PMEVBO 111

I waved the match I’d used to trim my sleeve through the air. As the flame, unable to withstand the cold winter wind, flickered out, a wisp of smoke rose from the charred piece of wood.

I could feel that Tykvana was still watching me. I looked up at her and asked,

“……Would you like me to adjust your sleeve for you?”

To be honest, speaking formally was difficult. I felt like if I relaxed my brain even slightly, I’d immediately switch to informal speech.

Tykvana shook her head hurriedly.

“No, it’s fine.”

Instead of visible breath, purple smoke escaped from her mouth. She waved her hand to keep the smoke from drifting my way and continued.

“……I’m sorry. Since you were holding a cigarette, [unauthorized copy]I naturally assumed you were a smoker too.”

It was true that I wanted to smoke. I just hadn’t managed to go through with it.

I looked away, feeling embarrassed. Just then, Tykvana tried to stub out the long cigarette (which she hadn’t even taken a few puffs from) by rubbing it against the tin case. In a panic, I grabbed her sleeve.

“It’s fine, so go ahead and smoke. I was about to leave anyway.”

Since my body had recovered a bit, I needed to resume my work as a monster hunter.

Apart from this arch where I was leaning, there were no other sculptures in Riel’s Garden. Judging by the fact that I hadn’t spotted a single root even after sitting here for quite a while, this place must be a bust too.

I sighed and stood up. My body felt a bit stiff from sitting on the gravel for so long. After loosening up with some simple stretches, I said belatedly to Tykvana.

“…Don’t smoke too much. It’s bad for your health.”

I was aware that this was none of my business. Especially since……

A guy who had been smoking for six years and quit just a few days ago wasn’t exactly in a position to lecture others.

But I couldn’t help it. I was worried.

Tykvana, who had been watching me, gave a small smile and nodded.

“……Thanks for your concern.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

She really is such a nice person.

Just as I was about to leave,

“……Have we met somewhere before?”

I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at Tykvana.

…Could she have figured it out, just like Aquila?

I was so flustered that I didn’t know how to respond. As I just stared at her without answering, Tykvana actually looked flustered herself. Then she waved her hands and said,

“No… I didn’t mean it in that way. It’s just that you feel familiar…”

Ah, so she didn’t notice? …That’s a relief.

It was enough that only Aquila knew about my escape. After all, with things like this, the fewer people who know, the better.

“I’m sorry. …Please just forget what I just said.”

Tykvana pressed her hand to her forehead and said listlessly.

Come to think of it, asking if we’ve met before is a pretty cliché pickup line.

But…

“Don’t worry. I didn’t misunderstand.”

I might have if it were anyone else, but I wouldn’t make that kind of mistake with Tykvana. I knew just how sincere she was toward the Pope.

“…I suppose it’s because I have a very common face.”

Although the saturation and brightness varied, all the clergy had black hair and red eyes. Before using the Alignment skill, my shell had silver hair and silver eyes, so it stood out, but now my shell was camouflaged.

“A common face……?”

Tykvana muttered something with a frown, but I couldn’t make it out.

“Well then, I’ll be going now. May the blessings of the Creator God Debiamas always be with you.”

“……Yes. May Debiamas’ blessings always be with you as well.”

***

The ginseng monsters were small, agile jumpers with the ability to pass through obstacles. So, I had no choice but to run around on foot and search every nook and cranny. I decided to start by searching outside the main castle. I spent several hours buried in the search, but…

How is it possible that not a single root is in sight…

To make matters worse, my HP had dropped.

HP: 62/100

I guess the power I received from Iser had lost its effectiveness now.

I felt hungry, and my body, sticky from cold sweat that had dried, felt unpleasant. Above all, I was sleepy.

…I need to rest a bit. If I don’t, I’ll be in big trouble.

If I had my way, I’d just lie down anywhere and sleep. But I couldn’t do that with so many eyes watching. Clerics were gathered in small groups at the outdoor tables scattered here and there.

I picked an empty table and sat down into a chair. When I tilted my head back to look at the sky, I saw that even though it was almost noon, it was still as dark as the middle of the night. Someone suddenly appeared in my field of vision as I blinked my dry eyes.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I join you?”

A female priest I’d met in passing before my exile to the Duchy of Hayut asked with a bright smile.

…I’d rather be alone.

But it was not like I rented this place out just for myself. I was going to get up soon, so whatever…

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

The priest, who had sat down across from me, struck up a conversation naturally.

“I was feeling stifled back at the capital, so I came out here.”

“Oh, I see.”

She waved her empty wine glass at a servant and added with a mischievous smile.

“It’s nice to be able to see His Holiness the Pope, even if only from a distance, but there were so many people it was overwhelming.”

“……There are a lot of people in the capital.”

This was the first time since Aquila that a clergyman had struck up a conversation with me so cheerfully.

As I stared at the priest in front of me, a servant approached and refilled her wine glass. After taking a sip, the priest glanced at the glass sitting in front of me.

“Your glass is empty. Aren’t you going to drink?”

“I can’t hold my liquor.”

Of course, that was a lie. I’d always been a heavy drinker.

I usually avoided drinking to stay in shape, but then try to drink like crazy whenever an opportunity arose. It was a pattern I’d seen often among athletes. Even when I went on drinking binges with those guys, I always managed to be the last one standing. And I wouldn’t go home until I’d loaded my completely passed-out friends into a taxi.

But right now, I was in no condition to drink.

Not only do I have to clear the main quest, but I’m feeling lousy.

I’m already sleepy, and if I have a drink, I’ll probably just pass out.

I pressed my palm against my heavy eyelids. That was when I heard the sound of liquid being poured into a glass nearby. When I removed my hand from my eyes, I saw a glass filled with a clear liquid.

“It’s water.”

“Ah… thanks.”

The attendant smiled.

Auburn hair and pale blue eyes. Features so common they’d vanish from memory if I didn’t look closely. Yet, strangely, the moment I saw the man’s face, I felt a sense of déjà vu.

I stared at the attendant’s retreating back, then took a sip of water. To exaggerate a bit, it felt as though my HP had risen by about 0.01%. Only then did I realize how thirsty I had been.

But this doesn’t seem like plain water. …It smells like herbs.

Is it herbal tea?

The attendant was tidying up a nearby table. I placed my chin on my hand and watched him. For some reason, I found it hard to look away.

Then our eyes met. Without meaning to, I flinched in surprise, as if I’d been caught sneaking a peek at a crush. Just then, the priest spoke to me, so I used that as an excuse to turn my head away naturally.

“It might not look like it, but I actually have quite a wide social circle.”

It doesn’t look like it? It totally looks like it.

If she was friendly enough to talk to even a guy who looked like a jerk, she was definitely an extreme extrovert.

The priest tilted her head and asked.

“But why does it feel like I’m seeing you for the first time today?”

It was a refreshing reaction. But this reaction was the most normal.

It was actually Atsula who was being weird, pestering me about how much I looked like Maacheva.

This shell did bear a strong resemblance to Archbishop Maacheva, but he had died 23 years ago.

Anyway, what should I say to make this sound natural?

“I remember you.”

It was true; talking with the priest had brought back a memory. I chuckled and continued.

“You cried when you were ordained. You were so happy.”

On the day I attended her ordination ceremony, I was [stolen content]at least in my right mind. That was why I remembered it so vividly. She was genuinely overjoyed at the ordination she’d dreamed of.

I downed the rest of the water in one gulp and set the empty glass down on the table. Then, without thinking much of it, I glanced at the priest and froze.

“You have been drinking too much. Your face is really red.”

“No, it’s just….”

The priest hurriedly covered her face with her hair.

Something happened before she could even finish speaking.

Clang!

A loud sound tore through the cold air.

My body moved on its own as soon as I saw the attendant staring at the wine glass that had shattered on the floor. Without even noticing that ​stolen content​my chair had fallen over, I ran toward him.