Chapter 191

Chapter 163 The Bell Tower

My hand trembled involuntarily.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me; my mind was in complete disarray.

Whether it’s bone relics or the goddess’s tears, these unfamiliar terms… and the events recorded in the notes, Woodward Forest, the entrance to the land of dragons… I must tell Reckert about this immediately. I need to leave here as soon as possible… I understand that I must do so.

My body felt weak, and I didn’t want to stand up.

My mind was preoccupied with one thing.

Sister Teresa…

Why are you part of the Gate of Truth? What do you want to accomplish?

What are you doing… It was I who told you about Great White… Does that mean… I accidentally helped you somehow…

And those people who blew themselves up, were they sent by you?

After all, only you knew that Abel gave me something… What did you do to him…

And why did you try to kill me?

Is it because you think I’m a threat? Or is it that you just don’t want to expose yourself because your mission isn’t completed yet?

Just that those people were too weak… I bet you’re quite disappointed that I didn’t die.

You also know Elma… the woman who was still thinking of her on her deathbed. You should be familiar with her. After all, you’re both part of the Gate of Truth.

Actually, I should have realized long ago… when you killed that strong man without hesitation. Or maybe even earlier.

If I remember correctly… whether inside the academy or outside, whenever we talked about the Gate of Truth, you never called them “heretics.”

Not once.

…I should have realized sooner.

Unconsciously, I thought of that gentle and virtuous face.

You are part of the Gate of Truth.

You are… the one who wants to kill me.

Even so, Sister Teresa… how can I not dislike you?

I just want to understand why. And what exactly you want to do.

…You’re not a bad person, right?

The Gate of Truth… considered madmen by the world… how could it be… someone like you?

It’s unbelievable.

Don’t you… have your own beliefs? Why…

I can’t figure it out.

The Holy Church calls the Gate of Truth heretics, saying they are followers of demons. But Teresa… aren’t you a believer in God? Are you the kind of person who would easily abandon your faith?

No, you’re not.

You were originally going to be chosen as a saint… you were such a brilliant person… why you specifically?

Those bloodthirsty fanatics… ah, this is the Church’s impression of heretics…

The Church…

Thinking carefully, are heretics really as “sinful” as the Church says?

I’ve never deeply considered these things.

Because what I saw of the Gate of Truth was their self-immolation, selling reed grass, helping Edward kill my brother, and trying to kill me… such evil practices, I naturally believed you were a group of irrational lunatics along with others.

But now… honestly, I’m a bit shaken.

Sister Teresa, you overturned my understanding of heretics. You made me suddenly feel that everything might be an illusion.

Thinking carefully, the so-called “self-immolation” is actually just a side effect of powerful forces—the sin fire… perhaps that’s how it is.

Just like my chaotic power. That terrifying force that devours any life, seen as pure destruction by the world, is more frightening than the sin fire. Am I also “unforgivable”?

No, it’s not like that.

And the reed grass… currently, you are indeed related to these things. But… have you really used it to harm people?

At least I haven’t seen it. Or rather, I haven’t confirmed it.

Whether in the Valen Empire or the current Order City, I’ve never heard anyone say that you sold these things to civilians, to those innocent and kind people. You’re not the kind of “drug dealer” I understand, who would recklessly hurt others for money.

Father also said that you transporting reed grass over here wasn’t for profit.

The incident in the alley was also planned by you, wasn’t it?

Those two children… thinking back now, they might be orphans here.

Right, there are children involved. The strange things that happened to them… are still just speculations. And the Lotus Root Grass… the Bird Beak Doctor said that this can also be used to treat people, it can actually be used as an anesthetic, but the Church has banned it… I’m not mistaken, right?

You’re actually just using it yourselves… for some purpose.

But that purpose, no one else knows besides you.

Without knowing, one cannot hastily judge right from wrong.

As for the Gate of Truth helping Edward… thinking about it now, it’s just the result of different political stances. Perhaps by coincidence, the Golden Mask coincidentally reached a consensus with Edward, so they became enemies with Shanter Castle. But if… I mean, if.

If the one who reached a consensus with the Golden Mask was Lafayette instead of Edward?

The situation would immediately become different.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as ‘if’ in this world, which is why I think the Gate of Truth is evil. But even if we consider the worst-case scenario, even if the Golden Mask is really not a good person… his personal thoughts cannot represent the entire organization, can they?

Who dares to say that every single person in the Holy Church is absolutely “good”?

No one can guarantee it.

And in the eyes of the world, the sinners of the Gate of Truth, there are people like you.

Someone who refused to be elected as the Holy Maiden…

Rumors say someone was rejected by the gods, or someone who rejected the gods… someone who abandoned the power of faith…

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine.

A terrifying thought quietly grew in my heart. In an instant, it surged like an unstoppable flood, flooding my mind.

I widened my eyes, feeling goosebumps all over my body. A few seconds later, in the dark room, I shook my head and laughed.

It’s impossible… what am I thinking… it doesn’t make sense.

But I have to see Sister Teresa immediately.

Alone, I can’t afford to waste any time.

But where are you?

In your notes, you said, “May you die…” What does that mean? Do you think you can’t escape the Order City, or do you plan to die to fulfill your mission?

Destroy the Bell Tower… what does that mean? Why destroy the Bell Tower…

Or is there something you must destroy inside a Bell Tower in the city?

Then… could you be inside one of those Bell Towers?

I’ll go find you.

With this thought, I tucked the notebook into the inner pocket of my coat, quickly climbed out the window, stepped on the stone ledge, looked up, and mentally estimated the distance to the rooftop… no problem, I can easily jump up.

Taking a deep breath, I suddenly pushed off with my toes, bursting into Moon Step.

Whoosh—

The wind howled again beside my ears.

As my figure crossed the rooftop, I opened my right hand, raised it to the sky, and exhaled a cool mist, using the force to slow my ascent and change the trajectory of my jump, landing steadily on the rooftop with a soft thud.

“Chirp chirp—”

At the same time, the fourth chirp came from the direction of the warehouse nearby, and Reckert had finished.

Only I remained.

The night was slightly cold, the wind gently brushing against my face, I narrowed my dark eyes, gazing into the distance.

Within a few kilometers around Cataloma, hardly any lights were visible. The closely packed low-rise buildings were mostly old and dilapidated, dirty and messy, with a strong street atmosphere. Further back were several solemn churches—the area where the city’s parishes are located, although I haven’t been there since I arrived.

Farther away, in the most prosperous part of the city, thousands of lights were shrouded in darkness, outlining a vague prosperity.

But the night was too dark; I couldn’t tell which tower was a bell tower and which was a high-rise building.

…First gather and ask then.

I reattached Captain Gray to my back, took off the wooden whistle hanging around my neck, put it in my mouth, and blew softly.

“Chirp chirp—”

Mission accomplished.

At least I found something, next I should head to the alley…

Just as I was about to turn and leave, I suddenly froze.

In the hazy night, near the main building, an old, broken bell tower stood quietly by the wall.