Chapter 109

Time moved very slowly as the deep sea was explored.

Costance, who had extensive knowledge of submersibles, spent the entire day monitoring the cockpit without rest.

“……”

The hum of the engine persisted throughout their underwater journey.

Contrary to their anxious hearts, nothing significant occurred. The submersible quietly crossed the Toramde Sea and entered the territorial waters of the Pinse Republic.

Perhaps the priests, who had taken on the role of diverting the government’s attention by driving the car, had done their job well. The escape was successful.

Benny placed her hand on the glass and looked out into the deep sea. The space where she resided and the world beyond the glass seemed like two entirely different dimensions.

A world she didn’t know. Yet, it felt as though she could touch it if she reached out her hand. There was a similarly solid and unyielding glass between her and her father.

She and her father had been close, but understanding him was more difficult than the depths of the ocean.

“Arrival in one hour.” 

Costance’s calm voice announced. Even as they approached their destination, no sudden incidents occurred.

The color of the sea grew lighter. As the submersible surfaced, a distant coastal village came into view.

Though called a village, it consisted of only two crumbling houses. The only relatively intact structure was a hut, but there were no signs of human habitation.

Still, they had arrived.

At the coast of the Pinse Republic.

***

Nathan was the first to open the submersible’s hatch.

From a distance, Cardinal Rahie appeared. The cardinal was dressed in casual attire, far removed from the priestly robes he had worn at the agency.

As the submersible reached the shore, the cardinal’s figure became clearer. Soon, his face was visible through the open hatch.

With the help of Nathan and Costance, Benny stepped out and locked eyes with Cardinal Rahie. The cardinal smiled faintly, as if to acknowledge the effort it had taken to get there.

“Your Holiness.”

Nathan, who had also stepped out, greeted Cardinal Rahie with respect.

“You’ve worked hard, Nathan.”

“Have you received any word from the priests, Your Holiness?”

Nathan, more concerned about the two priests who had acted as decoys than the cardinal’s well-being, asked.

“Yes.”

“Are they safe?”

“Yes.”

Nathan’s face brightened slightly.

“They said an unfamiliar gun in the back seat saved them.”

“An unfamiliar gun?”

Though Nathan’s expression had improved upon hearing they were safe, it immediately hardened at the mention of an unknown gun.

“……It’s probably the gun I left behind.”

Julia, who had just emerged from the submersible, spoke up.

“Well, I took the soldiers’ guns while escaping.”

“You did?”

Nathan asked in disbelief.

“Yes.”

Julia’s expression suggested she didn’t understand why it was an issue, and Nathan fell silent.

“That’s enough talk. We have a long way to go.”

Rahie checked his watch. It was just past 5:30. The sky, caught between afternoon and evening, was nearly dark.

“Let’s discuss the rest in the car.”

***

“Did you know NOK’s energy has weakened?”

As soon as he took the passenger seat, Cardinal Rahie asked. This was after they had hidden the submersible in a cave beneath a cliff and boarded the car.

“We’ll have to monitor the situation, but at this rate, developing NOK One seems unlikely.”

The cardinal predicted the situation even before Benny could respond.

“This wasn’t my doing.”

“Is that so?”

After hearing her response, Cardinal Rahie didn’t press further.

The priest driving the car started the engine. Their destination was a southern village in the republic, about nine hours away by car. From there, they planned to board a prepared ship to enter the Papal States’ territorial waters, their ultimate goal.

“……”

Another escape by sea…

Unlike before, there were now more people to protect and fewer to provide protection. However, the fact that Cardinal Rahie was present brought Benny a great sense of relief.

The cardinal, too, seemed determined to take them to the Papal States this time.

The car followed the coastline. Even as dawn broke, they continued their journey without rest. Along the way, the priests took turns driving and constantly kept their mouths occupied with candy or chocolate.

“I’ll take over driving.”

As the priests began to tire one by one, Costance, who had been silent, finally spoke. The priest, who had just popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth, paused mid-motion at the suggestion.

“Do you know how to drive, Captain?”

“I’ve learned. And I’m no longer a captain, so you don’t need to address me formally.”

“……W-Well…”

The priest hesitated, glancing at the cardinal in the adjacent seat for permission.

“Let Costance take over. Rest properly in the back seat, Priest.”

With the cardinal’s approval, the car pulled over to the side of the road. Costance climbed into the driver’s seat, carefully gripping the steering wheel and preparing to drive.

But something about his movements seemed awkward. Before long, everyone in the car watched him with anxious eyes.

“……Costance, when was the last time you drove?”

Unable to bear the tension, Cardinal Rahie asked.

“About a year ago.”

Costance’s body tensed as he started the car.

“Oh dear, I’ve asked the wrong question. You couldn’t drive for a year because of your condition. Let me rephrase: how many times have you driven?”

“Five times.”

“……”

The cardinal’s brows furrowed. He looked at the priest who had just settled into the back seat with a troubled expression.

“Apologies, Priest. Could you take the wheel again?”

“Y-Yes, Your Holiness. I’m wide awake now.”

“Pull over, Costance.”

At the cardinal’s command, Costance silently stopped the car a short distance later. Returning to his seat, Costance looked dejected for being unable to help.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Costance. Dr. Rydier and I can’t drive at all.”

Alres tried to console him.

Benny observed Costance’s downcast face. For the first time, she saw helplessness etched into his features.

“D*mn it… I’m sorry.”

His voice cracked, revealing his frustration. Benny could sense how much he was struggling internally.

Without Costance, Benny wouldn’t have been able to escape, but he thought differently. Being a strict person, he always held himself to higher expectations.

Yet, no matter how remarkable someone might be, no one could be perfect. He had reached his limit.

“……”

She held his hand tightly. Glancing at her, he gripped her hand as if to crush it.

“I’m sorry for being so useless.”

“You’re not useless. I just realized that you’re human like the rest of us.”

Her candid remark caused his expression to shift subtly.

“……I’ll have to learn how to drive as soon as we reach the Papal States.”

Though he tried to speak lightly, his troubled feelings were evident.

“……”

A heavy silence filled the car.

It wasn’t the weight of fleeing from the Toramde government or the pressure of the chase. While they had successfully escaped the agency and crossed into the republic, the looming goal ahead made their hearts uneasy.

The end of their hardships was in sight, but that was merely the external conclusion of reaching the Papal States.

Among them, some harbored doubts, others guilt, and still others unresolved longing.

Julia longed for the father she had left behind in Toramde. Alres and Dr. Rydier questioned the unfolding events. Costance berated himself for his limitations. Benny doubted her father… All these complex emotions filled the heavy air.

Though nothing had been resolved, their destination—the Papal States—lay just ahead.

And so, with their individual burdens, they pressed on toward the Papal States.

***

After nine hours of driving, they reached their destination.

Though the journey had been uneventful, it was far from comfortable. After hastily eating breakfast, they searched for the ship that would take them to the Papal States. The vessel, though large and sturdy for a fishing boat, was still a fishing boat.

Having been captured on a similar vessel before, they couldn’t shake their suspicions. However, they had no other choice.

Boarding a passenger ship with their identities in Toramde and the Papal States was too dangerous, and airships were even riskier. Ultimately, the fishing boat posed the least risk.

“We’ll cross from the republic’s waters into the Papal States’ territorial waters. Toramde wouldn’t send warships into the waters of a third country.”

Before boarding, Cardinal Rahie spoke.

“The problem is that they might bring other disguised ships. Like fishing boats or small passenger vessels, similar to ours.”

“……”

“Stay vigilant.”

Benny swallowed nervously. After finishing his explanation, Cardinal Rahie turned to Julia.

“You’re Julia Perredit, correct?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

Snapped out of her thoughts, Julia responded.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t board this ship.”

“……What?”