“Oh, by the way, tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM, we’re having a meeting in the Association Special Meeting Room in Knox City.”
Eve dropped her casual demeanor and spoke seriously, as if suddenly remembering official business.
Then, she added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “But Lobelia will be attending too. So, what do you think? Do you want to bring that cute little priest along to stake your claim?”
Gray frowned slightly.
He thought about Lobelia’s explosive temper whenever she was around Katy for some reason, and then he thought of Katy’s fragile and helpless appearance.
‘It’s better not to let those two meet for a while.’
He really didn’t want to experience that heavy atmosphere again—the kind that felt like standing before a Nightlight-level Labyrinth Boss door.
“No,” he shook his head.
“I don’t want to get Katy dragged into that kind of trouble.”
“Aww, look at you being so protective.”
Hearing his response, Eve nudged his side with her elbow and winked.
“What’s this? Our dignified A-rank genius Lightning Attribute Warrior, Master Gray, is actually willing to be a mere team member for an E-rank little Priest?”
“Katy’s talent is actually very strong.”
At the mention of this, Gray’s expression turned somewhat proud.
“After receiving Saint training at Lothric Cathedral, her skill level has already soared to C-rank, or perhaps even higher.”
However, Eve didn’t show the surprise Gray had expected.
She simply shrugged and said as if it were a matter of course, “Well, obviously. She’s a rookie who didn’t show a hint of stage fright even during her first time entering a Starshine-level Labyrinth. She even managed to contend with the Labyrinth’s mechanics. Her future is bright!”
Gray’s brows knitted in confusion.
He was certain he had never mentioned the details of the Graveyard of Ghost Ships to Eve.
Had Lobelia already reported it to her?
“Is it that strange? Oh, I forgot.”
The white-haired girl let out an exaggerated sigh and patted the young man’s shoulder with a helpless look.
“Gray, oh Gray… I heard you don’t even use streaming drones much? If you can’t keep up with the times, you’ll be hated by girls these days, you know?”
She smirked.
“When the time comes, that cute little Captain of yours will leave an old antique like you behind. She’ll choose one of those young, fresh hunks who can skillfully operate alchemy machines and magic gear instead~”
“I—I would never do that!”
Katy, standing nearby, quickly explained with a blushing face.
“I promised Mr. Gray that I would reach the Summit of Heroes with him!”
“Ho~”
Eve let out a whistle.
“So you’ve already pledged your lives to each other in private? Not bad, Gray. Your progress is lightning fast. It looks like you’ll be the first one in our team to start a family?”
“…The person who can handle you will be here any second, Saint.”
Gray’s ears twitched, and he flashed a kind smile.
The triumph in Eve’s crimson eyes suddenly vanished, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
“W-what? Don’t try to scare me! I’m telling you, I’m not afraid of Ingram! What… what’s he going to do? Eat me?!”
In Katy’s eyes, however, the Saint clearly became much better behaved after Gray spoke.
She stopped teasing them and stopped digging for gossip.
She stood there obediently with her hands at her sides, like a student waiting to be scolded.
A few seconds later, Katy also heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming from the direction of the door.
It sounded like Ingram’s knight armor, which was so heavy one might worry he would crush the threshold.
Knock, knock, knock.
It was a polite but heavy sound.
“If that is Mr. Ingram, please come in,” Katy answered, stifling a laugh.
“I apologize for the late disturbance—”
The Saint Knight squeezed through the door, which was realistically a bit too small for him.
His gaze immediately fell upon the white-haired, red-eyed girl in the room.
“Ahem! Do you have business with me, Saint Knight Ingram?”
Eve quickly cleared her throat and tried her best to puff out her chest, striking a dignified pose befitting a Saint.
“I am currently, uh, inspecting the lives of the common people!”
“Holy Maiden, I believe it is currently time for your evening prayers, is it not?”
Eve’s body stiffened, and she began to tremble visibly.
“I-is it?”
Ingram approached silently.
The massive shadow cast by his heavy armor completely enveloped Eve, who was only 1.6 meters tall.
“…I forgot. Tehe.”
Facing the gauntlet the white knight reached out, the girl let out an exaggerated sigh.
Then, in a brilliant flash of light, her form reverted back into a luxurious and lazy Persian cat.
“Meow!”
The white cat leaped up, skillfully landing in the crook of Ingram’s arm.
Finding a comfortable position to lie down, she didn’t forget to look back and wave a paw at the two of them.
“See you tomorrow, meow, Gray and cute little Priest~”
“See you tomorrow.”
Gray nodded, and Katy waved goodbye politely.
Watching Ingram leave with the cat, Katy was just about to turn to Gray and comment on how unreliable the Saint seemed, but Gray stopped her with a raised finger.
“Shh.”
The man gestured for her to put her ear against the door and listen.
Skeptical, Katy leaned toward the door and pressed her ear against the wood.
Sure enough, faint and strange sounds drifted in from outside.
“W-wait! Big white tin can! We’re right outside Gray and that little junior girl’s room!”
“What are you saying, Holy Maiden? I am merely helping you relieve the exhaustion this familiar’s body has accumulated through use. Besides, you were the one who instructed me that the familiar’s stress must be relieved once a day.”
“Mew—!!!”
Katy sprang back as if she had been electrocuted.
Her face was bright red as she covered her mouth and stared at Gray in disbelief.
“What? In broad moonlight, the two of them are just—doing that? Is this the style of the Church? The Church of Pleasure??”
Although she couldn’t see what was happening outside, her super “demon brain” rendering skills—trained by countless books—were already playing a mysterious video in her mind featuring a cat-girl Saint and a giant Saint Knight.
“No, Ingram is just petting the cat.”
The girl walked to the bed in confusion and opened the curtains a crack.
By the light of the streetlamps, she indeed saw the Saint Knight walking away.
In his arms, the white cat was rolled onto her back with her belly exposed, wearing an expression that made one want to ask, ‘Is that really a cat?!’
“Uh… the Saint is certainly not an ordinary person.”
“Yeah, and Ingram isn’t an ordinary closet pervert either. Don’t let his serious exterior fool you.”
“What about you, Mr. Gray?”
Katy suddenly turned around, narrowing her eyes at him.
“Eh?”
Gray was clearly caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic.
“The Mr. Gray who was making such pathetic sounds at my feet earlier doesn’t seem to have the right to talk about Mr. Ingram, does he?”
The girl approached him step by step, a kind smile on her face that made Gray subconsciously swallow hard.
“I’ve discovered your weakness too, Mr. Gray.”
“Cough! Well, it’s getting late!”
Faced with her steady advance, Gray could only scratch his head and let his gaze wander, pretending to be a foreigner who didn’t understand the common tongue.
“I’m going to sleep! Goodnight, Miss Katy!”
“…Hmph, you ran away fast.”