Chapter 22 – The Candidate

If only they protected her, she would be the next Saintess.

The stigma that only the vampire candidate survived did not matter.

Even if that became a problem, it would suffice to delay the competition and compete with other candidates.

Therefore, the commander had no intention of giving up easily.

“She is an opponent that cannot be protected by clerics. Even the knights could not protect her, so will it work with clerics?”

“For that, you all have already lost trust. And he is not just a cleric. He is an Honorary Cleric.”

The Beast of the Sanctuary, the Dancing Lion.

The legendary achievements he had established were difficult for even knights to accomplish.

“Lion does not receive treatment equivalent to a knight for nothing. His martial prowess is more than enough to overwhelm knights. He is even capable of fighting several knights single-handedly.”

There was no need to discuss the martial prowess of the Honorary Cleric.

Because his title was already telling it.

“And the clerics he brings with him are not common clerics.”

The clerics whom the Honorary Cleric specially selected and led were exceeding the martial prowess of common clerics.

The public evaluation was around the level of a knight.

“Commander. If you think they are all the same clerics, you are mistaken. They are clerics in name only, but they are almost equivalent to knights.”

The vice-commander approached the commander who was about to protest.

As the vice-commander whispered his thoughts in his ear, the commander’s expression stiffened.

It was an reluctant expression.

“No, but still.”

“There is no other way, is there? Not only the Director of Palace Affairs but other committee members will also strongly protest. Or do you want to go and persuade them?”

“Persuasion… is difficult. It is already a settled matter. The other committee members will not accept it either. They probably think the same as the Director of Palace Affairs.”

“If so, that is the best we can do. We have no choice but to trust and entrust her.”

Even if they wanted to object to the Director of Palace Affairs’ words,

there was no justification.

A promise had been made, and the candidate they had previously boasted about was massacred for all to see.

The failure of the knighthood.

An excuse that the situation became chaotic due to the Arcane Flower would probably not work at all.

Perhaps that sly Director of Palace Affairs had intended this from the very beginning.

The commander, who was pondering, finally opened his mouth.

“Very well. Do as the Director of Palace Affairs wishes. However, we also have one condition.”

Although there were so many knights to protect the candidate,

it was so unfair and frustrating that they could not even attach a single one.

Still, it was too early to give up.

Because ‘he’ was still here.

Commander Kain pointed at a cleric who was sitting here.

“That cleric over there is a master-level cleric who even took down Heimdall, who is called the Sword Champion. He is not originally a member of our knighthood, but a cleric dispatched from a nearby monastery to carry out my request.”

Everyone’s gaze reached Rashid.

The pouring gazes were burdensome,

but Rashid did not show it and lightly bowed his head toward everyone.

“He is a skilled individual as reliable as a knight. If that cleric takes on the candidate escort mission instead of us, I too will accept it. Surely you will not reject him when he is a cleric, not even a knight?”

The Director of Palace Affairs cast a gaze at Rashid.

Looking at his appearance, he was undeniably a cleric.

“He caught Heimdall? Ah, is he that cleric? The one who survived the duel with the knighthood.”

A sneer appeared briefly,

but the Director of Palace Affairs suddenly had a question.

“But if he won the duel with the knighthood, they should naturally be on bad terms. Why does it look good to my eyes?”

“You do not need to know the detailed inner story, do you? How about it? Surely you are not going to say this will not work either?”

The cleric who reportedly caught Heimdall.

No matter how much of a cleric he was, if he was a cleric who came from the suburbs, it was hard to conclude that he was on their side.

So even if he wanted to refuse,

there was no particular justification.

Rejecting the knighthood was also because they were knights,

but he was a ‘cleric’, not a knight.

“Then will you cleanly give up without being clingy anymore?”

“Since we made a promise, we will not linger any longer. However, that cleric is not a knight or anything, so if being a knight is the problem, just accept him.”

Lion, the Honorary Cleric, drew close to the Director of Palace Affairs.

Lion whispered something, and the Director of Palace Affairs, who was listening quietly, nodded his head.

“Fine. I will accept it. Since he is not a knight, is there any reason not to accept? Besides, if he even caught Heimdall, there should be no issue with his skills.”

The Director of Palace Affairs suddenly asked with a cold expression.

“By the way, did you protect all the candidates you were in charge of?”

Rashid did not hesitate in the slightest at that question.

“While I was protecting them, there were no problems. However, problems arose after I left.”

“Is that so? Then it is a relief. Since you did not fail like someone else.”

He was a cleric whose way of speaking was not to his liking.

Although the first impression was bad,

since there was no justification to reject him nor any other reason, he just had to accept it.

Lion would take care of the rest.

“Cooperate well with Lion and protect that candidate. As you know, she is the last remaining candidate now. If even that candidate dies, there will be a huge problem in electing the next Saintess. Perhaps we might have to select them all over again from the beginning.”

Having finished his work, the Director of Palace Affairs boarded his vehicle.

Right before departing from the knighthood headquarters,

the Director of Palace Affairs had a private moment with Lion, who was standing in front of the car window.

“An annoying thing has attached itself. Surely it won’t be a problem?”

“As I told you, there is nothing that will be a problem.”

“I heard he even caught Heimdall?”

“Even so, he will just be at the level of a mere knight. He is no match for me.”

“The level of a mere knight… finish the job without any mistakes.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“A vampire Saintess… absolutely unacceptable. If even that remaining candidate over there dies, then the new candidate I prepared will enter the competition. That child will never disobey my words. I raised her that way.”

The car window closed, and the Director of Palace Affairs departed just like that.

Lion, who remained behind, glared at Rashid who was talking to the commander in the distance.

‘Heimdall…’

His participation in this escort

was something not in the plans.

It was a variable, but Lion did not seem to worry much.

What would it matter to bury one more person when burying one anyway?

‘He is a waste of talent, but it cannot be helped.’

Then their eyes happened to meet, and Lion lightly waved his hand in greeting.

Rashid, who also bowed lightly, thought.

‘It seems the Director of Palace Affairs is also involved to some extent.’

Indeed.

The scale was too large for the Honorary Cleric to lead that task alone.

It would have been much easier if someone of at least the Director of Palace Affairs’ level helped as a backer.

‘They must have had things they both wanted.’

The commander was full of worry.

Although he had quickly inserted Rashid into the escort mission at the vice-commander’s suggestion,

he felt that alone was not enough.

“Now there is no one to trust but you. There is nothing particular we can do.”

Rashid saw the saintess candidate trembling in fear far away.

At the same time, he could confirm the completion message that appeared in his vision.

-You have completed the sub-quest ‘Find the Saintess Candidate’.

-You have obtained ‘Mana +1’.

‘I did not find her directly myself, but since finding is finding, it seems the reward is given.’

The problem was the linked quest that followed.

-Would you like to accept the linked quest ‘Protect the Saintess Candidate’?

-Upon completion, the stat reward ‘Mana +1’ will be given.

Unlike the first progress which was obtained for free, the second quest seemed to have a significant level of danger.

‘A battle with the Honorary Cleric will be unavoidable.’

If he did not know who the culprit was,

and if he thought he would get the next progress for free like this time,

he might have accepted it without much thought and died miserably.

But he was not.

‘Since the identification of friend or foe has been made, there is no reason to refuse.’

-You have accepted.

At the same time, the commander’s words followed.

He looked truly desperate.

“Please protect that child. I am not asking you to protect her for a lifetime. You just need to protect her until the competition. I will also try my best to bring the competition forward as much as possible.”

“Since I also have what I want, you do not have to worry too much about the candidate’s matter.”

“You will need magic armor. It will be hard in that state. That guy subdued even knights wearing magic armor in an instant and massacred the candidates.”

The commander urgently called the knights and lined up the magic armor they were wearing in front of Rashid.

“Since it is urgent, for now, wear any of the magic armor here that fits your build and take it.”

Magic armor was the exclusive property of knights.

It was equipment too undeserved for a mere cleric.

“Is that really alright?”

The commander was in no mood to calculate this or that.

“If anyone says anything, sell my name. I will absolutely block it.”

It was a moment when his urgency to protect the candidate was visible,

so Rashid calmly scanned the vampire knights who willingly surrendered their magic armor.

Even if it was the commander’s order, seeing them without any complaint showed their will to protect the candidate.

‘The magic armor I possess is quite burdensome to use. So I will indeed need a magic armor that is not burdensome at all.’

“If I succeed in this mission, may I make one request of the commander?”

The commander willingly responded.

“Of course. Tell me anything. If only you protect that child, what is there that I cannot do for you?”

“If I become an Honorary Cleric through this matter, I also want to have the knighthood’s magic armor. Of course, I also request the Cross Sword.”

Magic armor was the essence of magitech.

It was extremely expensive equipment that even knights could not easily obtain.

Also, the Cross Sword was the symbol of the order’s knighthood.

“Fine. I will take responsibility and prepare it. Please just protect that child safely.”

-Would you like to accept the sub-quest ‘Request of the Commander’?

-Upon completion, the rewards ‘Elite Magic Armor’ and ‘Cross Sword’ will be given.

-You have accepted.

Rashid wore one of the several pieces of magic armor lined up that fit his build.

It was an elite armor where silver and red crossed.

With the Rose Cross gorgeously engraved around the spot where the mana stone was inserted, it was the symbol of the knighthood.

Having gone inside the knighthood headquarters, worn the magic armor properly, and come out, Rashid stood in front of the commander.

“Then, I will go.”

“I am counting on you.”

Rashid looked at the candidate who was facing the vice-commander in the distance.

The candidate was trembling with anxiety, and the vice-commander was sweating hard to calm her down.

The candidate asked in a trembling voice.

“Why aren’t the knights coming with us?”

“The knighthood is responsible for failing the escort mission. We will probably not be able to step forward. You must endure it alone at least until the competition.”

“My feeling… is anxious. Can you not go with me?”

The candidate barely suppressed her trembling, wrapping her two arms around herself.

Akard felt sorry for such a candidate, but there was nothing he could do.

Meanwhile,

Akard saw Rashid approaching in the distance.

He was wearing magic armor naturally, and even Heimdall’s mana stone sword was visible on his back.

‘Is it not his first time?’

It was a question that arose because wearing the magic armor was too natural,

but since it was not important, the vice-commander, who was pressed for time, spoke to the candidate.

“Since there is no time, I will only deliver these words. The culprit has not been identified yet. We do not know who the culprit is either. However, there is someone who can be trusted. It is us and that cleric.”

The candidate turned her head and looked at the man in magic armor whom Akard pointed at.

Rashid showed light politeness to the candidate immediately after approaching them.

“Rashid Preston. A cleric.”

“A cleric?”

If he was a cleric, was he not someone with lower martial prowess than a knight?

Such a question flashed through her mind, but Akard soon put her distrust to sleep.

“His skill is already proven, so it is safe to view him as equal to or greater than a knight. Although there is nothing we can help you with before the competition, this cleric is sufficiently trustworthy. If something happens, you can rely on him first.”

As Akard cast a gaze,

Rashid spoke with a cold expression.

“Since I have a purpose, I will protect you, the candidate, under any circumstances. However,”

Rashid pointededly cast a gaze at the Honorary Cleric and his subordinates waiting in the distance as he continued.

“Do not trust them. Just trust only me and follow.”

Rashid’s introduction ended with that.

Although there were many things she wanted to ask, such as why she should not trust them,

she knew intuitively.

That this man in front of her was someone she could trust.

This was an amazing intuition possessed by her, who had been trained as a saintess.

“Yes.”

As her state of trembling in anxiety quieted down to some extent,

Akard took the two to the place where Lion was.

It was to hand over the candidate’s escort to them.

* * *

“Where are we going?”

The escort vehicle carrying the saintess went ahead.

Rashid, who was riding in the armored vehicle that followed, asked the other clerics who were in their seats.

The other clerics who had been wary of Rashid since their first meeting remained silent, but instead, Lion, who was sitting with them, answered.

“We are going to the Holy See. Although she is a mere candidate, all the remaining candidates have died, so it is safe to view her as the next Saintess now. Thus, I intend to protect that candidate in the safest place in the world.”

“Is that so?”

The Holy See?

The safest place in the world?

Rashid laughed inwardly.

‘Are you planning to blow it up along with the Holy See?’

Rashid saw something like suspicious bags that the other clerics possessed.

Since they were the Honorary Cleric and the subordinates he led who were in charge of the defense of the entire Basilica including the Holy See, there would be no separate search when entering the Holy See.

‘Heading toward the heart of the order while clutching bombs, indeed.’

This mission seemed likely to end faster than expected.

The desire not to delay time

was the same for both himself and everyone targeting the candidate here.

‘It is good that it is not dragged out. It is also what I want.’