The person Theo contacted was Isabella.
It was close to midnight when Isabella received the call.
Her weary voice came through the crystal ball.
─Hello?
─This is Theo Lyn Waldeurk, Isabella.
Isabella was silent for a moment.
─...I would have known it was you just by your voice anyway. No one else would contact me at this hour. So, you've arrived, I take it?
─Yes, Isabella. I've just arrived from Polaris. I called because the checkpoint line is so long, I feared we would be stuck outside all night.
─Ah, it's still long, I see. Hold on. You came by carriage, right? What's distinctive about the carriage you're in?
─The Waldeurk family crest is painted on the outside.
─Got it. Just wait a bit.
About 3 minutes later.
Knock, knock, knock─
Someone knocked on the carriage window from outside.
Theo lowered the window.
Outside stood a middle-aged paladin with a stylishly trimmed brown beard. His attire was clearly of higher quality than that of other paladins.
The middle-aged paladin spoke.
"Ah, you must be Theo Lyn Waldeurk. You look the part, but we must follow procedures. Your understanding is appreciated."
"That's correct,"
Theo nodded.
The paladin requested identification for all four passengers in the carriage, including the driver.
Theo collected and showed the paladin their IDs.
The paladin nodded in approval.
"Yes, all four of you are cleared. Please, follow me. VIPs may enter through the side gate."
Hearing that, the driver steered the carriage towards the side gate.
As the paladin had said, there was a checkpoint at the side gate.
Although it was noticeably smaller than the main entrance, the security was much tighter.
Paladins of apparently higher rank were gathered around.
Theo quickly took in the scene.
'I should make a good impression here.'
Doing so would undoubtedly make tomorrow's endeavors smoother, especially since his purpose for coming this far north to the Magic City was to rally the paladins against the Ford Company.
Stepping out of the carriage for a moment, Theo spoke to the paladin.
"Thank you for your guidance. It's quite late, yet you're still hard at work. May I know your name?"
"Hahaha, no, the honor is mine to meet you, Mr. Theo. My name is Croc. I have the undue honor of serving as the Head of Security for the event being held in the Magic City. I've been eager to meet you in person, especially since you've been spreading the Order's fame far and wide."
Theo had been promoting the Church of Renimid as part of an agreement with Isabella, who had lent him the [Mercy of Renimid] artifact in two parts, continuously boasting to the reporters that flock daily, "Winning first place was largely thanks to Isabella lending me a precious item from the Order."
Of course, the journalists wrote even more flattering articles about Theo, marveling, "So humble, too... Truly a hero!"
"No, it's all true. We should head in now. I feel like I've taken up too much of your valuable time, Sir Croc."
"Hahaha, it seems the tales of old can't always be trusted. I had no idea you were such a paragon of virtue, Mr. Theo. I will open the gate for you."
Croc shouted to the other paladins,
"Open the gate!"
The paladins efficiently opened the gate with swift movements.
As Theo and his group were about to board the carriage, Croc approached Theo and handed him four white passes.
"These are VIP guest passes, Mr. Theo. Considering all accommodations within the Magic City are currently fully booked, I hope you find these comfortable. All VIPs attending tomorrow's event are staying here."
"Thank you, Sir Croc."
"Hahaha, no need to thank me. Your lodging is directly opposite the 'Tower of Magic.'"
It stood tall, visible from afar, serving as a landmark of the Magic City.
Before boarding the carriage, Theo asked, "Is Isabella also staying here?"
"Indeed. She might be asleep at this moment, though."
"Thank you, Sir Croc. Then, we'll really be on our way now. Please, take care."
Theo boarded the carriage.
With Croc and the paladins saluting, Theo's carriage entered the city.
Theo's group arrived at the VIP lodgings.
Each person had their own room, which, while not as spacious as Waldeurk Castle or Chalon Castle, was quite large and comfortable.
The interior was newly furnished, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
Theo unpacked his belongings and immediately headed to the shower room.
The shower room, too, had been well designed.
As the warm water poured down, Theo thought to himself,
'In the game, room standards were nowhere near this level. Inns were even falling apart.'
It was likely because of Isabella.
It was a rare official appearance by the First Saintess of the continent's leading Order.
Naturally, it attracted a huge crowd.
From the Order's perspective, they wanted to maintain as much dignity as possible.
It didn't matter anyway since, unlike her image, Isabella was not the type to get goosebumps if her accommodations weren't up to standard.
Unlike Theo.
"Sigh."
After showering, Theo started to dress up in the middle of the night.
He wore his academy uniform.
Of course, it wasn't for some foolish reason like, 'Even during vacations, I want to maintain the spirit of a student! That's the path of a hero department student!'
Rather, it was because all the clothes in the Waldeurk Castle wardrobe had become too small for him.
After diligently taking the special elixir given by Noctar, and significantly increasing his training and food intake, his body had grown incomparably larger than a few months ago.
After applying a perfume Isabella would favor, Theo grasped the communication crystal.
Naturally, his intended contact was Isabella.
Through the crystal, Isabella's voice, more tired than before, reached him.
─Yes... Why?
Theo went straight to the point.
─I would like to see you, is now a good time?
─...What?
Sleepiness fled from Isabella in an instant.
─Yes, yes. What's it about?
─There's something urgent I need to discuss with you.
─Ah, um, okay... You know where my room is, right? Come up in 30 minutes.
─Understood.
As Theo responded, a series of loud crashes came through from the other side of the crystal.
Theo spoke again.
─Is everything alright?
─Ah, no. It's nothing. See you in 30 minutes!
─Understood...
Before Theo could finish, the communication was cut off.
"What's that about?"
Puzzled, Theo sat cross-legged and began practicing his qi for the remaining 30 minutes.
Inside Isabella's room.
"Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t...!"
Having been lying in bed just moments ago, Isabella hurriedly got up to check her appearance.
"Skin condition... Okay. Outfit... Okay. Hair... Hmm. The back's all messed up. Let's fix the back first."
...Theo Lyn Waldeurk had asked to meet her first.
'This is unusual...!'
Isabella was mentally exhausted from witnessing the dark thoughts of numerous people today.
But Theo had requested a private meeting with her.
Curiosity over what it could be about overcame her mental fatigue.
Just as Isabella was about to use the magic hairdryer while sitting at the vanity,
─Saintess. Is something wrong? I heard a loud noise...
Claire's voice came from outside the door.
Isabella quickly replied.
─No! Nothing's wrong! Oh, wait, there is something. Come in quickly, Claire!
Bang!
Immediately, the door swung open, and Claire entered, fully armed, holding a broadsword in each hand.
Isabella gestured to her.
"Put down the weapon and come hold the dryer for me, quick!"
"...? Understood."
Though Claire was filled with questions, she complied with Isabella's command.
Whirr─
Whirrr─
Following Isabella's instructions, Claire held the dryer to the back of her head.
Isabella, with a round brush in hand, skillfully fixed her hair.
Claire asked.
"Are you going out this late, Saintess? It's best not to go out unless necessary. If you must go, I'll prepare."
"No, I'm not going out. He's coming here. I can't understand what he's thinking, daring to request a private meeting with me at this hour."
Isabella said this while swiftly working the brush through her hair.
Claire, who had been silent for a moment, opened her mouth.
"It's Theo, isn't it?"
"...Yes, that's right. How did you guess so quickly?"
Claire, uncharacteristically, chuckled and said.
"Didn't you give away all the hints, Saintess? Besides..."
"Besides what?"
"It seems to me, Saintess, that you hold Theo in special regard. And it appears Theo feels the same about you."
"What, what are you saying! Me... Me and him? How dare he... me?"
Isabella shrieked, her usually pale cheeks turning a shade of red.
"Don't, don't spout nonsense in the middle of the night, Claire! Just make sure you're holding the dryer properly!"
Claire smiled gently and replied.
"Yes, understood, Saintess."
