CHAPTER 52…………………………………………
So… you’re saying you’re going to enter Cassius’ room and steal the things he keeps? Right now?
“Did you hear me?”
─Stealing is bad!
“Watch your words. I’m not stealing; these are originally His Highness Lucius’ belongings, so I’m just retrieving them!”
─Who would believe someone showing up claiming to be the owner of something lost two thousand years ago?
“Uh, they would. The diary even has the name clearly written in it.”
Hearing that it was a diary with a name on it, there was nothing more to say.
Still, I couldn’t just passively accept her words and watch my body steal from Cassius.
─No. As the owner of this body, I can’t allow it.
At that moment, Minerva muttered a small prayer-like chant and activated her healing power.
A small green orb spun around my body and soon transformed into a sharp, sword-like shape.
Startled by its threatening appearance, I froze.
“We’ve waited in that darkness for two thousand years. Now that the summit is within reach, if you interfere, I will eliminate you.”
─Healing powers don’t have purification abilities…
I’d never even heard of such a thing!
“What are you talking about? Originally, exorcising spirits was our domain, the priests of healing.”
─……
“You can be easily destroyed, so stay still.”
I bit my lower lip tightly. I had no way to resist since I didn’t have control of my body at the moment.
Seeing me give up, Minerva showed no further hostility.
She dispersed the activated power and muttered,
“I’ll return everything once this is over.”
Then she started moving on her own.
There was no other choice.
Even if just to make sure she didn’t do anything strange, I had to follow her.
I expected her to head toward the palace where the priests stayed, but Minerva went to the topmost floor of the same annex as me.
It was different from the room I knew Cassius stayed in.
“Surprised? You didn’t know it was here?”
I didn’t know Cassius stayed in the same annex as well, as she said.
But I had only just regained consciousness after being out for several days, and Cassius hadn’t given me a long explanation, probably intending to tell me later after letting me rest.
I didn’t really need to pay attention to Minerva’s story, yet I felt a small pang of disappointment.
If it had been the Cassius I knew, he would have explained that we were in the same palace even under those circumstances.
But I had no reason to show my restless feelings to Minerva, so I kept my mouth shut.
Without needing an answer from me, Minerva led the way.
“You can follow, but you won’t be able to seek help from anyone else.”
─……
“Not just any ghost can talk to the living. You won’t even be visible to them.”
I had learned that much during priest training.
For a deceased spirit to influence the outside world—like speaking or moving objects—it had to be a deeply vengeful evil spirit.
Ignoring her words, I followed my body.
She also quieted down, moving silently even with her footsteps barely making a sound. Since we were going to steal, she probably wanted to move stealthily.
Watching her like that, I couldn’t help but speak up.
─You’ll just get stopped at the entrance.
“Because of the guards?”
Exactly.
Holy knights always stood watch around Cassius’ room.
─How do you know so well?
“When I came here attached to your body, I scanned the entire building once.”
She used my body as a means of transportation!
The thought of three ghosts dangling and following me sent chills down my spine.
Although I didn’t feel itching in my spectral form, my whole body felt twitchy.
─Without asking?
“What choice do I have? If our voices reached anyone other than you…”
Her whisper paused briefly.
“…it’s only His Highness. To intervene with someone else, we’d have to use our power, and then we might become evil spirits. I’d rather not.”
I didn’t understand what she meant by the connection between Cassius and me.
─Why me, then?
“Because you are a priest with the same healing power.”
Hearing this from a senior priest from two thousand years ago, I felt nothing but worry, not admiration.
No matter what she felt inside, on the outside, it was my body.
If I got caught breaking into Cassius’ room, I’d be the one at a loss.
Minerva stopped walking. Seeing the three holy knights pacing around, it seemed Cassius’ room was nearby.
I got scared. Afraid I’d become a criminal.
─Let’s go back. There are three knights.
“That won’t be a problem at all. Watch carefully.”
A faint green light flickered at Minerva’s fingertips. She was activating her healing power. Then, she drew a small figure in the air.
Curious about what she planned, I watched her actions closely.
From the figure Minerva drew, smoke spread and dispersed around.
The knights on guard started yawning one by one and slowly slid down the walls, collapsing.
They had fallen asleep.
─How did you do that…?
“When you feel warm and full, you get sleepy, right? I did the same thing.”
It seemed similar to feeling satisfied and falling asleep from fullness.
I felt a little thrilled to have acquired new knowledge, seeing healing powers used in such a way.
“Now that it’s spread inside the room, shall we go in?”
That meant she had put Cassius to sleep as well.
With the witnesses gone, Minerva boldly walked in and opened the door wide.
She froze just as she was confidently entering.
I, following behind, had no choice but to stiffen.
Unlike the holy knights collapsed outside, Cassius was fine.
“What brings you here?”
He got up from the bed while straightening his disheveled clothes.
‘Gasp! Is it because I’m a ghost that his night vision is sharper?’
Because of my spectral vision, I could see him clearly even in the dim room.
He had gotten up from sleep, wearing a thin robe, and through the open robe, I could see his wide chest wrapped in black thorns and clearly defined abs.
Though hastily arranged, the thin clothing still exposed his bare skin.
It felt almost scandalously seductive for a clergyman, so I looked away.
In my ghostly form, it was just embarrassing. Had it been my body, my heart might have exploded from the excitement.
Minerva clasped her hands behind her back.
“…Isn’t it time for sleep?”
She slowly drew the same figure she had used to put the knights to sleep.
“You, on the other hand…”
His usually gentle voice made me start worrying about tomorrow immediately.
‘He seems very angry.’
It was natural to feel upset if someone suddenly barged in while he was sleeping.
Moreover, all the knights at the entrance were asleep.
Even if he caught me and handed me over to the others, there would be nothing to say.
The situation was absurd the more I thought about it.
‘How do I fix this…!’
Even if I returned to my true form after being caught, I’d still be a thief.
Unlike my panicked self, Minerva calmly finished drawing her figure.
“Then, sweet dreams, Your Highness.”
At the same time, smoke rose from the figure she had drawn.
She made the smoke thick enough to fill the room. Cassius’ body was shrouded in it.
It was so smoky that even with my spectral vision, I couldn’t see him.
“So easy.”
Feeling satisfied, Minerva shook her hands.
But her composure lasted only a moment. A muscular arm suddenly emerged from the smoke and grabbed her wrist tightly.
It was Cassius. He spoke.
“You take your pranks too far.”
Startled, Minerva quickly changed her expression to a calm smile.
“I discovered a new way to use divine power. I wanted to test it.”
She spoke with her eyes lowered, as if apologetic.
“Sorry for disturbing your rest.”
What a brazen lie!
I didn’t want to hear her words in my voice, so I covered my ears.
“You’ll forgive me, right?”
The strange voice embarrassed me instead.
Forgive her? Are you serious?
She attacked first without warning. I wouldn’t forgive her either.
Cassius released Minerva’s wrist.
“Of course.”
Relieved, I removed my hands from my ears.
Even if we were caught for sacrilege, we could hardly complain. And yet he truly forgave her?
“Th-thank you…”
Before she could finish, Cassius grabbed Minerva’s neck firmly.
The force startled both her and me.
“I only watch over Sonia.”
“Your Highness, don’t you know my face? I’m Sonia.”
“Shut your mouth. That’s not the name you should speak.”
“……”
“Where is Sonia?”
Realizing her identity was discovered, Minerva grit her teeth.
“So weak… did you notice through your ability?”
“I don’t need abilities to know. Sonia doesn’t wear such a shallow smile.”
“Hah.”
She clicked her tongue, clearly exasperated.
It made sense. Even I, in my body, could barely distinguish the smiles—they were identical.
Whatever the case, Cassius recognized me.
That alone made me happy.
But the feeling didn’t last long.
“Ugh.”
Minerva groaned.
Cassius was gripping her neck so tightly that the veins on his arms stood out.
“I ask again. What have you done with Sonia?”
“Guess for yourself. You can read minds, right?”
Startled by her words, I responded:
─What do you mean by that?
