Chapter 631: Next Coarse of Action

Next day.

"So, what do you think?" Arnold asked, sitting on a thick tree branch.

Beside him, Amon was sprawled lazily across the same enormous branch, looking as though he had absolutely no intention of doing anything productive.

They had returned to the same woodland where they had met Alice.

"Hmm... I think the temple in this village is hiding something," Amon replied thoughtfully.

Arnold frowned. "And what makes you think that?"

"Well, haven't you noticed? Unlike most settlements, Leonera isn't governed by a village chief. The priest oversees the village's affairs." Amon raised one hand and began counting on his fingers.

"And considering that he's served here for thirty-two years, he probably knows more about the village's history and its deaths than anyone else. If there's something suspicious going on, he's one of the people most likely to know about it."

Arnold nodded slightly, acknowledging the logic behind his friend's words.

"What was his name again? The priest of the temple?"

"Mason, I think."

"Oh, right! Mason." Amon snapped his fingers. "He must have records of everything that's happened over the past twenty-five years. Every suspicious death, every woman accused of witchcraft, and perhaps even the identities of those involved."

Arnold's expression grew contemplative.

"Then, should we—"

"No." Arnold interrupted him before he could finish. Arnold turned toward him.

"...I haven't even finished speaking yet." Amon said.

"No need. I already know what you're going to say."

Amon finally sat upright, resting his back against the tree trunk.

Arnold sighed. "Let me guess. You want to sneak into the temple, search for anything suspicious, and look for hidden documents containing information about the village's past."

Amon's eyes lit up. "Oh, brother! You understand me so well!" He slapped Arnold's shoulder enthusiastically. "Exactly! We should absolutely do that!"

"You idiot!" Arnold snapped. "Do you want to end up being burned at the stake? If they discover us sneaking around inside the temple, we're finished!"

"But we won't get caught!"

"And how, exactly, are you so confident about that?"

"Because I'm awesome?"

Arnold stared at him.

He remained silent, seemingly reconsidering every decision that had led him to work with this shameless idiot.

Amon, meanwhile, looked perfectly pleased with himself.

"Listen, let's do this properly." He raised a finger, adopting an unusually serious expression. "First, we'll visit the temple, pray to the Goddess of Light, and observe the place for a few days. We'll learn about the people working there, figure out their routines, and come up with a proper plan before making any moves."

Arnold blinked. Then he stared at Amon as though he had suddenly grown a second head.

"...Are you serious?"

"Of course! Now don't look at me like some crazy person."

"Your ideas usually involves doing something ridiculous and hoping everything works out."

"That's an unfair accusation."

"It's an accurate one."

Amon ignored the remark and stretched his arms above his head.

"Anyway, do you have a better idea?"

Arnold opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Unfortunately, he couldn't deny that they needed more information. Alice's story had raised several questions, and the temple seemed like the most logical place to begin their investigation.

"...Fine," he muttered. "We need information, so we'll do it your way. But don't do anything stupid without telling me first."

Amon grinned. "Of course, brother! You can trust me completely!"

"Well we got no choice. Let's try this."

"Hehe!"

Arnold rubbed his temples. He already regretted agreeing to this.

"One more thing," Amon added suddenly. "I've also have an amazing way for us to escape if things go wrong."

Arnold immediately turned toward him. "An escape plan?"

"Yep!"

"What is it?"

Amon smiled mysteriously. "That's a secret."

Arnold's expression darkened. "You're telling me we might sneak into a potentially dangerous place, but you won't even tell me how we're supposed to escape?"

"Relax! If something crazy happens, I have a way to get us far away from this village within minutes."

Amon sounded so confident that Arnold couldn't help feeling a little curious.

However, Amon had no intention of revealing the truth just yet.

The escape method he had in mind involved an artifact he possessed, one capable of getting them out of trouble far more quickly than any ordinary means.

Naturally, he wasn't about to disclose that little secret.

Not yet, anyway.

"All right, let's go!" Amon declared, hopping down from the branch. "It's time to visit the temple and pray to our beloved Goddess of Light!"

Arnold climbed down after him, giving him a suspicious look.

"You're awfully eager to pray all of a sudden."

"Yup!"

Amon nodded enthusiastically. "Why wouldn't I be? She's the Goddess of Light, after all!"

He paused, then added with a completely straight face, "If it was some god , I probably wouldn't be so eager to pray."

Arnold's face twitched. "Tch! You're a shameless bastard through and through."

"Hehehe!"

Amon merely chuckled, entirely unbothered by the insult. And so, the two began making their way toward Leonera Village.

---

Soon, they arrived at the village square.

Standing at its center was the old metal stake where a woman accused of witchcraft had been burned twenty-five years ago. Even from a distance, the sight of it was unsettling.

The temple of the Goddess of Light stood nearby, its entrance facing the square. The building appeared peaceful and well-maintained, its pale stone walls reflecting the fading sunlight.

Yet, knowing what had happened in this village, neither Amon nor Arnold could look at the temple without feeling suspicious.

After all, a place of worship was supposed to offer people comfort and protection.

But in Leonera, a woman had been burned alive because of the class she had awakened.

And the priest responsible for overseeing the village had been here for decades.

If there was a place where they could uncover the truth, this temple was an excellent place to start.

Amon stopped in front of the entrance and glanced at his companion.

"What are you waiting for? Go inside."

Arnold looked at him. "You go first."

Amon stared at him in disbelief. "Hey! Why me? You should go first!"

"Didn't you say you were eager to pray to the Goddess?"

"Well, yes, but—"

"Then go."

Amon hesitated. "...I've suddenly remembered that my luck is absolutely terrible."

Arnold's eyes narrowed. "What does your luck have to do with entering a temple?"

"Everything! What if I walk in there and immediately run into some terrible misfortune? I have a bad feeling about this place."

"You were practically singing praises to the Goddess a moment ago!"

"That was before I remembered my lovers."

Arnold froze. "...The fuck?"

Amon immediately raised a finger. "Hey! Don't use curse words in front of the temple. That's bad manners, Arnold."

A vein throbbed on Arnold's forehead.

This bastard he had been putting up with Amon's nonsense for a while, but somehow, the man never seemed to run out of new ways to test his patience.

Without another word, Arnold grabbed Amon by the collar.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Taking you inside."

"Wait! Hold on! We can discuss this like civilized people!"

"Shut up."

Arnold dragged him toward the entrance.

"Hey! Arnold! Have some respect for your handsome and charming brother!"

"I'd rather respect my own sanity."

"That's cruel!"

Ignoring Amon's protests, Arnold hauled him through the temple's entrance.

And just like that, their investigation officially began.

The two entered the temple's main hall.

Rows of wooden benches were arranged neatly on either side of a clear central aisle, which led directly to the altar at the far end. Several elderly villagers sat quietly on the benches, some with their heads bowed in prayer while others gazed peacefully at the altar.

The atmosphere was calm and solemn, filled with a sense of tranquility that seemed almost out of place given the dark history of Leonera Village.

Amon and Arnold walked down the central aisle, their footsteps echoing softly through the spacious hall.

Soon, they arrived before the altar.

Like most temples dedicated to the Goddess of Light, the altar featured an elegant statue of the Goddess herself. The statue depicted a woman carved with remarkable skill and attention to detail. Her figure was graceful, and flowing robes draped beautifully around her body, giving her an almost ethereal appearance.

However, there was one peculiar detail.

Her face was completely concealed beneath a thin veil. No matter how carefully one examined the statue, her features remained hidden, leaving her true appearance a mystery.

Only her graceful figure could be seen, while her identity remained unknown.

Amon studied the statue for a moment before bringing his palms together.

He closed his eyes and offered a silent prayer.

'My dearest Goddess, please bless me with a happy and enjoyable life alongside my future wives. Oh, and while you're at it, make me a lot stronger, too!'

He nodded solemnly, as though he had just delivered the most sincere prayer imaginable.

Beside him, Arnold brought his hands together as well, offering his own prayer to the Goddess.

Afterward, the two stepped away from the altar.

While Amon appeared perfectly satisfied with his little prayer, Arnold's attention had already shifted elsewhere. His eyes quietly scanned the hall, taking note of the benches, the elderly villagers, and the temple's overall arrangement.

Once they found an unoccupied bench, the two sat down.

Neither spoke for a while.

They simply observed their surroundings, hoping to notice something that might help them uncover the secrets hidden within Leonera Village.