Ch.23Soul-Infused Lie

# 1.

Method,

Or Method acting.

An acting technique where actors completely immerse themselves in their role with their own thoughts and emotions, portraying the character as if they were real.

And that was,

【Stage 3 – <Method> is activated.】

【You are now <Ian Red>.】

This was the ultimate characteristic and effect of the <Acting> ability.

The moment Stage 3 manifested, the first change I felt was sincerity.

Until just now, I had treated Asha as a character called the <Hero>, but now I was relating to <Asha Mirabel> as a person with my heart.

‘Moreover, I exist as <Ian Red> while simultaneously retaining my memories as a possessor.’

Asha’s past and future,

Her sorrow depicted in scenes,

A dejected hero who ultimately faced a bad ending.

Now I am, at least partially, the only human and free priest in the world who knows the past of the person called ‘Asha Mirabel.’

Since only I know her sorrow, and only I can truly comfort her,

“May I intrude for a moment?”

I—

“No, I will intrude for a moment.”

Ian Red.

I approached Asha and embraced her with a touch that was neither hurried nor slow.

Still expressionless, she turned her head as if to check my profile, but at the same time, tears flowed from my eyes.

『”…Still, I must live.”』

『In the center of a burning village, a girl muttered her father’s last words with an expressionless face.』

Because Asha’s past was so heartbreaking.

And,

『In an ending without an incompetent emperor or black wolves, Asha Mirabel sat alone on the blood-stained imperial throne and muttered.』

『”…If I had known it would end like this, I would have closed my eyes in that village back then.”』

Because I felt sorrowful about the immense despair and emptiness she would have experienced if it weren’t for me.

However, I hadn’t intended to cry.

I had only meant to perfect the character of <Ian Red> to gain Asha’s trust, but,

‘…I can’t control it well.’

Method.

A technique where one completely immerses their thoughts and emotions into a role, acting as if the character were a real person.

The tears flowing down,

Embracing Asha,

The sincere wish for her happiness.

None of these were actions I had thought about before executing; they were reflexive responses, like pulling your hand away from something hot or closing your eyes when a fist flies toward your face.

‘When my emotions were calm, I could control myself well, like when I was acting as Black Wolf or Yellow Dragon, but since my emotions intensified, I’ve been constantly swayed.’

As if the soul of the real person <Ian Red> had seeped into me,

“What are you doing?”

“…Don’t cry.”

Forcing me to act this way.

‘I need to control it.’

It’s beneficial now, but if Method were to manifest with ‘Black Wolf’ or ‘Yellow Dragon,’ it could lead to a catastrophe.

‘…Let’s separate first.’

Control the surging emotions and regain dominance over my body.

‘…Done.’

Just as I mastered the control method through <Ian Red> and was about to pull away.

Thud.

“…You’re the one crying, aren’t you?”

Asha buried her face in my shoulder.

# 2.

It was strange.

Thud.

To lean against a man she had never seen before and bury her face as if catching her breath.

‘…Why am I?’

From the day her only homeland, Mirabel, burned to ashes until now when she became a hero.

-Asha, my beautiful daughter. Never, ever trust anyone. Hide your emotions and discern what they want from you.

-Dad!!

-…Go now. Even in this terrible world… you still have to live, don’t you?

Although she had never forgotten her father’s dying words and had faithfully followed them,

“…I apologize for showing such weakness.”

“It’s alright.”

“I’ll step aside immediately.”

“No. Let’s stay like this for a moment.”

Why had she collapsed at a few words from this free priest and leaned against him?

Despite the awkward silence that followed, Asha asked herself without answering.

‘Why have I become so weak?’

The answer came as soon as she asked.

‘…Is it because of Hestia?’

The news delivered via messenger bird while heading toward the Demon King’s castle.

-Listen without getting excited, Balkan.

-Huh? Suddenly? But I’m hungry, can’t we eat first and then talk?

-I’ll tell you anyway.

She had barely held onto her heart that felt like it would extinguish and opened her mouth as usual.

-An unidentified group <Black Wolves> attacked Baron Gardner’s territory. Casualties being counted. One death. The name of the deceased…

Hestia Gardner.

From the moment that name was uttered until now, memories of the time spent with that child had been constantly flashing through her mind.

Hestia was a strong child.

Like others, she dreamed of becoming a hero, but was frustrated by her innate limitations.

-They say the probability of awakening is extremely rare. It would be faster to find a needle in a desert.

-I see.

-But I’m fine. Because you, the hero, my brother, will accomplish my share too.

Nevertheless, she said she was fine and cheered them on, declaring with her frail fists.

-Of course, I won’t just sit idle. I’ll do my best in areas where I can. And I’ll keep the empire safe so the hero can advance without worry. Yes, this is…

…my promise to you, Hero.

With eyes revealing admiration and shyness, Asha had nodded and said.

-I’ll trust and wait.

-…!! Yes!! Yes, Hero!!

Thus, three months after they departed, she became the strategist of the Imperial First Corps.

In place of the incompetent emperor, she weeded out internal enemies of the empire and found spies from other countries and demon tribes, placing them in her hands.

That was at the six-month mark of their departure, and after another four months, when it had been ten months.

-Is that true, Marin?

-Yes!! They say people are dying because of the tyranny! Let’s return briefly and just warn the emperor, okay?!

When news of the emperor’s tyranny reached them and the entire <Hero’s Party> was considering returning,

-Asha! Hestia sent a letter!

-And?

-What do you mean ‘and’? Today it’s not for me, it’s for you!

-I see.

A letter arrived from Hestia.

-I’ll read it alone.

-What? Let’s read it together!! She’s my sister!!

-Alone. I’ll read it alone.

-Ha! That’s so unfair. Fine, I won’t look!

The content of the letter wasn’t much different from what she had heard from Gardner before.

『I am the strategist of the First Corps…

List of spies…

The people’s resentment toward some imperial politics is growing concerning, but most issues have been resolved and complaints have subsided…』

After the formal reports, there was a sentence that seemed written with hesitation, with trembling still evident.

『Didn’t I promise? That I would protect everything well so you wouldn’t have to worry.』

Recalling those brown eyes filled with admiration and shyness, Asha let out a small laugh.

Despite being so depressed about finding a needle in a desert, she had finally found the needle that suited her.

Thanks to that, Asha set aside her worries.

-Have you finished reading?

-Yes. We’re heading back to the Demon King’s castle.

-What?! Wait! Weren’t we going to visit the empire briefly because of the emperor’s tyranny?!

-Canceled. We prioritize our original goal.

She canceled the return and forced the march forward, and after another two months, making it a year.

They finally succeeded in reaching the nobles’ territory after passing through the land of beasts.

And the next day.

“…News of Hestia’s death reached us.”

As soon as Asha finished explaining to Ian, she bit her pink lips.

If she had returned after reading the letter,

If she had returned earlier as Marin suggested,

If she had properly pressured the emperor and tightened discipline before departing,

And above all.

“If I hadn’t told Hestia that I would trust and wait for her…”

…that lovely child who resembled a gentle autumn would not have lost her life.

“This misfortune stems from me. Once again, misfortune derived from me.”

It was devastating.

She regretted every choice.

Yet she resented her expressionless body that couldn’t even furrow its brow.

“If that child could come back to life…, no, if there was even a 1% chance she was alive, I would try anything.”

The moment Asha, leaning on Ian’s shoulder, uttered those words in her still even voice.

“First, let me return the letter to you.”

“…Please do.”

Finally understanding her ‘deficiency,’ Nahan spoke with a solemn expression.

“Lady Hestia might still be alive. No. She must be alive.”

“…?”

“It may be hard to believe, but for a moment—”

Crash!

Nahan’s vision shook violently. When he came to his senses, his collar was grabbed, and Asha muttered toward him.

“Are you a fanatic?”

A murderous intent lurking behind her expressionless face.

Even Ruby’s killing intent that he had faced before would be childish compared to Asha’s.

However, Nahan, <Ian Red>, still spoke with a calm expression.

“Although I am now free, I am still a priest baptized by the Goddess. Baptized priests receive <Powers>.”

As Asha’s grip gradually tightened, Nahan continued without waiting for a response.

“The power bestowed upon me is to distinguish between the dead and the living. When I hold something that belonged to a person, I naturally know.”

Nahan, still maintaining a consistent attitude, smiled kindly as if understanding all of Asha’s actions, and added one last thing.

“And earlier, when you handed me Lady Hestia’s letter, I checked and received a revelation that she is alive.”

And as always, humans,

“…Is that true?”

tend to open their hearts to those who fill their deficiencies.