“Don’t cry. You’re such a crybaby… I’m just glad…you’re all right…” he mumbled, sweat dripping down his chin. His eyes slid shut as if he had said all he needed.
Worried, Aki shook him. “Leo? Don’t pass out!”
“Don’t waste your breath on him. You know how resilient he is,” a blunt yet kind voice said behind Aki and Elias. They turned toward the speaker. Aki was so happy to see him, she covered her mouth. “Now then, can everyone who is no longer useful stand back? It is time for us to work.”
There stood Johann with his silver, cross-shaped staff, flanked on either side by Mina and Louis, with Sutcliff trailing behind them in a robe that hid his inhuman appearance.
Johann pushed his silver bangs off his face and flashed a peerless smile at Aki. “Thank you for holding off the monsters before they could do irreparable damage. You performed your duties as the Hero’s Right-hand flawlessly.”
“Thank you!” Aki was thrilled to receive a comment from the boy who rarely praised anyone.
Mina elbowed him in the side and teased, “So you can say some encouraging things once in a while!” Then she waved to Aki. “Are you all right? Whoa! Your dress is a mess! How dare the demi-dragon hurt my precious Aki! I’ll bury it!”
“True, I have no idea where to look with how torn your dress is. Mina, it looks like Elias and Leo already took revenge on the demi-dragon, so why don’t you find something to cover her up?” Louis suggested, placing a hand on Mina’s shoulder.
Hearing that, Sutcliff reached down and tore a long strip off the hem of his robe. He respectfully carried it over to Aki and draped it over her shoulders. “Sorry it’s not much, but use this for now, m’lady.”
“Thanks! It helps. Did you come to help out too, Sutcliff?”
“You betcha. I’ll always be there to help m’lady out of a crisis. I’m not the strongest Shadow Tribe member out there, but figured I could be of some assistance.” He flashed his pearly white fangs and winked through the opening in his robe.
Sutcliff is always so modest.
Aki knew just how strong he was after taking on that quest with him.
“Don’t be modest,” she huffed, puffing out her cheeks.
Sutcliff shrugged with a laugh and turned toward Elias who was cautiously watching him interact with Aki. “Please allow me to beg your forgiveness for what transpired during the quest. I know what I did can’t be undone with an apology, but I greatly regret it and have gratefully received forgiveness from Lady Aki, Master Leo, Clarence, and the others. You don’t have to forgive me too, but I hope you will allow me to work alongside your party to atone for my crimes.” He shut his eyes and bowed down at a ninety-degree angle. “Please.”
He looked prepared to let Elias run a sword through him.
Elias silently assessed him for what felt like a long time before offering a strained smile. “…Please lift your head, Sutcliff.”
“Hero Elias…”
“I won’t sugarcoat my anger for you harming Aki, my friends, and even myself with your actions. But…” Elias paused, placing his hand over his heart and continuing in a calm voice, “some of the fault lies with me for lacking as a Hero and as a person. And I have no interest in returning the hurt you caused with even greater hurt. So…” He held out his hand. “Please devote yourself to protecting my friends and the world. I will put my trust in you. Don’t fight to repent, but as our fellow party member.”
Elias smiled and added, “I look forward to seeing what you can do.”
Sutcliff blinked at him, his eyes watering, and grabbed Elias’s hand with both of his.
“Th-Thanks a bunch…! Man, you’re such a good guy, I could cry! So this is the Goddess sent Hero, huh? How can anyone be your enemy?” he rambled cheerfully, smacking his knees as he straightened up. His optimistic expression suddenly turned stern as he placed his right hand over his heart and swore an oath of loyalty. “I, Sutcliff Jent, hereby pledge my power to the Hero, unworthy as I am. Obviously, my protection extends to m’lady as well! Leave her to me!”
Sutcliff reached out to touch Aki’s cheek, but Elias sullenly slapped away his hand.
“Just so you know, I’m fine with you protecting Aki, but she is…she is my woman, so you can’t have her.”
“Sure, sure. I get the picture, heroboy! You don’t have to beat around the bush about it.”
“Sutcliff!” Elias growled, turning redder than a tomato.
Sutcliff was already on board with teasing Elias.
Elias and Sutcliff seem like they might actually get along great.
The Hero and Shadow Tribe were typically enemies, but if they joined hands, there were likely few people who could stand against them.
“Welcome to the team, Sutcliff,” Aki said, smacking him and Elias on the back as they squabbled.
They both cried out “That hurt!” and shared a laugh.
“…Thank you for accepting him, Elias,” Johann said, walking over now that things looked settled. “I don’t think I have mentioned this yet, but Sutcliff is actually a fellow Priest of mine at Sanctuary. I’m sorry someone I know caused you such heartache.”
Johann casually confessed a huge secret.
Huh? Sutcliff…is a Priest?
“Wait, why is someone from the Shadow Tribe working for Sanctuary…?”
Sanctuary backed the Hero, while the Shadow Tribe backed the Dark Lord. They weren’t exactly on friendly terms.
Before Aki could question them further, Sutcliff shouted so loud she couldn’t hear herself. “Aaaaaaaaaah! Just think of it as part of the confidential mission the Dark Lord sent me on!”
“I haven’t heard about that. Is there something I need to know?” Elias asked, looking to Johann for answers.
Johann coolly averted his gaze. “It’s essentially what it sounds like. I have a personal connection with Sutcliff and my position has made me privy to his mission, but not even my father the Pope is aware someone from the Shadow Tribe has infiltrated Sanctuary. Please take this secret to the grave.”
In other words, Johann not only realized Sutcliff was sent by the Dark Lord to spy on Sanctuary but decided to overlook it and make sure no one else found out. From the sound of it, he may have even gone to extra lengths to make it easier for Sutcliff to get around on the inside.
Knowing Johann, he probably did that because he believed it was necessary for the betterment of Sanctuary.
One wrong move and Johann could have faced execution for assisting the Shadow Tribe, but he still lent Sutcliff a hand. Essentially, he had dipped his toes into working with both Sanctuary and the Dark Lord’s side. It was easy to imagine how he would be torn between two conflicting sides.
“…Oh boy, I close my eyes for a few seconds and I learn about all sorts of baggage you’re carrying, Johann,” Leo interjected, cracking open an eye to look at him.
“I am simply fulfilling my duty as the current Pope’s son and Hero Elias’s Priest by availing myself to the truth of the world. I believe this is an essential trial for me as someone who will someday lead Sanctuary, and something only I can do. I will see through the path I believe is right, even if it means threatening my current status or becoming my father’s enemy,” Johann stated with conviction, a refreshed smile softening his hard face.
The future of Sanctuary was in good hands if someone with such strong convictions became the next Pope. It was the Hero Party’s job to support him in his endeavors to make that possible.
“You can do it, Johann! Let me know if you ever need any help!” Aki exclaimed, clenching her free hand. His expression visibly soured.
“No, thank you. Please focus on helping yourself. Don’t do anything at all. Otherwise, you might cause more problems for me.”
“H-Hey! That’s rude!” she retorted.
“Just kidding,” he responded with a heart-stopping smile. His ability to switch between the whip and candy was really something. “On another note, that was some marvelous pentacasting, Leo.”
Leo’s lips curled in a weak but proud grin. “Thanks. Your turn now. Tie everything up in a pretty package, Johann.”
“I accept the challenge. Louis, Sutcliff, if you please.”
Beckoned, Sutcliff and Louis fell into step behind Johann who made his way to the gate. They stood an equal distance apart from the damaged barrier.
Everyone watched their backs with bated breath.
“…What are they about to do, Elias?” Aki asked, still supporting Leo with him.
“They are going to repair the city’s Goddess Barrier,” he answered, his eyes trained on them. “Only high-level Priests can borrow the great amount of the Goddess’s power necessary for doing repairs. Johann is one of the best out there, so there’s no one more apt than him for the job.”
“Louis and Sutcliff are going to share their magic, so Johann can really focus,” Leo explained. “Johann’s still human, repairing a barrier of this size by himself is backbreaking work… Dammit! I wanna help too! Let go of me, you two!”
“H-Hey! You’re in no shape for that!”