Bab 23: Chapter 23 – Settlement

Not only me but the others were also surprised by the headmistress's answer. Rania's jaw dropped while Emilia was dumbfounded.

"That's just a joke. I am quite expensive; not even a Paladin can get me without doing anything significant."

For the first time since I met her, Alesia smiled slightly. Her lips just curled slightly, but I knew her answer was just a joke. I had never thought that she had it within her. I thought she was a serious individual.

Sana was the only one who looked disappointed when the headmistress said it was a joke. Rania and Emilia sighed in relief while I let out a low laugh.

"I thought so," I said, getting a nod from the headmistress.

"If that's all you wanted from the Academy, I will prepare it immediately." Saying so, the headmistress turned to Emilia. "Miss Emilia. Can I leave the matter of his Class to you? I will prepare the mansion for him to live in."

"Certainly, headmistress." Emilia bowed her head at Alesia, and the headmistress nodded in satisfaction.

"That's all from us, student Arthur. If you need anything, just tell either Miss Emilia or me."

"Thank you, headmistress," I replied and stood up, shaking her hand.

"It's a pleasure."

***

After talking with headmistress Alesia, I fulfilled my promise to the church knights and escorted Sana back to the Castitas Church. While walking to the Castitas Church, we were being watched by the pedestrians as they gave us the way.

"As the matter of the mansion, we will send 5 nuns to be your maid. It seems like the mansion is a bit small, so I think that will be enough. What do you think, Paladin?"

We also talked about the matters of my living arrangement. I knew Sana had a hidden intention by sending 5 nuns to be my maid. It was to help me, report my movement, and get my descendant.

While they were all about living with Chastity, or pure, they would do anything to get my descendant as they believed I was the Goddess' apostle, and it was an honor to have my kid.

Well, I welcomed that with open arms, but I also had the right to choose. And I had someone in mind that I wanted as my maids.

"Can you send the nun who oversaw my test and the one who served me in that room where we did the ritual before? Garcia and the short nun with blonde hair and green eyes?"

I liked both of them. Garcia, with her large breasts and lustful nature, and that short nun with cute face and childish charm. Both looked different from each other, so it would be nice if they served me in my mansion together.

"Garcia and Milea? Of course! They will be happy to serve you, Paladin." Sana replied with a bright smile. "What about the others? I wanted to serve you myself, but unfortunately, I have my duty as the Archbishop." She continued with a disappointed tone.

"I am happy just by your thoughts. As for the others, please send the nuns who can clean and cook. Unfortunately, both are not my expertise." I responded while looking forward.

Without us noticing, we've already arrived in front of the Castitas Church. "It seems that we have also arrived in the church."

"It seems so." The Archbishop said and looked at me. "Please visit the church regularly, Paladin. I… I will be waiting." Sana's cheek blushed as she practically ran inside the church.

"She'll be waiting, huh?" I muttered as I looked at her figure disappearing into the church.

That was great. Some of what I wanted had been fulfilled in a day. I was a bit cautious around the headmistress as she was the most difficult heroine to be dominated back in the game.

Alesia Daxidor was a Level 78 Mage. She was one of the strongest people in Sins Paradise. Using 'Requirement Appraisal' on her would be a bit dangerous. There was a chance she could feel the activation of my skill.

When someone used a skill, even a bonus one, a ripple of Mana would appear around that person. For the record, MP stood for Magic Point. When we used MP, Mana would be created, usually in a form of blue aura or string.

Every time someone used a skill, this ripple would appear around them for an instant.

That ripple could be detected if someone was skillful enough, such as the headmistress in front of me and me. I needed to make her trust me first before I used my 'Requirement Appraisal' against her.

Anyway… I turned around and looked at the alleyway in front of me.

"You can come out now, Rania." I called out, walking toward the alleyway calmly. "I know you're there."

One of my skills that I activated when I escorted Sana, <Presence Detection>, detected an allied presence nearby.

It gave me a radar that appeared at the corner of my gaze, and each presence was divided by colors. Red for an enemy, yellow for neutral, and blue for allies.

As for the allies' presence, I could also see their name. And I saw Rania had been following us since we left the school. I ignored her because she might be curious about what I would do. Her little brother from the orphanage had become a Paladin. That must be surprising.

"You can feel me, huh? As expected from the Paladin! Rania stepped out from the alleyway with a wry smile. She scratched her cheek nervously. "Umm, I am sorry for following you."

"Nah, it's no problem. You must be curious, right?" I replied, stopping in front of her.

"It's a bit early, but how about we go to a store and talk right now? I know a good one. This place is…" I looked around and saw many people looking at us. "Not really good to talk about something important."

"Y-Yeah." Rania nodded.

***

I only knew of one café in this city, and we couldn't go there because the students from the academies would be there, including those from the Royal Academy.

If we were found together drinking comfortably in a café, rumors would float around, and Rania's reputation would decrease slightly.

I still cared about her image and didn't want to destroy it. So I took her to another place. If it were this place, no students would be coming here.

"Here?" She asked as we stopped in front of the store. "I wanted to ask why you know this place when you are a former commoner, but… We can talk comfortably if we are in this place."

This place was the only 5-star restaurant in Academy City, Diner Delight. Many high ranking nobles used this place to have dinner with their children. And this restaurant had a private room. Although it was a bit expensive, money wasn't a problem.

And…

'The private room is soundproof, and the workers won't enter unless we allow it.'

While I didn't intend to rush my progress with Rania, I wanted to know what she felt about me.

And I didn't want to be disturbed by other people when talking privately. It was due to some… anxiety of being attacked from my experience in Horizon Online. I wasn't fully used to this world yet.

"Right? I know this place from Eliza."

"Ah, the daughter of Baron Rose. You have been really close to her since you were a child. She often visited the orphanage as it was run under Baron Rose's name before I donated my money. But it seems like she had forgotten about me." Rania rumbled alone, looking a bit sad.

"Well, I will ask her whether she still remembers you or not later. But let's enter first."

"Yes."