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âAre you the Goddessâ blessed one whoâs in charge to pick us up?â\n\nI prentended to be clueless and asked, then Iner replied bluntly.\n\nâIâm Saintess Inertia. Due to some circumtances, for the time being, Iâm in charged of guiding the believers.â\n\nCaptain Jullius tilted his head after he heard the Saintessâ words. He must be confused as to why a Saintess did such a menial job like guiding the believers. Iâm also curious myself. Actually, what happened? Did she do a volunteer job as some sorts of punishment for assaulting an elder?\n\nâPlease come this way.â\n\nIner swiftly turned around and started to walk ahead. As I restlessly looking around at the surroundings, I also matched my steps to Captain Julliusâ. I didnât go away for years so thereâs nothing changed in the meantime, but Iâm worried to see someone I knew. However the people who crossed paths with me were all strangers. Itâs only natural because the Holy Knight Squadâs headquarters is seperated and located a bit far from here. Well, thatâs too bad.\n\nIner who went deep inside the Holy Church, stopped in front of a prayer room dedicated to the High Priest.\n\nâThe High Priest is inside this room. Donât be surprised and mind your manners.â\n\nWhy would we be surprised? Then again, if Iâm the real Silla, maybe Iâll feel surprised because itâs our first meeting. After confirming the presence of someone inside, Iner opened the door and went inside. We also followed behind her and went inside. Itâs been a while since the last time I came inside a prayer room. Although itâs specialized for the High Priest, the room interior was similar to that of any other prayer rooms. However the sizeâ\n\nâAhh!!â\n\nUnintentionally I exclaimed in surprised. At the same time, Captain Julliusâ hand immediately reached out for Calitus that hanged at his waist.\n\nIn front of the altar in the prayer room, thereâs an unindentified black mass. Itâs the size of a person and completely covered in black so its exact form couldnât be outlined. It was as if a bunch of darkness was taken and placed there.\n\nâWhat happened?!â\n\nI couldnât held back my bewilderment thus asking Iner. Why was there such a thing inside the High Priestâs prayer room?!\n\nâCalm down.â\n\nIner calmly said.\n\nâItâs not an evil spirit. This is the High Priest. Donât attack, just look with your eyes.â\n
âŠ, the High Priest? Really? Captain Jullius and I with similar baffled expression in our faces, I mean, with doubtful look in our eyes, stared at the black mass whoâs said to be the High Priest. If you look closely, its shape does resembles that of a person⊠The High Priest changed his hair and eye colors depending on his mood. But his skin color has never changed before! Besides, itâs not only the skin but I think the clothes were also dyed in black, though? Is that really the High Priest?\n\nâYour Holiness, please bestow your blessing upon Sir Jullius Rizar.â\n\nThat black figure started to move slowly after hearing Inerâs words. Not only his front and back, but his left and right side also couldnât be discerned so Iâm not sure but did he turn his body around? Perhaps because the High Priest was in this kind of state, thatâs why Saintess Inertia was tasked to directly bring us here. The High Priest would be mistaken as a monster at some point, thus it would be hard for the clergymen to resolve the misunderstanding.\n\nPerhaps the black figure that was said to be the High Priest turned his body around and looked at us. Or so I guess. After all I need to know where exactly his eyes, nose, mouth is to make sure. If heâs really the High Priest, I wonder what exactly happened for him to be reduced into this state. Things such as curses wouldnât work on him.\n\nâAh!â\n\nThat black figure shouted. That voice clearly belongs to the High Priest though. At the same time, lights started to emanate from where the black figureâs parietal lobe supposed to be. The dazzling golden light quickly devoured his whole body like how the dawn drives out the night. Ugh, it hurts my eyes to the point that I canât see it properly. Itâs too bright!\n\nâRooeeellll!â\n\nThe mass of light ran and jumped then abruptly hugged me. Ugh, wait. Canât you put off the light first? I canât open my eyes.\n\nâYouâre still alive! No wonder the Goddess didnât listen to my wish even after I piously begged Her so I could bid you my last farewell!â\n\nâYes, Iâm still aliâ ugh.â\n\nEven though I closed my eyes, itâs still way too bright. I know youâre happy, but please calm down a little. As I squinted my eyes due to the blinding lights, the lights gradually faded. And when I barely opened my eyes, a bright smiling face came into my sight. Golden hair and golden eyes. This time his skin color didnât change. This dazzlingly gorgeous beautyâs eye level was slightly above me. Damn, I knew my current height was shorter than before, but when I met someone I knew and they became taller than me now, I was annoyed by that fact.\n\nâIâm really grateful youâre safe and sound! Youâve changed a bit, but nonetheless you look healthy!â\n\nIt might not be just âa bitâ though.\n\nâIâm glad the High Priest also seems to be fine.â\n\nIâm really glad youâve returned to normal. If he kept shrouded in black, all believers would have run away.\n\nWe hugged each other and shared the joy of our reunion, but suddenly my body was lifted up and seperated from the High Priest. Huh? Captain Jullius hugged me from behind then bluntly said.\n\nâShe is my fiancee.â\n\nNo, wait a minute. If you suddenly said it like thatâ\n\nâFiancee?!â\n
The High Priest looked at me with an unbelievable look on his face.\n\nâRoel, youâre engaged?!â\n\nâUh, well. Something like that.â\n\nYou must be really surprised. I know. I also have never even dreamed that I would do something like getting engaged. While the High Priest was still dumbfounded and unable to speak, Captain Jullius who put me down next to him, looked at us alternately.\n\nâWhy do you call Miss Epheria as Sir Roel?â\n\nHe asked with an unhappy voice.\n\nHere it comes! Rather than I answered it myself, it would be far more convincing if the High Priest was the one to say it. In the first place, the one who was being asked was the High Priest anyway.\n\nInstead of answering, the High Priest blankly looked at his empty hands, looking sad that I was snatched from him, then he raised his head and met Captain Julliusâ gaze. The long shiny golden hair instantly faded and turned into a calm silver shade color. And of course that pair of golden eyes also turned their color into pale blue. These colors were often appeared when some high ranking officials including the Imperial Family, and the elders were being annoying and irritating according to him.\n\nâWhen a body loses its soul, it will become an empty vessel that soon returns to the soil but the soul is eternal under the Goddessâ mercy. In other words, this young lady in front of you isnât Miss Epheria but the leader of Holy Knight Squad, Sir Roel.â\n\nCaptain Jullius and I were both left speechless at the same time. N-no, wait. You missed out too much details!\n\nââŠ, ordinary person doesnât know what soul is in the body.â\n\nYou should have said that point first, or else how could Captain Jullius understand it if you suddenly said, âThe soul is the most important, so this person is truly Sir Roel.â? The High Priest with his round eyes, looked at me and asked.\n\nâYou didnât tell him?â\n\nâI couldnât bring myself to say it. Isnât it a given that no one would believe me even if I said it? Rather than believing that my soul got swapped with, he would think that I might be mentally ill.â\n\nJust based on Silla Epheriaâs situation, I would be treated as a deranged person even more and gotten myself being locked up in a secluded monastery. Though of course I didnât have any slightest bit intention to obediently get imprisoned, but for some time I would have to live my life on the run.\n\nâThen I will say it again.â\n\nThe High Priest placed me beside him again, then continued his words.\n\nâThe soul that entered inside Miss Epheriaâs body is our Sir Roel. When it comes to identify a person, the soul is the foremost important than the body, so this young lady here is Sir Roel.â\n\nThe High Priest was explaining but Captain Jullius just intently looking at me, instead of looking at the High Priest. And then he asked me.\n\nâIs that true?â\n\nHe was asking me, but his tone of voice was more of like confirming the fact rather than truly asking a question. Thatâs why he suddenly changed into a formal speech. My eyes darted around then I opened my mouth.\n\nâThat, thatâs right. Yes. So, ever since you saw me at that inn, Iâm always Roel. Nothingâs changed in particular.â\n\nMy original body has gone for good, buried under the soil, so for the rest of my life I have to live like this. So nothingâs changed. Now the people around me arenât acquainted to the real Silla, except Sofia. From the very first time we met, itâs always been âme'(Roel) and it would never change.\n\nHence I thought there wouldnât be any significant problem for him to accept the truth of my real identity.\n\nââŠâ\n\nThe pale grey eyes that were looking at me shook greatly. His shaken-up facial expression was clearly shown that made my face slightly tensed. No, wait. Exactly why on earth he made that face? By any chance, did you hate the original me in the past? Weâve never really crossed path before though? We have just seen each other face a few times from a distance.\n
âCaptain Jullius, I understand youâre surprised but Iââ\n\nâAll this time.â\n\nThe voice that sounded like heâs being surppressed and endured something, resounded in my ears.\n\nâAll this time, Iâve made many mistakes.â\n\nCaptain Jullius rigidly said while slightly bowed his head toward me.\n\nââŠ, pardon?â\n\nNow, wait a moment. Whatâs with this strange atmosphere? Why did he speak like that as if we would never meet anymore?\n\nâErm, Captainââ\n\nHe pretended he didnât hear my call and quickly turned around and left. Huuhhh? I was trying to chase after Captain Jullius who left the prayer room but the High Priest caught me and held me back. Then he said to Iner who stood by the door.\n\nâInertia, make sure he wonât tell anyone about this.â\n\nâYes.â\n\nIner followed after Captain Jullius who had left the prayer room. I glanced back and forth at the door and the High Priest while feeling anxious.\n\nâI also want to go.â\n\nI have to go and ask the reason on why the Captain was like that. I thought he would only felt a bit surprised and then casually brush it off as if itâs nothing, but reality proved that his reaction was too excessive. Nonetheless, I was the cause for his odd behavior so I need to go and ask him the reason and also apologize.\n\nâNot now.â\n\nThe hand that gripped my wrist didnât budge.\n\nââŠ, why canât it be now?â\n\nI felt like wanted to shake his hand off and chased after Captain Jullius but itâs impossible. Not just because I respect his position as the High Priest, but itâs because I didnât have enough ability to shake his hand off. The amount of my holy power and skills are second to none, but the High Priest is someone who exceeded human standards. How could I possibly win over someone whoâs capable to conquer the world all by himself? Thus I had no choice but to ask calmly.\n\nâItâs a trap.â\n\nâWhat?â