The temple was peaceful, no different from usual. Unlike the chaos outside, the priests walking around were enjoying a leisurely daily life.
It even felt like a space completely separated from the outside.
“In fact, rather than having a clear purpose, I’m just soone with a lot of curiosity.”
Onyx, who was walking alongside , seed to be bothered by what happened earlier and spoke to subtly.
“I was lucky to form a connection with the temple, and if not, my interests would have turned elsewhere.”
“Having sothing that brings you joy is a fortunate thing.”
At my words, Onyx smiled and agreed.
“I hope Lady Roygin also finds joy like I do.”
After finishing his sentence, his eyes narrowed as if he was lost in thought. It looked like he was hesitating whether to bring sothing up.
I gave him a faint smile.
“Earlier, it seed like you were hesitant to talk about your research, but I’m okay with it.”
“Hmm, to be honest, I feel like I said sothing unnecessary to you. The situation got a bit tangled…….”
“That happens.”
“S-sorry…….”
“Of course, I ca because I’m curious about your research, Onyx! But if circumstances aren’t right, it can’t be helped!”
As I smiled brightly, Onyx’s eyes shook intensely and beads of cold sweat ford on his forehead.
Then I muttered with a face full of regret.
“Sigh, even though I said that, it’s a sha. I also enjoy exploring things like you do. I was happy to finally find soone I could connect with.”
“L-Lady Roygin…….”
“Oh dear, and there’s no need to apologize. To be soone who can help you, Onyx, I’ll study hard on my own!”
Eventually, his face turned pale.
“When that ti cos, would I be honored to participate in your research too?”
Then Onyx finally let out the words he had been holding back.
“No, no! There’s no need for you to do it alone. Let’s go together.”
“Would that be alright?”
I imdiately accepted Onyx’s offer.
“Of course. I was the one who brought it up first, after all.”
Onyx, who had looked deeply troubled, finally let out a sigh of relief as if the tension had been lifted.
“Let’s go quickly. Yurian mustn’t see us.”
As if telling to keep quiet, he brought his index finger to his lips. When I mimicked the gesture, he finally seed reassured and hurried his steps.
It was just then, as I moved along with Onyx.
Soone suddenly grabbed in a rush.
“You……!”
It was a man I had never seen before, but for so reason, his tone sounded familiar.
Moreover, his sun-bleached hair shimred with a silvery hue.
“Lady Roygin, do you know him?”
As Onyx’s puzzled voice reached , the man seed to realize sothing and released his grip on .
I let out an awkward smile and nodded.
“Please go ahead. I’ll catch up soon.”
At my words, he nodded in confusion.
As soon as Onyx’s figure grew distant, I quickly took the man and left the area.
And then, countless questions rained down on like arrows.
“Why are you here? You’re supposed to be at the Roygin Estate…….”
“Sorry, but I should be the one asking that. What are you doing at the temple when you’re supposed to be at the Magic Tower?”
Peril frowned deeply.
“I was the one who asked first, though.”
“I beca a Cardiff mber.”
“……That’s not the answer I wanted.”
I sighed inwardly and calmly continued.
“They said they’ll move the relic to Drimokan in two days.”
“That’s also not the answer I wanted.”
Whatever it was that angered him, Peril remained sharp throughout.
The only relief was that he knew he wasn’t hiding his emotions well.
Peril took a deep breath with his eyes tightly closed. Then he pressed the corners of his eyes with his hands.
“……Fine, I expected you wouldn’t stay still. But the fundantal reason I helped him was because I wanted you to be safe.”
“……”
“But now that I’ve t you here, there’s no longer a reason to help him.”
How did it co to that conclusion……?
“Wait, hold on. You’re getting overly worked up right now.”
“How am I supposed to calm down?”
Seeing Peril so outraged for the first ti, I was taken aback.
He usually didn’t get angry like this!
“This has nothing to do with you. So go back imdiately.”
As soon as he finished speaking, I beca completely immobilized, as if sothing had bound my entire body.
“Don’t start by using magic so unfairly……!”
The threatening atmosphere around was frightening, but more terrifying was his magic, which could send back to the estate at any mont.
“It’s been a while since we t—at least let say hello!”
“What hello.”
It seed my words didn’t even register.
Ignoring , Peril scoffed and busied himself drawing a magic circle.
Ah, this won’t do.
“Then just answer . I’ll leave after hearing that.”
“Oh, you dare propose a deal with ?”
“Don’t you think it’s a bit late to bring that up now? I feel like I’ve already made shaless requests to you before?”
Perhaps at a loss for words, Peril paused, which was rare for him. I took the opportunity to ramble without pause.
“You’re here for a similar reason as I am, right?”
“Since you already know my answer, you won’t regret going back now.”
“Ugh, seriously!”
“What, got a complaint?”
“Of course I do!”
As I struggled in frustration, Peril must have realized I wasn’t going to listen easily, so he let out a deep sigh and released the magic that had been restraining .
I looked up at him with resentful eyes, and he finally spoke with a face different from usual.
“You said you had a place to return to. Thinking about it, there’s no need to help him. If Orphen wins, everything will go back to how it was.”
“……”
“Why did you choose to side with the Duke? Or did he force you into it?”
Unbelievable.
“Do you really think soone like , who shalessly keeps her chin up even now, would obediently follow orders? Let alone that man’s orders.”
“Then why?”
Peril’s eyes were calm. But within them, emotions he failed to suppress surged like a violent wave.
“Now that you say it like that, I’m curious too.”
“Curious about what?”
“Why the Tower Master, who said he wouldn’t concern himself with politics, chose to help Ricardo.”
“Didn’t I already say? Because I wanted you to be safe.”
Peril furrowed his brows, as if asking why I was repeating sothing I already knew.
“No. Did you really not know I’d make this choice?”
“……”
“If what you say is true, then you have no reason to help Ricardo either. You promised to send back to the world I ca from, and if it’s to keep that promise, you don’t need to align with that man.”
Peril stared at quietly with a displeased look.
But it seed my words were spot on.
“You have no right to stop .”
There was no reply from him.
An awkward silence fell, and I lightly kicked a random pebble on the ground.
“If I’m wrong, at least point it out. Don’t just make feel awkward……”
“You’re completely wrong. A perfect misjudgnt.”
“……Liar.”
When I glared at him, he let out a deep sigh. Then, turning his head with a face full of resignation, he spoke.
“Fine, what power do I have to stop you.”
“You were doing a great job stopping earlier.”
“There you go again.”
Peril roughly swept his hand down his face.
“You just can’t let a single word slide.”
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