187 – reverse-6

“Sacred Robe… What is that used for?”

The name was plain. It didn’t even look special.

However, if it’s something Eleanor needs, there will definitely be a way to use it.

“It’s a great thing… but as for how to use it, I honestly don’t know.”

“Excuse me, could you please explain a bit more?”

“Well. Even though I’m the manager, I don’t know the usage and efficacy of all the treasures inside it…”

I could understand. He needed more time.

“Efficacy… It’s not a clear thing. The clergy just praise it as ‘an item with divine providence’, but they don’t easily tell you where it can be used.”

I held my breath, imprinting the words that came out of his mouth into my head.

“So… Rather than explaining what the effect is, I think it’s better to tell you what the legend is about.”

“You tell me.”

“In ancient times, there was an ordinary woman. She was a wicked pagan who never believed in the goddess all her life, serving other gods and insulting the goddess.”

“Hmm…”

“But one day, the evil god revealed his true colors. The god greedily longed for a sacrifice and asked to offer a human from the village where the woman was.”

“So what?”

“The woman was willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of others. The Goddess was impressed by her benevolence and gave her this robe. She preached the mercy of the Goddess ever since.”

Nothing immediately came to mind. It was an ordinary story that would be common if you listen to the story of a saint and a saint.

“Did you say anything else about her?”

“It’s an unconfirmed rumor, but there was a theory that he was originally the leader of another god. And there was also a saying that he lost all his power the moment he lost his robe.”

“Apart from that, is there anything more?”

“Anyway, it’s probably because it was directly touched by the hand of a god… The amount of divine power contained inside was far overwhelming compared to other relics. But, if that’s all you need, you don’t have to take the robe…”

“If you use it, will anyone be able to use divine power?”

“No. Ordinary people didn’t have any effect using it, and some clergymen used the robe when exterminating monsters, but said it was meaningless.”

“Why?”

“They said they don’t need to borrow the power of the robe because they already have the love of God inside them.”

It’s puzzling. It contains a lot of divine power, but I can’t use it. A priest can use it, but if it was a really permanent and effective power, the warrior party would have used it right away.

Where the hell do you need this?

It’s not like Eleanor was going to write it herself. If it was Farseer, she could find out how to use it, but if she had come up with a plan to ‘rob the imperial palace’s treasury’, she would have taken something more valuable.

“In fact, if only that item had been stolen, I wouldn’t have been in prison. The problem was that the murder sword was missing. Oh, and Her Highness, the princess… How did you do that?”

not. Clearly, there is a reason.

Ordinary people don’t need it because they can’t use it, and the clergy have to use unnecessary things because they’ve already received enough love from God.

“under.”

It was Celia. There was no doubt that he was trying to make her a saint again, at least temporarily.

But, was that really necessary?

The hero’s return ritual requires a wizard and a priest. Since it was Farseer who failed the ritual, it was not a strange decision to rewrite Celia, a proven cleric who had already succeeded once.

Even so, there must have been a way that was more comfortable and easier than opening the imperial palace’s supply depot. It was a ritual that could be performed by any priest, not just a saint.

Why it must be her. It was hard to find no matter how hard I thought.

To do something that doesn’t require you to be a saint, you dare to become a saint…

“Hmm.”

not. I thought wrong. There’s no way she’ll be able to laugh just by participating in my ‘return ritual’.

Rather, she would have said that she couldn’t do it. If it was her guilt for watching hallucinations as if they were eating, there was a high possibility that she would think so. There is something more terrifying.

“Saint, divine woman, divine…”

In an instant, the words of the magician who was researching dragons passed through his head.

We do not know how the dragon appeared. The Farseer might have been involved with the dragon’s appearance, predicted it, induced it, or summoned it here.

However, if that dragon eats Celia.

-Killing countless people, killing noble or divine people, tearing people to pieces and torturing them…

The wizard’s words flashed through my mind.

It was just an uncertain prediction, but what I had to do now was clear.

We need to find Celia. ASAP.

“thank you!”

“Whatever you’re trying to do, I wish you well. As one of the people of the Empire, I will always have infinite gratitude to the hero.”

The warehouse manager saw me off with a big smile even in prison. Unfortunately, I was unable to return the greeting.

Because I wanted to get out of prison as if something would happen right away.

/////

The place I jumped right into was the church where she originally belonged.

The large statue of the goddess carved in the center of the cathedral resembled Erinis as if it were natural.

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything and looked at the statue, then came to my senses at the nuns’ eyes and brought up the matter.

“Excuse me. Is Celia here by any chance?”

“Wait, from who you are…”

The bishop, who seemed elderly, asked my identity with a firm expression. However, a young nun next to me jumped up and ran.

“Hero! Aren’t you a warrior?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“Celia, weren’t you with the hero?”

It was unexpected. Could Celia not have come here?

After all, returning to the cathedral was a risky gamble for her.

It was not known what kind of criticism would fall on the saintess who had lost her divine power.

“Do you remember when was the last time you saw her?”

“Hmm… It must have been before the hero left. Thinking about it now, I was completely fooled.”

“yes?”

“When Celia talked about the hero, she kept saying ‘Mr. Porter’.”

I rummaged through my memory and thought back to when that time was.

Was she talking about me even before I ran out?

It was unnecessary information. Whatever she said about me, it doesn’t matter.

Considering the time, you should get out of the cathedral in moderation. But I couldn’t.

“What were you… talking about?”

“Um, saying that it’s a pity that the porter wasn’t there at the celebration party, or that during the journey… you did a good job for no reason?”

I knew better than anyone what she was talking about. It vividly portrayed what kind of voice and tone Celia would have said.

“For no reason, well…”

Laughter and sadness, anger and pity leaked out.

“okay.”

“So, did things go well with the saintess?”

The nuns had already gathered in groups of twos and threes, talking about me and Celia.

“It’s fine, what is it…”

“Oh, wasn’t it?”

“I said no! The hero was just at the imperial palace…”

“Hey, what if I say that in front of you!”

“Huh, huh!”

Laughter came out without my knowledge. Lately, I haven’t had anything to laugh at.

“So, what happened?”

I couldn’t bear to tell you what happened next. There was nothing to say.

“just…”

“What, did you even fight? Don’t worry. How gentle our Celia is.”

He bowed his head without speaking. It was funny.

It was funny to tell her every detail of the hurt I had suffered from her, and she didn’t like to tell me what I had done to her.

“At least… is there anyone who is close to her or knows her whereabouts?”

“Well, Celia, since you’ve been with us since you were little… There must be no one closer than us? It might be better to ask the other warrior party members.”

“That sounds a bit difficult.”

However, I couldn’t find an answer like that. I killed Farseer with my own hands, and I can’t predict what will happen to Eleanor right away. Nerwen can’t even be found.

“Um… then, I’ll write down the names of the followers who said they saw Celia. I’ll have to write down the address as well, so please wait a bit.”

“Are you sure?”

“I was wondering why he didn’t come to us and wander the streets… Well, he must have had his own circumstances? Please find him and ask him to see his face. I’ll just scold him.”

I nodded helplessly. I couldn’t promise.

“Well, if you’re looking for something, the room at the end of the hallway is Celia’s room. Look for it. You might find something important, right?”

“No, but it’s someone else’s room…”

However, it was not a situation to cover things up. I cautiously entered Celia’s room.

It was dusty, but I could smell her. The way things were organized, the small pillows and blankets, and even the shape of the room were Celia-like.

I blankly stared at the scene.