Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 2/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

I swallowed hard and looked at him.

He continued in a low voice.

“His name is Gillex Barcel. As you might have guessed, he’s quite a high-ranking priest within the temple.”

I nodded.

To be a professor at the Imperial Academy, one would need to be at least a mid-level priest.

Engraving the name ‘Gillex Barcel’ in my mind, I listened attentively to Lemon’s words.

“I investigated this priest named Gillex Barcel, and there are a few notable characteristics.”

“What are they?”

I had somehow ended up sitting across from him, engaged in conversation.

Perhaps because his face was covered with a black mask, his pale yellow eyes stood out, particularly in the darkness.

In response to my question, Lemon spread his fingers, clad in half-gloves, as he spoke.

“First, as you might have expected, he holds a high position within the temple. Well, that’s a given.”

Nod.

“Second, regardless of his position, he’s also quite popular. His reputation is very good. It’s not easy to gain the trust of both factions within the temple, but this Gillex Barcel has managed to do so.”

“…He sounds like the previous High Priest.”

I don’t know much about High Priest Kalbinur, but I at least know that he maintained complete neutrality without getting involved in factional fights within the temple, and took the position of High Priest with everyone’s approval.

That’s why his current influence is even more solid.

Lemon nodded.

Then he rested his chin on the table and leaned his upper body towards me.

I quietly gazed at his lemon-colored eyes, softly illuminated by the moonlight.

Curling up the corners of his mouth, he raised his third finger.

“Third, nothing is known about his life before becoming a priest.”

“…Nothing is known?”

“Yes, as you know, Livia, not all priests dedicate themselves to the temple from birth.”

“That’s right.”

I nodded.

“Gillex Barcel also entered the temple at 13. His divine power wasn’t particularly remarkable, but he showed diligence in studying theology and quickly became an official priest. On the surface, he seems perfectly suited for a professorship.”

Having said that much, he grinned.

“He’s as suited for a professorship as Jeffrey Cuspert was.”

At his words, I fell into thought for a moment.

According to Lemon, ‘Gillex Barcel’ had no particular issues becoming a professor at the Imperial Academy.

In fact, his lower divine power made him even more suitable for a professorship.

After all, priests with divine power are always in short supply, no matter how many there are.

There was no one more suited to be a professor than Gillex, who had a high position, was well-respected, had deep knowledge of theology, but lower divine power.

Yes, it seemed like a natural replacement with nothing particularly strange about it.

‘Why do I still feel uneasy?’

It’s too perfect as if prepared as Jeffrey’s successor.

And the fact that nothing is known about his life before becoming a priest is also strange.

Even so, he would have been either a commoner or a noble…

‘Just who is he?’

Lemon, who had been quietly observing me, continued speaking.

“We’re still investigating Gillex Barcel.”

I nodded.

Thinking once again that I had done well to make him my ally, I asked the next question.

“What about the fire incident? Haven’t you found out who set the fire yet?”

Lemon shook his head with a regretful expression.

“As you know, that place was particularly secluded even within the Academy. There were no passersby, and the fact that it took a long time to extinguish the fire means it had spread quite extensively. There are no witnesses, no evidence, nothing. However…”

“However?”

Lemon, stroking his chin, continued in an even lower voice.

“They say nobody was found.”

“…What did you say?”

That can’t be.

‘Surely Jeffrey must have died by Cardien’s sword.’

Even if he had luckily survived, he was definitely not in a state to escape.

If the fire truly started there, Jeffrey’s body should have been there too.

Even if only ashes remained after burning, they should have been found…

The fact that not even that was found means…

“…Those who committed arson removed Jeffrey’s body.”

Lemon offered only a smile in response, but that was answer enough.

“You’ve found out quite a bit.”

“I’m just sketching out the outline.”

Saying so, Lemon stood up.

“Well then, I should be going now. I need to start moving for what’s next.”

“Ah, about the clues for the request…”

As I hurriedly stood up and spoke, Lemon turned towards me with a gentle smile and said:

“Since we’re short on time, let’s discuss that at our next meeting.”

He went out onto the terrace.

I followed him out.

As I watched him about to leap over the railing, I hastily called out his name.

“Wait a moment, Lemon.”

At that, he turned to look at me, still in the posture of about to jump over the railing.

“Um…”

He was waiting for my next words, but I found it difficult to express what was on my mind.

Seeing my hesitation, he stepped back from the railing and approached me.

Soon he was standing right in front of me, with his back to the moon.

“Please, speak, Livia.”

The voice falling from above my head was gentle.

I took a deep breath and met his eyes.

I wasn’t sure if I should say this, but somehow I felt I had to.

Slowly, I parted my lips.

“…Be careful.”

“….”

At my words, Lemon’s pale yellow eyes quietly sank into thought.

I looked up at him with a serious gaze.

Given the circumstances, Lemon would attend the baptism ceremony even without an invitation.

For him, as the master of the information guild, the baptism ceremony would be one of the events he absolutely couldn’t miss.

He would probably disguise himself.

In fact, there was nothing more pointless than worrying about him, the master of the Rune Information Guild.

All the information he had collected so far was no less difficult and dangerous than this.

However…

‘I don’t know why that scene suddenly came to mind.’

The moment I saw him turning to leave, I suddenly recalled the scene from the original story where Lemon was murdered.

Though I hadn’t formed a special bond with him, our relationship wasn’t one I could completely ignore either.

But when Lemon didn’t respond at all, I suddenly felt very embarrassed.

Feeling like I had overstepped, I hurriedly added:

“Well, of course, you’ll handle things well, but just in case…”

However, I couldn’t continue my words.

“Haha…”

Lemon suddenly burst into laughter.

Eventually, he looked at me with eyes full of mirth and said:

“You’re the first person to ever tell me to be careful, Livia.”

“….”

I pressed my lips tightly together.

Of course, that would be the case.

Who would dare worry about the master of the empire’s top information guild, of all people?

‘That someone turned out to be me.’

As I remained silent out of embarrassment, Lemon, his gentle laughter subsiding, looked at me with soft eyes and said:

“Livia, may I borrow your hand for a moment?”

“My hand?”

What’s this all of a sudden?

Though puzzled, I obediently offered my hand.

Then…

Tap…

“…!”

Lemon’s lips descended like a butterfly on the back of my outstretched hand.

Since he was wearing a mask, his lips didn’t directly touch my skin, but I was so surprised by the sudden action that I just stared at him blankly.

As he lowered himself to meet my eyes, I quickly came to my senses and exclaimed:

“Y-You don’t need to use charm tactics anymore, you know?”

Wow, that really surprised me.

What’s with the sudden charm tactics? We’re already in a cooperative relationship without that!

In response, Lemon, who had been quietly looking at me, soon smiled gently and murmured:

“It’s not charm tactics.”

“…What do you mean…”

“But I’m disappointed. I would have been happy if you had fallen for it like others.”

“….”

I blinked, completely unable to understand what Lemon was saying. He then threw his body backward and said:

“Well then, I’ll see you at the baptism ceremony.”

With just those words, he disappeared into the darkness.

I stared blankly at the spot where he had vanished and muttered:

“…What was that, really?”

Thinking that I couldn’t understand what the men of this world, including Cardien, were thinking, I returned to my room.

And so, several days passed quickly, and finally, the day of the baptism ceremony arrived.