episode_0055

Revised from the previous version—changed the relationship with Veronica from cooperative to coercive.

“My friend, are you alright?!”

“Yeah, I’m fine for now.”

As the golden curtain vanished, Burkan appeared and spoke.

He seemed genuinely flustered.

That brainwashing earlier was probably her hidden trump card.

‘So there are even Gifts capable of brainwashing…’

The Cradle is truly a dangerous place.

Then again, Ermé had mentioned it before—pulling off a perfect crime here is nearly impossible. There might even be Gifts that can read the memories of objects to uncover past events.

“A-anyway, how did you…?”

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

I glared at Veronica.

Even though I owed her,

this was different from what she had tried to do.

‘She wanted to turn me into her slave.’

I had no intention of becoming her slave.

We should’ve been cooperating as equals.

But that relationship was now shattered.

‘……So what do I do now?’

While I held the upper hand in this situation,

I couldn’t just act recklessly.

“W-what are you going to do with me?”

“Hmm.”

What should I do?

I studied Veronica.

She tried to use me—so I wouldn’t feel guilty using her in return.

‘She’s dangerous.’

I kept my eyes on her.

This woman was extremely dangerous. Even though her saintly powers were gone, that only meant she couldn’t direct them against me.

She must have a line.

If I crossed it—

‘She’d stop at nothing to kill me.’

Even without her powers, her influence remained intact.

Fanatics often act irrationally.

If I pushed Veronica too far and demanded the impossible, she would try to kill me.

Of course, that didn’t mean—

‘I have to go easy on her.’

I stared at Veronica.

She flinched slightly under my gaze.

“Burkan, sorry, but head back to the inn.”

“What? But… fine, got it.”

Burkan hesitated but eventually left for the inn.

I turned back to Veronica.

“W-what is that?”

“Something to suppress your divine power.”

“Don’t joke with me! That’s—that’s my…!”

Veronica’s hands trembled as she pointed at the Saintess’ Purity clenched in my grasp.

Guess an owner recognizes their own belongings.

-I see a connection.

Risiel spoke.

-When you stole from me, I sensed a link between you and the stone you carry.

‘Really?’

-But it’s strange. What exactly did you steal to make that woman react so violently?

‘……’

I had no answer.

How was I even supposed to explain?

That I’d stolen the Saintess’ Purity?

“S-so what are you going to do?”

“……”

What should I do?

Plenty of ideas came to mind.

But the more entangled I became with her, the more complications arose.

Like that dreamlike experience yesterday.

And the demonic presence.

‘Risiel.’

-What is it?

‘Can you forge a covenant?’

-A covenant?

I recalled something I’d only seen in novels or comics—oaths sworn in the name of mana or gods, where breaking them came with severe penalties, like losing power.

-They exist. Especially devastating for priests.

“First, swear in the name of the Goddess of Light that you won’t harm us.”

“……And then you’ll return it?”

Veronica pointed at the Saintess’ Purity in my hand.

“I’ll consider it.”

“Then I have no reason to swear.”

“Of course you do. If I crush this right now….”

I squeezed the platinum-glowing gemstone hard.

Unlike soulstones or similar items, I could tell this wouldn’t break easily.

‘Ah, damn it.’

Even as I thought that, I kept my eyes on Veronica.

“S-stop! Fine, I’ll do it!”

“And swear you won’t retaliate over this, either.”

“Fine.”

“And from now on, don’t act like you know me.”

“I have to swear to that too?”

“……No.”

I’d rather not get involved with her at all,

but I left that part open—just in case Ermé had a use for it.

“Alright. I, in the name of the Goddess of Light, swear that I will neither retaliate nor harm you or your party over this matter.”

“Include my acquaintances too.”

“……You’re insufferable. Fine.”

Veronica complied with my demands.

“Now hurry up and give it back.”

“I said I’d consider it.”

“You—!”

CRACK!

Veronica stomped her foot, and the ground split like a spiderweb.

‘This woman’s completely insane.’

Even if we fought hand-to-hand, I doubted I’d come out on top.

Her agility might be lacking, but her raw strength was monstrous.

Cursing her internally, I kept thinking.

‘I can’t return this thing anyway.’

It’d be the same as when I stole Lucia’s Obsession of the Villainess.

Even if I threw it away or buried it, it’d somehow end up back with me.

Stealing was one thing,

but I avoided taking stuff like this precisely because I didn’t want to be weighed down.

‘……It was an emergency.’

I had no choice.

“You owe me compensation.”

“Compensation? Hah, fine. You like money, right? I’ll pay you in gold.”

“I don’t need gold.”

The guildmaster had already given me more than enough. I didn’t need coins right now.

“Apologize.”

“Hah, apologize?”

Veronica looked incredulous.

Not that I cared for an apology either. But forcing one would cement her wrongdoing.

‘Ideally, I’d record a video or something as proof…’

Unfortunately, this world lacked such technology.

Still, with that oath in place, if I made her apologize now, it’d come back to bite her if she ever broke it.

“……Didn’t expect you to think like that.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

She investigated me—she should know plenty.

“Fine, I’ll apologize for the brainwashing. Sorry.”

“……”

This woman’s completely insane.

Then again, someone like her would try to brainwash me.

I sighed deeply and gestured.

“What am I, a dog? Come here, go there.”

“Should I break it?”

“Ugh, fine, I’ll go. Unbelievable.”

Veronica stormed off in irritation. Ridiculous.

‘Should I really just destroy it?’

No—there was a better way. I flicked my wrist with Steal once more.

A piece of jewelry from Veronica.

Something like the protective charm I’d gotten from Viola before.

Just as I was about to take it—

“……What are you doing here?”

Ermé had arrived.

“……What, you.”

“Hmm, seems like something happened.”

“No shift—wait, you’re her party leader?”

Veronica scrutinized Ermé, then frowned.

“But why is this ill-mannered saintess here?”

“Excuse me? What did you just say?”

“I said you’re ill-mannered. Ah, figures. Raised in an orphanage, then got picked by some big shot to play pretend saintess—don’t mind her.”

“……What?”

For a moment, Veronica’s eyes twitched.

I was stunned too.

‘A fake saintess?’

Ermé wore an oops expression.

“Ah, was that a spoiler? …Oh well. Let’s just go, we’ll be late for the party.”

Ermé grabbed my arm, her voice sweet.

I glanced at Veronica—her face had gone half-pale.

The encounter was awkward, but I didn’t dwell on it.

‘Not my problem anyway.’

The people I care about are my friends, not someone like Veronica.

Ermé and I headed to a different inn.

If where we stayed was clean, this place was a bit shabby.

“They serve amazing drinks here. A hidden gem.”

Ermé whispered in my ear. But I was more curious about something else.

“What was that about earlier?”

“Hm? The fake saintess thing? It’s exactly what it sounds like. Pitiful or whatever, but she’s just a ‘stand-in’ for the real saintess.”

Hearing that, I recalled a conversation with a friend.

-I told you before, the Church is rotten.

-But they’re planning to ‘create’ a saintess. The one introduced early on is rude but surprisingly cute and capable.

-But…

“……”

I shook my head.

It’s not like I’d cross paths with Veronica again anyway.

Inside the inn, it was already crowded. Despite it being early evening, people were drinking.

“Oh, is that the famous ‘Han Yuseong’ lately? Lord Vulcan seems pretty invested in him.”

“He denies being his disciple, though.”

“Just words. The way he acts, it’s basically official. Probably because of the others.”

“Ah, the Seven Stars Clan?”

As we entered, I felt eyes on me.

Guess I was getting famous.

‘……Annoying.’

Ermé and I moved further inside, where Glasses, Rosenta, and Teresa were.

“Hehe, hehehe.”

Rosenta was already drunk, while Teresa was devouring food at an alarming rate.

Glasses gave us a wry smile.

“Finally here?”

“How long have you been here?”

“Just arrived. Ten minutes, and these two already ordered drinks and side dishes.”

“Ugh, you’re both so late.”

Rosenta clung to me, her breath reeking of alcohol.

……Strong stuff.

“What’s with that face? A beauty like me is clinging to you.”

“You stink.”

“Seriously?”

“Like booze.”

“Pfft, it’s fragrant.”

“……”

I stared flatly at her. Rosenta giggled and laughed.

“Don’t look at me like that, Yuseong. Rosenta’s been waiting for you so long she started drinking… gack!”

“Oh, Glasses wants a drink too? Let this noona teach you.”

Rosenta forced the bottle into Glasses’ mouth.

Teresa ignored us, massacring the snacks.

I smirked, sat down, and took a drink.