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“What a rip-off! Not even forced labor in the mines could ever cover that! It’s as bad as a loan shark!”

Daniella burst out in outrage, to which the templar knight responded with a calm expression, “That is simply the law-abiding regulation.”

“I have no intention of demanding such an outrageous fee like some unlicensed doctor!” Jill, apparently having finished the treatment for the moment, retorted while wiping the sweat and dirt from Colin’s forehead with a handkerchief.

“I have no intention of putting a price tag on someone’s life! As long as Colin takes proper rest and returns to living a peaceful, normal life, that’s enough for me!”

The assembled group let out sighs of relief.

With peerless beauty, unmatched healing abilities, and above all, a sense of justice, wisdom, and humility that surpassed everyone else’s, Jill’s resolute attitude made even the templar knights stand straighter and bow their heads without argument, their posture corrected by her mere presence.

Even Colin, who was still unconscious, seemed to have his pain-stricken expression softened into something more peaceful.

“So, that’s how it is. Good for you, young lady.”
“Yes, thank you so much…”

Kaisa spoke cheerfully to the other victim receiving treatment—Maria Lou—and while she nodded in response, something dark and unsettling seemed to flicker across her expression. Not quite sadness, but something else. Kaisa frowned, sensing the shift.

(…Was it just my imagination? We’ve been through a lot in such a short time, so I’m probably just feeling overwhelmed.)

Watching Maria Lou’s restless behavior as she occasionally pulled out a golden pocket watch from her pocket to glance at its face, Kaisa tried to gauge her state of mind.

“Well, I’ve healed all his injuries for now, but as for the lost blood and stamina, he’ll have to recover those gradually through rest and proper meals. Please be mindful of that. —Now then, let’s proceed with your treatment.”

When Jill turned to face her, Maria Lou straightened her posture and bowed her head.

“My apologies, Lady Clara. But my wounds are not that severe, and the medicine you applied earlier is more than enough.”
“That won’t do. It’s true the wounds and bleeding are minor, but since they’re stab wounds, they must be deep. And if, by any chance, poison or harmful bacteria got in, it would be disastrous. Besides, I can’t bear the thought of leaving scars on a young lady’s skin.”

Jill’s easygoing tone pressed on, but Maria Lou looked troubled and strangely hesitant.

Realizing the reason, Jill glanced around at the men in the room. “Since this is treatment for a young lady, I must ask the gentlemen to leave the room.”

“But, Lady Clara, we can’t simply leave you alone…”
“That’s what we’re here for. Leave it to us.”

Kaisa added to the conversation, trying to ease the concerns of the reluctant templar knights. Even so, they were uneasy about the situation, leaving Jill’s protection to just the two of them.

“It would be a great help if you would.” Maria Lou spoke, her expression now visibly relieved.

“Anyway, healing wounds is a race against time, so hurry up.”

Added with Jill’s own urging, they were left with no room to argue. Reluctantly, they agreed to leave, under the condition that the door would remain open so they could rush in at any moment. They would wait in the hallway, ready to react if necessary.

In that instant—

“…No. That won’t be necessary.”

With a lethargic voice, a slender man appeared, standing casually at the entrance with a cigar in his mouth and a pair of unsheathed jamadhars in his hands.

Everyone instantly went on high alert at the sudden appearance of this obvious intruder.

“Don’t move!”

One of the jamadhars, thrown without any warning, pierced Maria Lou’s left shoulder just as she was about to lunge at Jill from behind.

“ “ “ “ “What—?!” ” ” ”

Despite being slammed to the floor by the force, Maria Lou swiftly rose to her feet with unexpected agility and forcefully yanked the jamadhar out.

“Inquisitor b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲…”

She glared at the man with venomous hatred, her voice trembling.

Realizing the truth, the templar knights glanced at the man’s attire, confirming the ceremonial robes reserved for high-ranking clergy. Their eyes widened.

“Could it be… His Eminence, Cardinal Callisto, Chairman of the Inquisition Committee?!”

“That’s right. You, Phantom Thief ‘Red Ram’—or I should say, the Saintess Project failed Prototype No. 8. It’s time to pay the piper. Resistance is futile.”

At Callisto’s words, Maria Lou twisted her lips into a mocking smile as she rose to her feet with a slow, deliberate motion. The expression frozen on her face was one that inspired not mere discomfort but a primal sense of disgust and terror.

“Failure… That’s right. That’s how the Sant’Angelo Sanctorium sees me, isn’t it? And this girl and the other one are considered the completed, successful versions, is that it?”
“………”

Nobody had any idea what was going on, but it was clear that the “enemy” here was this girl, and the suddenly appearing Cardinal Callisto was their ally.

Everyone present readied their weapons, forming a circle around Maria Lou to surround her.

They were deep in hostile territory, and with this many skilled fighters surrounding her, there should be no way for her to escape… or so they thought. But as experienced warriors, each of them couldn’t help but feel a strange unease, as if trying to grasp a slippery eel that would slip away at any moment…

“But too bad for you. You failed to realize that the abilities of this so-called ‘failure’ had already awakened. That’s your loss!”

“Stop her, now!!” Cardinal Callisto’s desperate shout was the trigger. Everyone charged at her with full force, holding nothing back.

In that moment, the hands of the pocket watch in her hand began to spin furiously in reverse, and then—

♢♦♢♦♢

“What’s wrong, Maria Lou?”

Colin had started walking, but suddenly noticed Maria Lou had stopped behind him. She was staring intently at the face of the golden pocket watch in her hand, a troubled expression on her face.

“…About two hours, huh. And it drained my magic considerably, too.”
“Aren’t we going back?”

When he asked again, Maria Lou lifted her gaze and looked sharply ahead, as if trying to peer through the fog-covered road. Then, without warning, she spun on her heel.

“I’ve changed my mind. Walking around in this weather and at this hour is dangerous. I think it’s better to take shelter at the Adventurers’ Guild headquarters for a while.”
“—Huh?”

Leaving those words behind, Maria Lou briskly continued walking. Colin, holding a night lantern, hurried after her, his expression filled with confusion.

He happened to glance up and saw the hazy moon resting under the eaves of a red-roofed house nearby.

At the same time, the toll of the church bell, signaling bedtime, echoed throughout the town. Against that backdrop of the moon, a cat rose from the rooftop, stretched its wings on its back, and let out a soft “—Meow.”