Chapter 100 – Furious Ted

“Can you explain that to me?”

Honestly speaking, I’m furious.

The command room, utterly deserted now in stark contrast to the midday bustle, had Gain awkwardly seated in a chair, scratching his head.

“There’s a good reason for this. Sit down for now, at least.”

Facing me as I stood there imposingly with arms crossed, Fernet flashed an ingratiating smile while offering a chair and pouring tea.

…I see.

I was the only one left out of the loop.

“You’re the command center for her protection, and you didn’t tell me anything? Didn’t it occur to you that could put Marie in danger?!”

I had plenty more I wanted to say, but first things first—I’d hear out whatever this “reason” was.

I took a sip of tea, let out a soft breath to steady myself, and tamped down my emotions.

I looked each of them in the eye in turn: Gain, seated right in front of me, and Heart and Fernet, standing at his sides.

“So, what’s the deal? What’s this ‘good reason’?”

Gain hesitated before opening his mouth.

“Truth is, the woman you saw… she’s Marie’s twin sister.”

That filthy, ragged woman was Marie’s twin sister?

I desperately tried to recall her appearance in my mind, my face twisting in disbelief.

“Her?”

“Yeah. It’s not like we were hiding it from you. Marie cut ties with her family when she was five. That’s why it never came up before.”

“I know about her family. That her sister stole her blessing, forcing Marie to leave home at five. You told me that yourself, Gain. But what I’m talking about is the possibility of that sister showing up here!”

The three of them exchanged glances, their faces screaming “We’re in trouble now.”

Did they really think something that flimsy would fly?

“While you and the others were raising your ranks, we traveled with Marie’s family.”

“She made a fuss back then about being the Saintess, but we’ve already set her straight on that.”

“They relocated to a village next to this town. We figured she might show up eventually.”

Each one piled on excuses that were impossible to swallow.

“What? If that’s the situation, you should’ve told me upfront! Was there any reason to keep it secret?”

“It’s not like that, Ted. Just hear the rest.”

Haaah.

So there was even more they were holding back.

“Fine. Tell me everything.”

Heart held up a hand to stop Gain, who had started to speak.

“In a pinch, could we cut down Marie’s family? I asked myself that over and over. And these aren’t strangers—we traveled together. If that caused even a moment’s hesitation or delay, it’d be catastrophic, right?”

Heart spoke with deadly seriousness in his eyes.

“Exactly. We know Marie’s family. That’s why we put you—you who have no connection to them—in charge of protection this time.”

Gain followed up on Heart’s explanation.

Naive. Way too naive.

Family or not, if they’re a threat, eliminate them on the spot.

No room for personal feelings in protection duty.

“I see. So you figured I was just as soft as the rest of you.”

I said it deadpan, laced with sarcasm. Gain shot to his feet, dropped to his knees before me.

“No, that’s not it—it’s just in case. Just in case. Our judgment was off this time. I’m truly sorry.”

Heart and Fernet joined him at his side, kneeling and bowing their heads.

I didn’t need apologies.

I was angry because Marie’s safety came first.

“It’s fine. I forgive you. But unlike you guardians out there, my eyes are clear—so please, no more such ‘considerations’ in the future.”

Sheesh, grown men drooping their heads like that.

If it’s a threat to Marie—even if it’s my own parents—I wouldn’t hesitate.

Gain should know better than anyone what kind of person I am.

“But you thought she was Heart’s client, right?”

Gain slung an arm around my shoulders, grinning as he asked.

“Yeah, either some woman smitten with Heart stalking him, or his current client dropping by on urgent business.”

“For the record, no such woman exists.”

Heart shot back instantly, but no one bought it.

Fernet chuckled, teasing Heart mercilessly.

“Heard you blasted her with magic without even asking questions.”

“Of course. If the order wasn’t some unreasonable ‘just chase her off without restraining her,’ I might’ve killed her depending on how she acted.”

“As expected. This settled things for me too.”

Fernet threw an arm around my shoulders from the other side.

These two peas in a pod are so overbearing.

“Yeah, you did great. I was the fool for hesitating. Thanks to you, I’m over it.”

I couldn’t imagine Heart hesitating even a second over Marie’s issue.

If he’s past his doubts now, good for him.

From now on, I’d take over command from Heart.

First time leading protection, and the tension, responsibility, and pressure were brutal.

For a split second, I even thought maybe I should train more before…

Still, so that’s Marie’s sister…

Stealing the Light Blessing is a capital offense, yet she struts right in to meet her.

I don’t want to badmouth Marie’s family, but she was a vulgar, brainless woman.

And with that, Part 4: Saintess Arc comes to an end.

Look forward to Part 5: Neighboring Country Arc! Lily heads to the neighboring country!

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