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Chapter 75
Frillien Returned from the Banquet
Watching the carriage approach, Elicia cautiously edged closer to the procession. According to the plan, simply being near Frillien should be enough to fulfill the quest condition. She had to confirm whether that really worked.
Since she was invisible, there was no chance of being discovered, so nothing to worry about. Still, being careful by nature, Elicia slipped between trees, hiding her body as she silently approached the carriage.
When she got within about ten meters of Frillien’s carriage—
∥“Status window. Daily quest.”∥
Ding!
Quest
〈Today’s Daily Quest!〉
Condition: Stay near the Saintess for at least 1 hour today.
Current time: 3 seconds… 4 seconds… 5 seconds…
∥“Yes!”∥
Seeing the completion time increase by the second, Elicia clenched her fist in delight.
If it counted even at this distance, there was no need to appear before Frillien at all! No need to bother with priests noticing her or going through any complicated procedures. She could just linger invisibly nearby and go home afterward.
Just imagining it was sweet. With a satisfied smile, Elicia slowly followed the carriage’s movements, keeping pace. As long as she maintained the distance, the quest time continued to increase.
By the time Frillien’s carriage reached the temple entrance—
‘I can go inside too… right?’
Watching Frillien pass naturally through the temple gates, Elicia stealthily stepped inside as well.
There were guards at the entrance, but none noticed her. Still, it felt wrong to barge into a temple uninvited. So inwardly, Elicia offered an apology to the goddess of the place.
‘Lady Freenis, they say you’re gentle and merciful, right? You’ll forgive me, won’t you? If I don’t complete this today, I’ll die—please don’t turn away! I believe in you!’
Faith counts too, right? That makes me a believer, so please forgive me!
With such brazen thoughts, she boldly stepped in. Of course, the temple wasn’t limited to clergy—outsiders could enter for ceremonies and prayer. And if she showed the gift she’d received from Frillien, she could officially gain entry. This time, she just justified it as a quiet visit.
‘…Wow.’
Her nervousness faded the moment she stepped inside, replaced by awe.
The outside had been impressive, but the interior was dazzling beyond comparison. The central fountain in the garden, the distant chapel, the residences of the high priest and clergy, even the Saintess’s quarters—all glowed faintly with light.
And the source of that glow—
‘That’s divine power, isn’t it?’
Her eyes, capable of perceiving in-game effects, revealed it all. Which only made the place feel even more wondrous.
‘A temple is still a temple.’
So holy in atmosphere, saturated with divine energy. She was glad she’d come to see it. While marveling at the shimmering aura—
‘…Huh?’
Her face froze. Without realizing, she’d followed the flow of the divine energy with her eyes. The trail led downward.
∥“Is there… something beneath here?”∥
From underground, she sensed a suspicious current of divine power.
She glanced at the chat, hoping the viewers might know something.
Chat:
The temple basement has never appeared before.
Even with Frillien’s character, entry isn’t possible.
‘What? Even the Saintess can’t go down there?’
Wasn’t Frillien supposed to be the highest authority here? Frowning uneasily, Elicia scanned the area. Shadowy schemes always hid suspicious things underground—surely not here too?
But for now, the daily quest came first. Pushing aside her suspicions, Elicia headed toward the Saintess’s quarters, where Frillien had just stepped out of the carriage under the escort of priests.
“Saintess, how was the banquet tonight?”
“…Yes.”
Her small voice didn’t sound bright. Maybe she hadn’t enjoyed herself at all. Could it be because Elicia hadn’t attended? Surely not…
As Frillien entered her quarters, Elicia leaned against a wall near the door. She had no intention of following inside.
‘I’ll just hang around the garden outside.’
Checking her status window, she saw the timer was still increasing at this distance. Following from outside to here had already netted her ten minutes. Just a little longer and she’d be fine.
20 minutes.
30 minutes.
The counter climbed steadily. Until completion, Elicia idly observed the flow of divine power throughout the temple. Fortunately, she didn’t detect any other strange energies. Even the underground flow, though different in texture, was still divine power. Perhaps some holy relic was stored there?
Under the calm night sky, she heard faint chanting and singing from the priests. The quest timer had already entered the 50-minute range. Just a few more minutes to success.
∥“Time to get ready to leave.”∥
Who knew it would be this easy? Almost disappointingly so. Relieved, she told the viewers and rose to her feet.
Rustle.
Cloth brushing. From afar. Elicia immediately turned. Approaching the building was a familiar face.
The High Priest.
‘Going to meet Frillien?’
Maybe to ask about the banquet, maybe to discuss temple affairs. Elicia quietly watched him.
And then—
Swoosh.
“…!!”
Suddenly, the High Priest turned his head. Directly toward where she was hiding.
Though invisible and crouched in bushes, she felt his eyes meet hers. Elicia instinctively held her breath.
‘…Why is he looking this way?’
Her invisibility hadn’t worn off. She was hidden. How could he pinpoint her exact location? Did he have some ability to sense presence?
While she froze, the High Priest muttered slowly:
“…Elicia Semperion?”
“…!”
What the hell.
Elicia crouched lower without replying. Calm down. How could he possibly know her name?
‘No, he can’t be sure.’
She shook her head inwardly. It had sounded more like a doubtful murmur than a statement of fact. He had no proof.
Even if he somehow pierced her invisibility, there was no way he could confirm identity from this distance.
‘Just what is he?’
Priest skills rarely included detection. None she knew of could reveal her like this.
Yet the High Priest turned and began walking slowly toward her.
“Best not to run. Trespassing in the temple is a grave crime.”
As if she were already in his grasp, his steps were unhurried but certain.
‘59 minutes, 55 seconds.’
One step.
‘59 minutes, 57 seconds.’
Two steps.
‘59 minutes, 59 seconds!’
Ding!
60 minutes!
Congratulations! You’ve completed today’s Daily Quest!
‘Close! Close it all!’
The moment the completion notice popped up, Elicia shut every window and jumped to her feet.
Even outside the bushes didn’t matter. She was still invisible, wearing a hood and mask. No way he could be sure. At best, he only had suspicions.
She bolted at top speed.
Rustle!
“Y-you there, stop!”
The High Priest’s startled shout rang behind her.
But Elicia didn’t stop. She ran silently, leaving no sound, no trace. Even her footprints vanished without a clue. As long as she wasn’t caught, she’d be fine—
Beeeeep!
Suddenly, a piercing shriek echoed through the temple. Lights flared across the buildings.
‘What?!’
It was practically an alarm!
No need to check further. She felt the temple knights mobilizing in unison. From behind and ahead, they were converging.
‘Even archers above?!’
Why did a temple need so many soldiers? What was there to protect?
Still, she was invisible. As long as she found an opening, she could slip through.
While plotting an escape—
Ding.
Administrator: The building next door is empty.
“…?”
Elicia blinked in disbelief. The administrator, who’d refused to reveal internal secrets until now, suddenly gave her advice?
Skeptically, she glanced sideways. Sure enough, there was a window she could slip through into the neighboring building.
Maybe a chapel? Small for that, but possible. It was high up—about the third floor—but with her jumping ability, no problem. Doubtfully, she leapt inside.
‘…Where am I?’
The interior was dusty, unused. The floor creaked, cobwebs filled the corners. For such a holy place, it was odd to find such neglect.
As she looked around the dark, empty chapel, she found stairs leading downward.
‘Does this connect to the first floor?’
She couldn’t stay on the third floor forever. She needed to escape the temple. Maybe trusting the administrator was a mistake.
Cautiously, she descended. Thankfully, no one appeared inside the building. Only the distant sounds of knights searching outside reached her ears. Moving carefully, she finally reached the first floor—
“…Huh?”
She froze. The strange divine energy was back. It flowed downward, underground.
‘Right beneath here?’
Suspicious, Elicia stared at the floor.
Ding!
Administrator: M-maybe you should leave now?
Administrator: Looks like the knights are gone, miss!
“……”
