The Demon Race’s aura disappeared, and the crisis was resolved.
Lobelia slowly descended onto the street, her pink pupils, which had turned crimson from rage, staring fixedly at Gray.
“Gray, you’d better explain clearly what exactly you did in the Labyrinth. Why would even a newborn Calamity Pillar like that target you?”
The Witch strutted over menacingly in her high heels, each step as if piercing the listener’s heart.
“I—”
Just as Gray was about to speak, a petite figure stepped between him and Lobelia.
“Sister Lobelia, please don’t be so harsh with Mr. Gray, okay?”
Katy spread her arms like a mother hen protecting her chick.
Although her body was slightly trembling (pretending), her gaze was unusually firm.
“Mr. Gray is already exhausted from protecting me and withdrawing from the Third Labyrinth. He just did his utmost to protect the innocent citizens of Knox City, and he’s also injured… As a big shot from the Church, shouldn’t you first care about a friend’s physical condition?”
Lobelia’s mouth twitched, and her face grew more ferocious.
This girl meant that as Gray’s old teammate, she was being unreasonable at this moment?
“Move aside. This is no place for an E-level like you to speak!”
Lobelia reached out, intending to push Katy away.
“Don’t think that just because you’re his teammate, you can meddle in my affairs. A vase like you who only hides behind men…”
Smack.
A crisp sound.
Katy was not pushed away; instead, she slapped Lobelia’s hand away, deliberately putting some force into her palm, leaving a conspicuous red mark on the Witch’s hand.
“I’m not discussing this with you, Lady Lobelia.”
The girl’s trembling stopped, replaced by a clear chill in her blue eyes.
“With the Great Calamity of the Demon Race’s resurgence upon us, as the current Cardinal, a strong contender for the position of Archbishop, and the strongest Archmage present, instead of pursuing that demon or staying alert for possible attacks, you choose to suppress Mr. Gray, who just killed a Calamity Pillar and returned triumphantly from the Third Labyrinth?”
Katy deliberately raised her voice so that every recovering onlooker and the two Church members nearby could hear clearly.
With each sentence she said, Lobelia’s face darkened.
By the time she finished, that originally seductive face now looked like the bottom of a pot.
‘Swearing by the Goddess in the name of the future Archbishop, she really wanted to blast this sharp-tongued, damn little bitch to death on the spot!’
‘No, it’s not enough to blast her to dust with Ultimate Flash. First, let her limbs be destroyed in agony, then let her die in despair as her life force drains away!!’
For a moment, Katy felt that Lobelia would really lash out at her.
The flames of rage spewing from those pink pupils nearly pierced through her.
But perhaps she realized that Katy’s words did have some truth, or perhaps becoming Archbishop was more important than punishing Katy here.
In the end, the fury in Lobelia’s eyes subsided.
“Alright, alright, let’s all say less.”
Just as an awkward silence was about to spread, Eve jumped in as a peacemaker.
“Cardinal Lobelia, the Archbishop still needs you to report the records of this ‘Emergence’ and confirm the fact that the Third Calamity Pillar has been killed. Please handle it.”
Seeing that the Saint had even brought up the Archbishop’s name, Lobelia had no reason to lose her temper.
She took a deep breath and bowed to Eve.
“As you command, Holy Maiden. This subordinate overstepped.”
She flicked her long hair and turned to leave in a huff.
As she passed by Katy, she didn’t forget to viciously mutter a threat under her breath.
“Just wait. This isn’t over.”
Watching that pink figure disappear, Katy recalled the perfect effect of the elder’s typical “preemptive labeling” tactic she had just used and couldn’t help but snort inwardly.
‘Hehe, trying to fight This Seat? Go back and practice scolding people for a few years first!’
After Lobelia left, Ingram, who had finished guiding the civilians, walked over, took off his helmet, and with a grave expression, patted Gray on the shoulder.
“Gray, although the crisis has been temporarily resolved, the situation is very grim. The Third Labyrinth is deadlocked, a new Calamity Pillar has been born, and that demon’s attitude toward you just now… In the next few days, you’ll probably be watched by all sides.”
“I know.”
Gray sighed bitterly.
“I’ll be careful.”
“No, being careful alone isn’t enough.”
Ingram glanced at Katy, who was still staring intently at Lobelia’s retreating figure, and hesitated for a moment.
He recalled the idea Eve had whispered in his ear just now.
“Oh my, this is a great chance to set those two up, meow! And it kills two birds with one stone! It can protect little Katy, and let this Saint watch the fun—no, see my old teammate find happiness.”
Although the Saint Knight’s somewhat rigid mind thought it was a bit unscrupulous, considering Gray and Katy’s safety…
So, the upright Ingram lowered his head and leaned close to Gray’s ear, speaking in a voice only the two could hear.
“You understand the Military Department as well as I do, if not better. If they want to make a move on you, they’ll likely go after the people close to you first.”
“So… It’s best for you two to live together during this time.”
“Wha—!?”
Gray’s pupils shook, and his old face turned red.
“Live together? Miss Katy and I are just captain and member right now. It’s not like what Eve thinks, and Ingram, have you considered Miss Katy’s reputation—”
“It’s also for close protection.”
Ingram earnestly quoted Eve’s original words.
“Think about it. If she were attacked in her own home, could you get there in time?”
Gray fell silent.
Indeed, if something happened to Katy, he would never forgive himself for not being there.
At the same time, Katy, who had been eavesdropping with her ears perked, felt the lump in her left chest wildly throbbing.
‘L-l-live together!? This Seat has never shared a bed with an opposite-sex peer in this life or previous!’
‘No no, living together should just be staying under the same roof. It doesn’t mean sleeping in the same bed… That way it’s convenient for me to gather intel on that guy Gray!’
‘Nice job, Saint Knight. Instead of emitting that Holy Light that annoys demons everywhere, you finally did something useful.’
‘Isn’t that great? Hurry up and agree, small fry Gray! As long as we live together, This Seat will have plenty of opportunities to observe your daily habits and figure out what you like to eat and do!’
‘That way, when I make my move on you later, your chances of winning will get lower and lower. Hehehe!’
‘Just say it! Say “Miss Katy, for your safety, please move into my house!” Once you say it, This Seat will reluctantly agree!’
However, time ticked by, second by second.
Gray looked at the girl’s innocent face.
After countless mental battles, finally…
“I’ll think about it.”
Gray nodded to Ingram, then didn’t dare to meet Katy’s eyes.
“Well, Miss Katy, it’s getting late. Let me take you home first.”
The smile on Katy’s face froze for a moment.
‘I give you a chance and you don’t take it! Dude, is there something wrong with you? The chance to live with a beautiful girl as good-looking as This Seat, and you actually refuse?’
Although she was itching to bite him in frustration, Katy outwardly nodded obediently, showing a slightly disappointed smile.
“Okay, then I’ll trouble Mr. Gray.”
Watching their retreating figures, Ingram, left behind, sighed.
Eve, who had turned back into a cat, climbed onto Ingram’s shoulder and shook her head in exasperation.
“They’re such a pair of worryingly dumb lovebirds, meow.”
“Holy Maiden, the fact that you used your familiar to cast magic in front of the crowd… The Church will probably…”
“I know, meow. Ah, I was hoping to slack off a few more days using the excuse that ‘familiars can’t cast magic.’ Looks like I’ll have to be interrogated by those old farts again when I get back, meow.”