"I appreciate the offer, but I'm not religious."
Waving his hand, Cid rejected Xenovia's attempt to recruit him.
Just moments ago, he had explained to Xenovia and Irina Shidou that what he said yesterday had been spoken in the heat of the moment. After calming down overnight, he still could not bring himself to let the two of them sleep on the streets, so he allowed them to stay at his House for a while.
The two of them immediately burst into tears, clinging to each other as if they had just been hit with onions, crying about how they had met a good person. They even said they wanted to convert him so they could guide him to Heaven after he died.
...
So your way of repaying me is wishing me dead? That is ridiculous.
Are you kidding me! With my current wealth, I could live in luxury for five thousand years. There is no way I am dying before I spend it all.
And for some reason, when Irina Shidou tried to preach to him, the whole situation felt incredibly strange. It was like asking someone who was about to drown if they wanted to buy a bottle of water.
Although the benefits she described for Church members were indeed tempting, no meant no. It felt like agreeing would mean losing something important.
So no matter how wonderful or easygoing Irina Shidou made Church work sound, he refused every time.
If he really could not find a job after graduation that offered enough free time for him to act as an Eminence in Shadow, then at worst, he would just kneel and beg Gamma to arrange something for him.
"Well... alright. We were hoping to recommend you to the Church headquarters, Cid, but since that's not an option, is there anything you need help with?
To repay your kindness, as long as it's something Xenovia and I can do, we will definitely help you, as long as it does not go against the Lord's teachings."
After being turned down, Xenovia and Irina Shidou exchanged a glance. They did not insist any further and instead decided to repay him in another way, since Cid had already made it clear he was not religious.
So annoying.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, Cid lowered his head and rolled his eyes.
"No need to repay me. Just tell me how long you plan to stay here first. Let me be clear, I am not going to let you stay for too long. If your answer is that you will not leave until you find the Child of God, then you should leave now."
After rejecting the idiot duo's attempt to repay him again, Cid brought up the issue he actually cared about.
Considering that Zeta had stolen their wallets and handed them to him, he could let them stay for a while, but only for a few months at most.
Taking in Asia, who knew his true identity, was already his limit. If he also took in two idiots who did not know his true identity, how was he supposed to live normally? And what about keeping his identity as an Eminence in Shadow hidden?
"Um..."
Faced with this question, Irina Shidou looked nervous and turned to Xenovia.
Irina Shidou did not know how long this mission would last. Xenovia was the one leading the "Search for the Child of God" operation, and all the detailed information was in her hands. Xenovia would usually share the general details of important matters, but something like the duration of the mission was not something that needed to be mentioned.
However, based on Irina Shidou's experience, considering how important the Child of God was to the Church, even accounting for the possibility of false leads from believers, a mission of this level would at the very least last years. There was even a good chance it could be indefinite.
"One month."
"Huh? Xenovia, did you say that wrong? Did you mean one year instead of one month?"
Xenovia spoke, and her answer left Irina Shidou stunned, prompting her to question it immediately.
"I am certain."
Xenovia's expression was firm. This mission had been assigned by her senior nun as a kind of vacation for them, so there was no way it would be set for too long.
"That works. I can accept that timeframe. I still have some time before school starts, so I'll help you pack."
Hearing this, Cid nodded in satisfaction. One month was completely acceptable to him.
A whole year might risk exposing his true identity, but just one month was not a problem. If an Eminence in Shadow could not even keep his identity hidden for a single month, he might as well give up and start over.
"Um... thank you, but are you sure you don't want us to do something to repay you?
Money would be fine too. It's not much, but over the years in the Church, Irina and I have saved up a little. We can give it to you once we return."
"...No need. Just... Xenovia, please stop talking. If you keep going, I am genuinely worried I might take back what I just said."
Looking away, Cid forced those words out while suppressing the sting in his heart.
It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but the moment he heard the word "money," he was tempted.
Even though Xenovia said it was just a little, that "little" was probably tens of millions, maybe even over a hundred million zeni.
From what Cid had gathered, Xenovia and Irina Shidou lived a simple routine of training and going out on missions. Aside from that, all their food, clothing, and housing were covered by the Church. Because of that, the rewards they received had never been spent. After years of saving, that "small amount" was probably enough for him to buy several lower-tier treasures.
Tempting as it was, Cid still refused.
His gaze drifted toward his room, as if he could see the money pouch on the table through the wall. After all, he had already taken their wallets from the start. Taking more money now would make him no different from trash.
He was willing to abandon certain limits to become an Eminence in Shadow, but that did not mean he had none at all.
Or rather, being an Eminence in Shadow was his bottom line. Anything that clearly damaged that image was absolutely unacceptable.
Taking someone's money, then stepping in to help them, and finally using that favor to demand repayment was exactly the kind of thing that would ruin the image of an Eminence in Shadow.
Right now, he could still frame it as making up for the trouble his friend had caused them out of guilt. But the moment he used that situation to gain personal benefit, he would become a complete scumbag. The kind with no excuse.
As for making money off others, that did not count. After all, Alexia had spent her money willingly. That was not deception. At most, it could be called a bit of playful indulgence.
Hearing Cid's answer, Xenovia and Irina Shidou exchanged glances. After a brief silent exchange, both of them smiled lightly and spoke at the same time.
"Cid/Cid-kun, you're a good person." x2
I have had enough of this. Why does everyone keep calling me a good person? No matter how you look at it, that guy next door, Kojou Akatsuki, the one who looks like a typical light novel protagonist, fits that title way better. Are you sure you are not mistaking me for someone else?!
"So then, Cid, why aren't you a believer?"
After saying that, Irina Shidou tilted her head in confusion, while Xenovia nodded in agreement.