Chapter 192 : Chapter 192

Chapter 192: Confession (2)

“Why ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍does your face look like that?”

When ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I reminded him that he was not managing his expression at all, El came back to his senses and raised the corners of his mouth again.

“What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is wrong with my expression?”

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍answered with a smile, but the bastard could not erase the tension hidden in his eyes.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍emotions revealed in his pupils were so transparent that I almost laughed.

No ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍matter how I thought about it, the bastard before me really did seem to be Emperor Sierra Abalan.

If my assumption was correct, I had no idea how such a sloppy bastard had hidden his identity for a thousand years.

No, rather than that, should I be questioning how such a sloppy bastard had become the god of this world and received people’s worship for all those long years?

Or perhaps it was also a mystery how the first Emperor, Sierra Abalan himself, had ended up following behind the master of the prophecy in the form of a squirrel.

Then what would happen if I asked him openly?

“You look too tense. Almost as if you’re Sierra Abalan.”

There was no reason to hesitate.

If he died like this, that would mean giving up on the information I had yet to wring out of him, but the risk was too great to pretend not to know and let it pass.

However, the small Imperial Family member still faced me perfectly fine.

With a clean face that had received no threat at all.

“I don’t know what you’re suddenly talking about, child. Whether that dead Emperor bastard gets cursed or not has nothing to do with me.”

This time, a face wearing a thicker mask answered.

Not a single drop of blood flowed from his mouth as it opened here and there while he spoke.

I had tested the waters with vague questions, but was there really no reaction at all?

He had said he was under a curse that would kill him the moment his identity was discovered.

I had thought it was an absurdly convenient curse that even a princess in a fairy tale would not suffer from, but was even that a lie?

Or were the activation conditions a little more complicated?

For instance, the bastard himself had to think he had been discovered, or I had to be certain that the bastard was Sierra Abalan.

Did it require certainty that he had been discovered, not some lukewarm assumption that he might be the Emperor?

Or was even that merely a trick?

At least it was certain that the advice that repeating lies makes one lose credibility had come from experience.

I looked at the bastard’s doll-like smiling face.

So I can’t expose his identity right now.

A small hand approached me as I stared at the bastard expressionlessly.

“As you said, you are a child who keeps promises well, so there is no need to drag out time.”

It was pressure telling me to stop doing useless things and keep my promise.

Looking down at that small hand, I slowly reached out.

Yes, the period of playing along with the bastard’s lies had only been extended a little.

Besides, there was something I wanted to test with this too.

After grasping the bastard’s hand, I closed my eyes and focused on the sensation in my palm.

The moment I touched the power inside my body, heat that began from deep in my dantian spread to my fingertips.

At the same time, I felt the other party’s power gathering in my palm as if it were being forcibly dragged over.

A burning pain began as my skin heated to a temperature higher than our touching palms.

Unfairly enough, it seemed I was the only one feeling this pain.

Otherwise, there was no way he could look at me with that broad smile on his face.

The heat slowly subsided.

At the same time, I felt that something had gone wrong.

Because I did not feel even the slightest presence of the fragment that should have been created.

I pulled my hand away from the bastard’s, but nothing remained there.

What? Did it fail?

I raised my head and looked at El.

Contrary to my expectation that he would rage because this was different from what had been promised, the bastard was staring down at his palm with an overwhelmed expression.

“Haha......!”

In the end, a fit-like laugh burst from the bastard’s mouth.

“Were you so disappointed you went insane?”

“There is no chance I will ever be disappointed in you, child. You no longer have any way to disappoint me.”

The bastard answered in a voice mixed with laughter and held his palm out to me again.

At the movement that seemed to urge me to hurry up and look closely, I brought my face closer and saw a very tiny fragment forming on the bastard’s palm.

It was about the size of two grains of sand.

Its presence was so faint I would not even have noticed it unless I looked closely.

You were that happy just looking at this?

The eyes that had been turning the fragment this way and that, ignoring my hollow gaze, turned toward me.

The bastard’s eyes were flashing with ecstasy.

“You probably do not know how happy I am right now, child.”

“I’m more curious about where you’ll use that than about your feelings.”

“What matters more is how you will use it, not where I will use it.”

El took my hand, opened it, and carefully placed the tiny fragment on top of it.

Why are you giving this to me?

“So the goal was just to extract the power?”

“No. Giving it to you was part of the goal.”

The small Imperial Family member answered simply and placed the small grain into my hand.

“Use it however you like. You may use it yourself, or you may give it to the child of prophecy. I will respect your choice......”

“Really? Then that means I can do whatever I want with it, right?”

Cutting off the bastard’s words, I rose from the bed.

I did not know what he was plotting, but this was not a problem worth thinking about for long.

The fact that I had been deceived until now was reason enough not to move as the bastard wanted.

When I went to the window and opened the latch, El’s mouth fell open as he watched what I was doing with eyes that seemed to ask, surely not.

Watching the bastard’s eyes widen, I threw the thing in my hand straight out the window.

El, who came running late, leaned out the window and looked in the direction I had thrown the object.

Perhaps words would not come out, because the bastard’s mouth repeatedly opened and closed.

He looked surprised, but his reaction was weaker than I expected.

Contrary to my expectation that he would at least shout, the bastard only looked out the window, where the fragment of his power had disappeared in an instant.

Even that did not last long.

Because the bastard’s gaze soon fixed on me.

“Is that your choice?”

The bastard asked, having somehow calmed his emotions.

“Then where was I supposed to use it? It felt unpleasant to have, and unpleasant to give to someone else.”

My expectation that this time, the small Imperial Family member would surely be offended and shout at me missed the mark.

“Haha. Yes. So that is how it is. That is fine too. In any case, this is not something that will end with only one time.”

The bastard laughed lightly and came a little closer, quietly peering into my face.

The moment I opened my mouth to tell him to move his eyes away because the stare was burdensome, the bastard suddenly changed form.

“We should stop here for today. It seems I am not the only one who wants a private talk with you.”

El, who had somehow returned to being a squirrel, climbed up my shoulder and quickly got onto the window frame.

As if he were excited about something, the bastard waved vigorously, then leaped out the window and disappeared.

I followed with my eyes the back of the bastard who said only what he wanted to say and vanished, and soon understood what his baseless words meant.

BANG.

An uninvited guest with no sound of footsteps suddenly threw the door open.

***

Ria followed behind Idan, who kept turning back unnaturally often.

It was not as if she could hold hands in friendship and accompany a human acting suspiciously.

Well, he had said he wanted to go into the kitchen and sort out his thoughts alone, so the moment he secretly left the house, it had already been strange enough.

Following Idan while avoiding people’s eyes was not difficult.

That was partly because he limped a little after rolling across the floor after tripping over Ratel’s and Jing’s legs, and partly because he was deliberately taking the village outskirts, where there were especially few people.

No, even so, aren’t there too few people?

Ria looked once at the village, quiet as if empty, and once at the sun high in the sky.

Then she recalled one fact she had briefly forgotten.

Everyone must have gone to pray.

After the Lucha Competition ended, many people gathered at the Temple to offer prayers in order to make up for the proof of faith they had neglected during the competition, and to soothe the disappointment of those who had been eliminated.

Right now, it was the time when the villagers would be gathered at the Temple and in the middle of prayer.

‘I was too scared to mix with the villagers, so I always went secretly with my brother.’

It was a bitter memory that felt like the distant past, though it had happened only a short time ago.

Along with the memory came a slight expectation.

Yes, maybe he is only going to pray.

Ria wished that Idan was simply more brazen and thick-skinned than she had been back then, and was going to pray without caring about the villagers’ gazes.

Her futile wish continued even until his steps headed not toward the Temple’s main gate, but toward a small back door she had not even known existed.

Ria blankly watched as Idan looked around, then slipped into the Temple tower.

Feeling her heart grow cold, Ria carefully followed Idan inside.

The corridor was quiet.

Once the door closed, the building seemed as if it had never permitted human entry at all.

Ria walked down the long, dark corridor, searching for traces of Idan.

As she walked while muffling her footsteps, not a single person blocked her.

It could only be called strange.

To Ria, the Temple had always been a difficult place.

The priests, who stood closer to god, were people to be revered.

The Temple where they gathered had something overwhelming about it every time she entered.

No, she had thought so.

But what she felt now was only unpleasant darkness and the eerie atmosphere it created.

Shaking off that discomfort and quickening her steps, Ria finally managed to find Idan.

No matter how she looked at him, he did not look like someone entering to pray.

If he intended to speak about herself and her companions who had entered Lucha Village, she could not leave him be.

It was the moment she was about to rush forward to grab Idan.

A large hand covered her mouth and pulled her back.

At the sudden attack, Ria instinctively swung her elbow backward.

Though it was immediately caught in the other party’s hand.

“Calm down. It is me.”

Ria, who had been preparing to swing her foot this time, relaxed in surprise at the familiar voice.

Feeling Ria release her attacking stance, Jing also removed the hand that had been holding her.

“I apologize for startling you.”

“Ah, no, more importantly, Idan......”

As she received Jing’s apology, Ria hurriedly turned her gaze toward Idan.

In the distance, at the end of the corridor, Idan could be seen turning in a familiar direction.

Hiding herself around the corner of the corridor, Ria watched as Idan chose one among the many rooms, caught his breath in front of it, and knocked on the door somewhat roughly.

“What do we do? He’s going inside. If we leave him alone like that, he’ll tell them everything about how we secretly came back.”

Ria paced in panic, not knowing what to do, but Jing still did not lose his composure.

“No. If that were the case, there would have been no need for him to come secretly like this. Let us watch a little longer.”

At Jing’s words, Ria ultimately had no choice but to watch with empty hands as Idan entered the room.

The moment the door closed and Idan vanished completely, Ria turned toward Jing.

“It’s not too late even now. We can burst in right away, knock everyone out, and leave. I tried it once last time, and if I hit it a little quickly, I think I can take someone down before they even see my face. We have to stop him before Idan tells the Temple people we exist. If it’s Idan, he’s fully capable of doing that. Jing saw it too.”

“Calm down. There is no one inside anyway.”

Jing calmed Ria, who was speaking incoherently.

“No one?”

When the flustered Ria asked back, Jing nodded.

“Yes. Idan is the only one inside. If Idan knew in advance that it was empty inside, then he must have something to handle while avoiding people. If he does not know, then he will wait until someone comes. I think it is the former.”

Saying that they should first move carefully, Jing muffled his footsteps and walked forward.

Ria copied Jing, who silenced his footsteps more skillfully than she did, and followed behind.

“If Jing came alone, then is Ratel staying behind with Ran? Well, it did look like they had something to talk about. Ratel was glaring at Ran like he would kill him whenever Ran said anything.”

“Yes. He knew everything already, so he should have just said he was going. Instead, he turned me into a senile old man.”

At Jing’s mutter, Ria looked at him as if asking what he meant.

Jing recalled the past few minutes when he had believed the two of them were tailing Idan together.

“He pretended to follow, then turned back as he was. I do not know how long I was muttering to empty air.”