The Fortune-Teller Saintess - Chapter 53

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Fortune Teller Saint

 

Chapter 53

 

Without realizing it, I dropped the jewel—no, the heart.

 

But the heart didn’t roll around on the ground. Thanks to Nein floating it with magic before it could hit the floor.

 

“What were you going to do if it broke when you dropped it?”

 

“But it’s a heart! It’s disgusting!”

 

As I ran around dodging the flying heart, Nein chuckled.

 

“To be precise, it’s a core that was inside a high-level monster’s heart. This thing’s expensive.”

 

“Expensive?”

 

Without realizing it, I stopped walking and stared at the heart.

 

Nein looked at me like that and grinned.

 

“What? Now you feel like accepting it?”

 

“…Let me take a look first.”

 

Despite making a reluctant face, I accepted the monster core that Nein handed me.

 

‘No wonder it looked pretty—it’s because it’s expensive.’

 

As I was mentally calculating how much this core might be worth, a question suddenly occurred to me.

 

“But why are you giving this to me?”

 

“It was a hunting competition. I caught the owner of that core.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Don’t you know the hunting competition rules?”

 

Nein asked, furrowing his brow.

 

‘Hunting competition rules? Of course I know them.’

 

If the hunting competition had proceeded as planned, the person who caught the largest and most dangerous prey over three days would have won.

 

And the participants, including the winner, would offer their prey to their lady… Wait?

 

‘No way?’

 

I blinked and stared up at Nein blankly.

 

“Are you saying I’m your woman or something?”

 

“It’s not entirely wrong, is it?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“The Holy Lady is my playmate.”

 

Nein suddenly thrust his face forward and smiled.

 

I froze involuntarily at that heart-stopping smile. What saved me was none other than Lucian.

 

Lucian pulled me back and glared at Nein.

 

“Please do not behave rudely toward the Holy Lady.”

 

“Hah?”

 

‘Oh, here they go again.’

 

I made a fed-up face and quietly moved next to Kail. Then I watched the power struggle between the two men together with Kail.

 

“And strictly speaking, I also contributed to defeating that monster. So if you’re going to offer the core to the Holy Lady, please include my share as well.”

 

“Even giving you a hundred steps, let’s say we caught it together. I’m the one who secured the core, right?”

 

“Wow, that’s really childish.”

 

I muttered without realizing it.

 

Then Kail, who had been chewing on dried squid beside me, added his comment.

 

“It’s fascinating, really.”

 

“What is?”

 

“Both the Tower Master and that Holy Knight Captain—when it comes to anything related to the Holy Lady, they turn into children.”

 

“Isn’t Nein like that at the Mage Tower?”

 

“Absolutely not. At the Mage Tower, he’s just a crazy bastard… Aaah!”

 

“What did you say?”

 

Having heard our quiet conversation, Nein hung Kail upside down.

 

I calmed Nein down and moved the sniffling Kail away. Then I took out a handkerchief from my bosom and held it out to Nein.

 

“Here, take this.”

 

“A handkerchief?”

 

“Originally, the lady who receives prey gives the man a ribbon she embroidered herself. Since I don’t have a ribbon, I’ll give you this instead.”

 

Nein stared intently at the handkerchief I gave him, then frowned.

 

“It has the Temple emblem on it, so I don’t really like it.”

 

“Then give it back. I’ll give it to Count Lucian.”

 

“Hearing you say that makes me not want to return it.”

 

Nein raised one corner of his mouth in a smirk and waved the handkerchief toward Lucian.

 

Seeing this, Lucian narrowed his brow with an uncomfortable expression.

 

‘I should give Count Lucian a gift later too.’

 

Sighing inwardly, I changed my expression and spoke to Nein.

 

“More importantly, Nein, we have something to discuss.”

 

“What?”

 

“Don’t play dumb. You’ve been secretly investigating something lately.”

 

The mischievous smile disappeared from Nein’s face. Kail and Lucian glanced at me cautiously upon seeing this.

 

I didn’t back down and straightened my back resolutely, looking directly up at Nein.

 

“I might not have known if I’d continued being unaware, but now that I know, you need to share it with me too.”

 

“…Hah.”

 

Nein swept his bangs back.

 

Below his fully exposed forehead, his purple eyes avoided mine, darting around until they met Lucian’s and stopped abruptly.

 

Seeing him, I spoke to Nein reassuringly.

 

“Don’t worry. Count Lucian isn’t someone who would go around talking about it.”

 

“Why are you speaking for him, Holy Lady?”

 

Frowning and grumbling, Nein eventually raised both hands in surrender.

 

“Fine. I’ll tell you. I’ve been chasing after some guys lately.”

 

“Who are they? Are they people connected to the previous drug incident?”

 

When I asked back, Nein glanced sharply at Kail once. Kail avoided his gaze and pretended not to notice.

 

Taking his gaze off Kail, Nein answered with a sigh-mixed voice.

 

“That’s right. They’re the masterminds who used the former Duke Berno to put the Mage Tower in danger.”

 

“…So the former Duke Berno wasn’t the culprit of that drug incident?”

 

“He was the one who smuggled the drugs, that’s correct. But the ones behind it who targeted the Mage Tower using that as leverage are different people. The former Duke Berno had no connection to the Mage Tower, so there was no reason for him to scheme such a thing.”

 

“Who the hell are these guys?”

 

At my question, Nein shrugged.

 

“I don’t know either.”

 

“What?”

 

“I said I don’t know either. That’s why I’m going around investigating. This is the first time those guys have shown their tails anyway.”

 

“This time… you mean those attackers we met in the Hunting Competition Forest?”

 

Nein nodded.

 

I let out a hollow laugh, then hardened my expression and asked Nein.

 

“Now I understand what happened. So you’ve been looking for the real culprits who put the Mage Tower in danger.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“But why didn’t you tell me?”

 

Honestly, I felt hurt.

 

The friendship we’d built up over time… well, there wasn’t any, and trust… that didn’t exist either, but still, we had a connection from being together!

 

When I questioned him, Nein stared at me intently, then tilted his head sideways.

 

“Why should I tell the Holy Lady about that?”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s related to the Mage Tower, so it’s my business. It has nothing to do with the Holy Lady, right?”

 

My mind went blank as if I’d been hit on the back of the head.

 

I moved my lips hesitantly, then opened my eyes wide and said.

 

“Not anymore. Those bastards were targeting me.”

 

“Didn’t you say they were targeting the Crown Prince, not the Holy Lady?”

 

“…I was there too, so either way, it’s not safe!”

 

She shouted angrily and slammed the cabin door open.

 

Just before stepping outside, she whirled around to look at Nein and said,

 

“If you don’t want to investigate with me, fine. But don’t you dare complain later!”

 

“Do as you please.”

 

“Hmph!”

 

I stormed out of the cabin without even saying goodbye.

 

Lucian followed behind me and asked carefully,

 

“Holy Lady, are you alright?”

 

“…To be honest, I’m not alright.”

 

At Lucian’s gentle question, my emotions finally burst out honestly.

 

“I thought we were at least on good enough terms to help each other. I guess I was the only one who considered Nein a friend.”

 

“…”

 

Lucian didn’t respond. I didn’t continue the conversation either and tried to head back to the village.

 

Then Lucian’s voice pierced through my ears.

 

“I’m different.”

 

“Count Lucian?”

 

“Yes. I will always be by your side, Holy Lady.”

 

After giving that firm answer, Lucian hesitated for a moment before adding in a small voice,

 

“Because we’re…friends.”

 

My eyes widened as I suddenly felt my heart grow warm.

 

“…Thank you, Count Lucian.”

 

When I showed a faint smile, Lucian likewise lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.

 

‘Right. I have so many people on my side, so what’s the big deal.’

 

Since it’s come to this, I’ll find those bastards with my own power and crush Nein’s pride!

 

I snorted while imagining Nein groveling apologetically.

 

‘Ah.’

 

Nein frowned as he kept his gaze fixed on Ellia walking away.

 

‘How annoying.’

 

He had his own reasons for pushing Ellia away, but it only brought unpleasant feelings instead.

 

‘No, that’s not it.’

 

More precisely, he was annoyed because of the holy knight next to Ellia.

 

Watching the two of them giggling together as if they were having such a great time made it even worse.

 

He couldn’t understand it. What was it about those two being together that made his heart feel so restless?

 

Was it because Ellia was his playmate?

 

After pondering, Nein shook his head. That wasn’t the reason.

 

Then why exactly?

 

“Tower Master, are you sure you’re alright?”

 

“…About what.”

 

Kail glanced at Ellia disappearing beyond the cabin and spoke to Nein as if trying to persuade him.

 

“Why don’t you just be honest? Say that you didn’t want to drag the Holy Lady into dangerous business.”

 

“That’s not the reason.”

 

“Yeah right. …Ugh!”

 

Kail, who found himself hanging upside down again, let out a scream.

 

While Kail flailed in midair, Nein muttered in a small voice,

 

“I just…”

 

“What? What did you say?”

 

“Never mind.”

 

Nein spoke curtly and disappeared from that spot.

 

Left alone, Kail stared blankly at where he had been standing just moments ago, then shouted with a pale face,

 

“Hey, Tower Master! If you just leave me like this… Come on, you’re joking, right? Tower Master? Tower Master! …Hey, you crazy bastard!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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