Nacrad walked, following the aura of Armadi, feeling content.
If trials existed in this world, then surely a reward awaited those who overca them.
By following the guidance of Tariki, the things I desired naturally fell into my hands.
Armadi’s apostle... that wretched child who ruined my plans and prevented Tariki's will from being carried out.
Are you there?
Nacrad spotted the child standing in the darkness, arms crossed, wearing an irritating smirk.
"What are you waiting for over there?"
"Curious about the rumors that others have been spreading?"
"Well, let fulfill what you desire then."
"I shall grant you what you wish in exchange for letting hear your cries."
"Crawl on the ground and scream your tear-stained pleas."
"Give that beautiful voice, one that cannot be hidden even by this oppressive night."
As Nacrad pondered how to tornt Armadi's apostle, he noticed her turn her face toward him.
Even in the dim moonlight, her piercing eyes locked onto Nacrad’s face, curving into a crescent smile.
"What is it?"
"Why are you smiling?"
"You should be aware of the danger you're in if you’ve looked at , right?"
"Why…?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Have you resigned yourself to death?"
No, that wasn’t it.
Her confidence was too strong to be re bravado.
Which ans...
Just as a shiver crept up his spine, Armadi’s apostle moved her lips.
Nacrad, having learned to read lips, imdiately understood the words she mouthed.
"Take him down."
At the sa mont, a presence that had been hidden behind him made a move.
Rolling across the dirt in a humiliating escape, Nacrad barely avoided the ambush. He summoned his magic as he glanced at the person who had appeared behind him.
“Damn it."
"A knight."
"And not just any knight, but one of considerable skill.”
Just from the way he moved his sword, Nacrad could tell.
This was an opponent he couldn’t handle in his current state.
This wasn’t a prey that had wandered into his trap.
Armadi's apostle had used herself as bait to lure out.
In my blind pursuit of revenge, I was nothing but a foolish fish who bit down on the lure.
Though Nacrad let out a rough breath in frustration at being outplayed, there was no viable option left.
There was no way to deal with the knight and harm Armadi’s apostle at the sa ti.
The only option was to flee.
After all, that knight is still just a knight.
If I hide in the darkness and attempt to escape, he won’t have an easy way of catching up.
I’ll treat today as a stepping stone and rember this for later.
As Nacrad prepared to execute his escape plan, he instinctively conjured a barrier of darkness.
However, an arrow cloaked in magic flew from the distance and pierced the barrier, rendering it useless.
An arrow lodged itself in Nacrad’s ankle, and he gritted his teeth.
"Young Lady, these arrows are expensive, you know?"
"Shut up, Informant. Are you really in a position to say sothing like that?"
“I was just hoping you’d appreciate how much I’ve invested.”
“Tch. So it wasn’t just one.”
I was wondering how that assertive knight managed to disappear so suddenly—turns out he had a thief with him as well.
Nacrad scowled and rged his ankle with the shadows.
The arrow that had pierced his ankle passed through the shadows and fell to the ground.
“Oh, that’s quite an impressive technique,” the thief said.
Nacrad, back on his feet, watched as the thief drew another arrow from his quiver. He pressed his lips into a thin line.
If it was just the thief, I could easily deal with him. But the problem is the knight.
This is becoming troubleso.
With that thought, Nacrad scattered his magic into the surroundings.
The apostle of the god who controls darkness issued his command, and one by one, his minions began to erge from the shadows.
At least it's night, he thought, grateful for the cards in his hand.
They’re not familiar with the powers granted by my god. If I use that to my advantage...
"Informant, shoot your arrows into the darkness. They’ll work. Useless Knight, ignore the darkness and keep pressuring that pretentious fool. Can you handle it?”
“Of course, my lady!”
“Understood. I’ll do my best.”
Armadi’s apostle issued her commands to the two of them, her eyes locking onto Nacrad once again.
Seeing his face clouded with confusion, she burst into laughter, her voice dripping with mockery.
“What’s the matter?♡ Are you getting dizzy just looking at your own face?♡ Could you lower your eyes for ?♡ It’s nauseating♡.”
...That damn wench!
It was obvious that Nacrad was boiling with rage because of my provocations, but that didn’t change the fact that he couldn’t break through Karl and Alsetin’s assault.
Watching him struggle, the weight I had been feeling in my chest lifted slightly.
Ahh, this is life.
Is this why Lucy used to taunt people like this?
Seeing soone you hate getting frustrated is so damn satisfying.
I think I can understand that feeling now, even if just a little.
“Useless Knight♡ What are you going to do, staring at like that?♡ You can’t do anything, can you?♡ Oh wait, are you staring because you think I’m cute?♡ Pervert♡ Loli-loving freak♡ Disgusting♡.”
“Shut up, you filthy trash!”
“Pffft♡ Are you mad?♡ You’re mad, aren’t you?♡ Oh, I’m sooo scared♡.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Nacrad glaring at , only to suffer under Karl’s relentless swordplay.
“Priestess.”
Oh, Armadi. Please, grant this poor lamb your forgiveness…
“Priestess!”
“Ah!”
Faybi startled at the booming male voice that echoed in her ears, her face turning red as she cleared her throat awkwardly.
“I apologize for interrupting your prayers.”
“No, it's fine. So, what brings you here, Father?”
“It’s ti for you to return to the dormitory.”
“Already?”
She hadn’t been praying for long—there was no way it could already be that ti.
Faybi was about to voice her confusion when she glanced outside the window and saw the display of stars. Her mouth hung open.
The dark sky signaled that it was indeed night.
“Thank you, Father. I almost got in trouble with the dormitory supervisor.”
“No trouble at all. Please, go ahead.”
Offering her thanks, Faybi quickly left the church with hurried steps.
After cleansing and returning Lucy Alrn's sword earlier today, Faybi had spent the rest of the day praying to Armadi, pleading for him to remove the jealousy and envy that had taken root in her heart.
But the more she tried to forget, the more those thoughts seed to engrave themselves in her mind.
Her prayers and repentance didn’t seem to have much effect.
Oh Armadi, if only you could speak to soday, I wouldn’t be so lost like this.
If only she could be certain that Armadi loved the world equally, as written in the scriptures, and not just Lucy Alrn. Then, she wouldn’t have to struggle with these thoughts.
Faybi knew that her thoughts were terribly blasphemous, but she couldn’t stop the dark thoughts from creeping into her mind.
And each ti they did, Faybi silently apologized to those around her.
I’m sorry.
I’m not worthy of being a priestess, am I?
You all praised , so I tried to beco soone worthy of that, but it seems I’m lacking.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
I’m so...
As she walked back to the dormitory, her shoulders slumped further and further until a tallic scent hit her nose, making her stop in her tracks.
This is... the sll of blood.
Did sothing happen?
That thought alone made Faybi instinctively follow the scent of blood.
She didn’t consider whether it was being nosy or not.
If soone was injured, it was only natural for her to heal them.
That was simply common sense for Faybi.
At the end of the trail, Faybi found herself standing before a man collapsed in the alley.
He was gasping for breath, his body covered in wounds.
Normally, Faybi would have imdiately rushed to help the injured man, but she hesitated because of the dark aura emanating from his body.
This is definitely... the power of an evil god, an enemy of the church.
She needed to go get the other priests...
“Hey.”
Faybi flinched at the voice that ca from the darkness.
“You, priestess. Heal .”
“I cannot—”
“Then I will answer the questions that plague your heart.”
At that mont, Faybi rembered the rumors that had been circulating around the academy.
If you wandered the streets at night, a person dressed in black would appear.
If you offered them the right price, they could answer any question you had.
They said that person’s answers were always 100% accurate.
If that’s true...
What if...
What if I could pull out the question hidden in my heart?
Could that be resolved too?
“I can see it—the doubt that fills your heart. Don’t you want to resolve it?”
That voice...
“Don’t worry. I swear in the na of the god I serve that I will not harm you.”
The voice wrapped around Faybi like a rope, pulling her in.
“We will make a trade. You heal , and I’ll answer what troubles you.”
Before she realized it, Faybi had taken a step into the darkness.
“Now, speak. What is it you wish to know?”
“What I want to know is...”
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