Chapter 9.1 – Hunting Festival (Part 12)

Mikel didn’t answer immediately and quietly raised his head to stare at the Countess. The Countess, realizing the meaning of that gaze, moved slightly away from Ria’s side.

The only thing that had increased after unwillingly stepping into the noble society was her ability to read the atmosphere. She couldn’t help but notice that this was content she shouldn’t hear. But the carriage was narrow, and she, with her injured ankle, couldn’t move far away. After confirming this, Mikel thought for a moment and then released something from his fingertips.

A transparent membrane wrapped around only Ria and Mikel.

“This is a membrane made with holy power. Conversations shared inside this cannot be heard outside. However, it hasn’t been long since I was released from the corrupted power, so the duration is short.”

“Then let’s get straight to the point.”

As Ria, who had been looking around at the transparent membrane, immediately looked at Mikel at the mention of the short time, he nodded and continued speaking.

“Before the late Holy One passed away, he gave me one mission. It was top secret, known only to me and the Holy One.”

“Wait, if it’s top secret, is it okay to tell me?”

“Because you are the child of God. You are in a higher position than the Holy One.”

“…Please call me Ria.”

“Yes, Lady Ria.”

He was still politely respectful. Ria stared at his behavior for a while, then gestured for him to continue talking.

“That mission was to find and protect the next Holy One. However, even the Holy One only knew that the next Holy One was in the temple of the Liberti Empire. He didn’t know any details.”

“……”

“So I immediately disguised myself as a regular priest and entered this temple to find the next Holy One. During that process, many things happened, including the passing of the late Holy One, but to cut to the conclusion, after much time had passed, even after the current Emperor succeeded to the imperial throne and some time had passed after that, I found that person around the time I rose from a regular priest to the head priest.”

A momentary gloom passed over Mikel’s face and then disappeared. Although it was a fleeting change in expression, Ria witnessed that moment.

“…As someone who serves the Holy One most closely, it’s impossible not to recognize the next Holy One. No matter what…, what form they might be in.”

He frowned deeply as if about to burst into tears, but soon bit his lip hard to gather his thoughts.

“I’ve shown an unsightly display. I apologize. Fortunately, I became the direct priest serving that person. I continued my disguise, but of course, as the person who would soon become the Holy One, they quickly noticed my true identity, and from then on, I started preparing to leave the temple and head to the Holy Kingdom.”

“Alone?”

“Yes. The imperial temple is no longer a temple now. I found out that it has been like this for a long time. However, for some reason, the Holy Kingdom was unaware of this fact. I wouldn’t have known either if I hadn’t infiltrated in disguise like this.”

Mikel swallowed the intense emotions rising again and continued speaking.

“This is the reason why I came here.”

“…….”

“We secretly left the temple after completing all preparations, but it wasn’t long before the High Priest found out. It seemed like something had been done to him. With the sole intention of getting him out, I gave him the disguise potion I had kept just in case, and volunteered to be the decoy.”

“No, it can’t be.”

“Yes. Fortunately, I was able to buy some time, but I was caught and taken somewhere, losing consciousness. After that, I felt like my consciousness was trapped by something. I was probably being used all along. But the first moment I regained a bit of consciousness was when I touched you, Lady Ria.”

Ria recalled his behavior of always grabbing the ends of her hair when speaking to her. 

So that’s why he kept trying to touch me. To find his own will.

“At first, it only happened in the moment of contact. When I turned away, my consciousness was trapped again. But as the number of contacts accumulated, the time I could maintain my will increased, and I could speak and think more.”

“So that’s why…….”

“Yes. That’s why I kept doing it even though I saw you were scared. I’m sorry.”

Now everything made sense. Ria pondered over his words again from the beginning and asked.

“What is the corrupted power? And what do you mean by seal?”

“The corrupted power refers to a force that opposes the power of the god, that is, the holy power. It’s also called dark magic. Naturally, it’s a forbidden power for us who serve the god, and the stronger one’s holy power, the more vulnerable they are to this power. Except for you, Your Highness.”

“Did I have the power to break it? I only know how to use healing magic.”

“The child of god appears each time with different powers. As you said, Lady Ria, you possess the power of healing, but surprisingly, it seems the range of your healing is quite broad. From small wounds to, as you did with me, even breaking the seal of dark magic.”

As Mikel spoke fluently about her power as if he knew it well, Ria opened her eyes wide and moved closer to him.

“Do you know well about the power I possess, Mikel?”

“No. I’m sorry, but that’s not the case. I was just lucky enough to hear a few details about the child of god from documents passed down only to His Highness. Thinking about it now, it seems everything His Highness told me had a reason.”

“Ah…….”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help. However, what I can tell you is that the magnitude of the power you possess is greater and deeper than any child of god so far, and…….”

Mikel paused for a moment, hesitated, and then added in a small voice.

“In contrast, your body is weak.”

He spoke in a somewhat cautious tone, but in fact, Ria didn’t mind at all. It was something she had already felt since coming to this world. Besides, didn’t she lose consciousness for a moment after breaking the seal earlier? Anyway, it was enough to know that her power was that great.

“We should leave this place first. What happened earlier? Where did that man go?”

“Actually, when you said you wanted to go outside earlier, I was maintaining my consciousness for quite a while. So, pretending to return to the coachman’s seat, I slightly tampered with the carriage wheel. To make it look like it had corroded and rusted.”

“So that’s why it stopped.”

“Yes. We had come quite deep into the area, and there would be no villages if we went a bit further, so this was the last chance to get rid of him. As expected, he went to the village we passed earlier to get a new carriage. That village is neither too far nor too close from here.”

Considering the time that had passed since breaking the seal and having this conversation, there wouldn’t be much time left before the man returned. After quickly finishing her thoughts, Ria asked Mikel.

“What if all three of us escape now? Is it just a matter of time before we’re caught?”

“…Yes. Unfortunately, that’s the case in the current situation. I hadn’t considered escape. Moreover, since they sell some magical items in the village, if there’s a potion to fix the corroded wheel, he’ll be back soon. And…, actually, the man reports to someone every morning through the necklace he wears. He checks whether you are present or not,Lady Ria.”

“So he’ll be back by morning at the latest, right?”

“That’s correct.”

The sky visible through the door was gradually brightening. Even if they escaped considering the maximum time, it was clear that it wouldn’t take long for the man to notice.

“Can you defeat that man,Sir Mikel?”

“Pardon? Ah, despite appearances, I am the direct holy knight who guarded His Highness most closely. As long as he doesn’t use dark magic, I shouldn’t have much difficulty subduing him.”

“What if he uses dark magic?”

“That’s…….”

“In your opinion, can that man use dark magic?”

“…For now, that man is just a skilled mercenary. So in principle, he shouldn’t be able to use dark magic. Originally, dark magic can only be used if one has a somewhat similar power. It’s not creating something from nothing, but transforming what already exists.”

“What’s the probability of the person who hired the man helping?”

“Extremely low. Judging by the fact that they only placed me by his side, it seems I was quite a useful card when I was sealed. I don’t remember anything from when I was sealed, but that much is certain.”

After considering various situations in detail, Ria pondered. 

Should I gamble on the extremely low probability, or wait for them to come and rescue as it is?

“Were there any people tracking us?”

“Um…. It seems there were before we boarded the carriage. After that, perhaps due to the rough road, but seeing as he didn’t urge us…….”

“You mean there weren’t any.”

It wasn’t good news, but it was expected. If they were in a hurry, they would have kept going regardless of the rough road. To begin with, since they were moving to avoid being tracked, there’s a high probability that only the man knows this road.

“Alright. Then let’s take a gamble.”

Ria finally made a decision. Whether it failed or succeeded, she thought it would be better than just waiting quietly. If you don’t do anything, nothing will change.

“By the way, did that man mention the Countess when he reported?”

“No, my memory isn’t very clear, but except for the moment we realized we were being chased, he showed no interest in the Countess either before or after. After all, the person who hired him was aiming for you, Lady Ria.”

“That means he might not notice if the Countess disappears. Come to think of it, it was you who checked inside the carriage every time, right?”

As Ria turned her head towards the Countess, the barrier surrounding the two of them disappeared. At the same time, Ria met eyes with the Countess who was looking at her, and immediately approached her.

“Countess, I’m about to do something that might fail. So I desperately need even the smallest help to prepare for any situation.”

“…….”

“But because it’s not a guaranteed safe endeavor, I can’t promise your life. So please tell me your opinion. Will you stay here with injured feet, or will you help me escape this place even at the risk of danger?”

Ria wanted to make sure. Whether she would be on her side or not.

Of course, she probably wouldn’t have good feelings towards Count Figo or the man who broke her ankle, but given the situation where things could go wrong, she couldn’t just assume it would be fine and move on. Especially since she had already been betrayed once by her.

Moreover, if it wasn’t voluntary, she didn’t want to force it. She had no intention of forcibly taking someone who wanted to stay.

However, as soon as Ria finished speaking, the Countess took her hand without hesitation.

In fact, the answer she would give was already decided. Between those who only cause her pain and this person who extends her hand, shining her own light without yielding in any situation, what more consideration was needed?

The Countess couldn’t help but believe in her eyes that looked at her so steadfastly.

“If I can be of any help, I’d be glad to.”

And she couldn’t help but know that this opportunity was the last lifeline given to her.

-To be continued in the next volume