‘They haven’t noticed.’
✦ ✦ ✦
They hadn’t realized that they were dead, and were acting as if they were still living in that time.
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Golgo tilted his head at Vera, who suddenly became quiet.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Apostle...?”
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Vera felt his heart sink.
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“...Yes.”
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“Where should we go? Oh, if it’s not rude to ask, can we borrow a little land near Elia? We won’t step foot in the kingdom! We just don’t have a place to go back to anymore...”
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Expectant eyes pierced through Vera.
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Vera began to hesitate, unsure of what to do.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘How...’
✦ ✦ ✦
What should I do?
✦ ✦ ✦
How can I tell them the truth?
✦ ✦ ✦
As he hesitated, a woman stood up.
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“Please take me inside!”
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She was a woman with straw-colored, tangled hair.
✦ ✦ ✦
Her face was gaunt and freckled, just like the other people here.
✦ ✦ ✦
She spoke again.
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“My sister is in there! She’s only nine years old... we’ve been separated since we arrived here.”
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With weak steps, the woman approached Vera.
✦ ✦ ✦
“...I-I have to find her. I have to leave with her.”
✦ ✦ ✦
She grabbed Vera’s arm.
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Desperation filled her brown eyes.
✦ ✦ ✦
As Vera’s expression crumpled, more people slowly began to stand.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I have to find my mother...”
✦ ✦ ✦
“My son...”
✦ ✦ ✦
“My grandfather...!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Their eyes were filled with the same desperation.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was an unforeseen situation, but it also provided him an opportunity for a delay.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera exhaled and steeled himself.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘...Entering inside is the priority.’
✦ ✦ ✦
Although it was important to deal with these people, pondering here wasn’t going to solve anything.
✦ ✦ ✦
This place was a dimension of imprisoned souls.
✦ ✦ ✦
There had to be a mechanism somewhere in this castle to release their souls.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Yes, I will head further inside. Golgo, can you take these people and hide until their remaining family members are found?”
✦ ✦ ✦
A slight hesitation crossed Golgo’s face.
✦ ✦ ✦
He looked like he wanted to run away.
✦ ✦ ✦
However, he eventually agreed.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Where should we hide?”
✦ ✦ ✦
Golgo looked at Vera.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera thought for a moment before pointing outside the castle.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Once you go out that door and turn left, you’ll find where I defeated the apostates. There’s a large tent there. I’ve checked inside and it’s safe, so please have everyone wait there.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Golgo nodded and stood up, followed by those without families inside.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera confirmed this and spoke to those heading inside.
✦ ✦ ✦
“First, put on the robes that those apostates are wearing.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“What...?”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Shouldn’t you at least cover your bodies?”
✦ ✦ ✦
They flinched.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was only then that they began to feel ashamed, and they began to cover themselves.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera casually rummaged through a nearby corpse and took off its robe.
✦ ✦ ✦
He put it on himself.
✦ ✦ ✦
“We’re going to infiltrate it.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The robe was wide enough to fit over his armor.
✦ ✦ ✦
After completely covering his Holy Sword, Vera spoke to the others.
✦ ✦ ✦
“We’re going to impersonate the apostates from now on, so follow along. The end of false freedom.”
✦ ✦ ✦
This strategy, though rational, made the survivors uneasy.
✦ ✦ ✦
There was no other reason.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘...An Apostle?’
✦ ✦ ✦
He was still an Apostle of God.
✦ ✦ ✦
The irony of someone like him encouraging blasphemy caused them discomfort.
✦ ✦ ✦
Of course, Vera couldn’t understand it.
✦ ✦ ✦
He tilted his head and spoke again.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Why are you not saying it?”
✦ ✦ ✦
He was not a very religious man to begin with, so he didn’t even realize that there was something wrong with his behavior.