บท 69: CHAPTER 48
The vibration coming from the wall continued for a while. Before long, the wall opened wide like a door. As I remembered, I saw a staircase going down.
As I went inside the wall, I heard the door closing behind me. I didn't pay it any mind; it was supposed to be that way.
'It's the same way out anyway.'
Immediately, I walked down the stairs. The long staircase was endlessly continuing beyond my reach. I was not worrying that I wouldn't be able to meet him.
'The High Priest is the only person in the Empire who can connect space freely.'
A completely different concept from portals. No matter what secret passage you used, you would end up arriving at the same destination.
As I hurried down the stairs, a wooden door came to view. I paused for a moment.
No matter if it was my first time, I didn't want to just go in. I felt like I was throwing myself to the dogs.
'What is it? It feels like the reason I came here in the first place is gone.'
It was clear that it would be difficult to meet the High Priest with a regular method. If you were unlucky, you could have waited for years before even obtaining an appointment.
'Let's knock for now.'
As I worried over the situation, the door opened from the inside.
***
Geppel Luna.
A once in a lifetime unprecedented genius who was also the High Priest of the Arcane temple.
For example, his research and papers on new drugs had always produced unprecedented achievements and garnered enthusiastic responses from the academic world. Rumors have been circulating that his ability to heal based on his divine power could even restore the eyesight of those affected by blindness.
Accordingly, the royal families and nobles of the continent constantly requested and tried to appeal to Geppel Luna. There were countless people coming to the temple to meet him from all over the continent.
His remarkable ability; to be called literally a living god did not end there.
It was said that he gave up his position as the successor to Marquis Luna, who ruled the west of the empire, to become a priest in service of the temple.
'Even though the book says that his position is insignificant compared to his achievements.'
This person that was praised by the world was currently standing in front of me.
As I pushed the door, we suddenly made eye contact.
So, um…
Clearly startled, his eyes went round with astonishment, and he almost stopped the piece of chocolate he was about to eat.
'Oh, my God. That's bad timing.'
Geppel soon came to his senses and stepped back.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?"
What do you mean? The Grim Reaper was here to catch you… Since I couldn't say something like this, I started with a simple hello with a polite apology.
"I'm sorry to barge in without your permission, High Priest Geppel. I…"
"What?"
He suddenly cut me and threw me off by asking a question. I think it was the default for men in this world to be rude these days.
'Well, isn't a bit hypocritical of me when I show up without any prior appointment?'
Furthermore, it was obvious why Geppel wondered, because…
"… What do you mean by High Priest Geppel? I think I've seen this person…"
Tiptoeing around the subject, his eyes were clearly trying to evade my gaze.
'I can't help it.'
Geppel always looked like an adult when he was needed as the High Priest in the temple. Very few people knew that he could turn into a child. He was usually seen as a child when walking outside, even inside the temple.
Therefore, people around him knew this form as the child of a distant relative of Geppel and kept people from asking too many questions.
'That's why you want to take him away somehow.'
I wedged him so that he wouldn't pretend.
"What do you mean, I'm wrong? You know it very well, the High Priest who usually looks like an adult can also take the form of a child."
"How can you…"
He murmured to himself in the same tone of confidence I was displaying.
'Can you honestly not recognize it?'
Geppel had pinkish pastel colored silky hair and soft cherry blossom eyes. He also had the same hairstyle.
'But others didn't recognize him.'
It made sense since I based this character on popular magical girl, so you can't recognize her when the main character transforms. Anyway, Geppel was a little lost, even though he was wary of boundaries.
I understood.
'Someone came to his secret place, which he had never seen before.'
You must be confused because you went through something unexpected and ridiculous.
I introduced myself again to break the boundaries a little bit.
"Let me say hello again. I am the second daughter of the House of Spencer, Romani's Archduchess, Riddel Spencer."
"Oh, yeah, Lee… what? Are you Riddel Spencer?"
"Yes, that's the way I look."
When I answered with a smile, Geppel opened his mouth in astonishment.
"What. How did you read my thoughts?"
'I can already see what you're thinking on your face.'
Of course, since I was the original author, I knew he considered Riddel Spencer as a pathetic person.
'Don't you usually deny it?'
Geppel, who had such thoughts in his head, put another piece of chocolate in his mouth. Swallowing it quickly, he asked. "So? Why did her Highness come to me?"
He asked whether I thought that I would answer his question or not.
I asked back instead of answering.
"You don't doubt that I'm indeed Riddel Spencer."
"I heard from Lantes that you're going to visit today, and most of all, there's no reason to come all the way here and lie about Riddel Spencer."
He was using a tone that seemed to say, 'Why are you asking such a thing?'.
I knew he was an adult inside, perhaps his appearance was making him look more arrogant.
'Are you trying to teach a fish how to swim?'
I was a little angry, but I smiled brighter.
"Anyway, I took the liberty of coming here because I wanted to meet with you today."
"Me? Why?"
"I would like to ask you a favor…"
"No, I won't do it. It's annoying."
He cut me off without even listening to me.
Of course…
There was no way that a human being who threw away the temple's work would readily comply with my request. His fatal flaw came from the praises of everyone from the continent.
'It's no exaggeration to say that this laziness won.'
His laziness was so serious that it only added to his arrogance.
The temple already defined the reason why Geppel gave up as the Marquis' successor; because he was lazy, not because of his eager yearning for faith. Although the prolonged silence could be considered as him being scared of the unusual situation.
If so…
'What should I do from now on?'
I prepared two routes. Carrot or whip.
'Let's use the carrot first.'
It wasn't right to use whip therapy on a child, even if the child was only on the outside.
I said with the same bright smile from before. "Of course, I'm not asking you to do me a favor with nothing in return."
"Oh, really?"
He didn't look very interested. It was understandable as bribers offering, giving, receiving or soliciting all over the place. However, I had a secret weapon.
I looked around his office and spotted a pile of bags loaded up on his desk. I pointed at it with my finger and asked him.
"Would you like me to tell you where to sell that?"
***
Lantes' mouth was wide open as I met up with him. As for the reason, Geppel was walking with me.
'Since Geppel was still in a child's appearance, other priests may not have recognized him.'
As much as Lantes knew the identity of Geppel, he seemed to have no idea how to react.
Poor thing.
Nevertheless, did he think he would be able not to blurt out the identity of his boss?
Lantes struggled to turn his gaze towards me and remained silent for a long time. He finally asked as if the words decided to come out of his mouth of their own.
"Have you looked around the prayer room?"
"Of course. Thank you, Lantes."
"No, I don't think so.… Oh, but how could that child be together…"
"I'm going downtown. And she knows about me, so you can speak comfortably."
At this time, Geppel, who suddenly intervened, spit it out, as if it was not a big deal.
Lantes reflexively looked around. Clearly worried that Geppel's identity would be discovered.
Seeing him, Geppel grinned and added.
"For your information, I said it because there was no one around me listening, so don't worry."
'Well, there's Sejan, obviously.'
In fact, we had already talked about Sejan.
When we came out after finishing our conversation, Geppel asked me while looking at Sejan.
" – What's that? Your escort?"
When Sejan personally answered his question adding the "personal escort," Geppel shook his head.
" – You're taking this maniac as an escort. Your taste is so very unique."
Oh, my. It was now the second time someone was throwing demeaning words describing him at my face. At this point, I felt sorry for Sejan who became pitiful in my eyes.
Moreover, the situation ended with Sejan's usual smile, as he didn't care about any of it. Anyway, Lantes still had big eyes, but after a while of silence, he opened his mouth again.
"By the way, how did you find out about the High Priest's identity? He couldn't have told you…"
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