Chapter 38 – Practice
Is it because June is standing with her back to Robin? Or is it because Jun’s eyes are cold when he looks at her?
Crack! Ride
Leonard, who was slowly walking towards the cabin, shuffling his feet, saw Jun and jumped in front of him.
Drop
Leonard stopped at a subtle distance.
He opened his mouth to say hello, but he couldn’t get the words out.
On his behalf, Jun greeted him first.
“Hello, Father Leonard.”
“… Okay.”
Is it because you don’t call me boss like usual? Leonard had a very sad expression.
To Jun, that expression didn’t seem particularly fake.
Could a person who was so hurt by the cold treatment of a mere orphan act with such cruel intentions?
He whispered that it wasn’t Jun’s feelings, but his reason was that he couldn’t be sure.
Unlike Robin, whose safety was at risk due to this incident, Leonard said that nothing was in danger.
So he decided to just ask directly.
Of course, he couldn’t blindly believe what he said, so he focused his radar (observation through space) on him to the limit.
If you lie, something will come out.
“Father, before we talk, let me ask you a question. “Is it true that you only recently realized that I was in danger?”
“… I’m sorry.”
“If you are truly sorry, please tell me the truth, not an apology.”
Leonard hesitated to answer, perhaps because he thought it was shameless, and only after Fortuna got irritated did he say ‘yes’.
There was no sign of the heart rate speeding up.
Even if I wasn’t sure, I thought it would be okay to have some faith. Even Leonard wouldn’t be able to control his heart rate.
That’s how he found out that Leonard had no intention, but Jun’s gaze towards him was still cold.
June hasn’t asked him what’s really important yet.
“Let me ask you one more question. This may be a difficult question to answer, but please answer honestly.”
“… Sure.”
“Why were you appointed as a priest of the church? “Didn’t you know that you shouldn’t do that?”
This is a question I have been wondering since I heard that Leon is a direct descendant of the imperial family.
Until then, I didn’t really have that question.
All orphanages existing in Remumuni’s dependent villages, including Primuni, are directly affiliated with the Remumuni Council.
Most of the children entrusted were either the children of adventurers who died while working in the labyrinth or children with special abilities that made them likely to become adventurers.
Welfare and the future.
For those two aspects, Congress lavished support and attention on orphanages.
Frank, the twins, and the mercenaries who actually tried to kill June were ordered exterminated by the council, and the fat man who gave the order, his family, and the merchant who helped were permanently expelled from Lemumuni.
It was not a very satisfactory treatment for Jun, who could have died if something went wrong, but in other areas, it was surprising that it was too much.
Because of this, Jun once again wondered why the merchant helped them.
Anyway, by being registered as an orphan at the orphanage, Leon became untouchable by most forces, and Leonard was able to naturally protect Leon as the director of the orphanage.
If Leon was simply a relative of the royal family with a long history, he would have made the same choice as Leonard.
But…
‘Not when you are a direct relative. ‘Children are in danger.’
The culprit who tried to kill the direct descendant of the royal family was most likely a direct descendant of the same imperial family, a maternal relative, or a power below them.
No matter how much Congress did, such people and forces could not easily retaliate.
Of course, it would be possible if there was solid evidence, but unless they were fools, they would target Leon under the surface so as not to leave any evidence, and in the process, the children at the orphanage would die.
Just because I was in the same orphanage as Leon.
No matter how helpful he may be in protecting Leon, if he had a conscience, Leonard should not have been appointed as a priest at the church.
To put it bluntly,
“Leon and the priest should have stayed hidden in the mountains instead of coming out into the world. Even if they were unlucky enough to be discovered and face death, only two people would have struggled, and only two would have died.”
“June! That’s it!”
“Don’t touch us! “There’s nothing wrong with that!”
Robin is so angry at the cold and direct expression that he rushes at Jun.
Just before his hand reached Jun, Fortuna, who transformed into human mode, quickly blocked him.
Robin took a step back due to the immense intimidation radiated by Fortuna in human mode, but did not stop glaring at Jun.
Jun asked, looking at him with cold eyes without any change in expression.
“Uncle Robin, do you think what I’m saying is too harsh?”
“Whew~. I apologize for rushing in suddenly. But, yeah. I think what you said was too harsh. “Isn’t struggling to survive a sin?”
“If that struggle to survive was simply the best way to survive, I wouldn’t have said this.”
Robin looked puzzled at Jun’s words, and Leonard’s body trembled as if he had hit the nail on the head.
“There are many places better than here where the power of the immediate and maternal relatives of the Britia royal family does not reach. If I just go to another empire, I could live my whole life without worrying about being assassinated. Since the priest is with me, I won’t have to worry about being ostracized.”
Brightism is the only religion in this world, Lumen.
Although other empires are not as enthusiastic about the Bright Church as the Britia Empire, they never neglect a religious person like Leonard.
If they had the will, Leonard and Leon could have lived comfortably in another empire.
But the fact that these two people are here…
“It means there was no will to do that from the beginning. What could be the reason for that? It must be because of greed. Greed for the throne. “If you go into exile in another country, you will be permanently deprived of your right to succession.”
“That… Can’t be possible.”
Even though they had investigated who Leon was, Robin had a shocked expression on his face, as if they hadn’t tried to reason why he and Leonard were staying here.
Jun felt sorry for him and seemed a little pathetic, but rather than lowering his favorability towards him, on the contrary, it increased.
Isn’t that trying to repay a favor without even asking?
Still, this is a serious problem, so let’s point it out later.
Jun made up his mind and continued his story.
“If Leon knows about his lineage, it means he is also greedy for the throne. Even if it is for ambition or revenge, it is still the same.”
Leonard opened his mouth to defend Leon, but closed his mouth again when Jun quickly added the last words.
Jun looked at him again and said the last thing he wanted to say.
“If you are greedy, at least you should not cause harm to those around you. Isn’t that right?”
At his question, Leonard’s already frustrated heart became even more frustrated.
So he took a deep breath and suddenly looked up at the sky.
The autumn sky was very high and clear.
As I looked up at the sky blankly, my thoughts began to gather, and a thought occurred to me.
For our friends, for our empire, for our world. No matter how nice it looks on the outside, the inside is made up of greed and stubbornness.
“Pooh~.”
After admitting that, a breath escaped from deep within his chest.
My stuffy heart felt a little more at ease.
“Yes, Jun, you are right. He should have just hidden in the mountains. He should not have fallen for the council’s coaxing.”
Until the end, Leonard did not say that he should have gone into exile in another country.
Well, it probably meant that there was that much of a story, so Jun didn’t bother to point it out.
By the way, did you encourage him to become a priest from the side?
Considering Leonard’s personality, I don’t think he would have wanted to become a priest in the first place.
Well, that’s that and this is this. I have to take full responsibility for what happened.
“I have regrets. Rather, what is more important is what to do from now on. What are you going to do from now on? “If I don’t like Thatcher, I’m really going to pack my bags and go to church.”
“I don’t know, the story progressed in such an unexpected way.”
Leonard smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Then, he soon put on a confident expression and narrowed the distance between him and the subtle Jun,
“But I see what I need to do first.”
After saying that, he knelt in front of him and placed his left hand, with the stigmata on it, on his forehead.
“I swear to the Supreme Father that I will protect Jun, Henny, and all the orphans of the church with my life. “If children lose their lives, please take away all the light directed at this lowly species.”
Faaah!
As if responding to Leonard’s oath, a brilliant light emanated from the stigmata and was absorbed by him.
Crash! I could vaguely hear the sound of chains.
‘Geas. Instead of gaining strength by swearing to God, it is a blessing and a curse that if you fail to keep that pledge, you will be cursed by God.’
As Jun was puzzled, Fortuna explained what was happening.
The moment Jun nodded, Leonard stood up.
Still holding his hand tightly.
“I swear to you too. I will give my life to protect you and the children. However, unfortunately, it seems that my strength alone will not be enough. “I don’t want to say this to you, who I’m supposed to protect, but I won’t give you your strength.”
“… I really don’t know what to say. If you want to protect it, you have to definitely protect it.”
“I’m sorry.”
In response to the sincere apology, Jun made a groaning sound and turned his head in the direction where the church was.
Many memories made there came to mind.
“… You can’t leave the church now, can you?”
“I made a promise to Congress. If we leave now, not only the enemies but also the Council will come after Leon. “I don’t want to increase the number of enemies here.”
“What about living in Lemumuni?”
“The Congress will certainly refuse, as they will not want to completely side with Leon’s enemies.”
“Then can I receive support?”
“Let’s try.”
All the answers were unsatisfactory.
So Jun sighed full of frustration,
“Keep this in mind. It’s not for the boss and Leon. “They are helping the other kids at church.”
In the end, he shook his hand.
Looking at him, Fortuna tilted her head and said.
“Tsundere?”
“No.”
