Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Accidental Reunion - 2
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Everyone stared at me intently.
I stroked my face and said this.
“Offense.”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t get much sleep at night? Being an assassin.”
“I mostly operate during the day, so I get plenty of sleep at night.”
“Good. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Are you even listening to me?”
I let out a heavy sigh and continued.
“Keep an eye on Ophelia.”
At those words, the party’s expressions stiffened.
Led by Serein, the group asked.
“Keep an eye on her? Did that girl do something wrong?”
“She doesn’t seem like the type.”
“Shouldn’t we tell the pheasant girl too?”
“Everyone quiet down. Maide can’t speak.”
Neril’s mediation at the end was a little appreciated.
I looked at Adwin, the only quiet one among the party members.
He was nodding as if he somehow knew something.
‘Ah. Right.’
Adwin, who could see souls, wouldn’t fail to distinguish between the living and the dead.
With a deep sigh, I said.
“Phew. Yeah. Adwin, you’re right.”
“......? What was I thinking?”
“It’ll be a shock, but it’s fine to say it honestly.”
“Huh?”
“Ophelia is dead, right? Already dead, right?”
The party members looked at me and Adwin with shocked expressions.
That was when Adwin opened his mouth.
“Uh, no? She’s not.”
“......”
“I just thought that person’s soul was a bit strange.”
The party members looked at me as if wondering what was going on.
“She says she’s not.”
“She says no.”
“When it comes to judging whether they’ve crossed the Redbi River, Adwin’s word is more reliable.”
“Everyone quiet down. Maide can’t speak.”
Neril’s mediation at the end felt a bit burdensome.
I quietly looked up at the sky and said.
“Heh heh. I knew it wasn’t.”
No. But why isn’t it?
I checked Ophelia’s Blood Letters once more.
They were still black.
If she was alive, that was truly fortunate, but then why were the Blood Letters black?
[Maybe there’s some other rule you don’t know about. Didn’t you say your Blood Letters have lots of hidden rules?]
‘But black Blood Letters were floating over Father’s grave. That’s proof, isn’t it?’
[This newly developed ability is something even you before regression never experienced.]
‘......Didn’t have enough time to calmly research and investigate?’
[Yeah.]
Trail’s words made sense.
The fact that the Blood Letters’ arrangement order indicated the sequence of secret sins was something I’d figured out through all sorts of experiences before regression.
It might have been hasty to be so certain about a newly developed ability based on just Father’s case.
‘You’re right. Thanks.’
[Heh heh. You’re admitting it honestly today.]
‘In a way, you’re my senior hero. Even a kid has something to teach, right?’
[Your words contradict each other completely.]
That was when Serein asked Adwin.
“By the way, what do you mean her soul is strange?”
“Her soul seems uncomfortable.”
“Huh?”
“Um. It’s like the feeling when you wear clothes a size too small.”
“She gained weight?”
“I didn’t think you’d take it so literally......”
Uncomfortable clothes?
If the soul saw the body as clothes, did that mean Ophelia felt uncomfortable in her own body?
Just what had Idria done to her?
Before long, we arrived at the count’s residence.
Count Akain was delighted as if his own daughter had returned alive.
No matter that Ophelia had a background as an executive of the Knights of Light, the joy Count Akain was showing now wasn’t born from such calculations.
“Uahaha! Today is truly a joyous day. For you to come back like this!”
“I’m sorry for worrying you all this time.”
“Yeah. You worried me plenty, so tell me. Where on earth did you wander off to?”
Ophelia hesitated, unable to answer.
David subtly hid Ophelia behind him and said.
“She says she doesn’t remember at all.”
“You already asked her, huh. Well, that makes sense.”
“Yes. No need to push her. If she recuperates here a while and pulls herself together, her memories might come back.”
There, he looked at Ophelia.
“Well, I don’t really mind if she doesn’t remember.”
“David.”
“You just need to remember me. That’s enough.”
The two unknowingly placed their hands over each other’s.
Then they realized they weren’t alone and hurriedly pulled their hands away.
That was when Neril spoke up.
“But Count. Want to keep going with what we were talking about earlier?”
“Ahem. What more is there to say? My mind hasn’t changed.”
“It’s a good day and good mood—can’t we just let it slide amicably?”
“I still think Kaild is the true hero. I can’t forgive anyone insulting him.”
“......”
“But since Vice-Captain Jenia here has ties to you all, I’ll hold back from throwing you out right away. Jenia, you catch up with Ophelia too. That’s all.”
He had clearly issued an order for guests to leave.
We exchanged glances for a moment.
That was when.
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, Ophelia clutched her head.
Her pupils shook violently, as if they might pop out of her eyes.
Her lips trembled, and her face turned deathly pale.
“Ophelia? Ophelia, what’s wrong!”
“S-sorry. My head just suddenly hurts.”
“That’s not just some simple headache.”
I narrowed my eyes and looked at her.
Jenia hurriedly went to Ophelia’s side.
“Ophelia, calm down. Calm down and hold my hand.”
“Jenia.”
“Heavenly God. Here is one seeking Your merciful touch.”
Unlike usual, Jenia offered her prayer with utmost solemnity.
Neril asked Serein.
“What are you doing?”
“Watching.”
“You’re a priestess, and you’re just watching someone have a fit?”
“What do you expect from someone quitting the priesthood? And I wasn’t deliberately standing by. Something felt off, so I was observing.”
“Off how?”
“Doesn’t seem like the healing spell took hold. Jenia would’ve noticed that much, of course.”
That was when Jenia’s prayer ended.
Sure enough, as Serein said, her expression had darkened slightly.
“Something’s off. Heavenly God must be out of sorts today.”
“You haven’t changed a bit.”
“Wait. Let me try again.”
“No. I’m fine now. More than that, your divine power has grown a lot?”
Ophelia patted Jenia’s shoulder.
Jenia kept tilting her head, but seemed to decide to let it go for now.
David appeared to interpret this minor commotion as something akin to a backlash from her memory loss.
Or perhaps he wanted to.
“Y-yeah. Ophelia.”
“Yes?”
“You know our territory’s festival is coming up soon, right?”
“Ah...... Around this time, for sure.”
“Yeah. The harvest festival. Perfect timing for harvest season, so it’ll be held soon. Preparations are in full swing already. Come with me.”
Ophelia’s face flushed pink.
“Aren’t you busy with all sorts of things, David? You have studies for inheriting the territory too.”
“Father will understand that much. Right? Thank you.”
Count Akain nodded with a hollow laugh.
“Go ahead. Normally you’d have to greet all the local notables, but I’ll handle it instead.”
“Truly grateful.”
I thought for a moment before speaking.
“Count.”
“What now. Like I said earlier, there’s nothing more to discuss......”
“Not that.”
“Then?”
I shrugged.
“Any empty rooms in the residence by chance?”
After some back and forth with the count, we secured empty rooms and soon gathered together.
Everyone except Offense.
He was hiding in the shadows, surveilling Ophelia.
I let Jenia know that something about Ophelia was off.
Without mentioning Blood Letters, my basis sounded awfully thin, but Jenia asked without the slightest hesitation.
“What should I do?”
“You believe me?”
“I felt something off when I tried healing her earlier too. Even without that, I’d believe whatever you say.”
Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if it went without saying.
Risel spoke up.
“B-but isn’t that too calm? It’s about something being wrong with your longtime friend.”
“Something similar happened in the capital.”
“......?”
“It felt hopeless back then too, not knowing how to resolve it, but Maide handled it like it was nothing. So somehow, I feel like as long as Maide’s here, everything will work out.”
Jenia said that and looked at me with a gentle smile.
I scratched my head.
That was when Adwin spoke.
“Brother, what exactly do you suspect?”
“The cause of Ophelia’s disappearance. I think it’s Idria.”
Everyone’s faces changed.
I continued.
“Hard to cite evidence—it’s just intuition.”
“That sounds like decisive evidence to me.”
“Hmm. Anyway, no info yet, so we wait for now. Let’s hope Offense picks up some clue.”
Everyone nodded.
But the next morning, unfortunately, Offense returned empty-handed.
After waking us, he said.
“You all slept so comfortably, it’s annoying.”
“Sorry. We held out till 11 for your sake, though.”
“Sounds like you slept like logs.”
“But really, nothing happened?”
As Offense crawled into bed, he said.
“Ophelia just conked out like fainting. And now I need to do the same.”
“Yeah. We’ll handle daytime surveillance, so rest up.”
“Sounds like you’re dumping the night shift on me too.”
“Want to switch? Honestly, surveilling someone of Ophelia’s skill, the rest of us could handle it fine.”
“Nah. My rhythm’s already thrown off. Just make sure I don’t sleep through.”
With that, Offense fell asleep.
For the next two days after that, we took turns surveilling Ophelia by shift.
In my spare time, I checked the Blood Letters of Ophelia herself and those around her, and tried using the Eye of Omniscience to uncover secrets.
The second night.
After switching with Neril, I lay down to sleep.
No notable gains in these two days.
I really need to see Idria’s and Ophelia’s secrets.
The damn rank limit is the problem.
[Well, one more case and your level will go up too. At A-rank, you can see pretty much anything, so hang in there a bit.]
‘When that happens, can I see your secret too?’
[Uh, um. Not sure. Wait, do I even have Blood Letters to begin with?]
‘No way. You’re a soul......’
I shot up from bed.
[What, what is it? What’s wrong?]
‘Hang on.’
I headed to Adwin’s room.
Knock knock.
No response, so he must be asleep.
Terribly sorry, but given the circumstances, I opened the door and went in.
The little guy was half fallen off the bed.
“Heh heh. Trying to shove me off a cliff, are you? Vain hopes.”
No. You really look like you’re about to fall.
Sure enough, he twisted around and plummeted to the floor.
Thud.
I quickly caught him.
Thanks to that, the now-awake Adwin tilted his head.
“Did brother push me off the cliff?”
“Wake up.”
“Ah, yes. I’m good now. But what’s this in the middle of the night?”
“Need to ask you something. You can see people’s souls, right?”
Adwin replied with a what’s-this-now expression.
“Yes. Of course.”
“And you can show other people’s souls to others too, right?”
“Huh? Yes?”
“You can. Think back on the necromancy spells you learned.”
It was something Adwin had told me before regression.
Useless in actual combat, so it had only been mentioned in Kaild’s party.
But right now, it was extremely useful to me.
Adwin soon seemed to recall something and nodded.
“Mother taught me one...... No, how did you know?”
“Use it on me.”
“Uh, sure. Since you’re asking, I will.”
Soon, Adwin closed his eyes.
His sleeve puffed up, and the incantation glowed pure white.
A moment later.
I could see Adwin’s soul.
A dainty, small blue soul that gave a pure impression, about the size of his height.
Adwin asked with a face full of curiosity.
“You can’t see your own soul with this spell. I’ve never seen mine either—what’s it look like?”
“Like you.”
“Compliment or insult?”
“Anyway, thanks. I’m off. Sleep well!”
“I’m wide awake now.”
I hurried outside.
And this time, I ran toward Ophelia’s room.
The door was locked, but I picked it easily and entered.
I minimized my footsteps and looked down at the sleeping Ophelia.
No. More precisely, I looked at her soul.
‘As expected.’
This just might be possible.