Episode 25
Translator : missme Editor : Aru
I arrived at the place I was aiming for. I sighed as soon as I entered the room of The High Priest.
âHuuu.â
I looked around the room. The space was large, but the furniture was simple and small.
It was the same as I saw in the temple of time.
I soon got to the side of a bookcase and pushed it hard.
No, I just pretended. But Ash helped me a lot.
In the past, it was hard when I was doing it alone, but Ash helped me, and the bookshelf was pushed back very easily.
And a new space appeared as if it had been waiting in there.
âThat was good.â
The joy elated inwardly. It was no different than when I stole beads.
In any sense, I stepped out into the secret, narrow space that looked like a secret space and suddenly heard Ash laughing sound from behind.
ââ¦â¦why?â
âNo, it looks like fun.â
Me? â¦â¦or the situation?
Instead of interrogating him, I moved my steps. Apart from the smoothness of this situation, we did not know when the prayer of the High Priest would end, so we needed to hurry.
Inside the secret space, there was a wide podium, as tall as a child. And a square box was placed on it.
An ivory box with no pattern. At first glance, it looks normal, but that box is actually surrounded by divine power.
If you try to open it with force, it will never open. But instead, if you touch the surface and arrange the letters on the surface to guess the set password, the lock will be released and the box will open.
It was a kind of magic.
âThis is quite familiar to me.â
Why? It is just like a smartphone lock or a touchscreen door lock.
I touched the box with my hands, thoughtlessly.
Then, on the surface of the box, white light and a subtle text came out softly.
I picked up scattered letters one by one and dragged them with my fingers to start mixing them in the centre.
âThe same goes for the code.â
Itâs the name of God.
Asimor, the god of love here.
I finished the arrangement and waited for a while. Soon the text will disappear and the message will open.
Suddenly, the letters were scattered all over again, and the box began to make a loud noise.
ââ¦â¦.!â
Wha, what is it?
âWas that wrong?â
It was the first time I experienced it, but I could tell by feeling it. This means I typed the wrong answer.
âNo, why?â
But it couldnât be wrong. If itâs not his name, then what? I remember reading in a book that writing Godâs name in code in the temple is like an implicit promise between them.
âIs it different?â
Quickly, I moved my hands again. Eros, Cupid, Iâve typed all the other names of the God of Love I know.
However, the response to it was all wrong and the box remained unchanged.
I got nervous. The sound was too loud. At this rate, it would be only a matter of time before people would come.
âThere was a noise here!â
Oh, damn it. Right, as soon as I think about it.
I let go of the box and pulled Ash in a hurry first. And we hid behind the podium as soon as possible.
The sound snapped as soon as I hid.
ââ¦â¦ this way?â
âI donât think anyoneâs here.â
Following the footsteps, there was a sound of conversation. I held my breath in close contact with Ash behind the podium.
âAre you sure? Wasnât that wrong?â
âNo, Iâm sure this is the right placeâ¦â¦.â
âIf I didnât mishear it, they might have already escaped. Go out and take a look at the outside.â
âOkay!â
Soon I heard some people busily getting out of the room.
I was still holding my breath as long as I could without moving. At that time, the bookshelf that I had closed was pushed back.
âUgh, by any chance, here?â
It was a grave voice giving instructions. I held my breath for a moment.
The opponent seemed to look inside for a moment. Soon after, he murmured to himself.
âWhatâ¦â¦it canât be. Itâs a place that only a few people know. Uh-huh, this is so heavy.â
Then the bookshelf closed again.
ââ¦â¦.â
I breathed out the breath that I had held back only after a little more time had passed after I heard the bookcase closing.
âWhoa.â
The air-filled the lungs at once. Ha, thank God. It was a close call.
The low height of the platform gave me the strength to lift myself up because I hid in a sitting position. Then I slipped.
âAck.â
âAre you all right?â
ââ¦â¦Uh, uh.â
I could see Ashâs face just in front of my nose.
Only then did I realize how close I had been to Ash since we hid behind the podium.
The sound of a heartbeat seemed to be heard suddenly. There was a clear ringing in the ear. I wonder if Iâm still nervous.
Without knowing why I tried to turn my head in a hurry to avoid looking at him, but I hesitated.
Hold still.
âDonât tell me?â
When I saw Ashâs face up close, I suddenly remembered something.
I jumped to my feet, grabbing the podium. Then I touched the box again.
Next, I matched the text.
Riar.
Not the god of love, but the god of beauty, and this time there was no loud noise. Instead, the white light shone more brightly at the moment. Then, clickâ the box opened.
ââ¦â¦..â
Iâm speechless.
Oh, my God. Is this real?
âIsnât this God of Love temple?â
I entered the name of the god of beauty because the moment I saw Ashâs sculptural face closely, I suddenly remembered a priest who guided us.
She couldnât take her eyes off Ashâs face from the moment we entered the temple, and I remembered what she had said that âBeauty is a gift from Godâ.
âHaâ¦.â
This is absurd. Is beauty more love? Is the face that important? Iâve known it since I uncovered my money, but these snobs.
âDone?â
asked Ash, who had followed me. I nodded as I pulled the cloth out of the open box.
I wanted to slowly appreciate the enchanted cloth that I met in person, but not here. I had to get out of here. I felt a bit impatient, perhaps because I almost got caught.
It doesnât mean much, but I put another cloth I brought in instead. Then I closed the box and pushed the bookcase.
This time again I just pretended.
âOh, Ash. Take off your jacket, please.â
I left the High Priestâs room, and this time I sneaked back to the prayer room.
Ash took off his coat obediently and handed it to me, so I put it on my body and hid the cloth in it.
Soon after, we went back to the prayer room, Ash suddenly said,
âIf that was what you needed, you should have told me earlier at the mansion.â
âHuh?â
âI would have given it to you,â
How did you�
I couldnât imagine Ash carrying out a mission to infiltrate alone as I did.
So if heâs taking a break from work, uh, maybe.
âWould he have kidnapped the High Priest, threatened, forced to deliver it, then killed him to shut his mouthâ¦..?â
Heâs my family but itâs so plausible that Iâm speechless.
Mmm, no, no. Iâm a pacifist even though I steal things.
âNo, âcause itâs worthy to do it myself.â
I donât think thatâs right, but anyway.
Soon I opened the door of the small prayer room with Ash and went out.
As she said, the priest, who was waiting calmly in the hallway, welcomed us with a puzzled face.
âHow was your prayer? Oh, it must have been a little cold in the prayer room.â
The priestâs eyes fell on Ashâs coat I was wearing.
I had a cough.
âI had a slight cold before I came here.â
âWell, itâs still time for the seasons to change. Would you like some warm tea in the reception room?â
I shook my head. Then, I became more immersed in acting as if I was sick, which I had already mastered in my previous school days.
âThank you, but Iâm fine. Now that Iâve finished praying, Iâm thinking of going back now. Iâd love to see more, but Iâve just had chills.â¦..â
âAh.â
There is usually some kind of a healing shrine in the temple, but as far as I know, they were only able to treat the injury but were powerless to disease.
âI canât help it.â
The priest seemed very sorry to let us go as it was -maybe it was because of Ash- but she could not hold back a sick person and led us back to the entrance.
Ugh. Honestly, I didnât have the guts to look at the temple with the enchanted cloth hidden in my body.
It was when we almost moved to the entrance.
I checked inside the jacket to make sure the enchanted cloth was still there, and suddenly I hesitated.
âOh, the donations.â
I touch the pocket money with the tip of my hand. Come to think of it, I forgot I should have left it in the small prayer room.
âWhat do I do?â
In fact, you might wonder whatâs wrong with not paying the donations when my purpose of visiting was for stealing.
But it was on my mind. Itâs a bit of a guilty conscience for stealing the cloth.â¦..
âWait a minute, priest.â
Eventually, I called in a priest. Then I said to Ash.
âIâm going to the small prayer room for a while. Iâll be right back, so please wait.â
âLetâs go togetherâ¦â¦â¦â
âNo, Iâll be here in a minute. Priest, Iâm sorry.â
âItâs all right. Go ahead.â
With a decent expression, I left the priest and Ash, and diligently stepped on the corridor where I came.
At this moment, it was a bit awkward to see because there was an etiquette that said, âa nobleman shouldnât runâ.
âIâll leave soon. So, no problem.â
Where else is a shameless thief like me? By the way. Thatâs what I thought.
It was right after that I bumped into someone who was coming from the other side.
âAh!â
âOh, are you okay?â
âItâs all right⦠oh.â
My eyes almost popped out when I answered. Huck! Attractive!
A light blue cloth shaped like a muffler was dangling at the feet as if it had been dropped as I was smashed.
I tried to pick it up in a hurry, but my opponent was a step faster than me.
A manâs hand with calluses, but at the same time, long and straight fingers picked up the cloth first.
As if he thought I was originally wearing it, he naturally wrapped it around my neck with a calm touch.
Only then did I see my opponent right.
Clothes that are naturally eye-catching with patterns embroidered with sleeves and gold threads on white fabrics and gorgeous decorations.
When I first saw the clothes, not the face, because of the height difference, I wondered where I had seen them.
Is that what used to be in a fashion popular in society these days?
No, itâs notâ¦â¦..
âThat suits you.â
I raised my head as I listened to the manâs voice.
I knew why the clothes were strangely familiar at the moment.
âMy God.â
The opponent looked familiar.
âThe Crown Prince!â
Brilliant blondes resembling the sunâs rays, the green eyes that seem to have attracted all the recordings of the world.
This world male protagonist, the lover of Agrita in the book, and the current Crown Prince, Igret, who will later be crowned as the emperor.