Chapter 71
Translator: FusionX
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The Moonstone artifact could not be found.
Records of artifacts related to time remain, but even those are only records, and it is uncertain if they actually exist.
“…I see. That’s because I used it.”
The reason I requested another investigation about the Moonstone was because of what Adriana had said.
Is it possible for someone to find out about my regression?If I knew whether the Moonstone caused regression or something else, I could think in a different direction.
I hadn’t pondered much about the regression itself.
No one had ever mentioned my previous rounds, and no one had apologized to me like Adriana this time, so I thought it was natural and lived on.
Wasn’t there no evidence to make me think this regression could affect others, that only I remembered it?
“The possibility that Adriana could see it because it’s her… is worth considering.”
What Adriana had said was clearly about my memories.
The deaths I had experienced, and about my life.
How did she know about them in such detail?
It could be interpreted as the power of a saint, but a guess arose that this might be related to the Moonstone.
There wasn’t enough time to find out anything right away.
There were more than one or two things to do in the south, and there was very little time to worry about the background of my regression.
Today was the day to head to the south.
It meant that going to the south with Adriana and visiting the Temple of the Moon was the first thing to do.
I would have to make time to move independently.
I don’t think it will be very difficult.
If it’s Verod, he would rather want Adriana and I to be separated and move separately.
North, South.
The places I went to achieve my desired goals.
In the North, things were resolved quite simply.
By prioritizing strength, I made them realize that I wasn’t just at a decent level by killing the leader of the tribes alone.
It wasn’t bad that Adele and my relationship were misunderstood.
If they took that as fact, at least there wouldn’t be anyone among her adjutants who thought badly of me.
Wasn’t it the same in the past?
I could definitely trust that part.
During the week I stayed here, I tried to advance my relationship with the paladins of the Moon Tower, even if only a little.
Since there were so many people who thought of me as a “bastard” in the first place, Adriana also realized that my reputation was bad and helped me in various ways.
So now I didn’t receive blatant glares like before.
It was because I trained together when the paladins were training, giving them the perception that I wasn’t a fool with no abilities like the rumors said.
Compared to the paladins, my body was weak, but my skills could be said to be similar to Verod’s.
When asked where I developed these skills… I just answered with a smile.
Wouldn’t it be a bit strange to say I learned them while getting hit directly by Verod?
Adriana fell asleep in my arms, and like that, another week passed.
The gains I obtained during this short period were not few.
Just being recognized as Adriana’s friend and guest, not a stranger, was good enough.
“It should be about time.”
Tucking the letter Arwen had sent into my bosom, I slowly emptied the thoughts that had filled my mind.
Staring at the ticking clock for a moment, I picked up the luggage I had prepared in advance and moved my steps.
Knock knock-
As I opened the door where I heard the knocking sound, Adriana was waiting beyond it.
My worry that our relationship might become awkward after that was just my own concern.
Rather, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we had become a little closer, so Adriana, who naturally grabbed my arm, opened her mouth.
“Are you all ready?”
“Yes, but where is Cardinal Verod?”
“I sent him separately. We’re taking the carriage with just the two of us anyway.”
“That’s true.”
Verod would probably think Adriana would be disappointed by this, but Adriana had quite a lot of expectations about going to the south.
Didn’t she say it was the first time she was going this far?
Although she had a heavy goal in mind, it was a schedule closer to sightseeing for a few days with the Temple of the Moon as a base.
I also decided to take it lightly for now.
Unless I encountered Theresa, there wouldn’t be many occasions to face each other until we went far from the Temple of the Moon.
If she had sensibility, she wouldn’t have come all the way to the Temple of the Moon.
If Adriana was also put in danger.
She wouldn’t be able to die peacefully then.
“Robert?”
“…I forgot something for a moment. It’s fine now.”
Perhaps wondering why I wasn’t saying anything for a while, Adriana asked while hugging my arm.
I had a lot of thoughts about Theresa in many ways.
I tried to just leave her alone, but didn’t she directly step forward and create various incidents?
It was time to see the end.
The relationship between Theresa and Robert Taylor had to end in the south.
After putting Adriana in the carriage, Adriana grabbed my sleeve as I tried to sit across from her.
“Sit next to me. I’m fine.”
“I think Cardinal Verod won’t be okay with it, but I guess it doesn’t matter.”
Surely he wouldn’t say anything about what the saint had allowed.
I laughed as I made eye contact with Verod, who was playing the role of the coachman for this carriage.
At first, he was scary, but now he just seemed like an overprotective father who cherished Adriana like his own daughter.
Even so, he couldn’t do anything if Adriana got angry, should I say he was like that kind of grandfather?
“If Verod gets angry, tell me. You’re my friend.”
“I’m always grateful for that.”
“What. It’s just… because I feel sorry.”
Adriana still felt quite sorry about the ‘dream’.
Even if I said it was okay, she said she wasn’t okay and took care of my convenience.
While this was burdensome, in some ways, I thought there was nothing bad about it.
Like that, I sat next to Adriana.
Entrusting my body to the carriage that was slowly starting to move, I turned my gaze towards the window.
“Robert, have you contacted Miragen?”
It was a moment later that I heard a voice directed at me like that.
Laughing at the gesture of pulling my sleeve, I remembered that I hadn’t contacted Miragen even once.
I had intended to contact her, but I seemed to have forgotten for a moment because of what happened with Adriana.
“I haven’t, but I guess I should.”
“You haven’t done it even once? I thought you would have done it at least once since it’s the room Miragen stayed in.”
“I couldn’t because of you.”
“What?”
“Because I was thinking about you all day. I was worried about you crying in front of me.”
It was an excuse in its own way for not being able to contact Miragen, but when Adriana heard those words, she let go of the sleeve she was holding and coughed.
Seeing her slightly reddened cheeks, I realized I had quite misspoken.
They were words that could easily be misunderstood.
Especially if it was between a man and a woman.
“…I, I see.”
Adriana, whose ears had turned red, leaned against the opposite side of the carriage and quietly stared into the void.
That appearance was funny, so I laughed for a moment, but I realized that even if I tried to talk to her, it would only have the opposite effect.
It would be better to try contacting Miragen instead.
As I took out the artifact and let mana flow through it, a signal sound was heard.
Beep-
And then again, with a short sound, a voice was heard from the other side.
It was quite a blunt voice.
As if she was sulking, with a voice that sounded like her lips were sticking out even without seeing, I laughed softly.
-What’s wrong? Why did you contact me?
“I was curious about what you were doing, so I contacted you.”
-After forgetting about me for a week, I guess you’re a little curious about what I’m doing now.
“I didn’t forget. Since I stayed in the room where Your Highness used to stay, I thought about you sometimes.”
-…Oh, I guess you stayed in the Moon Tower?
When I affirmed, Miragen was a little surprised that the other paladins had allowed it.
The Moon Tower was called a forbidden area for men probably because their role was effective.
If even Miragen reacted like this, just the fact that I entered it meant Adriana had shown me a lot of convenience.
“I received help from Adriana. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
-Friends, I think it’s a good excuse. I’m curious about how you managed to trick the innocent Adriana, but I’m busy right now, so I can’t talk for long.
“I guess things are going well in the northwest?”
By now, the Terranite mine should have exploded and there would still be leftovers.
When I asked, Miragen was silent for a moment and then sighed.
-Sometimes I think Lord Taylor has a bit of a strange side. How did you know when I didn’t even say it?
“I just guessed. Because that’s the only reason why Your Highness would be busy.”
-The Terranite mine exploded properly. I want to say it’s thanks to you, but… strangely, when I think of the northwest, I feel bad. I just feel sorry. Your wounds have all healed, right?
Her voice was a bit darkened, so I smiled brightly on purpose and answered.
If it was about my wounds, it was fine to say my body condition was much better than before.
Perhaps because Adriana had flowed holy power through it, my body had been strengthened compared to before.
Miragen opened her mouth as if she was relieved by my answer that I was fine.
-I hope you don’t overdo it like that next time. No matter how much danger I’m in, you disregard your own life too much.
“I’ll be careful.”
-It’s not about being careful, I heard you’re going to the south this time too. I don’t usually say this, but please, if you think of me even a little.
Miragen hesitated for a moment, then whispered softly.
What was contained in her voice was a faint tremble.
Worry, compassion, and sympathy for me spread gently.
Unlike usual, it was quite a soft voice, so I just listened to her voice silently.
-Come back safely. Answer that you understand.
“…Alright.”
-Even if you say that, I can’t believe you. Let me hear Adriana’s voice next time you contact me. I guess she’s not with you right now?
“She is with me, but I don’t think she’s in a state to talk.”
-Is she sulking or something? Okay. Then contact me later, I’m quite busy. Take care!
Looking at Adriana, who was still staring into the void, I answered okay to Miragen, who was particularly emphasizing that she had become busy.
I didn’t know if I could keep the promise about not getting hurt this time.
It would be nice if I could keep it, but the south wasn’t such a generous land.
With a thud, I quietly looked at the artifact where contact was cut off.
I thought it wouldn’t be bad to contact her from time to time.
Wasn’t she a woman whose voice made me feel better just by hearing it when my thoughts became complicated?
My thoughts that had become complicated by my regression and the Moonstone had already disappeared.
Putting the artifact in my bosom, I slowly approached Adriana, whose condition had become quite good now.
“Ro, Robert? Are you done with the communication?”
“Yes, it ended a while ago. But why are you so surprised? I just got closer.”
“Your arm touched me…”
Didn’t you hold my hand well, saying you were anxious?
Seeing this reaction made me unknowingly laugh.
Although going to the south had a complicated meaning for me, at least in this moment, I could forget all those thoughts.
Adele, Adriana, and Miragen.
In this life, I could say they were all such existences to me.
Leaving behind Adriana’s face that had turned red again, we quietly looked out the window like that, leaning against each other.
The scenery changed rapidly, powered by the speed of the horse.
As we got closer to the south, the lush forests and trees grew, and the sun was obscured by the trees stretching toward the sky, casting shadows.
The sunlight was faintly hitting and shattering on each branch, darkness descended, and I realized that the south was approaching in that darkness.
The dimly spread forest shadows devoured the road, and only the carriage’s lantern revealed the path beyond.
This eerie atmosphere must be the warning the south was sending us.
Dark and murky.
Chaotic and violent, wasn’t this land where the dragons once lived, trying to steal the sun?
Clop clop-
Only the noisily sounding horse hooves cut through this silence.
Like that, we were moving forward.
Towards where this forest shadow was getting deeper.
To be precise, towards the south.
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