PMEVBO 100

──────【 Guidance 】──────

From ‘❘’ to ‘❘’

──────────────────────

I had no way of knowing what Chepony Castle actually looked like. It had never appeared in the original work. So I agonized a bit over setting the destination.

“If I just mindlessly write ‘Chepony Castle’ without thinking, who knows where I will end up.”

And no wonder, the Guidance skill’s other name was the Throwing Skill.

I recalled the last time I’d used the Wisdom skill to look up information on Chepony Castle. No matter how far I scrolled down, there was no end to it. I was speechless at the insane amount of information, and to make matters worse, there was a time limit. Ten minutes. Under normal circumstances, I would have read it cover to cover, but there was simply no way I could get through even half of it in ten minutes.

I had no choice but to skim through only the parts that were truly necessary.

……Just like taking the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication).

But even if I read it, it would all be for nothing if I couldn’t remember it in the actual situation. If I’d had paper or a pen, I would’ve made a cheat sheet, but there was no way I could get my hands on those in a prison cell. In the end, I resorted to the ultimate cheating method I always use in situations like this: etching it into my brain.

Ah, back then… I really did memorize it with all my might during those 10 minutes…

I reviewed it whenever I had a spare moment, afraid I might forget.

The first thing I found and memorized was the area that became the quietest during the banquet. The skill incantation I completed was as follows.

Guide the ‘Player’ to the ‘wine cellar located in the basement of the of the <Tower of Serpents> inside <Chepony Castle>.

The location changed along with the sensation of the ground collapsing beneath my feet.

Thump!

This time, I was prepared, so I managed to land in time. I immediately checked my body to see if I was bound by any restraints. Fortunately, I wasn’t.

Phew……

To be honest, I was a little scared, but I’m relieved.

The damp wine cellar was filled with the smell of alcohol. As expected of a basement, it was dark. However, perhaps because I had just come from a cell where almost no light penetrated, I could make out objects to some extent. Under the dim light of a lamp, I could see wooden wine barrels lined up in a row.

-All clergy members are required to attend (approx. 300 people).

Since that’s what it said, I’d braced myself for running into at least one or two witnesses, no matter how remote the location I chose. But the wine cellar was surprisingly quiet.

…Is there no one here?

At that moment, something flew out from behind a large wine barrel. I reflexively ​visit our site​reached out and caught it. I could tell right away that the object in my hand was a holy book.

Just then, something else flew out from the same direction. I caught it just as easily. …A clerical robe?

My confusion was short-lived, as I heard a whisper.

“Oh, Creator God Debiamas… You who breathe life, establish order, and embrace all with love… Please protect this lamb trembling in fear before the injustice…”

Behind the wine barrel, someone was praying in a shaking voice. To be honest, it felt more like they were just spouting random words out of terror.

Seriously… So, am I that “injustice”?

I couldn’t help but laugh. But come to think of it, it wasn’t an inaccurate description. I was currently a fugitive, and I planned to knock any witnesses unconscious the moment I spotted them.

…I guess I am “injustice.”

No, actually, even calling it “injustice” was an overstatement. Considering what I� unauthorized copy �d done six years ago…

I slowly rose to my feet. I wrapped the clerical robe I was holding around my head to hide my face. Then I walked toward the wine barrel from which the voice had come.

Behind the barrel, a man was crouched on the floor. For a split second, I thought our eyes had met. I immediately threw the holy book I was holding as if it were a ball.

“Ugh…!”

The man, struck in the shoulder by the holy book, groaned and rolled across the floor. I was taken aback.

…Wait, I even gave him a signal by shaking it a bit so he could catch it properly. Why couldn’t he catch it?

Besides, I threw it really gently… Did I throw it harder than I thought?

Just then, the man muttered in a resigned voice.

“O Debiamas, another soul is coming into your embrace…”

Look at that. He thinks he’s dead already.

I crouched down in front of him and picked up the holy book that was rolling on the floor.

“…About this, the clerical robe. If I just take this with me, will you get in trouble?”

“Y-Your humble servant… Pardon?”

The man flinched and finally looked up. He then pushed his glasses up his nose. But his face was so completely obscured by his long bangs that I wondered if there was even any point in doing so.

…Did he not see it because he couldn’t see?

I handed him the holy book as carefully as possible. I’d expected him to fumble with it a few times, but surprisingly, he managed to take it without any trouble.

“If I steal your clerical robe, what will happen to you?”

I was currently wearing a guard pajamas. Since I’d stand out if I roamed outside the prison in a prisoner’s uniform, I’d been wearing the pajamas ever since Iser had escorted me to my cell. Fortunately, Iser didn’t seem to mind much.

If I wear the clerical robes, I’ll be able to blend in more naturally.

Just then, the man replied in a voice that was much clearer than before.

“Well… if you have a valid reason, you can get a new one issued.”

“What counts as a valid reason?”

I asked, placing my chin on my knees.

“An unexpected accident…”

I chuckled and spoke up.

“Oh? Then how can I become your ‘unexpected accident’?”

It was a line I’d intended to use as a threat. I’d expected a frightened reaction…

“You already are.”

The man replied in a voice clearer than ever before.

“Take it if you need it. It’s fine, Lucariel.”

…What?

I slowly lowered the hand that was supporting my chin. The man continued in a husky voice.

“I knew it the moment I heard your voice. Your voice isn’t the Read onkind people can easily forget.”

His voice wasn’t exactly ordinary either. Only then did I realize I’d heard his voice somewhere before.

Where have I heard it…?

The fact that I couldn’t place it made it all the more irritating.

“Not long after we first met, I thoughtlessly complimented your voice and you got mad at me. …That was already ten years ago. Time really flies.”

When I unexpectedly found myself collecting yet another urban legend about the original Lucariel, I finally couldn’t take it anymore and asked.

“…Who are you?”

When I asked this after I pulled back the clerical robe that had been tightly wrapped around my face, the man fell silent for a moment.

“Hmm……”

He stared at my face, then picked up the lamp that had been lying on the floor and set it upright. As the candle inside the lamp caught fire, his features became clearer. But because of his thick glasses and shaggy bangs, I couldn’t see the most important part, his face.

Just then, he took off his glasses and swept his bangs back off his forehead. For a moment, I was speechless. The face revealed in the darkness belonged to someone I had already met.

“It’s me, Aquila.”

He smiled gently with his wolf-like face. The vicious features of Atsula overlapped with his face. It was the exact same face as that of Archbishop Atsula, whom I had beaten to a pulp six years ago……

“So, you and Atsula….”

Aquila and Atsula. Just looking at the names, I could roughly guess what their relationship was. Even at a glance, it seemed like he was someone I knew, but asking such a basic question felt a bit awkward. I changed the subject as best I could.

“…Of the two of you, were you the older brother?”

“I wish that were the case.”

Aquila smiled bitterly and continued.

“I heard what my brother did to you six years ago. I’m sorry. I’ll apologize on his behalf.”

As he said this, he bowed his head. The way he apologized on his brother’s behalf was natural. That familiarity spoke to his sincerity.

“You can take my clerical robe.”

“……”

“The problem is getting them reissued repeatedly. Getting one reissued once in a while isn’t that hard.”

I stared at Aquila while mentally running the numbers.

No matter how I look at it, ripping off this clerical robe right here unauthorized copy and tearing it to shreds seems like the better deal.

Of course, Aquila must have figured out long ago that I’d just escaped from my cell. But he didn’t seem like the type to go around blabbing about it. So, I just needed to rip off the clerical robes and make my escape… but strangely, my mouth opened on its own.

“You only heard what your brother did to me, but you didn’t hear what I did?”