Was there always such character information floating above me too? But if that were the case, Khan should have mentioned it earlier. I shifted my gaze to the character information floating above Alan’s head. Alan’s eyes followed mine, looking up at his own character information.
[Alan Bate / Priest / Servant of Temperance / Favorability 0 ]
“I don’t have anything above my head…”
Could it be that he can’t see his own? That meant only my character information was visible now. Why?
“Is Del Narcissus your name, Brother?”
Alan asked, seemingly unable to believe it. He regarded it as some kind of divine miracle.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m Del Narcissus.”
“It wasn’t there just a moment ago, why now…”
Alan mumbled the end of his sentence, then spoke again in surprise.
“It disappeared again!”
His blue eyes blinked rapidly behind his glasses as they moved between my face and the space above my head. I also checked the area above me, but my character information was no longer visible to me.
Alan seemed to be deep in thought, then lightly placed his hand on my foot.
“I think, give me a moment.”
Soon, divine power flowed from Alan’s hand. Once again, my foot felt warm and comfortable, and I sensed the joyous circulation of blood throughout my body. After a while, Alan exclaimed.
“Oh.”
His eyes were back above my head.
“It seems to respond to divine power.”
Alan muttered quietly. He appeared moved and overwhelmed with a sense of wonder that couldn’t be put into words. Tears began to well up in his blue eyes.
“It seems that Eura has chosen you, Brother.”
“What… do you mean?”
His round and kind eyes crinkled slightly. Alan gathered both of his hands in front of his chest and devoutly prayed before responding.
“A miracle.”
Simultaneously, a system window appeared before me.
[Alan Bait’s favorability +5!]
“Brother, it’s a miracle bestowed by the gods.”
… Me?
I stared at Alan with a bewildered expression. He spoke earnestly.
“I cannot send you to the garbage village. Please come with me to the temple. I will speak to His Highness about this. Please wait for a moment.”
Alan stood up. It seemed like the characters of responsibility on one shoulder and mission on the other were settling on him. With a determined expression, he left the room.
Wait a minute. Should I go to the garbage village? What nonsense! There I need to use the proper teleportation circle to the Islands!
I quickly got off the bed and caught up with Alan, who had already entered the corridor. When I grabbed his arm, he looked down at my feet in surprise.
“Your feet are probably not healed yet. Please lie down.”
“I’m a prisoner! There’s no way someone like me could be a divine miracle!”
Then Alan’s gaze changed. He looked at me as if I were pitiful and lowered his head.
“We are all miracles and blessings of Eura on this land. Among them, Brother… you’ve received a special miracle.”
What can I say to convince this warm-hearted religious enthusiast? However, my mouth moved without much thought.
“I… I’m a thief!”
“What?”
“I’m the scum who stole His Excellency’s precious belongings and Mother’s heirloom!”
Ah, right. This was it.
If I could show how much of a scoundrel I was, even someone like Alan would give up on dragging me to the temple. A divine miracle wouldn’t involve theft.
I grabbed Alan’s arm and walked straight out into the garden. Alan called from behind, “Wait, Brother! Slow down a bit!” but I never looked back. Alan willingly followed me, perhaps aware that I was still a patient.
I stood in front of the tree where I had hidden Khan’s belongings and pointed upward.
“I hid His Excellency’s belongings in that hole on the tree. Feel free to have someone check it.”
“Why… would you do such a thing?”
“Some servant tried to frame me. So, I really stole it. Then, I turned the tables on her!”
As I confidently explained, Alan chuckled softly.
“You were trying to clear your name.”
“Why are you wrapping it up so nicely? I stole to survive, and then I framed someone else. Why paint me in such a positive light?”
“You were originally framed as a thief by the person you mentioned. I heard they’re now imprisoned in the underground dungeon of this castle.”
Alan remained remarkably calm and composed. Unperturbed, as if I should have naturally done what I did. Frustrated, I shouted back.
“T-that person’s brother committed suicide because of what I did. Isn’t that the epitome of evil?”
“Why did that poor soul make such a choice?”
Alan’s expression darkened and became heavier than before, I responded with joy in my heart.
“Because he liked me. He was chasing after me, but I didn’t pay attention. On top of that, I used and discarded his feelings, leading him to choose death.”
“Indeed, your actions were morally wrong.”
“Really?”
“Both of you.”
Alan raised his glasses and spoke. His voice remained as calm and gentle as before, yet it carried a certain coldness.
“Forcefully imposing feelings or goodwill onto someone becomes poison. While your actions may not be justified, they may have been your way of atonement. Don’t you think so?”
I was at a loss for words. Did he want to take me to the temple this badly, even after I killed someone? And now he’s sugarcoating it?
“Moreover, Brother, you still blame yourself for his death, don’t you? A person who considers other’s feelings to that extent wouldn’t have used and discarded his emotions willingly.”
Of course, it wasn’t me; it was Del Narsis in the game. Nevertheless… Well…
“Even so, why are you siding with me when someone died because of my actions?”
Is this guy a psychopath?
Alan stared at me without blinking, and soon a gentle smile spread across his face. It was a smile that seemed to find solace in something profound.
[Alan Bait’s affinity has increased by +3!]
Huh?
“Brother, no, Lord Narciss.”
Alan took a step closer to me. A subtle fragrance of vitality emanated from him.
“Do you know what the tears of Eura signify?”
He raised his hand and delicately traced under my eyes, where there was no moisture. His fingers, rougher than expected, brushed against the tender skin.
“It’s your conscience. The tears that a truly corrupt person cannot shed.”
“I-I’m not crying.”
“I see it in your heart.”
Please, spare my perfectly fine heart. Despite my awkwardness, Alan spoke with a glint in his eyes.
“If Lord Narcissus had mocked or dismissed the death of that person, I might have questioned my judgment. However, you genuinely mourn his death.”
As I listened to his words, I made a disgusted face and deliberately brushed off Alan’s hand.
“That’s not true. I am complete trash, I’m going to the garbage village!”
“Did you really want to go to the garbage village?”
Alan tilted his head, asking with curiosity. He seemed unaware of why I had been confessing my sins so elaborately. I scowled and intentionally pushed Alan’s hand away.
“If that’s what you desire after visiting the temple, I won’t stop you.”
“R-really?”
“If you had mentioned it earlier, I would have proposed it right away.”
Alan chuckled.
“I mentioned it. I won’t insist if you don’t want to go, even though I’d prefer to stay in the temple with Lord Narcissus.”
As I awkwardly wiped under my nose, Alan smiled warmly and said
“Now then, let’s climb a tree
“…yes?”
“We must bring back his Excellency the Archduke’s Belongings”
With that, Alan removed his shoulder cape, unfastened a couple of buttons all the way to his neck. Then, in the blink of an eye, he started climbing the tree.
“What’s this, a squirrel?”
Without realizing it, I blurted out, and Alan, who was climbing the tree, laughed heartily. The veins on the back of his hand swelled as he gripped a branch.
“It’s an Honored to be called a squirrel, Lord Narciss.”
Although I thought he might be a bit crooked as a priest, he obviously had impressive core strength. Alan quickly found the hole in the tree. He descended much faster than when he climbed up, carrying the gold coins, Bible, pocket watch, and fountain pen that I had hidden in the hole.
“The squirrel has returned.”
Alan said with a smile. He shook off the leaves and dust sticking to his body and tidied up his clothes. He offered his arm to me as if escorting me, wearing a neat and tidy priest’s robe.
“Shall we go? Lord Narcissus. We need to return the items to their owner.”
“…Am I going with you?”
“Of course. Taking responsibility for one’s actions is a virtue.”
It was a reasonable statement. I was planning to return the items to Khan anyway, and since the decision to go to the garbage village was already made, there were fewer variables. With that in mind, I nodded and grabbed Alan’s arm.
“Alright, let’s go.”
[Alan Bait’s affinity has increased by +1!]
…Why are these people so moody? Did I have such character information floating around me all this time?
Was there always such character information floating above me too? But if that were the case, Khan should have mentioned it earlier. I shifted my gaze to the character information floating above Alan’s head. Alan’s eyes followed mine, looking up at his own character information.
[Alan Bate / Priest / Servant of Temperance / Favorability 0 ]
“I don’t have anything above my head…”
Could it be that he can’t see his own? That meant only my character information was visible now. Why?
“Is Del Narcissus your name, Brother?”
Alan asked, seemingly unable to believe it. He regarded it as some kind of divine miracle.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m Del Narcissus.”
“It wasn’t there just a moment ago, why now…”
Alan mumbled the end of his sentence, then spoke again in surprise.
“It disappeared again!”
His blue eyes blinked rapidly behind his glasses as they moved between my face and the space above my head. I also checked the area above me, but my character information was no longer visible to me.
Alan seemed to be deep in thought, then lightly placed his hand on my foot.
“I think, give me a moment.”
Soon, divine power flowed from Alan’s hand. Once again, my foot felt warm and comfortable, and I sensed the joyous circulation of blood throughout my body. After a while, Alan exclaimed.
“Oh.”
His eyes were back above my head.
“It seems to respond to divine power.”
Alan muttered quietly. He appeared moved and overwhelmed with a sense of wonder that couldn’t be put into words. Tears began to well up in his blue eyes.
“It seems that Eura has chosen you, Brother.”
“What… do you mean?”
His round and kind eyes crinkled slightly. Alan gathered both of his hands in front of his chest and devoutly prayed before responding.
“A miracle.”
Simultaneously, a system window appeared before me.
[Alan Bait’s favorability +5!]
“Brother, it’s a miracle bestowed by the gods.”
… Me?
I stared at Alan with a bewildered expression. He spoke earnestly.
“I cannot send you to the garbage village. Please come with me to the temple. I will speak to His Highness about this. Please wait for a moment.”
Alan stood up. It seemed like the characters of responsibility on one shoulder and mission on the other were settling on him. With a determined expression, he left the room.
Wait a minute. Should I go to the garbage village? What nonsense! There I need to use the proper teleportation circle to the Islands!
I quickly got off the bed and caught up with Alan, who had already entered the corridor. When I grabbed his arm, he looked down at my feet in surprise.
“Your feet are probably not healed yet. Please lie down.”
“I’m a prisoner! There’s no way someone like me could be a divine miracle!”
Then Alan’s gaze changed. He looked at me as if I were pitiful and lowered his head.
“We are all miracles and blessings of Eura on this land. Among them, Brother… you’ve received a special miracle.”
What can I say to convince this warm-hearted religious enthusiast? However, my mouth moved without much thought.
“I… I’m a thief!”
“What?”
“I’m the scum who stole His Excellency’s precious belongings and Mother’s heirloom!”
Ah, right. This was it.
If I could show how much of a scoundrel I was, even someone like Alan would give up on dragging me to the temple. A divine miracle wouldn’t involve theft.
I grabbed Alan’s arm and walked straight out into the garden. Alan called from behind, “Wait, Brother! Slow down a bit!” but I never looked back. Alan willingly followed me, perhaps aware that I was still a patient.
I stood in front of the tree where I had hidden Khan’s belongings and pointed upward.
“I hid His Excellency’s belongings in that hole on the tree. Feel free to have someone check it.”
“Why… would you do such a thing?”
“Some servant tried to frame me. So, I really stole it. Then, I turned the tables on her!”
As I confidently explained, Alan chuckled softly.
“You were trying to clear your name.”
“Why are you wrapping it up so nicely? I stole to survive, and then I framed someone else. Why paint me in such a positive light?”
“You were originally framed as a thief by the person you mentioned. I heard they’re now imprisoned in the underground dungeon of this castle.”
Alan remained remarkably calm and composed. Unperturbed, as if I should have naturally done what I did. Frustrated, I shouted back.
“T-that person’s brother committed suicide because of what I did. Isn’t that the epitome of evil?”
“Why did that poor soul make such a choice?”
Alan’s expression darkened and became heavier than before, I responded with joy in my heart.
“Because he liked me. He was chasing after me, but I didn’t pay attention. On top of that, I used and discarded his feelings, leading him to choose death.”
“Indeed, your actions were morally wrong.”
“Really?”
“Both of you.”
Alan raised his glasses and spoke. His voice remained as calm and gentle as before, yet it carried a certain coldness.
“Forcefully imposing feelings or goodwill onto someone becomes poison. While your actions may not be justified, they may have been your way of atonement. Don’t you think so?”
I was at a loss for words. Did he want to take me to the temple this badly, even after I killed someone? And now he’s sugarcoating it?
“Moreover, Brother, you still blame yourself for his death, don’t you? A person who considers other’s feelings to that extent wouldn’t have used and discarded his emotions willingly.”
Of course, it wasn’t me; it was Del Narsis in the game. Nevertheless… Well…
“Even so, why are you siding with me when someone died because of my actions?”
Is this guy a psychopath?
Alan stared at me without blinking, and soon a gentle smile spread across his face. It was a smile that seemed to find solace in something profound.
[Alan Bait’s affinity has increased by +3!]
Huh?
“Brother, no, Lord Narciss.”
Alan took a step closer to me. A subtle fragrance of vitality emanated from him.
“Do you know what the tears of Eura signify?”
He raised his hand and delicately traced under my eyes, where there was no moisture. His fingers, rougher than expected, brushed against the tender skin.
“It’s your conscience. The tears that a truly corrupt person cannot shed.”
“I-I’m not crying.”
“I see it in your heart.”
Please, spare my perfectly fine heart. Despite my awkwardness, Alan spoke with a glint in his eyes.
“If Lord Narcissus had mocked or dismissed the death of that person, I might have questioned my judgment. However, you genuinely mourn his death.”
As I listened to his words, I made a disgusted face and deliberately brushed off Alan’s hand.
“That’s not true. I am complete trash, I’m going to the garbage village!”
“Did you really want to go to the garbage village?”
Alan tilted his head, asking with curiosity. He seemed unaware of why I had been confessing my sins so elaborately. I scowled and intentionally pushed Alan’s hand away.
“If that’s what you desire after visiting the temple, I won’t stop you.”
“R-really?”
“If you had mentioned it earlier, I would have proposed it right away.”
Alan chuckled.
“I mentioned it. I won’t insist if you don’t want to go, even though I’d prefer to stay in the temple with Lord Narcissus.”
As I awkwardly wiped under my nose, Alan smiled warmly and said
“Now then, let’s climb a tree
“…yes?”
“We must bring back his Excellency the Archduke’s Belongings”
With that, Alan removed his shoulder cape, unfastened a couple of buttons all the way to his neck. Then, in the blink of an eye, he started climbing the tree.
“What’s this, a squirrel?”
Without realizing it, I blurted out, and Alan, who was climbing the tree, laughed heartily. The veins on the back of his hand swelled as he gripped a branch.
“It’s an Honored to be called a squirrel, Lord Narciss.”
Although I thought he might be a bit crooked as a priest, he obviously had impressive core strength. Alan quickly found the hole in the tree. He descended much faster than when he climbed up, carrying the gold coins, Bible, pocket watch, and fountain pen that I had hidden in the hole.
“The squirrel has returned.”
Alan said with a smile. He shook off the leaves and dust sticking to his body and tidied up his clothes. He offered his arm to me as if escorting me, wearing a neat and tidy priest’s robe.
“Shall we go? Lord Narcissus. We need to return the items to their owner.”
“…Am I going with you?”
“Of course. Taking responsibility for one’s actions is a virtue.”
It was a reasonable statement. I was planning to return the items to Khan anyway, and since the decision to go to the garbage village was already made, there were fewer variables. With that in mind, I nodded and grabbed Alan’s arm.
“Alright, let’s go.”
[Alan Bait’s affinity has increased by +1!]
…Why are these people so moody? Did I have such character information floating around me all this time?
