Closia swept a hand through her long brown hair and asked with a half-smile, "Why can't I be here?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Fors, who still looked somewhat dazed beside Abner, and teased him while pointing at the young woman, whose air resembled her own: "If you keep chasing other women, the countess waiting alone at the Hot Spring Resort in Feysac won't be happy."
The countess? Didn't you hypnotize that Greed woman into... whatever that was? What does it have to do with me? After grumbling inwardly, Abner decided it would be unwise to trade barbs with a veteran of the Spectator Pathway. He changed the subject. "Where's Helen?"
"Helen's handing out Communion. She'll be back soon." After answering, Closia turned unusually serious. "I was only joking. I actually came because of a task from the Mother Goddess.
"In short, she sold me to you..."
By the end, Miss Sloth had slipped back into her usual manner.
Abner was used to her. Aside from her fondness for acting younger than she was, she loved a laugh and a tease. He said nothing, merely fixed her with a stare whose meaning was clear: Speak plainly.
"How dull..." Disappointed that she had failed to surprise him, Closia pouted before explaining, "The Ancient Alchemist Beyonder Characteristic you offered the Mother Goddess wasn't free. By her decree, my task is to protect you until you become a Demigod.
"During that time, I'll follow your arrangements."
So Lilith took the Ancient Alchemist characteristic as payment to find me a bodyguard?
But Closia is her believer. Why go to all that trouble? To give her more incentive?
Abner did not doubt Miss Sloth's account. However eccentric she might be, she would never dare joke about the True God she worshipped.
"I see... With