Afterwards, Zenith, Cliff, and I returned to the house.
On the way back, Cliff sighed and apologized.
"Sorry."
I looked back at him, puzzled.
"What's this, suddenly?"
"If you think about it, this kidnapping incident originated from my careless remarks.
Even though we reached a good resolution,
Taking credit for that would just be self-important lip service, I felt like I was just blundering about."
"I suppose."
It wasn't really like that though.
You acted following your beliefs, argued without reserve, and led us to that good resolution.
It's the usual Cliff-senpai.
"I'm not worried about it, we can reflect on this matter and make use of it next time."
"Ah, yes."
Cliff shrugged... Normally, in Cliff's position, someone would be more worried about their own situation.
Wendy was waiting for us when we arrived home.
Only Wendy.
"Ah, welcome back."
I suddenly started to worry about Aisha and Gisu, they're safe right?
While we were drawing up the contract, I asked the Cardinal and the Temple Knights but they just responded with [We don't know.]
Are they busy preparing some sort of trump card, or...
"Aisha-san, Gisu-san, it's safe!"
My worries were groundless.
Two people came out from under the floor.
"Phew, welcome home, Oniichan... and Zenith-okaasan."
The two of them let out a sigh of relief.
Hearing their circumstances,
Apparently Claire and Carlyle left for the religious headquarters early this morning, and after learning that, they immediately set out to inform me.
But, it was already too late.
By the time they arrived at the headquarters, the Temple Knights had already begun to move.
I had already moved to make contact with Therese, and Claire was already inside the headquarters.
With all these pieces moving, they knew something must have happened.
Thinking that, they remembered my instructions, and returned to Cliff's house.
They planned to wait until night, and then make their escape from the town.
"The Temple Knights came looking here several times, and I properly turned them away!"
Wendy seems to have done her job correctly this time.
However, the Cardinal was targeting Aisha and Gisu as I suspected.
Dangerous.
"Oniichan, since Okaasan has come home, that means...?"
"Ah, yes, it's over."
I explained the details to Aisha and Gisu.
After I'd finished explaining, Aisha's eyes were twinkling, and she started talking in a voice of admiration.
"Something like that, Oniichan, you're a hero!
Even with your back up against a wall,
You wrapped everything up in just a day!"
Saying something so absurd...
What kind of unsightly hero would I make.