Ch.87Trigger (3)

“Is this enough?”

I had promised to wear comfortable clothes occasionally.

Since the other person had been so insistent, there was no reason to back out now that I was here.

I went ahead and tried on a different outfit.

“It’s a bit… awkward.”

I was wearing light short-sleeved pajamas.

The thin fabric fluttered gently.

My arms were completely exposed through the gaps.

The short sleeves couldn’t fully cover my body, so all my numerous scars were visible.

Cool air touched my skin, which had felt stuffy until just now.

As I stood there feeling awkward, a voice approved of my outfit.

“Looks good.”

It was Irene Foxis.

The girl standing beside me looked me over briefly, then nodded with a faint smile.

She had a strangely pleased expression.

I asked a question with an awkward smile.

“Isn’t it a bit strange? It’s been so long since I’ve worn clothes like these.”

“It suits you well.”

“That’s a relief.”

I replied while fidgeting with the collar.

After always insisting on perfectly fitted custom suits, wearing such loose clothing felt incredibly foreign.

Now that I was actually in comfortable clothes, they felt rather uncomfortable.

‘They’d be surprised if they saw me like this.’

I was thinking about my squad members.

Though many of them knew about my scars from our time together, I had never appeared in such casual attire before.

Instead, I had always maintained an impeccable appearance.

After all, I needed to reign as their spiritual pillar and sole savior.

Even Neria, who had stayed by my side the longest, was no exception.

‘Brings back memories.’

Getting sentimental over a mere change of clothes.

I must be getting old.

After shaking off these idle thoughts, I asked the watching fox a question.

It was meant to clear my head.

“By the way, I didn’t know there were clothes like these in the closet. I thought there were only several suits…”

“I put a few sets in there.”

“Hmm?”

“I got them when we went to the shopping district last time. They weren’t that expensive, so if you don’t like them, you can throw them away and get new ones.”

“These are fine. Since you personally picked them out for me.”

“…I wasn’t trying to score points like that.”

“I’ll cherish them for life.”

“Stop that.”

The fox snapped back primly.

But her body was honest.

Her scarlet tail swished happily.

Her fox ears, which had been folded down, seemed to have regained their energy and were standing upright on her head.

Her easy-to-read reaction made me laugh softly.

“Hehe.”

“Why are you suddenly laughing?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You’re so bland.”

“I actually think of myself as quite a tangy person.”

“…You know you’re really not funny, right?”

As we chatted lightly.

Outside the window, the scenery had already darkened.

“It’s getting late. Shall we go to sleep soon?”

“Yeah. Let’s do that.”

We briefly concluded our conversation.

A night of sleep before a busy tomorrow.

The two of us turned toward our respective rooms.

***

No.

Or so I thought.

“Good night.”

A soft whisper.

I could feel warm breath beside me.

Turning my head, I saw the fox lying next to me under the blanket.

She was occupying part of the bed.

“…”

So it’s going to be like this again today.

Since the school trip.

Irene had been falling asleep in my room instead of her own.

And always in the same bed.

Rustle-

Following her movement, warm body heat burrowed into my arms.

The girl was pressing herself close to me.

Since we were both wearing thin pajamas, the sensation felt through the fabric was much clearer.

Her soft skin clung to me as if embracing my scars.

Especially where our chests met.

Heavy flesh pressed against my chest.

Its explicit shape was squashed by the embracing force, transmitting only the soft pressing sensation.

Our unswallowed breaths mingled between the warmth.

‘She’s close.’

Perhaps too obvious a thought at this point.

I dismissed it with a casual smile.

With her nestled against me like this, I felt like a pillow.

Putting aside these strange musings, I quietly asked the fox who was still awake.

It was a question expressing my curiosity.

“Irene.”

“Yes?”

“Why do you sleep here when you have a perfectly good bed of your own?”

“It’s comfortable.”

“How straightforward.”

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“Not particularly. But I was thinking it might be better for you to sleep in your own room. My room only has one bed, after all.”

“…”

Irene quietly closed her mouth.

A moment of silence followed.

The brusque atmosphere gradually crumbled.

As her ears drooped weakly on top of her head, her delicate fingers interlocked with mine as if binding me.

The girl murmured faintly, as if sinking underwater.

“…Just, let me stay beside you.”

Eyes gazing up intently.

Her transparent pupils held only my image.

When she responded with such a pitiful reaction every time, pushing her away felt like a cruel thing to do.

In the end, I let it slide this time too.

I gently patted the girl’s back.

“Alright.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s not really a problem anyway. Don’t worry about it and go to sleep.”

“Mm… okay.”

Only then did the fox close her open eyelids.

I continued holding the girl’s body until her delicate breathing slowed.

Our body heat mingled as if melting together.

Leaning against each other, time moved toward dawn.

***

It was now the early hours of the morning.

Outside the window, only darkness cradling the soft moonlight and starlight filled the scenery.

A perfect night without even a trace of sunset remaining.

Snore, snore-

The fox breathed softly.

The snake briefly looked at the sleeping girl, then averted his gaze and rose from his lying position.

His quiet steps took him away from the bed.

“…”

The liar was awake alone.

He sat lightly on the sofa.

Having consumed too much power over the past few days, he seemed to be trying to recover his output during this small gap of time.

The snake moved his lips while displaying a blue window.

“I confess to myself. I have never told a lie in my life.”

As always, he ruminated on a stream of deception.

Before long, a notification sounded from the previously quiet status window.

-Ding!

[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]

[Current remaining output: 24.3%]

The boy continued his accumulation.

His plainly extending voice contained no emotion whatsoever.

He merely recited sentences with cold eyes.

“I ate stew for lunch today.”

-Ding!

[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]

[Current remaining output: 24.8%]

“I am currently outdoors.”

-Ding!

[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]

[Current remaining output: 25.2%]

“I hate games.”

-Ding!

[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]

[Current remaining output: 25.7%]

“I am not human.”

-Ding!

[A small amount of lies…]

The continuous stream of lies continued for some time.

Until morning came.

The snake spent the night repeating countless pretenses.

***

The next day.

I visited Astro headquarters.

It was to hear a report about the attack incident from a few days ago.

Having received news that the main witness had regained consciousness, I immediately headed out to meet her.

This time I didn’t take a carriage.

Instead, Rena came directly to pick me up.

“Shall we go?”

The black-haired woman extended her hand in front of the rippling portal.

Thanks to her, I was able to arrive without delay.

After receiving a brief overview of the situation from the deputy director, I met with the witness waiting in the hospital room.

She was a woman with long white hair.

“Miss Medro.”

Medro Gardnier.

The church’s general representative and the person in charge of overseeing the attacked Lisit branch.

She was also someone who cooperated with our side.

I greeted her lightly and sat down across from her.

“I was worried… but I’m glad to see you’ve recovered well.”

“It’s thanks to the grace bestowed by the Director.”

I had been concerned about her weak condition, but fortunately she seemed to have recovered over the past few days.

The woman respectfully conveyed her gratitude.

It was a generous gesture typical of church people.

“I heard you showed another miracle. Thanks to your devotion, many sheep have been saved. I express my boundless gratitude for this.”

“A miracle… it was just a small trick. Please don’t mind it.”

“Having extended my shallow life through this precious connection, surely this too is heaven’s will. The Director is undoubtedly a saint chosen by God.”

“My team members are listening. This is embarrassing, so let’s stop here.”

“As you wish.”

Miracle, salvation, saint… brushing aside these embarrassing praises, I steered the conversation back to its original purpose.

I began asking about the circumstances of the attack.

Of course, since it happened so suddenly, I couldn’t get very detailed information.

I was satisfied with just grasping a vague silhouette.

“I don’t know if this will help much… but I saw a massive shadow in the darkness.”

“A massive shadow…?”

“It was a malevolent power. I don’t know how much blood was offered, but just facing it felt like my faith was being tested.”

“If you as the General Representative felt that way, it must have been practically a calamity.”

“It was truly an ordeal.”

“Hmm.”

This was quite a good harvest of information.

A massive shadow.

Knowing the original work, I had a rough idea of what this meant.

Like the Conductor, this one also seemed to have appeared earlier than in the original work, but fortunately I was able to catch on quickly.

This would allow me to prepare more specifically for the crisis ahead.

“I’ll conclude the investigation here. You’ve been very helpful.”

“I’m glad I could be of assistance.”

“You can stay here for a while. There’s still a high possibility that the cultists are watching.”

“I’m grateful for your kindness. What about the other brothers and sisters who survived…?”

“We plan to protect them as well. In return, I’d appreciate if the priests could help us with some of our work.”

“If that’s your call, we’ll gladly answer.”

“Hehe.”

I gained some useful forces through this incident.

Originally, Lisit was an assembly of clergy dedicated to protecting a region.

As such, it gathered skilled and substantial talents.

From the perspective of having to chase Baob, the addition of these veterans was very welcome news.

I rose from my seat with satisfaction.

‘I guess… that’s one matter taken care of.’

It seemed like a good conclusion.

I stepped out of the hospital room and headed to my next destination.

It was the playroom where the children were gathered.