The atmosphere is truly ambiguous.
First, consider what we judge the atmosphere by.
Subtle changes in facial expressions. The pitch of voices. The way we look at each other or avoid eye contact. The tension in the muscles of the whole body. The choice of vocabulary. The context of the conversation…
Atmosphere is assessed by synthesizing countless ‘non-verbal expressions’.
It has no clear substance, and we must learn from accumulated experience or notice it based on a keen sense of observation.
In that sense, I wasn’t particularly perceptive.
Many experiences I’ve accumulated have lost their meaning since coming to this world where gender roles are reversed, and to catch the nuances of someone I just met in detail isn’t my strong suit at all.
Still, I thought I was at least above average…
“By the way, do you have any aspirations for the priesthood, Saint? Your previous blessing and the way you greeted were truly exemplary. I’d even wish to show it to our apprentice priests if possible.”
“Ugh!”
“……!”
I don’t get it.
I completely don’t understand why Ellie and Lydia are so seriously on guard about some trivial compliment.
The atmosphere I had worked hard to lighten has gone cold again…
The male Inquisitor, who had been trying to express his harmlessness by complimenting me, had his smiling expression freeze into one of awkwardness.
On the contrary, the woman who appears to be his senior had been sighing in annoyance just moments ago, but now her gaze had sharpened a bit.
As if suspecting there might be something more.
…Is there really something going on with Ellie and Lydia? That would be troublesome.
Not that I’m without guilt. But the most I’ve done is finish my serving of soup and pretend to go back in line to eat two bowls or burn a blasphemous goddess statue.
If Ellie and Lydia have some secret I’m unaware of, it must be a much bigger secret than this trifling matter.
I don’t know much, but since I’ve received help before, it’s only right to assist as much as I can.
I quickly rummaged through my mind for information regarding the temple. I recall setting it up in detail, as it is technically the ruling organization of Labyrinth City, even if it does not seek to dominate.
Once I wrapped up a rough calculation, I relaxed my whole body, sending a message of not being on guard against them, in contrast to Ellie and Lydia…
“Unfortunately, I’m too small a vessel to harbor the love of the God. I can’t even understand human love properly, so how could I embrace the Goddess?”
As I responded casually, the male Inquisitor, who had been awkwardly fidgeting, finally returned a relieved smile.
“Oh dear. That’s unfortunate. But the Goddess loves those who haven’t yet embraced her equally. You just need to enact your own love, Saint.”
“Ahaha! Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Actually, everything I know is from the doctrinal sermons we have during meals. I know it in my head, but I was just a bit anxious as I didn’t have true faith. Especially since I’m speaking in front of Inquisitors!”
“Pardon? You mean the meals where soup and bread are distributed every week at the temple?”
“Exactly! Thanks to Ellie and Lydia, I’m well off now, but back then I often relied on their generosity. Do you happen to know Sister Veronica? She would give out extra bread whenever I memorized the doctrine or learned the rituals, so I worked hard to learn…”
The truth is, I already knew everything in my head; I was just pretending to learn with enthusiasm.
Because that way, they’d give me more food, thinking I was admirable!
Upon my words, one of them seemed to have a spark of recognition at that nostalgic name, nodding as if reminiscing.
“If it’s Sister Veronica… you mean that dignified nun? I remember she would go out to distribute meals when I was young, and it’s a relief to hear she’s still going strong!”
“She seems a bit too strong, though. The last time I saw her, she preached until the soup was on the verge of getting cold, and everyone looked miserable…”
“Well, she does have that side to her. I never expected a name I knew would come up here. This must be the Goddess’s guidance.”
He smiled brightly as he traced the sign of the cross.
What kind of guidance from the Goddess? It’s just common sense. I casually named someone who sounded like they’d be recognized. And while Veronica really is the one who took care of me,
I’ve been running away because she keeps insisting I should come into the temple and become a priest.
Isn’t the Goddess of Love the leading figure that threw me into this world? Honestly, it’s a bit uncomfortable.
Anyway, I’ve shown a more human side that fits my age, and we’ve formed a bond by bringing up a mutual acquaintance, yet…
The other female Inquisitor was still staring at me with a frightening expression.
I couldn’t maintain a calm demeanor like with the male Inquisitor.
From the looks of it, it seemed she had been through several troubles, so she likely knows well how she appears to others.
I had to enact the proper response of a man seeing a scary woman at my age.
Feigning a coincidence, I met her gaze and flinched while I looked away, casually stepping back behind Lydia.
Everything came together perfectly, with Lydia halfway blocking my path as if waiting for this moment.
Now, if I just peeked over and awkwardly apologized, saying I didn’t mean to…
While I was calculating this in my head, the other side moved first.
The male Inquisitor smoothly pushed his junior aside, stepping up close and staring at me.
“I’m Karen.”
“Uh… I’m Jonah. Uh, this is…”
I stuttered, trying to look as scared as possible, but she shook her head before I could finish.
“No need for the act. Thanks to the grace bestowed by the Goddess, I can see through simple emotions. You seem quite peaceful right now.”
“…I see. I didn’t realize you had that kind of blessing.”
“Whether it’s using the Goddess’s eyes, becoming an Inquisitor, or meeting you here, it’s all guidance from the Goddess. So please don’t look so dissatisfied.”
“Ah? I don’t know how that works, but it seems quite useful. I’m envious.”
“You’re saying you’re not envious while sounding just like that.”
“That was just called social maneuvering.”
The other three wore expressions of astonishment at the conversation passing between Karen and me.
The male Inquisitor almost looked like he’d been betrayed, shocked.
“What’s your brother’s name?”
“I-I’m Ian…”
“Hmm! Please don’t look at Ian like that. He didn’t lie. He did learn during meals, and he really does know Sister Veronica. …I just set the atmosphere a bit.”
I wanted to appear like a poor orphan still holding on, possibly having the seed of faith taking root.
Seeing Ian stumbling over his words made Karen chuckle and shrug.
“He’s just a newbie who hasn’t received meals for long. Other Inquisitors aren’t so easygoing.”
“Just looking at you makes it seem that way. …Shall we get to the point? You need something from me, so you wouldn’t be introducing yourselves so formally.”
“Alright. I’d prefer to avoid wasting time.”
With that, Karen pointedly gestured toward Ellie, her gaze sharpening.
“I’ve come to ask one of the few survivors from the large-scale purge for testimonies from that time.”
“You mean from the glory days of Ellie? So, how did it go? Did you get what you wanted?”
“No. While she knew a lot as the subject, it seemed she didn’t know the necessary parts. Moreover, it felt like she was hiding something, even though she meant no ill. …Now it seems you are the one hiding something.”
“Well, I might be the light of Ellie’s life, the flame of her existence, the sin, and the soul.”
“That might be true.”
Though I joked about the opening line of a popular novel, Karen replied dryly.
Even if there’s no such novel in this world, the fact remains that a famous phrase is still a famous phrase… Karen certainly appears to be a poor soul devoid of sensitivity.
As I pitied her with my gaze, she suddenly asked me.
“Have you heard of One Who Devours the Twilight?”
“Huh? Well… of course, I’ve heard of it.”
One Who Devours the Twilight isn’t some secret organization. They’re pests that everyone knows about but can’t seem to catch.
Given they have their base in the Labyrinth, it’s not surprising.
Karen looked directly into my eyes. Her gaze shrouded in dark circles sparkled with a pink hue, emanating an eerie pressure.
It felt similar to when I made eye contact with Eve’s Eye of Truth, but it was much more relaxed.
After all, the blessing received from the World Tree before it died and the one bestowed upon Karen, one of many Inquisitors, are on entirely different levels.
Having been immunized from the pressure of blessing, Karen spoke up.
“I’ll ask you directly. Jonah, what do you think of One Who Devours the Twilight?”
A sudden question. However, the moment I heard it, I reflexively answered without thinking.
“They’re a bunch of worthless pests.”
Karen’s eyes lit up with interest.
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