Chapter 5

Samuel did not disappoint the temple’s expectations.

He found me far too easily.

Since the temple trusted his abilities, they would feel reassured and reopen the city gates. The strict inspections would return to normal.

If the city inspections became looser, that would be good news for me as well.

As if to prove my assumption correct, the random street inspections that had been happening earlier were nowhere to be seen.

If things stayed like this, I might be able to find a cargo wagon to sneak out of the city.

Even if not, my options had increased.

Touching the temple treasure hanging around my neck, I calmly organized my thoughts.

If I removed this, I could at least divert Samuel’s attention for a short time.

The problem was that the time I would gain would be extremely limited.

And within that short time, I had to leave the city for good.

Contacting the underground broker again to arrange a wagon or horse would take too long.

Honestly, I thought there would be at least some hidden hole in the city walls.

But it seemed the walls were managed much more strictly than I expected.

Should I try looking for underground waterways instead?

While thinking of several alternatives, I eventually arrived at a grocery store.

Perhaps surprised by the unexpected destination, Samuel—who had been silent the whole time—finally spoke.

“Do you cook your own meals?”

“Why? Do I look like someone who’s never touched water with her own hands?”

In truth, I had never cooked anything myself.

But I was very confident in pretending to be experienced at things.

Someone born in the Roam family had to be able to deceive everyone.

Just like the dramatic act my mother put on—pretending to collapse from missing her daughter.

“You don’t have to trouble yourself with such work.”

“It’s a hobby.”

I casually picked up a basket of acorns and lifted my eyes.

High in the sky, a bird appeared as a tiny dot circling in the distance.

I calmly turned my attention back to the market stall.

“…I wonder if the meat here is fresh.”

I went from butcher shop to butcher shop searching for raw meat that had just been slaughtered, blood still dripping.

Samuel seemed puzzled by my incomprehensible behavior.

But perhaps it seemed too trivial to question, because he didn’t stop me.

Maybe he even thought I truly enjoyed cooking.

My hands had the special ability to produce the worst possible result no matter what I touched.

Yet no one ever knew this when I lived with the Roam family.

Even the handkerchief I gave Maxel as a gift had actually been embroidered by a master craftsman.

Everyone believed it was my work.

I had heard Lilia was good with her hands.

She was skilled at household tasks and enjoyed making small crafts. She often gave handmade items and snacks to acquaintances.

Even the handkerchief Maxel used was made by Lilia.

In many ways, Lilia was the complete opposite of me.

She came from a ruined family.

Yet by chance she became acquainted with a minor noble and came to the capital.

By chance she caught the attention of a mediocre count who sponsored her.

And by chance she received the rare opportunity to attend a royal palace banquet.

The rumors about her life were filled entirely with lucky coincidences.

It was nothing like my life, which had been perfectly arranged from the moment I was born.

“Revived One?”

The quiet voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

The butcher stood awkwardly, holding the wrapped raw meat, glancing nervously at Samuel.

I reached out to take it, but Samuel extended his hand first.

“I’ll carry it.”

He seemed to think I hesitated because I didn’t want to touch the meat myself.

At first I intended to take it from him.

But then I changed my mind.

There was a lot of it, it was heavy, and it smelled strongly of blood.

If he wanted to misunderstand and help me, there was no reason to refuse.

“Then let’s return to the room.”

“You’re not cooking today?”

“No. I got tired just buying the ingredients.”

“You intend to leave raw meat in the room?”

“Why?”

Leaving raw meat in a small room would obviously make it smell.

The freshness would also decrease, and it might even spoil.

Since he had seen how much effort I put into finding freshly slaughtered meat, my behavior must have seemed strange.

Unfortunately, I had no intention of explaining.

In fact, I secretly hoped he would misunderstand me in a different way.

“What, do you think I’ll use it for some kind of dark magic?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You know that wouldn’t work anyway. Evil things prefer living life. What could anyone do with dead meat?”

I muttered casually.

A cold expression briefly crossed Samuel’s face.

It wasn’t frightening at all.

“I’m just trying to make things difficult for you. I’m tormenting you.”

“With this?”

“Yes. I plan to serve you food made from that meat.”

I visited butcher shops searching for unnecessary fresh meat.

I would let it spoil.

Then I would cook it and feed it to you.

Because I wanted to torment you.

My words were easy to understand.

Anyone capable of listening would clearly hear the malice in them.

I stared at Samuel, hoping to see even a trace of disgust on his face.

But his gray eyes remained calm.

“God grants hardships in many forms. Accepting them is natural for His servant.”

“…Let’s go back already. I’m tired.”

Ah, how exhausting.

Perhaps my feelings showed on my face, because Samuel asked with slight curiosity.

“If tormenting me requires unnecessary effort, is it really worth doing?”

“Are you asking why I would torment you?”

“Yes.”

“Evil is evil. It doesn’t need a grand reason. Haven’t you heard the rumors about me? I was famous for being cruel.”

“Now that you are the Revived One, you can abandon whatever worldly name you once had.”

“Like you did?”

The mocking feeling disappeared.

In its place came a cold chill.

Samuel did not answer.

But I already knew the answer would be yes.

Without slowing my steps, I spoke indifferently.

“I didn’t devote myself to the temple.”

“But you are the Revived One.”

For a moment it felt as if bile rose in my throat.

It was true that I intended to abandon my old worldly name.

But not because I was the Revived One.

“My name isn’t ‘Revived One,’ Sir Samuel.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I felt a small regret.

Why was I even trying to converse with a fanatic who would accept even incomprehensible malice as God’s trial?

Judging by his attitude, he probably didn’t even know my name.

“God—”

“If you keep preaching—”

I suddenly stopped walking.

Pointing my chin toward the bag in Samuel’s hand, I warned him seriously.

“God will give you the trial of eating raw meat.”

Samuel fell silent.

Even he probably didn’t want to eat dripping raw meat.

Thanks to that, the walk back became a little quieter.

For the first time, his devotion to God was actually useful.

* * *

The night wind was cold.

More than an hour had passed since I opened the window, and the air inside the room had become as cold as outside.

I was waiting with raw meat hanging on the windowsill.

Was it too much to hope that the bloody smell would spread into the sky?

I was watching the window cautiously, worried that some useless animal might come instead of the one I wanted.

Then suddenly, a large dark shadow swooped down.

[Anelli!]

The squirrel that had been nibbling on acorns jumped onto my lap in surprise.

I stroked its back and looked toward the window.

When I saw the white head of a bird sticking in from outside, I let out a sigh of relief.

“You’re late.”

At my whispering complaint, the eagle flapped its wings.

[You were waiting for me, Anelli?]

“Yes.”

When I nodded honestly, the eagle’s fierce eyes stared at me.

Its sharp eyes made it look angry, but the eagle actually had a rather gentle temperament.

Although it had once attacked the squirrel, after I started giving it raw meat it never tried again.

[How did you know I arrived?]

“How wouldn’t I?”

I laughed softly at the obvious question.

You were flying around the sky shouting my name.

[You heard me?]

“Yes.”

Even knowing that I was the only one who could hear that voice, my heart still raced in case someone else might hear.

Every time I heard the eagle shouting my name, my eyes kept turning toward the sky, which made me nervous.

“You came back to help me, right?”

[You gave me raw meat! Thanks to you, my chicks are growing well!]

The father eagle had originally appeared in the temple courtyard searching for food for his chicks.

That was why he was especially grateful to me.

I had helped feed his children.

…Even animals know how to care for their offspring.

I pushed aside the sudden thought and leaned closer toward the eagle’s head.

“Did you find a way?”

[I told my older brother!]

The eagle lifted its yellow beak proudly.

Older brother?

[He said he can pick you up and carry you.]

“What?”

My voice rose in surprise.

Immediately I covered my mouth and glanced nervously toward the door.

Samuel was still outside.

Biting my tongue slightly, I lowered my voice again.

“There’s a bird that big?”

[Yes!]

The eagle’s confident eyes suggested he wasn’t lying.

“When can it happen?”

[You need to be somewhere my brother can grab you.]

If the bird was large enough to carry a person, it wouldn’t be possible in a narrow alley.

Then maybe the city’s central plaza?

While thinking carefully, I glanced toward the door.

I still had to shake off Samuel.

Touching the magic artifact around my neck, I suddenly looked down at the squirrel sitting on my lap.

When it came to speed, there were few creatures faster than this little one.

“Good. This will be the final operation.”

The squirrel, clutching its acorns, looked up at me in confusion.

Meeting its eyes, I smiled.

In the squirrel’s clear eyes, I could faintly see my own reflection.