Callius came out of the prayer room and ran somewhere in a hurry.
Brentian, whom he met on the way, shoved some documents in his hand as if it was a good chance to meet him, but Callius passed by without even looking at them and shouted at Brentian.
"Brentian, I'll prepare the sacrifice. Have Mainz prepare the altar. When the time comes, bring Chloe out."
“Huh? A sudden ritual? What the...?”
Brentian seemed confused by Callius' sudden announcement that he would perform the ritual that had not been performed since Ilya's death.
But Callius passed him by without further explanation.
All he could think about was freeing Chloe from the Kavala curse as soon as possible.
'I need a sacrifice.'
A sacrifice that will give Chloe, who is dying, her overflowing life force.
At the same time, Andrew was just as anxious about Hillen as Callius was about Chloe.
"Hillen was very sick last night. She told me not to tell Andrew, because she didn't want him to worry..."
This was the story that Karl's younger sister, Leviche, who often nurses Hillen, told him as soon as she arrived at work this morning.
“I think it would be a good idea to take a vacation today and go. Definitely.”
Leviche's expression as she gave her earnest request was unusual.
Andrew felt uneasy as the pain of his childhood came back to him.
The fear that Hillen might be dead when he returns home.
It seemed like this time he would finally see that sight.
'I must hurry and go to Hillen's side.'
Even as he thought that, Andrew kept his mouth shut and didn't even mention the vacation to the captain, Hawick.
Rather than feeling the need to quickly go to Hillen, he was more afraid and wanted to turn away.
Now, all Andrew had left was his father and Hillen.
It had been a long time since he had acknowledged his father as family, so Hillen was practically his only blood relative.
Andrew was even more scared because he cared for and loved Hillen.
Howick, who didn't know the situation, spoke to Andrew, who was hesitating like that.
“You’re on duty today, Andrew. You know that, right?”
“Huh? What’s your turn?”
“I mean, watching over the sinners in the basement.”
"Ah..."
For some time now, the knights have been taking turns keeping an eye on Sernia, a spy of Kavala who has been locked in the basement.
It was a matter of watching her to make sure she didn't have any contact with Kavala.
'I have to say I'm taking a vacation...'
Andrew eventually dragged his feet to the dungeon without any motivation, unable to bring up the story.
The dungeon was terribly cold.
Even for Andrew, who was used to the cold of Ronheim, the cold of the prison was unpleasant.
Maybe it was because the air was damp.
Another maid, Lina, who had been demoted to a laundry maid and forced to do the grueling laundry work, envied Sernia, who was locked up in prison and did nothing, but if she actually set foot in the dungeon, her thoughts would completely change.
“It’s my turn, Rudney.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m alive.”
Fellow knight Rudney, who had been watching Sernia, the spy of Kavala, all night, sighed in exhaustion.
“I want to go and take a hot bath. Thanks, Andrew.”
“Yes, go.”
Andrew answered listlessly and sat down in the chair where Rudney had been sitting.
Chloe had said he only had to watch Sernia for a certain amount of time, but he had no idea how long that would be.
After she fell ill, the time spent watching Sernia like this grew longer and longer without any end in sight.
Andrew sighed deeply as he thought of Hillen, then glanced at Sernia.
The small candle hanging above Andrew's head provided some light in the dark basement.
Sernia was crouching in her cage, her only thing left was a worn, smelly blanket spread on the floor.
The shadow of the stone wall obscured her view from the neck up, but Andrew looked closely at Sernia and was startled to see that she was staring at him with a menacing gaze.
“Oh, that’s a surprise.”
He was so surprised that he got embarrassed and irritated with Sernia for no reason.
“What are you looking at?”
“I know you.”
Sernia came closer to the iron fence, saying something out of the blue.
She was so weak from not eating properly that she couldn't even stand up.
Chef Latina was so stingy that she said she had no food for sinners, so Sernia could only get one potato a day.
Andrew was annoyed by Sernia's strange voice, which made him bang his fist on the iron bars.
"You witch, where the hell are you trying to get your nonsense from? Turn around right now."
“Do you have a sick sister?”
“...!”
Andrew paused for a moment.
But he soon came to his senses and shouted threateningly.
“How long have you been running around and investigating? You’re so unlucky.”
Even though he knew it was foolish to be a sinner's companion, Andrew was enraged when Hillen's story came up.
It seems that while she was with Chloe, Sernia must have been wandering around Ronheim Castle and investigating many people.
She must have gathered all kinds of information while working as a spy.
Andrew was astonished by Sernia's unexpected thoroughness.
'She's even investigating things about Hillen.'
Sernia looked at Andrew, who was angry and swearing, and without being afraid, she raised her sharp eyes and whispered secretly.
“I know how to cure your little sister.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Open your mouth one more time, and I’ll pull out all your hair.”
Even though he let go of the grip, Sernia didn't stop.
Anyway, she believed that she would die soon, either from starvation or disease, while locked in this dungeon.
She had nothing to fear as she faced death.
"Would you like to make a deal with me? I'll heal your sister, and you'll teach me how to use the Holy Grail."
“...?”
Andrew's expression turned grim at the mention of the Holy Grail.
“As rumored, Kavala possessed the Holy Grail.”
Andrew spat at Sernia as if he were offended.
“Why should I tell that to someone like you?”
Sernia slowly wiped the drool from her face.
There were tears in her eyes.
"I have a sick sister, too. I risked my life to come to Ronheim to save her. Do you think I'm doing this on purpose?"
The tears that had been welling up fell and soaked her cheeks.
“I don’t mind dying! As long as I can save my little sister...”
Andrew's spirits were slightly dampened by the news that she had a sick sister.
He couldn't stop Sernia from talking, thinking of the sick Hillen, even though he thought Sernia might be lying.
“...”
"The Empress of Kavala promised that if I could just find out the truth about the Holy Grail, she would use it to save my sister. Please..."
Sernia looked up at Andrew earnestly.
"I'll somehow beg the Empress to spare your sister's life. Please, just tell me how to use it."
"...Bulshit."
"You can't reclaim the Holy Grail anyway. Don't you know that? Ronheim's forces can't attack Arrental."
“...”
"Marquis Rodrian will never recover the Holy Grail. If that's the case, wouldn't it be more promising for you to offer information to Empress Kavala in exchange for your sister's life?"
Andrew glared at Sernia.
“Maybe so.”
Sernia's expression brightened at his words.
But Andrew added firmly.
“But I can’t join hands with the witch who brought Ronheim to this state just to save my sister.”
As he said that, Andrew became inexplicably angry.
He was annoyed at Sernia for shaking people up with such words, and he felt ashamed of himself for listening to her every word.
He was filled with anger at himself for listening to the stories of a Southerner skilled in scheming, especially a spy from Kavala.
But the most frustrating part was that, for a moment, he thought Sernia's words made sense.
Why do you say things like this and upset yourself?
Andrew, unable to bear the surging anger, kicked and punched the iron bars Sernia was holding onto.
“Now, if you could just say one more word...!”
Sernia cut him off as he was about to say that he would not let it go.
“You look just like your father.”
"...What?"
Sernia's eyes were flashing menacingly.
“I heard your father said something similar about your mother.”
Andrew felt a chill run down his spine as he heard her talk about her father.
Brentian, whom he met on the way, shoved some documents in his hand as if it was a good chance to meet him, but Callius passed by without even looking at them and shouted at Brentian.
"Brentian, I'll prepare the sacrifice. Have Mainz prepare the altar. When the time comes, bring Chloe out."
“Huh? A sudden ritual? What the...?”
Brentian seemed confused by Callius' sudden announcement that he would perform the ritual that had not been performed since Ilya's death.
But Callius passed him by without further explanation.
All he could think about was freeing Chloe from the Kavala curse as soon as possible.
'I need a sacrifice.'
A sacrifice that will give Chloe, who is dying, her overflowing life force.
***
At the same time, Andrew was just as anxious about Hillen as Callius was about Chloe.
"Hillen was very sick last night. She told me not to tell Andrew, because she didn't want him to worry..."
This was the story that Karl's younger sister, Leviche, who often nurses Hillen, told him as soon as she arrived at work this morning.
“I think it would be a good idea to take a vacation today and go. Definitely.”
Leviche's expression as she gave her earnest request was unusual.
Andrew felt uneasy as the pain of his childhood came back to him.
The fear that Hillen might be dead when he returns home.
It seemed like this time he would finally see that sight.
'I must hurry and go to Hillen's side.'
Even as he thought that, Andrew kept his mouth shut and didn't even mention the vacation to the captain, Hawick.
Rather than feeling the need to quickly go to Hillen, he was more afraid and wanted to turn away.
Now, all Andrew had left was his father and Hillen.
It had been a long time since he had acknowledged his father as family, so Hillen was practically his only blood relative.
Andrew was even more scared because he cared for and loved Hillen.
Howick, who didn't know the situation, spoke to Andrew, who was hesitating like that.
“You’re on duty today, Andrew. You know that, right?”
“Huh? What’s your turn?”
“I mean, watching over the sinners in the basement.”
"Ah..."
For some time now, the knights have been taking turns keeping an eye on Sernia, a spy of Kavala who has been locked in the basement.
It was a matter of watching her to make sure she didn't have any contact with Kavala.
'I have to say I'm taking a vacation...'
Andrew eventually dragged his feet to the dungeon without any motivation, unable to bring up the story.
The dungeon was terribly cold.
Even for Andrew, who was used to the cold of Ronheim, the cold of the prison was unpleasant.
Maybe it was because the air was damp.
Another maid, Lina, who had been demoted to a laundry maid and forced to do the grueling laundry work, envied Sernia, who was locked up in prison and did nothing, but if she actually set foot in the dungeon, her thoughts would completely change.
“It’s my turn, Rudney.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m alive.”
Fellow knight Rudney, who had been watching Sernia, the spy of Kavala, all night, sighed in exhaustion.
“I want to go and take a hot bath. Thanks, Andrew.”
“Yes, go.”
Andrew answered listlessly and sat down in the chair where Rudney had been sitting.
Chloe had said he only had to watch Sernia for a certain amount of time, but he had no idea how long that would be.
After she fell ill, the time spent watching Sernia like this grew longer and longer without any end in sight.
Andrew sighed deeply as he thought of Hillen, then glanced at Sernia.
The small candle hanging above Andrew's head provided some light in the dark basement.
Sernia was crouching in her cage, her only thing left was a worn, smelly blanket spread on the floor.
The shadow of the stone wall obscured her view from the neck up, but Andrew looked closely at Sernia and was startled to see that she was staring at him with a menacing gaze.
“Oh, that’s a surprise.”
He was so surprised that he got embarrassed and irritated with Sernia for no reason.
“What are you looking at?”
“I know you.”
Sernia came closer to the iron fence, saying something out of the blue.
She was so weak from not eating properly that she couldn't even stand up.
Chef Latina was so stingy that she said she had no food for sinners, so Sernia could only get one potato a day.
Andrew was annoyed by Sernia's strange voice, which made him bang his fist on the iron bars.
"You witch, where the hell are you trying to get your nonsense from? Turn around right now."
“Do you have a sick sister?”
“...!”
Andrew paused for a moment.
But he soon came to his senses and shouted threateningly.
“How long have you been running around and investigating? You’re so unlucky.”
Even though he knew it was foolish to be a sinner's companion, Andrew was enraged when Hillen's story came up.
It seems that while she was with Chloe, Sernia must have been wandering around Ronheim Castle and investigating many people.
She must have gathered all kinds of information while working as a spy.
Andrew was astonished by Sernia's unexpected thoroughness.
'She's even investigating things about Hillen.'
Sernia looked at Andrew, who was angry and swearing, and without being afraid, she raised her sharp eyes and whispered secretly.
“I know how to cure your little sister.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Open your mouth one more time, and I’ll pull out all your hair.”
Even though he let go of the grip, Sernia didn't stop.
Anyway, she believed that she would die soon, either from starvation or disease, while locked in this dungeon.
She had nothing to fear as she faced death.
"Would you like to make a deal with me? I'll heal your sister, and you'll teach me how to use the Holy Grail."
“...?”
Andrew's expression turned grim at the mention of the Holy Grail.
“As rumored, Kavala possessed the Holy Grail.”
Andrew spat at Sernia as if he were offended.
“Why should I tell that to someone like you?”
Sernia slowly wiped the drool from her face.
There were tears in her eyes.
"I have a sick sister, too. I risked my life to come to Ronheim to save her. Do you think I'm doing this on purpose?"
The tears that had been welling up fell and soaked her cheeks.
“I don’t mind dying! As long as I can save my little sister...”
Andrew's spirits were slightly dampened by the news that she had a sick sister.
He couldn't stop Sernia from talking, thinking of the sick Hillen, even though he thought Sernia might be lying.
“...”
"The Empress of Kavala promised that if I could just find out the truth about the Holy Grail, she would use it to save my sister. Please..."
Sernia looked up at Andrew earnestly.
"I'll somehow beg the Empress to spare your sister's life. Please, just tell me how to use it."
"...Bulshit."
"You can't reclaim the Holy Grail anyway. Don't you know that? Ronheim's forces can't attack Arrental."
“...”
"Marquis Rodrian will never recover the Holy Grail. If that's the case, wouldn't it be more promising for you to offer information to Empress Kavala in exchange for your sister's life?"
Andrew glared at Sernia.
“Maybe so.”
Sernia's expression brightened at his words.
But Andrew added firmly.
“But I can’t join hands with the witch who brought Ronheim to this state just to save my sister.”
As he said that, Andrew became inexplicably angry.
He was annoyed at Sernia for shaking people up with such words, and he felt ashamed of himself for listening to her every word.
He was filled with anger at himself for listening to the stories of a Southerner skilled in scheming, especially a spy from Kavala.
But the most frustrating part was that, for a moment, he thought Sernia's words made sense.
Why do you say things like this and upset yourself?
Andrew, unable to bear the surging anger, kicked and punched the iron bars Sernia was holding onto.
“Now, if you could just say one more word...!”
Sernia cut him off as he was about to say that he would not let it go.
“You look just like your father.”
"...What?"
Sernia's eyes were flashing menacingly.
“I heard your father said something similar about your mother.”
Andrew felt a chill run down his spine as he heard her talk about her father.
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