873: Ward Dealer

In response to Filurias 95% lies, Sophie repeated her resolution.

I will remain here.

Then I will respect your desires. Again, I must ask you knights to leave for today. Isnt that so, Seliadot?

Certainly true. Theres no point in negotiating with hot heads.

The owner of the voice emerged from the back of the room in response to Filurias words.

She must have been listening in on us while hidden.

You all should go back home and calm yourselves down. Let me give you a tip, try counting money. Youll feel better in no time.

So this is Seliadot, the Rank A adventurer known as the Ward Dealer?

Seeing her smiling next to Filuria really surprised me.

I had a.s.sumed she was an adult, but she was practically a child! A pretty-looking young girl with platinum blonde hair tied into half-length twintails, who looked a bit on the plump side. She seemed even younger than Fran.

No wait, shes an elf. I cant let myself be fooled by her appearance. She must be the ancient loli type.

If she wasnt working for the enemy, I would have been overjoyed to see this cla.s.sic character trope!

Anyways, I didnt notice her hiding at all, so she must have been making use of her warding stones. Frans excessive caution might be because of her subconsciously realizing that Seliadot was lurking nearby.

These warding stones are a huge pain. I still have a bad matchup, but thats not to say Im at a complete disadvantage. After all, the warding stones and surveillance wards are both made from magic stones.

So as long as I can find them, I can destroy them in a single hit. I already tested it with the warding stones we found earlier.

I only get 1 magic stone point from them since they are processed stones, but I can absorb them without issue.

However, Seliadot is not an adventurer completely specialized in warding.

I could tell her level of talent just by looking at her. Shes pretty good at melee combat too. If I had not heard in advance that she was a warding expert, I might have mistaken her for a warrior.

Melee combat combined with warding arts sounds terrifying just imagining it.

The holy knights face went pale. Though an a.s.shole, he seemed to have fully understood the power of Seliadot just by looking at her.

I-Ill be back tomorrow!

If you are going to continue being violent next time, I will prepare some countermeasures.

Just you wait!

The holy knight glanced at Seliadot and turned on his heel in frustration. He threw a parting shot before leaving like a loser.

After the holy knights left, a relaxed atmosphere came to the floor. Among them, Fran was the only one who did not feel at ease.

She was subject to both Filurias piercing gaze and Seliadots price-gouging stare.

Filuria tilted her head as if to say that she did not know Fran.

Ive never seen this black cat girl before, who is she?

Yeah, thats a lie. We already knew it, but she was well aware of Frans ident.i.ty.

This girl is quite strong. What is your name?

Fran.

Oh! You must be the Black Lightning Princess! That makes sense now! With someone like you guarding the saintess, those boys wont be able to lay a finger on her. What great fortune. Right, Medical Director-dono?

Indeed.

Hmm? The Ward Dealer really doesnt know Fran, and her worries about Sophies safety were sincere too.

Does she really know nothing about Filurias dark secrets? Maybe she is really just a bodyguard?

I had Fran ask a few questions.

What is your name?

Ah yes, my name is Seliadot. Im an adventurer, you know.

The Ward Dealer?

Exactly!

She wore such a friendly smile that it made it hard to believe she was an adventurer. I would have an easier time imagining her as some girl running down the street with her friends.

Are you the Medical Directors bodyguard?

Indeed.

So you do whatever the Medical Director tells you to do? Even bad things?

Hmm? Thats a weird question. A bodyguard ensures their masters safety, and nothing more. If Medical Director-dono asks me do take on another job, Ill simply refuse.

Dont you think youre asking a pretty rude question when Im right here? Seliadot, stop with the idle chit chat.

Alright.

Filuria interrupted our conversation, perhaps sensing that it was headed in a bad direction. I guess that cant be helped.

But Seliadot wasnt lying. It seems she really is just a bodyguard.

Those warding stones and the surveillance wards are also useful for guarding and surveillance. She might be giving them to Filuria for that purpose.

Anyways Youre a black cat, right?

Nn.

Filurias smile suddenly disappeared as she looked at Fran.

I believe I heard word of a black cat girl trying to a.s.sa.s.sinate the saintess

As soon as Filuria said this, all eyes were on Fran. They were rather suspicious of Fran in the first place, since no one knew who she was.

Then came the words of Filuria, who they trusted as well as Sophie. It was no wonder that everyone gave us such heavy stares.

The guards readied their spears once more.

But Sophie immediately stepped forward.

She is my friend, and would never a.s.sa.s.sinate me.

Nn.

When did you become friends with her?

We fought antidemons together recently. I can a.s.sure you there is no problem with her.

As expected of a saintess, Sophies words instantly calmed down the crowd from the brink of eruption.

Hmm. I see.

Well done finding a friend your age!

Seliadot smiled broadly, while Filuria simply sighed in a bored manner. Did she just try to drive a wedge in between Fran and Sophie?

We really cant let our guard down for a second.