For some reason, Caren's mood soured, and she unilaterally declared the topic of her past over.
"All right, now answer me.
Shirou Amamiya, what do you think? Are you willing to take this part-time Agent job?"
Caren insisted that it was not a suspicious job at all. Rather, it was honorable work that maintained social order and protected the citizens.
To put it simply, it meant hunting down magi.
Modern magi were not all arrogant nobles gathered at the Clock Tower or living on their own territories, obeying the principle of concealment in their daily lives.
Among magi, there were many who would do anything for their research, even treating ordinary civilians as sacrifices in pursuit of the truth.
An Agent's daily work was fighting those sorts of evil magi. Dead Apostles and demons, on the other hand, were rare elite enemies.
Although violent conflicts often occurred, the Holy Church's hunting of evil magi was tacitly accepted by the Association and land managers like the Tohsaka family.
Eliminating outsiders was true, and so was purging evil.
For Shirou, this was not the kind of work that repulsed him.
But that did not mean he wanted to get involved in the Holy Church's domain. To be honest, he wanted to refuse outright.
Shirou said, "Can someone like me, who doesn't believe in God, really do this?"
Caren raised an eyebrow and said contemptuously, "If my master's authority is used, then even an ordinary person like Shirou Amamiya can hunt heretics in the name of the Lord."
Her tongue was as sharp as ever.
However, judging from her tone, that woman named Kissyoin had tremendous influence within the Church.
As a member of the "Burial Agency," she possessed autonomous authority that allowed her to ignore the Papal Court under certain conditions. Even as a mere believer, she also had unimaginable political influence within the Church.
Thinking that far, Shirou suddenly sensed something was wrong.
It felt as though everything had been arranged to lure him in.
Shirou grew even more guarded and said, "Let me ask this just in case. If I refuse, what happens to that part of the work?"
"Nothing."
The silver-haired girl said without changing expression, "Even if you don't do it, I will handle that work myself."
"Eh… Can you fight?"
After Shirou asked that, the girl's cute face visibly wrinkled in displeasure.
Of course, Caren was not completely incapable of combat. She could use the Baptism Rite, had received combat guidance from Kiara Kissyoin, and had even been chosen by the "Holy Shroud of Mary."
However, compared to the Agents Shirou had fought so far, such as the Kotomine father and son, her combat ability was still like the difference between a lion-rabbit and a lion.
That was why she needed a powerful bodyguard to assist her in carrying out her work as an Agent.
A magus like Shirou, who belonged to no organization, inherited no lineage, and was also skilled in martial arts, was the most suitable candidate.
With her smile gone, Caren calmly said, "Even alone, I would complete the work. This is not a question of whether I can or cannot."
Shirou complained, "What the hell, that's way too unreasonable. Do I not even have the right to refuse?"
Caren said coldly, "You are mistaken about one thing.
The Church may be strict, but it is not cruel or heartless. This is work I requested of my own accord."
"Why?"
Caren lowered her head and did not answer. Shirou pressed her, "Is it because of your Stigmata and constitution?"
The girl said quietly, "It is something I was born with. I hold no resentment toward it.
Since it is my fate, I have decided to let nature take its course…
I was born into this world as a weapon of God. That is the meaning of my existence."
"What kind of answer is that? Have you never thought about treatment? That constitution of yours is less a superpower and more an illness.
If it's an illness, then try to improve your condition."
Caren shook her head. "No method of treatment has been found, and there is no hope of recovery. Lamenting my misfortune is already enough.
Besides… it is true that I am constantly wounded, heal, and then am wounded again, but no one caused that.
This is my fate. Therefore, I feel only pity, not hatred."
Looking at the girl before him, who carried such a strong self-abusive tendency, Shirou felt a nameless anger rise inside him.
Caren also sensed the red-haired boy's dissatisfaction. She closed her eyes and said,
"If you're trying to persuade me, give up…"
"All right, I'll take the part-time job," Shirou said.
"Huh?"
Caren's expression clearly grew flustered.
"Um... why?"
Shirou said, "Why? Haven't you been trying to persuade me this whole time? I've decided to do it.
My work hours are limited to Monday through Friday, from eight at night until midnight. I can only go on business trips on Saturdays and Sundays. If you don't mind that."
Caren's pupils trembled. "Are you… pitying me?"
"I just want to earn money and protect my family. Don't flatter yourself."
As Shirou muttered that, he grabbed Caren's wrist.
"!"
The girl's eyes widened on their own.
This was the first time someone had ever touched her so directly.
When Caren was still an infant, her mother abandoned her and killed herself, while her father had died before she ever met him.
At the church and at the convent, everyone kept their distance from her, the child of a sinner.
Her master, Kiara Kissyoin, was as gentle as a reincarnation of the Virgin Mary or a Bodhisattva, but Caren understood that she would never truly open her heart to anyone.
"Um... what are you doing?" the girl asked in a panic.
Shirou: "It's about time for dinner. Come with me to the shopping district to buy groceries, then have dinner at my house."
Caren: "Huh??"
"What's with that look?"
Shirou said it as though it were only natural. "We're work partners from now on, right?
I've never had a proper job before, but isn't this how they do it in TV dramas?
Today is our first day as coworkers, so let's celebrate with a meal at my place."
Caren screamed in disbelief, "Why do I have to eat dinner at your house!?"
Shirou looked around the oppressive atmosphere of Fuyuki Church. "Are we supposed to celebrate in the church?"
"This isn't about where we celebrate!"
The girl shook off the boy's hand, covered her wrist, and stepped back several paces, her expression guarded.
"I have no intention of getting along with you. I only want to use your power."
She had expected to see Shirou discouraged, but to her surprise, his expression was clear and refreshed.
"Mm, same here.
I only want to get information from Caren and protect my family. Our interests align."
"..."
Caren looked at the hand Shirou held out to her.
She hesitated, hesitated, and hesitated again. In the end, she still took it.
For the first time since she had been born, she chose to try trusting someone of her own will, rather than simply letting herself be swept along.
Caren: "P-please take care of me."
Shirou: "Mm, same here."
Caren frowned slightly. "Shouldn't you let go now?"
Shirou gripped her hand even tighter. "So, you really should come to my house for dinner."
"I said I'm not going!!"
...
And so, Shirou became the acting Agent of Fuyuki Church.
According to Caren, there were people within the Church who had become Agents without Catholic faith, and those people were the worst kind of trash.
When she said that indignantly, Shirou, for some reason, thought of Kirei Kotomine.
The Holy Church was different from secular Catholic organizations. In this vicious world, it placed greater emphasis on ability, and so it would also turn a blind eye when selecting talent.
That said, someone like Shirou, who became an Agent without even joining the Church, was extremely rare.
In any case, he first reported the matter to Irisviel and Illya.
Then, as expected, he got scolded badly.
The reason was simple. An Agent's work was extremely dangerous, and they did not want Shirou taking risks.
In particular, when they heard that using Magecraft was forbidden during his part-time work as an Agent, both mother and daughter turned pale.
"Why!?"
"Well, since I'm technically carrying out justice in the name of the Lord, of course I can't use Magecraft, which is considered taboo."
"That's far too reckless…"
In the end, he failed to gain their support.
During lunch break the next day, Shirou called Sakura and Rin Tohsaka out as well.
"It's not too late. Hurry and refuse that dangerous job, Senpai!"
The purple-haired girl looked worried.
After all, when people spoke of Agents, they imagined fighting monsters like vampires in dark alleys. It was only natural that she would think it was dangerous.
"If you feel too awkward to say it yourself, Senpai, I'll go explain it to Caren-san!"
Sakura clenched her fists with a determined expression.
It seemed Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou had both greeted Caren when she first took up her post.
Rin was Fuyuki's land manager, while Sakura was the representative of the Matou family.
Rin Tohsaka rested her chin on her hand and said, "Amamiya, don't tell me you were captivated because she's cute?"
"Is that true, Senpai?" Sakura Matou asked nervously.
Shirou quickly shook his head. "Huh? H-how could that be!"
Rin Tohsaka showed a little devil's smile. "Hmm? Do you dare say you don't think Caren-san is cute at all?"
"..."
Shirou paused for a moment, then immediately defended himself. "She is cute, sure…
But I agreed to do this to protect Justeaze-san!"
"So Senpai really does think she's cute… (depressed)"
Sakura Matou murmured softly, while Rin Tohsaka kept fanning the flames from the side.
"When a girl that delicate and pitiful asks for help, of course you can't refuse…
Amamiya is a healthy high school boy too, so forgive him."
"Yes, Tohsaka-senpai… (sniffle)"
In the end, he failed to get the Tohsaka sisters' support either.
...
...
In the empty church, the nun finished her piece and closed the keyboard cover.
She glanced at the red-haired boy who had come to complain to her, then summed it up with merciless accuracy.
"You brought this on yourself."
Shirou hung his head. "I did bring this on myself. I've got nothing to say…"
Thinking about it carefully, he really had gotten carried away in the moment and failed to consider the bigger picture.
An Agent's work was extremely dangerous, so of course Iri and the others would worry about him.
Besides, the whole matter had been suspicious from the beginning. Shirou also felt that something was wrong.
It was almost as if someone hiding in the dark had carefully arranged everything so he would take this job.
Caren's master, Kiara Kissyoin… what exactly was her goal…
And then.
Most importantly, Shirou already had a part-time job, and he occasionally ran errands for the student council. Now he was adding another side job on top of that.
His already unimpressive grades were definitely going to get even worse.
"That's what you're most worried about!?" Caren rolled her eyes in disbelief.
"Schoolwork is important, you know.
It affects how people at home see me, and if my grades get too bad, Tohsaka will make fun of me at school."
"Oh, how meaningful."
The silver-haired nun mocked him with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
The meaning of existence.
For Caren, those words were far too luxurious.
Living like Shirou, enjoying peaceful day after peaceful day while experiencing the joys and worries that ordinary people were supposed to have, was something she could never have imagined before coming to Fuyuki.
She remembered Shirou's question that day:
"What are you living for?"
The girl's answer had been:
"Does life need a meaning?"
"...Mm."
Caren pursed her lips, feeling somehow unable to let it go.
"Why are you suddenly upset again?"
Shirou leaned in, curiously studying her face.
"!"
Because his face was too close, Caren instinctively leaned back. As a result, she toppled over together with the chair.
At the last possible moment, Shirou caught her by the waist.
"You okay?"
"......"
Caren stared blankly at the face right in front of her. Several seconds passed before she softly said, "Thank you."
She slipped out of Shirou's arm and turned away awkwardly.
With her back to Shirou, Caren said, "It's about time. Get ready. We should head out soon."
"It's my first job. I'll do my best."
This weekend, they were going to a nearby town to investigate an abandoned magus workshop.
It was a simple task that Caren could have handled alone, and there probably would not be any fighting.
However, considering that traps might have been buried in the abandoned workshop, Shirou would accompany her as a professional.
Shirou walked into the small room behind the church.
Ever since becoming Caren's partner, she had shown him around the church and familiarized him with its layout.
Shirou easily found a jet-black vestment in the closet.
Caren had said that even if he was not officially part of the Holy Church, he should wear it while working part-time. It was part of the job.
Since she insisted so strongly, Shirou had no choice but to put on the robe-style Agent uniform.
The surface of the vestment was made from bulletproof material, and a blade-resistant spell had been applied to it as well.
The lining was covered from top to bottom with hooks meant for storing weapons.
Caren had also prepared weapons for Shirou, the thrown weapons that symbolized Holy Church Agents, "Black Keys."
But Shirou did not accept them, saying he did not need that kind of weapon.
Caren frowned. "I believe I already explained this. During missions, you are not allowed to use your specialty, iron-forging Magecraft."
"I know, I know. You're so rigid."
Shirou muttered as he took a katana from his time pocket, the space he shared with Aoko, tucked it at his waist, and covered it with the vestment.
"This works, right? You can't see anything from the outside."
Caren still seemed to want to say something, but in the end, she silently nodded.
Once they were ready, the boy and girl left the church.
"What have you been staring at this whole time?"
"Nothing."
Shirou noticed that although Caren was pretending nothing was happening, her eyes kept drifting toward him.
Could she be captivated by how I look after changing into these black vestments?
No, that was impossible.
If it was her, she would definitely say, "I never expected Shirou Amamiya's build to be so unimpressive. You can't carry the solemn attire of an Agent at all ♡," right?
Absolutely.
"..."
Caren swallowed, stealing glances at the black-clad boy beside her.
This is bad… this is really bad…
Shirou in an Agent uniform somehow looks a little impressive…
No! He looks amazing! That sadistic aura is spilling out without the slightest attempt to hide it!
He usually acts gentle and kind, but on the inside, he is no different from those rough men…
Just as I thought, he really is a "wolf"!!
This person… he definitely does terrible things to girls every night…
First like this, then like that, and finally like this…
Do Einzbern Homunculi keep their hair that long so he can pull it hard when attacking from behind… Tch…
"What a beast!!"
"You said that out loud."
"Oh my, how rude of me."
Caren snapped out of her fantasy and elegantly covered her mouth with her hand.