“...What did I just hear? Am I hearing things?”
Yeah, it must be. Otherwise, how could someone like the Sword Saint be spouting nonsense like asking for my father?
“Just to clear up any misunderstanding, this is not a joke. I am seriously seeking to meet Lord Benedict Arlen. That man’s... h-heh. Heh.”
I don’t know what kind of thoughts went through the Sword Saint’s mind, but his smile was so loose it reminded me of a foolish fox.
“...Disgusting.”
Feeling a familiar sense of disgust at the Sword Saint's actions, I unconsciously took a step back. Then, I heard the sound of people collapsing one by one around me.
...Should I just run away now? Maybe just take the Sword Saint with me? But no, he’s part of the problem too.
There’s no solution. Is this how everyone in this world is, since the one who claims to be a god is just as useless?
I was about to deny reality, wishing I could change things, when the perverted apostle appeared right behind the Sword Saint.
The perverted apostle hurriedly ran toward me, locking eyes with me, then suddenly stopped and covered his nose with his hand.
Seeing blood trickling through his fingers, it was clear that he was bleeding from his nose.
Despite looking decent on the outside, he gave off the vibe of a sickly person. But in reality, he was a perverted loli-fetishist. Truly horrifying. He needed to be handcuffed and thrown into prison as soon as possible.
“...I apologize. Lady Arlen. You seem even more beautiful than before, I was so stunned by your movements I nearly fainted.”
“Why didn’t you just lose consciousness and fall flat on your face? Hitting your head on the ground and dying would have been more helpful to the world.”
“Haha. That would not do. I still have the mission to spread the word of your beauty to the world.”
“I really wish you'd just die sooner.”
Despite my harsh words, the perverted apostle maintained his sickening grin.
This is such a mess. What do I have to do to make this guy experience what I’ve gone through? He’s the kind of person who laughs off insults to the Goddess, thinking it’s fine because he’s one of those twisted apostle types.
“Why are you here then? If you’re here because of what we talked about before, you should know that preparations aren’t finished yet.”
“Don’t worry. I have no interest in someone like you, disgusting pervert.”
“Well then...”
“I’m here to find this orc woman.”
The Sword Saint flinched at the mention of "orc woman."
“Um, Lady Arlen, I don’t think I’m the kind of person to be called an orc woman.”
His tone sounded defensive, but looking at her, the woman in question wasn’t bad-looking by any means. She was one of the strongest NPCs in the game, and she even had a personal storyline, so there was no way she could look grotesque.
“I’m not talking about your appearance. It’s the orc inside of you. A monster who doesn’t belong in human society.”
“...Uh.”
“Seeing you get defensive as soon as I mention it makes me think I’ve hit a nerve. Heh. If you’re going to use your head as decoration, at least put something pretty on it. Why use something you picked up from the trash?”
With each word I said, the Sword Saint’s face turned progressively redder, as though my provocations were landing perfectly.
I shouldn’t be doing this. I need to seek cooperation from the Sword Saint, so I shouldn’t make her angry.
But strangely, every time I spoke, I couldn't help but want to jab at her more with my words.
“Well, I’m glad you followed me. It would have been a disaster if I had gone ahead alone.”
As I was wondering where to push next, a voice suddenly came from behind.
Karia, who had appeared suddenly, rushed between me and the Sword Saint, raising both of her hands.
“It’s been a while. Though, I guess you wouldn’t remember me. It’s been over ten years since we last saw each other?”
“No, I remember. Karia, you’re not someone I could easily forget.”
“Well, well, the little underling of the underworld is remembered by the Sword Saint. I’m honored.”
The Sword Saint looked distinctly uncomfortable with Karia’s presence.
I couldn’t understand why.
Karia, now having lost most of her old power, shouldn’t have been someone a Sword Saint would fear. But despite this, the Sword Saint stepped back as soon as she saw Karia’s smile.
“I heard you’ve been hiding for a long time, but I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”
“Don’t worry. I have no business with you, Sword Saint. I just followed you because I felt something might go wrong if you and your employer are left alone.”
Karia’s words were disconnected, but the Sword Saint didn't show confusion. Instead, she bit her lip.
“How did you read my mind? I tried to hide my intentions and actions completely.”
“Haha. I can’t tell you that. I don’t have the same strength or connections I used to, so I can’t reveal trade secrets, can I?”
“...”
“If I’m bothering you, just listen to your employer. It’ll be quicker for us to part ways that way.”
“Understood. I was hoping to talk to Lady Arlen as well, so I’ll gladly comply.”
As soon as the Sword Saint nodded, Karia turned her head slyly toward the perverted apostle. The perverted apostle, who had been staring at me blankly, noticed Karia’s signal and quickly opened his mouth.
“Shall I guide you to the reception room?”
The Sword Saint, Uden, sat down and faced the girl with her legs crossed in front of her.
The girl, who was glaring at Uden with her chin resting in her hand, was someone whose beauty would make anyone marvel.
Uden had thought, when she first saw the girl, that even the Apostle of the Art Guild could not capture her beauty perfectly.
But after the awe faded and she looked at the girl again, other things became visible.
The medals that could only be obtained by those who had devoted their entire lives to something.
It was almost unbelievable how beautiful she was, born under the monster’s shadow, yet bearing the talent that proved she was the monster’s daughter.
It made sense now, why that crazy Rasha had drooled, eagerly awaiting her growth.
Even Uden, if things were different, might have asked if she wanted to learn swordsmanship.
“Hey, Orc girl.”
...Yeah. If only that bastard’s tone wasn’t so annoying.
Uden frowned at the jabbing tone, but when she met Karia’s gaze, she suppressed her irritation.
“What is it?”
“Before we get to the point, let me ask you one thing. How does a dumb orc like you know our stupid papa?”
“How could I not know Lord Benedict Arlen, such an outstanding warrior?”
“Do you wear him like an accessory? Don’t you understand what I mean?”
At Lucy’s spiteful tone, Uden shut her mouth, and Karia couldn’t help but let out a playful laugh.
“Oh. I can explain that.”
“You? How?”
“Of course, I can. This is something I’m good at.”
“Karia, please stop. I’ll say it myself.”
It had been over ten years since Karia stopped her activities, but her creepy personality hadn’t changed at all.
This is why she was so bothersome. She always kept her own secrets, but would invade other people’s without hesitation.
Uden let out a deep sigh, leaning her head back and looking at the ceiling.
“Lady Arlen, to be clear from the start, my relationship with Lord Benedict Arlen is more of a one-sided admiration.”
Uden hadn’t always been a Sword Saint.
If anything, in the past, she was far from the position of Sword Saint. She had no proper teacher and had been carving her own path in swordsmanship based only on her talent. How could someone like her ever become a Sword Saint?
It was true that Uden was born with extraordinary talent, but she couldn’t just bypass the history of swordsmanship and move forward on her own. Uden didn’t even seek more than that, so originally, she would have remained just a strong fighter.
The first turning point in Uden’s life came when she randomly encountered a monster.
Hired as a mercenary and standing on the battlefield, she saw a humanoid monster rampaging in the distance.
The monster’s sword was as big as an adult man, crude and rough.
To be honest, it was far from the direction Uden wanted to pursue in her swordsmanship.
Yet, Uden was overwhelmed by the monster’s sword.
Would I be able to withstand it if I stood in front of it? Could I catch its blade? Could I surpass it?
Her talent gave an immediate answer to her question.
Impossible.
As just a lowly mercenary, she couldn’t surpass that sword.
Experiencing the overwhelming power firsthand, she immediately started visiting various swordsmanship schools with the money she earned from mercenary work.
She kept practicing, learning more, and imagining the scene where she could stand before the monster’s sword and, eventually, defeat it.
That’s how Uden, now a Sword Saint, had come to be.
“So, now you can just go to stupid papa. A dumb orc like you may be doubted, but a Sword Saint like you would be welcome.”
Listening to the conversation, Lucy raised an eyebrow, and Uden’s lips quivered. The attitude she had seemed like she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
“Just in case, are you looking for excuses because you’re too shy to meet papa first? Heh. I can’t believe it. A brainless orc thinking like a little girl.”
“I’m just a little shy! He’s my idol! Lord Benedict!”
Uden, whose face turned bright red, yelled, and Lucy blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter.
Her laughter was genuine, and Lucy kicked her legs, teasing Uden.
Uden glared at her, but Lucy didn’t stop laughing.
After laughing for a long time, Lucy wiped away a tear and, still smiling, said:
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“I’ll say it upfront—don’t get your hopes up. Papa’s taste is nowhere near someone like you.”
“I know that, thank you for pointing it out.”
“Well, I won’t tell you to give up. I’d like to see you get betrayed and cry over it.”
“...I’ll remember your advice.”
“You don’t have to. You’ll forget about it after a day anyway.”
“My intelligence isn’t that low.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then I’ll give you a real piece of advice. Find a fool who’ll accept you, you pitiful orc. Someone who’s just as stupid and lacking in femininity as you. For example, a perverted professor.”
“Who is this perverted professor?”
At the sudden mention of the term from Lucy’s mouth, Uden raised an eyebrow, and Karia answered in place of Lucy.
“It’s a professor named Luca. You must know him, Sword Saint?”
“Are you talking about that Luca?”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
Karia nodded, and Uden chuckled.
“Ha. He’s having a tough time, huh? Having to teach these grotesque nobles. I’d never be able to do it.”
Uden’s tone was filled with affection for Luca.