The Unfilial Heir Who Tries to Kill Me Tempts Me - Chapter 69

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 69.

“Do you know me?”
This time I was genuinely startled.
How could he possibly know who I was?
Just from looking at my face?
Was I actually that famous?
I asked in surprise, and Bill blinked at me awkwardly instead. Then he smiled and answered.
“Well… your name was written in the Visitor Log Book.”
“Oh.”
Right.
The Temple had a visitor’s log.
Stop being so self-conscious!
Get ahold of yourself!
I was mortified at my own presumption and considered just fleeing when Bill added something more.
“Truth be told, I wasn’t certain until just now that you were the Charlotte Schmidt I’d heard about—the count’s daughter. But when I saw you using magic, I knew. I was attached to the Holy See near the capital for a time.”
What a mess.
Turns out I wasn’t being self-conscious after all.
Though honestly, that might’ve been better. If it was the Holy See near the capital, they’d definitely have heard Charlotte’s infamous reputation.
Not wanting to say much, I just let out a dry laugh.
Fortunately, Bill was kinder than someone like Kaius—he didn’t poke at my sore spots. After studying me for a moment, he turned to leave.
“Please follow me. I’ll guide you to the Central Hall.”
“Oh, that’s really not necessary.”
Why was he suddenly offering to guide me?
Was this because I’d healed his wounds?
I was pleased to see he was sensible enough to return kindness with kindness, but this time I genuinely wanted to refuse. If I went straight back to the Central Hall, I wouldn’t achieve my real purpose here.
Now that I’d come this far, I wanted at least to find out roughly where the passage to the basement was.
“You’ve helped me greatly, sister. Please, let me do at least this much to repay you. I’m asking as a favor.”
But unfortunately, Bill’s face was far too earnest for me to refuse a second time. I was half-convinced that if I denied him again, lightning would suddenly strike down from nowhere and smite me where I stood.
“…All right then. Thank you.”
I gave in and meekly followed behind him.
The journey here had seemed to take ages, but walking with Bill, we arrived back at my original hall in less than ten minutes. Just as when I’d left, sunlight poured down brilliantly through the round opening in the ceiling.
“Wow, that really was quick.”
Not particularly grateful, actually.
Bill didn’t step fully out of the corridor. He stood at the boundary where the light and shadow cast by the round ceiling structure met, and bowed to me.
“Wait here, and your companions should return soon. It was good to meet you.”
“Are you heading back, Father?”
“I still have work to attend to.”
Come to think of it, the Head Priest had assigned him some task. Here was someone who’d put aside his own duties to show kindness to a stranger.
With Kaius and his ilk dragging me around, I’d forgotten such good people still existed in this world.
Though it was a bit unsettling, if I’m honest.
He made another respectful bow and turned to go, but suddenly he stopped. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, then turned back to face me.
Sunlight fell straight down on his head as he stood at that boundary of light and shadow. The deep shade made his expression hard to read.
“…And sister.”
“Yes, Father?”
He was quiet for a moment before he spoke.
“Use your strength only for yourself.”
“I’m sorry?”
“If you spend yourself blindly for others, you may be hurt.”
…What?
Unable to grasp either the meaning or context of his cryptic counsel, I could only blink at him blankly.
Seeing that expression, Bill smiled softly. It was an endlessly tender smile.
“It’s just… you seem too fragile to me.”
What on earth was that supposed to mean?
“Has she not yet calmed down enough to stay put?”
At that moment, a voice suddenly called from behind me, and I spun around. Kaius and Elion were walking toward us from the opposite corridor.
“We’ve been searching for you.”
“I’m sorry. I got lost while wandering, and this priest here was kind enough to… Wait, where did he go?”
“The priest?”
“Yes, he was here until just a moment ago.”
Kaius tilted his head to one side.
“I don’t know what you mean, but my business here is finished. I’m leaving.”
He handed over the Identity Document he’d been holding. Below Jack and Lili’s names, the approval stamp was clearly impressed.
“Wow, we did it.”
“To be honest, I was lukewarm about it until we submitted the application, but the moment I saw the seal of the Lucifenia Grand Duchy on the paperwork, things moved much faster.”
“Ah.”
So power really is everything in this world.
I’d made good use of Kaius.
I wanted to give Kaius a few pats on the backside, but doing so would be gambling with my safety, so I refrained.
Meanwhile, Elion took out his Pocket Watch to check the time and asked.
“We have more time than I thought. Would you like to eat something? I know a good restaurant.”
“Hell, yes.”
Let’s eat first.
I’m hungry.

***

“There’s something suspicious about the Temple’s basement.”
My words, inadvertently thrown out like a proclamation, drew Kaius’s and Elion’s gazes to me at once.
“Why would you say such a thing in the middle of a restaurant?”
“Why not? It’s not like anyone else is here anyway.”
We’d found the restaurant in the Inn on the Outskirts of Al-Haba. Elion had led me through alleys that seemed impossible to navigate even with a map, but it turned out to be a branch of the Magic Tower that he’d purchased.
There wasn’t a single customer, and the innkeeper, who had served the food, had excused himself afterward, so truly we were the only ones here.
So that’s what he meant by a “good” restaurant. I felt slightly deceived at first, but it passed quickly. The food was delicious. If it hadn’t been, I would have complained.
Elion set down his teacup and asked.
“Why did you think that?”
“Elion, do you know what’s in the Temple’s basement?”
“I’ve never been down there.”
“So you’ve heard about it?”
“Yes.”
He nodded readily.
“Do you know where it is?”
“I’ve made note of it.”
“Good. I’d like you to go down into the basement tomorrow morning and see what’s there. And if you find anything suspicious, inform me as quickly as possible.”
“If I’m to inform you, you mean the Holy See?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“There’s someone I trust more than the Holy See.”
“Who would that be?”
Who else? Leonidis.
The heroine of this world.
The saint chosen by God.
The one destined to save the world, and all that.
“I’ll tell you more about it later. For now, checking the Temple’s basement is the priority.”
Elion narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. His fine, pale green hair tumbled softly down his cheek.
“It rather sounds like Charlotte is trying to hand off this task to me and slip away, doesn’t it?”
Sharp instincts.
“Exactly.”
“Why? After coming this far?”
“It’s not ‘after coming this far’—now is precisely the right time to slip away.”
I was certain something suspicious was happening inside the Al-Haba Temple. And with high probability, it was connected to the Raven.
Which is why I couldn’t afford to get any further involved. The original story, the greater good, all those things mattered, but more than anything, I was convinced that if I kept meddling like this, there would be no end to it.
“I see.”
Kaius unexpectedly sided with me.
Then, as if to make a point, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and turned to address Elion.
“As you can see, my ‘magician’ and I are terribly busy. So I’d suggest the capable Magic Tower handle this matter.”
He just wants to shake Elion off.
Elion looked between us both, then broke into a smile.
What was that for?
Why do you smile again?
Every time that expression appears, I feel uneasy.
He rested his chin on his clasped hands and studied me intently.
“Charlotte.”
“…What?”
“I’ve been in this city for exactly ten days. I noticed the Temple was hiding something a week ago, heard the story about Missing Persons five days ago, and discovered the location of the Detention Chamber four days ago.”
Impressive, then.
“Yes, and?”
“So why do you think I still haven’t ventured into the Temple’s basement?”
“You wanted to slack off?”
“Ah.”
Elion laughed, saying that wasn’t entirely wrong either. Then, his smile widening, he spoke.
“I need you.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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