Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Episode 64. Two Hearts
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Night had deepened.
Light faded, and darkness arrived.
The evening in Vaticarez, where the morning heat had cooled, was quite refreshing.
The temperature difference was so great compared to Legion in the center of the continent—where you'd need to wear long clothes after taking off your armor—that it felt nothing like the southern lands where I was born and raised.
I whispered softly as I gazed out the window of the modest lodging Archbishop Judah had provided for me.
"When will they make their move?"
Judah, scratching his head with a feather from some unknown bird while lounging on the bed, replied to me.
"The bell will ring soon. They're planning to move in sync with it."
"Nothing I can do to help?"
"I can handle it alone. As long as I can breach the barrier, no one can stop me after that."
"...Well, you've come this far, so you'll manage. Just don't get caught by the others in that form and blow everything up."
Judah snapped his fingers with a crack!, his body emitting light as he transformed into someone else's appearance.
Whoosh—
A young woman with pink twin tails and long, slender legs that boasted perfect proportions.
"Lily?"
Lily, the arena guide, flashed a V-sign with her fingers and grinned brightly at me.
"Adventurer!"
"No, why are you in that form—"
"Because I'm Lily."
"You're Lily?"
"Yep! On the days Cynthia climbs the tower, I step away. Otherwise, I've been waiting at the arena for a strong adventurer to show up."
"Why do you need a strong adventurer?"
"Because I do? To get Cynthia back to the Papal Court, she has to achieve her goal. And for that, she needed a strong companion in her party."
Lily sidled up close to me, giggling as she continued.
"If I showed my true power in the tower, the other apostles would notice. And... even God wouldn't forgive me for that."
Unlike the other apostles, Baphomet doesn't stay in the tower. He's tasked with carrying out orders from that so-called god.
This was something I learned in my past life from the tower's upper floors—a fact no one knows now.
'Of course.'
Baphomet probably has no idea that I know about him either. No one on this continent has reached the level where that information is available.
'That's why.'
I'm planning to use this guy right now. To find my comrade from my past life who's inside the Papal Court.
My own strength alone isn't enough.
"Anyway, I've kept my promise and gotten you inside the Papal Court."
Lily lightly hugged my right arm and winked.
"How will you repay this favor?"
"Die, then I can climb the tower more easily."
"What? How does me dying help you climb the tower?"
"Won't you end up blocking my path eventually? I don't know which floor you're guarding, but I'm aiming for the top."
"No, I—"
Baphomet started to say something but bit his lip.
"I'm on your side, Berddin. As long as God doesn't turn against you."
"You talk a good game. Anyway, go. I have my own business to attend to."
"...Thanks. Without you, it would've taken me much longer to get here."
"Don't mention it."
Considering what's coming, I'm the one who should be grateful.
"Once this is all over, I'll come visit."
"Sure."
"See you."
Judah leaped out the window.
His entire body turned into black mist, blending into the darkness, then rode the wind away somewhere.
Whoosh—
I closed the window, watching the direction he'd gone.
Thud.
Now it begins.
One of the five comrades from my past life—a secretive figure whose existence isn't even known to the world outside the Papal Court.
'Maria Theresa.'
In the past, the Pope himself welcomed her into the church as a saint, but when she began issuing oracles that contradicted his will, she was branded a heretic and a fallen human—a priest unlike any other.
She possessed unyielding faith that wouldn't break no matter what, and a spirit so strong she would never compromise on what was wrong.
To the Pope, who needed to protect his position from countless threats, she must have been a thorn in his side.
'Can't be helped.'
They claim to guide people to God, but they hate the very existence they're heading toward more than anyone.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
When I opened it, Cynthia, fully armed, stood there with a stern expression.
"Where's Judah?"
"Probably in his room."
"He's not there."
She eyed me suspiciously, as if I'd hidden him somewhere.
"Then go look for him. He was here until just now, then left."
"...Got it. When are you going to find your comrade?"
"At dawn. The priest said we shouldn't go out at this hour."
"So you'll stay in your room?"
"Yeah."
I flopped naturally onto the bed and answered her.
"We don't want to cause trouble here, you or me."
"......"
"No need to rush things. We're both busy, right? You probably have people to meet now that you're back."
"So casual."
"We deserve a break sometimes. We've been running nonstop until now."
She scanned me up and down and smirked, her face saying, An eight-year-old saying that?
"What's the plan for tomorrow?"
"We'll go for breakfast when the sun rises."
"Breakfast?"
"Yeah. The food here doesn't suit my taste. I heard there's a famous restaurant in the city, so I want to check it out."
"...A restaurant? Who told you that?"
"Someone I know."
"Someone you know?"
"Yeah. A woman who never smiles usually, but when she does, she's more beautiful than anyone."
The moment the word "woman" passed my lips, Cynthia's eyebrow twitched.
"Who is she?"
"Someone who's lived here a long time and follows His Holiness's will more faithfully than anyone."
"So who is it?"
"It's a secret."
"A secret?"
"Yeah. Don't worry about it—just make sure you're out by morning. It's popular, so if we're late, there won't be seats."
She clenched her fist with a pouty expression and slammed the door shut as she left.
"Eat alone!"
Gong— Gong— Gong!
The massive bell at the top of the Papal Court rang out clear, solemn tones across the entire city. At the same time, the citizens all closed their windows and locked their doors.
Thud thud thud.
Guard soldiers took positions, one per house. This was the Pope's decree, meant to save the faithful from heretics targeting the holy site.
"...Interesting."
Baphomet, transformed into black smoke, flew swiftly through the sky toward the Papal Court.
A few soldiers spotted him mid-flight, but they dismissed it as clouds mingling with the darkness.
Baphomet reached his destination without being caught by anyone.
'Good.'
Screech!
In an instant, Baphomet arrived at the underground prison beneath the Papal Court building.
He stopped at the end of the corridor, entered through the iron bars, and spoke before the torture device known as the "Iron Maiden."
"Saint Joan of Arc, by the will of my exalted one, I have come to save you."
Clang!
The Iron Maiden's sides opened, revealing a red-haired woman trapped inside.
"...Who are you?"
The bloodied woman lifted her head to look at Baphomet. To her, he appeared as nothing more than black smoke speaking.
"It doesn't matter who I am. You just need to decide whether you'll follow His will or not."
Her eyes were unfocused, drained of strength, and her limbs wouldn't move from the grueling torture.
Joan of Arc struggled to judge the sudden proposal from the black smoke.
"His?"
"Yes, His."
"Who is that?"
"...The one you've prayed so fervently to meet until now. The one watching you from on high."
"Delicious."
Cynthia cut into her hotcake with a bright smile and popped it into her mouth. This was the restaurant she loved most in her past life.
"Glad you like it."
"...But where's the comrade you mentioned?"
"Haven't met him yet."
"Do you even know where he is?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's finish eating and go right away. No point sticking around here long."
She spoke quickly, urging me on.
I sipped my tea leisurely, scanning the surroundings as I replied.
"I'll handle finding the new comrade. Why don't you check on your knight order while you're here?"
"...How much do you know about me?"
"Probably everything."
"Everything?"
"Yeah, everything."
From her origins, how she grew up, and all the events that shaped her into the Cynthia of today.
I'd heard every detail in my past life.
Cynthia pushed her empty plate forward and leaned back in her chair.
"The Strange family's intelligence network is impressive. To know that much about a mere knight like me."
It wasn't the Strange family—it was me.
"Think what you want."
"So what should I do here?"
"Whatever you want, like I said earlier. It'll take some time before I meet the guy I want as a comrade."
"You know where he is."
"I do."
"Then why does it take time?"
I shrugged.
"Knowing where he is doesn't mean I can meet him."
This wasn't a lie.
The place where 'Maria Theresa' is now is a special area inside the Papal Court that only a tiny few can enter.
Even Cynthia, the Holy Knight Order Captain, couldn't just waltz in.
Cynthia didn't press further. She knew she wouldn't get an answer, and kept asking might annoy me.
Creak.
She suddenly stood up.
"Then I'll go see my subordinates after so long."
"How long will it take?"
"If I leave now, back by evening. Anywhere we need to stop on the way?"
"No, just wondering when you'll be back at the lodging."
"Why?"
"Thought we could have dinner together."
"Dinner?"
"Yeah."
"...I'll be back on time."
With that, Cynthia headed off to the barracks inside the Papal Court.
She probably thought my words were nonsense, but tracking her movements here was important to me.
'She'll serve as my witness that I wasn't at the prison when Maria's escape happens.'
Slither.
A tiny caterpillar poked its head out from my sleeve. I pushed its forehead back with my finger and whispered softly.
"Not yet."
The bug nodded slightly and retreated deep into my sleeve.
'Don't rush, Rox.'
The whole area would be turned upside down soon enough.
"Saint Joan of Arc has disappeared!!!"