Chapter 27

After returning to the room…

Hieronymus had left, and as expected, Tisah removed her gloves and examined her own hands.

And just like that, she bent over and checked her knees too. Huh? Did she do something here as well?

Good thing we did a full body check.

Letting your guard down is dangerous, you know.

Two months isn’t enough time to truly open up.

Unless there’s no prior relationship, but especially if it’s a dangerous beast…

Accidents always happen when you let your guard down, right? In that sense, Tisah’s actions are absolutely brilliant. She’s doing great.

It’s super exhausting for me though.

Still, this is probably why she’s survived until now.

Since I learned that Yeongyang Church Nation was somehow connected to Hieronymus, I recalled all memories related to people involved.

There, the name “Maiden of Ecstasy” occasionally came up.

There aren’t detailed records, but at least it dates back 100 years ago.

But could someone who was a target for eradication by Yeongyang Church Nation be associated with one of their high-ranking members now?

We still lack information.

Hieronymus seems relaxed now, but judging by his position, he might not be. He’s probably far more skilled at deceiving others than someone like me.

What’s the point of reading emotions from facial expressions anyway?

When you can’t actually get important information from them.

So I’ll behave nicely. I’ll stay quiet like I don’t know anything.

Of course, I don’t know everything.

Just a little bit more than others.

For instance, earlier Tisah fought alongside a Future Hope Church official againstCogny Kingdom soldiers, got hit by an arrow, and fell off a cliff. The mission failed.

But it was all part of Tisah’s plan.

He was smiling when he fell off the cliff.

A height where a normal person would die instantly, yet even with both legs fractured, Tisah survived.

And they healed immediately.

I told you already.

Tisah possesses remarkable regenerative abilities. We’ve been experimenting with it bit by bit without anyone noticing.

All of this was to escape from Future Hope Church. Leading the officials to an obvious spot, taking a fall…he probably wanted the church to believe he was dead.

After drifting downstream for quite a while, he climbed ashore.

Pulling out the arrows embedded in his body, he scanned his surroundings and started walking without hesitation.

He’ll become a threat to Future Hope Church.

Because he has so much information.

Firstly, about this place assumed to be the core of Future Hope Church. About those receiving blessings. About me giving blessings. And most importantly, he himself wields formidable power.

Regeneration.

While regeneration may seem underwhelming, it’s actually incredibly potent. It allows you to always remain in perfect health.

No matter how injured, even after fatal wounds multiple times.

The ability to try again is amazing.

Take sword cuts for example. If you lose an arm in battle, that’s usually game over.

But he can do it again.

Isn’t that incredible?

It’s like when rich people fail but succeed through effort. If you’re poor, it’s hard to bounce back from failure.

One person falls, gets helped up, shakes off the dirt, and keeps moving. Another rolls all the way to the underground.

And ends up shackled with debt on their limbs.

Yeah, exactly.

Tisah has this incredible asset – the opportunity to start over. The only thing more valuable would be the ability to rewind time.

As long as he avoids instant death, he can keep going.

Meaning, an incredibly powerful person has escaped from Future Hope Church.

Hehe.

Not sure what he’ll do next, but hang in there, Tisah.

I’m hoping you’ll bring more warmth.

Thinking that, I prepared to go outside.

Time for some exercise, right?

***

It’s been eight days since Tisah escaped from Future Hope Church.

I’m running with Joanna. This world has no weekends or holidays, so every day feels the same.

After giving blessings, I change clothes and head out for exercise.

Though it’s just an hour of running.

And someone’s been observing me. Not the two warriors caught in Joanna’s gaze.

I mean the increasing number of believers watching me from a distance.

Yeah.

The more I run around outside, the more people notice me. I worried my sweaty, human-like appearance wouldn’t fit the image of an apostle.

But since Hieronymus isn’t controlling it, it must be fine.

Actually, I kind of enjoy the faint sense of disdain from them.

Yeah, it’s good they’re letting their guard down.

That way it’ll be easier to learn how to summon me. Though considering how stupid I appear, they might not tell me willingly. But I don’t only gain knowledge through learning.

And there’s another person.

Tisah.

She likely knows the summoning technique. Having lived over 100 years, being connected to Yeongyang Church Nation, and bearing the title of witch makes it unlikely she doesn’t.

But I’m keeping her at arm’s length for now. Constantly staring might expose me.

And on the eighth day.

My efforts exercising outside finally paid off.

Someone approached me.

A man with blonde hair and blue eyes of average build. We met once before, and he helped me greatly.

He gave me the mechanism to move from the basement to a first-floor room.

He introduced himself as Andrew.

“It’s been a while, Miss Rebecca.”

At the end of my run. On the road where I always sprint, surrounded by protruding pillars – a place observers would have difficulty finding me – he stood there.

“Hello, Andrew.”

“I’m truly delighted you remembered my name. Are you enjoying life outside?”

Though he wore a gentle smile, I knew it was fake. Surprisingly, he wasn’t particularly tense though.

By mentioning outdoor living right away, he’s implying I’m outside because of him.

And there’s gratitude expected in that statement.

So I gave him what he wanted.

“Yes, I like it.”

Andrew smiled contentedly. I stared at him, eager to hear what he’d say next.

“I’m glad to hear that. Is there anything inconvenient about your situation? Aren’t you running on this dusty road unwillingly? If forced, I could take care of it.”

Huh?

Ah, indeed.

Seeing a non-warrior running like this must make it seem like I have some intention, right? So I shook my head side to side.

“A human body weakens if it doesn’t run. To maintain this body, I need to run.”

Upon hearing my words, he seemed to realize something. A fleeting sharpness appeared in his eyes before disappearing. What’s he thinking? Like whether he could kill me if I weaken?

“If your body weakens, that wouldn’t be good, would it?”

“Doesn’t a human body die when it weakens?”

I twisted his probing question even further.

This person was present when I was summoned into this world. He knows I’m a beast wearing human guise.

“I see.”

Short silence.

If I can die like a human, how do you feel about that?

“I came to check if you’re experiencing any uncomfortable living conditions, Miss Rebecca. Is there anything troubling you?”

He changed the subject.

Considering I’ve been giving rather childish answers, I wish he’d explain things simply for me.

Stop beating around the bush and speak plainly.

Then I’ll understand your desires.

Like whether you’re on Hieronymus’s side or not?

I’m eighty percent sure he’s an enemy of Hieronymus, but since he could be an ally behind the scenes, I’ll proceed cautiously.

To avoid potential mistakes, I should consider this Future Hope Church as a singular entity.

So for now, I’ll stick to facts.

If I share information for planning, it might help. Otherwise, since I only provided facts, there won’t be any issues.

Thus, sow seeds gradually and observe.

“No.”

As I stared straight at him while answering, he masked his bored expression with a smile.

“You don’t seem to have many desires, Miss Rebecca. It’s disappointing I can’t do more for you.”

Hehe.

Yeah. That’s bait. The same bait that pulled me out of the cold sea before.

I get it. I fully understand how dangerous tampering with this bait can be. But I don’t need to hold back.

Because I have no thoughts, I can clearly express what I want.

“If you were to do something, I desire warmth. I need more than now. Three people per day isn’t enough. Even when three come daily, sometimes they don’t match a single person from the previous day. Without warmth, I get cold. So if possible, please provide more warmth.”

I purely expressed my desire. To prevent any misunderstanding of “warmth,” I explained I require offerings.

Three daily.

Anyone in this position should know that even on days of dedication, three people disappear regularly.

Alright.

I took the bait. How will you respond, Andrew?

And Andrew asked me this:

“If you could obtain more warmth, would you be able to give more blessings?”

You’re reeling me in, huh?

“So far, it’s been three. But if I put in a bit more effort, I might manage four. In exchange, I want more warmth. Not just one, but more.”

Until now, it’s been a one-to-one ratio, but I expressed the desire to receive more while giving a bit more. Pure desire. Unadulterated by anything else.

“Yes, understood. Thank you for your response, Miss Rebecca.”

Andrew bowed his head. When he raised it again, his face revealed lustful desire.

Hehe.

Yeah. He took the bait.

Now I’m looking forward to how things will change.

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