The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 56

Chapter 56: Taking Her Away

“Me… an existence that can resist the White Catastrophe?”

In response to my mutterings, Serena nodded. Aria seemed just as stunned by Serena’s words as I was.

“W-What? Serena knew about the White Catastrophe through her staff and came to the Holy Land to find a way to resist it, and that way is me? Wait, information is coming in one after another, and my head…”

“S-Sorry… I understand this is all very sudden.”

Serena hurriedly comforted Aria, who looked like smoke was about to come out of her head. I, too, wanted some time to process this information, but we didn’t have that luxury.

“Let’s set aside whether I’m the one you’re looking for as a means of resistance for now. What are your plans from here?”

In response to my question, Serena and Aria turned to face me. Serena explained the current situation while scratching her head.

“Our goal is to protect you from the people who attacked Victoria and the Church’s top brass. Assuming your mission is accomplished, what do you intend to do? Will you come with us to the Empire?”

Aria also looked at Serena with a serious expression. Serena closed her eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then made up her mind to answer.

“Please take me with you. Since I’ve met you, there’s no reason for me to leave the Holy Land as it is.”

She said, reaching into her bag and taking out a stack of papers. When I received them and glanced at the contents, I found a list of financial transactions, contracts, and evidence of corruption by the upper echelons of the Holy Church.

“These are the pieces of evidence I’ve collected over the past five years, including proof of corruption by the Pope and other top officials. I haven’t gathered everything, but I also have records of their greedy actions.”

“This is quite something. If this were made public, the upper echelons of the Launus Orthodox Church would be in turmoil.”

“I inherited this from Mother Martina, who became my guardian when I came here. She told me to use it effectively when the time came.”

Mother Martina was a person I had heard of even before. She was known as the “Saint Mother” and held the position of Bishop. She established an educational system and infrastructure within the Church to improve literacy and provide opportunities for orphans and those with nowhere to go. She had been carrying out charitable activities across the Hume Continent for the past five years.

“The corruption in this country escalated rapidly after Mother Martina was driven out by the conspiracies of the Pope and others five years ago. I created the impression of being an ignorant and devout nobleman’s daughter to avoid arousing their suspicion.”

“…It’s amazing that you managed to stay safe with all this. People who would do all this wouldn’t just let you go.”

“Some did try to do such things to me, but I told them, ‘The Holy Staff only recognizes those of pure heart. Are you still willing to proceed?’ They backed down.”

“Huh? Does the Holy Staff really have such a condition?”

“Of course not. But they would have no way of knowing that. The conditions for being chosen by the staff, which had been neglected for three hundred years, are something those people couldn’t possibly understand.”

Serena shared her escape from the malice directed at her with a mischievous smile. Her strength of character reminded me somewhat of Aria and her sisters.

“Alright, it’s decided then. First, we’ll take Serena with us…”

I was about to confirm the message sent by Chaos Crusader when I moved to the window to check outside. What I saw beyond the window made me furrow my brow involuntarily.

“Belk?”

“It seems the Holy Church has no intention of letting us go easily.”

I prompted both of them to check outside from the window as well. Fully armed members of the Orthodox Knights were approaching us from the distance down the city road…