Chapter 64……………………………………………
Roel’s gaze moved from my shoulder to my arm.
“Is the bruised area okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
A bruise could easily be healed with the power of healing.
Wait—no, I couldn’t use the power of healing.
If I used it, all the Alpha pheromones that Schwartz had given me would disappear.
And I didn’t want to ask Cassius for help either.
I took the remaining holy water.
“I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare the bathwater.”
While the bathwater was being prepared, I stripped off my clothes and sprinkled the holy water over the bruises on my arms and legs.
The stinging sensation disappeared.
Soon enough, the bathwater was ready.
“I’ll bathe on my own. Thank you for helping.”
“Understood. I’ll wait in the next room.”
Roel disappeared.
I rinsed off outside the bathtub, then stepped into the clean water. The warm water embraced me gently.
For the first time, the feeling of safety hit me fully.
I stared absentmindedly at the rippling water.
I had almost died.
My startled heart still rippled like water, but more than that, I was angry at myself.
If I had power like Mineva’s, I would have easily incapacitated the people who tried to kill me and escaped safely.
Seeing a priest who could properly use the power of healing made me feel even more frustrated.
“If only I had power…”
I murmured, curling my body inward.
I felt utterly helpless.
But I couldn’t let myself fall completely into despair.
─Foolish. You’ll become strong once you awaken!
Lucius, eavesdropping on my muttering, barked.
Splash! Startled, I lifted my head with a loud splash.
This time, not only Lucius but Ash had appeared as well.
‘Right, those ghosts have been sticking to me!’
Appearing without warning, anytime, anywhere.
“Respect my privacy! Get out immediately!”
Lucius wore a solemn expression.
─Having completed rigorous training, we no longer harbor lustful thoughts. Don’t worry.
“I’m not worried about that! I’m worried about me!”
─Your training is insufficient, priest.
“Yes, compared to Your Grace Lucius, who has lived for two thousand years, I’m just a fledgling!”
─True enough.
Lucius, who had been silent, thinking deeply, suddenly turned his head toward the wall.
Ash followed him.
─Now you won’t be distracted, right?
No, you foolish ghosts.
You think it’s enough to just not look at me.
The problem is that you jumped out from where I was trying to rest!
At this moment, I wished my power were fire, not healing.
Then I could have immediately exorcised those damn ghosts!
Mineva had said it before: exorcising ghosts was originally the duty of a healing priest.
Now there was even more reason to increase my power.
Because of these stalker ghosts, I couldn’t relax and enjoy a bath.
After leaving the bathtub, I dried off and changed into clean pajamas.
By then, they had already taken their places by the bed.
‘They aren’t like this while I sleep, right?’
I felt as if I might be pinned down by the ghosts of sacred ancient priests.
By the way, one was missing.
“What about Mineva?”
Ash trembled at my question.
I had thought from their earlier quarrel that they seemed close—but apparently, they were quite special to each other.
Lucius, observing Ash, finally spoke.
─She cannot leave the sanctuary.
I remembered what happened that night.
She had entered Cassius’ room, taking control of her own body, and let out a sharp scream.
Thankfully, she didn’t seem to have died.
‘Why am I even worrying about them?’
They were already dead.
Besides, they only appeared when they needed to, just to startle me!
“How long will you two stay by my side?”
─Until you awaken.
“Just tell me how. I want to awaken immediately.”
─As I said before. Help us.
“You mean bringing the diary?”
─Yes.
Lucius’ diary was with Cassius, if I remembered correctly.
I had to have a serious conversation with him anyway.
Asking him once about it now wouldn’t hurt.
“Alright. I’ll retrieve the diary, but promise me something: you two go back to the sanctuary.”
─If you only bring the diary, we will leave.
“No. Go back right now.”
Lucius paused, then asked.
─How can I trust that?
“I painfully realized how powerless I am today. If there’s a way for me to awaken, I’ll find it no matter what.”
They exchanged a glance.
It didn’t take long for them to decide.
─We’ll trust you for now. If you break your promise, we’ll appear in your dreams. You’ll suffer from nightmares every day.
─Nightmares? We’d rather possess your body and create an entire catalog of embarrassing events.
They chuckled together, clearly entertained.
As expected, they were demons to me.
“Fine. I understand, so go back now.”
─Keep your promise.
“Yes.”
─Good. Let’s trust you once.
The two ghosts vanished.
I wondered if they were satisfied with my answer or just hiding again, when suddenly Lucius reappeared.
─Ah, I forgot to mention. That one is in the same building as you.
He still hadn’t left!
“Go. If you appear again, I really won’t do anything!”
─Understood.
They dispersed like smoke and disappeared.
They really left, right?
I stared at the empty air where Lucius and Ash had been.
Even without their urging, I was determined to retrieve the diary to awaken my power.
To find it, I needed to meet Cassius.
Thinking of him, the emotions I felt earlier surged again.
Anger? Resentment? I didn’t know, but the feeling kept welling up.
I climbed onto the soft bed and buried my face in the pillow.
Thinking of Cassius only made me angrier.
‘So shameless.’
He knows all my thoughts.
I wanted to know his thoughts too. Through conversation.
And then I wanted to see him immediately.
Roel, having checked Sonia’s wounds, came to Cassius’ room.
Cassius, not resting comfortably in his room, was drinking while dressed in ceremonial attire.
“Your Grace, I have seen Priest Sonia.”
“How are her injuries?”
“They have already been healed with the power of healing. But there are slight scars remaining, so I brought some holy water.”
Sonia wore a white priest robe. Her shoulder was red, and it looked injured, so Roel was made to inspect it.
Seeing her injuries on her body made it feel as though my own shoulder ached.
At Cassius’ gesture, Roel bowed and left.
Alone, he drank the wine set before him.
He reflected on the conversation with Sonia.
“You know my thoughts perfectly. As you know, there’s so much to say between us.”
Her voice was full of displeasure.
Even drunk, her irritating tone lingered in his mind.
He hadn’t used his ability at that moment.
After all that had happened, he just wanted to rest today and speak the next day.
‘I thought it would be okay.’
But seeing Sonia avoid him hurt him.
The cup emptied quickly, and he poured more wine.
A sharp pain arose in his chest.
“Ugh!”
Staggering, he grabbed his chest.
Clang! The glass and bottle on the table fell and shattered.
The noise made the paladins guarding outside burst the door open.
“I apologize for entering without permission. Your Grace, what’s wrong?”
He wanted to say he was fine, but all he could do was grit his teeth from the severe pain.
It felt like his chest had been carved with a knife—the curse of his ability.
He had used his ability heavily in a short period.
And the more he forcibly restrained it, the more the backlash seemed to gnaw at his body.
“Your Grace? Are you alright?”
The paladins surrounded him.
He endured the pain and spoke.
“It’s… just the effects of the alcohol.”
Sweat beaded his forehead.
Even at a glance, he looked unwell.
“Shall I bring holy water?”
Holy water couldn’t fix this.
“I need Sonia… no.”
How shameless, to think of seeking her after being hated.
Swallowing the pain, he forced his voice to sound calm.
“It’s fine. I want to rest, so all of you leave.”
“We’ll tidy the room.”
“No, leave. Do not let anyone in until I command.”
The paladins reluctantly left.
Cassius’ fingers trembled slightly.
The side effects of his ability were that severe.
The bed was right in front of him, yet he could barely approach it.
“Ha… ha…”
He collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily.
Now he understood why those consumed by curses often went mad.
The pain was so intense he wanted to let go of all sanity.
His vision blurred.
At this rate, he would forget even that Sonia hated him.
That might actually be for the best.
At that thought, creak—the closed door opened.
Outside, Sonia and the paladins were standing.
He hadn’t called her.
Hadn’t ordered the paladins to let her in.
So, Cassius thought, this must be a dream he sees while losing consciousness from the pain.
