The Main Heroine Likes the Extra

91 – The 1st Holy Knights and Riel

“Abba!”

“Whoa?!”

As soon as I entered the dormitory room, the one who welcomed me was none other than Sir.

Come to think of it, I decided to play with Sir before I go to study.

She moved from Leelu’s arms to mine, and laughed as she pulled her hair.

Perhaps it’s because he’s grown so much, his grip strength is only getting stronger.

…Yes. I’m glad you’re happy, but what’s the value of my hair?

“Mr. Leelu suffered a lot too.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Mr. Leelu says that, but in fact he knows.

This guy, Mr. Leelu, actually pulls his hair when he’s bored.

I’ve seen Leelu’s long blonde hair fall out and scatter all over the place.

“Abba!!”

“Oh…Ohh…Yes.”

“Hee hee!!”

Sirr called me with a dissatisfied expression, perhaps because he was dissatisfied with his eyes elsewhere.

I was surprised and looked at her again, and she smiled happily.

With his gaze on Sir, he spoke to Mr. Leelu again.

“Has everything been okay since you came here?”

“Something?”

“I saw church paladins on the road earlier.”

Since I was looking at Sir, I couldn’t understand Leelu-san’s reaction.

However, Mr. Leelu, who had been silent for a while, heard his voice.

“About the paladins…It might be better to be vigilant.”

“For now?”

“Yes. According to Alicia, the situation of the Holy Knights is different.”

According to the story Leelu heard from Priest Alicia, the Holy Knights are the most powerful organization within the church.

That’s why even a cardinal can’t carelessly become a paladin.

Once you have them as your superiors, you listen to their orders as subordinates, but if you’re willing to do so, you can refuse them under a valid justification.

However, this is only possible because they have a strong military force like the 1st Order of the Holy Knights and also have a track record.

The rest of the knights are busy getting confused between the pope and the cardinal.

Well, in the current situation where the cardinal faction holds the majority of power, it’s almost like the cardinal faction’s chess piece.

“So, until you know who those paladins are, you’d better be on your guard.”

“Yes. It won’t hurt to be careful.”

It is said that the past year has been quiet, but the church may still be targeting Riel.

…Because I became uneasy after seeing the paladin, it was good to leave Phyllis by Riel’s side.

“Ahhh…”

“Oh.”

Since I was taking my eyes off Sir without realizing it, I was startled and turned my head to Sir again in a hurry, but I only saw Sir sleeping there.

I thought it was a bit quiet from a while ago.

I’m sleeping soundly, snoring while holding on to the hem of my clothes.

“hahahaha, I can’t go to study at this rate.”

In the end, on that day, I had no choice but to study on my own in my room while holding Sir.

“Haa…”

A room prepared in the royal palace to serve state guests.

Among them, Alma Break, the leader of the 1st Order of the Holy Knights, who returned to the room prepared for him, sat down on the sofa and sighed.

It’s not easy.

I had an interview with the king to try to restore the relationship somehow, but the gap between the two kingdoms was already quite deep.

Above all, the incident committed by Archbishop Marconi was too great.

He openly insisted that the nobles of a country and their successors be executed, so there is no precedent.

Even in the case of the nobleman’s son, there was even an assassination attempt around the same time.

Of course, no conclusive evidence came out, but the timing was so exquisite that no matter how you look at it, you could only see it as a plot by the church.

Actually, when Alma himself heard the story, he said that what came to his mind was the church he belonged to.

‘…Is it the work of Archbishop Marconi?’

It is not impossible.

There are rumors inside the church that an assassination unit is being fostered to eliminate political opponents, and it is possible that Archbishop Marconi, who committed indecent acts in the kingdom, committed it to quickly resolve the situation.

But even if there was such a unit, would Archbishop Marconi be able to move such a unit?

He was the leader of Alma who wanted to somehow restore the relationship with the kingdom.

For Captain Alma, this Kingdom of Palaginia is his mother’s homeland.

It would be uncomfortable for her to leave her at odds with her.

Can’t we somehow find a breakthrough?

Suddenly, a figure came to Alma’s mind.

The first-class priest who stood against the Cardinal faction more than anyone else, fiercely resisted, and was the focal point leading the Papal faction.

Alicia Merlot.

Her family is a family that has long devoted herself to the World Tree Church, and because of that influence, she is familiar with all the secrets and circumstances of the church.

She must be quicker in that respect than herself, the leader of her paladins, who is just a powerful military group.

But now she is away from the church and has disappeared.

She said that she has not returned to the Church since she disappeared after she was declared a heretic by the arbitrariness of Cardinal Gerald, although now she was released under the approval of His Holiness the Pope.

Well, the situation is understandable.

Since Cardinal Gerald arbitrarily designated him as a heretic, he must have felt an assassination threat to eliminate political enemies.

That’s why I’m very sorry.

Her If I could meet her, I’d have a lot of questions.

As Captain Alma was lost in her thoughts, she heard a knock on her room.

“Who are you?”

“Oh, you’re back as well.”

Hearing that voice, Alma smiled.

“Remia? Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Entering her room was First Class Priest Remia Blanc, the vice-captain who always assisted her.

“Judging by the look on his face, it seems the conversation didn’t go well.”

“Yeah, honestly, we’ve done too much on our side.”

“A noble’s request for punishment… And that noble is, after all, a very powerful noble in the kingdom.”

“It’s a powerful noble…I haven’t heard enough about it.”

“I did my own research.”

Captain Alma opened the folded paper presented by Priest Remia and read the paper.

“Kyou Wentos… Really, Count Wentos?”

“They are a count family that boasts tremendous wealth and military power even within the kingdom. It’s only natural that the kingdom will jump out of their way as they tried to mess with such a family.”

Priest Remia clicked her tongue.

“Even after calling for punishment, he was threatened with assassination. No wonder the church is suspicious.”

“…Ha, that’s what I mean.”

Captain Alma thought for a moment.

Is it right to ask Remia about this?

If she honestly asked the wrong question, Remia might get angry.

But I needed information to understand the current situation.

“Do you remember Alicia Merlot?”

“Alicia?”

Remia’s expression slightly frowned.

I knew it would be like this.

Captain Alma let out a deep sigh.

When Captain Alma was a new paladin, they became priests at the same time.

As both of them grew up to be first-class priests, Alma knew that the relationship had become a rivalry.

The two even became first-class priests at the same time.

The factions are also completely different. Well, there are sayings that Remia belonged to the cardinal faction because Alicia belonged to the papal faction.

“…Ah, uhm… Just in case you know anything about her.”

“I don’t know. It rises up into the sky or goes down to the ground.”

Remia’s sputtering words were slightly thorny.

Captain Alma felt a bit uneasy, thinking that they still had a bad relationship.

“Oh, but.”

He said as if he remembered Priest Remia.

“That’s what she found out when she was gathering her information about Kyouwentos.”

“Huh? Why did that story suddenly…”

“He got engaged about a year ago. The other is Riel Ignis, the second daughter of Duke Ignis.”

“…That’s a name I’ve heard somewhere.”

“That’s true. When the nonsense about being a hero came out, she was pointed out as a ‘shaman’.”

“That’s again…The story is so funny.”

Captain Alma made an absurd face.

“Well, that doesn’t matter at all. His engagement ceremony was approved by our church… And the priest who approved it was Alicia.”

“What? A year ago…”

A year ago, Alicia had already left the church and disappeared.

That being said, Alicia says she approved of their engagement after she left the church.

“So, if you meet them and ask them, won’t you find out where Alicia is?”

“Hmm…”

Sure, then she might be quick to ask him out.

Since he is attending the academy, the king is also located in Grand Seine.

But if there is a problem…

“…Honestly, isn’t it a bit reluctant to meet? Our church has done something…”

“That’s right. So the one you need to contact is another person.”

“Is it Riel Ignis?”

Of course, meeting Riel Ignis is a bit like that, but at least it’s better than Kyo Wentos.

… Honestly, there’s no way she’ll clear this up if she doesn’t even meet her.

“…Let’s try it. She’ll be in this capital too.”

“I’ll come too.”

“Yes, thank you Remia.”

“I’m your assistant, right? There’s nothing to thank.”

Priest Remia smiled and looked at Alma.

“By the way, how about praying to the World Tree together before bed?”

“Huh? A sudden prayer?”

“Yes, I came here and tried it a few times… But I was able to pray more pleasantly than usual.”

At those words, Captain Alma prayed to the World Tree with Priest Remia after washing up.

And I was able to experience with my own body the meaning of Priest Remia’s words.

It’s a prayer I’ve been praying every time since becoming a paladin, but if it’s always like this, I’m Alma’s leader, and I think I won’t get tired of doing it every day.

The last day of the graduation exam.

Having finished her comprehensive practical exam fairly well, Riel left her academy with her light heart.

Beside her taking her own exam, her professor was also smiling contentedly.

Perhaps it would be good to look forward to today’s test?

After the exam, she decided to gather at the restaurant where she always met.

Not only her friends, but her fiancé and her brother who are more important than anyone else.

She looked around the academy.

Emilia was still waiting for her turn.

Her comprehensive practical skill was performed one by one and it took quite a while, but Emilia’s turn came considerably later.

It would take quite a long time at this rate, so Emilia said she should go to Riel first and wait for her.

…Aria and Ferris are quite late.

I don’t know what the girls’ tests are like, but rather than waiting without knowing about it, it’d be better to go to the meeting place first.

Thinking so, Riel took her first step.

There was a woman quietly following Riel behind her.

“I will accompany you.”

“Phyllis?”

“Bocchan is worried about the young lady.”

At that, Riel smiled bitterly.

Because her fiancé is really worried.

But I felt very grateful for her spending.

“I… I will do my best too!”

Along with Phyllis, Luca, her own personal attendant, also clenched her fists.

Luka has been diligently learning various things from Phyllis for the past year.

Luka, who had grown very tall and was doing well, nodded to him with a determined expression.

Walking along her boulevard, I noticed that Luca was giving her glance away.

Seeing her as if she was paying attention to something, Riel stopped on the spot.

“Luca? What’s up?”

“Oh, sorry, lady. It’s…”

According to Luca, it was a story that someone seemed to be looking at them.

I kept feeling stares at them, but it didn’t seem like they were trying to harm them, so they said they let them go.

But even so, I was so concerned that I started to glance at it without even realizing it.

Looking at her Phyllis at her words, Phyllis nodded her head as well.

“It’s true.”

“That…Isn’t it?”

“But Luca, be vigilant, but be careful not to show off too much.”

“Yes…Yes!!”

Luca, whose expression was hardened, hurriedly said that, and Riel smiled bitterly at her appearance.

He’s grown up a lot, but he’s still the new valedictorian in front of the Phillies.

“You don’t have to worry about the gaze that’s just observing this side. Instead, pay attention to this gaze.”

“Yes?”

“You two over there, come out quickly.”

Phyllis is speaking in a different direction, not in the direction Luca was glancing at.

Luca was taken aback by that appearance and put her hand in her arms, and Riel looked in that direction in surprise.

“…You seem to have some business, but wouldn’t it be better to come out instead of hiding?”

After Phyllis finished her words, two women crept out from where Phyllis was looking.

Both of them were women who looked to be in their mid to late twenties.

“…I killed a monster so that even a few monsters wouldn’t notice it, but it got caught.”

Among them, a woman with a fairly stocky physique said that.

The woman with a modest image next to him grumbled.

“So, you said you could just walk up to her normally and talk to her?”

“But what should I do if I feel a little uncomfortable?”

“Haa…Hey, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to threaten you…T-would you put some weapons in?”

As she said that, a woman with a modest image removed the sword hanging from the stout woman’s waist and held it out as if handing it over.

“I’ll disarm and hand you over like this, so I hope you’ll listen to me at least.”

“……”

Seeing that figure, Phyllis approached cautiously and accepted her sword.

She and she quietly looked at the two of them as if observing the whole body, she sighed and she said.

“Certainly, I don’t have any other weapons besides this sword. Is that all right, young lady?”

“Ah… Yes. I’m fine.”

With those words, the two women slightly narrowed the distance to the point where they could talk to Riel.

“Are you Miss Riel Ignis?”

“Yes. What are you doing?”

“I am a paladin belonging to the church. My name is Alma.”

At the word church, Riel’s expression shook slightly.

The two servants next to him were also on alert.

A bitter smile appeared on Alma’s face, thinking that she must be wary as expected.

“I am Remia, the priest of the church. I apologize for wearing plain clothes today.”

“No, may I ask what the priests and priests of that church are doing with me?”

“That’s…”

Alma was about to say something, but when she looked at Remia, Remia sighed and said:

“Do you know Priest Alicia Merlot?”

“Yes… Yes?”

“…I guess you know.”

At Riel’s reaction, Remia made the same expression.

This girl knew where Alicia was.

“I was with Alicia and her classmate, I’m looking for her because I’m curious to see how she’s doing.”

“That… I see.”

“As it turned out, the last official record of her was that she attended Lady Riel’s engagement ceremony… I came here wondering if Lady Riel knew about it. That was the correct answer.”

“Yes…Yes, that… Alicia-sister…”

“Yes? Sister?”

This is also a very friendly title.

At some point, Remia thought that they had built such a close relationship.

But she couldn’t help but be greatly shocked by what she heard from Riel after that.