Just the Two of Us

After finishing their talk with the Pope, Kyle and Sylvia quickly left the temple.

First, they decided to keep the fact that he had received a stigma a secret for the time being.

At least until he went to see the Emperor directly and talked with him.

If this news got out, they couldn’t know what the Dawn’s Eye side would do.

,Kyle, you’re late.”

,You guys were in there for a long time.”

,Sorry. The story got a little long. More importantly, what did you buy so much of?”

Returning to the accommodation, they ran into Vermillion and Anise, who were just coming back from somewhere.

Vermillion had a large paper bag in his hands and arms, and it was quite heavy on the outside, so you could tell that it contained a considerable amount of stuff.

,I heard you can borrow the kitchen at the accommodation. So Anise decided to show off her skills.”

,B-but, is it okay? I can cook, but it’ll be hard to suit the tastes of three people.”

Anise said in a worried voice, as if she was a little worried even after bringing it up herself.

That’s because, as she lived a poor life, she had hardly ever prepared a rich meal using a variety of ingredients.

Moreover, all three people except her were from prestigious noble families, so she couldn’t help but worry even more.

Sylvia smiled and encouraged her.

,No. The food Anise made for me last time was also very delicious, you know?”

,Hmm? Anise, when did you even make food for Princess Eleanor?”

,I made it when Sylvia came to the detached house to see me last time. But it’s just a simple dish, not really food…”

She just needed a snack for the two of them, so she just made a simple gratin with cheese.

Compared to the luxurious meals that came out every day in the detached house, it was very humble.

,It was very delicious. And if you need help, I can help you. Good luck, Anise.”

,Okay, I’ll give it a try. I hope it suits your tastes…”

The four people, chatting happily, entered the accommodation and headed straight to the room on the second floor.

Vermillion and Anise left the groceries they bought in the kitchen and decided to follow.

It would be quite a long story, so Kyle spread a soundproofing barrier around in advance and created a space for the four of them to talk.

Kkieok.

,…So, were there any results from your visit?”

Soon after, Vermillion, who opened the door and entered, felt that a soundproofing barrier was spread around, and asked with a serious expression, without the friendly smile he had just had.

The fact that he had already created a place to talk was nothing more than indicating that something had happened at the temple.

Kyle pointed to the floor as if telling him to sit down, and sat down first.

,There was. It’s a more complicated story than I thought.”

,It seems you found out more than I expected.”

,Yeah, even more than I expected.”

Vermillion looked at Kyle, who expressed affirmation, with surprised eyes and sat down with Anise.

Kyle was always a man who saw more than he thought.

The fact that there was an even deeper story than Kyle’s expectations was proof that it was not a simple story that would end in just a few minutes.

,First, I have to start with the story of meeting Lethe Goddess.”

,……!”

The words he said lightly to start the story contained more shocking content than he imagined, and Vermillion’s eyes widened.

＊＊＊

The story went on for a very long time.

It’s not just because the content Kyle unilaterally conveyed was vast.

Rather, he summarized the events at the temple as much as possible and conveyed them in an easy-to-understand manner, so the story ended quite quickly.

However, the time spent answering the subsequent barrage of questions was so long.

,…I can’t believe it. Then does that mean the Church of the Sun is being deceived by Erze Goddess?”

,I guess so. In my opinion, the Dawn’s Eye and the Church of the Sun are separate. The Church of the Sun is just a means for her to gather believers and build power based on that. You can think of the Dawn’s Eye as her real close aides.”

,No way…. Are you saying that a goddess has been manipulating so many believers until now?”

Unlike the two people who already knew the truth and were indifferent, the shock of Vermillion and Anise, who were hearing this truth for the first time, did not easily subside.

The Church of the Sun, also known as the state religion of the Empire.

The vast group was just a back pocket to fill the interests of just one goddess.

No, to be more precise, it’s not even a back pocket.

She pretended to interact with believers and care for humans on the surface through the Church of the Sun, but in reality, she was carrying out other schemes through the Dawn’s Eye, which was her real back pocket.

How could a so-called god commit such heinous acts that even humans would not do?

,Is there a possibility that it’s just Lethe Goddess’s one-sided testimony?”

,There isn’t none. But in my opinion, it’s unlikely. She also showed me evidence that matched it, and the context was too consistent. There were quite a few things similar to my inferences.”

,If that’s the case, I have no choice but to believe it.”

Vermillion asked again, keeping in mind the possibility of one in a million, but had to stick out his tongue as he watched Kyle assert it.

Well, even if you look at the stories he told, there is no part to distrust.

Just with Lethe’s words, the true purpose of the Dawn’s Eye, which had been a mystery until now, the object of their worship that had been veiled, and even how they had influenced the entire Empire were all explained.

,Then is what’s on Kyle’s hand that? A stigma?”

,The Pope said so. I don’t know what kind of power this specifically has either.”

When Anise asked, pointing to his hand, Kyle expressed affirmation and stroked the stigma.

Honestly, after this stigma appeared, there was no dramatic change in his body, or anything that he could feel why she left this behind.

However, he could only guess one reason.

Perhaps it was to provide justification in the sense of uniting the Church of the Moon through this and fighting against the Dawn’s Eye.

,Suddenly, too much information is coming in, and my head is spinning. And Sylvia’s eye was a fragment of the goddess…”

,I know, right? I was a little embarrassed at that time too. To think that this troublemaker, who had been pointed at as a witch since I was young, was actually a blessing from the goddess.”

,She wasn’t a witch, she was a saint. Besides, if you think about it, both Kyle and Sylvia are beings chosen by the goddess, right? Amazing.”

Anise raised the atmosphere with a lively voice, watching her bring her hand to her right eye with a complicated look.

In fact, it was roughly correct.

In general, people who are chosen and blessed by God and come forward as God’s representatives are called apostles or saints.

,Anyway, the story ends here. I’ll have to go back to the capital soon to meet His Majesty and talk, but until then, don’t tell anyone.”

,Of course. It’s not even a story that anyone would believe in the first place.”

,By the way, I’m feeling it again, I’ve really become friends with amazing people. I’m even proud.”

When Kyle asked them to keep silent about this matter, Vermillion shrugged and smiled wryly, and Anise spread her hands and smiled, which was very contrasting.

Looking at it, the two have quite different personalities, but Kyle secretly expressed his wonder, thinking that they get along well.

,There’s nothing really amazing about it. Besides, Anise, if you think about it that way, you’re even more amazing because you have such a miracle without being chosen by God.”

Kyle had already subtly asked Lethe about the power Anise had.

He wondered if she could also perform miracles by being chosen by Lethe.

But according to Lethe, the miracle given to her is not from God.

When human wishes reach the sky, sometimes those with such miracles appear once every few centuries, and she is just the owner of such a special bloodline.

In other words, it means that she is an existence that can exert power comparable to God’s miracle even without God’s miracle.

Hearing those words, Anise felt a sense of pride rising from her heart.

It wasn’t just because she was praised for the power she had, but she was grateful that others cherished the legacy her mother left behind.

,Wow, Kyle. You’re surprisingly good at compliments? But I’m Vermillion’s. Don’t even think about coveting me.”

,I have no intention of coveting you. Keep dreaming. More importantly, what do you mean by surprisingly?”

,Well, Kyle looks like he’d be bad at compliments.”

,…I can’t deny it.”

Kyle sent a sharp look towards her, who broke the mood by inserting unnecessary words, but when he heard Anise’s words, he couldn’t deny it, so he licked his lips and avoided his gaze.

In the first place, the number of people he compliments is so small, but he is aware that he is not particularly good at it.

Even when he poured out compliments to Sylvia in the past, she showed signs of reluctance.

,Should I study a method or something.”

He was planning to look at related books and think about it later when everything was over.

Deopseok.

At that time, there was something that suddenly grabbed Kyle’s hand.

,Then the story is over, so we’ll go out for a while alone.”

Turning her head, Sylvia, who grabbed his hand roughly, was talking to the other two.

Anise, who thought the story was over and was about to go down to make dinner, widened her eyes.

,Huh? I was about to make dinner soon…”

,I’m sorry. I’ll be back within an hour at the latest. We have an important story to share. Right, Kyle?”

Sylvia sends an apologetic message to her friend and sends a subtle look as if asking her to help her, intertwining her fingers.

Only then did Kyle realize the meaning of what she was saying, smiled wryly, and nodded.

,…Okay, I’ll be back in a bit.”

From now on, there was a story to be resolved between them, without being disturbed by anyone.