Chapter 246

Chapter 56. The Revealed Truth (2)

3.

Ulan and Noa, Laurea.

Among them, the one that caught the group’s attention was Noa.

She was the first to utter the name of the Lord of the Immortals, Astevan.

Not only that.

Noa knew everything: how to fight Astevan, the curses and dark magic he used, and even how to eliminate him.

Her detailed knowledge of information that could never be obtained through regular means definitely raised questions.

“So, spill it.”

What on earth is she hiding?

Delia’s eyes sparkled as if urging her to speak, and Ulan, Noa, and Laurea exchanged glances in silence.

A little while later, it was Laurea who spoke first.

“Alright. I’ll tell you everything.”

She wore a serious expression.

But what followed was something no one expected.

“However, please give me just one day.”

“Huh? You want time?”

“Why?”

Delia narrowed her eyes at the sudden request for time. Then Laurea explained why she needed it.

“Ulan has just woken up. He looks fine on the outside, but I think it would be better if he rested a little more.”

“Well, that’s true…”

“Considering how badly he was hurt.”

Ian and Fertisha nodded in agreement.

They seemed to recall Ulan covered in blood after facing Astevan.

Meanwhile, when Ulan was mentioned, Delia fell silent as well. She didn’t want to put any burden on Ulan either.

“I’m fine.”

But Ulan opened his mouth.

As if it didn’t matter at all.

“Aside from feeling a bit sluggish, I don’t have any uncomfortable spots. I can talk now.”

“He says he’s fine?”

Delia shot an incredulous look at Laurea.

With a rather triumphant expression.

Laurea seemed momentarily at a loss for words but quickly gathered herself again.

“That’s a relief. But even if Ulan says he’s fine, we still need about a day’s time.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to organize the story.”

No matter how much you spill everything, rambling on without context is just a waste of time.

So it was necessary for her to organize the story in a way that everyone could understand. This was why Laurea requested time.

“So today, I will organize the story and tomorrow morning, I’ll reveal all the facts.”

Once I heard it, it sounded reasonable.

The group quickly reached a consensus.

“Hmm, that’s not bad. It’s just one day after all.”

“Yes, I agree.”

“Right. Ulan said he was okay, but it’s still best if he rests.”

After Ivella, Ian and Fertisha also agreed with Laurea. They all deemed it better to hear a well-organized story.

Then Sven, without saying a word, nodded in agreement, forcing Delia to step back.

“…Alright.”

“Thank you, Delia.”

“Then, tomorrow morning, we’ll gather again, so until then, please organize everything.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Finally, their opinions were unified.

Laurea smiled brightly.

A while later, the group started to rise from their seats one by one. Ulan, Noa, and Laurea were creating time to organize their story.

After the door closed, Laurea suddenly turned to look at Ulan and Noa.

“Is everyone gone?”

“Yes? Of course…”

“I meant the spirits too.”

She corrected her question.

Ulan looked around.

“Well, they’re not in the room.”

“Good. Then let’s go.”

“What? Where to?”

“The weather is nice, so I thought we could go outside and talk. It’s better than just sitting in the room, right?”

That wasn’t wrong at all.

Since he had been lying down for a week, he was feeling a bit stiff.

“Anyway, get ready and come out. I’ll be waiting at the back door.”

After saying all that.

Laurea left the room with an unusually cheerful smile.

4.

A little while later.

Ulan and Noa headed towards the back door of the hotel.

A relatively quiet place compared to the front door. Thanks to that, they could easily spot Laurea without needing to look around much.

“You’re here?”

Her smiling face looked this way.

Meanwhile, upon spotting Laurea, Ulan opened his mouth with an expression of curiosity.

“You changed your clothes.”

“Yeah, that was too conspicuous.”

The outfit Laurea originally wore was a pure white robe symbolizing a saintess. Now, she was dressed in a light brown coat over a black robe.

As mentioned earlier, it was to avoid drawing unnecessary attention since Murka was a city filled with many followers of Eloden.

“Anyway, if you’re ready, let’s hurry up and go.”

“Huh? Where to?”

“You’ll find out if you just follow me.”

Laurea flashed a mischievous smile.

Ulan and Noa looked puzzled but followed her without question.

A short while later, the three arrived at the busy main road. It was the market alley, famous for being the busiest spot in Murka.

“This is…”

“Looks like a market.”

Ulan and Noa scanned their surroundings.

The two quickly turned their gaze to Laurea.

As if asking why they came to such a place. Laurea shrugged her shoulders slightly.

“I just came out to take a little break.”

“A break?”

“Yeah. Before revealing the truth to everyone tomorrow, I thought it would be nice to relax a bit and organize what I have to say.”

That was a fairly reasonable answer.

Of course, it seemed that Laurea had other motives as well. Her overly cheerful smile was evidence of that.

“So, where should we go first?”

Just as she was looking around with sparkling eyes.

She heard a familiar sound ringing in her ears.

Grrrrrrr!

It was the sound coming from Ulan’s stomach.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten anything since waking up. At that, Laurea asked with an awkward smile.

“Uh, should we eat something first?”

“I’m all for that.”

Ulan’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

Perfectly fitting since they were in a market full of all sorts of delicious food.

The moment a decision was made, Ulan dashed through the market like a hunter racing through the forest, devouring all sorts of food in sight.

The food disappeared at a staggering pace, like a storm ravaging through the area. At this sight, Noa and Laurea could only mutter in disbelief.

“Whoa, that’s amazing.”

“Well, he hasn’t eaten for a week…”

Ulan typically ate five to ten times more than others. So it made sense that he would be ravenous after a week of starvation.

As Ulan was focused on food, Laurea began to wander the market with Noa, continuously expressing her amazement.

“Wow, there are so many cool things!”

Her eyes sparkled like stars.

Like a child who can’t look away from fascinating toys, Laurea was entranced.

“Well, this is the center of commerce.”

This place was the kingdom of Cerne, where commerce and trade flourished the most. Moreover, they were in Murka’s largest market.

So it was no surprise that there were many fascinating items.

“Come to think of it, Noa, you must have traveled to many places when you were a player?”

“Well, yes.”

“I’m jealous. Ever since I was chosen as a saint candidate, I haven’t had a chance to travel.”

Her complexion showed genuine feelings of envy.

Looking at that, she stole a glance at Ulan. That was when Ulan, focused on his food, suddenly spoke up.

“You’ll definitely get a chance to travel soon.”

“Oh? Really?”

“You said that in your previous life, you became an official saintess and immediately set off on a pilgrimage.”

And during the pilgrimage, she would challenge the Trial of the Hero with Ian. Recalling events from a past life, Ulan continued.

“You can travel then.”

“…A pilgrimage and a trip are different.”

“Hmm? They’re not?”

“Of course! They’re completely different!”

Laurea pouted.

It seemed she disliked Ulan’s answer. She sighed and grumbled.

“Honestly, you have no clue about this stuff.”

“No clue?”

“The fact that you’re questioning it is a sign of being clueless. Anyway, this topic is done!”

It was just something she said without thinking.

She knew better than anyone that she wouldn’t be able to travel until her mission as a saintess was complete.

Then, just as they were about to walk again.

They spotted familiar faces.

“Ah, isn’t that the Saintess?”

Eloden’s knights.

Surprised, they stopped right in front of Laurea in the middle of the market.

“What brings you out here?”

“I just felt a bit cooped up.”

“Ah, I see. I understand.”

Laurea had been practically confined to the hotel for an entire week. The knights, nodding, suddenly began to look around her.

As if searching for someone.

“But……”

“Did you come out alone?”

“Leaving the Saintess unattended? I need to have a word with Count Marcus.”

The knights narrowed their eyes.

Apparently, they were looking for Ian, who normally accompanied Laurea.

However, upon hearing their words, Laurea quickly waved her hands.

“N-no, it’s fine! There’s no need for that.”

It wasn’t to defend Ian.

If the knights spoke to Ian about this, it would reach the ears of the other heroes that she went out with Ulan.

So she frantically tried to explain.

“Because I brought another escort with me.”

“Huh? Another escort…?”

“I’m right here.”

Laurea hugged Ulan’s arm.

With a fervent gleam in her eyes, as if signalling him to go along with it. Seeing this, Ulan readily nodded.

“Yeah. I’ll protect Laurea.”

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

“If the Hero of the Stars is escorting her, Count Shanktus will surely be at ease.”

Paladin Master Kadel Dun Shanktus.

As his name was mentioned, Laurea seemed to recall something and immediately asked.

“Has Count Shanktus left the city?”

“Yes, he left this morning with the Inquisition Officer to carry out a mission.”

Kadel had two major tasks given to him.

One was the task he received from Laurea, and the other was to gather information about Sven while recovering the remains of the martyred priests.

Furthermore, Kadel was also on the trail of the Abyss Worshippers who attacked the priests. When Kadel’s news was shared, the knights nodded silently.

This time, they approached Laurea again.

“By the way, Saintess.”

“Pardon my impertinence, but may I ask when you plan to return to the Holy Nation?”

It was not an impertinent question but a valid one.

She had to inform them about what happened here and the completion of the oracle.

However, she still couldn’t return.

“I’m sorry, but could you wait until the day after tomorrow? I have some stories to share with the Heroes of the Stars.”

“Understood. We’ll wait.”

“Since the Heroes of the Stars are also related to the oracle. Then please tell us once you’re done with your stories.”

“Yes, thank you for understanding.”

With that conversation over, the knights quietly departed. Laurea sighed in relief as her chest relaxed.

She was almost caught by the other heroes for going out with Ulan. Meanwhile, during that time, Ulan had finally finished his long meal.

“Now I feel a bit full.”

“Well, that’s because you ate so much.”

Noa responded with an exasperated expression.

Ulan had eaten enough for twenty people to be satisfied. If he wasn’t full after that, he definitely needed to see a doctor.

“If the meal is over, shall we go have something to drink?”

At that moment, Laurea spoke up.

Might be because she just barely escaped the crisis, but she felt unusually parched. Noa and Ulan happily accepted her suggestion.

“Yeah, I’m good with that.”

“I’m fine too.”

“Great! So how about over there? I heard it’s a pretty famous café around here.”

Laurea pointed to a large café.

Next, numerous tables set up outdoors came into sight. Ulan couldn’t help but mutter.

“Reminds me of old times.”

“Huh? Have you been here before?”

“Not this one, but I’ve been to similar places.”

“Where did you visit?”

“A café in the capital city of the Empire.”

Finishing his answer, Ulan began sharing a story from a few months back when he explored the capital with Ivella.

Back then, they had gone to a café that had a somewhat similar atmosphere, and it was also where he first met Fertisha.

“Wait, what? Who?”

“I went with Ivella.”

“…Oh, I see.”

Suddenly, Laurea’s eyes narrowed.

After a moment, she turned her body away just as the café was in front of them. Ulan followed, puzzled.

“Huh? Aren’t we going in?”

“Changed my mind. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Her voice sounded sullen.

In that moment, Noa realized straight away.

Ulan’s answer must have irritated her. As she was quietly picking up on the vibes, Laurea continued speaking.

“And actually, there’s something I want to drink even more than coffee.”

“Huh? What is that?”

“You’ll find out when we go.”

Laurea licked her lips in silence.

Noa tilted her head.

On the other hand, Ulan immediately caught on to what Laurea meant. It was no surprise. The drink she liked had been the same one for a long time.

“Then let’s go.”

Laurea, suddenly smiling brightly as though she were never sulking, grabbed both of their hands.

However, she remained unaware.

That there were eyes from afar watching the scene of Laurea and Ulan together.

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