WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Potter
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◈ The Protagonist of a Romance Fantasy Only Likes Me ◈
Chapter 22: Saintess Marigold. (6)
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12.
Living diligently was truly hard work.
Lancel knew that no matter how many times he died and came back, he would never be able to work as hard as he had in the Third Iteration.
They said there was a limit to how much effort one could expend. Perhaps he had used all of his up in those days when he had been called the Knight of Dawn.
No matter how hard he tried now, unless it was something extraordinary, it would probably be difficult for him to grow as strong as he had been then.
In the end, all he had gained were little tricks and shortcuts.
How could he gain the greatest ability with the least effort? How could he achieve the greatest effect with the least mana?
Lancel was now someone who had mastered the most efficient use of mana on the continent.
“Th-the holy, Saintess's... protection...”
“Why are you so unsure of yourself?”
Today alone, Lancel had already urged the stammering Marigold several times.
“...I don't really know what a blessing that makes people stronger is supposed to be...”
She looked about to cry.
“Believe in yourself. And believe in me. You really do have talent.”
In truth, Lancel did not expect Marigold to suddenly awaken white magic and wield divine power. He only wanted it to look that way.
In that sense, though he felt bad saying it, the fact that she could not see was a little fortunate.
He had to deceive Marigold herself first.
“In the Saintess's name.”
When Marigold solemnly recited the prayer, awed reactions rose around them.
“D-did something really happen?”
“Light! It's glowing!”
Those were Baron Evil Shen and Hestie's reactions. They were sincere. Lancel had never told them to make a fuss beforehand.
A soft light was genuinely shining from Lancel Dante's sword.
This very light was the secret behind his title as the Knight of Dawn. It was likely not even one hundredth as bright as it had been then, but light was still light. The blade lit the darkness with just the right holy air.
“What? What?”
Not knowing what she had done, Marigold looked around.
“See? You can do it, Mary. Thanks to you, I feel strength rising in me. Look. Well, you can't.”
It was not a lie. When someone encouraged you, did you not feel a little stronger?
Like how smelling ammonia at the gym let you lift more weight. Something like that. Exactly that.
“I-I really did it? Did I really gain that divine power...?”
Marigold herself seemed deeply moved.
At last, she felt relief and happiness at the thought, ‘I finally accomplished something!’
“I told you that you had talent.”
From that day on, Marigold seemed to become fixated on it. Whenever she had a spare moment, she went around reciting prayers for Lancel and the people of the estate.
“I'll share my strength with you! Everyone, just believe in me!”
Naturally, nobody showed visible effects like Lancel did, but for some reason, the servants of the estate and Baron Evil Shen began saying things like this.
“It truly is miraculous. I really do feel strength welling up in my body. When I have time, I should visit the Saintess Church too. I used to think it was better to earn even one more coin than spend time believing in a god, but this is something else.”
“My shoulders do feel a little less sore. Perhaps Mary is more remarkable than we thought, young master.”
They spoke as though divine power had truly affected them.
Thinking it was probably some kind of placebo effect, Lancel let it pass.
“Mary, are you ready?”
“Yes, Brother!”
And so, the day of the demonic beast hunt arrived.
.
.
.
When the demonic beast's eyes glinted in the darkness of the forest, it was hard not to freeze.
Grrrrrr...
It was a wolf, swollen to several times its normal size and brimming with dense mana.
The black mane rising along its spine rippled as though it were one with the forest's shadows, while thick fluid dripped from its two vicious fangs in foaming drops.
It was large enough to swallow even a grown adult alive.
It was only natural that the knights of the pilgrimage party, who had arrived so confidently, broke out in cold sweat.
“A monster...!”
“F-form up!”
“Bring everyone over here, quickly!”
The pilgrimage party's ranks fell into disorder.
Just as everyone was panicking,
“Lancel Dante, you are stronger now. Bring me the enemy's head.”
Boom!
A knight tore through the pilgrimage party's ranks. He charged straight toward the demonic beast.
“In the Saintess's name.”
The sword in his hand burst into brilliance.
Light that illuminated the darkness of the forest.
Roooar!
Sensing danger, the demonic beast bared its fangs and sprang high into the air. At nearly the same instant, a dazzling line cut across its body.
Slice!
Something flew into the air, leaving only the dreadful sound of flesh being severed. It traced an arc and fell before the pilgrimage party.
Thud!
“...!”
Only then did the pilgrimage party realize it was the demonic beast's head.
The wolf that had bared its vicious fangs moments ago now rolled stiffly through the mud.
Its headless body staggered away on its own before finally collapsing.
The man was carefully retrieving his blade, not a drop of blood on it.
“Saintess, today as well, I have purified another evil.”
Silence fell.
The blue hem of his cloak fluttered behind him after he had slain the demonic beast in a single strike.
The knights and priests of the pilgrimage party, the hunters serving as guides, and the residents of nearby villages. It was the moment Lancel Dante was carved into all their memories.
13.
“In recognition of your achievement in subjugating the demonic beast, we will grant the Saintess Church a modest reward.”
The Imperial Household sent the Saintess Church a banner. It was a banner certifying it as an officially recognized religious order.
It was a bitter matter for the pilgrimage party, who had lost the credit, but not painful enough to sting.
After all, it was only a banner that even an order like the Church of Salvation possessed. The Church of Martyrdom had no reason to envy such a reward.
But the Imperial Knight Tournament was another matter. Money was at stake.
* * *
“All knights, forward!”
Ten knights rode into the broad clearing.
Most wore the winged emblem of the Church of Martyrdom, but one was different.
A pair of neatly folded hands within a round wreath. That knight wore the symbol of the Saintess Church embroidered on his cloak.
“Only one knight will advance to the main tournament: the one who remains mounted until the end. Prepare!”
The pilgrimage party's knights exchanged looks at once. This was a competition even among them. In the end, only one would remain.
But they were all agreed on at least one thing.
‘First, we take down Lancel Dante!’
Their eyes found the man with a wooden lance resting on his shoulder. Lancel Dante of the Saintess Church. He was the first target. Their competition among themselves would begin after that bastard fell from his horse.
“Begin!”
Boom! Ten horses kicked off from the grassy ground at once.
Deafening cheers erupted from the spectators beyond the fence.
“If I lose my money, I won't let you off just because you're knights!”
“Odley! Every penny I own is on you!”
Those who normally could not even meet a knight's eyes were different here. Each held a wooden betting token with the odds written on it and shouted at the top of their lungs.
“Please, if you fall here, we'll go bankrupt, Lancel.”
Baron Evil Shen was among them. Looking at the wooden token marked with a huge sum, he anxiously smacked his lips.
Lancel Dante had gained quite a name as the knight who slew the demonic beast, but here, he was the greatest underdog.
It could not be helped.
For one thing, he was far too young, and few thought he could win among knights who overwhelmingly belonged to the Church of Martyrdom.
Baron Evil Shen might have been the only one here who had bet a large sum on him.
“No!”
Baron Evil Shen's face went pale at the sight of nine riders closing in around Lancel.
* * *
“Get him!”
Riders pressed close on both sides of Lancel as he raced across the clearing.
Lancel did not even spare a glance for those targeting him.
Instead, he urged his horse onward and pursued one of the pilgrimage party's knights.
“M-make him fall! Quickly!”
“Too late.”
Lancel's wooden lance caught the fleeing knight at the shoulder.
His tremendous strength literally seized the man and threw him.
“Aaaagh!”
The riders raced past the knight, who flew far away and rolled across the ground. They desperately tried to keep up with Lancel.
Lancel neither defended against nor confronted the attacks of those pursuing him. He only continued racing after fresh prey.
“Eeeeek!”
Bang! Another knight was thrown from the saddle. When no fewer than four knights were unhorsed in the same manner, unease spread among the others.
Perhaps they felt it in their bones. The prey being hunted might not be him, but them.
“You're slow.”
Lancel's voice was quiet.
“No... Aaagh!”
The fifth knight was flung from the saddle.
“Come back after more practice.”
When the pilgrimage party's knights saw the smile on Lancel's lips, a chill ran down their backs.
The moment fear overtook them, the result was all but decided.
Before ten minutes had passed, only one knight remained mounted.
“The winner is Lancel Dante!”
Baron Evil Shen raised both arms and ran into the clearing, shouting.
“I am rich! Lancel, you're a god!”
Lancel lightly passed by Baron Evil Shen as he ran toward him. He approached Marigold, who was in the shade of a tree.
Amid the noisy cheers, the horse carrying Lancel and Marigold raced across the clearing.
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Fame Event: Lancel Dante, a knight of Marigold's Church, has advanced to the main tournament. Everyone in the imperial capital is watching Marigold's Church.
==========
“Are the pilgrimage party's knights only this capable? Is there still no one who can surpass Lancel Dante of the Saintess Church?”
His taunting voice echoed in the minds of the pilgrimage party's knights, who sat sprawled on the ground, for a long time.
.
.
.
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Fame Event: The eleventh church has been built!
※Marigold's Karma decreases by 1 point.
Fame Event: The twelfth church has been built!
※Marigold's Karma decreases by 1 point.
Fame Event: The thirteenth church has been built!
※Marigold's Karma decreases by 1 point.
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.
.
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Fame Event: The thirtieth church has been built!
※Marigold's Karma decreases by 1 point.
==========
A few months after Lancel began going around stirring things up.
Only a few months after rumors quietly began to spread that Marigold was a priest who bestowed blessings.
The number of statues of the Saintess erected in Rodnis, the imperial capital, had exceeded thirty.
* * *
“Pathetic fools.”
As soon as Duke Mayril Dun heard the news, the duke's face turned red.
Every time the pilgrimage party's knights performed miserably in the tournament, Duke Mayril Dun's reputation began to crack as well.
“This is a festival for the Church of Martyrdom. Surely we cannot let an unrelated man snatch it away?”
The words of the Imperial Archbishop who had summoned Duke Mayril Dun still echoed in the duke's ears. They had been spoken gently, but put simply, they meant, ‘You, not I, are responsible for this. If you don't like it, you should have won.’
That was the problem. It was difficult to deny it outright. Was Duke Mayril Dun not the very person who had gathered the knights and formed the pilgrimage party?
The pilgrimage party.
The demonic beast subjugation.
The knight tournament.
All were matters Duke Mayril Dun had approved.
All were achievements taken away from beneath the duke.
Having stepped forward to become responsible, Duke Mayril Dun had to produce the best results, no matter what. Once the stage was set, one had to win.
That was the law of the Church of Martyrdom.
“In the next match, bring him down. Whatever it takes.”
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