My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 44

§ 44 – Back to Ruben (1)

Aria’s words were cut off, and her mind momentarily left her body once more.

Aria soon regained her senses and spoke,

“…Is there anything besides money?”

“Anything besides money?”

Aria cautiously broached the subject.

“Like… the position of Honorary Saintess?”

“I don’t need it.”

But Cian refused outright.

As if it wasn’t even worth considering.

“Wait a minute! This isn’t something given to just anyone. You can receive treatment equivalent to an archbishop in the Holy Empire. And you can request the Order’s help at any time.”

Moreover, it was an ‘honorary’ position practically unrelated to the Order.

She wouldn’t even have to fulfill the duties of a saintess.

It was a position with no obligations.

Only privileges.

Therefore, it was a position that couldn’t be obtained without a recommendation from a cardinal or higher.

And that’s why it was Aria’s hidden card.

But.

“Honorary Saintess my ass. I wouldn’t take the Pope’s seat even if you gave it to me.”

Cian didn’t even hesitate.

“…”

Aria was genuinely dumbfounded.

The position of Honorary Saintess was a glorious one even within the Holy Empire.

More than anything, it was a position that couldn’t be bought even with ten million gold.

In reality, nobles with some clout were lobbying extensively to receive the title of Honorary Saintess.

Others were desperate to receive the position.

But Cian was like…

“So, how much?”

He was just going to take the money.

For the first time ever.

No, probably for the first time in the history of the Holy Empire.

And Cian genuinely had no interest.

A knight who wielded mana dealing with holy orders?

What nonsense was that?

It would only be repulsive to receive it.

“No, why would you refuse a position that others are desperate for?”

“That’s them, not me.”

“Don’t you know how prestigious the position of Honorary Saintess is?”

“Prestige my ass. I don’t need it, okay? And you. Are you going to keep changing the subject?”

Aria had nothing more to say.

He really…

He was really going to take the money.

“…I’ll give you 50,000 gold.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll throw this away.”

Cian turned around without hesitation.

“100,000!”

Cian stopped moving.

But the expression he wore clearly said, ‘Only that much…?’

“I can’t give you any more! I only received 100,000 gold for travel expenses.”

“You received 100,000 gold for travel expenses?”

Was she going to buy a piece of land in each region and travel?

As expected, a saintess was a saintess.

“Still, 100,000 gold is too cheap…”

It was a bit of a waste to give it away for 100,000 gold.

But it seemed like she really only had 100,000 gold.

Of course, that meant she only had 100,000 gold on hand right now.

Surely, the Holy Empire’s wealth wasn’t only 100,000 gold.

And Aria was a saintess with an unrivaled position within the Holy Empire.

If he pressured her a little more.

He could probably squeeze out more gold.

But that would be squeezing the Holy Empire, not Aria.

It wouldn’t be difficult to squeeze it out.

But if he did that, he would needlessly get involved with the Holy Empire.

And not in a good way.

Therefore, it would be better to end it with Aria.

‘Should I just squeeze it out?’

Honestly, what was there that he couldn’t squeeze out?

Wasn’t he already squeezing out the imperial family’s legacy?

There was nothing he couldn’t do to the Holy Empire…

‘Ah, no.’

But Cian quickly shook his head.

Because he had a better idea.

“Alright. 100,000 gold.”

Aria’s eyes widened at Cian’s answer.

And she hurriedly spoke, afraid that Cian would change his mind.

“Okay. Once we get out of here─”

“And receive.”

But Cian was one step ahead.

Of course, Cian had no intention of ending it with 100,000 gold.

Cian added.

“I’ll give you this if you accept two conditions.”

“…What are they?”

Cian held up his right index finger and said.

“First. Don’t breathe a word about what happened in this hall to anyone.”

That included several things.

The fact that Leah was in the hall.

And the fact that Cian and Arnaise were involved.

Lastly, the fact that Cian looted various legacies.

“If you receive this, you’re an accomplice to tomb raiding, aren’t you?”

“…”

In fact, Aria had received permission from the Crown Prince.

But if you really thought about it, Cian wasn’t wrong.

More than anything, if that ghost, Leah, was Charlotte’s younger sister, then it wasn’t even tomb raiding.

Of course, it was incredibly surprising that Cian and Arnaise from a thousand years ago had some connection…

“…Okay.”

Aria nodded.

Cian spoke again.

“And honestly. Giving this legacy away for 100,000 gold is too cheap, you know?”

Aria acknowledged that.

This was Charlotte the Great’s legacy.

100,000 gold was practically free.

That’s why she tried to buy it with the position of Honorary Saintess instead of money, wasn’t it?

Cian looked at Aria and said.

“Make up for the remaining amount with your body.”

“With my body…?”

Aria flinched!

And she looked at Cian with a gaze as if she were looking at the scum of the earth.

“Are you crazy?!”

“Why? Don’t you like it? Didn’t you just say it could be something other than money?”

“How can you say that now! Of course─!”

“Then what. I can’t help it.”

Cian turned his body away.

“You really!”

Aria welled up and gathered her divine power.

If she didn’t smack the back of that rascal’s head right now, she felt like she would burst.

But that was only for a moment.

Twitch!

Aria immediately scattered the divine power she had gathered.

Because just now.

She felt Leah’s presence somewhere!

She couldn’t see her.

But the terrifying murderous intent she felt now.

It was a murderous intent that seemed to say she would really kill her if she touched Cian!

Aria lowered her eyes slightly.

And she pondered for a long time.

A demon detector.

That was a necessary item.

Demons from a thousand years ago.

She had to confirm whether they had been resurrected.

This was directly related to a crisis for the entire continent.

She couldn’t give up like this.

Aria slowly opened her mouth.

“H, how…”

Aria’s face turned bright red.

“How… can I… do it…?”

Cian smirked and said.

“Follow me.”

#

Aria was able to leave the Imperial Palace with Cian.

She briefly met Crown Prince Conrad when leaving the Imperial Palace.

But she was able to leave the place by saying she had urgent business.

Conrad was puzzled.

But he soon secretly helped Cian and Aria leave the Imperial Palace.

Thus, without any major incidents.

Cian and Aria were able to leave the Imperial Palace.

Cian, who had left the Imperial Palace, moved without saying a word.

Aria followed Cian silently, hiding her face.

She was quite curious as to where he was going.

But Aria couldn’t bring herself to ask.

How long had they walked like that?

Cian’s footsteps stopped.

And the place where Cian’s footsteps stopped.

“…A slum?”

It was a slum located in the capital of the Empire.

Cian stood in front of a shabby house in the slum.

And he went inside without hesitation.

Why here…?

Just as she was thinking that.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming in?”

Cian only poked his head out and urged Aria.

Aria followed Cian into the house.

Having entered the house like that.

Unlike its exterior, the interior wasn’t that shabby.

Cian acted as if it were his own home.

He strode inside and said.

“Jerry. Are you inside?”

It seemed to be the house of someone named Jerry.

As expected, someone walked out of the room.

A beautiful woman with long red hair.

She looked like the daughter of a fairly well-known noble family…

“Lord…?”

“Lord?”

Aria tilted her head.

That title of lord.

It wouldn’t be directed at her.

It must be directed at Cian.

That meant.

‘Is he a lord responsible for a territory?’

Aria looked at Cian with a dazed gaze.

“Oh? Amelia was here too?”

“Ah, yes. I was preparing to leave for Ruben when you returned, Lord.”

Cian nodded.

“Where’s Jerry?”

“He’s in the room.”

“How is he?”

Amelia’s expression darkened at Cian’s question.

And after a moment of hesitation, she slowly opened her mouth.

“He’s not doing well. It’s only getting worse. I’m worried that something bad might happen on the way to Ruben.”

“Hmm…”

Cian let out a small breath.

He then turned his head slightly and said to Aria.

“Did you hear that?”

“…”

Aria had nothing to say.

And Amelia discovered Aria.

“Did we have a guest?”

Amelia raised her eyes and looked at Aria.

Long, flowing platinum blonde hair and perfect features.

A transcendent beauty that could be called a miracle.

“S, S, Saintess?!?”

Amelia seemed to be shocked to the point of fainting when she realized Aria’s identity.

She then looked at Cian with a horrified expression.

“W, what is it?!”

“Saintess.”

“I know that!!”

Who didn’t know that?

The problem was why the Saintess was here, in a slum!

“W, why is the Saintess here?!”

Amelia asked.

“I brought her.”

Cian replied.

“…”

Amelia wondered what was going on.

She really wondered what was going on!

No, what kind of answer was that…

And what did he just say?

He just brought her?

What on earth did that mean!

The Saintess was literally the Saintess.

A person whose name was known throughout the continent.

She wasn’t someone you could just bring if you wanted to!

The one with the strongest divine power in the history of the Holy Empire.

Also known as the reincarnation of Muriel [a legendary saintess].

But what was Cian doing now…

“Why are you standing there blankly? Why aren’t you coming in?”

He was treating the Saintess like a country bumpkin.

“A, a, no…! W, what is this…!”

Amelia stood there frozen with her mouth wide open.

‘Is she broken again?’

Cian passed by Amelia without much thought.

Cian entered the room like that.

As Amelia had said, Jerry was inside.

Jerry had become quite emaciated in the past few days.

“L, Lord… You’ve come.”

Cian gestured to Jerry, who was trying to be polite, that it was okay.

And he looked at Jerry’s mother, who was lying on the bed.

Indeed…

She looked even more serious than when he had seen her before.

Then Aria followed Cian.

Cian said to Aria.

“She’s Jerry’s mother. Her illness has been getting worse for several years, and it’s gotten worse recently.”

Aria blankly looked at Cian’s face.

And Cian said to make up for it with her body earlier.

Only then could Aria properly grasp the meaning.

Aria calmly examined Jerry’s mother.

Jerry, who had realized Aria’s identity, looked shocked.

“How is she? Can you treat her?”

“…It’s not difficult.”

No, it was difficult.

Jerry’s mother, whom she had examined, was in a really serious condition.

Even with the power of a decent priest, it would be impossible.

However, it wasn’t to the extent that Aria’s divine power couldn’t treat her.

There was a reason why she was called the reincarnation of Muriel.

“Phew, that’s a relief. Then treat her right away.”

Aria didn’t answer.

She just stared blankly at Cian’s face.

Then Aria approached Jerry’s mother.

And she gently placed her hand on her body.

Whoaaaaaaa!!

An enormous divine power burst out along with it.

It was even greater than the divine power she had used against Leah.

‘Ugh…!’

Because of that, Cian was busy calming the rampaging mana [magical energy].

It was no joke, he felt like he was going to throw up right away.

But he endured with all his might.

Cold sweat dripped down Aria’s cheeks.

Aria staggered as she felt dizzy.

It seemed to be quite difficult even with Aria’s power.

How much time had passed like that?

The light that had been bursting out gradually subsided.

Cian quietly watched the scene.

People often.

“O, Mom…?”

Call the Saintess a living miracle.

The reincarnation of Muriel.

A noble being with the strongest divine power in the history of the Holy Empire.

Cian didn’t really believe that.

“J, Jerry…?”

“Mom!”

But he decided to acknowledge it a little this time.

#

Jerry’s mother didn’t know what was going on.

So she asked Jerry about the situation.

Jerry just cried.

Cian took Aria and briefly stepped out of the room.

Jerry and Jerry’s mother needed to calm down.

And Aria seemed to need to rest a bit.

When he went outside, Amelia was still broken.

“Ah…? Aah…?”

Somehow, the degree was a little worse this time.

Still, based on his past experience.

She would fix herself if he left her alone.

As he sat down in a suitable place and waited.

Click.

The door opened and Jerry revealed himself.

Jerry didn’t say anything.

His swollen eyes were cast down.

“I… I…”

Jerry opened his mouth, sobbing.

How could he have the strength to cry again after crying so much?

Thud. Thud.

Hot tears flowed down between his lowered head.

“What am I… What am I… What am I…”

Thump.

Jerry collapsed to the floor.

Uncontrollable snot flowed.

His sobbing expression was truly unsightly.

Jerry wasn’t stupid.

So he knew.

That Aria was the noble Saintess of the Holy Empire.

That such a noble Saintess would never come to this slum.

Also, there was no reason for her to struggle to heal his mother like this.

No matter what he offered.

The miracle wouldn’t happen.

Nevertheless, there was only one reason why this miraculous thing happened.

No.

Only one person.

“Lord… Hic…! Thank you so much, Lord…! Huhuheong…!”

Jerry did that.

He cried endlessly.

And.

Ding!

《You! What kind of magic are you using!》

The notification window of Mobile Lord popped up.

《The loyalty of a territory resident towards you has created a new scale of causality!》

《Achievement, ‘My life, to Ruben.’ achieved!》

《Achievement Reward – The inherent potential of the territory residents explodes!》

《He will never betray you no matter what!》

《He will carry out any order if it is your command!》

The notification windows of the smartphone popped up one after another.

Cian was momentarily stunned.

He put his smartphone back into his pocket.

And.

Aria was quite confused now.

No, should she call it confusion?

Aria slightly raised her eyes.

She saw Cian’s figure in that vision.

A figure comforting a crying boy.

The nobles Aria had seen so far.

Were just another way of referring to those with high noses [arrogant people].

And those who licked their lips while scanning Aria’s face and body.

Not all nobles were like that.

But most nobles were like that.

And Cian was a little… she thought he was different.

To be exact, he was unlucky in a different way.

But in the end, a noble was a noble.

She thought he wouldn’t deviate much from that frame.

So when he said to make up for it with her body.

Didn’t she have such a misunderstanding?

But…

All of that was for his territory residents.

Then Cian sent Jerry into the room.

And Cian came to Aria and said.

“You worked hard.”

It was the first time she had heard those words after only bickering.

Was that why?

It wasn’t a bad feeling.

Aria stared blankly at Cian.

Then she asked without realizing it.

“Isn’t it a waste?”

“A waste? What?”

“Making up for it with my body.”

It was a word with plenty of room for misunderstanding.

But there wasn’t a word that came to mind.

Fortunately, the meaning seemed to have been conveyed.

“No? Not at all. If I don’t use you for this, where else would I use you?”

Of course, he wasn’t wrong…

The Saintess’s usefulness was truly endless.

Not only her divine power, but also using her reputation.

Or borrowing the power of the Holy Empire.

If not, then.

“…A date application… or something?”

Aria mumbled in a barely audible voice, changing the subject.

“…Are you crazy?”

Cian’s expression crumpled.

It was a look as if he was really saying what crazy things she was saying.

No, was she really saying that with a sane mind?

Anyway, she was a Saintess who was beyond hopeless and had a strange mind.

‘Well, that’s why she stood up to Leah.’

Cian shook his head.

Of course, Cian knew Aria’s value.

But for Cian, Jerry’s value was far superior.

That was because Elodie’s Lab Lv.1.

Jerry was a talent who would be active as a researcher there.

If Jerry wasn’t there, the research would have to be done with instant completion tickets only.

The price of an instant completion ticket per research was an average of 2,000 gold.

If you add up all the research currently in progress…

Even if you calculate it roughly, it was tens of thousands of gold.

And what if you add the research that will be conducted in the future?

Hundreds of thousands, not to mention millions of gold, would be easily spent.

And Cian was planning to tell Jerry about Elodie’s knowledge.

The problem was that there was a risk that Jerry could turn his back on Cian at any time.

But to become a complete ally of Cian like this?

Far from being a waste.

It was a great profit.

More than anything, if Jerry’s mother continued to be sick.

The time to go to Ruben would inevitably be delayed.

Then it was quite difficult for him to have to take Leah to Ruben as soon as possible.

In many ways, he didn’t feel like it was a waste at all.

More than anything.

Jerry’s figure, who was crying as if the world was ending.

‘Cian, love people, have pity on them, and care for them. This is how Cian can live like a noble.’

Cian’s mother, Cecil, had always said that to Cian.

In the past, the young Cian couldn’t protect such a mother.

He didn’t know the feelings of his mother, who was spending hellish days.

That’s why he had to helplessly watch his mother turn into a cold corpse.

That pain, that hurt.

Because he knew better than anyone.

Cian would never regret his current choice.

“Stop talking crazy and here, here’s what I promised. Don’t forget to deposit 100,000 gold separately.”

Cian handed the demon detector to Aria.

“Well, now that we don’t owe each other anything. Let’s not see each other again. Okay? Let’s not pretend to know each other even if we run into each other on the street.”

Cian turned around without hesitation.

Was it because he was next to the divine power earlier?

He felt quite unwell.

Looking at Aria’s face seemed to make it worse.

Aria stared blankly at Cian.

She was Aria, who would have shouted, ‘I was going to say that!’ as usual.

But why?

“…”

This time, those words and actions felt quite resentful.

No, what’s so bad about me that he hates me so much?

Other men are eager to even exchange words with me.

How many people are crossing the continent just to see my face?

Does he even know how many love letters come to me every day?

“Really not seeing each other?”

“Yeah. So goodbye.”

“Then I’m leaving?”

“I’m not going to see you off.”

Cian was speaking without even looking at her.

Aria felt a strange sense of sadness.

Narrowed eyes.

Then Aria turned her body away and went out the door.

And.

Bang!

Aria left as the sound of the door breaking was heard.

“Anyway, what a temper.”

Cian clicked his tongue.

“A, are you okay…? Is it okay to send her away like that?”

Amelia, who had been fixed by now, asked worriedly.

Cian waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s okay. And it’ll be tiring if we get involved any further.”

Anyway.

With this, all the founding day events were over.

And the work was finished perfectly.

Now.

It was time to return to Ruben.

‘Before that…!’

Cian glanced at the gold coins in his inventory.

The corners of his mouth kept twitching.

Cian took out his smartphone.