At the Vatican barracks, everyone involved in the recent incident gathered.
Dozens of guards, Archbishop Judah, Cynthia, and I assembled to investigate the whereabouts of Joan of Arc.
"Are these all the people who entered the underground prison?"
The platoon leader in charge of guarding the prison still seemed displeased with my actions, looking into the distance as he answered.
"Yes."
Naturally, he wouldn't be pleased with me suspecting his subordinates.
Archbishop Judah asked cautiously, "Do you think the person who took Joan of Arc is among them?"
Knowing there was no such person, I shook my head.
"No, none of these individuals have the aura I sensed in the underground prison."
"Then..."
"However, I did find traces of the intruder, and if we follow that trail, we might find Joan of Arc."
"?!"
The traces of the intruder. This was a special aura known only to those aware of Judah's existence, something I hadn't mentioned until now.
"Shining Road."
"Shining Road?"
Shining Road is a faint aura that flows naturally from those who use aura.
"Yes, if there is someone in the Holy Knights who can use aura, have them trace the aura footsteps from the place Joan of Arc disappeared to outside."
Of course, without someone pointing out the starting point, the guards here would never find Judah's Shining Road.
Many aura users have visited the underground prison, and there have been thousands of footsteps over time.
I handed a piece of paper to the head guard and continued.
"The intruder's Shining Road ends at the entrance of Joan of Arc's cell."
The head guard looked at the footprints drawn on the paper, frowning.
"Ends at the entrance?"
"Yes, there are footprints going in but none coming out."
"Oh?"
"That's why I requested to meet the guards who were on duty in the underground prison."
"..."
"I wanted to confirm if there was an intruder among those who approached Joan of Arc's cell based on their gait and footprints."
"?!"
"The reason I didn't mention the Shining Road until now was to prevent the culprit from hiding their tracks."
Of course, this was a lie.
I already knew who the culprit was and that they weren't here.
"Ah, that's what it was!"
The platoon leader, unaware of the truth, was amazed.
If everything I said was true, my actions had been entirely rational. Even the parts he found offensive were necessary.
His previously stiff expression softened, and he bowed to me.
"As expected of Sir Verdin! Please forgive me for doubting your actions earlier."
I graciously accepted his apology, shaking his hand with a kind expression.
"Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, it's fine. I shall return to Legion."
"To Legion? Are you giving up on finding Joan of Arc's whereabouts?"
"No, I'm not giving up, just pausing. I've already told you how to track her. The rest can be handled by the Order."
Archbishop Judah, seeming to agree, added, "Yes, from here on, we should handle it. We can't leave everything to outsiders."
"I agree. This is a sensitive matter within the Papal Palace, after all."
"Indeed. If this information were to leak, or if it became known where Joan of Arc had been hiding, the heretics who have been in hiding might rise up."
That's true.
If they were to revolt under Joan of Arc's banner, Glazer would likely support them, completely overturning the balance of the continent.
The mages follow a different god, after all.
"If you need our help, please contact Cynthia. We are climbing the tower together."
"Yes, I heard about that."
Archbishop Judah turned to Cynthia with a gentle smile.
"If we face a situation we can't handle, we will contact Miss Cynthia immediately."
* * *
On the way out of the Papal Palace.
"Weren't you here to recruit a new comrade?"
Cynthia grumbled as she followed me.
"I did."
"What?"
"I already did."
"...When?"
She wouldn't understand. From her perspective, all I had done was leisurely dine or visit the underground prison.
Apart from that, I had only slept in the quarters. How could I have done anything?
'However.'
That was the core of this operation. It appeared as though I had done nothing.
If I had to do something, I made sure to do it in a way that could be verified by everyone.
"Today."
"Today?"
"Yes."
Cynthia tilted her head in confusion. Thinking I was joking, she suddenly blushed and pointed at me.
"Stop joking around!"
"I'm not joking."
"Then where is this comrade?"
"Outside the Papal Palace."
"Outside the Papal Palace?"
"You'll meet them soon. After all, you already know them."
"Someone I know?"
Of course.
Our future comrade, Saint Maria Theresa, has a distinguished background similar to Saint Joan of Arc.
'Of course.'
Unlike Joan, Theresa was not branded a heretic for betraying the faith. Instead, she was imprisoned for committing acts unbecoming of a nun.
'Well.'
Religiously speaking, it could be considered a serious sin, but for me, those acts were trivial and didn't affect our collaboration.
"Not only do you know them, but you've also met them many times."
"...I'm curious who it is."
"Just wait a bit, you'll meet them soon. And I'm sure you'll like them."
"Someone I like? There aren't many people I like."
"It's one of those few people."
Cynthia would be astonished upon meeting her. She was practically a legend within the Holy Knights.
Having finished my business, I immediately found the carriage waiting for me outside the Papal Palace.
They knew I would come out today and had prepared to depart.
"Hey, Verdin."
Rox opened the curtain of the carriage with a bright smile and gestured to me.
"Did you succeed?"
"Of course! Do you think I would fail? Go in, they're waiting for you."
I walked straight into the carriage. There, a person was covered entirely in a white cloth.
"Are you the one who freed me?"
A clear, distinct voice.
Seeing the red lips and the thick white cloth covering her eyes, I knew it was her.
"Yes, my name is Verdin de Strange. The youngest of the Strange family, and the knight who will be traveling with you."
She removed the white cloth covering her body and responded.
"Traveling with me?"
Theresa was wearing a pristine white nun's habit. Who would think she had been in an underground prison until just now?
I knelt on one knee in the carriage and asked her.
"Yes."
"...I am currently serving the penance imposed by God. While I appreciate you freeing me from the Papal Palace, I cannot leave."
"I understand you've already served your penance. Even the Pope himself asked for your release, did he not?"
"How do you know that?"
How could I not?
In my previous life, the Pope had instructed me through Cynthia to release her from prison.
Outsiders might not understand this situation. Even though she had served her penance, she chose to remain in prison, continuing to endure torture.
Even the Pope couldn't comprehend her feelings back then, but I understood them while climbing the tower with Theresa.
'Wasn't it called masochism?'
There was a term for those who enjoyed pain, but it was so unfamiliar that I couldn't remember it clearly.
'Nor do I want to.'
"How I know isn't important. What's important is whether Lady Theresa can join us."
I sat gently beside her and touched the talisman hanging around her neck.
"We are climbing the tower to confirm God's will."
"The tower?"
"Yes, and we've come here because we need your power."
"Sir Verdin, I'm sorry, but I don't think I can help. As you may know, I've never learned how to fight."
I knew that.
"Lady Theresa, you won't need to engage in combat directly. We only hope you'll lend us your healing abilities."
"Healing abilities?"
"Yes. Would you mind checking my condition?"
Theresa hesitated, then placed her palm on my chest, blushing.
Ssssshhh—
A white light, like tree branches, flowed from her hand and wrapped around my body.
"Your vitality... is very weak."
"Yes, despite having rested for two weeks, there's no sign of recovery."
"..."
"If left to heal naturally, it would take a very long time."
I moved her hand to my forehead and continued.
"It's not just my vitality. The mental trauma I've recently experienced is also significant."
Theresa swallowed hard and withdrew her hand, lowering her head.
"I'm sorry, but even so, I cannot leave this place. There are still many duties I must fulfill as a saint."
"Maria Theresa, I ask for the first and last time. Please save us from the tower's suffering."
"...The tower's suffering? Does one suffer while climbing the tower?"
"Yes, the endless trials and pain from the tower are unbearable."
"Are you not free from it now?"
"No, we are not. There are still many trials left to overcome."
Theresa moved closer to me.
"So, the remaining trials mean there's still a lot of suffering?"
"That's correct."
"And if I go with you, I'll suffer too?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"...Is that so?"
The shy glint in Theresa's eyes sparkled.
Cynthia, who had been listening outside the carriage, burst in.
"Lady Theresa?!"
"Cynthia!"
The two greeted each other warmly, holding hands.
The rest of the conversation went smoothly. Once Cynthia shared her experiences in the tower, Theresa immediately accepted my proposal and agreed to accompany us.
'Perfect.'
Thus, we gained a new companion without any issues and also earned the trust of the current Papal Palace.
'And.'
Through this journey, I gained another advantage in the tower.
"Rox."
"Yes?"
"Can you confirm the location of the bug placed on Judah?"
Rox's eyes darted around, then he smirked.
"Not yet at the tower."
"Where is he?"
"He's talking to someone, but wait, why is she there?"
"She?"
"...Verdin."
"Speak."
"That bastard Judah is with your mother at the Adventurer's Hall?"