Chapter 074 ….
Wearing such a robe and a suspicious veil, and holding an exotic staff in one hand while walking through the streets with Kalebrin, all eyes were on us.
Even Cernuan Lumière, being on average 10 cm taller than people from this world, would have been easily stopped and questioned by a patrolling guard.
The guard slightly showed his badge and asked,
“May I check your pass or identification for a moment?”
The Centa guard wore a practical deep-blue uniform resembling a patrol outfit, with a long sword at his waist.
Just like the guards in the game.
Unfortunately, I had no pass or ID.
I handed the bread bag to Kalebrin for a moment and removed my veil and the hood of my robe.
“I don’t have a pass or ID, so I’m not sure how to prove my identity.”
I smiled and adjusted my bangs slightly, and the guard’s expression noticeably changed.
“Uh…! Could you be the Saint who came from the Empire?”
“So someone recognized me.”
“Of course. There are rumors everywhere that you go around healing people with miraculous power.”
I was aware that my reputation had spread somewhat, but even a local patrolling guard knew my face?
‘Well, there aren’t many people with features like mine.’
Still… something felt off.
“I just had a day off and decided to explore the city. Centa’s city is incredibly beautiful.”
‘Weakness detected.’
[system: The target’s level is too high to access.]
Well, it makes sense a guard might have a high level.
But… this isn’t just any ordinary guard. Someone casually patrolling here wouldn’t fit this profile.
“I’m glad the city pleased you. Centa values harmony between nature and humans, so it has a charm different from the Empire.”
“Of course. I especially like seeing people of various races living together. The Empire, as you know, is homogeneous, so I don’t often see diverse people.”
The guard’s face, partially hidden by his hat, twitched slightly.
Did my words hit a nerve somehow? He looks human, but maybe he isn’t? Hm, that might be a stretch.
‘Maybe he’s just a diligent guard, checking identification because I look suspicious.’
Lately, too many incidents have made me overly cautious.
‘Yeah. Kalebrin is with me, and I have the defensive relic. Even if someone tried, they wouldn’t scratch me or tear my clothes.’
Because of frequent attacks, I invested fully in upgrading my defensive relic, gaining even minor fire resistance, like “Cardilla, do I have to walk through fire for you to believe it?”
I felt reassured. I could now see what Kalebrin was doing.
She was eyeing the snake inside the bread bag, waving her hand around as if trying to pierce through it.
‘If this person even thinks of harming me, she’ll immediately unleash a curse.’
I smiled at the guard.
“Then I’ll continue my sightseeing.”
“Hmm, since fate brought us together, may I help guide you? I can act as a guard, and having worked in the capital for seven years, I know this place well.”
No.
‘I was thinking about relaxing my guard a bit, but you coming out like this just makes it more suspicious…!’
I politely declined.
“That might be difficult. My sister here is acting as my guard, so it’s fine.”
The guard looked taken aback. Surely, they wouldn’t send a clueless person to contact me.
“Do you not need directions? Maren is quite a complex city.”
This is just simple… kindness. Perhaps admiration, even.
‘Can I really interpret it that way?’
I acted normally. Very normally. I kept my distance and stayed wary.
That way, no one could sneak up on me, and I wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
A reasonable decision.
“I have a talent for navigating streets. Thank you for your kindness, kind guard.”
Making an enemy would just complicate life. I used my power of healing and purification to lightly tap the guard’s shoulder.
“You feel light. This must be the Saint’s power…”
I wish they’d call me the Ascetic, not Saint… but I can’t help it since they’re from Centa.
“It is divine power. I hope you will no longer suffer.”
I didn’t say anything further, as talking too much drains my energy quickly.
“Th-the Ascetic… keeps eating my tarts…”
Kalebrin said, sulking.
She couldn’t see the snake and was frustrated. The middle of the snake’s body bulged inside the bag.
It had eaten only the fruit, leaving tart shells and cheese behind—so it wanted fruit.
“I’ll buy a few more on the way. This time for Yelena and Kalebrin as well.”
I held the snake, now slow from overeating, across my shoulders. It was damp and cold.
“Mm…! We should stop by a fruit shop on the way.”
I wondered why it couldn’t talk like the small spirits I saw at Elar’s tears.
‘Maybe I’ll ask Erendor more about spirits when he arrives…’
I arrived at the second sub-quest location to get the shoulder guard.
On the way, I spotted a fruit shop and bought various unknown berries and tropical fruits.
The snake ate well, and Kalebrin picked a few, staining her fingertips red.
The cemetery we arrived at was shrouded in fog, with the sun slanting through around 4 p.m.
[Rian’s Grave]
I glanced around. Fog filled the area, and the cemetery was slightly colder than elsewhere. No one else was here.
So Garend hasn’t arrived yet.
‘The cemetery looks messy. Is it neglected?’
While waiting for Garend, I purified the cemetery with my power.
‘Walking around anyway cleans it, so why not tidy it up while waiting.’
Having played the role of a fraudulent cult leader for so long, it’s nice to do some good. Not that I really believe in Buddhist karma…
‘What if I accidentally purify any ghosts here?’
Kalebrin sat under a large tree, reading with a fruit like an apple in her mouth.
‘This seems sufficient. Pulling out weeds would ruin the appearance.’
Heading back toward [Rian’s Grave], I heard a voice.
“Who are you…?”
I turned to see NPC Garend. He spoke first without me approaching.
“…I’m just a passing traveler.”
“A traveler came to this cursed grave where no one comes?”
If I aroused suspicion, he might not give me the item. I removed my robe hood.
“I’ve just recently arrived in Maren and stopped by while sightseeing. Please don’t be too suspicious.”
I folded my veil neatly into my pocket.
“I just wanted to see souls resting without suffering.”
“…A saint from a neighboring country.”
Even showing my face didn’t remove his wariness.
“Quite a few people seem to know me now.”
“Having a foreign saint visit boring Centa and show off is quite stimulating. Especially if that saint uses strange power and heals someone who seemed dead without touching them—the rumors spread naturally. Even a retired fool would know.”
Hmph. Seems he doesn’t like me just for being a ‘Saint’.
Honestly, I don’t care if I don’t get the shoulder guard. It’d be nice to give it to Yelena, but it’s not essential.
I’m not a saint who’d hand an item to someone not yet a follower.
Still, it’s worth trying. Leaving someone hostile could spread rumors, but a saint cleaning an abandoned grave gives a better image.
Centa is also a place I’ll eventually need to have under my control.
This calls for the “Do you know the Way?” approach.
“Calling yourself a relic isn’t good, brother. To me, you seem to have deep pain in your heart. You look greatly troubled.”
‘Weakness detected.’
[system: Skill activated.]
[Skill Activated | Weakness Detection Lv. 2]
[Target: Garend]
Do you wish to learn the weakness?
[Y | N]
‘Y.’
Loading…
“Hmph… You think you can deceive me? Futile. The Empire’s sly agents act the same way in Centa! They fail with force, so now they try to dominate culturally. How dare you come even to a comrade’s grave!”
[‘Garend’ Weakness Analysis Complete]
Rage: The target is extremely angry at you.
Suspicion: The target distrusts you.
Illness: The target has a lung disease.
‘He has an illness? That makes things easier.’
[‘This was the resting place of comrades who died in the war between Centa and the Empire. That sly saint, an agent of the Empire, just came and spoke flattering words!’]
I erased my smile and looked sorrowful.
“I deeply understand your feelings, brother.”
Garend felt veins bulge on his forehead.
With waist-length white hair and a face like a parasitic sibling, his complexion lacked any life.
He sounded like a con artist. As his initial rage subsided, a subtle sense of intimidation remained.
Even his pitiful expression radiated authority and guilt.
‘Why did I speak so harshly earlier…? No, harshly… He is the Empire’s agent. The enemy of my comrades. Liam died cold on the battlefield without seeing his child…’
Seeing that pitiful expression made Garend avert his gaze.
“Now that you’ve heard everything, leave.”
“I didn’t come to comfort without knowing the battlefield. I understand what losing precious comrades means.”
Garend clenched his fists.
“If you truly understood, you wouldn’t have come here!”
“This land holds those dear to you. I knew even visiting here could be disrespectful… yet I came.”
Garend slowly lifted his head. The saint’s eyes in front of him reflected empathy for his suffering.
“Coming here may cause pain for those left behind, but I thought it right to face the Empire’s wrongdoing rather than let them deny it.”
“…!”
