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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“What kind of favor…?”
“She formally requested to join our party.”
At my words, Colmail’s gaze shifted to Annelise.
She naturally lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.
This was prearranged with the party, a fabricated story to smooth Annelise’s integration into the group.
“That she would make such a request means…?”
“Well, frankly, given her past behavior…”
“…I agree. It’s not easy to trust a traitor.”
“Still, it’s a bit unusual for someone to want to join a warlock’s party, like mine. So… I decided to give her a chance.”
Colmail looked surprised at my words.
“So then…?”
“Even if I have Doriem branch’s guarantee, I’m still a warlock. It’s difficult to recruit additional members… so I intend to accept her as a temporary party member until I officially become an authorized warlock. We’ll work together on requests.”
It was just for show.
I glanced at Kayla and Athena. Fortunately, they showed no change in expression.
“That’s good news.”
It was probably the best possible outcome. Annelise must have been a burden to both the royal family and Colmail.
Especially for Colmail, who had been, to put it bluntly, saddled with Annelise by the royal family. He would naturally welcome my taking her off his hands.
Colmail looked at Annelise and said,
“Good decision. Although you are a warlock, Inha, you’re quite different from the warlocks known to the public.”
“…Yes. I’ve realized that while working with him. Enough to deeply regret my past actions.”
“I’m glad you’ve come to your senses. I pray you seize this opportunity.”
With Colmail’s well wishes, our conversation ended.
We headed to the inn and finally unpacked, able to rest properly for a day.
Annelise was still under surveillance, but not confined to her room as before.
Under the watch of the Specter and Cereo, she was granted more freedom, and although she expressed gratitude, she mostly stayed in her room, as she had when first confined.
The next day, the Mercenary Guild sent someone for us. The client had arrived.
I gathered all the ancient books and went to the guild with my party. They had expressed their desire to accompany me, so I didn’t object.
In the same reception room as yesterday, Colmail and Kriang were already seated, waiting for us. Both wore serious expressions.
It seemed they had already shared the information I had provided.
Despite this, they greeted us politely.
“It seems you’ve already spoken.”
Both nodded in affirmation.
“It seems we have much to discuss amongst ourselves,” Kriang said.
I responded with a puzzled look,
“That’s all I had to report to the branch manager. If there’s more to discuss…”
“We’ve decided… that this matter is too difficult for the Doriem branch of the Mercenary Guild to handle alone. Therefore, we intend to share the relevant information with Viscount Doriem.”
Kriang looked at me and continued,
“Because of that, you’ll likely meet with the viscount directly. We’ll also need to explain the royal family’s position. And lastly…”
He hesitated for a moment, then continued resolutely,
“We’d like to ask you in detail about the ruins.”
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Everything Kriang said was unexpected.
“You’re saying I have to meet the viscount?”
“Yes. We need Annelise to explain this matter… but I hear you’ve accepted her into your party. First, I’d like to thank you for that significant decision. The Demihuman Alliance, especially the dark elves, will be grateful.”
“I’m only giving her a chance.”
“Although Annelise made a mistake, she’s not incompetent. I don’t think she’ll let this opportunity slip.”
Indeed, since I couldn’t truly let her go, I didn’t add anything further.
“What is the royal family’s position?”
“That… well, it’s related to the ruins.”
I felt a slight unease.
Could it be that the royal family already knew about the ruins?
However, Kriang’s following words revealed that their objective was different from mine.
“I heard it was a ruin with religious significance.”
“…That’s our assumption.”
“Were there any signs related to a religion other than the Goddess Religion, specifically, the Earth Religion?”
I hesitated momentarily at Kriang’s question.
“…No. I don’t think there was anything related to the Earth Religion.”
It wasn’t actually related to the Earth Religion.
Kriang looked momentarily disappointed at my answer.
“If you wish, I can tell you the location of the ruins.”
“Would you?”
“Take what you need. It seems the royal family isn’t interested in such findings.”
Since there was no reason to go back there, I felt no regret.
However, the conversation couldn’t end here.
Naturally. Although not this ruin, I had found traces of the Earth Religion in another ruin.
And I had buried it completely through a deal.
The cave behind the waterfall. I buried it completely and only took the rewards.
The Chalice of Abundance and Mother’s Embrace obtained from that place were completely corrupted and now in my possession.
Along with the ‘map.’
Therefore, if the royal family was tracing those remnants, I needed to know.
Kriang slowly nodded at my question.
“That’s right. We’re not interested in the findings of the ruins.”
I subtly glanced at my companions.
Kayla and Baldur were fine, but Athena and Annelise couldn’t hide their slight agitation.
It seemed Athena was concerned about the existence of the ‘map,’ and Annelise was reminded of the ‘mistake’ she had made there.
“You’re tracing remnants of the Earth Religion… Is this because of the Goddess Religion, or rather, the Holy Empire?”
“…Do you know something?”
Many thoughts flashed through my mind in that brief moment.
Should I confirm it here?
What were the risks and benefits of confirming it?
Wouldn’t it be better to simply deny it?
However, the royal family was already openly searching for traces of the Earth Religion.
Yet, the Goddess Religion’s position was too firm in the previous iteration.
If the Septran royal family had found traces of the Earth Religion, something should have happened. But there was no such incident before I was captured by my master.
Especially since the Earth Religion remained a small, insignificant sect.
That meant they hadn’t found any traces of the Earth Religion.
And the reason for that was…
The dungeon behind the waterfall. It fell into the hands of the Goddess Religion.
This map also fell into their hands. As a result, all traces of the Earth Religion were effectively erased.
The reason the Septran royal family was searching for traces of the Earth Religion was obvious.
They wanted to use a new sect to drive out the Goddess Religion from the kingdom.
More precisely, they wanted to eliminate the Holy Empire’s influence within the kingdom. And this was likely the intention of not only Spetran but the entire Six-Kingdom Alliance.
And if this were to truly happen… it would greatly benefit me in the future, even if not immediately.
The Holy Empire’s influence would decrease, and the Six-Kingdom Alliance would become relatively stronger.
If the Empire’s influence wanes, the kingdoms will be freer.
As a result, the kingdoms would be able to use their power more freely.
The stronger I became, the more scrutiny I would face from the Empire.
But what if the Empire’s influence weakened? Especially if I could operate more freely within the Six-Kingdom Alliance?
It would only benefit me.
And if I provided this information, I could form a much closer relationship with the Septran royal family.
Not just a connection through an intermediary, but a truly close relationship.
And that meant I wouldn’t be threatened by anything, at least within the Septran Kingdom.
It would be best to avoid attention…
But if I could achieve such a great feat, it would be a different story.
I could demand that they stop paying attention to me.
“…Inha?”
“Ah, I apologize.”
“…Do you have any idea?”
I closed my eyes for a moment.
I had to do this.
‘Not only do I possess a dimension, but now the Earth Religion and the royal family are involved…’
I had intended to proceed quickly and safely, but things weren’t going my way.
But that didn’t mean I disliked it.
It meant I could achieve even greater results.
I made up my mind and answered,
“I know. It’s unrelated to this ruin, but I know a place related to the Earth Religion.”
Kriang’s face, which had been hopeful, was filled with shock and delight at my definite answer.
At the same time, my companions’ gazes focused on me. They all looked surprised that I had actually confirmed it.
They quickly calmed themselves, and trust appeared on their faces.
Annelise, seeing the others quickly regaining their composure, tried her best to appear calm as well.
“Where is it?”
“Is it alright to speak here?”
At my words, Kriang realized his mistake and looked at Colmail.
He thought for a moment, then nodded as if it was alright.
“We’re already deeply involved with Colmail. Doriem is neutral, but I don’t think it’s by choice.”
In other words, he intended to bring Doriem to the royalist faction.
Indeed, Doriem couldn’t refuse the royal family’s offer.
Colmail seemed to have interpreted it the same way, wearing a somewhat delighted expression.
Whether it was out of loyalty to Doriem or because he could gain personal advancement by being recognized by the viscount for this contribution, I didn’t know.
But it wasn’t important at this moment.
I need to choose my words carefully.
I had no intention of revealing everything as it was.
While it would be beneficial in the future, I didn’t intend to miss out on immediate gains.
“First… not now, but I’ve excavated a ruin related to the Earth Religion.”
“Where is it?”
“It’s completely collapsed now.”
“I destroyed it myself. I hope you understand.”
A warlock and a ruin related to another religion. Considering the Goddess Religion’s usual behavior, it was a natural action.
Therefore, Kriang only looked regretful but didn’t blame me.
However, the situation was different now.
I had only taken the rewards then because it was too much to handle. But now, I could fully utilize the ruins themselves.
Tildi would go crazy if he knew.
“…It doesn’t matter. Even if it’s collapsed, we can excavate it again. It won’t be the same as before, but…”
“There’s no need for that.”
I sighed briefly and said,
“I have a map marking the locations of other ruins.”
“…What?!”
“Not just one or two. At least ten. It was left behind by someone presumed to be the last priest of the Earth Mother Religion.”
Kriang couldn’t close his gaping mouth at my words.
“I found it in the first ruin… the one I discovered by chance. I haven’t touched a single one of the marked ruins, so they should be mostly intact.”
“…I see.”
“In addition, I have the diary written by that priest and the scriptures of the Earth Mother Religion. The diary contains fairly detailed accounts of events that happened 200 years ago. It may not be definitive proof, but it will be helpful.”
Kriang looked at me with an expression beyond shock, almost one of disbelief.
“Something we’ve been searching for so desperately…”
Shaking his head, Kriang added,
“You’re… beyond imagination, Inha. I’m glad we started on the right foot.”
Despite me being a warlock, he had always suggested mutually beneficial solutions.
And the royal family seemed to respect his actions.
That was why I revealed this information without hesitation.
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