Chapter 4: Venue Security with Cat Ears

"Oi, wake up. I'm castrating you."

"Fah!?!?!"

Hello. I was woken up in the worst way unprecedented in history. I am Ars.

Jumping up, what entered my vision was a beauty——but sadly, the castration comedian Reese. Against her, fear wins out and sexual desire isn't stimulated.

"Could you not wake me up in a weird way!?"

"It is your fault for not being here despite it being almost time for duty."

Eh, seriously?

Thinking that, chirari at the clock. Spectacularly late.

That is my bad.

"Sorry about that. Wait, hasn't your favorability dropped or something? I feel like I was recognized by you, technically."

When I inadvertently retorted to Reese' thorny demeanor, she fiddled with her blue hair and snorted.

As a sharp-tongued beauty, it really suits her.

"Hmph. Your ability as a Holy Knight. I admitted you are a guard knight worthy of protecting Saint-sama. But I have not admitted your personality and vulgar expressions at all. If you do anything even slightly strange, immediate castration. Understood?"

"That threat is scarier than killing me..."

My lower half is constantly targeted by a beauty——Hah! I had a flash!!

...No, but the opponent is Reese...

If she goes dere, she's definitely cute, but she's clearly emitting a "I HATE YOU" aura.

"I do not know what you are thinking, but get ready and come quickly! Even during this time, someone might be targeting Saint-sama's life!!"

"...Ah. Well, I'll keep my mindset as a guard firm. It's work."

Being late is completely my mistake.

There is no fault in Reese who came all the way to wake me up. I want to complain a spoonful about the way she woke me and her tone, though.

"...As long as you understand."

"Yeah... So, I want to change."

"Just change quickly."

"No, I'm of the 'sleep without underwear' faction so you'll see it."

I directed a gaze asking, Won't you please leave quickly?, but Reese feigned ignorance.

On the contrary, she smirked mockingly.

"Heh, there is no meaning in seeing your meager thing. But I must watch to ensure you actually go to guard... Well, unfortunately, I have never seen a real one, though."

——Haaa?

I felt a blue vein pop at Reese' words.

She was saying something in a small voice midway, but it's probably just some random insult about me anyway.

Aah, I've snapped. Every blood vessel is snapping.

Making fun of my personality or character is fine.

I'm aware of those parts, and I don't get hurt that much. I have the adult composure to dismiss it with a "Hah, is that so." That might be a lie.

But!!

Anyone who makes fun of my son——I will not forgive...!!!

I silently threw off my sleepwear.

What was revealed were abs ripped to shreds and a well-balanced physique.

And my beloved son.

"Wha...!? Gohon, well, you are reasonably traine——"

Reese seemed taken aback by my action, but after clearing her throat and regaining composure, she shifted her gaze from top to bottom.

Blushing slightly looking at my abs was cute... gohon! Anyway, her gaze shifting gradually downward——finally clashed with my son...

"Biiiiiiiiiig————!!!!"

She rolled her eyes back and fainted.

◇◆◇

"Yo, counting on you again from today."

"...Yesterday?"

"Yesterday I was leveling up with Mei. Yeah, listen to this. Yesterday, with a guy like an Evil Horn——"

Leaving the fainted Reese in the room, I entered Saint-sama's room, and waiting for me was her figure staring out the window just like the day before yesterday.

The only difference is that if I talk to her, she replies, albeit with few words.

When I talked about yesterday's leveling, even though Saint-sama pretended to be calm on the surface, the corner of her eye twitched or the corner of her mouth trembled, so I knew she was listening properly.

I don't know why she became so expressionless, but at least in my eyes, she's just an ordinary girl.

I steeled my resolve a little to talk to her normally someday.

"...Guards aren't like that, I think."

When I finished talking, Saint-sama said as if muttering. Behind that expressionlessness, I could see something like confusion.

"Do you dislike it, Saint-sama?"

"...Either way, it's fine. You will disappear anyway."

Hmm, I see. I don't get it at all.

Anyway, it's certain something happened with past guards, but I'm not so lacking in delicacy that I'd dig up the past on purpose.

However, the phrase "disappear soon" smells fishy and is also slightly irritating.

True, I'm not a Holy Knight but a Sexual Knight.

I'm too filthy to stand alongside a legendary Class like Saint. Frankly speaking, I'm dirty. Filthy.

But I have some confidence in the ability I've forged, and anyway, if I can't complete the guard duty, it's Death.

"I won't spew cheesy lines like 'I won't disappear.' You never know what happens to humans; when you die, you die, and when you disappear, you disappear. However, I have absolutely no intention of dying!! I will survive using any means necessary. Grace, sincerity, screw all that."

I laughed it off, Hah.

Obsessed with living? Who cares. No one wants to die, so struggling is natural.

"Not very, Holy Knight-like."

"Call me Holy Knight, Saint, whatever, I'm just a human."

"...!"

Saint-sama blinked, pachikuri, as if surprised by my words. Ah, crap.

"Ah, keep what I said just now a secret. If the Church-kun finds out, I'll be executed."

"...Ruined it."

Saint-sama began staring out the window again.

I don't know what expression she is making, but I thought it was definitely not a bad expression.

◇◆◇

Side Oracle

"Oho! It descended! It descended, nho!"

The King... Cyrus von Reitzhart, softly closed the opened door. Because something he shouldn't see was reflected in his vision.

"…………"

He tried opening it one more time.

"Nhohoa! Here it comes, here it comes! It's the word of God, zoi!!"

In the center of the room, an old woman was twisting her body and dancing while raising a voice like an ahegao. Even without guessing, it is an Incident.

Just as Cyrus tried to close the door quietly one more time, he reacted to the 'word of God' the old woman mentioned and hurriedly opened the door.

"——! An oracle has descended?!"

"Oh, Cyrus, you came at a good time zoi. I received words from God just now... I never thought the day would come when an oracle other than the existence of a Saint would descend."

The King gulped.

——Class Oracle.

One entrusted with words from God, who conveys them.

However, receiving words from God is rare, and despite being granted Oracle, many end their lives without ever having an oracle descend.

However, this old woman had uttered an oracle once in the past.

It was the name, location, and age of the Saint.

It is likely inconvenient for God as well if something happens to the body before the age of 15 when the Class is granted.

The Oracle is one where several people randomly selected from many Oracles surely receive information on the Saint.

Based on that, the country carries out a semi-abduction named "protection". Of course, they first explain to the family and get permission, but Royal Decree = Absolute.

If refused, the Kingdom's elite unit forcibly comes to steal the Saint. There are many who do not think well of this, but if it is for the country, for the people, not minding some sacrifices allows the nation to last longer.

And the current generation's Saint——is a victim who was semi-abducted after her mother refused the handover.

If she doesn't obey, her mother will meet with danger. A hostage.

Currently, no problems have occurred because the Saint is obedient——but...

The King... Cyrus has been voicing objections to the treatment of the Saint since quite a while ago. Taking hostages is inefficient, and the problem is that the Saint does not function because of it.

However, it was opposed by the 《Church of the Priesthood》, the massive organization responsible for Class worship and Saint worship.

Even a King cannot defeat the majority opinion and the Church.

——Time returns, and Cyrus asks the old woman the content of the oracle.

"So, how was it, the oracle."

"Umu... A heart closed in darkness, light shall be brought from an unexpected place. The key is the Holy Knight. Whether it falls to darkness or light will change depending on how the key is inserted, are the words zoi."

"That is... does it mean that child will be saved? ...Holy Knight. As expected, it seems to be an important post."

"I don't know anything more than this but... Uumu, maybe it's my imagination, but God's voice seemed somewhat amused..."

Cyrus tilted his head at those words.

(Hmm? According to what I've heard, oracles are supposed to convey only necessary things concisely in a business-like manner.)

He cut off the thought, assuming it was the old woman's imagination.

Cyrus ruminated on the content of the oracle once more, and said while putting a hand to his chin.

"It seems better to grant the Holy Knight's wishes as much as possible. Well, judging by his skills and personality, he seemed selfless, though."

"Ho ho ho. If the world-famous Holy Knight-sama was covered in worldly desires, that would be trouble in itself."

"That is certainly true."

The two laughed together, Hah hah hah.

By the way, Cyrus consulted the old woman.

"It seems the Holy Knight is handling Holy Shield perfectly... but when will he master that legendary technique?"

"Fumu? Do you mean the Holy Counter rumored in legends?"

"That is right. A legendary technique said to be usable only by the truly selfless... Well, no need to rush, I suppose."

"I think encouraging growth as a guard knight is the safest bet zoi."

◇◆◇

It has been one week since I began serving as Saint-sama's guard.

My days consist of the same routine: chatting (one-way traffic) in her room under the guise of guarding. So far, it has been peace itself.

Even that rude jerk who fainted at the sight of my son has been pulling this mysterious move where she starts to say the "Cas-" in "Castration" but then clamps her mouth shut.

"I'm pretty confident I got a lot stronger after leveling up yesterday. ...Hmm, but I still can't visualize a scenario where I beat the Master... Was the Master actually some kind of big shot...?"

Yesterday, just like last week, I went leveling with Mei chaperoning me, and we had a light sparring match on the way back.

The result... well, I lost, but unlike before, it wasn't a crushing defeat. I think we had a pretty good match.

It is undeniable proof of my growth, the fruit of a week's effort... yet, I still can't imagine winning against Master.

How do I put it...? At a glance, he looks like a withered old man, frail and weak. But the moment he assumes a stance with a sword—the air becomes so taut it feels like his bloodlust alone could change the world.

Back then, I thought I only felt that way because I was weak. But even now, after leveling up and gaining a Class, I don't feel like I can beat him.

Since no one had ever seen his true strength, the villagers just wrote him off as a lying old geezer.

I was half-skeptical myself, but since I was definitely getting stronger, I didn't worry about it.

"...If I ever get to go back to the village, I'll ask the Master directly."

Though I don't know if I can go back!!

In the worst-case scenario, I might never be able to return home and just be told to keep working forever. That's a distinct possibility.

Sighing "good grief," I put on my underwear.

Ah, sorry. I was thinking about serious matters while completely naked. I felt like the draftiness helped clear my head.

While I was lost in these silly thoughts, kon kon, the door played a sound.

A knock means it's not Reese.

Wondering who it could be this early in the morning, I opened the door to find a fully armed Mei standing there.

Fa?! Am I finally getting killed?!

"I have come to confirm today's arrangements."

"Eh, arrangements? For what?"

Totally wrong. Sounds like work stuff.

Nobody told me anything, though.

"...Did you not hear from Reese?"

"She's been avoiding me lately, so I haven't even seen her."

"...I will punish her later. ——May I enter the room?"

"P-Please, go ahead. It's messy, and there's a dirty pair of underwear sitting there like a deity, though..."

"Underwear...? Kya."

——Kya? I doubted my ears for a second.

Excuse me, that Mei? The calm, cool, and collected Mei went kya? Just from visually confirming a single pair of filthy panties?

Just as I was filling with joy thinking, She has a pure, girlish cute side too, huh, I suddenly reconsidered.

"...Hmm?"

...Wait. Hold on.

Why did I conclude that "kya" was due to shyness? Did I just decide that based on my own preconceived notions?

Isn't the probability way higher that it was a "kya" generated after an emotion like "Ew, what is this, gross"?

Which means?

The favorability rating I worked so hard to earn is...?

"Kyaaaaaaa!!! Pervert!"

I hurriedly shoved Mei out of the room, slammed the door, cleaned up the underwear and scattered sleepwear with godspeed movement—and opened the door again.

"Wasn't that my line...?"

Mei was standing there with a composed, sunn expression.

"Sorry. I was confused about a lot of things."

"Somehow, I apologize as well."

Having both calmed down, I invited her into the room again. At that moment, it looked like Mei blushed for a second, but that was surely a delusion created for my own convenience, so I pretended not to see it.

"So, what are these arrangements for today?"

"Yes——today, Saint-sama has official duties. Since there are circumstances regarding the Holy Knight that require us to keep it secret for now, you will be in charge of security around the venue as a regular knight. Reese and I will be waiting nearby, so inevitably, you will be alone, Ars-sama..."

I see...

The Saint has several official duties.

A "Public Appearance" to show the Saint is safe and sound.

A "Healing Pilgrimage" to treat the severely injured... or the sick.

A "Divine Ritual" to offer prayers of gratitude to the God of Classes.

These three are the Saint's official duties, usually held once a month. Periodically, I thought it was about time, but I didn't expect to be told on the day of.

Tell me, Reese...

"Roger. Anyway, I just have to guard against suspicious guys and anyone targeting Saint-sama, right? Can I handle things based on my own discretion?"

"We leave the discretion of security to you. Capture... or killing... is permitted, but... if possible, I do not wish for you to commit murder, Sir Ars."

Mei looked down with a dark expression.

...Honestly, I was a little surprised. Mei leans more towards being a muscle-brain, so I thought she'd prioritize killing over capture, which costs resources and carries risks.

As I struggled with what to say, Mei looked straight at me and spoke.

"Admiration for the Holy Knight... You said you wanted to protect people. I do not want you to hurt people. Of course, I will not force you, but..."

...Is that so?

The "me" who I have no memory of probably said that... but damn, he says some pretty good things.

I have no hobby of hurting people for fun, and my job right now is guard knight for Saint-sama.

Capture is just fine by me.

"Got it. I didn't plan on it anyway, but I absolutely won't include killing as a method. It's a promise, between me and Mei."

"...! Yes!"

We bumped fists.

When I smiled playfully, the tense atmosphere dispersed, and Mei also floated a soft smile.

Yeah, please moderate that cute smile, okay? I might die of agony. What do you mean "a not-cute smile"? They're all cute.

◇◆◇

"Ugeeeh, my ears hurt..."

People, people, people.

Nothing but people as far as the eye can see.

The main street of the Royal Capital, serving as the venue, was so packed with people it looked like every resident of the capital had gathered.

For me, raised in a village with at most a few dozen people, "exhausting" is the only word for it. I didn't think people crowding together would be this bad.

That said, work is work.

If I slack off and a situation arises where the Saint is in danger, I'm the one bearing the responsibility.

"Good grief, telling me to find a suspicious person in this mess is damn difficult. It's too late if I only pin them down after the attack happens."

Fortunately, I'm good at Mana Detection, so I can sense the activation of magic. So, in the case of a magical attack, I can defend against it normally, but the problem is... direct attacks and long-range physical attacks are hard to prevent.

The sheer number of people is the bottleneck here.

For the time being, I patrolled around the venue in circles.

"No good. Everyone's starting to look suspicious."

How many people here truly believe in the Saint in the real sense? They don't know that girl's smile or the way she talks, so why do they worship her just because of a Class?

...Well, this is just a difference in values and ways of thinking. I can't deny one side, and I don't have the material to deny it either.

『Saint-samaaaaaa!!!』

『Look over heeeere!!!』

『Beautifuuuuul!!!』

『Peropero (Lick lick)!!』

There's one weird guy over there.

Suddenly looking at the center of the main street, I saw Saint-sama waving to the people with a completely emotionless face—different even from when she's in her room.

Is it because I'm ignorant of the world that seeing that makes me want to hold my head in my hands?

"Ah~, stop, stop. Thinking about that isn't like me."

I looked at the gathered crowd again.

Smile, smile, smile, scowl... Oho. There's someone.

Amidst everyone worshipping, there was a boy emitting hostility... something like hatred.

"Suspicious."

I approached the boy while pretending not to know anything.

By the way, since I'm lightly equipped without armor, it won't be revealed that I'm a knight.

I casually stood next to the boy.

The boy had blond hair long enough to cover his eyes, and his clothes were filthy. Just looking at him makes him suspicious... well, not necessarily.

If everyone lived wealthy lives, conflict wouldn't happen in this world. Where there is light, there is darkness.

I heard from the Master that there are those without homes who live in the slums.

"Damn it... Saint... I hate you... Cute... Damn!! She's super cute... But I hate her! I'm going to..."

"You're emotionally unstable. But I get it."

Hearing the words the boy uttered, I instinctively did a double-take.

Your emotions are all mixed up there. But I get that she's cute.

"Tch, who are you!"

"Hey kid, let's go over here for a sec."

"Wha! Who would go with... w-what strength!"

"Calling such a handsome guy 'strong' in that tone is rude!!"

"That line has the wrong gender nuance!"

While exchanging banter with the boy, I dragged him into a back alley. Well, he said he hates her, and I can't leave a guy who's obviously trying to do something alone.

Arrival at the back alluuuuy.

When I let go, he tried to run immediately, so I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck to stop him.

"Gueh."

"Now, now, calm down, boy. Despite looking like this, I'm technically a knight. I can't ignore someone showing hostility toward Saint-sama."

When I said that with a sharp, serious expression, the boy looked me up and down as if glaring, looked at the cat ears I was wearing on top of my head—and tilted his head.

"You... are a knight?"

"Yup. There's no one who executes their duties as seriously as I do."

"Then what are the cat ears on your head?"

"Eh, they were selling them, so I put them on. It's fun."

"What happened to executing duties seriously!?"

No, well, they were selling them on the main street.

I bought them thinking it would be nice if I could talk Mei or someone into wearing them later... joking aside—no, actually about 80% of that is my honest wishful thinking.

My duty is venue security.

That said, ordinary knights other than me are also patrolling the venue. Because of that, wouldn't I catch suspicious guys better if I wasn't thought of as a knight? ——So I equipped them.

I don't know if it was effective, but I actually found this boy muttering suspicious things without regard for the public eye.

From the side, I probably just look like an idiot getting carried away by the Saint's glory.

"Well, leaving the cat ears aside, why the hatred? It's still just an attempt, so I don't want to use rough methods."

However, if he intends to do something, I have to capture him, and even if I let it slide here, he's dangerous in the end, so I have no choice but to capture him. That's how it is.

"That's tyranny!" or "Do you have evidence!" doesn't work on a Knight.

If this were the vigilante corps, capturing someone without evidence would be impossible, but the authority of the "Knight Order," a national organization where many Knights belong, is insane.

Insane enough to capture people arbitrarily without evidence.

Well, guys who would abuse that aren't granted the Knight class in the first place, so it doesn't matter much.

Hmm? I'm technically a knight too, in a way. Why was I granted it? A mistake by God? Sounds likely.

"W-Who would tell a joking-looking guy like you!!"

"But if you don't say it, I'll have to arrest you. ...Just try saying it. Maybe there's something that can be done?"

Then, the boy made a face like he chewed a bitter bug. The expression of someone who fundamentally doesn't trust people.

But he probably doesn't want to be caught. The boy started speaking in drops while grimacing.

"...A while ago. My mom got sick. The doctors said there was nothing they could do. They said she needs high-level healing magic to be cured, but the only one in this country who can use that is the Saint. ——That's why! I went to the royal castle and negotiated directly! Asking if she could cure my mom's illness during the next 'Healing Pilgrimage'!"

The boy let out a mournful cry.

The sorrowful expression turned to anger in the next instant.

"...The gatekeeper turned me away. If that was all, it would have been fine. They wouldn't let a suspicious person like me into the royal castle anyway. ...But I hoped that maybe my plea would reach someone. ——That's when a guy from the 《Church of the Priesthood》 who happened to be visiting the castle heard my story and said this: 'The people cured during the Healing Pilgrimage are decided by the amount of their donation to the Church.' ...Unforgivable. I absolutely can't forgive them!"

The boy's confession echoed in the back alley.

I see... It's way muddier than I imagined, making it hard to react.

Still, deciding who gets healed by donation amount—that's wrong.

True, the people to be treated are decided by the Church's selection. The criteria for that selection are likely the donation amount, just as the boy said.

——However, I heard from Mei that there are also people Saint-sama chose and healed directly.

Of course, even if she couldn't cure everyone, there must be many people who were saved by that.

"Assuming that's true... what did you intend to do?"

"...I planned to kidnap the Saint through a gap in security. Well, it's over now that you found me. Kidnap her... and have her cure my mom."

...Hmm, no plan at all.

Unfortunately, there are no gaps in security. Mei and Reese are undeniably strong, and not just those two, but many Knights are handling security.

Breaking through that is impossible; he'd either be cut down on the spot as an insolent fool targeting the Saint, or captured and executed.

Even if I arrest him here, well, he'd normally be executed. Targeting the Saint is a capital offense. No matter the reason, even if there were extenuating circumstances, that doesn't change.

But I can't just overlook a dangerous element like him.

...Damn, Reese calls me soft, but that softness is what leads to this kind of thinking...

"After getting her cured, what were you going to do?"

"After that..."

The boy fell silent. Apparently, he hadn't thought of anything.

"If you got lucky...? With Saint-sama...?"

"If there was a one-chance... wait, what are you making me say!"

"But you wanted to do it, right?"

"Yeah."

What the hell, he's honest.

I couldn't stand the serious atmosphere and cracked a joke, but he played along. No, he's saying that seriously. Young people are scary.

But if he's coming at me like that, I can bring him into my pace.

"You idiot!!!!"

"...!?!?"

"There is no way a virgin like you!! Could assault a beauty!!!!"

"H-Hah!? I can! It's easy!"

"Idiot, you! You'd definitely get cold feet at the last moment, or even if you got lucky and managed to assault her, you'd be like 'Wait, shit, where is it!' and not know where to put it in, ending up with the worst first experience ever!!!"

"Why are you saying it like you've seen it!! It's weirdly specific, and it hurts because I can't completely deny it!!"

"Because I!! Would be exactly like that!!!"

"You too?!!!"

We both panted, haa haa, out of breath.

What are we talking about, seriously. Where did the serious atmosphere from before go?

——And well, that's enough joking around.

I tapped the boy on the shoulder, pon, and said.

"Does your mom wish for that? Does she want to cure her illness even if it means hurting people?"

"Tch, with that pretty logic...! Even the Saint, she has such a cold face! Surely she's looking down on us in her heart!"

"If you hurt people for personal feelings, it's over, boy. I understand your sadness and your anger. I understand the reason that led to this painfully well. But——have you ever thought about the feelings of the kidnapped Saint-sama?"

"...!"

Everyone only thinks about themselves. ...No, that's natural talk; people have their own circumstances... and things they can't yield on.

Considering the boy's background, the reason for attempting such violence is understandable.

But I know.

Even if she's expressionless, even if she looks cold.

Saint-sama is just a girl.

"Don't judge people just by their outside!! Even Saint-sama would be anxious if she was kidnapped. If you do painful things to her, it hurts. Without even trying to see such obvious things——everyone just looks through colored glasses. Hey, boy. You are about to become the worst kind of human right now."

The boy grimaced.

He must have finally understood the foolishness of what he was trying to do. ...It was just an attempt. I can probably get away without arresting him for this.

The boy dropped to his knees on the ground, hit the ground with a gon!, and said.

"——If only the cat ears! If only you weren't wearing cat ears, I could have genuinely respected you...!!"

"I seriously refuse that."