Author: alyalia

Edward answered in his usual voice. “It was just a carriage arriving near the underground prison.”

 

“‘There is someone in there! ‘Commander Edvin will hear!’”

 

As Luize silently answered and turned to take a defensive stance, Edward tightened his grip around her.

 

“He won’t sense our presence because I cast a barrier.”

 

“You should have said that earlier. But why did you come back? I didn’t call you. Everything was going smoothly here.”

 

“You seemed pleased to see that man just now.”

 

“…”

 

“That’s very unpleasant. He must be severely punished for the serious crime of kidnapping Miss Luize’s old friend.”

 

When Edward raised his right hand, Luize, startled, grabbed his hand with both of hers. “It’s just that seeing someone who doesn’t seem like it, cherishing and caring for a squirrel, was nice. The kidnapped squirrel is safe.”

 

“Did you find that man cute just now?”

 

“…” Luize had an incredulous look at the question that wasn’t worth answering.

 

Edward’s face quickly darkened. “I have to deal with this.”

 

“No. No, you don’t. You’re the cutest in the world, so calm down.”

 

As Luize hurriedly added, Edward slowly lowered his hand and gave her a slight smile. “Well, I’ve never thought of myself that way, but if Miss Luize thinks so, then it must be true.”

 

“…Ah, yes.”

 

“It doesn’t sound sincere…”

 

“It is sincere. Really.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Can you sense emotions with this necklace?”

 

“If I focus, I can detect rough emotional changes. I did that because we are on a mission.”

 

“I’ll let it slide for now, but if you keep doing it, I’ll throw this necklace away.”

 

“I will never do it unless we’re on a mission. I swear on my honor.”

 

“Alright. Go back and investigate the rest.”

 

“I will complete my assigned task and return. Until then, don’t like that man too much.”

 

Edward kissed the back of Luize’s hand and disappeared from the spot. Though she knew he could use teleportation, seeing him disappear right in front of her was still impressive.

 

Luize turned back to watch Matthias’s room again. At that moment, she met the eyes of Raphaela, who was standing at the end of the hallway, wearing an old robe and her usual expressionless face.

 

The door burst open. Matthias came out, looking wary.

 

“High Priestess, where have you been…  Lady Servenia, why are you here?” He looked at Luize with a guarded expression.

 

Just as she was about to give the obvious answer that she had lost her way, Raphaela spoke first. “She is my guest.”

 

Matthias’s sharp gaze softened. “…Understood. I will accompany you for your protection.”

 

“No need for protection. We’re going to discuss women’s matters, which are too sensitive for Sir Edvin to hear.”

 

“Such…!” Matthias faltered, his face turning red.

 

“If you really want to listen, I won’t stop you, but it will make things very awkward between us.”

 

“The Lord has said that ignorance can sometimes be a blessing. I will follow that teaching and wait in my room.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Matthias, with a flushed face, closed the door.

 

Luize looked at Raphaela in puzzlement, who spoke as she opened her door. “Come in. There’s something I want to discuss.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The two entered Raphaela’s room.

 

* * *

In the sitting room attached to the guest room, Raphaela skillfully served tea without the help of a servant. Luize, looking awkwardly around the room, focused on the large box behind Raphaela.

 

Raphaela spoke. “You seemed troubled.”

 

“I was wandering around after mistaking the room, and I appreciate your help in such a misunderstanding.” Luize delivered the prepared response and took a sip of tea.

 

“Then, while you mistakenly found this room, I will tell you that if you find the temple suspicious, you are correct.”

 

Luize choked on her tea. She coughed and, after regaining her composure, feigned ignorance. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

 

“I am informing you so you are aware. If you have questions about the temple’s actions, come to me. Although Edvin is currently on my side, his conservative nature means he won’t be much help in this matter.”

 

Luize raised her head to meet Raphaela’s unflinching golden gaze. “…Alright,” replied Luize, suppressing the many questions in her mind,

 

* * *

The underground prison was dark and damp. The sound of a prisoner’s cry seemed to come from somewhere, enhancing the eerie atmosphere as a man’s footsteps echoed.

 

“Take a break.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The unfocused-eyed knights sat down and fell asleep. This marked the real beginning of the underground prison. It was strange for the paladins’ cargo to be here. It was definitely something that needed to be confined, not just ordinary cargo. What was it that the pope was trying to bring from Perils by moving a high priestess and the paladins?

 

“…As expected,” Edward muttered as he looked at the beasts in the underground prison.

 

The prison was filled with large animals with black fur unique to Perils, subdued by incense. They were alive but emaciated as if they would die soon. They were the creatures he had faced countless times in Perils.

 

According to Maxion’s report from the expedition, the beasts in Perils became noticeably tamer day by day while the knights were there. By the time the knights left, they were much calmer than at the start. There were more knights killed by assassins than by beasts in the end. Even though most were herbivores, they had become so docile that they could be caught by human hands.

 

“Did the pope order the capture of Perils’s beasts?”

 

As he stepped toward a deer in the prison, a voice spoke to him.

 

{You are a human with the same blood as me.} The deer raised its head and met Edward’s gaze.

 

At that moment, Edward froze. He instinctively felt it. The deer in front of him was different from any other beast he had seen. Specifically, the entity beyond the deer was stronger and more dangerous than any beast.

 

The deer spoke solemnly. {Can you understand my words?}

 

“…Yes.”

 

{The paladins have stolen my treasure. Human, if you don’t want to incur my wrath, retrieve the magic stone they took and return them to Perils.} The entity using the deer’s body paused before continuing. {[Even without that magic stone, I will return soon. It would be wise not to anger me.]

 

“We can’t leave this place right now.”

 

{You mean the barrier set to protect my ‘domain.’} A low voice carried a hint of anger. {If you bring the magic stone back to Perils, I will lift it. The stone is here.}

 

Suddenly, a path to the magic stone appeared in Edward’s mind. His gaze followed the path out of the underground prison, up the stairs, and into a certain room in the guest place.

 

In that room, Luize and High Priest Raphaela were having a conversation, and a large box behind Raphaela contained the magic stone. The stone, boasting its purity, was crystal clear. It was something no ordinary human could create.

 

{It would be best for one person to escape. That should be Luize.}

 

“You know Miss Luize?”

 

{You foolish human. Haven’t you realized it yet?} The deer’s black eyes pierced through Edward. {She is the only human within my ‘domain.’}

 

Its voice deepened. {You must have been instinctively drawn to the domain. Other humans who stayed near the Perils must have felt more comfortable than ordinary people. The domain would also have been drawn to you.}

 

Suddenly, Edward thought of Maxion. From their first meeting to appointing him as his aide, he had always felt comfortable with him. And Luize, who had no hesitation in rescuing him and could detect the scent of mana.

 

{You are a human with the blood of a dragon.} The dragon’s voice was surprisingly calm.

 

* * *

Back in the room, Luize and Edward shared what they had learned. When Edward spoke about encountering something that seemed to be a dragon in the underground prison, Luize was noticeably surprised.

 

“Was the Black Dragon Run alive?”

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