Chapter 22
Episode 22
……Finally, am I the only one left?
Hours had passed since the Young Duke and Aristelle entered the room to handle the remaining tasks.
The Young Duke had looked for me a few times in between, but when I told him to focus on his work, he didn't come out for a while.
Lastly, Mary.
She had been talking with me until just now, then left to go grocery shopping for dinner.
If I'm going to leave, this is the only timing!
I casually placed a crooked note I had written beforehand on the table.
『I'm going to take a look around town for a bit!
I'll be back soon, so don't worry!』
Perhaps it was because I had adapted to my younger age, but I drew a cute rabbit at the corner of the note.
“Alright! This should be enough, right?”
Worried about being caught trying to sneak out, I carefully moved my feet towards the entrance.
Even as I barely reached the doorknob, which was out of reach, I didn't think they would worry about me.
Whether in my past life or this one, I had never experienced being loved, so I truly thought that.
At least, back then.
\ \ \
“Phew, I finally made it!”
The distance from the inn to the temple wasn't far.
However, traveling in a child's body was quite difficult.
I came out impulsively, but where would I find that child?
As I looked around, I spotted some people who caught my eye from afar.
People dressed in pristine white priestly robes, not a speck of dust on them.
What, I'm seeing people in priestly robes for the first time! They look so suspicious?
It made sense, as in this empire that didn't believe in gods, the temple was merely a tourist attraction.
Therefore, there were even fewer people wearing priestly robes.
Even I, who worked at the temple, had never seen anyone in priestly robes...!
I quietly approached the suspicious individuals and then hid myself in a nearby bush.
“How many people are there for the upcoming sacrifice?”
“About three, at most.”
“……Tsk, are there no other methods?”
“Recently, some people have started watching us, so it's difficult for now.”
Good heavens. I found a lead this quickly.
The words of the peddler I met at the mansion earlier weren't entirely baseless, it seemed.
First, I should return to the inn and call the others!
As I carefully turned to move, a priest spoke.
“When will the sacrifice begin?”
“Proceed with it right now.”
“Understood.”
The priest bowed his head to another priest and disappeared into the temple.
Right now?
If I go back to the inn now, what will happen to the people being offered as sacrifices?
I turned my body back and looked at the one priest left alone.
He looked the youngest, but they all used polite language towards him….
It seemed like he was one of the main figures.
As I was contemplating what to do in this situation, the priest who remained alone also started to move.
If I don't hurry, I'll lose them!
I chased him as fast as I could with my short legs, but the distance only grew wider.
He was so fast, he was already descending the stairs leading into the temple.
I couldn't run for fear of making a loud noise.
If I lost them, I would be helpless and could only watch the people be sacrificed.
Given this situation, catching up is impossible.
“……It’s now or never.”
I took a deep breath and then shouted loudly.
“Heyyyyy!”
As my voice echoed, the gentle footsteps stopped.
The priest turned his head sharply without a word and stared at me intently.
“……Who are you?”
As soon as he saw my face, his clear expression crumpled.
“Uh, well, you see….”
Once I blurted it out, I realized I had no excuse to hold him back.
What should I do? If they just send me away now, nothing will come of it!
My lost eyes wandered aimlessly before fixing on the temple.
“Please hire me at the temple!”
“…What did you just say?”
The priest glared at me with eyes twice as wary as before.
Well, of course.
A child suddenly asking to be hired at the temple.
But who am I!
I'm someone who worked at the temple for years just because I possessed ‘Healing Magic’!
‘Beth is a case where she possesses ‘Healing Magic’ in addition to just ‘Healing Magic’.’
I could almost hear the Young Duke’s cold voice.
Thinking of him somehow eased my tension, and I let out a small laugh.
“I can use Healing Magic. I'm sure I'll be helpful!”
I faced the priest with a much more natural tone than before.
“Did you just say you can use Healing Magic?”
I strode towards the priest and exclaimed in a triumphant voice.
“No need to ask twice!”
“……Sniff*.”
Ah, this feels like déjà vu.
There was another handsome person who used to laugh whenever I did this.
Still, as my actions seemed to be effective, the priest was wiping his eyes and smiling.
Or, is my state so ridiculous that I'm making him cry?
‘It’s the opposite. Beth.’
This is why people say affection is scary. I guess this is why.
I've only been separated from the Young Duke for a moment, but his voice is automatically playing.
‘At this point, marriage is the only answer, isn't it?’
“Oh, seriously!!”
I shouldn't have shouted, no matter what.
The priest was looking at me strangely again.
He seemed to have let his guard down for a moment earlier, but…
Seeing the priest's face up close was far from my expectations.
Correction. It was incredibly far.
This person is a kidnapper.
I would sooner believe that Count Devon, who was bald, had regained his full head of hair.
With calm, cream-colored hair and deer-like eyes.
Anyone would look at this priest's face and think, ‘I am a good person.’
He looks like someone anyone would be fooled by and follow….
So, the secret to kidnapping was this dazzling face.
Yes, I understand the feelings of those who were taken away without knowing why.
Whether in my past life or this one, he was the only face I acknowledged, as I never paid attention to anyone's appearance.
Excluding the Young Duke, of course.
Ah, naturally, I don't believe that a person's outer appearance always matches their inner self.
I've been backstabbed by people who looked kind more than once or twice.
Moreover, the Young Duke, despite his sharp, inhuman appearance, is surprisingly kind…
‘If that's the case, then you can marry me, who is kind.’
“Would that work?!”
“…What?”
“Ah, no. I just meant, can I work at the temple? Haha.”
Ugh, I'm not the type to talk to myself.
For some reason, whenever I think of the Young Duke even a little, I do strange things.
The priest seemed to be scrutinizing me, perhaps because my acting was so awkward.
Even I thought my presence was very suspicious right now.
How many people can use Healing Magic, and suddenly one appears out of nowhere?
And to a place that uses people as sacrifices.
“Can you prove that you can use Healing Magic right now?”
Is he doubting that part? That's a relief, at least.
“Of course!”
If I don't get kicked out like this, I welcome it!
There are only a few users of Healing Magic, so I'll show just a little!
I spread one hand wide and released a small amount of magic power.
Or rather, I intended to release it.
Until a white light, larger than my body, erupted from my hand.
“That's strange. A person with this much magic power shouldn't be stuck in such a rural place.”
Doesn't the priest's use of the word 'stuck' seem a bit out of place?
“Since when has your magic power been this strong?”
No, it hasn't been like this from the start, though?
I've been hanging around with someone blinded by marriage, and suddenly I got stronger!
I can't say that, can I?
Let's be brazen instead.
I patted my chest with my small fist and shouted.
“I was born with it!”
“…….”
Ah, did I go too far?
“You are quite capable at such a young age.”
The priest, having shed his earlier annoyed expression, looked at me with admiration.
Ah, he's acting too, huh?
To show such pure admiration while being a kidnapper.
Anyway, even if you see me as capable, I'm still a child, aren't I?
Hurry and take me to the temple.
Put me in the place where people are kidnapped.
“You are blessed by God, aren't you?”
But this is magic power, not Holy Power?
And if I were blessed by God, I wouldn't have been abandoned at birth!
No, wait a minute.
Even though there are few, there are still gods in this world, so isn't it strange that Holy Power cannot be used?
Are there no longer gods who love humans?
The priest spoke excitedly, his eyes full of joy.
“Do you believe in God?”
No. Not at all. But they say there is.
“…….”
When I didn't answer, the priest's eyes shone even brighter as he asked.
“Ah, that was too obvious a question! With such blessed abilities.”
No, I'm telling you, I don't believe!
The only fortunate thing was that after seeing the healing magic, he was thinking what he wanted to believe.
It feels somewhat similar to the Duke…
“Do you believe?”
“I believe!!”
What am I even doing? This is my fate.
I only came for a brief investigation, so why am I pretending to be a fanatic?
My mind started to reel from acting when I had no choice.
“Ah, you really came?”
The young boy I saw by the lake today peeked his head out.
“…Did you come to see me?”
To be continued in the next episode ▶
