Rudis discovered it once before while cleaning. Back then, she had carelessly examined the papers closely, only to be practically chased out by Noah. Clearly it seemed important, but…

Why does he keep leaving such things lying around?

While opening the window for ventilation, she felt bothered by the unsecured stack of papers. As she approached to place a paperweight on it, Rudis noticed a familiar sketch among the densely packed, unrecognizable text.

Why is this…

A square-shaped ornament with a hollow in its side.

Could it be? Was Noah the one who sent that anonymous gift?

Her breath caught in her throat. This was a sketch of the gift she had received anonymously—the very gift that had suddenly arrived during peaceful days. The beginning of everything, the root cause that had led her here.

…But was it really? Truly?

Frozen before the stack of papers, Rudis recalled days gone by. Her inclination to blame Noah, who might be responsible for everything, quickly faded. Instead, she reflected on her somewhat peculiar connections with Xenon and Iska.

From accepting non-mandatory quests to everything that followed, she hadn’t made any choices she would regret. Every decision had been hers alone. Even if this gift had triggered everything, all subsequent choices were her own.

Before she could organize her tangled thoughts, the door opened and Noah entered. Without sparing her a glance, he sat at his desk and opened a book. She cautiously moved her lips.

Should she ask or not?

After hesitating, just as she was about to turn away, Noah spoke without lifting his eyes from his book.

“Why don’t you ask? I’m sure you’re curious.”

She flinched at his tone, which suggested he knew everything.

“Because I looked without permission.”

Though she had deliberated, Rudis couldn’t bring herself to ask since she had viewed it without permission, knowing Noah would disapprove.

“I’m surprised you still have such scruples.”

She startled at his sudden remark, her face burning with the feeling of being caught.

“It never occurred to you that I left it here for you to see? If I had wanted to hide it, you would never have found it in your lifetime.”

His words ended coldly but carried a hint of composure. For a moment, she felt foolish. Since things had come to this, there was no reason to hesitate further. She asked straightforwardly:

“Then this gift—did you send it?”

“Of course not. How could I possess such power? However…”

Noah’s answer was both clear and ambiguous.

Such… power?

She tried to find the hidden clue in his response and waited breathlessly for him to continue.

“I had anticipated that this sacred relic would eventually be given to you. Without fail.”

“Then do you know who sent it?”

Noah seemed to know, including exactly what this item was.

“Before I answer, there’s something I must say.”

Noah set down his pen and looked directly at her.

“…”

“Do you believe in God?”

An unexpected question, and clearly not mere curiosity. His gaze was cold and sharp, creating an atmosphere that felt like an ideological examination. She couldn’t help but slowly nod. Yet, mocking her response, Noah said coldly:

“I do not.”

“Is it appropriate for a priest to say such things?”

She was shocked and instinctively lowered her voice, glancing around. Rudis never imagined such blasphemous words would come from Noah, a priest.

“Do you still consider me a priest?”

Noah raised one corner of his mouth in a sardonic smile.

Her confusion deepened. Thinking calmly, she realized Noah had never once referred to himself as a “priest.” She had believed this place to be a temple because of the white building and serene atmosphere. But she now recalled the absence of altars or divine statues typically found in temples. Looking closely, Noah’s white clothes bore no sacred symbols. In fact, he had never once mentioned any deity’s name—something commonly heard even in villagers’ greetings.

The misconception had been hers alone. She had assumed Noah was a priest simply because he had treated and protected her injured body.

Then what exactly… is Noah?

There was a strange reverence that his prickly manner couldn’t conceal. Where did this bizarrely sacred atmosphere surrounding Noah originate? As she pondered these questions, Noah spoke again.

“I do not serve any god. Do you understand?”

Noah met her gaze directly and spoke firmly. His words were sharp as needles, and she found herself nodding without realizing it, though she couldn’t understand why he emphasized this so strongly.

“However…”

Noah twisted the corner of his mouth again and said in a low voice:

“This is a divine relic.”

She stopped breathing, dumbfounded.

What? Is this man insane?

She grew even more confused. He claimed not to believe in gods, yet called this a divine relic? It truly made no sense. She wondered if her beast-person transformation was affecting her cognitive abilities as well. No matter how she considered it, Noah’s words remained incomprehensible. Her mind was in chaos.

“It is the Token of Pathos, a sacred relic said to grant its owner’s wish without fail.”

A wish…

That word reminded her of the phrase written in the anonymous letter:

[Hoping your desire comes true.]

She had suspected as much, but “without fail”? While contemplating the strange eeriness of those words, Noah continued his explanation.

“This Token of Pathos has reappeared after nearly 200 years.”

“200 years?”

“Yes. Before that, it was passed down through one family for a very long time.”

“Passed down? So it can be inherited?”

“Yes. That’s how it worked for a very long time.”

Noah answered quietly with a somewhat tired expression.

“But why would such an object come to me…”

“Who knows?”

Noah shrugged dismissively.

“Perhaps you’re lucky, or maybe you’re the one being tested this time.”

Tested.

Her heart sank at that word.

“What do you mean by ‘tested’?”

“Exactly what I said. Gods are cruel and enjoy testing people.”

She slowly digested his words while observing him.

This man, who looked like a high temple priest to anyone who saw him, claimed not to believe in gods. Yet he seemed to know more about them than anyone else.

“Is there something you desperately want?”

Noah’s sharp question left her speechless.

“I…”

“I’m not interested, so you needn’t explain to me. But if you do want something, be more cautious of those around you. Stop being such an easy mark.”

“What?”

She flinched at Noah’s blunt words.

“Surely you don’t actually believe those men rolling around with you approached you because they genuinely like you?”

Noah’s bitter smile made her feel somewhat dejected. She had vaguely suspected Xenon might be approaching her for the relic, but she wanted to believe in Iska. He seemed completely unaware of the relic’s existence.

Besides, hadn’t Xenon eventually said there was no need to restore this sacred relic? But after hearing Noah’s explanation, she wondered if everything might have been an illusion.

“Hah. I didn’t expect such naivety.”

Noah mocked her.

“Is this relic very famous?”

She asked despite knowing her question might sound stupid. Somehow, she felt like everyone except her knew about it—Xenon, Iska, and now Noah. Everyone.

“It once was. Very long ago. But even then, only a select few truly understood its power.”

Rudis tilted her head at Noah’s explanation. Strange, it seems like everyone but her knows about it…

“Do you know what those two wish for?”

In truth, she hadn’t had any particular wish until now. Completing her guidebook was a desire, but that was something she could achieve through steady effort. Learning that Xenon and Iska had approached her because of the relic was saddening, but if they had wishes they wanted fulfilled so badly, she wanted to help them. Or at least understand them.

“No. I’m not interested.”

Noah cut her off firmly.

“Do you have a wish you’d like granted too, Noah?”