Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 2.1

Counseling Day 1.

I headed to the opera house, the promised meeting place, with Wit who had transformed into the appearance of a young servant.

“State your identity.”

The opera staff looked suspiciously at me, wearing a brown hood and silver mask.

I slightly bowed my head and whispered softly so that only the staff could hear.

“Lucian Berto.”

“What?”

“Lucian…”

“That’s enough, get lost. This is not a place where beggars like you can freely enter.”

I thought he was asking again because he didn’t hear, but it seems he had no intention of listening in the first place.

What should I do? I need to get inside for the request.

“Kekeke. Stupid human. How dare you to the master…”

“And who are you?”

Wit bared his teeth at the staff’s gaze, which looked at us as if we were vagrants.

Sigh. Nothing is ever easy.

Just as I was about to open my mouth again after barely calming Wit down.

“So, I’m Marquis Berto’s…”

“Is this how you treat my guest?”

Someone put their arm on my shoulder, drawing the staff’s attention.

Soon, the staff’s eyes widened as he recognized the owner of the gentle voice.

“Ma-Marquis?!”

“What will become of my reputation if you act like this?”

“Th-that means… this person is… I’m sorry! I didn’t know they were your guest…”

Didn’t know I was a guest? I thought he had been informed in advance since I was just told to come.

In response to my questioning look, Lucian lowered his eyebrows as if he had forgotten something.

“Oh my. I’m so sorry. I completely forgot to give them a heads up.”

The problem was that despite his apologetic expression, his voice was full of amus*ment.

As if he had done it on purpose.

…Is this request really okay as it is?

“But even so, your attitude as an employee is too poor, isn’t it?”

“I deeply apologize! Please forgive me…”

“I wonder if employee education has gone awry while I wasn’t managing for a while. Or perhaps a spy trying to ruin my opera business has infiltrated. I really can’t tell.”

“S-spy?! That’s preposterous!”

The employee’s face turned pale as Lucian smiled and said the chilling words, wondering what punishment he should give.

We don’t have time for this.

I shook off Lucian’s hand that was still on my shoulder and said,

“Please guide us to our seats now.”

…What’s this?

Lucian was somehow staring blankly at his own hand.

But that was only for a moment. Clenching his fist and wearing his characteristic gentle smile, Lucian ordered the employee.

“Guide them to the 3rd floor balcony seats.”

“Y-yes! This way, please!”

The employee, now fully alert, nodded enthusiastically and guided me inside.

“Wow. It’s so spacious…”

Are all opera houses this big and grand?

I couldn’t tell as this was my first time in an opera house, including my past life.

“Y-you can watch comfortably from these seats. And please, put in a good word to Marquis Berto…”

“You may go now.”

I waved off the employee who kept bothering me and looked out over the railing.

The most elaborate section in the center front of the second floor.

Just then, a family was entering that area.

None other than the former Marquis and Marchioness Berto, and beside them, smiling brightly like a flower blooming on a spring day…

“Violet.”

It was the female protagonist.

Violet, whom I saw for the first time since my possession, was a beauty with a pure impression and slightly downturned eyes.

How should I put it? An impression that seems like she’d be easy to get along with?

Anyway, that was my first impression of Violet.

Yes. That’s why it was strange.

According to the novel, those who saw Violet, regardless of age or gender, couldn’t come to their senses due to her beauty.

But for me, it wasn’t to that extent?

Rather, when it came to beauty alone, I even thought Adriel was more beautiful.

“Kekekek. Master, are those humans the Bertos you mentioned?”

“That’s right.”

Not long after the former Marquis couple and Violet had taken their seats.

Lucian entered with leisurely steps and sat down next to Violet.

“No… I told him to take care of his sister.”

Ignoring Echo who had entered with him.

I was concerned about Echo, who was awkwardly looking at the backs of her family members, when suddenly.

“…?”

Lucian, who had been speaking to Violet with affectionate eyes, unexpectedly turned his head in my direction.

“He, he must be crazy…!”

And then he waved his hand at me as if he had met a welcome acquaintance.

Is he in his right mind? Has he forgotten what we came here to do?

The Marquis couple turned their heads curiously in my direction due to Lucian’s actions.

I quickly grabbed Wit by the scruff of his neck and retreated.

When some time had passed and the theater lights began to dim, I peeked out again.

Fortunately, they were focused on the stage where the curtain was rising, as if nothing had happened.

“…Haa.”

Is this request really okay?

“Holy Knight Calix. I swear to devote this body in loyalty to the Goddess.”

The curtain on the stage rose.

However, I was preoccupied with worrying whether Echo would be able to speak to the former Marquis couple.

She can’t just keep staying behind like that.

She needs to say at least one word so that the former Marquis couple will look at Echo, and only then can Wit confirm the choice window that will appear above the heads of the Marquis couple.

Perhaps sensing my desperate thoughts.

Echo, who had been shrinking back, gathered courage and hesitantly spoke to the Marchioness.

Finally, the Marchioness turned her head.

“Master, the Marchioness…”

I carefully wrote down what Wit was saying on the paper I had prepared in advance.

At least they’re not completely treating her like air.

I was worried about what if the former Marquis couple completely ignored Echo.

Echo also seemed happy with her mother’s attention to her words, even if her gaze was indifferent.

Judging by the shy smile that appeared on Echo’s face, who always acted like a frightened rabbit.

“Ah…”

“Too short, Master.”

However, that smile didn’t last long.

“Wicked demon! How dare you covet the Goddess’s place!”

At the climax of the play.

Violet, moved by the opera, suddenly stood up, instantly capturing the attention of the Marquis couple.

The former Marquis couple smiled at Violet as if they found her lovable.

Echo seemed to be trying to join their conversation somehow, but whether by coincidence or not, every time she did, Violet would make a boisterous action and steal the attention.

“Is this what they call pure evil?”

“What did you say, Master?”

I clicked my tongue, looking at Echo sitting as if left alone on a darkened stage.