The private meeting with Calliphe Offensa, whom he had only heard about through rumors, was filled with a chilly atmosphere.

“So, you say you have something to tell me about the blessing ceremony.”

“Yes.”

High Cardinal Willien, exchanging first greetings with her, found himself naturally tense.

Unlike her image as a reckless troublemaker, her cold dignity was certainly unexpected, but…

‘How did she manage to arrive exactly when I returned to the temple?’

He hadn’t even informed the temple of his arrival time.

‘Could it be that she really uses black magic as Young Marquis Caiman said…?!’

Doubt bloomed in Willien’s mind.

He had considered himself no better than a sinner since accepting Caiman’s ‘request.’ But if Caiman’s suspicions were true, that was a different story.

“I’m already excited that the High Cardinal himself will bless my marriage and even find an auspicious date.”

“Haha… Not at all. It’s rather an honor for me to be in charge of the blessing ceremony for the young lady of House Offensa.”

“It would be amazing if the saint could also bless my ceremony, wouldn’t it?”

The saint rarely appeared except for events involving royalty or those who had achieved great merit.

Therefore, receiving the saint’s blessing was the greatest honor for any family.

Especially here, the saint of the Reparatio Grand Temple was special.

“I hear the saints here even possess abilities. That the same ability has been passed down through generations.”

The story of how the saint of Reparatio had instantly identified someone attempting to assassinate the previous emperor was even recorded in history books.

“Speaking of which, High Cardinal.”

“…Ah, I haven’t even served tea yet.”

Willien cut off Calliphe’s words with an awkward smile.

“I’d like to serve you my favorite tea, if you don’t mind?”

Though Calliphe frowned slightly in displeasure, she soon nodded.

“I look forward to it. Thank you.”

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

Rising from his seat, Willien turned his back to Calliphe and stood near the tea set.

‘If she has corrupted magical power, this tea will react.’

As he slightly stirred his trembling hand over the tea water, holy power dissolved into the water like particles.

He presented the prepared teacup to Calliphe.

“This is brewed with tea leaves specially cultivated in the temple. I hope it suits your taste.”

“Thank you. It has a nice fragrance.”

After smelling the aroma, Calliphe slowly tilted the cup.

Willien held his own cup while not taking his eyes off Calliphe. Each of her movements seemed to happen in slow motion.

Finally, when Calliphe put down her cup after taking a sip.

“…!”

The clear green tea had become turbid. It was such a subtle change that one wouldn’t notice without careful observation.

‘The young Marquis’s words were true!’

As Willien was shocked by the color, he unconsciously looked up and startled.

Calliphe had been staring at him intently, though he wasn’t sure since when.

‘Could she have known everything I was going to do!’

However, Calliphe was looking at the quest window that had appeared in front of the High Cardinal’s face.

[Sudden Quest!]

[Rescue the kidnapped ‘Noah’.]

[Reward: Noah’s survival, Gain Noah’s friend]

[Time remaining 00:29:58]

Calliphe’s expression turned fierce like a wild beast.

“What… is this about?”

Her sudden growling appearance was chilling despite her beautiful features. The atmosphere suggested she might trample whatever was in front of her at any moment.

Poor High Cardinal Willien became terrified.

“If, if you kill me here, it won’t be good for you either, my lady!”

Bang!

When Calliphe rose with a frightening glare, the High Cardinal cowered with a yelp.

“Whatever you came to do at the temple, I, I absolutely…!”

That’s when it happened.

Bang, the reception room door burst open as Lynen and Mihail rushed in.

Several holy knights were with them.

“What, Mihail? What’s this sudden commotion?”

“Grandfather! Something terrible happened! A ma, magical beast, a magical beast!”

Speaking for the panicking boy, Lynen calmly said.

“A magical beast has appeared in the temple. It kidnapped a child and disappeared, so we requested support for tracking.”

“What did you say?!”

A magical beast in the temple at the heart of the capital!

Willien, though frightened, directed his anger at Calliphe.

“Was this your plan?”

“Pardon?”

“Things won’t go as you wish! Arrest this woman immediately!”

Willien tried to pull the bell rope to call more holy knights. However, before he could grab the rope, Calliphe, sensing danger, struck first.

“Stop right there!”

“Kuhk!”

Calliphe’s hand strike hit Willien’s Adam’s apple.

Thud.

The unconscious High Cardinal collapsed limply like a rag doll.

The surprised holy knights all tried to draw their swords at once.

“How dare you―”

However, they couldn’t finish their shout or draw their swords.

“Pardon me.”

With these polite words, Lynen spun in place and struck the holy knights’ vital points with his scabbard.

Thud, thud!

The holy knights lost consciousness and fell one after another. Even the attending priest who witnessed this from outside the door collapsed when hit by Lynen’s thrown scabbard.

As he retrieved his scabbard, he said.

“Given the situation, we’ll have to give up on the temple’s support. What exactly did you do, Calliphe?”

“That’s my line?”

“The High Cardinal must have suspected you immediately because of something you did.”

It was unfair but reasonable.

“Anyway, we need to hurry. The magical beast took Noah.”

“Right, quickly…!”

As Calliphe was about to dash out, Lynen blocked her way.

“Before that, when they discover this scene in the temple, things will get serious. We need someone to help us, even briefly.”

“If it’s someone to help…”

Calliphe followed Lynen’s gaze to Mihail.

Mihail was shocked by the two who had suddenly turned into criminals.

“You think I’d help people who even assaulted my grandfather? You criminals!”

“…No choice then.”

Quickly giving up on persuasion, Lynen raised his scabbard again.

That’s when Calliphe stepped forward.

“Let me try talking to him.”

Approaching Mihail, Calliphe grabbed the boy’s chin and lifted it.

“Help us cover up what we did. You’re already an accomplice anyway.”

“What…!? How am I!”

“Don’t want to be an accomplice? Then you’re saying you’ll let Noah be eaten by the magical beast.”

“That, that’s not true! Don’t be absurd!”

“It’s not absurd.”

Despite her cold voice, Calliphe’s eyes were boiling like lava.

Mihail realized she was exercising great restraint.

“If you don’t help us, Noah’s rescue will be delayed. What do you think will happen then?”

“I, I want to save Noah too. If I hadn’t called him out, he would have been safe. So the temple should take responsibility for this…”

“What? So it was because of you―!”

Calliphe’s voice rose in anger.

Something seemed strange. Noah wasn’t the type to go outside without saying anything in the first place.

Learning that this kid was involved in Noah’s capture, Calliphe’s suppressed emotions suddenly turned inside out.

Just as her anger was about to explode like a volcano, a cool weight calmly pressed down on her.

It was Lynen, who had placed his hand on Calliphe’s shoulder.

Calliphe snapped back to her senses.

Mihail was pale and his eyes were brimming with tears.

‘…What am I doing?’

Taking a deep breath, Calliphe matched Mihail’s eye level and persuaded him more calmly.

“It will take time if the temple gets involved. But if you help us, we can act right away.”

“…”

“You’re the only one who can do this. Please, for Noah’s sake.”

Mihail’s stubborn expression began to waver. The young boy lowered his head deeply, remembering his own mistake.

“I’m, I’m sorry. It’s because of me.”

“Save your apology for Noah directly.”

“…Yes.”

Wiping his tears with his sleeve, Mihail quickly ran to open the window.

“You won’t get caught if you go this way. But how will you find the magical beast?”

“Don’t worry. I was a holy knight too.”

Answering, Lynen lightly placed his hand on Mihail’s head.

Then he snatched up Calliphe like a bundle and leaped down in one breath. It was such an urgent action that it seemed surprising he had managed to stay still until now.

After running for a while.

“There!”

Calliphe pointed to the top of a building.

There, a wolf emanating an ominous aura was looking down at them.

In its large mouth was the unconscious child.

“Noah!”