CH 78

「This room is fine.」

There is a bookshelf against the wall and a wide wooden desk in front of it.

In front of it was a large table with four chairs on each side.

There was a room there with an interior that reminded me of a conference room.

「Even so, this was the key…」

I looked at the ring I had borrowed from Serena and felt complicated.

The reason is that most of the rooms with windows were locked.

When I first explored the evil god’s castle, if I had worn this [Ring of Gospel], I could have gotten out without difficulty.

At the time, I was only focused on the newly awakened ability, [Inventory], but when I was shown the convenience of the key in this way, I regretted it once again.

I let out a sigh and thought about it.

I didn’t find any strange rooms in all the rooms I’ve seen so far.

It looks more like a castle in the Kingdom of Erivan, a building with a predetermined purpose and designed structure.

I wondered if this place had originally functioned as a castle, with a lot of people coming and going.

Thinking about this, I returned to the hall. I noticed an inconspicuous room behind the entrance.

The door was hidden behind the stairs, and I noticed it from upstairs.

I opened the door to the room and walked in…….

The room was dusty, which was unusual for this well-kept castle.

The room is not very large, and if five adults were to lie down in it, there would be no place for them to step.

「Is this a storeroom?」

There was nothing in the room, I made that judgement and tried to leave….

「Elt-kun?」

I got called out from behind.

「What are you doing here so late at night?」

I looked at the entrance and saw Alice standing there. The light in the room illuminated her figure clearly. She was wearing clothes for sleeping, and a clock, with a sword at her waist, which she probably carried with her as a precaution as this was the Evil God’s castle.

「Weren’t you sleeping?」

「Yes, but when I woke up in the middle of the night, Elt-kun wasn’t there, so I got curious…」

It seems she came looking for me.

「So, what are you doing sneaking around in the middle of the night?」

「I told you it wasn’t dangerous, but I was making sure.」

I’ve already checked all the unlocked rooms, but now that I have a new key, I just wanted to check the ones I hadn’t checked before.

「To keep those two out of harm’s way? That’s overprotective.」

「…isn’t it okay?」

I was annoyed that she had guessed my true intentions.

Alice in front of me looked at me as if she was looking at something that made her smile.

「You really care about those two, don’t you? So, which one do you like more?」

Perhaps because she had found something to tease me with, Alice asked curiously as she approached me.

「I, it’s not important.」

「No, it is. Alicia is my best friend. I know how much she cares about you, Elt.」

Alicia knew from fortune telling that I was still alive after going in her stead, so she came to the distant kingdom of Erivan to look for me.

She even confessed her feelings to me when we met again, but I’m hesitant to respond.

「Aren’t you a mess? Leave it to Alicia.」

As we talked, Alice got hotter and hotter and pushed me closer and closer to the back of the room, until I was backed up against the wall.

As I hurriedly tried to escape to the left and right, she put her hands on the wall to cut off my retreat. In front of me is Alice’s face. Her lips are glossy and her hair shines in the lighting.

Her face had a refined beauty that was different from Serena and Alicia’s, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her even though I was in this situation.

「If you don’t give them an answer, those two will never be able to move forward.」

I was at a loss at Alice’s words, the third party. But the next moment….

「Eh? The ground lit up…」

The pendant around Alice’s neck began to glow.

「It’s bad! We have to get out of this room!」

Some kind of magic circle has been activated. I told Alice that and we tried to escape the room, but…

「Eh! Kyaa!」

Alice didn’t hear what I said, and her reaction was delayed. As a result, we collided with our bodies and fell into the middle of the room.

「Itatata. Wh, what are you doing Elt!?」

I can feel the softness and warmth all over my body. It seems Alice is on top of me.

The pendant grew brighter and brighter, and the magic circle itself glowed strongly in response.

「I can’t make it!」

I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I have to protect Alice.

I hugged Alice with all my might and….

The next moment, the scenery in front of me blurred.