Chapter 21

For several days, I have indulged in a life of laziness, leaving everything to my slaves.

Morning, noon, and night, food is served to me as I lie in bed.

This is certainly a path to ruin.

As I recline on the sofa, reading the latest entertainment novel, I watch the two of them scurrying about busily.

The house is spotless, and a subtle fragrance I like is gently wafting through the air.

When I bring the cup to my lips, the Empire’s famous coffee flows in.

As soon as the cup is empty, one of the slaves comes over to refill it, and if the snacks are running low, they are promptly replenished.

…Can I live like this without ever moving again?

I remove my reading glasses and stretch out broadly.

I’m completely refreshed. It’s about time I got to work.

I close the novel in my hand, deciding to read the rest when I return.

All my gear is perfectly organized, and the two of them help me equip it.

The preparation is quick, and all my equipment is polished.

I had kept it clean, but it was undoubtedly the two of them who gave it that extra shine.

“You’re quite efficient. Thanks.”

“No problem, Master. Have a good day.”

They see me off, bowing until I’m out the door.

Time to earn some money.

I really shouldn’t have come to the guild today.

“Sir Sky Knight, please help us! We can only rely on you!”

I glare at Nia, who’s clinging to my leg, with utter disdain.

But Nia doesn’t even flinch under my gaze and clings to my leg with her beast-like strength, crying.

“Let go!”

“No way! If I let go, you’ll run away, Sir Sky Knight. I know you too well!”

Damn, she’s perceptive.

As soon as I entered the guild and began browsing the requests, Nia spotted me, rushed over, and started clinging to me, babbling about something I couldn’t understand.

Trying to shake her off only made her grip my leg tighter.

Eventually, I gave up trying to pry her off and decided to listen to her story.

“Sir Sky Knight. Can you stop looking so annoyed if you’re going to listen?”

“I don’t want to, but fine.”

Nia’s story involved the marquis’s daughter I had previously helped.

Nia had been invited to the Lanakeld Marquisate and had managed to build a good relationship there.

She had earned the daughter’s trust and even received offers of support.

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“Yes, it is. It’s a great thing. But that’s not the problem.”

A group of red-hooded individuals had kidnapped the Lanakeld family’s daughter.

The marquis had mobilized all his forces to pursue them, and Nia’s party had been assisting in the search.

After taking down several strongholds, they finally discovered the main base and launched an attack, but…

“You let them escape? Even with you there?”

“There was one tough guy among them. They escaped into the Great Church. Now our team and the marquis’s forces have the place surrounded.”

The Great Church is the largest church in the Empire, located on the outskirts of the capital.

It’s supposed to be an independent organization, teaching the ways of the divine daily, but…

“Did the red-hooded group take over the church?”

“It seems more complicated… Entering the church without permission is a big issue, but the marquis is furious. He’s likely to appeal directly to the emperor. So, Sir Sky Knight…”

“I have a bad feeling about this, but what is it?”

“Sir Sky Knight, you’re close with the cardinal, right? Can you get permission to enter the church? ASAP.”

She’s asking the impossible. But if nothing is done, the marquis’s forces might storm the church without permission.

The marquis should understand the implications, but with his daughter kidnapped, it’s a different story…

There’s no choice. I’d rather not owe him a favor, but it can’t be helped.

I instructed Nia to hold off the marquis until I could get permission and set off to meet the head of the Empire’s church.

I headed to see Keller, the cardinal and archbishop.