Proofreader: Me!
Frankly, I’ve been on edge despite the constant joy this saint’s been expressing. I kept catching glimpses of that figure from before we entered.
“Luke! Does this look good?” Uriel peeked out from the changing room, showing off the priestess robes. “It’s very pretty!”
“Indeed, it matches you perfectly,” I nodded, doing my best not to show my nerves.
“Hehehe!” She once again closed the curtains.
‘How much longer do I have to be here?’
I was destined to collapse from the pressure of keeping watch and allowing Uriel to be blissfully unaware. Watching her filled me with a form of vain envy.
I couldn't believe I had forgotten how some girls really… really loved choosing clothes. My sister was, unfortunately, one of those types, and would ask for my thoughts every time.
At the very least, I had experience in responding in a good way. Also, the employees of each store were very nice, unlike those devotees from outside. In a way, merchants aren’t exactly in the position of religious practices considering the pursuit of money.
“What about this one?” Uriel shyly popped her head out, as if it was somehow different from the previous ones.
Carefully, she released the curtains with a faint blush.
“Uh…” My mouth lingered in an open state.
The robes were on the revealing side, with her shoulders being revealed, and slits on the leg portions were present. Essentially, a lot more revealing.
I wanted to quit right now that was for sure.
I gulped internally. “You look more adult-like and exude a different kind of beauty, although I can’t say if it matches your personality.”
“O- okay,” She shied away into the curtains.
No but seriously, who put her up to this? Rodney would probably murder me if he found out, and I don’t want to involve myself with Uriel in a way like that.
'Not yet at the very least.'
“I think the first option from when we entered was the best, it does its job while also looking the cutest,” I offered from the front of the curtains.
I wanted to get the process over and done with, and I wasn’t wrong either. The robes she wore when we first entered like half an hour ago covered the bases, and the frills and details on it aimed to accentuate a cute exterior… or something to that effect.
“Th- then I’ll go with that one,” Her voice trembled.
After hearing the cluttering of clothes racks, I felt the movements of the stalker tailing us.
I stood up from the bench which started to ache, “We can go now right?”
“Coming!” Uriel called out, stumbling out from the changing room.
But by then, I already left the establishment. My focus was directed toward searching. I scanned for any platforms that could act as viewpoints. However, I made sure not to make it obvious. In the current situation, the EienPlex was jam-packed with customers.
Unfortunately, I hadn't realised such a fact when the entrance was empty. Instead, it was rather that the interior was so large, that no normal amount of people could fill it up. Thanks to that, it was practically impossible to find a singular person in a crowd of blurring heads.
“-- uke! LUKE!”
“Sorry, the –”
“Why would you leave me in there by myself!” My vision turned blurry as Uriel shook me, “That place is a maze! It’s super embarrassing to ask for help, you know!”
“Under- understood…” Only after I admitted my supposed mistake was I let go.
“Hmph.” The corners of her eyes were red.
Uriel stomped off into the crowd, just to meekly return after remembering her social anxiety. I refrained from face-palming, deciding to distract her from my slip-up.
I raised a question, “You said you needed an alchemy set?”
She nodded frantically, her head facing the floor as she did. It was the perfect window to go for a killing strike...
Whoosh!
Behind her, a shadow flickered into existence. Its arm flicked up in a flash, testing my reaction time. The hand released a silver needle, with a subtle clear liquid coating it. My only clear action was to sacrifice our footing.
“Eh- wa wait!” Uriel tried to resist.
Uriel laid flat on the floor, while a needle pierced my arm.
“Are you okay?” I looked down at her.
Rather than answering, her gaze centred on my limp arm.
“I- I’ll heal you!” Uriel kneeled to start the prayer.
At the same time, guards surrounded me.
“What are you doing to the future Saintess!” Ellen shouted with anger.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I put up one arm as my other one was currently turning purple.
“I knew you were scum the moment you entered the capital!” Another guard exclaimed.
I stood with resignation. My left arm was a sick purple, spreading extremely quickly.
“Do me a favour and look at her,” I spoke with a dead tone.
“Heh- you can’t use her as a hostage here!” Guard C yelled.
Smack!
Ellen’s hand reacted before I could retort.
“Unfortunately, she’s healing him,” Ellen sighed. “Everyone, Umbrella Formation, it’s an assassination attempt.”
‘At least one of them is sensible.’
After they moved in unison, she approached us with a visible frown. “Do you have any idea who caused it?”
“Yeah, they’re in front of Guard C- I mean the guard behind you.”
“Huh?” She scrunched her eyebrows. “Are you-”
Ellen collapsed, as my view turned black. The pain was further amplified as my remaining arm had been pierced.
“Crazy!” She finished her sentence.
“Call me whatever you want when I come out alive!” I spat at her.
“Gurgh… alright,” She grumbled but had to acknowledge my words.
“Senior Ellen! Even after that assault, we can’t see where they are coming from!” Guard C panicked holding a random shield he picked up.
Her grimace intensified, “Tch– one of you has access to an emergency magic barrier, use it now.”
A solidified wall of mana rose from the ground around us, forming a semisphere. At the same time, Uriel’s prayer had ended.
“High Cure!” She chanted the final spell.
“Whew, that’s nice,” I managed to wriggle my fingers. “Feels great to have working limbs.”
I regained my position to look up, as there would be no reason to leave yet. They knew they had the upper hand, even if I could prevent their attempts. Despite knowing that, I could not do anything without risking death.
Ellen confronted me, “Stop dawdling and explain to us what’s happening.”
I looked at her blankly, slightly disappointed she couldn’t figure it out herself.
“We’re being raw dogged.”
Slap!
“Wh- what!?” Ellen retorted without hesitation.
I rubbed my face, “Sorry... I meant assassinated.”
Whatever the reason, what came out of my mouth was a familiar trash talk that I used in PvP. In addition, Uriel watched on in astonishment unable to process the sudden smack.
I further elaborated, “We were being watched the moment we entered the capital, although I thought I was imagining things at first.”
“It didn’t come to your mind, that the Saintess is a very high profile figure?!” Ellen raised her voice even higher.
I nodded, “You make a good point.”
“Don’t make me slap you again,” She threatened.
I raised my hands in surrender.
“Think about it from my perspective, we’re in the capital of the Order of Unity, you expect me to think assassins are common?” I questioned her line of thinking.
She grit her teeth, acknowledging my also sound logic.
“You two cut it out!” Uriel equally smacked both of us. “We have to get out of here first.”
That would normally be a good idea, but because I knew it was just one person, it wasn't worth it.
I renounced her idea, “I believe we should take them out and find out who’s behind them.”
“You’re right no matter how much I hate it,” Ellen agreed. “There’s enough of us guards for it not to be a big risk.”
“B- but…” She glanced at my two arms.
I raised them again, “You can always heal us, don’t worry.”
Uriel gazed at the both of us in turns with a disapproving expression. "I don't want the two of you two get hurt, just do that for me."
"That's easy," I bloated my ego.
“So, where are they now?” Ellen grabbed my attention.
“Probably because they failed twice, they are refraining from approaching for now,” I shook my head with regret. “Have an idea?”
Ellen glanced between me and Uriel, “I’m… not sure.”
I thought between both instances, the first aimed at Uriel, and the next at her. If it were someone who hated me, particularly Luna… then it’s unlikely she’s in charge. Which meant, this could only be part of Uriel’s unique story route. However, the princess wasn't stupid enough to go after a Saintess in broad daylight when this region is especially unforgiving even when compared to the elves.
‘Tch, was I already reaching the limits of my game knowledge?’
I clenched my fists.
If I were to think logically, every game with a holy nation has some kind of opposing cult or corruption within it.
I lifted my head from the floor, “Ellen, have there been any complaints about Uriel’s sudden rise to the number one spot as a potential saint candidate?”
A flash of intelligence brushes past her eyes, “Yes, two of the four cardinals have been expressing some discontent… but to go as far as hiring assassins? I doubt it.”
“Are you positive they wouldn’t?” I pushed for proper confirmation.
“Hmm… while Cardinal Alissa has been free of any controversy, I can’t say the same for Cardinal Pewter.” Ellen, after saying so, looked at me puzzled. “What does that have to do with approaching this situation?”
I smirked, as a sense of absolute confidence surged within me. Whether the idea was a stupid risk or not, I wanted to try it anyway. I leaned forward, shifting my weight onto my right leg. With one motion my body leapt into the air through the application of a twofold enhancement into strength.
"You just promised not to hurt yourself!" My ears picked up the Saintess' complaints.
The sudden action of escaping safety startled the assassin, but they quickly recovered. This shadow bared their fangs, displaying ten needles placed in between their fingers. In response, I created thirty magic missiles. I reacted in kind, and a slight thought flashed in my mind.
‘I need some new spells…’ I thought as blurs of shade were launched in my direction.
Their throws were filled with unfounded speed, but these missiles were designed to never miss. Three orbs targeted each needle, as I doubled my agility through stacking my enhancement twice.
“Get over ‘ere!” I shouted a certain yellow and black dressed shinobi's line.
I ran up the walls, predicting they would be disorientated after missing their entire arsenal. Just as expected, they were slow to react. I leapt toward the platform where the assassin was positioned.
“Got ya!” I wrestled with the black-coated figure, utilising the Jiu-Jitsu I learnt when I was younger.
“Now, tell me… does the person Cardinal Pewter ring any bells?” I smiled firmly at my belief.
The expression on their face scrunched, “What?”
“Huh?” I equally let out a confused expression.
‘Was I wrong?’
“Luke! I told you to stop doing crazy stuff without saying anything!” Uriel yelled from below.
Seriously though, did I just overcook? No, I could never be wrong!
“You petty bastard, tell me everything you know!” I pushed down on his arm located behind his back.
“Arggghh!” Their screams of agony reached the customers below us.
This isn't because I’m mad, not at all…