“Hehe. Hella, you’re late,” Reina’s voice came from behind.
I sighed and turned my head.
“I thought we agreed not to call me Hella when we’re outside?”
“But Hella is still Hella.”
I tried to speak with a slightly stern expression, but Reina just smiled brightly, even in the face of my serious look.
“And right now, it’s just the two of us… Can’t I call you Hella?”
Reina looked at me with hopeful eyes.
Her ruby-colored eyes shone beautifully in the moonlight as she gazed at me.
With that look in her eyes, how could I possibly be angry?
I sighed again and asked, “So, what wish does our princess desire?”
My response brightened Reina’s expression.
“Well… I’ll think about it some more. It’s a one-time chance, after all.”
That’s true. Hopefully, it won’t be a wish that’s hard to fulfill.
“So be prepared.”
Reina smiled as she warned me to be ready.
“Yes, I’ll be prepared.”
I smiled back at her.
After that, we walked through the moonlit forest, discussing this and that.
“Lady Ruina!”
While we were talking, we heard someone calling us, probably the hero leading others out to meet us.
“Come on, let’s go back.”
“Yes!”
So I took Reina’s hand and headed toward the direction of the voices calling us.
Thus, our long search mission came to an end.
“So, you’re saying goblins were in this area?”
“Yes.”
“Goodness… I never imagined there would actually be monsters. So what happened? Since the hero went, were they all killed…?”
The village chief asked with an air of expectation, but the hero shook his head.
“Unfortunately, by the time I got there, the goblins were already gone. I even went back there this morning to check again, but it was still empty.”
I can’t tell if they fled after seeing us or just temporarily evacuated, but what I can say for sure is that it might be best to hire hunters to check the area one more time, as we’ll be leaving soon.”
Hmm… Since the goblins evacuated, the place is just an empty house now, so there’s probably no need to hire someone to confirm it.
But since I’m the only one who knows there are no goblins, there’s no need to share that.
Better to avoid suspicion.
“Understood. I suppose we’ll have to hire hunters as you suggested. And those particularly skilled in capturing goblins. Sigh… When will this issue be resolved…”
The village chief let out a small sigh.
“By the way, what happened with the priests?”
“Thankfully, we were able to rescue them all safely. It turns out all five were missing due to the goblins.”
“That’s a relief. If the priests had perished, who knows what the Holy Nation would have done to me… That would have been terrifying.”
The village chief shuddered.
Indeed, if all levels of clerics, from novice to intermediate, had disappeared, he likely wouldn’t have been able to stay in this place.
The investigation from the papal authorities would have likely lasted a lifetime, and this village would probably not receive any more clerics, as they had already sent five who all went missing.
If that had happened, it would have caused quite a headache, with no cleric in the village to heal the wounded.
“What do you plan to do next, Hero?”
“We plan to rest here today and then move on to the next mission location tomorrow.”
“I see. Well, rest well today, and please stop by tomorrow before you leave. We’ll see you off wholeheartedly.”
“Understood. Then, we’ll be off.”
“Yes, please rest well!”
Leaving the village chief’s house, we headed back to the inn.
“No matter how you look at it, it’s strange. Why did the goblins capture the clerics? Goblins holding women and doing nothing to them… This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”
Olivia spoke, unable to understand.
“Maybe it was a smart goblin?”
“Agnes, there are no such things as smart goblins.”
Olivia responded, exasperated at Agnes’s suggestion.
Such a discriminatory comment against demons.
There are smart goblins, you know! My little ones are pretty clever!
But knowing what kind of reaction I’d get if I said that, I swallowed my words.
Anyway, Olivia seems curious about why the goblins held the clerics without harming them.
The reason, as I heard from the goblin chief, was simple: they wanted to use the clerics as healers.
It was to prepare for an upcoming battle.
One might wonder why the goblin chief didn’t just heal himself, but there’s a reason they specifically captured clerics, even though their chief was a mage.
It’s because there’s a huge difference between a mage healing with magic and a cleric’s healing abilities.
While a mage can heal one person with advanced magic, an intermediate cleric, though slightly less effective than advanced magic, can heal multiple people.
Hence, in large battles, clerics are generally more efficient.
For this reason, the goblin chief tried to treat the clerics as best as possible to convince them to help fight against the fanatics who had killed their kin.
This is also why they gave bugs to the clerics.
Goblins can eat anything, and they consider protein-rich bugs to be excellent food.
Since they had settled here and had exhausted the food supply by the time they captured the clerics, they had to feed them bugs to keep them alive.
So, the goblins thought bugs were the best they could offer.
Though, judging by the clerics’ reaction, it seemed like the outcome was far from positive.
Knowing the truth behind this situation, I couldn’t share it with the others.
So, I just listened quietly as we reached the inn before I realized it.
“What are you going to do now?”
Olivia asked, looking at us.
“Dain, let’s go spar. I feel restless.”
Agnes seemed eager to train her swordsmanship.
“Then I’ll stay at the inn and check my magic formations.”
On the other hand, Olivia seemed inclined to inspect her magical inscriptions.
It’s crucial for a mage to verify their spells regularly.
A single error in incantation or inscription could have catastrophic consequences.
That’s why most witches and mages frequently check their spells, which I can relate to since I do the same often.
“What about you, Lady Ruina?”
The hero asked, seeing I hadn’t spoken up.
“I’m planning to go to the church. Bliss said she’s waiting.”
I’m heading to the church now, partly to verify the report Bliss will be sending to the papal authorities and partly because there’s nowhere else to go.
“Understood. See you later. Come on, Agnes.”
So the hero and Agnes left, and Olivia went inside the inn.
“Reina! Come here!”
“Yes!”
With Reina, I headed toward the church.
“Wow~ It’s a church!”
“Reina, don’t run.”
We entered the church, opened the door, and walked past the chapel, heading toward the room where we assumed Bliss would be.
“Hm? There’s no one here?”
However, when we opened the door, the room was empty, greeting us with silence.
Hm… Judging by the papers on the desk, it seems she was writing the report here, but… Where could Bliss have gone?
After looking around, we still couldn’t find Bliss.
With nothing else to do, we decided to wait for her.
“Ruina, what is this?”
As I sat waiting, Reina pointed to something and asked me.
Where her finger pointed, there was a device with a wide plate on top, and below it, intricate symbols characteristic of the Order were engraved.
“Oh, this? It’s a magic device called the Eye of God.”
I stood up and walked over to Reina.
“What does it do?”
“Well… To put it simply, it’s a device that conveys information.”
The Eye of God—this device is one of the most important magical tools of the Order. Thanks to this device, the Order can easily gather a lot of information.
How it transmits information is hard to explain to people of this world, but for someone from my previous world, it would be easier to explain.
There was even a machine there with a similar function to this one.
You might be thinking of a telephone, but it’s actually closer to a facsimile machine.
Yes, it has a function similar to a fax machine.
Though it’s surprising to find such a high-performance device here, in this world, it’s not uncommon to find high-tech devices in the form of magical artifacts.
Of course, such devices aren’t common. They’re sometimes found in ruins or dungeons from ancient times, making them very rare and expensive.
Using this Eye of God is only possible because it’s the Order, the largest religion.
It would be challenging for anyone else to use this kind of device—perhaps only the royal families of certain nations could afford it.
The reason these magical devices are so rare is that they can’t be recreated.
People of this time didn’t create them; they were made long ago.
According to the Order’s records, there was an ancient era in this world known as the Age of Myth, where gods and their creations fought a war.
One of the civilizations that opposed the gods in that era possessed incredibly advanced technology—technology so sophisticated that scholars of today cannot replicate it.
For reasons unknown, despite their high level of technology, they perished, and their technology was nearly erased from history.
Fortunately, some ruins and dungeons still remain, occasionally yielding these magical artifacts.
Though the reason for their downfall remains a mystery, their remarkable technology continues to be used to this day.
There’s even a specific term for these magical devices.
People call these artifacts “relics of the gods,” as if they were gifts from the heavens.
It might seem odd to name something a “relic of the gods,” but for those who haven’t seen modern technology, it’s understandable they’d think of it as divine.
For me, though, it doesn’t leave much of an impression since I come from a place with even more advanced machines.
“What’s it supposed to do…?”
Reina looked at me with a confused expression.
Hm… How could I explain it so that this child understands?
After racking my brain for a while, I finally came up with an idea.
I walked over to the desk and picked up a blank piece of paper.
“Okay, imagine Reina draws a picture on this paper.”
“Yes.”
“Now, imagine there’s another device like that one in the church at Slein.”
“Yes.”
Reina nodded along with my explanation.
“Then, if we place this picture on that plate…”
“If I put it on there?”
“The picture will appear from the device in the church at Slein.”
“…Really?”
Reina stared at the device in disbelief.
Sorry, Reina.
This is the best I can do. I don’t think I can explain it any better with my limited vocabulary.
“So… if I put my drawing on it, it will move to another place…?”
Mumbling to herself while fidgeting, Reina seemed to be working through the concept.
After a brief pause, she finally looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
“Ruina!”
“W-What?”
What’s with that look? Why do you seem so excited?
“I want to try it!”
Reina pointed at the Eye of God.
“Reina, unfortunately… you can’t.”
“Wh-why?”
Her face fell, looking truly disappointed.
Seeing her so downhearted made me feel a bit guilty, but there’s no helping it.
The signal from that machine is likely sent to the Vatican.
Using it to send Reina’s drawings?
That would be a disaster if her picture suddenly appeared at the Vatican.
For now, I could only hope Reina would give up and let it go.
But maybe because she’s still a child…
“You’re mean, Ruina…”
She suddenly looked so upset with me.
If I left things as they were, she might stay mad and refuse to speak to me.
Leaving it like this could be a problem, but luckily, I knew a way to handle it.
“Well… You could ask Bliss. I don’t even know how to use that machine.”
A simple handoff.
“Really?!”
Her expression instantly brightened.
“Of course. Bliss will probably help. So, why don’t you work on your drawing?”
“Okay!”
With a smile, Reina took the paper I handed her and started drawing.
“Hehe, when is Bliss coming?”
I’m counting on you, Bliss.
Seeing Reina engrossed in her drawing, I turned my attention back to the desk.
Alright, let’s take a look at this report. Now that Bliss isn’t around, this is the perfect time to check it.
Peeking at someone else’s report might feel a bit wrong, but I have to check what she’s going to submit to the Vatican.
There might even be some unfavorable information about me.
With my justification settled, I began reading the first page with enthusiasm.
“Hm… The first page details the incident.”
The first page covered the background of the incident.
“Is this about the people involved in the case?”
The second page seemed to list those connected to the incident.
“This one must be about the condition of the missing people.”
The third page detailed the condition of those who had been missing.
The report seemed to end there.
“Well, there wasn’t anything unusual.”
The report was surprisingly straightforward. There was nothing alarming, just a well-written report.
I also felt relieved seeing there wasn’t much information about me beyond my appearance.
As I lowered the paper back down, though…
“What’s this?”
There was another piece of paper after the third page.
“The report should’ve ended, though?”
Curious, I flipped over the third page and began reading the fourth.
And what I saw was:
[Personal Observation Notes (Lady Ruina)]
Purpose: Not for report, for personal collection only
10:10 p.m. – Went to bed
7:00 a.m. – Woke up
8:00 a.m. – Morning prayers
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – No notable events
10:00 a.m. – No notable events
[Characteristics]
White hair, long straight hair
Height: Estimated around 170-171 cm
Never misses a prayer.
Prayer lasts about 3–5 minutes.
Posture is very upright.
Rarely drinks water while eating; usually drinks after finishing a meal.
Seems to prefer bread.
Doesn’t toss and turn in her sleep, holds a child named Reina while sleeping.
Always accompanied by a child named Reina.
[Questions]
Is she married?
What’s her relationship with the child, Reina?
Is Reina her biological child? If so…
“What is this?”
The words escaped my mouth as soon as I read the paper.
What the hell is this?
The fourth sheet detailed my information thoroughly. Way too thoroughly.
Body, daily routine, eating habits, prayer posture, sleeping habits… it’s got everything about me.
“I rarely drink water while eating? And I like bread?”
Did I really do that?
I kept reading through the paper, and one part caught my eye.
It was about my sleeping habits.
How on earth did they observe my sleeping habits? Even as a demon noble, I sleep with
heightened senses, alert to any harm.
But ever since I started this life as a nun, I haven’t woken up once at night.
Which means…
“They came in last night just to watch me sleep?”
Bliss came into my room at dawn just to watch me sleep without doing anything.
What the hell?
A chill ran down my spine.
Not even a ghost would do something like this!
What’s she trying to do by gathering information about me like this?
Does she still have suspicions about me? Why? Why the hell?
I need to keep reading and see exactly what else is on here.
Just as I tried to calm myself and continued reading…
“Ruina?”
Bliss’s voice came from behind me.
“Ahh!”
“Why are you so startled?” Bliss asked as she approached.
Sh-shit, don’t come closer! Scary!
As she took steps forward, I wanted to back away, but I couldn’t.
“I… it’s just that you spoke suddenly.” I managed to respond with a shaky voice.
“Bliss, why did you leave the room?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I ran out of ink and left briefly to get more.” Bliss answered, showing me the ink bottle.
As she answered, her gaze moved down from my face, and eventually fixed on my hands.
“By the way, Ruina, the papers in your hand…”
Her eyes remained on my hand as she spoke.
Sh-shit!
“Reports! Just reports!”
I exaggerated as I approached her, feigning nonchalance.
“Bliss!”
I grabbed her shoulders, meeting her eyes.
“Ahh! Y-yes?!”
“It’s such a neat report! Everything is so clear and well-organized!”
I complimented Bliss.
“T-thank you…”
Initially, Bliss seemed flustered, but as I kept complimenting her, her expression shifted, and she blushed a little.
Alright, time to escape!
“I can rest easy leaving the reports to you, Bliss! I’ll leave them all with you and go take care of other things!”
I handed her the papers naturally and turned to leave the room immediately.
But as I left, I heard the sound of pages flipping rapidly behind me.
“Um, Ruina? Did you happen to see the last page?” Bliss asked, grabbing my arm.
Sh-shit, what now?
Stay calm… stay calm…
I forced a smile.
“Hm? The last page? I only saw the first page. Was there something else? I can check it now if you need me to.”
“Oh… no, that’s fine. It would’ve been an issue if you had seen it…”
Whoa… seriously.
“Well then! I’ll be going now! Reina, follow me!”
After freeing myself from Bliss’s grip, I quickly headed for the door.
“But Ruina, I need to finish my drawing!”
Reina whined behind me, but there was no time for that now. a
“I’ll let you do it next time, I promise!” I said hurriedly.
“Oh… I really wanted to do it today, but okay…” Reina said, following me with her drawing.
“Thank you, Bliss! We’ll be going now!”
With Reina in tow, I quickly bade Bliss farewell.
Then, without looking back, I made a run for it out of the church.
Damn it!
Thank for the chapter!
She created an obsessive follower just by saving her lol
thanks for the chapter !