After entering the duchy, most of the children dispersed. 

  

It's natural, as they probably don't want to continue being with an orc, even if it was a rare experience. 

  

"Aren't you going?" 

  

"No, I'm not." 

  

"Then tell me about these human customs you mentioned." 

  

"Let's find lodging first. I'm tired from all these events." 

  

"Humans are weak." 

  

Titan didn't question my decision to stay at all. 

  

He's a straightforward guy. 

  

He probably thinks that no matter what I do, it won't be a problem for him. 

  

What incredible confidence. 

  

"What about you? Aren't you going?" 

  

"Ah, I..." 

  

After confirming that I would be accompanying him, Titan immediately turned his head to the other person remaining. 

  

He asked Linea. 

  

I was curious about that too. 

  

"I still haven't repaid my debt..." 

  

Linea writhes in embarrassment. 

  

I understand. 

  

It was good that she took the big step to reveal her identity to calm the situation, but in the end, Titan solved the problem, and she just ended up exposing her identity for nothing. 

  

Of course, it's true that the situation was temporarily calmed thanks to her stepping forward, but ultimately, it could be said that we were able to enter the territory thanks to Titan. 

  

He was the cause, but the resolution was also somehow achieved thanks to him. 

  

"I think just calming the situation was enough." 

  

"I don't think so." 

  

But Linea shook her head firmly. 

  

I wonder if there's really a need to feel such responsibility. 

  

The debt, if you can call it that, was just that she had anticipated and prepared for the bandit attack in advance. 

  

Of course, it wasn't something to be taken lightly, as there were children whose lives were saved because of it. 

  

But isn't it also funny that Linea alone is trying to repay this as a debt? All the other kids just bowed their heads and dispersed. 

  

I can understand it might be because of her noble status, but... 

  

'Linea Spirin is not someone who hangs onto her noble status.' 

  

I owed her a debt. 

  

That's why this time, I erased the infamy she had shouldered. 

  

But what about now? 

  

Suspicion is sprouting in my heart. I'm starting to doubt the motives of Linea Spirin, who was my benefactor. 

  

"I'll pay for the inn! Because I'm a noble!" 

  

"I'm royalty, though." 

  

"......" 

  

Of course, when I see such clumsy behavior, even that suspicion disappears. 

  

Somehow comforting the dejected Linea with her ears and tail drooping, we found lodging to stay in. 

  

Naturally, there were few places that could accommodate Titan. 

  

We gave up on situations where there were no rooms on the first floor, even in sturdy inns. 

  

If we took a room on the second floor and it collapsed due to Titan's weight, it would be a disaster for the first-floor guests. 

  

By the time we found an inn considering various conditions and Linea's noble face, it was already night. 

  

*     *     * 

  

Right after arriving at the inn. When I relaxed in an environment where I could sleep soundly. 

  

I fell into a deep sleep and was plunged into an unspeakable nightmare. 

  

-■■■. Look at this. It's chocolate that Claire likes and black tea that ■■■ likes. 

  

-I see. But there seems to be a small problem... Why are you putting the chocolate in the tea? 

  

-It's the ultimate food combining what Claire likes and what ■■■ likes. I thought it would be nice if you two shared it and made up. 

  

-Ah. 

  

I ran my hand through my hair, facing this grotesque food. 

  

-Holy Maiden, do you really think this will be delicious? 

  

-You put sugar or milk in tea, don't you? It's the same. I'm confident that the flavor will be even more special since I specifically used milk chocolate. 

  

It's truly absurd logic. 

  

If it were the opposite, it might make sense, but... 

  

Seeing the half-melted chocolate stuck to the bottom of the teacup, I feel my appetite dropping involuntarily. 

  

-Eat it. 

  

-Aren't you going to eat, Holy Maiden? Since you prepared it, why don't you try it first? 

  

-Just watching you two eat is enough to make me feel full. 

  

-What... 

  

-What kind of way is that to speak to the Holy Maiden? This is food bestowed by the Holy Maiden. Accept it obediently. 

  

Before the harsh words could fully emerge, the one who rebuked me was Claire Ryan, the Holy Maiden's guard knight and the strongest paladin of the order. 

  

Not even the 'harsh' of harsh words had come out yet. This guy just wants to criticize me. 

  

-Ah, yes. I'll eat it, I'll eat. 

  

Claire was drinking that bizarre food faster than me. 

  

How could I refute when she's practicing it herself like that? 

  

The food prepared by the Holy Maiden had a taste that was truly neither here nor there. 

  

It's not inedible, but it would be accurate to say the flavors are completely separate. 

  

It was a fragment of such memories. 

  

A moment from the past that will never come again. 

  

And I, watching these memories, know that this is a lucid dream. 

  

I, who had been observing that scene, was now melted into it. 

  

"Holy Maiden." 

  

"......" 

  

"Did you usually wear that mask in places like this too?" 

  

It was different. 

  

The Holy Maiden in my memories was covering her face with a pure white mask. Even though it wasn't such a scene. 

  

"Actually, I don't really know why the Holy Maiden decided to wear a mask." 

  

It was one day. Yes, one day she started wearing a mask. 

  

I understood. 

  

No, I thought I understood. 

  

She started wearing a mask after an entire village had been reduced to ashes. 

  

Even she, who should be a hope for others, couldn't muster a smile in the face of that scene. 

  

That's why she started wearing a mask, I thought she was trying to hide her weak self with the mask. 

  

"But was it really for moments like this? Were you already seeing this outcome from back then?" 

  

But what if it wasn't just that? 

  

If from the beginning, she was planning to send me to the past and was trying to build memories in preparation for that moment? 

  

I start to rethink the meaning. 

  

In my memories, in my recollections, she's always wearing a mask. Even though there were more moments when she wasn't. 

  

In fact, I vaguely understood. I knew but was turning a blind eye. 

  

"I can't remember the face of the Holy Maiden behind the mask." 

  

I can't remember her face. 

  

I can't recall her name. 

  

Maybe that's it... That must be it. There's no way she could have performed the miracle of turning back time without any cost. 

  

It's natural. This kind of cost is rather cheap in comparison. 

  

"Was there a reason it had to be me? Wouldn't it have been better if it was Claire, or someone else?" 

  

In this world now, I'm the only one who knows her. 

  

Yet even I am gradually forgetting her. 

  

"I'm a coward, and I'm full of scars. I'm no different from waste." 

  

The only advantage of myself that I can be confident about is one thing. 

  

That I survived. 

  

Even in the midst of numerous nightmares and trials, I survived, even if I became disabled. 

  

I lost an arm, lost my original name and memories, and eventually even lost my friend. 

  

What on earth did she see in someone like me? 

  

Did she see something that even I don't know about myself? 

  

If so... 

  

"If you tell me to become a hero, I'll do it. If you tell me to martyr myself for others, I'll do that too." 

  

I don't trust myself. 

  

I'm someone who has run away many times from places I shouldn't have fled. 

  

So I'll close my eyes. 

  

I'll close my eyes and navigate through the darkness, trusting only her judgment. 

  

"But just one thing, I'll do one thing my way." 

  

The scenery of memories collapses. 

  

The beautiful garden, the antique teacups and tea table. 

  

Everything disappears, and only she and I remain. 

  

"I will find you. No matter what form you take, what name you have, what you're doing. I will find you." 

  

I couldn't see her expression. It was still hidden behind the mask. 

  

"And I should complain as usual. Tell me in advance, I'd say." 

  

I just watched her getting farther away. The moment for me to reach out is not now. 

  

I will reach out to her in reality, not in a mere dream. 

  

"Trials." 

  

"......" 

  

At that moment, the Holy Maiden, who had been silent all along, spoke to me. 

  

I couldn't hear clearly. 

  

But one thing from what she said was definitely audible. 

  

"...Be careful." 

  

Be careful of 'trials'. 

  

It seems this nightmare was her advice to me. 

  

*     *     * 

  

I open my eyes to a streak of dawn. 

  

I slowly got up, still not used to the early morning scenery. 

  

"......" 

  

I clearly remembered the dream from last night. 

  

She said to be careful of trials. I don't know what that means yet. 

  

After all, trials are naturally something to be careful of. 

  

"...Time to move." 

  

It's just starting to dawn. Titan might be awake, but Linea is probably still sleeping. 

  

Normally, I should be monitoring Titan who might do anything unpredictable, but I feel uneasy. 

  

I need information about the current situation. 

  

"Titan, I'm going out first, so behave yourself today." 

  

"Are you thinking of ordering me around? I don't follow orders or teachings from those weaker than me." 

  

"Do as you like. I'll leave some money, so if you have time, look around the area a bit. I'm lending it to you, but it's a favor, so use this instead of trying to barter." 

  

As I was leaving, I called out in front of Titan's room and got that response. He was awake as expected. 

  

I don't know what he's been doing until now after waking up, though. 

  

A moment later, Titan came out with an annoyed look, accepted the money pouch, checked its contents, and immediately frowned, saying: 

  

"Do I really need these shiny things? The saber-toothed tiger's fang I have seems more valuable." 

  

"Oh really, a saber-toothed tiger's fang? That must be valuable. So don't use expensive things unnecessarily, just use that." 

  

"Hmm, understood." 

  

I've roughly set the guidelines. 

  

Even though he says that, he probably won't go around stirring up trouble. 

  

He'll probably look around the area as I said. If that happens, all the rough preparations are pretty much done. 

  

*     *     * 

  

I left the inn and searched every nook and cranny of the alleys. Occasionally, I was accosted by drunk passersby or back alley thugs, but I didn't mind. 

  

What I'm looking for is 'Shade', the continent's best information organization. 

  

When I was directly under the Holy Maiden in the past, I had made contact with them several times, but I don't know where they are at this point in time. 

  

All I know is that at this point, they are secretly growing their influence in the Duchy of Foris. 

  

"Hey, Mr. Priest. Do you know where you're wandering around?" 

  

"......" 

  

As I was roaming the alleys like that, someone approached me for contact. 

  

He looked like a thug you'd find in any back alley. But this guy just called me a priest. 

  

I had chased away a few guys who tried to pick fights with me, but that work should have been quite discreet. 

  

Moreover, even if an ordinary person sees an inquisitor's holy magic, it's hard for them to recognize it as holy magic. 

  

The other party has information about inquisitors and has been observing me since early morning. 

  

"It's this hard to make contact." 

  

"Since you seem to know everything and came looking, I shouldn't say unnecessary things. We don't have a list of your appearance and characteristics on our side. You'll understand, right?" 

  

The order has had ties with Shade for a long time. In fact, it's natural. 

  

To maintain such a large organization, these kinds of dealings are indispensable. 

  

"But is it okay to be this unguarded towards an outsider?" 

  

"It's annoying that we don't have information about you, but there shouldn't be a problem. If you know who we are, that is." 

  

"Is the fact that you were originally an assassin group something to be proud of?" 

  

"I never said we were assassins." 

  

I probed a bit, but there was no reaction. 

  

He's certainly a trained guy. There must have been instructions from higher-ups not to cause unnecessary problems. 

  

"You can speak harshly in front of me, but you should be careful in front of others. There are still quite a few guys who haven't accepted our guild's change of business." 

  

"Right, I'll keep that in mind." 

  

Shade was originally an assassin group. A group whose existence was unknown. 

  

But because of that, their skills are undoubtable. The proof is that they've never been caught until now. 

  

The fact that their original identity as assassins became known is because they changed their business to an information guild. 

  

Those who originally left no traces when killing are now in a situation where they collect information without killing people. 

  

Anyone can imagine what their original identity was. 

  

Although they're a group of criminals, since it's impossible to know whose assassinations they were involved in, it's just speculation, and there's no justification to drive them out. 

  

What can you do if they flatly deny it? 

  

We don't know anything from who the clients were to whose requests they received. 

  

So even though we know, we keep quiet about it. 

  

Even the Pantheon does. 

  

Of course, ordinary good priests don't even know that the Pantheon is aware of such places. Such dirty work is the role of inquisitors. 

  

"Then..." 

  

The man openly led me to his hideout. He doesn't even try to hide the route. He's confident. 

  

Confident that if I ever think of betraying them, they'll cut off my head. 

  

"You've come at a good time. We were just discussing you." 

  

In the empty room, only voices could be heard. The other party is clearly here, but I can't see them with my eyes. 

  

And it's not just one or two. They might be right in front of me, or they might be surrounding me. 

  

"Why don't you show yourselves first? Instead of just watching like you're observing ants. It's quite unpleasant, you know." 

  

"Oh my, we've been impolite in front of a guest. I apologize. It hasn't been long since we changed our business, you see." 

  

With those words, a middle-aged man with messy red hair and an unkempt beard, who looked like he belonged in a back alley, appeared before my eyes. 

  

He was sitting in a chair in the room with his feet up on the table, and no matter how generously you look at him, he looks like nothing more than a thug. 

  

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Inquisitor. I am 'Shade'. Isn't it an honor to be greeted directly by the guild master?" 

  

This is the current Shade. 

  

The representative carrying the name of the guild. 

  

It was a different appearance from what I was expecting. However, I can tell that it's not a lie. 

  

"You say it hasn't been long since you changed your business? As far as I know, it's been about 3 years already, hasn't it?" 

  

"Haha, you got me. You certainly know about us." 

  

This guy has been dangling a fishing rod in front of me from the start.