Chapter : 140

My wrist, caught in an unexpected variable, throbbed.

I wrenched my hand free from Ray's grip, who was holding my wrist with all his strength.

"Sorry! Ray!"

Ha, so he interfered intentionally, did he?

Ray's smiling face grated on my nerves.

Even Lilia-sunbae hadn't anticipated this situation, and she looked back and forth between me, Ray, and Bell with a surprised expression.

The fact that he had approached at such a perfect time, even with the sound-dampening magitool on, made my lips twist instinctively.

What is this, he's practically screaming 'please suspect me' with his entire body.

"What? What are you two doing there?"

Starting with Ray, the other mercenaries began to take an interest in us one by one.

Damn it, this will make it really hard to ask any more questions.

+++

Sudden Quest [Failed]

It has been confirmed that the quest can no longer be progressed.

The quest will automatically fail.

-Upon Failure: No penalty

+++

I failed a quest for the first time.

It's a relief that it's a quest with no failure penalty... but he's still suspicious.

When I sent a glance towards Ray, Ray also seemed to be watching me carefully.

"Well, got something to say?"

"Nope, if I had something to say, I would have said it~"

The languid tone, with a hint of leisureliness, was strangely familiar.

However, a subtle, lingering annoyance seemed to prevent me from identifying it.

"Is there anything more you wish to say?"

"...No, it's fine."

Now that I've been caught, I had no intention of digging any further.

At my obedient surrender, Ray smiled and turned his head to look ahead.

"Well, I mean... I'm sorry for drawing unnecessary attention."

"Hey, it's not like that. I'm the one who's sorry for asking so many questions."

"No! Don't worry about it!"

Bell's bright smile left a bitter taste in my mouth for some reason.

Feeling like I had done something unnecessary, I exchanged some light chatter before sidling over to Lilia-sunbae.

"Weren't you supposed to hold him so he wouldn't interfere?"

Just in case, I used the Writer skill to talk to Lilia-sunbae this time.

No matter how I think about it, Ray is suspicious.

"Yes, but he suddenly approached as if he knew something, so I didn't even have a chance to grab him."

Lilia-sunbae is also strong.

She didn't participate in the Flowering Festival because she wasn't interested, but if she had, she could have easily made it to the finals.

Regardless of whether it was the Knight Division or the Magic Division.

And Lilia-sunbae missed him?

Even if it was for a moment, there was plenty of room for suspicion.

"I'm thinking of learning exploration magic next week.

Could you keep an eye on Ray for that week?"

"He's probably already wary enough."

"That's why I'm saying it.

One person, Laurel-sunbae, is enough to grasp the internal situation."

Lilia-sunbae interjected.

If Ray was really connected to the benefactor who gave the potion, Lilia-sunbae was a hidden card for me.

"You know I came here because of Laurel-unni, right?"

"Yes. Laurel-sunbae is very sociable, after all."

At those words, Lilia hummed thoughtfully for a moment before finally nodding.

"Alright. I'll follow your instructions.

But, I want to make it clear that it's not because I'm following you."

"I don't expect that from you, Lilia-sunbae."

The Lilia in the game had that kind of personality.

A style that cooperates, but doesn't follow orders.

I don't expect that from Lilia either.

"Above all, you saved Laurel-unni once."

Ah, is she talking about when Baal appeared at the beginning of the semester?

Thinking about the guy who is probably sleeping soundly in his bed right now, my conscience pricked a little.

"So, alright. I'll keep a close watch on Ray."

"Yes, it doesn't really matter if he finds out you're watching him."

I should stop by the Academy and contact Fel.

Fel would have informed me immediately if any important information came up, but an interim check is important.

Just then, Cecilia-sunbae declared.

"This is the end of the road, so let's go back now."

For now, the dungeon exploration is over.

* * *

"Achoo!"

At Fel's sneeze, Hartain, who had conveniently come to visit under a pretext, was startled and looked over Fel.

"Are you alright? Have you caught a cold?"

At his worried, puppy-like demeanor, Fel lightly wiped his nose with the handkerchief Hartain offered.

"Anyone would think I was coughing up blood."

He's making too much of a fuss, Fel thought, but he obediently leaned back in his chair.

Theo had said that if someone was talking about you, your ears would itch or you would cough. Was it something like that?

"Please take care of yourself.

I can't be by your side to take care of you anymore.

And Fel always has a tendency to overdo things, so I'm very worried."

"What's new."

Besides, if we're talking about that, isn't Theo Lisitoel several times worse...?

Fel shrugged lightly and looked at Hartain.

While staying at the Academy, he had been astonished every time he heard about Theo's deeds.

He had thought Schreiden was exaggerating a bit, but he had actually downplayed it.

If all of this had been revealed, he might have really been branded a heretic.

"By the way, the new head of the Ignos family seems to be quite at leisure?"

"At leisure?

I'm so busy I'd rather you just kill me! And yet I came to see Fel! Because Fel is several times more important than being busy!

That's how much my loyalty is!"

Even if he wasn't Ferdiel Levian, Fel was always a precious person to Hartain.

He hated to admit it to death, but he was, after all, an 'Ignos'.

A being that lives by blindly serving the master to whom it has sworn an oath.

That was the essence of an Ignos.

And for that essence to change would be as impossible as the heavens and the earth splitting apart.

In other words, to Fel, Hartain Ignos was no different from a puppy he had tamed and was now responsible for for the rest of his life.

If only he had been cold enough to completely turn a blind eye, it wouldn't have been such a headache.

"Is there a problem? Or is someone giving you sh*t?"

Whether he knew Fel's thoughts or not, Hartain growled like a dog.

"I was just a figurehead Sword of Doctrine."

To be honest, it was ambiguous to even call Fel the Sword of Doctrine.

He went missing as soon as he became the Sword of Doctrine two years ago.

Had he ever done anything as the Sword of Doctrine?

The first thing he did upon showing himself was to oust the Pope.

"If anyone says such a thing, I will kill that person.

Even if Fel is not Ferdiel Levian."

"I'm sure you would."

Fel let out a chuckle. He already knew that Hartain was more than capable of that.

"In any case, you're a Heretic Inquisitor too, so follow the words of the Sword of Doctrine well."

Since the future Pope, a descendant of Levian, was also the Sword of Doctrine and had received the loyalty oath of the Ignos, Freya was the first Sword of Doctrine that the Ignos did not follow.

He believed Freya would do well, and he trusted that the Ignos would not strongly oppose her, so he had left everything in her hands.

But he wanted to say it at least once.

"Hey, I'm not a ruffian. Aren't you overreacting a bit?

I'm really hurt, you know?"

"A ruffian would be better."

A ruffian could be dealt with and finished, but the problem was that the man in front of him was Hartain Ignos.

When he saw Hartain smiling as if he didn't care about the insults, even the anger that had risen to the top of his head would vanish in an instant.

"So, is there anything I can do to help Fel?"

Hartain smiled brightly.

Originally, since he had left the Church, he had no intention of facing Hartain.

If he did, he thought it would be after he had caught Caelus Levian.

Nevertheless, the reason he had called Hartain, even taking a slight risk, was—

"Iris Viden, that woman seems much more dangerous than I thought."

At first, he had taken the job lightly.

He didn't know how dangerous Iris Viden, the woman called the master of Golden, was.

But, the more he investigated, the more he keenly realized that she was no ordinary human.

"Perhaps the entire Golden is already connected to heresy."

At Fel's words, Hartain's expression instantly hardened.

If that was true, the Empire might be shaken...

"It's just a hunch without any concrete evidence, so just keep it to yourself.

So, how's the atmosphere at the Church?"

"It's hell. Her Eminence, the Sword of Doctrine Freya, is in the middle of a spectacular sword dance.

Kaa~ it's really a sight to see."

Hartain, as if changing a mask, once again smiled cheerfully and gave a thumbs-up.

Even amidst the rapidly changing emotions, Fel was already used to it and didn't mind.

Hartain's various appearances were like the protective coloring of a chameleon.

However, it was not to protect himself, but had been trained to protect Fel.

Even knowing that, there are far too many people who fall for it.

"It would have been nice if Fel was there too."

"I have no hobby of watching other people's sword dances."

It's more that he doesn't want to stay in the Church anymore.

At Fel's firm answer, Hartain let out a smile of unnecessary regret.

"You have no intention of returning to the Church, do you, Fel?"

In the future, even after Freya and Hartain have cleaned up all the darkness of the Church, do you have no intention of returning?

At Hartain's question, Fel remained silent.

It wasn't a question asked carelessly because he had nothing to say.

It was a truly sincere question.

And, if Fel were to firmly say 'no' here as well, Hartain would never ask the same question again.

Fel could instinctively feel that.

"Do you want me to return to the Church?"

"Deep down, yes. In any case, the Church is like a home to me. When the home becomes safe, shouldn't the master be brought there?"

This, too, was sincere.

That's right, Tan. To you, the Church is a home and a hometown.

Perhaps it was the same for Fel as well.

After all, he had been there for over 10 years and had once dreamed of becoming a priest of the Church.

But, it's all in the past. Now, just thinking about the Church is tiresome.

Fortunately, the reason it's not repulsive is because of Tan and 'Elin'.

If it weren't for the two of them, Fel would have gone all the way to kill Caelus and become a vengeful demon who burned down the Church.

"I'm sorry, Tan."

To apologize means—

"Is that a refusal?"

"I have no intention of returning to the Church."

He will kill Caelus, who has lost everything.

After that, Fel will finally be free.

The mighty holy power was originally given by God, so he just has to return it.

Then, Fel can finally become a perfect commoner and be free.

That is all he dreams of.

Knowing the deal between the Church and Fel, Tan asks again with a gloomy face.

"You know I'm not calling you because of your holy power, right?

If you misunderstand like that, I'll be really upset!"

"I know."

He knows they're not those kinds of people.

But, apart from that, Fel now despises the space where he existed as 'Ferdiel Levian' to the point where he can't stand it anymore.

Unfortunately, his affection for Hartain just couldn't overcome that hatred.

If Fel were to return to the Church, it would only be when he returns the power of God back to God.

"But maybe someday, when I can shake off all my emotions, it might be possible."

He might visit once in a while, wouldn't he?

As if that answer was enough, Hartain slowly nodded.

"I will wait."

"Before that, we have to clean things up neatly, though."

At Fel's words, Hartain laughed silently.