chapter 121
Suspicion (1)
At the time of accepting the Golden Bird Guild.
One of my conditions was to investigate Scarlett and Douglas’ trends.
Among them, Douglas quit because he no longer needed to pursue him after becoming Rize’s teacher, but Scarlett continued to grasp.
All for one moment.
Since me and Lisera were intertwined with variables, I had to know what difference her course of action would be from her previous life.
Fortunately, it was not different from my memories, except for coming to Findel from time to time, but rather, it made my mind confused.
As it was originally, she would only go through a near-death crisis just once.
I just wanted to block that out.
When I later found out she was dead… … Because the regret I felt then remained in my heart for the rest of my life.
After that, you really won’t be involved any more.
By that time, there will be many days when he and Rize act separately, so he won’t be involved with me any more.
The only reason she was interested in me right now was because of Rize. I knew best that it was never a favor to me.
Yes, it will go back to normal.
So, I had no choice but to keep paying attention to the trends up until then, and although the means of communication was not so good that I couldn’t exchange them in real time, I still knew Scarlett’s location with a certain time difference.
What I heard in Rock Garden was the opposite of this side, the west side of the continent.
It wasn’t the distance to appear in Lista at this time.
“Why is that?”
“I’m naturally surprised to meet you in a place like this.”
“Why did I come where I couldn’t come?”
“It is not an easy place.”
The children only noticed the strange war of nerves, and even in the midst of it, only the crunching sound of Rowen, who was concentrating on making arrows, could be heard.
It seemed that nothing could be solved at this rate, so I tried to recommend it.
“Would you like to sit down?”
“I want to talk to you two.”
“… … .”
The children’s eyes widened at the bold remark. In particular, Claire even glared at Scarlett with fearsome momentum.
“great.”
It was a sweet story for me too.
He had something to ask, but judging from what he was saying, it seemed that he was trying to tell a story that would be awkward for children to tell.
“Please wait patiently here.”
“yes.”
“Especially Claire? You’re not thinking of stealing, are you?”
“yes… … .”
It was obvious what he was thinking, so after warning him once, he took Scarlett and headed to the room on the second floor.
After sitting on two chairs inside, I asked directly.
“How did you know I was here?”
Judging from Scarlett’s tone and behavior, she clearly knew I was here.
Besides, the purpose of coming here is me, not anyone else.
Does she really have a reason to target me?
“I heard from Grandpa Hazel. I was curious about why you brought your kids to a place like this, so I followed you.”
“For just that reason?”
“Yeah, so why not?”
Scarlett, deliberately acting innocent, replied with a smile.
I knew that other thoughts were hidden behind it.
“Then what are you curious about?”
“uh? Can you tell me?”
“I thought he would follow me to the end if I didn’t tell him.”
“Ah, I’m not a mercenary who just goes out like that.”
She was talking like that, but if there was anything suspicious, it was the girl who would have to bite and bite to clear things up.
So it was the right decision to shake it off here.
As I remained silent, Scarlett stopped playing and opened her mouth again with a slightly serious face.
“What the hell are you doing here with the kids? No matter how you look at it, it’s not a city for sightseeing.”
If you’ve come this far, there’s nothing to hide.
While the story came out, I decided to reveal the truth as honestly as possible.
“Those children lost their families and villages to the Dark Truth Church.”
“Ah, that pseudo-religion? Lately, I’ve been whispering softly.”
The Dark Truth Church was supposed to be starting a movement to throw the empire into chaos.
It’s slowed down because I stole five children, but that’s not the only card they have.
“So I am helping the children to avenge them according to their wishes.”
“plural? Are you sure you intend to use the children to take them down?”
“It’s not a use. To be clear, me and the kids are a partnership. I heard the children’s intentions clearly, and I also have a reason to destroy the Dark Truth Church. So I train the children, and now I’m getting to the point where I can get help.”
“Do you think other people will feel that way too? It seems to me that they are only deceiving children. Let’s just say I’m going to attack the church with only five children… … Is it just a matter of being an arrow holder?”
I stroked my chin as I listened to Scarlett speaking in a tone that clearly reprimanded her.
I guessed why she came all the way here, escaping the surveillance of the informant, but after reaching some conclusion, I opened my mouth again.
“Now that the story has come out, let’s be more honest. You don’t trust me at all, do you?”
“… … .”
At my direct words, Scarlett stiffened her expression.
That peculiar way of speaking that only speaks to me.
It was never meant to be friendly or friendly.
Rather, it could be seen that he had severe doubts and was raising his guard.
“Even when you asked me for help for the first time, you probably thought you might be deceiving Douglas senior. Even so, I kept quiet because I truly valued Rize… … I just can’t let go of being questioned like this.”
The reason I kept approaching her so far was probably because she wanted to meet Rize, but at the same time, it must have been that she needed something to catch the pod from me.
I don’t know what sparked her suspicions, but since I was like this when I first met her in my previous life, it’s only natural that people remain the same.
Scarlett, who had been silent for a while, soon took a crooked posture and opened her mouth.
“Well, I won’t deny it. I thought he would pretend to be a good person in front of something, but act rude behind his back, but in the end, I was blown away by the fact that what he does is like a hero.”
“Then, can you agree to keep this level between each other and return at this point?”
“Still, that doesn’t change the fact that they are using children. If Rize knew, wouldn’t it be obvious how she would see it?”
“… … Are you threatening Rize with the pretext?”
At my words, Scarlett just shrugged her shoulders.
Seriously, if it weren’t for her.
I felt a little bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of
“They’re not weak enough to worry about… … . No, you don’t want that kind of answer.”
“Wow, did you know that too?”
“If you want to see it, you told me earlier, didn’t you? It seems like it just made the atmosphere rough.”
“It is true that I am worried, so I have no choice but to see it myself. What the heck, they say they’re going to take down the group that’s sneaking behind the empire… … It is true that it is interesting.”
I had a glimpse of her intentions, and realizing that there was no point in further mixing, I stood up and waved my hands.
“You can follow me or not. Instead, if you think it will interfere with our work, you won’t look at your senior’s daughter or anything.”
“Don’t worry. Have you worked with seniors once or twice?”
Glancing at Scarlett who said that with a small smile, I had a hunch that tonight would be long.
* * *
dark night.
Wearing night clothes, I was watching the whole of Lista from the top of a tall, uninhabited building.
As if to say that it is a dying city, there was only one place that was brightly lit even in the dark and dead night.
It was the church of the Lunara Holy Church.
While looking at that place, I spoke while putting my finger on the magic tool hanging from my left ear.
“Last check. Please answer in order, starting with number 1, whether there is anything wrong.”
Then, after a moment of silence, Rowen’s voice was heard from the magic tool.
-no. 1. It’s located, and there’s nothing wrong with it.
After that, the voices of other children followed in order.
-No.2. No problem.
-number 3! There’s nothing wrong with it other than being bored.
-4 times. There is some traffic and people are moving.
-5 times. nothing wrong… … .
This magic tool that was distributed to the children was a communication device that improved and developed the signal device that was given to Rize before.
It has a fairly effective range and can only be spoken one by one when used by several people, but for us, as a small elite group, that was not a problem.
So it could be said that it was a magic tool that was perfect for me and the children.
I didn’t have a chance to test it properly even after making it, but it was a success because I could hear my voice well.
“That looks very comfortable. Don’t you want to break it?”
“Never sell.”
It wasn’t a problem to use, but there was still room for improvement.
Because all communicators are connected to one, if someone else has a communicator, the conversation will be leaked intact.
Even if it was improved, I had no intention of selling it, but I would have to be careful about leaks.
I turned my head halfway to look at Scarlett and opened my mouth again.
“But are you really going to be here? As I explained, there is nothing to see.”
“I am interested. I don’t want to see if the high priest of the Holy Church is the leader of the Dark Truth Church.”
“… … .”
It was true that having him behind me was more reassuring than wandering around.
I was only going to come out for a really light investigation, but I never thought things would turn out like this.
I looked at the view of Lista again, and I heard Rowen’s voice from the communicator.
-Report from number 1. Currently, a person presumed to be Berretnio came out of the church.
-Twice received. I’ll track it down.
It was Dellon who was in charge of tailing Beretinio.
I raised my head slightly and looked at the bell tower towering high in the center of Lista.
From there, Rowen would have been monitoring the entire city, including the church.
It was his role to convey the movements of the main figures suspected of being spies and to give instructions for re-tracking in case they were lost.
I didn’t expect much because it was the first day, but the children moved more organically than I thought.
-4 times. too fast. 5 times. don’t get too close number 3. Hide yourself some more.
He gave detailed instructions to the children, covering the entire city with a truly expansive view, and I felt as if I were sharing my vision with Rowen.
Now that it’s like this, I’ll have to properly plan the strategy centered on Rowen.
I thought I had the ability to lead, but because of the communicator, my talent was blossoming in earnest.
There was no room for me to intervene in the middle.
Listening to the children’s conversation, I recorded each person’s movement on the map of Lista that I had prepared in advance.
I’ll match it up with the kids later, but I was thinking of finding a secret base in Lista like this.
There was no way that there was no connection to the city where Beretinio, supported by the Dark Truth Church, was the main axis.
You probably won’t be in the church.
Even so, it was a place filled with divine power, so it was not a place where dark magic was carelessly passed over.
I looked around the city for a while and picked out a few suspicious places, so if you follow these suspected spies, you’ll get the answer.
The follow-up, which lasted until late at night, ended when the passer-by from the church had completely disappeared, and I spoke to the children through the communicator.
“Everyone suffered a lot. Let’s all withdraw and meet at the inn. You can do the information gathering tomorrow, so please rest comfortably.”
-yes!
Hearing the children’s answers, he took off the communicator that had been hanging on his ear, and at the same time felt a cool sensation on the back of his neck.
“Finally, we are properly alone.”
“That’s what I said earlier. Let’s be honest. I gave you a chance, but are you doing this now?”
“Isn’t that what you show your children?”
Scarlett said that while pointing a sword at my neck, and I was expecting something like this to some extent, so I responded calmly.
Scarlett’s voice continued with a hint of displeasure as if she didn’t like my appearance.
“Then I’ll ask you one thing first.”
“Yes, you are.”
What question are you asking?
A few things were expected, but one thing was certain.
That it’s related to her real reason for chasing her this far.
Although she didn’t turn around, Scarlett spoke a sharp tone with a hard expression on her face that was clearly drawn.
“Why have you been spying on me all this time?”
“… … .”
I’ve said it before… … She was extraordinarily good at noticing.