To Be a Power in the Shadows!

The trigger was a single letter received from Alpha. The contents are just one word.

Come to the sanctuary if you're free.

That's all.

I was free because I went on an upfront summer vacation at the school half-baked, and from the experience that more or less fun events awaited me when I rode the Alpha invitation, I went to the sanctuary the day after I saw the letter.

Holy Land Lindblum.

Actually, I've been there once in the past. It is one of the most popular religions in this world, the Holy Land of the 'Sacred Church'. It's the only religion that feels like believing in the goddess Beatrice who gave that power to a hero.

The journey to the Holy Land is four days by carriage from the school. It's in the country and surprisingly close.

I wasn't sure whether to go with a real dash or a carriage like a mob, but I decided not to skip it and go with a carriage. This kind of consciousness is important from time to time, so I conceived the conscious system.

I want to beat myself up in such a past.

I should have gone with a dash. If we really dashed during the night, we would have arrived right away.

As a result, I am currently in the same carriage as student chairman Rose Oriana.

Only two of the finest carriages, me and Rose, are luxurious, spacious and comfortable. Rose, who happened to be there, invited me to the lodging town on a cheap carriage. I said no. I refused, but before the royal power I couldn't cut it off. I was supposed to take the same carriage to the sanctuary.

According to Rose's story, there is somehow an event called The Trial of the Goddess in the Holy Land, and she was invited as a guest of that event. I guess that means Alpha also invited me to see The Trial of the Goddess, and I was listening to Rose as I thought about it.

But I couldn't understand her on the way. [M]

"Sid, there's no way a brave young man like you could lose his life in an incident like that."

and Rose speaking with a soft smile. Yeah, I'm not brave or anything because I'm a mob, and at some point, Sid, they call me you or something, and I have a lot to say, but I can still understand.

"The day I found out you were alive, I felt destined. The day has come when we can talk about it because the world is blessing both of us."

I don't know from around here. I don't believe in fate in the first place, and I don't know what the world means by blessing. I am a middle-finger in the world. [M]

"The two of you will be walking down Tsu's path. It's an unblessed and unacknowledged path from anyone."

Say something about the world blessing you.

"But the legendary hero, endowed with power by the goddess, has been told by civilians that he built wealth and fame and married the princess of a great power. The path of Tsu is hard and painful, but I am sure there will always be a happy future ahead of us through it"

Is this ecclesiastical teaching or something? Heroes are so religious around trying to confuse ordinary people with very few exceptions.

"If you cross this Trial of the Goddess, you can take the Tsu road one step further. I can tell my father a story about a brave young man, too."

Well, the young man who crosses the Trial of the Goddess is a fruit reporter.

"Let's both get over Tsu's path one step at a time. That step connects the two lovers deeply and strongly."

That's a two-legged one. Sounds like a spirit of help, ecclesiastical teachings.

"I can't tell anyone yet, but let's do our best for a happy future"

"That's right."

Rose offered me her hand, so I shook it. I don't really know how to think about religion or teach it, but I agree that it's for a happy future. Happiness is important, isn't it? Happiness for me, not for someone else.

Feeling Rose's hot eyes and a little sweaty palm, I thought I'd keep a little distance from this kid. I'm not going to deny religion, but it's tough when there's not much temperature difference, right? I think we should all be happy doing it between enthusiasts.

"It's a beautiful day."

I said looking out the window of the carriage into the clear sky and the green meadow. When you change the subject of a rough one, it's okay to talk about the weather for now.

"Right. The sun will be strong and it will be hot outside."

Rose also looks out and says.

It's shaded in the car, but still a little sweaty. Rose's white neck is also glowing with sweat. Gracefully curled honey-colored hair swayed in the wind and slightly light-colored eyes seemed dazzling and narrowed.

We stayed in the weather for a while. We continued our conversation at school, sometimes silently searching for topics.

There is also a kind of silence, which, roughly divided, is a cozy silence and a bad silence.

The silence of the two of us looking for a topic is generally uncomfortable silence, but I don't hate it so much. Because it's kind of dusty knowing you two are looking for a topic.

It's only natural that the two of us should be in the carriage for a long time in the first place, so the topic should be interrupted. It is the wasted effort to fight it that dusts above all else.

After several silences like that, Rose cut out the topic.

The afternoon sun leans a lot, and little by little the cedar mingles with its light.

"There's an earlier case, probably behind it"

"Hmm?"

A distant sunset was reflected in Rose's eyes.

"That bunch of blackheads named Shadow Gardens and the guy named Shadow are probably another organization"

"What makes you think that?"

"It's like the sword muscle is different. The black-clad collective swords were all common genre swords. But the sword of Shadow and the women who followed it was different. It was a whole new genre I've never seen before."

"Oh well."

"I also told the Knights of the Kingdom of Midgal about that. We also told him that Shadow was at odds with the black-clad group, but in the details of the incident announced by the Knights, the black-clad group and Shadow were regarded as identical organizations. There was no reason to be convinced. There must be something behind that case."

"Aren't you thinking too much?

"If you think too much, that's fine. But if not. If the Kingdom of Midgal is wrong about its enemies… a great calamity may befall it. I will investigate in the Kingdom of Oriana, but be careful, Sid."

I snorted. [M]

Rose also smiles softly and nods back.

"We will soon reach the Inn Town. Sid, let me take your room next to mine."

"No, fine. I'll find a cheap place for myself."

"You shouldn't, it's dangerous. Of course I'll pay for the room, so don't worry about it."

"No, no, no, I'm afraid not,"

"No, there's no need for reluctance between us"

In the end, I stayed in Zenny's finest room for 300,000 a night. [M] The two of us dine in a fancy restaurant, then have their whole body coordinated in style while window shopping, and finally return lightly to the playhouse at the casino. Naturally royal handling wherever you go. The bed is fluffy and the bath is great.

Put it all together. My expenses are zero Zeny. Maybe a rich parasitic mob is the best. It's worth a thought if you look at something a little religious enthusiastic.