Chapter 16 “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

In the night, the city that would usually be asleep still appeared lively. Everyone was having fun, holding torches in their hands, singing joyfully.

Meanwhile, inside the Cathedral, where the pastors and holy sisters were praying, a young man who was alone woke up in a very white and clean room.

“This sky wall... Isn't this the Cathedral?” mumbled the young man.

“Big bro!” called Kalina, who had been sitting in a chair beside the bed where the young man had been lying.

“Kalina? What happened? Why am I asleep in this place?” asked the young man, shifting his position and sitting on his bed.

“This is because... No, I mean, I brought Big bro to this place. After your fight against Yzak, Big bro fainted and was seriously injured. That's why I brought Big bro to the Cathedral so they could heal you. But...” Kalina suddenly stopped her words and then smiled.

“Mmm-Mm, it's okay. The most important thing is for Big bro to stay calm and sit on the bed, okay? Because I'll just go for a moment to call my friend.” said Kalina, getting up from her seat and leaving the young man alone in his room.

While Kalina went to call and search for staff inside the Cathedral, Cecilia suddenly appeared and stood beside the young man.

“Good fight. This time, it seems I've understood what kind of person you are a bit more,” said Cecilia.

“C-Cecilia? How come you're here?” asked the young man, trying to hide his surprise.

“Of course, because I want to talk to you,” answered Cecilia casually.

“Want to talk to me? For what?”

“Hmm... To discuss your future.”

“My future?”

“Yes, your future. Because after all the things you did that day... It seems this time your family is really going to punish you,” said Cecilia.

“The things I did that day? Do you mean my fight against Yzak?” asked the young man.

“Fight? Isn't it more appropriate to call it torture? But forget about it. The most important thing now is that your family's position is in a very bad state. The people you... Umm, played with before are now gathering to seek revenge on you,” explained Cecilia.

“Seeking revenge on me?”

“Yes. If you don't believe it, you can also see Kalina's behavior, who just told you to stay calm and not say anything, right? That's because for the past four days, she's been the one bringing you and hiding you inside this Cathedral.”

“For four days? So you mean I've been unconscious for four days?”

“Yes. And during those four days, Kalina has been taking care of you without eating or sleeping at all.”

“Kalina... Such a fool. Why would she do all that?”

“... I don't know. Anyway, the most important thing is to be careful because even though you're inside the Cathedral now...”

Suddenly, Cecilia heard the handle of the entrance to the young man's room slightly open.

“... It doesn't mean this place is safer than others.” said Cecilia, then disappeared from in front of the young man.

“What!? Sir has awakened?” asked a Holy Sister, somewhat surprised, almost dropping all the food and drink she was carrying.

“Ah, yes. Thank you for your care and hard work,” said the young man.

“Hmm, it seems Sir Wallace looks hungry? How about you eat this food first? I'm sure after you eat it, your body will return to healthy as it used to be.” said the Holy Sister with a voice full of love.

“Hmm? Is that true? Is that food for me?”

“Hahaha, Sir, you must be joking. Of course, this food is for Sir, isn't Sir a patient in this Cathedral?” replied the Holy Sister.

“Okay then, thank you for the food...” said the young man while reaching out his hands to receive the food and drink that had been served for him.

“CLATTER!”

Suddenly, the food and drink that the Holy Sister wanted to give to the young man were knocked away and scattered everywhere.

“Ouch! It hurts! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!” whimpered the Holy Sister.

It turned out that now the Holy Sister's right wrist was being held very tightly by Kalina who had previously come and immediately threw away the food that the Holy Sister had previously brought.

“Don't touch Big bro.” said Kalina with a look like a wild beast ready to pounce on its prey.

“It hurt! It very hurt so much! Please! Please forgive me, Miss Kalina! If this continues, my wrist could break! Please forgive me!” groaned the Holy Sister.

“Who!? Who told you to enter this place!? Haven't I told you many times that no one is allowed to enter this place without my permission!?” scolded Kalina.

The young man was surprised to see Kalina being so angry; he didn't expect Kalina, who was so kind and cheerful can become someone so cruel like that.

“I... I just...” Crying and enduring the pain, the Holy Sister began to speak hesitantly.

Seeing something so heartbreaking, the young man began to carefully choose his words and speak to Kalina.

“Kalina, just let her be. She just wanted to bring food for me. Besides, isn't it her duty to look after and take care of her patients?” said the young man cautiously.

Kalina then turned her gaze towards her brother; dark circles under her eyes were visible, and her face looked so pale.

Seeing her brother speak so sincerely and gently, Kalina finally smiled and then sighed.

“Well, if Big Bro says so.”

Then, slowly, Kalina released her grip. And suddenly the Holy Sister took out a kitchen knife and tried to stab the young man.

“SPLURT!!!”

Suddenly, fresh blood sprayed onto the young man's face.

The young man who was sitting on his bed was shocked.

The Holy Sister who was suddenly pushed and was now sitting on the floor was also shocked.

Unlike the two of them, Kalina only sighed once again and then threw a severed arm at the Holy Sister.

The Holy Sister sat in silence while observing the severed Arm now in her lap.

“Kyaaaaa!!! My hand! AAAAAaaaaaaaaa!!!! Help me! Help! My hand is severed! AAAAaaaAA!!!! Anyone, help me!!! Sir Wallace! Please help me!!!” The Holy Sister screamed hysterically.

“KALINA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!” the young man shouted.

“Of course, I am protecting Big Bro.” Kalina replied with a calm smile.

The young man was shocked. He then remembered Cecilia's words and looked at the woman who was still struggling in pain. The young man then thought that in this white and clean Cathedral room alone, the blood of a holy woman had been shed. So what about the beautiful and colorful city?

“Kalina... Please tell me, what is really happening out there?” the young man asked.

Kalina looked at her brother and hugged him.

“Don't worry, nothing is happening out there right now,” Kalina said, hugging her brother to calm him down.

Although the young man knew that Kalina was trying to comfort him, he also felt a slight tremor in Kalina's body at this moment.

“Kalina, calm down, everything will be fine. Please tell me everything,” the young man said, gently stroking Kalina's head.

“Actually, right now, people across the city are hunting you.” Kalina said.

“For what?”

“They want justice from you. After finding out that Papa disappeared and you no longer have power, Everyone that Big Bro has hurt in the past is now starting to want to take revenge on you.” Kalina explained.

“Wait, what do you mean Papa disappeared?” the young man asked.

“Umm... Does Big bro know that Big bro has actually been unconscious for four days now, you know? And I also personally been taking care Big Bro for four days. Amazing, isn't it?” Kalina chuckled weakly.

“On the first day, everyone approached our house and looted it after not finding you. Mama escaped with Sheyla and Albert, while Papa suddenly disappeared,” Kalina explained.

“What about the second day?”

“On the second day... there were several priests and Holy Sisters who opposed Big Bro to hide here, and at that time this Cathedral received an order from the two old Bishops for me to hand you over to their protection. But I rejected it. And at that time, Marie, an acquaintance who was also my senior, offered me this secret place. Although actually this place is not that secret. But this place used to be used by Umm... Doctors? To try their potions and medicines.” Kalina explained.

“So in this world, there used to be doctors too, huh?”

“Well, that's what they used to say. However, nowadays those doctors have changed their course and all become alchemists. And on the next day, it's like this. Some pastors and Holy sisters are trying to enter this room to poison me and also kill you.” explained Kalina.

“It turns out everything Cecilia said was true. If it continues like this, sooner or later, everyone will truly kill her! I have to escape from this place immediately!” thought the young man.

But after seeing Kalina, who now seems too pale and powerless, the young man thought that it might not be possible for the two of them to escape from this place.

“Big bro?” Kalina asked.

“What's wrong, Kalina?” replied the young man in a very gentle voice.

“Believe me, whatever happens, I will take care of big bro. So... please, don't leave me,” Kalina whispered.

Even just by touching Kalina's pale skin, the young man could feel that the warmth within Kalina's body was fading.

“This is weird! How can Kalina endure with a body this cold!” thought the young man as he pulled Kalina into his blanket and then hugged her.

Immediately, Kalina was surprised; her pale face suddenly blushed, and her earlobes turned red.

“Big... Big bro! Why!? What's wrong!? Why are you hugging me like this!?” asked Kalina in a weak voice.

“Be quiet and rest. You must be very tired all this time, right? So rest. Because this time, I will definitely take care of you.” said the young man while hugging and stroking Kalina's head.

“But what if the other knights...”

“Just be quiet. Trust me. If there's anything strange, I'll wake you up immediately,” said the young man.

“… Okay, but most importantly, big bro must promise! If someone enters through that entrance, big bro must immediately wake me up. No, forget it. If the doorknob moves even a little, you must immediately wake me up.” said Kalina.

“Of course. So sleep, besides, isn't it very comfortable to sleep in this blanket?” asked the young man with a smile.

“Fuhuhu, it feels comfortable because big bro is hugging me...” Kalina answered with a small laugh.

“Hahaha, I wouldn't mind if one day we have to sleep like this again.”

“... For now, thank you, big bro. Because these past few days, you have given me a lot of happiness and purpose for my life. Good night...”

“Good night,” replied the young man.

Then the young man looked towards the entrance and found that the Holy Sister who had previously intended to kill him had now died due to excessive bleeding from the wounds she had suffered.

“What is actually going on? Isn't I the prophesied hero? So why are so many people wanting to kill me?” thought the young man.

“This is strange.”

“Actually, what did Wallace ever do that made everyone hate him so much?”

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