Although they had been interrupted unexpectedly along the way, Loki and Christine still decided to begin investigating the people on the list.
Awkwardly, quite a few of them were well-known figures in Caesania.
Nobles, senators, merchants… covering all walks of life.
But this list wasn’t one hundred percent accurate—there were probably some who had been framed as well. Based on Loki’s understanding of how the organization operated, at least half of it was true and half false.
After all, anyone who knew “Black Sword” was in the city yet still chose to cooperate with an organization like Hand of Truth was either a brainless fool or someone long since corrupted.
Even back when Loki hadn’t left yet, Hand of Truth hadn’t managed to develop relationships with any of the bigwigs in Caesania.
Hand of Truth was always a cautious organization, and after Loki’s betrayal, they only became more sensitive.
Perhaps they’d already prepared for someone to leak important information. If they wanted to know just how deeply Hand of Truth had infiltrated Caesania, they’d have to personally check each lead, relying on the pitifully scant clues at hand.
Let the subordinates do it?
Christine, like him, was a lone wolf who trusted no one but herself, so that option never existed from the start.
But why did Hand of Truth return to Caesania?
Sacrifices, research, and the like could be done anywhere—why choose this place of heartbreak?
With this question in mind, Loki left the Knights’ headquarters.
Hand of Truth’s original base was in Caesania.
But that had long since become a ruin thanks to Loki and Christine’s inside-outside cooperation. The land now belonged to the Holy Church, which had established Caesania’s branch of the Inquisition there.
In a sense, aside from Christine’s side, that was probably the safest place in all of Caesania now.
Unnoticed, noon had arrived.
At a simple tram stop with only a canopy and a long bench, Loki waited alone for the bus that would take him to the city center.
At the turning of spring and summer, the sunlight wasn’t yet strong enough to roast people like meat.
The board with the timetable was plastered haphazardly with all sorts of little advertisements. Though unsightly, it gave Loki a familiar sense of comfort.
He planned to start investigating the people on the list after lunch.
He’d invited Christine, but she still had work to do, so it would have to wait until next time.
*****
What would Celulu have for lunch?
Loki couldn’t help but start pondering such a question.
If he had a phone, Loki wouldn’t mind inviting her out. After all, he had something he wanted to ask her.
“Ha~llo~ Loki, judging by the look on your face just now, were you secretly thinking about me?”
With a burst of lively footsteps, before Loki could react, a soft and springy body crashed into his arms, forcibly giving him a hug that was a direct assault on his rationality.
It was like someone had slapped a fluffed-up quilt into him—familiar jasmine fragrance exploded all at once, making Loki dizzy.
W-What’s going on?
Loki looked, flustered, at the silver-haired, violet-eyed girl.
Celulu flashed a V sign, smiling brightly at Loki, while her other hand roamed restlessly over him, gliding along his muscles like the wind, making Loki’s body tremble involuntarily.
Her heavy breathing was enough to be felt through his clothes, tickling Loki’s chest like a feather.
Here comes the female pervert.
Seriously, just because I’m not resisting with all my might doesn’t mean you can grope me so openly.
“Had enough?”
“Nope~.”
The girl didn’t care at all about the stares from those around her, completely immersed in her own world.
Loki wanted badly to push her away, but government orders didn’t reach his brain—his body had its own ideas.
Move, you useless body…!
So it turned into a token struggle.
“Eh, Loki, you actually didn’t push me away right away… Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for my body already?”
Celulu seemed to see right through Loki’s mind. She let go of him, shuffled to his side, and hooked his arm.
Whether on purpose or not, her distance was just right—unless Loki made a move himself, that enormous treasure chest would never be touched, not even a little.
That was Celulu’s little scheme.
She enjoyed the feeling of slowly capturing her prey.
“Why are you here?”
“To tell you the truth, I’m actually on a secret mission.”
Celulu puffed out her chest a little, pushing up her imaginary glasses with her other hand.
“Did you really think I’m just a lazy cat who sleeps at home all day?”
“I’d rather you slept at home…”
Loki muttered helplessly.
Unlike Loki, who only made waves in certain circles, Celulu, as a famous Saintess with a beautiful face, naturally drew attention wherever she walked.
“Well, if you were at home too, I’d love to. We could sleep until one of us is completely exhausted.”
Celulu flashed a smile that made Loki’s lower body go numb.
“In the end, I’m sure you’d be the one begging for mercy.”
That a dignified Saintess of the Church could say such wild words was an utter tragedy of education—but thinking that he was the one who’d pulled her out of a normal life, Loki felt he had no right to comment.
Realizing that playing along would only make the conversation more indecent, Loki ignored Celulu’s deliberately provocative posturing.
He didn’t believe the girl was here just to see him.
“You’re tailing Bishop Part?”
“As expected of the former archvillain who made countless people tremble, lose sleep, and lose their appetite—you’re sharp.”
Celulu traced circles on Loki’s arm with her fingertip, as if marking her territory.
“But to be precise, I’m just monitoring his actions. Did he come looking for you?”
“Well, since you sent that woman to the Knights’ prison, he’d definitely show up to demand her back.”
“Does it bother you that I did that?”
“I don’t care.”
Loki replied.
“If a Bishop can make a Saintess go out of her way to tail him, he must be trouble. What do you suspect him of? Dereliction of duty? Corruption?”
“You’re mistaken about one thing, Loki.”
Celulu pinched his arm lightly.
“I came here for you. Checking in on that old guy is just a side task. I don’t want his antics here to cut down the time I can spend with you.”
She paused, looking up at Loki.
“We suspect he’s involved with some blasphemers’ organization. For example—”
“Hand of Truth?”
“That, I don’t know.”
The Saintess hummed cheerfully.
“After all, the Church isn’t all-seeing and all-knowing. Otherwise, how could there be so many blasphemers in this world… Ah, keep that to yourself, okay? If that got out, I’d probably be executed ten times over.”
A Bishop in charge of an important city suspected of betrayal—this was a top-secret scandal the Church would spare no effort to cover up.
Loki had thought Celulu would just joke her way out of it, but to his surprise, the Saintess didn’t care at all for the Church’s face or rules.
“By the way, Loki, how about we find some time to ‘go home’ together?”
Celulu suggested lightly.