6. Proof of Existence (16)
A monster wearing a mask.
The first place to recognize its existence was the Percus Territory. The assailant broke into the mansion out of nowhere, knocked out Sir Irene, and made Lia run wild, rendering me incapacitated.
It was a surprise attack at the perfect time. It was reasonable to assume that he knew about the plans of the Dark Church in advance.
In other words, it meant that the masked assailant had some sort of cooperative relationship with the Dark Church.
That alone was reason enough to die. So I listened carefully to the saintess’ story.
“It was last night. A masked assailant was caught trying to infiltrate the orphanage.”
“Have you been discovered?”
A person who could not even be traced due to his new and rare activities?
It was a somewhat suspicious situation, but the saintess seemed to have a slightly different opinion.
“Yes, there was someone who happened to pass by there.”
Only then did I shake my head as if I understood. If the word ‘coincidence’ was added, most problems could be explained.
Because it was literally ‘coincidence’.
Other than God, who can foresee and control all situations? It was a reality that no matter how perfect a plan was, if you were unlucky, you had no choice but to topple it.
It was understandable when I said that luck didn’t go along with the masked assailant that day.
I had similar luck in Yurdina’s territory right now.
Thanks to the princess witnessing the masked assailant, she was able to know in advance about Marquis Yurdina’s betrayal. It was also the reason that Delphine sunbaenim had a private meeting with Marquis Yurdina on the day of the decisive battle.
But doubts still lingered.
“Anyway, isn’t it too lax? Wasn’t the headmaster so confident last time? There is no such thing as limited to this orphanage… To even get caught by a passer-by on a day when security was breached.”
“There are complicated circumstances about that.”
The saintess let out a sad sigh and said that.
It was a face full of bittersweet feelings. There was a hint of fatigue in his eyes.
“First of all, we will talk about that later. I guess I need to find out more… I hope you can help too.”
“How do you mean?”
“Interview the eyewitness, please.”
It was what I was hoping for. Because I also needed information.
My only complaint was that I had to start the investigation without even being given a break. After a battle, he couldn’t even take a break in the yard.
Seeing my bitter smile, the saintess gave a worried look, as if she wanted to oops.
As I glanced at my eyes, the woman’s hand, which was looking around, gently stroked the back of my hand. It seemed that he was trying to comfort me while others were not looking.
“I’m sorry, Ian… Was it hard to come from afar? How did it work out?”
“Yes, fortunately. We will talk about that later.”
Even so, when my complexion did not improve, the saintess seemed somewhat restless. Once again, the saintess’ head swung around to examine her surroundings. how much for that
The saintess slightly lifted her tiptoe and whispered in my ear.
“Shall I give you a prize?”
It was a sweet voice I hadn’t heard in a long time. It was a feeling that her power was multiplied even more when she harmonized with the saintess’ unique coy tone.
I couldn’t hide my dismay and cleared my throat.
It’s a prize given by a saintess.
My eyes slanted downwards. Due to the saintess’ closeness to me, the source of the bulky feeling on her forearm was there. It was a response that fit the expression ‘inadvertently’.
Wouldn’t everyone be like that?
Since he had been doing so many things with the saintess, there were separate memories that came to mind like a conditioned reflex. I was just faithful to my unconscious voice.
In return, he met the saintess’s cold eyes.
“… … Where are you looking?”
“A reward bag?”
Pak, the saintess’s palm exploded on my back. It didn’t really hurt because my skills had improved, but I slightly distorted my face out of courtesy.
The saintess was giggling and giggling as if she was dumbfounded.
“I’m sorry, I comforted you for no reason… Don’t you know if you’re referred to the Inquisition?”
“It has already been referred.”
“By the way, if you are referred twice for the same crime, you will be punished.”
That was a comforting sound.
The saintess, who was sharing farmland like that, asked me as if she had suddenly remembered.
“Come to think of it, how did the rest of us come back alone?”
Hearing that, I glanced back.
There, only one paladin who drove the wagon was greeting the head nun. The rest of the paladins escorting the wagon, Lia, and Reynolds were gone.
It was because the road diverged on the way to the orphanage.
“Lea went to find a means to transport the Witchbeast corpse. In addition, coordination with various guilds remains… Mr. Reynolds, to be honest, I don’t know. He said he had something to do.”
At my words, the saintess quietly nodded. It didn’t seem like the two of them had any interest anyway.
Then, I glanced at my surroundings again, and soon a whisper reached my ear.
“Later, come to my bedroom by yourself.”
“You want a prize?”
No answer came back. Even so, I felt like I could understand the saintess’ true intentions.
A clear voice escaped from the saintess’s lips, which hesitated for a moment.
“Also, sometimes it’s okay.”
At those words, a curious gaze turned to the woman.
I felt like I knew what it meant until just a moment ago, but I felt like I was confused again. Then, the saintess cleared her throat saying “Hmm-hmm” and subtly supported her breasts with her arms.
My pupils were sucked in as if possessed.
“… … Maybe once or twice, it would be ambiguous to refer to the Inquisition?”
The saintess muttered to herself as if she were talking to herself, and moved away from me. Even then, I stood there for a long while.
Deciding that I must visit the saintess’ bedroom at least once.
I couldn’t tell who the person who witnessed the masked assailant was, so I had to follow the saintess in a hurry.
**
I headed to the vacant lot behind the orphanage in search of a ‘witness’. The overgrown weeds revealed that it was an unmanaged place, but thanks to that, it became a suitable resting place for those looking for a place with few people.
A girl was standing there.
The tawny eyes staring somewhere in a state of fascination seemed to be wandering in a dream. Her black hair, neatly tied up, flowed down her back.
Celine Haster, my childhood friend.
A bitter smile appeared on my lips. When I heard the identity of the ‘eyewitness’, I wondered if all of these coincidences existed. All in all, Celine was the one who witnessed the masked man that day.
Lately, he hadn’t even had a chance to talk to Celine alone.
Let’s take this opportunity to talk openly with Celine.
It was when I made up my mind and took a step.
Suddenly, I thought that Celine’s appearance was strange.
The focus was on the eyes that were aiming blankly somewhere. It meant that he was gazing at a specific point, not simply holding the scenery in his eyes.
I decided to follow Celine’s gaze.
However, no matter how much I looked, there was nothing in the clearing. Just knee-length weeds adding a green hue.
My head tilted. When faced with such unsolvable questions, the solution was simple.
You can ask the person concerned.
My hand landed on Celine’s shoulder.
“Celine?”
“Hyaaagh!”
With a strange sound, Celine’s body bounced like a spring.
I was so surprised that the hairs all over my body stood on end. There was amazement and fear in Celine’s face as she looked at me with wide open eyes, lowering her body.
After confirming my identity, though, such a sign disappeared a lot.
Soon, Celine’s palm hit my back hard. A scream came out of my mouth.
It was stronger than expected. It was a great blow that showed Celine’s past efforts.
“Ah! Celine, you’re stronger than I thought… … .”
“Me, me, are you crazy?!”
Of course, my praise didn’t reach Celine. More than that, it was because the bruises had been pouring down like a waterfall before.
“Why, why, why did it suddenly appear and make a fuss! You were surprised… I thought you were falling.”
“Where is your child?”
When I asked back, I was dumbfounded, and Celine snorted and puffed out her chest. Judging from the form of putting my hand on it, it seemed that I wanted to show an attitude without hesitation.
All of a sudden, it was because he had seen the saintess.
A strange feeling of regret crossed my mind, but I tried hard not to show it.
“Maybe someday! So, should I be careful?”
“What?”
Celine’s index finger pricked me. There was a meaningful smile on Celine’s lips.
“Aren’t children precious?”
“Well, yes, but… … .”
As I answered, I imagined Celine’s child.
Do you want to be like your mother and like pranks? No, Celine as a child was on the quiet side. It was to the extent that it could be seen that he had blossomed into a new nature while learning the sword.
If my daughter is born, I shouldn’t give her a sword. Because it will become unbearable.
I was in a futile delusion for a moment, but I suddenly came to my senses. Come to think of it, I had one unanswered question.
“Rather than that, Celine, where were you looking?”
“yes? Where are you? Of course, the woman standing there… what?”
Celine’s body, which had been looking away with a puzzled look on her face, jumped up again.
It was a genuine surprise. My brow narrowed even more.
“Oh, where have you been? I must have been there… Ian oppa, did you really not see it?”
“What are you talking about? It’s been a while since there was only you Are you really okay?”
Despite my worried question, Celine just tilted her head.
“No, it certainly was… One woman.”
I moved my gaze back to the spot Celine was looking at. There was not even a trace left of it.
If the woman had been standing, even the grass would have been pressed down.
However, since there was no sign of that, the inference that Celine was hallucinating was the most reasonable.
“Celine, you are having a really hard time these days… … .”
“Oh, no! no, isn’t it… … ? Did I look at it wrong… … ?”
Even Celine seemed confused now. I thought we should talk about this someday.
Hallucinations were a serious problem. Also, the expression ‘woman’ bothered me for nothing.
Why are you seeing a woman’s fantasy?
After all, there were many opportunities left. Rather, I decided to ask questions about the most pressing issues.
“Anyway, we’ll talk about that later… Celine, you said you saw a masked assailant.”
“yes? Ahhh! It was, I saw it.”
But Celine’s attitude in answering my question was subtle.
Until just now, he had been feeling as lively as usual, but he suddenly felt like he was avoiding his gaze and hesitating.
When my gaze became subtle, Celine urgently picked up the reason.
“I did see it, really! By the way… … .”
Celine, who was scratching her cheek, let out a laugh without confidence.
ahahahaha, doing
“Flashes in front of my eyes! Then I passed out, me.”
What kind of bullshit is this again, bitch.
I had to swallow the cursing that reached my throat.