Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death

translator: mii

editor: sleepchaser, ASplashofMusic

“Lian-sama, did you come here to pray? Or do you have business with Marie-sama?” Efa asks me.

This brings me out of my thoughts. I look up at her again. “Ah, right…” I say. “That’s right. I intend to do that later too, but… Is Schwede-sama available right now?”

I do want to talk to Marie, but before that, I want to talk to that knight first. He’s the main reason for my visit here.

“Schwede-sama? Yes, he’s here. He told me he wanted to look around the church, so I believe he should be somewhere inside… I’ll call him for you! Lian-sama, please warm yourself near the fireplace inside first while I go look for him! I won’t take long!”

“Ah, wait a minute, I can go lo…”

But right after Efa finishes speaking, Efa swiftly dashes into the church without listening to what I have to say first.

…And with the broom and the dustpan filled with dead leaves still in her hands.

As Efa cheerfully runs off, the leaves we picked up scatter all over the ground again. Her clumsy and amusing figure running into the distance is quite the funny sight. Unconsciously, I let out a chuckle.

Now that she left, I am once again surrounded by silence. I let out a sigh.

Ah, she’s really a good girl. Even though she’s a bit imprudent, she’s energetic and kind. Because of her honest personality, her thoughts are always clearly evident on her face, which only adds to her charm. She also laughs a lot.

…She’s such a cheerful and positive girl. But before the Fortuna Church took her in, she suffered a difficult life where she couldn’t even be sure whether she could fill her belly the next day. I know that.

And more or less, she’s experienced prejudice and received criticisms due to her unique appearance. Unfortunately… discrimination is also a problem in this world.

It’s really amazing how she can still face the world with a straight back and laugh like that after experiencing such hardship in the past. That’s why I think she’s really strong. In spite of how hard life has been to her, she can still get back on her feet and walk forward. She’s still young, and yet she already has such a strong will.

…Stronger than me, who is very timid, cowardly, and dishonest. I’m the exact opposite of her.

I heave another small sigh as I watch the girl’s figure fade in the distance.

The stained glass windows on the wall behind the statue of the goddess in front of the worship place shines a variety of colors into the room, filling the room with a soft light.

I sit on the bench on the third row from the front, admiring the beautiful rays of light of varying colors.

“Lian-dono,” someone calls out. It’s a calm and quiet male voice.

When I turn toward the direction of the voice, I see the knight with long dawn-colored hair leisurely walking from the passageway next to the worship place. He’s not wearing any armor today. He only has his sword on his waist.

Noticing my gaze, the knight raises his hand lightly and flashes a smile.

Since it will be rude to greet him while seated, I immediately stand up, turn around, and lightly bow. “Schwede-sama…”

The knight squints his dawn-colored eyes and laughs, his shoulders shaking. He then says, “Please don’t address me so formally, Lian-dono. Feel free to call me ‘Schwede.’”

“No, I can’t do that…”

There’s no way I can do that. Even I know that.

He’s one of the personal knights of the archbishop, who is the head of Fortuna’s Church.

Always seen by the archbishop’s side and guarding him are two knights, viewed as a pair of bright jewels. Seated at the top of the Knights’ Templar, they are called the “Knight of the Sword” and the “Knight of the Shield.”

Schwede Scherzer is revered as the strongest within the Knights’ Templar, which only listens to the archbishop’s orders. He is also one of the two matchless knights, the “Knight of the Sword.”

There’s no way I can easily call such a person by their first name. If someone who recognizes his capabilities ever hears me call him by his first name, they will definitely scold me, saying, “How rude!”

However, the knight only lowers his eyebrows in regret and shakes his head. Then he makes an exaggerated shrug. “I see. Then I won’t force you. But it’s really alright. I’m just one of the lower-ranked knights in the Knights’ Templar,” he says, tilting his head comically and smiling. Despite the lies leaving his mouth.

Why is he lying? I don’t understand.

Is it because it’s troublesome to explain his status to others? But… he doesn’t look annoyed. Then what other reason can he possibly have to lie to me? Is it because he doesn’t want me to know his real identity? But why?

…I don’t understand.

In any case, the one thing I’m sure of right now is that he’s not just a “lower-ranked knight in the Knights’ Templar.”

On the contrary, even the leader of the Knights’ Templar is his subordinate.

Just what is he planning?

My mind goes into overdrive, unable to put the pieces together. I have no clue how I should respond, so I stay silent…

As he watches me in my confused state, the knight narrows his eyes in interest. At the same time, the corners of his mouth rise. “Hmm. Do you know who I actually am?”

“What…” I ask, surprised.

Can I answer this? Will he trust me if I do so?

“…Aren’t you the ‘Knight of the Sword’ who guards the archbishop of Fortuna Church?”

The knight smiles happily. “So you know? Yet we just met for the first time yesterday. It seems the oracle is true… Or is it?”

Oracle? What oracle? Whose oracle?

Ahhh, just what is going on here?!

“What do you mean?”

I don’t know what he’s thinking. Not even an inkling of his true intentions or goals. And because I don’t know anything about what’s happening right now, my mind’s in a mess. I can’t manage to calm myself.

In contrast, my question makes Schwede burst into laughter once again. He sure laughs a lot.

Speaking of which, I recall something all of a sudden. The Schwede I know is an emotionally distant knight, always wearing a smile as a mask when interacting with others.

Right. He has a lot of secrets, so he uses his smile and his words to make sure they stay as secrets.

In short, I have to be careful with this man. I take note of this in my mind, making sure that he doesn’t notice my newfound cautiousness.

Though, I don’t really think I have to be so vigilant toward him since he’ll be Alfred’s comrade in the future.

The knight approaches me until he stands right in front of me. After that, he expresses greetings. I reciprocate with a similarly bland greeting.

“Lian-dono, I have some questions I want to ask you. Is that fine?”

I wonder what they are. I have a lot of questions for him too, but…

“Yes, that’s fine. What is it?”

“The Goddess of Genesis. Also known as the Goddess of the Beginning and the Mother God of all living things. Do you know Her holy name?”

“Goddess of Genesis…?”

Genesis? This should be the person who created this world.

Soon after I begin pondering over the meaning of his words, the small and white mini-goddess flying with her small wings in energy-saving mode comes to my mind. The goddess with her fluffy and carefree figure…

“Umm… You’re not talking about the goddess of the thirteen pillars, are you?”

The knight smiles and nods. “Yes, that’s who I am talking about.”

Then he must be talking about that white goddess.

What’s her name again? When we first met, she definitely introduced herself to me using her real name. If I remember correctly, it was…

“…Crouture.”