CRASH!
A thunderclap tore through the long night.
The dream memory had reached its happiest moment, but Lucas woke with a jolt.
That was indeed the happiest memory of his life.
But his mind faintly warned him that after the sweet bliss, painful memories would follow swiftly, coiling around him like a python and choking his throat.
They were indelible memories.
He had chosen to let time actively fade them away.
Maybe it was also the brain’s protective mechanism.
The nightmare-like memories that followed—he couldn’t recall them, nor did he want to.
He had just been lying on the sofa for a brief nap.
The turmoil of the past few months had left him both physically and mentally exhausted, and he had unknowingly dozed off.
Strong winds lashed rain against the windows.
Outside, the night sky was completely swallowed by black clouds and darkness—so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.
Lucas hummed softly in his heart.
Gentle light elements gathered into the lantern by his bedside, brightening the room slightly.
Through the blurry window, streaked with raindrops, he could only make out the crisscrossing streets and alleys submerged in the heavy rain, and the rows of chimneys occasionally illuminated by pale lightning.
In the air, the chaotic patter of raindrops, the deafening crashes of thunder, and the still faintly audible roar of factories working through the night intertwined, making the already stifling summer night atmosphere even more restless.
After staring blankly for about half a quarter hour, urgent knocking came from outside the room.
“Lord—are you resting?”
Lucas grabbed the lantern and opened the door. Outside stood a nun on night patrol, named Masha.
“I just dozed off for a bit—seems I woke just in time.”
He blinked, stepped into the hallway, and forced himself not to show a weary or bitter expression, restoring his usual kind demeanor before his subordinates.
“While I was on patrol, I found two people at the entrance.”
The nun closed the door behind the priest.
“They said they have a letter for you.”
At this hour… a messenger had come knocking?
“Are they from the Mayor’s office?”
“Doesn’t seem like it. A man and a woman, both dressed like adventurers. Looked like they just arrived after a long journey.”
“Interesting…”
“Let them in.”
—
In the pitch-black lobby, only the two lanterns in the priest’s and the nun’s hands provided a dim light source.
Lucas took the envelope.
Written neatly on it were the words: “From Mr. L.”
This operation was merely Leor’s private assignment.
To maintain secrecy, the Pope had not signed his name.
“Mr. L…”
The priest muttered to himself, his thoughts unknown.
Elena and Fen exchanged glances, communicating via their “internal party chat.”
‘Elena… this priest… he looks so old… but his body is abnormally muscular…’
Fen stared uneasily at the man’s frightening biceps and swallowed nervously.
‘Even more buff than you were back then.’
Even by Paladin standards, he was beyond the norm.
He just radiated that kind of stat-check energy.
‘Feels like he could punch me to pieces with one hit.’
‘It’s not that bad…’
Having lacked mana in the past, Elena hadn’t skimped on physical training.
She was confident in her physique when she was a man.
It shouldn’t… be that different, right?
Thinking this, the girl pouted slightly.
At most, she felt he was on par with her former self.
Though that was something she didn’t possess anymore…
‘It’s just a pity about my decade of trained muscle…’
Back when she was tall and burly before the transformation… at the very least, she should have turned into an older-sister type like her own sister, right?
The silver-haired girl sulkily squeezed her right arm, which now only held fair, soft, tender flesh.
‘Can you not focus on such weird things…’
‘The real question now is… can this guy even link up with us…?’
The two looked anxiously at the priest before them, worried he might not recognize that this was from the Pope.
The priest opened the seal and held the lantern up to the letter paper.
The paper was blank.
But in an instant, golden words bloomed across the paper like ink spreading.
Lucas opened his mouth in surprise, but quickly recovered.
This communication method… no mistaking it…
The light emanating from the words was very soft, very reassuring.
Such pure, such devout Light Magic—probably no one else in all of Eseriel could produce it.
Leor, his senior from their student days in the Holy Capital, the current Pope of the nation.
Lucas sighed in his heart.
So that guy wasn’t resigned to his fate either.
He’d come looking for him…
After a moment of silence, he welcomed the uneasy pair.
“So this is a request from my senior…”
This he said for the benefit of Masha, who stood nearby.
“Honored guests from afar, I apologize for the poor hospitality.”
“But you must be weary from your journey, and it’s already late—”
“Why not stay the night at the church for now.”
“If there’s anything to discuss… wouldn’t tomorrow be better?”
Fen nodded.
They had entered the city under the stars and were already very tired.
One more night wouldn’t make a difference.
“Masha, take the guests to rest.”
“You two, follow me.”
The silent short-haired nun finally stepped forward.
Watching the receding lantern light, and the glow gradually vanishing at the end of the corridor, Lucas’s complex face slowly sank into the darkness.
He stared at the backs of the two distant guests.
No one noticed his right hand, tightly gripping the letter, trembling slightly.
—
“We’ve arrived, you two—”
The nun opened the door to one of the rooms.
It looked like an ordinary guest room, nothing special.
The three entered.
The room was cleanly tidied.
There was no strange smell in the air.
The bedding on the bed was neatly arranged along the edge…
“Uh… why is there only one bed?”
Fen was the first to catch the blind spot.
“I’m terribly sorry. Recently, due to the local cases… the nearby residents have been panicking. Many have come to the church to stay, seeking shelter.”
“As a result… guest rooms are running thin. I hope you guests can understand and make do.”
“Uh…”
The two exchanged glances.
“Hm?”
Masha was puzzled by their hesitant attitude.
“Aren’t you two lovers?”
Based on her feeling, she thought there was an inexplicable, compatible relationship between them.
“Or… are you just colleagues?”
“We’re… we’re siblings…”
Elena weakly raised her hand.
“Ah… my apologies for not considering that—”
“Then, Miss Elena… if you don’t mind… you can share a room with me for tonight.”
Huh?
Share a room with another woman?
A devout nun, at that?
And in a place like a church…
A bad feeling rose in Elena’s heart.
She could already envision a scene where Masha, unsuspecting of her harmless-looking young girl’s appearance, would have an accidental wardrobe malfunction.
This… this would be nothing short of blasphemy against the Goddess…
Elena looked at the man beside her for help.
Fen understood immediately.
“Ha… haha—no need, Sister!”
Fen rubbed his nose awkwardly.
“My sister here is a bit shy around strangers. We’ll just share a room!”
“I’ll take the floor!”
SLAM—
Fen clumsily shut the door, leaving the speechless nun outside.
What strange people…
If they’re lovers, just say so.
What’s with the sibling act…
Hiding things… sneaking around like thieves…
Facing the closed door, Masha cursed internally and continued her night patrol, lantern in hand.