Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess Chapter 2

“Sure. Actually, she’s no saint or savior, is she?”

 

“Who knows? I suppose that’s what they’ve been saying in the temple.”

 

In the temple, my disappearance had not yet been announced. They probably refrained from revealing my absence to the public, fearing that the royal family, the nobles, or even foreign powers might seize the opportunity and lay claim to the resurrected.

 

The numerous visitation requests that had piled up in front of me were evidence of their refusal, all under the pretext of respecting my wishes.

 

Furthermore, it had been less than three days since my escape from the temple, so they must have believed they could find me quickly. Their thinking was clear.

 

However, I wouldn’t be able to hide for long. Eventually, wanted posters would appear in the streets, and an official search party would be formed soon. Before that happened, I intended to leave this city, and if possible, this country.

 

Intent on capturing my heart, the priests had amassed a wealth of gold and treasures, providing me with enough funds for my escape. Furthermore, the unofficial knowledge I had acquired while trying to enter the royal family was still intact in my mind.

 

“Sir, they’ve found a carriage for you.”

 

Just as I had been waiting for, the person I had anticipated approached discreetly. He was a broker operating in the underworld.

 

In every city, there are carriages that will transport you without checking your name or status as long as you pay. Depending on your needs, they can provide fake identification and offer assistance in evading the watchful eyes of city guards.

 

My parents taught me how to navigate this world early in order to survive in the palace, where there would be many tricks. They said that a person who acts independently needs to have knowledge of the highest places so that they can guide without stepping up.

 

It was a relief. My lifelong learning hadn’t become entirely useless.

 

“I’m sorry. It’s going to be difficult because security is tight.”

 

“What’s the situation?”

 

“The holy knights are guarding the city gates day and night. It seems everyone is being cautious.”

 

I nodded in understanding. The broker who had approached me hidden within the crowd swiftly concealed his appearance, just as he had when he arrived.

 

I hadn’t held high expectations from the beginning, so there was no disappointment. Anyone in this situation would immediately consider sealing off the city. The city, now hosting the Great Temple, attracted thousands of pilgrims and tourists every day.

 

Given that it would take time to quietly search the city, it was only fitting for them to control the entrances and exits, even if it required making up an excuse. I had suspected this, but I had inquired just in case there was a chance for a smooth exit.

 

I should go back to my lodge first. I turned, pulling down the same black-gray hood that any pilgrim had worn.

 

It was not difficult to find accommodation because the city was frequented by many tourists. However, I was moving every day just in case.

 

The lodging I moved to today was situated on the outskirts of an area densely populated with accommodations. The lodging wasn’t too expensive, making it surprisingly popular among pilgrims.

 

The reason I knew this fact was that I had read the tourist brochures available throughout the temple.

 

By the way, creating a fake ID takes time, so I had intended to leave the city first. But since my feet were already tied up, should I go ahead and create the ID too? Could I manage to hide well enough until then without getting caught?

 

Lost in thought, my walking pace slowed down. Suddenly, I felt a commotion around me. Hurriedly glancing ahead, I saw knights patrolling here and there on the streets.

 

For a moment, I almost stopped in my tracks, but I casually looked straight ahead and kept walking. The clothes I was wearing were the attire any pilgrim would wear.

 

My face? They wouldn’t recognize me. I was currently using a transformation magic artifact to change my appearance.

 

This magical artifact in the form of a necklace had limitations on its usage and duration, so I couldn’t use it indefinitely. Nevertheless, it was still one of the treasures of the temple. I had done well to steal it.

 

“Dear believer.”

 

As I passed them and distanced myself, a faint call reached my ears from behind. Turning calmly, I faced a lone knight who had stood apart from the crowd. His jet-black hair stood out distinctly in contrast to his white armor.

 

A dark-haired knight?

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes, dear believer. I apologize, but may I ask you a question?”

 

“Please, go ahead, Sir.”

 

“Is the establishment you are staying at the pink building over there?”

 

“Why do you ask?”

 

“We received a report that a suspect is hiding in that building. If you were to return now, you might get involved in a difficult situation. Could you please wait here for a moment?”

 

In the direction he indicated, there were pilgrims with anxious expressions gathered. I glanced over there briefly before turning my gaze back to the knight.

 

“Will this be resolved today?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“In that case, I will attend to other matters and return.”

 

“There might be occasions during the apprehension process where we’ll need the cooperation of the lodgers. It might be bothersome, but I kindly ask for your understanding.”

 

It was a request in words, but it was essentially a command to wait. I hesitated briefly before giving a small smile and nodding in agreement.

 

“It seems like I might have to wait for a while. Can I take a moment to address a personal matter and come back? I believe I can take care of it at that store over there.”

 

I pointed to a small general store that served the lodgers. The knight, after confirming the location, narrowed his eyes.

 

“…Yes, please go ahead and do that.”

 

While suppressing my impatience and walking calmly, the gaze from behind didn’t waver. I bit my lip tightly and furrowed my brow. The transformation magic was still holding up well, and I had moved to this new lodging just this morning. There was nothing in my room that could prove my true identity.

 

…Where did things go wrong?

 

When I swung open the door to the general store, a musty smell of long-standing dust wafted out. I stepped inside with brisk strides.

 

The owner of the general store was an elderly man with poor hearing and sharp eyes. It seemed more like a place that was kept open for the sake of tradition rather than active business.

 

As I passed by the old items on display and aged portraits, I noticed the owner sitting beside the checkout counter.

 

“Hello, I’m sorry, but I’ll be heading out through the back door.”

 

The old man nodded, not fully comprehending my words. Towards the back, there was a side room where a revered high priest used to visit and enjoy tea.

 

The old man assumed that I would naturally want to visit the room, as it was a popular spot for pilgrims to pass through. To express my gratitude, I handed him a coin.

 

Next to the side room was a backdoor that led to a narrow alley behind the building, serving as both an escape route I had kept an eye on since securing the lodging and the meeting point in case any trouble arose.

 

“Greetings, innkeeper.”

 

The moment I grasped the back door handle, I heard the knight’s voice coming from the shop. Without hesitation, I opened the door, revealing a narrow passage that could barely accommodate one person.

 

As soon as I stepped inside, something jutted out from the darkness.

 

[You’re late!]

 

Oh, thankfully. You were quick to come this way.

 

“Hurry, you can complain later.”

 

[Over here!]

 

The fist-sized object led the way. I unfurled my cloak and followed swiftly behind it. The interior of the shop seemed chaotic, but I paid no attention. After all, they wouldn’t be able to catch me anyway.

 

Because I had an incredible ally by my side.

 

I chuckled as I watched the plump, bushy tail of a squirrel bouncing and scurrying ahead of me.

 

***

 

Emerging from the alleyway, I changed my appearance once more. It was a bit of a waste to use up more of the transformation’s uses, but being cautious was a better choice.

 

After entering the farthest lodging from that spot and booking a room, I finally let out a sigh. It was limited how much I could keep running around the city in circles without knowing where the tail was. I’d have to find another route.

 

[Oh no, my fur got dirty…]

 

The squirrel’s fur was all patchy from roaming around the city’s alleyways on my behalf. I used my index finger to gently brush the squirrel’s head.

 

“I’ll give you a bath soon. But more importantly, did you find out anything?”

 

[There was a den that foxes were using, but it seems like it got blocked off recently by humans.]

 

“Of course. Humans always seem to be causing problems everywhere.”

 

[What about my acorns?]

 

“Here.”

 

I handed the squirrel a bunch of acorns that I had gathered while passing by the central bulletin board earlier. The squirrel’s eyes sparkled as it sniffed them with delight.

 

[Plump acorns!]

 

The squirrel leaped into the pile of acorns and bounced around as if it were swimming. Watching the squirrel’s antics, memories of the first time I encountered a squirrel came to mind. That squirrel had been a resident of the expansive central garden within the temple.

 

It was simply a squirrel. An animal. A creature. A four-legged mammal.

 

This squirrel was the first being that made me realize, as a resurrected individual, that I could communicate with non-human entities.

 

So, at that time, it had not been long since I had awakened as a resurrected person.

 

The manic adoration I encountered as soon as I opened my eyes back then filled me with fear and revulsion. To me, the condemnation and disdain from before my death felt as fresh as yesterday, yet everyone else seemed to dismiss it as just a past occurrence, which struck me as both absurd and repugnant.

 

So, upon awakening, my first instinct was to die once again. Both attempts were thwarted when the priests caught wind of them. After that, all hazardous items disappeared from around me.

 

Later on, I confined myself to my room on my own terms, but initially, it was almost tantamount to being imprisoned.

 

Perhaps in an attempt to find a way to convince me, they left me alone for a few days without provoking me as much as possible. It gave me a chance to think, receiving minimal nourishment.

 

Around that time, I regained my rationality. I acknowledged the gruesome mark left on my neck and accepted that I was still breathing. I comprehended the sanctuary’s understanding and started to grasp the influence that a resurrected person could possess.

 

The Anellie Roam who stood on the execution platform was a villain that everyone wanted dead, but the resurrected Anellie Roam was a disciple who had awakened with the grace of the deity. The scar on my neck was the most certain and unmistakable evidence of divine grace.