“…….”

After reading all the decoded memo, I held my breath.

I couldn’t control my trembling gaze.

‘What, what is this?’

I started decoding to solve the mystery, but the more I knew the content, the more I felt like I was falling into a deeper labyrinth.

Above all, the most mysterious thing is…….

“Egrid…….”

I quietly mulled over the name that had now become familiar to my ears.

‘No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.’

I couldn’t shake off my suspicions.

Even if the original <Everyone Loves Only the Saint> was a novel full of plot holes, the name ‘Egrid’ never appeared even once in the novel.

Of course, there’s also Livia Pellington, an extra who never appeared in a single line despite having the ability to deal with dreams.

‘But the scale is too big to call it a similar case.’

Looking at the diary, it seems Egrid’s fanatics like Jeffrey aren’t just one or two.

‘Moreover, the missing persons that Lemon investigated…….’

If their disappearances are also related to Egrid, it’s not an ordinary scale.

Among the missing people, there were also those of high reputation.

Yet, it’s strange no matter how I think about it that they never appeared in the original work.

‘Moreover…….’

I looked down at the diary.

Obsession and madness overlaid on the familiar handwriting.

That madness was directed towards only one person.

“……Who on earth is this ‘she’ mentioned here?”

According to the memo, ‘she’ who introduced herself as Egrid seems to have avenged Jeffrey and gained his faith in return.

It doesn’t seem like just an ordinary level of faith though.

If the people wearing robes engraved with the ancient temple’s pattern I saw in Cardien’s dream are related to Egrid.

“……Also, if they are fanatics of Egrid like Jeffrey…….”

What on earth did they do to Cardien?

‘Is the disappearance of Cardien’s memories also related to this?’

My expression gradually hardened.

The matter seems more serious than I thought.

I turned my gaze back to the diary.

While the memo is full of questions, there are parts that can be interpreted.

Namely…….

[They gather there regularly every year to realize Egrid’s will.

It’s underground, and above it, the detestable children of Thelia are running rampant.

Although we are underground, it won’t be for long.

Soon, Egrid’s glory will be scattered throughout Lagranacia.]

The place where Egrid gathers to realize her will.

It seems to be a meeting place.

“……It’s underground, and above it, the detestable children of Thelia are running rampant. Although we are underground.”

In this Lagranacia Empire, there’s only one place where the children of Thelia, in other words, the priests they’re talking about, are running rampant.

“……The Central Temple.”

Temples of Thelia, the state religion, are built all over the empire, but in reality, those places are no different from places operated formally by sending just a few priests.

‘In fact, they’re just for collecting donations.’

Moreover, the closer you get to the provinces, the more likely it is that a priest who can’t even use holy power is occupying the position of chief priest.

It’s fair to say that all the real priests who can use holy power are gathered in the Central Temple.

The holy knights also belong to the Central Temple.

So, the ‘place where Thelia’s children are running rampant’ mentioned in the memo is the Central Temple, and ‘we are underground’ means…….

“Beneath the Central Temple.”

The moment I uttered it, I got goosebumps.

The Central Temple is located in the center of the capital and is less than an hour away by carriage from the Mercedes ducal residence.

It gave me chills to think that they were hiding underground in such a close place.

‘Come to think of it, the background in Cardien’s dream was also underground.’

Are they really the ones wearing the pattern of the ancient temple?

‘The Central Temple…….’

If I go there, will I be able to find some clues?

‘But not just anyone can enter the Central Temple.’

Although it’s possible to access the chapel and prayer rooms, the core of the temple is not freely accessible.

That’s where the Saint, the High Priest, and the senior priests reside, and where the temple’s treasures are kept.

A secretive place that’s not often exposed.

‘At the same time, it’s perfect for hiding.’

If Egrid is really in the basement of the temple, it would be near the center.

The problem is how to approach it…….

‘Wait a minute.’

Suddenly struck by a thought, I quickly moved to open the drawer and rummaged inside.

“Found it……!”

What I pulled out was a snow-white invitation.

The invitation was given by the priest with the vulgar fox face.

‘I was trying to keep this when Cardien caught me with the second dot.’

Anyway.

‘Although I’ve never attended a baptism ceremony even once…….’

The baptism ceremony is only accessible to high-ranking nobles and royalty who have received an invitation.

The Pellington viscounty showed some prominence in business but fell far short of qualifying for an invitation there.

That’s why most nobles don’t know how the baptism ceremony is conducted or where it takes place.

‘But I know.’

After all, the baptism ceremony was where the female lead and male lead fell in love with each other.

And surely the place where the baptism ceremony takes place is…….

‘The central hall.’

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

“……It’s dangerous to get deeply involved.”

I knew for certain after seeing the series of events and Jeffrey’s diary.

Egrid is dangerous.

That’s why it’s even more suspicious.

‘I don’t want to go this far either.’

A life already precarious due to Magic Disease.

I don’t want to act like a moth flying into the fire.

If it were before, even if I had known about Egrid’s existence, I would have pretended not to know.

I was overwhelmed just living my own life, so I didn’t have the luxury to worry about Egrid or such groups.

But now it’s different.

‘Cardien…….’

If those people in the dream are really Egrid, I need to find out what they did to Cardien.

‘I have a feeling that if I don’t, I won’t be able to change it.’

That future where everything around is destroyed and ultimately destroys oneself.

Suddenly overwhelmed by anxiety, I took a deep breath.

‘Let’s just go and check out the situation for now.’

I don’t know why the priest with the vulgar fox statue gave me this precious invitation, but it’s lucky anyway.

Thinking this, I looked down at the invitation and suddenly discovered tiny writing.

“Huh?”

What’s this?

Was this here before?

As I looked closely at the writing, I froze.

[Partner Invitation]

“…….”

I was speechless.

Usually, there are two types of invitations, one is a personal invitation that allows entry with just the invitation.

This is the usual form of invitation.

And the other one is…….

‘An invitation that cannot be used without a partner.’

……In other words, even if you have the invitation, you can’t enter without a partner.

And that’s exactly what my invitation is.

I trembled my shoulders.

“This…….”

……vile fox statue!

***

A corridor connecting building to building.

White bricks piled up to form a roof, and between the square pillars erected at regular intervals, the figures of a man and a woman pass by.

A man in white armor and a woman wearing a white veil.

Eventually, the two stopped in front of a room after passing through the corridor.

Two knights and an elderly butler were standing in front of the room.

As the two figures appeared, the waiting butler quickly approached them.

The butler’s head bowed down.

“You’ve arrived.”

His head turned towards the two.

“Sir Aquilium, Knight Commander, and…….”

The butler’s gaze turned to the small-framed woman standing to Eden’s left.

She had her face completely covered with a white veil, and only the white priestly robes covering her body indicated that she belonged to the temple.

The butler’s eyes filled with reverence as he looked at her.

He bowed his head again and said.

“……Saint.”

Then, a gentle voice flowed from behind the veil.

“Hello, butler. How is His Majesty?”

At those words, the butler’s eyes wavered.

He barely answered in a strained voice.

“……It would be better if you check for yourself.”

He personally opened the door to the Emperor’s room.

Since Eden, carrying weapons, couldn’t enter the Emperor’s room, he stepped back and said.

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Then, I’ll be back.”

She stepped forward with light steps.

Soon, the door closed behind her.

Celestina stood for a moment, looking around.

A vast, dazzlingly opulent room.

Golden ornaments and exquisite artworks adorned the space, complemented by rich red curtains and carpets.

At its center stood a massive bed, enclosed by curtains embroidered with the imperial crest in gold and crimson.

“Ah…….”

A faint groan flows from beyond the curtains.

Celestina slowly moved towards it.

As she drew back the curtains, the figure of an old man writhing in pain and covered in cold sweat appeared.

Golden hair faded by the passage of time, a wrinkled face, and an emaciated body.

Celestina, who had been quietly looking down at him, slowly parted her lips.