Chapter 281 (Self Edited) – Going to Paladin’s Hometown
It wasn’t too difficult to notice that Ingrid knew something about the dagger. When they looked at her face and appearance, it was obvious that was the case.
Therefore, the actions taken after that were as expected. It was a bit unexpected that she would pick up the dagger casually, but then, it made sense to go straight to Eleonora.
She found something that could be evidence. It was no wonder to give it to Eleonora, but it was just that… The words she told Eleonora was unexpected.
“Eh… do you want to go back to your hometown?” (Eleonora)
It seemed that Eleonora was the same, and she had a surprised expression while echoing the words she was told.
However, that should be natural. Ingrid said what Eleonora had just said. That was she wanted to return to her hometown right away.
The current situation was a kind of emergency. The existence of the Devil had appeared in the Holy City.
Fortunately, there were no people around at that time, but that wasn’t always the case next time. And it wouldn’t be strange if it appeared at this time now.
It seemed that the Devil appeared only once a month until recently, but the fact that it shouldn’t appear in the holy had already been overturned. It wouldn’t be strange if the fact of its appearance frequency would be overturned.
They didn’t know how true that was, but at least, that was what they saw in Ingrid. Perhaps, Ingrid was the one who understood the danger most, and she said she suddenly wanted to go back to her hometown due to some reason. It would be impossible to predict such a thing.
Soma thought of such a thing, but it seemed that the reason why Eleonora was actually surprised was a bit different. Eleonora wasn’t surprised because of that, but actually, what she was really surprised about was…
“I was surprised… What kind of change did you have since you have never tried to return to your hometown after you came to the Holy City?” (Eleonora)
“Hmm? You didn’t try to return to your hometown?” (Soma)
“It doesn’t seem that you couldn’t go back, but it is more on you didn’t try to go back.” (Hildegard)
“That’s what I said. Sure, you’ll be busy when you become a Paladin, but that doesn’t mean that you get no rest, you know? Some people come from afar, and I also give them a cohesive holiday so that they can go home at least once a year. But…” (Eleonora)
Ingrid seemed to have done such a thing. On the contrary, she had never even taken a rest.
Recently, she had finally taken a day off, but that was also really recent.
“…All my colleagues are excellent people. As someone inexperienced, I was trying my best to get used to the job, and I just didn’t have time to rest. And I didn’t try to go back to my hometown because I simply didn’t have a reason to go back.” (Ingrid)
“Does that mean you have a reason to go back now?” (Eleonora)
“Yes. I’m going to understand the situation now. But… no, that’s why I think I have to return to my hometown once.” (Ingrid)
“I see. Well, even though you’re resting, you’re still working too hard, and your hometown isn’t far from here anyway. So, I don’t really mind…” (Eleonora)
“Is that so?” (Soma)
“Well, if you use a horse from here, you can reach it in about half a day.” (Ingrid)
“Hmm…” (Soma)
Ingrid was saying that she was from the countryside, so he was wondering whether it was farther away. However, it seemed that wasn’t the case. Perhaps, she was trying to be modest. There was a possibility that she really thought so.
Anyhow, it certainly didn’t seem to be so difficult to come and go. Depending on what Ingrid was trying to do in her hometown, it would be somehow tomorrow, or at worst the day after tomorrow, given the round-trip time.
The rest depended on whether the situation allowed it….
“And from here on, it’s important… I would like to bring these two, Soma-dono and Hildegard-dono together.” (Ingrid)
The words didn’t surprise Soma and Hildegard because they were able to predict it. They hadn’t even asked in detail what Ingrid was trying to do, but considering the flow so far, it wasn’t that hard to predict.
It seemed that Eleonora was the same, and instead of being surprised, she squinted and stared at Ingrid to find out what she meant.
“…Are you saying it because it is somehow a right thing to do?” (Eleonora)
“…Yes, it is. I decided to go for another reason, but somehow, I thought it would be better to bring them with me.” (Ingrid)
“I see…” (Eleonora)
With that said, Eleonora closed her eyelids to sort out her thoughts. But as soon as she opened her eyes, she looked at the two.
“For the time being, I will allow you to go home. However, I’ll leave it to them when it comes to them. I don’t have the right to bind their actions.” (Eleonora)
In short, it seemed that Eleonora came to the conclusion that even if something happened, it would be possible to do something about it. Soma looked at Hildegard, and she nodded.
“I don’t really mind, you know? Or rather, I definitely want to go.” (Soma)
“Yeah, me too. It’s interesting in many ways.” (Hildegard)
“Is that so… thanks, you two. Thank you very much, Eleonora-sama.” (Ingrid)
“No problem. I trust you.” (Eleonora)
“Haa…I will do my best not to betray that trust.” (Ingrid)
With that said, Ingrid knelt down and bowed. Then, she slowly stood up. After that, she turned to them.
“I’m sorry, but please take care of me.” (Ingrid)
“I understand, but are we really going right now?” (Soma)
“Aah. I can’t do it immediately because I have to prepare the horse, but we will leave as soon as possible.” (Ingrid)
“That reminds me, we require a horse… Eleonora?” (Hildegard)
“Yes, I’ll prepare for you too.” (Eleonora)
“Again, thank you very much.” (Ingrid)
“If anything, I feel like this is a scene where we should say thank you.” (Soma)
“No, it is I who should say so since we’re doing this due to my reason. Anyhow, I will make preparation for the future, so I ask you both to do the same. I would like to meet at the east gate of the city as soon as I’m ready. Will that be alright?” (Ingrid)
“Sure, no problem.” (Soma)
“Alright.” (Hildegard)
“Well then.” (Ingrid)
As soon as Ingrid said that, she went out in a hurry at a speed that wouldn’t be rude in the room. Soma and Hildegard tried to leave the room after that, but they were stopped.
“Please wait a moment. I think it should be alright, but I’ll give this to Soma just in case.” (Eleonora)
“Hmm? This is… a magic tool?” (Soma)
It was a pure white sphere that was put out on the desk along with that words. It was about the size of a palm, and at first glance, it looked like gla.s.s, but apparently, it wasn’t.
“Yes. It’s a magic tool for location transfer. If you crush it, you can move to this place in an instant.” (Eleonora)
“Do you mean here?” (Soma)
At the moment, Soma and Hildegard were in Eleonora’s room, which was like an office. There might be a problem to transfer here directly since the place was half public half private place.
“I trust you, so it’s fine. Besides, I’m going to collect it when this is over. …If you don’t use it.” (Eleonora)
“Do you think we need to use it?” (Hildegard)
“There will be a half possibility. If anything, this is just for caution’s sake.” (Eleonora)
“It’s not for an emergency situation, but it’s for the case when this place is in crisis, isn’t it? For starters, how are you going to inform us?” (Hildegard)
“The method is secret, but let’s say that there is a way to do it. I think Ingrid will probably tell you at that time.” (Eleonora)
“Hmm, is that so? Aah, by the way, I remembered something. There’s one thing I want to ask.” (Soma)
“What is it?” (Eleonora)
“You trust Ingrid, right?” (Soma)
It was a question he had been feeling all the time today. However, the object of the question was Ingrid.
“Yes, of course. She works a bit too hard, but I think she’s a very reliable girl. Why did you ask that?” (Eleonora)
“Actually, Ingrid herself said that she was useless, and that’s why she was acting on her own rather than working in a pair.” (Soma)
“Did she say that? At least, I rely on her, and that’s why I allow her to act alone. That’s something I’ve told her before, and other people are convinced.” (Eleonora)
Eleonora, who said so, was tilting her head wonderingly. And Soma thought that would be the case. If he looked only at the facts, it was definitely true.
The same was true for her recommendation, and Soma had just seen the evidence of that. Although Soma and Hildegard were here, Ingrid was allowed to be here personally. When Ingrid said that she needed to meet Eleonora, her request was granted easily. She was a Paladin, so it was unlikely that she wasn’t properly trusted.
“I was a bit worried about that too. At first, I thought she wasn’t confident, but that’s not the case.” (Hildegard)
“…I think it’s impertinent to say that though.” (Eleonora)
“Well, we’ve been together for at least a day. So, I’m just concerned about her.” (Soma)
“…Thank you for that.” (Eleonora)
“Don’t mind it. It’s not a big deal. I’m purely concerned about her.” (Soma)
While shrugging, Soma whispered inwardly that there were other things that he was concerned about. Ingrid didn’t tell Eleonora about that dagger after all. Why didn’t she tell her that was the reason why she decided to return now?
And… Soma felt like she was familiar with that dagger. Not somewhere in reality, but… in a dream.
While wondering what Ingrid was doing, Soma stared at the door where she went out and squinted his eyes.