Chapter 622

Chapter 7 A Small Test and Decision

Books, documents…

That’s right! When I was in the land of dragons, that woman did mention it. She has a basement in Messer Town, where she hid many so-called “truths and histories” of this world…

I couldn’t help but look back.

Behind me, the earthen house’s door was still open. The space inside wasn’t large, besides the narrow white bed, simple table and chair, and wardrobe, there was only about ten square meters left.

Through the dim light, I could vaguely see where I had just come out from. The rectangular entrance led straight underground. The rolled-up carpet was placed aside, and the wooden cover at the entrance hadn’t been fully closed, exposing a section of the broken stone steps below.

So this is what she meant by the basement…

Then, the bookshelves I saw inside, those old books… were what she referred to…

“La, na, woman, when will she return?” I asked the mayor again.

“Uh… this… even the old man isn’t quite sure… but… I think it should be within a day or two…”

Elder Robert’s answer was vague and hesitant. Clearly, the woman didn’t give a clear departure time when she left, and the elder didn’t know when she would return.

Hmm…

I bit my fingernail, lowered my head, and thought for a moment.

A day or two…

It doesn’t matter; I can wait for her.

I might as well use this time to look through the books in the basement—although they belong to the Gate of Truth, which I used to consider as nonsense that can’t be trusted.

But now…

Things are different now…

The Gate of Truth…

They are undoubtedly evil madmen, but perhaps… I should understand what they know.

I need to understand why they acted this way, the fundamental reasons why things turned out like this, and their purpose… rather than just believing what the church says.

I raised my head and swept my gaze over the increasing number of people ahead.

These people…

are the residents of this town.

Judging by their clothing, they seem to be ordinary people living in a desert town. However, upon closer inspection, except for the women and children, the men standing close by have robust physiques and steady stances, clearly indicating they possess considerable physical strength.

These people are not ordinary townsfolk; they are definitely not.

But if I want to leave now, no one here could stop me—if I regain my own strength.

Even a little bit would do.

As long as I can regain it, leaving would be easy.

And currently, although they are wary of me, I don’t think they harbor much ill will.

Perhaps there is a deeper reason, but at least, before the heretic leader named Alina returns, they won’t do anything extreme to me—but if I try to run, their attitude might change immediately.

I can’t take that risk now.

…But I can first test their limits.

“Mayor.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“My sickle.”

Hmm, I wonder if Captain Gray is still around… whether the woman brought him along is uncertain, so I’ll ask for now… if they are willing to give me Captain Gray, then I would trust these people a bit more.

Not expecting much, mainly to gauge their attitude.

“…Sick cake?”

However, Elder Robert didn’t understand what I was saying: “What sick cake?”

“It’s, sickle.” I repeated, emphasizing each word, “My weapon.”

But the old mayor seemed even more confused.

“…Sickle? Oh, a sickle… but we haven’t seen any sickle…”

He rubbed his hands, looking flustered as if he wasn’t pretending.

“Sorry, this… Do you need a new knife? We have some in town… Sometimes, the starving bandits come here to snatch women and food. The town keeps knives on hand for such occasions… Shall I get one for you?”

As he spoke, he waved to someone behind him to fetch one.

I stared at him for a moment until Elder Robert turned back, then I softly said, “Forget it…”

Captain Gray was either hidden by the greedy townspeople or lost— I leaned towards the latter.

Thus, I felt a sense of loss.

Once again, I’ve lost her…

Suddenly, I had no more desire to talk to anyone. I sighed lightly and asked the mayor my last question: “You, are, Truth’s Gate, right?”

“Truth’s Gate?” Elder Robert paused, then quickly shook his head. “No, we’re not. We are just… the townsfolk here.”

“Mm.”

Since they didn’t admit it, I would leave it at that for now.

Getting to the bottom of this wasn’t my priority right now.

With a poker face, I put on a cold demeanor and waved at the old mayor. “Then, as you said, I’ll wait here for her.”

Afterward, I ignored everyone else and turned to walk toward the mud house. As I reached the door, I stopped and added, “Bring me some food.”

Then I entered the room.

I heard more than one person sigh with relief behind me.

“No problem…”

Bang!

The wooden door closed.

I walked to the center of the mud house and didn’t rush down to the cellar. Instead, I took a look around the surroundings… The place was very simple, much like many poor rural areas. There was a bed, a wooden cabinet, a wooden table, three chairs, a mud stove, an old rusted iron pot, a basket with holes in the corner, and dirty dishes on the counter.

The mud on the walls was cracked and peeling, falling haphazardly onto the floor, indicating that no one had cleaned it in a long time.

Is this the woman’s home?

I guessed it might be.

At least, it could be considered her hometown…

I couldn’t help but think of that cold, captivating face.

That woman must have come out from a crack after the explosion. She somehow evaded the church’s notice, brought me away from Silgaya, and sailed across to the eastern continent, arriving at this remote town. She hid me in the cellar while I was in a deep sleep.

She must have had her own reasons for doing so.

Perhaps she wanted something from me, or maybe… she intended to use my body and strength to achieve her own goals.

I wasn’t clear about what the woman wanted or what she was planning.

But no matter what…

This time, she saved me.

Otherwise, when I woke up now, I might really have been in a clinic…

No, that couldn’t be possible.

The church wouldn’t let me know about any clinic.

Maybe I would suddenly wake up in some safe place, just like three years ago, with no memory of anything, no recollection of what happened or who did what to me, and even forgetting everything that happened in the land of dragons, including Angel’s traitorous expression…

I would forget all the terrible memories…

And then, like a carefree fool, continue living as before.

I would continue to trust Angel and the church, continuing to be a revered Knight of the Pope, a hero in the eyes of the people, carrying out a false mission, fighting for the people, giving my all for those who love me, becoming a crucial combat tool for Angel to achieve some goal, or perhaps a test subject.

If that woman hadn’t taken me away…

Things might have turned out this way.

Thinking of this, my mood became inexplicably complicated.