“Y-young master, what a shameful sight I’ve shown.”

“Ugh, don’t follow me!”

The knight with a large bump on his head followed the boy while flustering. But the boy wouldn’t even look at him, embarrassed by him.

‘What on earth were those people!’

The whole family is like thugs!

Especially that blonde woman and the man called duke, their coordination was too good to be first-timers.

To think they would pull out all the hair of a holy knight from the Grand Temple.

‘Such scary and wicked people!’

He would tell grandfather right away.

The boy had been raised preciously by his grandfather since childhood.

‘Because of them, I couldn’t even buy snacks for grandfather!’

The boy headed toward the Grand Temple while breathing heavily.

* * *

Ding!

[Show Noah instances of getting along well with Lynen (2/3)]

A window announcing the quest progress appeared before Calliphe as she brushed off the hair stuck to her hands.

Calliphe looked at Noah, whose eyes were particularly sparkly today.

Like before, what exactly were this child’s standards for getting along well?

‘I didn’t smile, worry about him, or cheer him on.’

Even though she was just a temporary guardian, she started to worry if this was really okay.

‘Should I ask the saint when I meet them.’

Yes, that would work.

A slight sense of relief spread through Calliphe’s heart.

Even before possessing <Marino>, Calliphe was awkward with young children. She tended to avoid them, worried about making things uncomfortable.

That’s why she had been internally anxious since taking charge of Noah.

But she felt she could rely on <Marino>’s official guardian. After all, they would become Noah’s real family.

Though she hadn’t decided who to send him to yet, anyone would be better than her.

“Actually, I thought you’d be better than me too.”

“What do you mean?”

Calliphe smiled with subtle teasing.

“Well, I didn’t expect you to join me in beating up that guy earlier.”

“…Ahem!”

Lynen awkwardly cleared his throat.

He didn’t make excuses about not taking direct action. It was a clean admission that he had acted just like Calliphe.

That’s why Calliphe couldn’t help but giggle.

“But Noah, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Nnn-no. I’m fine.”

“Good, then shall we move to the park… Ah!”

When Calliphe suddenly staggered, Lynen and Noah caught her from both sides.

Now she noticed that one of her shoe heels was broken.

With just one of the 10-centimeter heels broken, it was hard to even stand straight.

To only notice this now, there were limits to being dense.

“When did this break?”

“Probably when you were running like a monkey.”

“Ah, that time… Wait, monkey?”

“You can’t walk like this. We should sit on that bench over there.”

“That’s right, Lady Calliphe. Let’s go.”

Calliphe, whose eyes were about to turn fierce, was awkwardly carried to the bench by the two males.

“We can’t go for a walk like this. Will you return to the mansion?”

“No, I still have business to take care of.”

Calliphe looked up at Lynen standing in front of her.

“If you’re busy, you can go ahead―”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Lynen knelt on one knee in front of Calliphe.

His large, firm hands wrapped around Calliphe’s slender ankle, carefully removing her shoe.

“What, no, w-what are you doing?”

“I need to know the size and shape.”

A businesslike and dry tone.

However, his touch was extremely careful and gentle.

His calloused, rough fingers slowly caressed from her white heel, across the arch of her foot, to the ball of her foot.

Each time, Calliphe tightly curled her toes at the ticklish sensation.

“S-stop that.”

Just as Calliphe, unable to bear it anymore, pulled her foot away, Lynen stood up.

“I’ll go buy new shoes.”

“…Huh?”

“I know the size now, so I’ll be back quickly. Any particular design you want?”

“Ah, no. Not really.”

“Understood. Then please wait here with Noah.”

Lynen quickly disappeared.

And simultaneously.

Ding!

[Filial Piety Quest Complete!]

[Show Noah instances of getting along well with Lynen (3/3)]

[Reward: 10 Filial Piety Points]

[Current Filial Piety Points: 20]

[Congratulations! Having achieved 20 Filial Piety Points, some of Noah’s abilities will slightly increase.]

Oh, the quest was completed without even touching him.

‘This is totally a win!’

Calliphe gently stroked Noah’s head beside her.

Though Noah didn’t understand why, he pulled his head back to rub against Calliphe’s hand.

[Noah’s Swordsmanship ability has increased by 20.]

[Noah’s Swordsmanship ability: 30]

“Huhu.”

Isn’t this genius-level swordsmanship?

‘If I help him raise his abilities a lot while he’s with me, he’ll be grateful to me later, right? It’ll be an even more perfect hidden ending. Perfect ending. Perfect survival.’

Just as Calliphe was feeling pleased.

Far away, an ordinary carriage could be seen stopping in front of the Grand Temple.

The person who got out was a middle-aged man wearing shabby robes.

Though no one paid attention to him, Calliphe could recognize him.

‘That half-bald head!’

It’s the High Cardinal!

It was still far from 4 PM, but he had appeared early.

He must have returned for the blessing ceremony, but since he was often away, she might miss the chance if not now.

Calliphe, who had been briefly worried about her shoes, made a decision.

“Noah, let’s go.”

“Huh? Ah?”

Bang, bang!

Calliphe broke the heel of her other shoe by striking it against the bench.

“Now they’re balanced.”

“…Is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

Calliphe quickly approached the Grand Temple, taking along Noah whose eyes had grown round.

* * *

“Not possible.”

After hearing Calliphe’s name, the priest refused to let her in.

More precisely, he flatly rejected her request for a private meeting with the High Cardinal.

‘Trying to cause trouble in the temple!’

Calliphe Offensa’s infamy was well-known even in the Grand Temple. The busy High Cardinal had no time to meet such a woman.

But having expected this much, Calliphe smiled leisurely.

“I have an appointment with the High Cardinal?”

“Don’t lie. The High Cardinal has neither time nor reason to meet someone like you, my lady.”

“Well. If that’s not true, how could I have appeared here right after the High Cardinal’s return?”

“…!”

The High Cardinal’s departure and return were confidential. Only those involved would know about it.

Seeing the priest begin to waver with doubt, Calliphe tilted her chin.

“Blessing ceremony. Just tell him that, and he’ll understand.”

“…If this turns out to be a lie, the temple will not stay quiet.”

However, when the priest returned after briefly leaving his post, he couldn’t express anger at Calliphe.

Instead, he quietly guided her to the reception room.

Calliphe hesitated as she was about to enter.

‘I’m going to bribe and threaten from now on… should I take Noah in with me?’

Though she had already shown violence several times in front of Noah, she wanted to show him only good things if possible.

Noah, who keenly noticed Calliphe’s concerned expression, spoke first.

“I’ll wait here.”

“Will you be okay?”

“Yes.”

Calliphe briefly scanned the surroundings. An attending priest was waiting in front of the reception room, ready to respond to the High Cardinal’s call at any time.

This was a work area where guests didn’t enter, so there shouldn’t be any particular danger.

“Alright. I’ll be back soon.”

Nod.

Finally left alone, Noah idly looked out the window.

Then he spotted something black on the grass below.

“…?”

A black stone?

“You, you!”

Just as he was trying to get a better look at the stone that seemed familiar, a sudden shout was heard. Noah looked up, startled.

“Why are you here!”

The blonde boy who had picked a fight earlier at the snack stall was looking at Noah in shock.

When Noah just blinked and turned his attention back to the black stone outside the window, the boy’s face turned red.

Thud!

Suddenly a glove was thrown in front of Noah.

“Mihail Norbel challenges you to a duel. Follow me.”