CH 112

“It’s strange, How did this happen?”

Cold stone walls surrounded me on three sides and sturdy iron bars in front of me. Lying on a hard bed, looking up at the sky through a small window, I was troubled by the absurdity that had befallen me.

It’s no surprise, but being thrown in jail like this was not the way it was supposed to be. So why was this happening? …… It all started when we arrived at the gates of the Holy City.

******

“There’s a lot of people here.”

“Well, it’s a big town.”

At the entrance to the Holy City, we saw a line of people waiting to be screened to enter the city. As the Holy City of the world’s largest religion, it was not surprising to see a line of about 30 people waiting to enter the city, as it was visited by a large number of people every day.

And the guards inspecting them were also accustomed to this process. The line was smoothly handled without any problems, and soon it was our turn.

“Next person. Present your name and ID.”

“I’m Ed and this is Tia. Neither of us has any identification.”

“No ID? You look like a traveling mercenary to me.”

“Hahaha, I’m doing an imitation, but I haven’t registered. I was told that I had no talent, but even so, I couldn’t give up on my dream of becoming a priest of the Arlene religion someday… ”

“Hmm, I see.”

As I said this with a wry smile, the man at the guard’s side scribbled something down in a ledger book he kept on the side. Probably my name and a brief description of my face was being recorded.

Incidentally, traveling mercenaries were almost the same as so-called adventurers, but the reason why not registering as a traveling mercenary was related to the priest’s dream was because there was a rule that a person could not become a priest if they were engaged in a profession related to combat, such as a traveling mercenary or a guard.

If I were to go into why such a rule exists, it seems to be a complicated situation involving doctrines and interests, but I don’t have a complete grasp of the situation. Anyway, it was enough to know that a person is not allowed to take up such jobs if they are involved in the Arlene cult not only as a believer but also as a follower of God.

“Certainly, putting aside the girl with you, at your age…no, but at that level, is there still hope? I understand what’s going on. Now let me examine your belongings one last time.”

“I understand.”

Since there was nothing suspicious, both Tia and I went through the physical examination with an open mind. Then the inspection was over without incident, and we thought we could enter the town …..

Uoooooooooo!!!!

“Woah!? W-What!?”

The moment I stepped over the white line drawn under my feet, there was a tremendous sound and a red light lit up around me. As I scurried about in my haste, nearly 10 guards immediately came and thrust their swords at me.

“Don’t move! Stay where you are!”

“H-Huh?”

“Ed!? What are you people—“

“W-Wait, Tia! It’s all right. Just stay put. Okay?”

“U-Uh-huh. If Ed says so. ….”

Tia was about to go berserk when she saw swords pointed at me, but I tried my best to talk her out of it. I have no idea what’s going on, but I’m sure it’s a bad idea to lash out against the guards. But how did this happen?

“Um, what the hell…..?”

“Shut up! You bastard, You’re showing signs of contaminated magic! Let me examine you again in detail!”

“Contaminated magic?”

“Just put your hands above your head and don’t move! If you try to resist, I’ll have you killed!”

“U-Understood…”

I had invoked [Invincible] just in case, so my body would not be harmed even if I were to be cut down to pieces right here and now, but that assured my safety, not my innocence. My body was more carefully examined than before, and the bag on my waist was removed, and all of its contents were taken out onto the table.

A wallet full of silver coins, preserves, knives, and other familiar travel items were laid out in a narrow space,….Ah.

“This!? Oi you, what’s this!?”

“Umm, that’s …….”

The guard man pointed to a red jewel about the size of an adult’s index finger. Which reminds me, I had forgotten to ask Tia to put it away,…

“What should I say, Jewelry?”

“Don’t screw with me! There’s a tremendous amount of contaminated magical reactions coming from this stone! There’s no way this is just a gemstone!”

“That’s not what they told me. ……”

As for me, it was really just a gem, so I had no way to answer if they said it shouldn’t be here. However, Tia, who was also being held against me with a sword, looked at the jewel and made a startled expression.

“Huh!? Why are you holding that, Ed!?”

“Eh? Does Tia recognize this?”

“What are you talking about!? You were the one watching it! Look, It’s Toby’s!”

“……………………Haa?”

At Tia’s words, I dredged up the events of nearly a year ago, from my perspective, from my memory, and finally remembered. This looks just like the [Heart of the Demon Lord] that we were working on sealing at the time.

“…Huh? Why is that thing here? Maybe….You brought it with you, Tia?”

""

“Of course not!”

“Gughhh …….”

She yelled at me rather seriously, and I subtly choked up. But seriously, if Tia didn’t bring it, how did this thing end up in my bag? No, I put it in my bag, but why was it in the [Stranger Box] before that?

“Oi, you bastard, You know what this is, right! Tell me, what is this!?”

“Uh, …………, no, it’s ………….”

Now that I knew the answer, I frantically swept my gaze over the stone and pondered. There was no way I could honestly say that the stone looked just like the gem that contained the power of the Demon Lord of another world.

Or rather, if the contaminated magic power has been detected, then there was still something in it…if not the power of the Demon Lord. If such a thing were to be brought into the Holy City, there was even a possibility of public execution in front of the statue of God, no joke.

Why is this happening? Did I unknowingly invoke [Copy and Fake]? And even then, since it only looks exactly like it, it can’t emit any contaminated magic. ….?

“I’ve had enough of this. Hey, take these guys to the jail in the back! Separately, of course!”

“Ha!”

Following the guard man’s words, the other guards put me and Tia in shackles. Tia appealed to me with her eyes, but my only answer was to shake my head. … I couldn’t see a future where things would get better if I resisted and ran away at this point.

******

“…..,So here we are.”

The bag on my waist, as well as the [Dawnbreaker] just entrusted to me by my master, have been taken away, and I was spending a quiet night in jail. I had already removed my shackles, so I was able to secretly use the [Akashic Compass] to confirm that Tia was safe, but it seems that at least she was not in this cell block.

“Hmm, what should I do…?”

I thought to myself as I gazed at the white crescent moon in the night sky. If I was the only one to get out, I could easily do so by using the [Mirage Shift] banishment skill. But, I have no intention of leaving my luggage… at least the [Dawnbreaker], and I have even less intention of leaving the Tia alone.

But the chances of us getting out of here quietly were even slimmer. A little research would quickly reveal that we had no history prior to coming here, and the fact that I had the [Heart of the Demon Lord] in my possession was irrefutable. A suspicious person with an unknown background who brought in a dangerous object would either be executed immediately or tortured and executed. If I had to say which, it would probably be the latter.

Worst case scenario, I’d go berserk? But then it would be hopeless to join the Hero’s Party, and We’d be stuck in this world. Still, it’s better than dying, but burying my bones in this world as a wanted criminal was also …. Hmmm.

“This way?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

And while I was thinking, I heard the voice of a strangely nervous guard and a woman’s voice that gave me the impression of being somewhat cold. The two footsteps gradually approached me and ….

“You are ……………………”

An iron cage dividing our positions. Looking across it, I saw a woman a little older than me, with flowing golden hair and a white vestment covering her voluptuous body.

“Nice to meet you. I am Riel.”

Saint Riel smiled at me as if she were a close friend.