Night had fallen.
Light had left, and darkness had come.
The evening in Vaticarezero, after the morning heat had subsided, was quite cool.
The temperature difference between the central continent of Legion and this place was significant, so much so that you needed to wear long clothes once you took off your armor. The weather was completely different from the southern region where I was born and raised.
I looked out the window of the small lodging that Archbishop Judah had arranged for me and whispered softly.
"When will you move?"
Judah scratched his head with a feather from an unknown bird while lying on the bed and answered me.
"The bell will ring soon. I plan to move then."
"Do you need any help?"
"I can handle it alone. Once I break through the barrier, no one can stop me."
"…Well, you've managed this far, so I'm sure you'll do fine. Just don't get caught by anyone else and make things worse."
Judah snapped his fingers, and his body emitted light as he transformed into someone else.
Swoooosh—
A young woman with pink pigtails and long legs.
"Lily?"
Lily, the guide of the arena, made a V sign with her fingers and smiled brightly at me.
"Adventurer!"
"Wait, why are you in that form—"
"Because I am Lily."
"You're Lily?"
"Yes! Cynthia was absent on the day she climbed the tower. I've been waiting for a strong adventurer in the arena most of the time."
"Why do you need a strong adventurer?"
"Because it's necessary? To send Cynthia back to the Papal Palace, she needs to achieve her goal. For that, she needed to accompany strong people."
Lily, sticking close to me, continued with a giggle.
"If I showed my true power in the tower, other apostles would find out. And… such actions wouldn't be forgiven by God either."
Unlike other apostles, Baphomet didn't stay in the tower. He was tasked with executing orders from the one called God.
This was something I learned in the higher floors of the tower in my previous life, and now it's information that no one else knows.
'Of course.'
Baphomet wouldn't know that I am aware of him. No one has reached the floor where such information is revealed in this continent yet.
'Therefore.'
I intend to use him. I need his help to find my past comrade within the Papal Palace.
"I have fulfilled my promise to bring you into the Papal Palace."
Lily, holding my right arm lightly, winked.
"How should I repay this favor?"
"Die. It'll make it easier for me to ascend the tower."
"What nonsense! How is my death related to your tower ascent?"
"You'll eventually stand in my way, won't you? I don't know which floor you guard, but I aim for the top."
"I—"
Baphomet tried to say something but bit his lip.
"I'm on your side, Verdin. Unless God opposes you."
"You talk well. Anyway, go on. I have things to do."
"…Thank you. It would've taken a long time to get here without you."
"Thank me?"
When I think of what's to come, I'm more grateful.
"I'll visit you once everything is done."
"Sure."
"See you."
Judah jumped out the window.
His entire body turned black and blended into the darkness, disappearing with the wind.
Swoooosh—
I closed the window, watching the direction he disappeared into.
Thud.
It begins now.
Among the five comrades who were with me in my previous life, one is a secretive figure unknown outside the Papal Palace.
'Maria Theresa.'
In the past, the pope himself brought her into the church, calling her a saint. But as time passed, she delivered an oracle contrary to the pope's wishes and was condemned as a heretic, a fallen priest.
She possessed unwavering conviction and unyielding spirit, refusing to compromise with wrongdoing.
To the pope, who sought to maintain his position despite numerous threats, she was an eyesore.
'It can't be helped.'
They claim to guide the way to God, but they are the ones who dislike going there the most.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
When I opened it, Cynthia, fully armed, stood there with a stern expression.
"Where's Judah?"
"He's probably in his room."
"He's not there."
She looked at me suspiciously, as if I were hiding him.
"Then look for him. He was here until a moment ago before he left."
"…Alright. When are you going to look for your comrade?"
"At dawn. A priest told me that it's forbidden to wander around at this hour."
"Will you stay in your room?"
"I should."
I casually lay down on the bed and answered her.
"We shouldn't cause any trouble here."
"..."
"There's no need to rush things. We're not in a hurry, are we? You probably have people you need to meet since you're back."
"You're quite relaxed."
"Sometimes, you need time like this. We've been running nonstop until now."
She glanced me up and down and smirked, as if to say, 'A mere eight-year-old is talking like that?'
"What's the plan for tomorrow?"
"I'm planning to go out for a meal after dawn."
"A meal?"
"Yes, I heard the food here doesn't suit your taste. There's a famous restaurant in this city that I want to visit."
"…A restaurant? Who told you that?"
"A friend."
"A friend?"
"Yes, someone who usually never smiles. But when she does, she's more beautiful than anyone."
The mention of a woman made Cynthia's eyebrows twitch.
"Who is she?"
"There's someone. She's lived here for a long time and has followed the high lord's will more faithfully than anyone."
"So who is she?"
"That's a secret."
"A secret?"
"Yes, don't worry and be ready to go out tomorrow morning. There are many people, and if we're late, there won't be any seats."
She clenched her fists and left, slamming the door behind her.
"Eat alone!"
* * *
The giant bell at the top of the Papal Palace rang out a clear and reverent sound across the city. At the same time, the townspeople shut their windows and locked their doors.
Thud, thud, thud.
Guards positioned themselves at each house, following the pope's decree to protect the people from heretics targeting the sanctuary.
"…Interesting."
Baphomet, transformed into black smoke, swiftly flew towards the Papal Palace.
A few soldiers noticed him along the way but mistook him for a cloud blending with the darkness.
Baphomet reached his desired location without being caught by anyone.
'Good.'
Swoosh!
In no time, Baphomet arrived at the underground prison within the Papal Palace.
He stopped at the end of the corridor and entered a cell, speaking in front of an iron maiden torture device.
"Saint Joan of Arc, I have come to save you by His will."
Clank!
The iron maiden opened, revealing a red-haired woman inside.
"…Who are you?"
The bloodied woman looked up at Baphomet. To her, it appeared as though the black smoke was speaking.
"Who I am is irrelevant. All that matters is whether you will follow His will."
Her eyes were unfocused, and her limbs were paralyzed from severe torture.
Joan of Arc found it difficult to decide on the proposal from the black smoke that suddenly appeared.
"Him?"
"Yes, Him."
"Who is that?"
"…The one you've been praying to meet all this time. The one watching over you from above."
* * *
"It's delicious."
Cynthia said with a bright expression as she cut into a pancake and took a bite. This was the restaurant she loved the most in her previous life.
"I'm glad you like it."
"…But where is the comrade you mentioned?"
"I haven't met them yet."
"Do you know where they are?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go right after we finish eating. There's no point in staying here longer than necessary."
She spoke quickly, urging me.
I sipped my tea leisurely, looking around the surroundings, and answered her.
"I'll handle finding the new comrade. Why don't you take a look around your knights while you're here?"
"…How much do you know about me?"
"Everything, I think."
"Everything?"
"Yes, everything."
From her birth to how she grew up, and the experiences that made her the Cynthia she is today.
I had heard it all in my previous life.
Cynthia pushed her empty plate forward and leaned back in her chair.
"The intelligence network of Strange is impressive. Knowing so much about a mere knight like me."
It's not Strange that's impressive, it's me.
"Think what you like."
"So what am I supposed to do here?"
"Like I said, do whatever you want. It'll take some time to meet the comrade I'm looking for."
"Even though you know where they are?"
"Yes."
"Then why does it take time?"
I shrugged.
"Even though I know where, I can't meet them yet."
This isn't a lie.
The place where 'Maria Theresa' is now is a special location within the Papal Palace, accessible only to a select few.
Even Cynthia, a paladin commander, couldn't easily set foot there.
Cynthia didn't press further. She knew she wouldn't get an answer, and continuing to ask would only annoy me.
Clunk.
She stood up abruptly.
"Then I'll go meet my subordinates."
"How long will it take?"
"If I leave now, I'll be back by evening. Do you have anywhere you need to visit with me?"
"No, I was just asking when you'd return to the lodging."
"Why?"
"I thought we could have dinner together."
"Dinner?"
"Yes."
"…I'll be back on time."
With that, Cynthia left for the barracks within the Papal Palace.
She might have thought my story trivial, but understanding her movements was crucial to me.
'She'll be my alibi for not being at the scene when Maria escapes from prison.'
Rustle.
A small caterpillar peeked out from my sleeve. I gently pushed it back with my finger and whispered softly.
"Not yet."
The caterpillar nodded slightly and disappeared back into my sleeve.
'Don't rush, Roks.'
Soon, this whole area will be in an uproar.
"Saint Joan of Arc has disappeared!!!"