“Hmph, Kent-san, this is a time of mental distress due to evacuation, and out of all times, you’re squeezing a woman’s breast who has health problems… What are you even doing in such an emergency?”
“Kya, Catherine, it’s, it’s a misunderstanding!”
“Mmm, you’re too close, both of you!”
Upon hearing this, Catherine turned bright red and pressed closer to Kent. Her face was right in front of him, and though she was young, being Marie’s biological daughter, seeing their somewhat similar faces made his heart skip a beat. Yuria, noticing this, immediately rushed over and pulled Kent and Catherine apart.
“Kent-san, you’re the worst.”
“Squeezing breasts? How outrageous, truly outrageous!”
Patty also directed a look of scorn towards Kent, and Gordon, standing beside him, spoke in a stern tone, but his face was bright red and he looked embarrassed.
“Patty-san, Gordon, please listen to me!”
Inside the Saintess’s office, the atmosphere was lively, quite unlike an emergency.
“Al, even if it’s the truth, Master is in trouble. I think there are better ways to say things? Everyone, please listen to Master’s story.”
Before the atmosphere in the room became tense, Emily spoke loudly, urging them to listen to Kent’s explanation, and the room fell silent.
“I got carried away by my emotions. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry for calling you the worst.”
“As expected of Kent. I believed in you.”
“I, I’m truly sorry!”
Thanks to Emily, Kent honestly explained what he had been trying to say indirectly. Upon learning the circumstances, Catherine, Patty, Gordon, and Yuria simultaneously apologized to Kent.
“By the way. Al, Emily.”
“Eek!”
With the misunderstanding cleared up, Kent called out to Al and Emily. Seeing his face, Al and Emily turned pale and started to tremble violently.
“I was wondering how you knew what I was about to say? It made me curious. You were secretly following me, weren’t you?”
“I, I’m terribly sorry, Master, but Al suggested following you.”
“Ah, trying to escape by yourself is unfair. Emily also said she’d be lonely without Master. That’s why I went with her.”
“Both of you, if you wanted to come along, you should have just said so instead of sneaking around.”
“Sorry.”
As Al and Emily bickered, Kent spoke to them kindly, and they meekly bowed their heads and apologized.
“Alright, this conversation is over!”
Kent felt relieved that the tense mood in the room had dissipated.
“By the way, Gordon, are you feeling better?”
“Ah, sorry for the worry. I’ve completely recovered now. And, sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
Gordon, who had passed out before Kent left the room, was now awake. Kent, though it was late, was concerned and called out to him. However, for some reason, Gordon apologized to Kent, leaving him bewildered. Gordon was concerned about the time he had accidentally touched Rachel’s breast, who was in the position of Kent’s sister, though it was unintentional, but it was not something he could discuss in front of everyone and he was troubled about how to bring it up.
“Well, well, such things don’t matter. I’d say, Lord Gordon, you worry too much about minor details.”
“Why are you consoling me?”
“Why indeed?”
Catherine, who had caused Gordon to collapse, replied with a somewhat mischievous smile, unfitting of a Saintess. Catherine had no intention of consoling Gordon, and her words carried a different meaning, but Gordon did not notice.
“I feel like Catherine’s pure heart is becoming corrupted.”
“Kent-san, did you say something?”
“N-nothing at all.”
Kent said this with concern for Catherine’s growth, but she looked at him with eyes like a snake watching a frog and was left speechless.
“Well, well, everyone. Let’s have some tea here and calm down.”
“Ah, that’s my job.”
Just as the conversation was heading in a strange direction, Emily had, without anyone noticing, prepared a tea set and was ready to serve tea. Although it was Yuria, the maid, who was supposed to be in charge of preparing tea, Emily had taken her job, and Yuria wore a bitter expression.
“Yuria-san, let’s prepare it together.”
“Y-yes!”
Seeing this, Emily said gently to Yuria, and Yuria’s face brightened, and she began to help Emily with her work.
“As expected of Emily, you’re so observant, just like a mother.”
“Hmph, it’s not just Emily, I can be considerate too!”
“Yes, yes, of course.”
As Kent was admiring Emily’s actions, Al protested beside him. Kent gently stroked her head as she puffed out her cheeks, trying to appease her.
“E-everyone, the tea is ready.”
While they were talking, the tea was prepared, and Yuria announced that everything was ready.
“We will be having tea.”
Including Emily and Yuria who had prepared it, everyone sat down in their available seats, and it was time for tea. Although it was an emergency, there was a common understanding that having such a time to calm their minds was necessary, and not a single person suggested it was inappropriate. Everyone held their cups and sipped their tea at their own pace.
“Still, these sweets are quite delicious. We don’t get to taste things like this often even in the castle.”
Gordon seemed to have taken a liking to the sweets served with the tea, eating them at a faster pace than the others. Incidentally, everyone except Al had eaten them before, so they weren’t as surprised as Gordon.
“Catherine secretly took these sweets out of the drawers of her official duties desk.”
“W-what did you say!”
When Emily revealed the origin of the sweets, Catherine exclaimed loudly.
“They were special sweets I received from Rachel… Sob sob.”
“Could it be, that these sweets were precious items?”
Yuria, who had occasionally had these sweets during her breaks from her duties as Saintess, regretted not realizing they were such valuable treats and eating them so readily.
“Yuria-san, don’t worry, they’re easy to come by.”
“That’s a relief. I’m reassured.”
“Catherine, I’ll prepare as many as you want next time, so cheer up.”
“Yes. You promised.”
These sweets were among the more expensive items that Kent could order from the terminal. He usually didn’t order them, but Rachel would secretly slip them into the store’s order forms, and they would eat them amongst friends. With Kent’s current financial situation, ordering such sweets would be a negligible amount, but based on his previous frugal habits, Kent himself hesitated to order them. However, seeing Catherine’s sad face, Kent couldn’t help but indulge her.
“In that case, please order some for me too. My mother also has a weakness for delicious food, so I’m sure she’ll be happy.”
“…”
Seeing Gordon speak excitedly, everyone remembered their current situation and fell silent.
“I see, that’s right.”
They had been talking and laughing in a cheerful and friendly atmosphere, almost forgetting their current predicament, but Gordon also realized it and fell silent.
“Master!”
“Everyone, take cover!”
After a brief silence, Al and Emily suddenly shouted loudly.
*Gogogogo, Bang!*
“Uwah!”
“Kyaa!”
“W-what was that!”
Immediately after they screamed, the outside of the window lit up fiercely, and with a thunderous roar, the building shook violently. Kent and the others could only cry out in surprise at the sudden event.
“W-what just happened?”
“Master, it was a malicious magic attack.”
When Kent asked Al and Emily, who seemed to understand the cause of the light and shaking, Emily answered within the scope of what she could reveal about the phenomenon.
“Damn it, how could I have not noticed until the attack happened? Attacking the Sanctuary where Master is, I can never forgive them.”
Al regretted not being able to detect the attack until the last moment.
“Please rest assured. This Sanctuary is protected by a magic barrier created with lost ancient technology. This barrier extends over the castle walls surrounding the Sanctuary to protect it, and it’s excellent at responding to both physical and magical attacks. I will activate the barrier immediately, so please follow Otsupain-san’s instructions afterward.”
Catherine announced that she was leaving to activate the magic barrier protecting the Sanctuary, which had been prepared in case of an emergency, and instructed everyone to follow the orders of the Holy Knight Captain, Otsupain.
“Kent-san, many individuals with great magic power are gathering at this Sanctuary. I cannot fight directly, but as Saintess, I have a duty to do my utmost to protect all those who have taken refuge in the Sanctuary. Many hardships may lie ahead. Thank you for treating me like family all this time. After this is resolved, please be even closer to me than before.”
“Ah.”
“Well then, I have some Saintess work to do.”
Catherine approached Kent and gently kissed him on the lips. Then, before Kent could react, she pulled away, opened the inner door, and went inside.
“Catherine!”
“From here on, no one but the Saintess is permitted to enter.”
Kent had a bad feeling and tried to chase after Catherine. However, Yuria stood in front of the door, blocking his path with her arms outstretched.
“You are not allowed. Ugh, Catherine! Aaaaah!”
Despite her firm demeanor, Yuria’s face gradually crumbled, and she sank to the ground, sobbing. Seeing her reaction, Kent could no longer think positively and could only imagine the worst.
“Master, please respect Catherine’s resolve.”
“Catherine.”
With Yuria saying that, Kent could do nothing but stand there, unable to move forward. At that moment, Emily approached him, hugged him, and whispered softly.
“Everyone, please look outside.”
“W-what is this!”
Patty noticed the anomaly outside and pointed towards the window, shouting loudly. Gordon, who was with her, also noticed the abnormality and was surprised.
“Master, it seems the magic barrier has been deployed. It’s completely blocking incoming attacks.”
“Catherine is working hard to protect the people in the Sanctuary, isn’t she?”
Kent looked out the window and saw that fire and water masses, as well as arrows, were flying towards the Sanctuary, but they were all being repelled by the walls surrounding it. Al explained that this was Catherine’s power. Seeing this, Kent understood that she was desperately trying to protect the refugees.
“I have a report. Enemy attack! The Sanctuary is under attack by an unknown group. Huh? Where did the Saintess go?”
At that moment, Otsupain entered without knocking, looking flustered. It was obvious she had rushed in, as her face was covered in sweat. Panting, she announced that the Sanctuary was under attack.
