed and twisted violently.  

As if something within it was reacting to her words.  

“Ah, yes, yes. He’s naive and cute. Even I can see that.”  

The benevolent tone of a holy woman was gone, replaced by a cynical, irritated voice that dripped into the empty room.  

“But there’s no way someone that naive and cute would suddenly wield ‘the same power as the Hero’. Weren’t you the one who advised me to keep a close eye on him?”  

To add to the absurdity, she pulled out a tobacco pipe from her robe.  

Lighting it indoors without a care, she took a deep drag before continuing.  

“Of course, if he had just walked past such a delicious-looking ‘trap’. maybe he really is that naive.”  

Her proposal—to help him grow closer to Gray out of goodwill—was, by all accounts, not a bad pretext.  

But.  

“If he’d been just another bug drawn to the honey of the ‘Hero’. I’d have crushed him underfoot.”  

If he’d had any hidden agenda—  

Any form of desire—  

If he’d tried to project his own wishes onto her—  

She would have disposed of him. In the name of the Gray Cardinal.  

“Too harsh, you say? Don’t spout nonsense. Given the weight of the title ‘Hero’. someone that uncomplicated getting close to her is the more suspicious outcome.”  

She scratched her head irritably.  

But in the end—  

He had rejected her proposal outright. He seemed content just aiding Gray from the sidelines.  

And that last line of his was a masterpiece—  

‘That’s for her to decide.’  

What could he even say to that?  

It was such a painfully earnest answer it was almost laughable.  

It almost felt like he’d seen right through how Felix had been ‘treating’ Gray.  

Either way—  

He was undeniably an interesting one.  

“…Ah, ah, how bothersome.”  

Tobacco smoke curled ominously in the air.  

“Now I can’t help but take a real interest in him.”  

One way or another, he had elegantly sidestepped the trap she’d laid.  

At the very least, he’d proven he had the ‘qualifications’ to remain by Gray’s side for now.  

Given the mysterious power he wielded, a thorough investigation was necessary.  

But as she pondered this, her senses suddenly picked up on something strange.  

The presence of someone moving nearby—  

As if they’d been eavesdropping on her conversation with Carlisle until just now.  

A presence she knew all too well.  

‘…Gray?’  

She’d been listening unnoticed the entire time, but now, as she hurried away, her composure was utterly shattered. So she’d been caught.  

It seemed something in Carlisle’s words had struck a chord.  

“……”  

Felix chuckled dryly as she packed another roll of tobacco into her pipe.  

“Ah, youth. Isn’t that right?”  

Her shadow shuddered again.  

“What, you’re saying you took a liking to him just now? He was cute, I’ll give him that. His spirit’s in the right place. And his looks are somewhat my type too.”  

After a brief silence, Felix let out a soft laugh.  

“Your instincts are dead. Are you really a ‘god’?”  

She exhaled deeply toward her shadow.  

“As if I’d ever fall for someone like that.”  

◆  

[System Message]  

▶ You have left a strong impression on the ‘Gray Cardinal’!  

▶ The ‘Gray Cardinal’ has grown curious about you.  

▶ The target has been added to the ‘Training’ list!  

▶ Strive to build a close relationship with the target!  

▶ A target-related event will be generated soon!  

[System Message]  

▶ The trait ‘Hero’s Companion’ has been activated.  

▶ [★ Trust 40% → 70%]  

▶ Additional rewards will be granted!  

▶ Since ‘Trust’ has reached a certain threshold, positive traits may change!  

▶ A related event will be generated soon!