I didn't need to ask any more questions.
"Right. Got a minute?"
"Of course. I've already collected six stamps, so I have plenty of time. I'll just grab some food and come."
He didn't say where to meet, but it was obvious where we were going.
"Thanks. No rush."
I said goodbye to Nark and turned back to Elias and Leo.
Pie had already moved to Nark's shoulder and was waving at me.
As I approached, Elias grinned and jerked his chin toward Leo.
"Luka, he got a prize."
"Must have done well to the end."
"He's pretty good. I could have won a prize too if I could just hold my center~ You should definitely see it later!"
Elias winked.
Given that he'd often resolved incidents using a gun, I was well aware of the protagonist's skills without being told.
Just then, Leo, carrying his prize, frowned as he walked over.
"What are you talking about? You're not planning to do it now, are you?"
"Later, later."
"Good, that's a relief. If you tried walking without crutches now, you might need another month of treatment."
Elias flinched reflexively. He seemed to hate the very thought.
Leo, holding the prize—a doll half a person's size—asked,
"More importantly, what should I do with this?"
"Sleep with it."
"...If I leave it in the classroom, someone who wants it will take it, right?"
Now that I looked, the doll's color was similar to Pie's.
It was shaped like a bear, but its round shape resembled Pie's form anyway.
"Don't you need it?"
"Nope."
"Then give it to Pie. I think he'd like it."
"Huh? Would an animal that lives in a stone house like this?"
"You'll know when we get there. I'm going to see Nark anyway, so if you're giving it away, I'll take it to him."
"Ah, you said you had something to talk about earlier."
Leo handed me the doll.
"Do you think the talk will be done in an hour?"
"Not sure, why?"
"Let's hang out together after."
This guy really seems to dislike hanging out in large groups. He probably prefers just one or two close friends.
Anyway, for me, once the conversation is over, my work for today is done, so it doesn't matter.
"Sure, then I'll head to the main building later. See you then."
* * *
"Ah, you're here."
Nark, who had been playing with Pie, waved at me. He pointed to the doll tucked under my arm.
"What's that?"
"Leo won it at the shooting gallery. He said he has no use for it, so I was going to ask if Pie likes it."
"You're giving it to me?!"
Pie cried out, circling excitedly above Nark's shoulder.
I set the doll on the desk, and Pie jumped down onto it.
I don't know how long it will last, but since he likes it, I should hand it over to Nark.
"Haha, thanks. It's the first time I've seen a doll this big, so I guess he likes it. And I bought this from the Public Administration booth, let's eat it together."
Nark took a chocolate cake out of a small box.
I had a feeling, and sure enough, the surface was studded with cherries.
"..."
"The kids made it really tasty~ Actually, I already had some earlier, but I thought of it again and bought more. Here, have some."
Nark pushed the box toward me.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it~ So, I'm curious about what you wanted to tell me."
Whether he didn't know up to that point, or knew and was pretending not to.
I poured coffee, set it in front of him, and took a seat.
"Nark, let me say this first. What I'm about to say might put you in an awkward position."
"Hmm, really?"
"So if it's hard to answer, you don't have to. But the reason I'm asking anyway... is because from my standpoint, it's something I can't just skip over. I'm sorry for bringing it up on a day like this."
Depending on the conversation we have from now on, the probability of change will shift. That is, if Nark is an important person to me in any way.
If the value drops, I'll have to assume Nark has been hiding his true colors all along and lied to me today as well. The moment it drops, I'll have to consider Nark an enemy.
"No, I understand your position without you saying it."
Nark closed his mouth for a moment, then continued.
"I have a vague idea of what you're about to say too. You want to ask the exact reason I came here, right?"
"Yes. I can't go into detail about my basis either, but your coming here is related to me, isn't it?"
Perhaps sensing an important conversation was happening, Pie, who had been eating the cherries Nark had set aside, looked back and forth between us. Actually, his cheeks were already stuffed, so saying he stopped eating was ambiguous.
I turned my eyes back to Nark. He stroked his chin with a finger.
"Hmm..."
He didn't seem like he would evade the question, but maybe I should block the path of excuses.
"When you pulled me out of Strauch's coordinates, you saw my magic and said, 'As I thought, my eye wasn't wrong'..."
"...Ah."
Nark raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Whether you thought I wouldn't remember because I was dying, or it was a reflexive remark, I have to clarify this point regarding why you came here."
"Haha, I can't tell you where I got the information, but there are suspicious aspects... And what I said that day is related to that."
"You could see it that way."
"I let my guard down. Well, I already knew you had received a similar authority to mine..."
An atmosphere I had never felt before emanated from Nark's smile. It didn't feel intentional, so I just drank my coffee and watched him without any particular reaction.
"Right, it's earlier than my plan, but there's no reason to hide it from you now. There's one more reason I came here."
"...I see."
He admitted it more cleanly than I expected.
"Of course, what I told you all is also true. I'd appreciate it if you didn't misunderstand that point. The fact that I had to live a chosen life from a moment I don't even remember, even now sometimes..."
Nark paused for a moment, lost in thought, then smiled softly.
"Even I have situations where I can't understand myself. I clearly believe in my faith, but separate from that, the fact that a life I didn't choose is set until the day I die, and that I can never escape the path laid out by my family and the Papacy in my lifetime, sometimes makes me nauseous."
'...Hmm.'
I couldn't hide my surprise. I hadn't expected to hear such strong words from a clergyman.
Thinking that, I could understand why he had left the Papal States. Even though I knew him as a friend first, it was hard to see him apart from the image formed later.
Having said that, Nark let out a short sigh and fiddled with his rosary.
"...I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth."
"Have some coffee, Nark."
Now that I was in this position, I understood why the king had told me to have some tea.
Nark burst out laughing.
"Haha, thanks. It's not that I want to reverse everything now. It's just that I sometimes wonder if there could have been a life with choices. Every time that happens, I flip through the scriptures countless times, sift through numerous conference records, and shut myself in for days to organize my thoughts, but nothing gets resolved."
I nodded.
It seemed like I needed to show some small reaction so he could continue talking.
"When I see those who come to me for confession, I feel like laughing. Someone who hasn't accomplished anything on their own dares to sit in that seat and claim to cleanse others of sin, I think."
"..."
"I'm in a mood where I want even my own faith to be verified by someone."
Nark muttered and laughed.
I knew from the moment they started recruiting kids left and right just to secure divine power. As a group, there might be no problem, but individuals aren't in great shape.
"What I told you all was truly what I've felt, and it's really one of the reasons that brought me here."
"Right. I don't doubt that point."
"And, I said there's one more reason I came here. Your guess is correct. I came to find you."
I looked at him.
No agitation could be felt in his golden eyes.
Either he had a prepared lie, or he had no intention of lying at all.
"Why?"
"If I say it's the word of God... someone like you, Lucas, an atheist, would dislike that, right?"
He sure guessed correctly that I'm an atheist.
Anyway, it's true I want an answer I can understand better.
When I didn't answer, he continued.
"I didn't come here simply as a student. The official pretext is to protect the Empire from Pleroma."
"The Empire wouldn't want the Papacy's intervention."
"Haha, it's not that they're ignoring it, but because it's the birthplace of Pleroma~"
I had no rebuttal for that.
Pleroma first appeared in the Empire, but the Empire couldn't stop it from spreading across the continent.
What's somewhat holding it back is the Roman Papacy. Ironically, the Papacy's authority, which had been declining, rose even higher due to Pleroma.
But that's not important right now.
"Then using your cardinal status would be best, but the fact that you came here as a high school student without using that status still isn't explained. I want to know that reason."
"Hahaha... Sharp~"
Nark drank his coffee and continued.
"I knew you had gained the ability to use divine power. Bringing you to the Roman Papacy is part of my mission."
'Gained.'
It's correct that his actions changed based on my actions.
"How did you know I can use divine power?"
"This part, I can only answer like you did. Sorry, I can't explain precisely."
He says he can't talk about the crucial part.
But since I also couldn't present novels or favorability as evidence, I understand.
However, I need to clarify a few issues that could determine survival.
"Then how many people know that fact? I'm asking how many people know that Lucas Ascanien can use divine power."
"Fortunately, it's only the people you know, Lucas."
"You said bringing me in is your mission. Saying it was given as a mission means your superiors know too, doesn't it?"
"No, I didn't discuss information about you. I already knew your circumstances long ago."
"..."
I've come to know the limits of a Level 2 Insight ability well from watching him for two months.
Looking at my own Level 2 Charm trait, it's clear that no trait is a universal tool that grants wishes.
'So he noticed with something other than Insight.'
Just like the first impression, he's worth being wary of.
But I also need to consider that the one to be most wary of is safest kept close and observed. Especially if he knew about me even before meeting me, he would be even more outside my sphere of influence.
'In that case, I should keep him by my side.'
An Insight ability is dangerous to turn into an enemy, and also a waste in many ways.
To be honest... it's also hard to treat someone I've grown somewhat accustomed to as an enemy now. I would if I had to.
As I stared at him intently, Nark continued.
"To be honest, the Roman Papacy wants you."
"Not me, they want the divine power."
"Haha, right. That's it. Now that it's come to this, I can't help but ask... What will you do? Want to come to the Papacy with me?"
Pie jerked his head up. To him, the idea of going somewhere together probably sounded good.
"...Isn't this a bit sudden? I just heard about this for the first time."
"It's just a suggestion because it seems like it would be to your benefit. Honestly, if you have to live a fate like mine, I don't want that for you."
Certainly... I can see how it would be beneficial in some ways.
"But if you have even one honorary position given to you, it's true it would be easier to oppose Adrian Ascanien. And, if I fend off the Papacy's excessive demands on my end, you won't walk the same path as me, so you don't need to kick away a good opportunity because of my complaints."
"Right, I know."
"What will you do, Lucas? Will you come under me? Or, will you live on without letting the Church know your face? I'll respect your choice."
"Is coming under you the only option?"
At my laugh, Nark smiled softly.
"That way, I can protect you."
Certainly, since I can use divine power, there are many places that want to use it. It's that rare an ability.
And...
The fact that he really did come to find me, and that aside from him, no one else knows I can use divine power.
Beyond this, digging further would probably only lead to meaningless talk, so let's check the probability of change around now.
Dawn 777― Final Outcome 'Chapter X. Death' 693 days 22 hours 43 minutes 47 seconds― Probability of Change: 18.5% (+0.1%p)
It was 18.4% before and after playing poker earlier, and now it rose by 0.1%p.
'Thanks to receiving the proposal, I guess.'
The verification is complete with this.
For now, I have no reason to antagonize him. There are still unresolved questions, but seeing how he talks about divine revelation, even if he gives additional explanations, I don't really expect much.
"Not yet. It doesn't seem like the time to decide that now."
"Really? Understood."
"I'll think about it after finishing this matter. Thanks for the offer."
"Don't mention it~"
"And... it must have been a difficult question. Thanks for answering."
Nark, who had been tidying up, looked at me silently with wide eyes, then grinned. Then he slightly changed the subject and asked.
"By 'this matter,' you mean the festival?"
"Ah."
I only told Elias and didn't talk to the other kids about it. I briefly explained the situation to him.
Nark stroked his chin and said.
"Just finding the list? Simple."
"For now, yes."
The time period is different, so we need to be careful, but so far there haven't been any special changes in that area.
"You seem to plan on finding the list yourself. And having me find the Pleroma among them?"
"...Right. I'll leave it to you."
"Hahaha! Why that expression? It's not like it's the first time I've figured you out~"
I smiled lightly instead of answering and got up from my seat.
"Let's head out now. I promised to meet Leo in an hour."
"Only 40 minutes have passed. I should head to play practice soon."
"Right... By the way, what's your role again?"
I only heard he had a leading role in the Faust play, not the details. I was absorbed in divine power studies in class, so I didn't pay close attention to festival-related talk.
"You didn't know? I've been playing Mephisto from the start."
"Huh?"
A long silence followed.
"...No matter how much I try not to think about that image for you, I can't ignore this. Is it okay for a Papacy person to not only appear in a Faust play but also openly take the role of a demon?"
"Hahaha! Of course not~ But this is an opportunity. No matter how I think about it, I don't want to live only as my family has decided."
Looking at this guy too...
Personal impression, but he doesn't seem like the type to just do as he's told.
Still, it's a relief he's living while doing what he wants.
"You won't be excommunicated, right?"
"Unless I use up all my divine power, even if I toured as Mephistopheles, I wouldn't be excommunicated."
I had nothing else to say.
How do you respond to words that criticize the Papacy, no matter who hears them?
I gave an appropriate farewell.
"Alright. Then do well, and thanks for today. I'll be going."
"Sure, see you in the evening."
"I might not come."
"Haha, see you later~ We agreed to compare audience numbers with Class 1-1."
Nark waved his hand, brushing off my words.
After that, I met up with Leo and Elias as in the morning and rested.
Around sunset, Leo tapped the guidebook and asked.
"We've collected all the stamps now, right?"
"Ah, I need one more. I didn't do the shooting."
"Me too."
I don't know what use collecting all these has, but since I've collected them, it's better to get one more and finish cleanly.
As we were deciding on the last place to go, a few students wearing Magic Department badges approached and asked urgently.
"Leo, have you seen Faust? He hasn't been seen for five hours now."
—-----------
T/N:
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