The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– Lover’s Contract (2)

The assassin’s corpse sprawled on the floor.

Leti’s composed figure in front of it entered my vision.

Her demeanor was proof enough that her words were the truth.

I blankly,

staring at Leti, asked,

“Since when has it been like this?”

I wondered when Leti had started suffering from assassination attempts.

Since when had it been like this, that she was so unperturbed?

“…It’s been about five years, I think.”

“Five years…”

Five years.

That was definitely not a short time.

To have been plagued by assassination for a whole five years.

I felt newly sorry for Leti.

“Of course, it’s not like an assassin comes every day, they just come like this sometimes. Though, today was lucky. I was able to prove it to you right away!”

“I suppose so.”

Leti’s apologetic tone felt a little pathetic.

I needed to continue the conversation, after all.

But something was more important than continuing our talk.

“Shouldn’t we…take care of that first?”

The assassin’s corpse.

Dealing with it was the priority.

A space with a corpse wasn’t exactly conducive to conversation, after all.

.

.

One more thing.

It was an occurrence that proved assassination attempts were commonplace.

The paladin, summoned by Leti.

He didn’t question cleaning up the assassin’s corpse.

Without a word, the paladin hoisted the body over his shoulder and exited.

As if it were not the first or second time this had happened.

Now alone once more with Leti, they continued their conversation.

“What are you planning to do from here?”

I was curious about her next steps.

“First, I intend to announce that I’ve found the Hero.”

“And after that?”

“After that, I plan to inform the high-ranking members of the Order that the Hero and I have become lovers. Those who ordered my assassination are the high-ranking Papal faction who know I am a beastkin.”

First, she will announce to the world that she is in a loving relationship with the Hero.

It was a good approach.

At least, if one were only thinking about buying time.

However-.

“Will that really be the end of it?”

The high-ranking members of the Order who tried to assassinate the Saintess.

Would they give up so easily?

The Saintess has become lovers with the Hero?

Given their previous assassination attempt, the odds were high they’d resort to another ploy.

For instance, another, even more clandestine assassination.

Leti began to explain her additional plans.

“For now, this is the plan. Primarily, to stall for time.”

“What will stalling change?”

“It will change things. The Saintess faction is largely comprised of younger members.”

I understood immediately.

The Saintess faction, built around the younger generation.

Conversely, the Papal faction, built around the older generation.

She was aiming for a generational shift, but-.

“Wouldn’t that take too long?”

If so, her lover’s pact with me would have to last for decades.

With that much time, we could defeat the Demon King and still have time to spare.

“Actually, there is an easier method, but…”

Leti suddenly looked embarrassed, lowering her head.

“I could just… marry you, Hero.”

“Hmm…?”

“Hehehe, it’s a last resort. Frankly, even the Papal faction wouldn’t dare to touch the Hero’s wife.”

Perhaps there was a way to ensure no one suffered.

Maybe marriage could be that way.

But—

“Something… doesn’t sit right.”

The word marriage brought Asia to mind.

The only one I knew… well, there was one other, but anyway, she was the only one who’d shown any interest in me.

And from the start – marriage with Letty was impossible.

Letty harbored affection, but it wasn’t the affection of a lover.

Admiration—

It felt like a feeling born of strong admiration.

If I were to marry, I wanted it to be with someone I loved mutually.

Therefore, I wasn’t sure about marrying Letty.

Anyway, setting aside these pointless thoughts,

I returned to the main topic.

“That sounds a bit far-fetched…. More importantly, why is the Papal faction suddenly trying to kill you?”

It had apparently started five years ago.

But why?

Logically, if they didn’t like her,

They should have killed her sooner.

“Oh… now that you mention it…?”

“Could it be… that you were appointed as a Saintess five years ago?”

“It’s been over ten years.”

“Then, were you revealed to be a Beastkin five years ago?”

“No. I’m from an orphanage run by the Order. So, the higher-ups have known that I’m a Beastkin for a long time.”

Then—

‘Why did they suddenly decide to kill her five years ago?’

“Did something happen five years ago…?”

“I, I’m not sure.”

The head of the Papal faction would be the Pope, presumably.

I felt the need to investigate what had happened to the Pope five years ago.

“Putting that aside for now, when do you plan to introduce me?”

“I was thinking of doing it tomorrow!”

Tomorrow, huh….

I exchanged a glance with Letty.

Letty, looking at me with bright, clear eyes.

After a moment, Letty’s tail began to wag slightly.

“Um… why are you suddenly looking at me with such a serious expression….”

Before I knew it, Letty’s cheeks were flushed.

The reason I was gazing at her intently.

It was to imprint her image in my mind.

“Since it’s a lover’s contract, I should at least properly acknowledge it.”

Lettie is my lover.

Ran was in a state of self-hypnosis.

It was to avoid any unnecessary mistakes.

Therefore, his current actions were a process of regarding Lettie as his lover.

However, because he hadn’t explained the reason,

Lettie couldn’t bear his gaze and blushed.

*

It was a space that naturally evoked reverence.

Understandably so.

This was the heart of the Order, after all.

Surrounded by statues of Lea, a pure white radiance emanated.

What a holy place this was.

“Even I’m a little nervous.”

A sacred place.

In such a place, I was surrounded by people.

As if being interrogated.

The Order’s high-ranking members surrounded me.

They questioned me as if holding an inquest.

“Hero, where are you from originally?”

“From the eastern part of the Deteosque Kingdom.”

“Ahem… to think you were so close…!”

I understood their reaction.

The eastern part of the Deteosque Kingdom.

That place, along with the south, bordered the Heavis Holy State.

In other words, the next country over.

They had a hero right next door and were looking all over the place.

It was only natural they would be surprised and feel a sense of futility.

“You seem to be quite well-trained; what is your level of attainment?”

“…I can manifest a fragment of golden aura.”

At my words, everyone present reacted with an ‘Oh…!’

This too was an understandable reaction.

Golden aura.

It signified a level of attainment nearing Sword Master.

It was a natural reaction to be happy that the hero they finally found was strong.

“Could you perhaps show us the mark of the Hero?”

“Yes.”

I removed my outer garment, turning my back to the high-ranking members.

The mole on my shoulder blade.

Upon confirming the mole, the high-ranking members rejoiced.

“Fi-finally, we’ve found you! You truly are the Hero!”

“A Sword Master Hero, no less… Lady Rhea truly thought of everything.”

It seemed my popularity was soaring with these people.

I donned my tunic once more and spoke.

“Ah… Perhaps I should mention this first. The Saintess and I, we’ve become lovers. It was love at first sight, you see.”

Plain and honest, I delivered the news.

As if there was no need to hide it.

They surely understood the implication of my words.

A warning not to trifle with my lover.

None could possibly misunderstand this warning.

Their faces, sour as unripe plums, proved as much.

“So, please take good care of the Saintess!”

Lest they hadn’t understood, I offered another, kinder warning.

However-.

One of the higher-ups.

A pig of a man, hardly resembling a clergyman, muttered.

“She must have prostituted herself, using her body to ensnare the Hero. Tsk, tsk! That such a lewd thing is called a Saintess… the world is truly ending!”

Instantly, my gaze turned to Letty.

Letty hung her head low, absorbing the insulting words aimed at her.

Seeing her like that, my body moved on its own accord.

I now thought of Letty as my lover with all my heart.

‘Am I supposed to just take that when they talk like that about my lover?’

A real lover wouldn’t stand for that.

That would be the normal reaction.

I strode toward the piggish clergyman.

“U-uh, Hero…?”

Perhaps it was because I was suddenly so close.

The pig clergyman didn’t seem to grasp the situation.

I raised my fist toward the face of that pig clergyman.

Not enough to kill him.

But enough to inflict pain as close to death as one could get.

*Thwack-*

The smitten clergyman lost consciousness, flying backward.

My expression hardened, I addressed the other high-ranking clergymen.

“I would advise you to watch your words when speaking of my lover.”

I had the justification,

And the status.

A Hero, his lover insulted.

And so, the higher-ranking clergymen offered no further comment,

Merely nodding their heads in acquiescence.

*

Haldert the priest, a man usually quick to sling insults her way.

Letty lowered her head, stung by his latest jab.

‘To say such things, even in the Champion’s presence…’

It was mortifying.

She felt as though he’d exposed some shameful part of her.

But then—

“Ch-Champion?”

The priest, Haldert, who had so offensively spoken against her.

The Champion’s fist had just connected with his face.

Everything happened so fast.

And then the Champion spoke.

“I would appreciate it if you watched your tongue around my beloved.”

Letty’s eyes met the Champion’s.

He graced her with a tender smile.

Seeing his face caused a strange feeling to well up within her chest.

A sensation wholly unlike anything she’d felt before.

The sheer, blossoming awkwardness made her drop her gaze once more.

For reasons she couldn’t quite name,

This surging feeling made it impossible to meet the Champion’s eyes.