Chapter 99 – Ted Who Found Lily

Ted spotted Lily.

“Send the seriously injured patients in through the back to the infirmary. Keep someone stationed at the back door and in front of the room at all times.”

“Yes.”

The white priest gave a quick bow, turned on her heel, and hurried toward the back.

“Heart-san, please focus solely on protecting Marie.”

“Got it.”

Heart-san met my eyes and nodded.

With that, Marie’s safety was all but guaranteed.

“Holy Knights, position two each a short distance in front and behind the Saintess. If anything happens, back up Heart-san.”

“Yes!”

I’d assigned a white priest to each Holy Knight as their hands and feet, leaving me free to oversee the overall situation and move as needed.

Directing security while guarding Marie like Heart-san was beyond me.

In a pinch, I’d asked Marie to unleash a flash of light magic for self-defense.

Everyone was in position now, for real.

I’d protect Marie my way.

The central aisle from the chapel entrance to the altar was roped off for managing the incoming and outgoing processions. The wooden chairs along both sides were left in place as makeshift rest areas.

Without any major disruptions, people lined up orderly. The elderly sat chatting with their attendants on the chairs flanking the sides.

Occasionally, curious children peeked out from beside the wide-open entrance.

Good. Things were running smoothly up front.

As I checked on the patients who’d been carried to the back infirmary and returned to the noisy front hall, several white priests approached me.

What was it?

Forcing down my rising anxiety, I scanned the hall, desperately searching for the reason.

Then I spotted a woman waving near the entrance.

“What’s with that grubby woman?”

I frowned, and the approaching white priests exchanged troubled glances before giving awkward bitter smiles.

“Well… She’s been calling Heart-san’s name over and over since a little while ago…”

The sheer silliness of it nearly made me collapse on the spot.

Haha. No wonder the white priests couldn’t say it outright.

Heart-san was so popular it was a hassle.

“I see. Quietly escort her out of the room without causing a scene.”

“Yes.”

I had to consider the possibility of a diversion. Holy Knights were here, too.

Handing it off to Heart-san was the best move.

I told Marie, “I’ll be stepping away for a bit,” and gave Heart-san a brief, “We’ve got a small issue.”

Both met my eyes and nodded silently.

Heart-san placed a hand on Marie’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

I told the Holy Knights, “Hold things down here,” and headed deeper to check the back area.

That’s when I saw that grubby woman slipping in through the door.

Ah, so the commotion earlier had pulled the guarding white priest to the front…

I’d specifically told them not to leave their posts.

Falling for a diversion this basic?

I clenched my fist hard, tempted to click my tongue under my breath.

No, this was my failure. I’d skimped on training the white priests.

I’ll make use of this experience. I hurriedly jotted down a memo so I wouldn’t forget.

There were patients in the infirmary—trouble if a fight broke out here.

No sign of other enemies nearby, so better lure her outside.

Pan.

To gauge her combat ability, I hit her with a hidden water orb from cover.

The woman looked around clumsily in a pathetic display.

Haha.

Total amateur. She couldn’t even pinpoint my location.

Pan, pan, pan.

“Hey! That hurts!”

I herded her back toward the door outside without causing any real injury.

“What do you think you’re doing! Heart’s my bodyguard! Just listen to me, and you’ll understand!”

I shut the door and locked it.

What an idiot.

If she had business with Heart-san as a client, why not pass a message through a white priest?

Making a racket in front of the Saintess—did she have no regard for her life?

Just to be safe, I’d loop in Heart-san.

I rushed back to the altar and whispered in his ear.

“There’s a woman making noise, claiming ‘Heart is my bodyguard.’ Ring any bells?”

Tension flashed across Heart-san’s face. Glancing sideways at Marie, he whispered back, “Keep it top secret from Marie.”

“Chase her off without restraining her. Report to Gain-san, too. I’ll explain the details later.”

I nodded, and so did he.

Sigh. So there was something to it.

As I walked along, keeping an eye on the door, I saw the woman enter the chapel again.

Was she an idiot?

I gathered the free priests and ordered an emergency safety sweep of the building interior.

Once that was done, I’d send Marie to the infirmary.

“The Saintess will take a short break.” “Please wait just a moment.”

As the priests called out, Heart-san blocked Marie’s line of sight to hide the woman and led her to the back.

Heart-san would stick close to Marie.

Holy Knights would stand by inside and outside the room where Marie was.

Priests positioned per the emergency plan.

That left…

I hesitated a bit, then decided to report to Gain-san in person. I told a white priest where I was headed and hurried to the command room.

The command room was a whirlwind of people coming and going—impossible to have a proper talk.

I was thinking of coming back later when Gain-san spotted me and widened his eyes.

“What is it? What happened?”

“Nothing—just a report and a quick question.”

He seemed rattled that I’d left my post to come here.

But he quickly regained his composure and asked again in a low voice, “What happened?”

“No need to worry. Marie’s fine. She’s working in the infirmary.”

“Good.”

Gain-san let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing, then jerked his chin for me to continue.

“A woman came looking for Heart-san. I told him to keep it top secret from Marie and chase her off without restraining her. Any idea who she might be?”

“What about the woman?”

“Escorted her out. Priests are watching her now.”

“Good work.”

Gain-san grinned, then immediately traced his finger over the map in front of him.

“Who is she?”

“Later.”

Gain-san assigned her surveillance to Fernet-san’s team and ordered me back to my post.

Soon, reports of lost children and scuffles came flooding in, keeping Gain-san busy with assignments and responses.

Looked hectic here, too.

No info forthcoming, so I’d just be in the way sticking around.