Chapter 144
"Lord Clael, is something the matter?"
"Uh... W-What do you mean?"
One afternoon after class. Inside the sanctuary of the Royal Academy.
While Clael was cleaning up after class that day, Reina suddenly approached and asked him a question.
Normally, Reina would return to the Grand Shrine after school and attend to her sacred duties... but today, since she had no work, she had come to the sanctuary where Clael was.
She had been helping him tidy up documents and clean the place... but then she suddenly gave him a probing look.
"I think I'm acting as usual... Um, did something seem off?"
"No... nothing seemed off. You're as wonderful as ever, Lord Clael."
"...Thank you."
"It's just... you looked like you were lost in thought. Is something troubling you?"
"No, no, it's nothing like that."
There was no trouble.
There was only a secret.
Clael was planning to go on a pilgrimage to the White Dragon Offering Hall in the near future.
Every year around this time, a representative from the shrine would go there to offer prayers... and Clael had requested the cardinal to allow him to take on that duty.
The representative going to the White Dragon Offering Hall had to be a devout and exceptional priest... but as a Saint, Clael met the requirements.
(In the game, Reina was supposed to go, and she'd team up with a capture character to clear the dungeon... I never expected I'd be the one going with a capture character.)
It wasn't confirmed yet... but since Clael had personally requested it, the cardinal had no reason to refuse.
Most likely, Clael would be the one to go.
(I asked them to keep it a secret from Reina. As a cardinal, they also didn't want Reina diving into danger. They even agreed to lend me the Temple Knights—couldn't have worked out better.)
The enemies were this country's gangs... and the mastermind controlling them.
Allies included the capture character, the Temple Knights, and a few knights Eric had gathered.
Since there was a possibility that some nobles or members of the knights were colluding with the gangs, they had chosen a small, trustworthy elite force.
(This time, the goal is to make sure the enemies don't escape... The gang will either lie in wait after catching the bait we intentionally leaked, or come after us later—or both. Once the rats are in the cage, we'll slam the lid shut...)
"Lord Clael!"
"Wah!"
"See... you were lost in thought again. What's really going on?"
At some point, Reina had come right up to him.
Clael quickly backed away from Reina's face, which was only a few centimeters away.
"Ah... sorry. I was just thinking about class. I've been assigned to teach both theology and music, so there's a lot on my mind..."
"Hmm..."
Reina puffed out her cheeks adorably.
Perhaps she had seen through Clael's lie—she stared at him silently.
"Ugh..."
Clael was pressured by her gaze... but if Reina found out about this, she would definitely insist on coming with him.
And if that happened, she might end up in danger.
Clael knew Reina was strong. Much, much stronger than him.
(But still... that doesn't mean I should recklessly drag her into danger.)
On top of that, Clael's older brother Girael was involved in this incident.
Letting Reina get hurt because of a family member's mistake was utterly unacceptable.
(I'll handle this without Reina... Cleaning up after my disgraceful brother is my duty as his little brother, right?)
"............"
"............"
Clael stared back into Reina's eyes as she looked at him.
He tried to convey through his gaze that he had nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of.
"Lord Clael..."
And then... Reina quietly closed her eyes.
Blushing, she slightly tilted her chin and brought her cherry blossom-like lips closer.
Clael also leaned in toward Reina...
"No, I'm not doing that!?"
There was no way he was going to kiss her.
They were practically like parent and child, or siblings. And he was her teacher.
Whether on school grounds or not, there was no way he would do something so inappropriate.
"Ah... so it was a no..."
Reina stuck out her tongue in disappointment.
Clael slumped his shoulders, wishing she wouldn't tease adults like that.
"Honestly... Reina, you really should be more aware of how attractive you are..."
If an absolute beauty like Reina made a face like she was waiting for a kiss, even family or a teacher might lose control.
Clael himself had felt like he was just one step away.
"...Well, fine. I won't press the issue any further."
Reina shrugged with a disappointed look and smiled at Clael.
"Please, just don't get hurt, okay? Promise me?"
"Yeah... I promise."
He had no intention of getting hurt.
He would win—absolutely, overwhelmingly—and crush those who targeted him and Reina.
(I'm not just some heroine for Reina to protect... For once, I'll show her I can be the guardian!)
Clael nodded firmly and returned Reina's smile.