Chapter 283
Clatter clatter—.
The sun was at its zenith, burning hotter than ever.
Sturdy familiars with the legs of horses galloped powerfully.
Their faces and feathers resembled birds, but their muscular bodies shook the ground.
On top of them rode five heroes.
At the front was Liam, who looked toward the developing city of Rhodes that was starting to come into view.
“This city is pretty advanced, just like it said in the novel.”
It was Liam’s first time coming to Rhodes.
Originally, he had planned to visit during his break while attending the Academia.
He intended to pass through on his way to Naias’s secret dungeon.
…or at least that was the plan.
“I was really shocked when Alicia brought Naias along.”
Vargan not only had the heroine Alicia as his servant but also had Naias.
And he even revived the ego spirit.
As a result, Liam wouldn’t be heading to Naias’s secret dungeon after all.
And stepping foot in Rhodes was also not in the cards.
—Everyone. Let me explain this mission once more, so listen carefully.
Liam, who was running at the front, moved his mana and spoke.
The rough wind often drowned out surrounding sounds, but Liam’s voice clearly reached his team members.
—I’m sure you all know that the movements of the Goddess Church have been quite unusual lately. The tension and frequent disturbances between Yggdrasil and the Goddess Church are no illusion. The Central Church has already reported that a ‘large-scale war’ is about to break out, which is unprecedented.
To make the mission’s context easier to understand, Liam briefly explained the background.
They were probably already aware, but he wanted to emphasize the importance of this mission, especially to team members who might not be in the loop… like Arha.
—In this situation, the Archbishop position at the Goddess Church remains vacant since Vargan last held it. But the important point is that the bishops have been quite active lately.
The vacant seat of the Archbishop.
Bishops causing problems all over the world.
Everyone had already experienced situations where these two conditions overlapped.
—Just like five years ago. The bishops are going wild trying to get selected as the ‘new Archbishop.’
It’s going wild.
The time when Liam and his team were first-year students.
During the second semester festival.
At that time, Liam, as a student at the Academia, had no notable strength or position.
However, things are different now.
Liam is no longer a protected being, but a protector.
He has become a hero.
— The Central Church expects the bishops to strike all at once like they did five years ago and has narrowed down the predicted damage areas. One of those places is there. Rose.
As history has told us until now.
They tend to stir up big trouble during chaotic times.
And starting just two days from now, Yggdrasil will enter a period of fasting.
— The festival held the day before the fasting. Once again, they will ambush everyone during their joyous moments to create chaos and destruction. It’s quite likely that the bishops are already lying in wait inside.
Of course, it doesn’t mean that the bishops will necessarily act simultaneously.
But as long as there’s sufficient possibility, the heroes must take action.
It’s their mission to wipe out the enemies and protect the people’s safety.
— Ultimately, our mission is simple. We must lie in wait in the city of Rose and eliminate the bishops before they cause harm.
Liam focused everyone’s will with those final words.
He whipped himself as he vowed not to suffer like in the past again.
— Let’s capture Altife and restore peace.
*
Before entering the city, Liam and his team donned the disguise masks.
Since they were provided by the Central Church, the quality is high.
Just a moment ago, Emily, who used to be a familiar childhood friend, had transformed into a woman he had never seen before.
Emily touched her face all over, checking it, and asked.
“How do I look, Liam? Natural?”
“Perfect. Especially since it suppresses your mana too.”
“It’s really amazing. It’s just a leather mask, but it feels like I’m a completely different person.”
Liam shifted his gaze from Emily, who was inspecting herself, to check on the others.
Unless you looked closely, it was hard to recognize them—Arha, Erlich, and even Gaba.
“I’m so frustrated. Other heroes go around without disguises, why do we have to wear these?”
Arha complained, wanting to take off her disguise mask right then and there.
Liam repeated what he had said to convince her.
“It’s to create confusion. The Goddess Church knows the church is on high alert, but it needs to be difficult to tell exactly how many are inside the city.”
“I get that. But why do we have to disguise ourselves? Other heroes are going around just fine without it.”
“Well… I’m not sure?”
“Stop pretending you don’t know. I can tell you’re avoiding my question. It must be because of her, isn’t it? Because of her.”
Arha gestured irritably toward Emily.
The reason they had to join a disguised team was most likely because of her.
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? We’re doing it to protect the esteemed saint. If they capture the saint, the bishop’s notoriety would skyrocket in no time.”
“This will surely rise.”
Emily is not just a Hero; she is one of the two Saints in the world.
Especially in a place swarming with Bishops, it would have been wise to set up at least some minimal safety measures.
Liam gently soothed Arha’s complaints and changed the subject.
“Anyway, we need to mingle with the crowd, so having all five of us together is too many. Let’s split into groups of 2 or 3.”
“How are we going to divide?”
When Arha asked, it was not Liam but Emily who opened her mouth.
She suggested dividing herself and Liam from the other three.
“What about splitting it like this, two and three?”
“Seriously, are you kidding me? You think this is a mission? You’re just looking to have fun at a festival, aren’t you?”
Surprised by the sudden outburst, Emily nearly bristled.
But after being trained by Vargan for over a year, Emily’s boiling point was not so low.
Rather than getting angry outright, she showed her reasoning.
“We need to act naturally. Liam and I have spent a lot of time together, and as a couple, it will be natural. You guys have also spent time at Rikeion, so it would be better that way.”
“Fine, do as you please. Let’s go.”
Showing signs of annoyance, Arha took the lead.
Erlich and Gaba exchanged light greetings and soon followed Arha, completing the picture that Emily was hoping for.
“Let’s go too, Liam.”
“Even linking arms?”
“It’s important to act naturally, right? I actually want to ask you. As the team leader, are you not going to lead us? The team members are cheering you on.”
“…….”
Scratching his head, Liam made a little room with one arm, and Emily slipped hers in, snuggling up.
Even though she was wearing an infamy mask, it was easy to tell she was grinning.
‘Well… it’s probably better to do this for the mission.’
Liam decided to go along with Emily’s lead.
*
With well-crafted fake skin, they could act just like the real deal.
Strolling through the lively market and trying street food for the first time was a breeze.
Smiling so broadly that it creased their faces was also perfectly possible.
Liam and Emily were pretending to be lovers fully enjoying the festival.
“Here, try this, Liam.”
“Huh? Ah, ah….”
“How is it? Is it good? Is it good?”
“Mmm… Oh? This is really good; the seasoning is absolutely perfect.”
“Right? Try this one too!”
…Perhaps it wasn’t acting. They really were lovers genuinely enjoying the festival.
However, that didn’t mean they were letting their guard down.
Even while eating, they continuously scanned their surroundings, ready to rush in if they discovered any trace of Altife.
“…It’s so peaceful.”
Suddenly, Emily said while walking down the street.
Her gaze was directed at someone playing an instrument in the distance.
Each time the musician pressed the accordion keys, cheerful sounds echoed, and clusters of Citizens gathered around to watch.
Nearby, children were happily dancing and running around.
There are children.
The children’s faces are adorned with bright and pure smiles, so innocent they seem devoid of any thoughts about war or the concept of Altife.
“Indeed….”
Liam also glanced at the scene and nodded in agreement.
As the two walked, the sounds of accordion and children’s laughter faded away.
Along with the people’s warmth….
“It’s been about six years, hasn’t it?”
Stepping away from the market and into a quieter street, where no signs of life or even the power of Altife could be sensed, Emily suddenly spoke up.
Liam responded to her words.
“What about it?”
“Um…. It’s now, so I can say it, but you were really strange back then, you know?”
Six years ago.
That was right after Liam had transmigrated into the novel.
The moment when Liam, who had no talent at all as a childhood friend, could suddenly wield magic and swordsmanship.
Yet, the “strangeness” Emily spoke of was not the explosive growth of power.
“I thought you had become someone else.”
“R-Really?”
“You were talking in an unrecognizable way. You’d suddenly get astonished staring at empty air.”
“Oh….”
“But the most crucial part is that your personality changed. The villagers didn’t seem to notice, but I definitely felt it. Since then… you were no longer the childhood friend I knew.”
“…….”
Liam closed his mouth.
He realized he was unconsciously tightening his crossed arms.
“But a person can’t stay the same all the time. There’s puberty too. I thought, ‘Oh well.’ Even if you had changed a bit, you were still kind and adorably simple-minded, just like before. I thought, ‘You’re still the Liam I knew.’”
“…….”
“Oh! If there’s anything that bothered me, it was that you’d often zone out like you suddenly had anemia. I thought you were seriously sick. Like, really.”
“…I’m healthy like this?”
“Exactly, it’s a relief. It was my worrying, you know? I wondered if you got healthier because you trained at the Soul Forge Hall. It was to the point that I thought you ate something good while you were in the mountains?”
Emily poked him playfully with her elbow.
Liam laughed it off, insisting that it wasn’t true.
‘The Soul Forge Hall…. Yeah, thinking back, the thought crossed my mind because of Vargan.’
After finishing third year at Rikeion, struggling with the original Liam’s spirit who kept taking the lead and making things difficult for him.
Liam headed toward the Soul Forge Hall.
Uncertain whether this was the right path or a mistake he couldn’t undo.
Clutching a slender hope in his heart.
He finally arrived after wandering through the Misty Mountains for a month.
—Cackle, cackle. A delightful little brat has come visiting.
What Liam saw was:
An old man, stroking his long beard like an immortal.
He looked human, but his amber eyes did not seem human at all.
—Yes, a being with two souls, eh? Why have you come to the Soul Forge Hall?
The Twelve Divine Beast Kanilisk welcomed Liam.
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