I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 77

All the high-ranking priests staying in the temple were also arrested, but no significant testimonies came out.

Despite all the interrogations, Patr, who was caught at the scene, kept his mouth shut.

Of course, there were other topics of conversation.

“Did you hear? Prince Theodore is a wizard!”

“Yeah. The great wizard Johann Heyerard recognized him at a glance.”

“And he plotted with the Crown Prince!”

Rumors, very well crafted by Roymond, swept through the capital.

In fact, wizards can’t recognize each other, but the clumsy excuse that Johann was just too genius a wizard worked for the public in the capital.

“…I was scared.”

Theodore prostrated himself before the Emperor and begged.

“I was afraid of being dragged to the battlefield…”

He was a prince and hadn’t directly harmed anyone, so he wasn’t put on trial or detained.

However, he was placed under strict house arrest and all his private wealth was confiscated.

The temple and the imperial family were turned upside down, so naturally, the capital was noisy with that matter whenever people gathered.

And there was someone who steadfastly made his case in that messy situation.

“So, what about my triumphal return ceremony?”

It was Johann Heyerard.

And the person who had to deal with Johann Heyerard’s displeased expression was the oldest of the poor intermediate priests.

“Excuse me? In this situation… a triumphal return ceremony…”

“What’s wrong with this situation?”

Since all the high-ranking officials, including the chief priest, had been taken away, the remaining person became the ‘Acting Temple Representative’.

Of course, the title of ‘Acting Temple Representative’ was just created.

That’s because Johann Heyerard came directly to the temple and demanded, ‘Bring out the representative,’ so the title was hastily created.

The ‘Acting Temple Representative,’ who looked young, standing on the border between youth and boyhood, stammered in front of Johann and barely answered.

“This situation is… well, the Chief Priest has been arrested, right?”

Johann’s expression didn’t change at that pathetic remark. Rather, he asked again with an even more arrogant face.

“What does that have to do with me? Has the temple been closed because of that?”

The Acting Temple Representative thought, ‘Wow, he’s a real pain in the ass.’ Johann continued.

“Do your best with the staff you have. It doesn’t seem like you’re in a situation where you can’t receive guests.”

Why are you judging our situation…?

As he hesitated, suddenly a statue next to him collapsed with a crash.

Naturally, the Acting Temple Representative was startled and jumped.

And after seeing Johann’s eerie face standing there nonchalantly, he realized this was magic.

No, is the war hero shamelessly showing off his power in this kind of situation?

Johann raised his eyebrows and asked slowly.

“Why, is it too much to handle?”

And no one could stand up to a show of force.

“No, we can receive them!”

The Acting Temple Representative instinctively answered quickly and rolled his eyes, coming up with another excuse.

“But I heard that the imperial family is also very chaotic right now. I know that His Grace usually participates in the imperial family’s events, but because of Prince Theodore’s matter…”

“What does that have to do with me? Has the imperial family all died because of that?”

The Acting Temple Representative thought, ‘Wow, he’s a real jerk.’ Johann continued.

“I checked the rules and it said only one person needs to come. Make sure to bring someone.”

Johann muttered, ‘There’s one guy who’s blinded by love,’ but soon corrected himself, ‘No, there are two.’

The Acting Temple Representative, clearly intimidated, could only move his lips with a tearful expression.

As he hesitated, this time the tree behind him slowly fell and made a thudding sound.

The Acting Temple Representative had to quickly jump away from the falling tree once again.

No, is the war hero even destroying nature now?

“Why, can’t you bring someone even if I tell you to?”

Johann raised his eyebrows and asked slowly.

Since nature destruction could possibly lead to priest destruction, the Acting Temple Representative immediately shouted.

“We can! We definitely can!”

And looking at that scene, Johann mercilessly informed him.

“Three days.”

“…Yes?”

“I’m giving you a deadline of three days. I’ll come directly after visiting Daisy Village in three days. Anyway, you did the procedure, right?”

It wasn’t wrong.

In the end, the Acting Temple Representative had no choice but to nod with tears in his eyes.

Because there was nothing left to destroy around him anymore.

“Anyway, make sure to prepare well for my triumphal return ceremony.”

Johann even casually patted the Acting Temple Representative on the shoulder with a lazy smile.

He acted like a thug, not a war hero.

“Heyrard will be watching to make sure you don’t do anything stupid like you did in Daisy Village.”

“W-Watching?”

“Well… you can call it escorting.”

Before long, the Acting Temple Representative understood the meaning of those words.

Because the knights of the Heyrard estate surrounded the temple.

* * *

“I agreed to hold the triumphal return ceremony in three days. I also left knights to monitor the entry of others.”

As soon as he returned from the temple, Johann smiled softly at my face.

I was still staying at the Heyrard estate.

While taking a walk in the garden together, I carefully asked.

“Really? Did the temple say anything? Did they agree to the surveillance?”

I was sure that an intermediate priest would have come out, and I thought they would have looked troubled.

I asked for surveillance, but I thought the temple’s pride wouldn’t allow it easily.

I really didn’t expect it to be resolved so easily.

“Yeah, they didn’t say anything. They even thanked me for the escort.”

Johann answered with a bright smile.

“You don’t have to worry at all. The conversation ended easily and quickly.”

The way he smiled so beautifully and innocently made me feel at ease in an instant.

I was worried that I was asking for too much, but it was nothing, so I was really relieved.

“But the imperial family’s situation isn’t very good right now… I think I’ll have to go with Crown Prince Roymond. I don’t think they’ll let me in alone.”

“Ah, that seems okay.”

That was something that Meriel could take care of just by asking.

There was a reason why they were the couple who had a love story of the century in the original work.

“And it will be easier for us to work together if we have Crown Prince Roymond.”

“Huh? Us?”

I was planning to wander around alone while Johann bought time, but Johann looked at my expression and said firmly.

“This time, we’re moving together no matter what. Don’t ever leave my side.”

Well, he was kidnapped by Theodore even during that short time apart in Daisy Village, so it was no wonder Johann was anxious.

“But you don’t have to come…”

“Yurika.”

Johann smiled and said soothingly.

“I’m too weak. So you have to keep protecting me by my side. Like then.”

He seemed to be talking about when I stood in front of the Imperial Knights with my arms wide open to block Johann.

Yeah. I was going to protect him. Even though no one could see me.

Johann chuckled as I narrowed my eyes in dissatisfaction.

“Why are you like that? Seriously, that reliable back view was more reassuring than anything else in this world.”

“…”

“The priests… no, if we take the priests, that Meriel’s pushover… no, Crown Prince Roymond can buy us time.”

“Well, okay.”

I forcibly ignored the wrong words that came out of Johann’s mouth and clapped once. Anyway, the best thing is that things are going well.

“Anyway, that’s good. I thought there was a high possibility that they would refuse, but everything is working out.”

I was really glad that things were working out.

In fact, even while asking Johann to hold the triumphal return ceremony again, I kept saying, ‘Don’t push yourself too hard, I’ll find another way.’

The triumphal return ceremony wasn’t important. It was important for me to enter the temple myself.

‘It would be great if I could find the secret related to the Medest family, and even better if I could find my father!’

Johann smiled slightly and agreed as I was happy.

“Well, it seems like they’ll hold it right away. Don’t worry.”

Um, they were that cooperative? That’s unexpected…

Is it just the upper management that’s like that, and the lower levels are relatively clean?

I was puzzled, but anyway, the best thing is that things are going well.

Johann tilted his head and asked as I smiled brightly.

“But why did you say you’d give them three days?”

“Ah.”

I smiled confidently.

That’s because I specifically asked Johann to ‘go and beg them to hold the triumphal return ceremony in three days.’

“I don’t think that chaotic atmosphere will be resolved even after three days.”

I grinned at Johann’s words.

“Since we’re going to search the temple anyway, I think we should do it efficiently.”

I have a plan!