DLRV 03

Chapter 03

The oracle is the word of God proclaimed across the land. Its delivery must not contain falsehoods, it must not be monopolized, and it must not be doubted.

This meant that my absurd blessing had been announced everywhere. A Resurrected One chosen by God.

The temple that had recovered my body would naturally claim rights over me, and the Roam family that had abandoned me, as well as the Imperial Family, would try to call me back in some way.

Foreign powers, sensing my situation and expecting me to be disgusted by it all, would also try to make contact under the table.

Every path ahead was all too clear. God said He would send a Resurrected One because evil was rampant, but in reality, it was the Resurrected One that would cause evil to run rampant.

「So I must run away.」

The conclusion was simple. I had no interest in whether this world fell to ruin, and even if evil did run rampant, I had no ability to fight against it.

How could I, who had never even held a sword hilt in my life, fight anything! Besides, it wasn’t as if I had manifested any powers like magic or divine power. All I had was my monstrous regenerative ability and slightly sharpened senses.

A Resurrected One? It sounds impressive, but really, isn’t it no different from just being an undead?

Isn’t this just coming back to life as a monster? I didn’t have a noble enough heart to want to protect this world even if it meant becoming a monster.

「I’m sorry, but you made the wrong choice.」

Muttering words that would receive no answer into the air, I pondered a way out.

Everyone working at the temple were clergy. Though there were differences in rank, they were all the same in that they had sworn obedience to God and reported ultimately to the High Priest.

If I carelessly hinted at my intention to run away, I would only lose the freedom I currently had.

God, instead of this useless regenerative ability, You should have given me a more proper power. If only I had manifested even magic, I could have smashed this high wall and left immediately.

[Huh? What are you?]

That was when I met the squirrel.

[My acorns! My acorns are gone!]

Whether the temple had considered my emotional stability, I had been assigned a splendid room on the first floor with a terrace connected to a small garden.

There were no large trees in the garden that I could hang myself from, but it was modestly decorated with pretty flowers.

The squirrel appeared there.

「What, who sent you?」

At first, I thought it was magic. I thought someone from outside had sent a person to make contact with me. But looking closer, this squirrel was only singing about acorns.

[You stole my acorns, didn’t you? Give them back right now!]

The squirrel charged at me, insignificant as it was. Rather than fleeing with its nimble body, it kept hovering around, making a fuss for me to return its acorns. After exchanging a few words, I realized.

Ah, this is a real animal.

I can talk to animals now.

That was the first real ‘awakening of a strange power’ I felt after my resurrection.

“Is there anywhere I can seek help?”

All the allies I had made so far were animals. I had gone through some arguments and failures, but they were far better than people.

The squirrel, in particular, had rendered distinguished service in stealing temple treasures. Since I found its acorn stash for it, it brought me small treasures in return, hiding them in its mouth.

[When is that fierce eagle coming?]

The eagle the squirrel mentioned was also someone I met at the temple. I’d discovered it when it came to catch the squirrel and quickly persuaded it, but because of that eagle, I had to come up with strange excuses to receive raw meat from the priests.

However, in return, the eagle caused a commotion in the temple, and I was able to find an opening and escape, so the effort wasn’t in vain.

“Who knows.”

When I said I wanted to leave this city, the eagle said it had an older brother it knew and flew off somewhere.

Was it expecting to get fresh raw meat again if it helped this time? If it helped, of course I was willing to get all sorts of rare raw meat for it, but…

Sitting by the window, looking outside through the curtain, I suddenly paused.

“What, who is that?”

How did he find this place so quickly?

[Aneli?]

I moved away from the window, drew the curtain immediately, and looked back at the squirrel.

“You hide for now. I’ll get you more acorns later.”

[Okay!]

After confirming the squirrel had quickly crawled under the bed, I fiddled with the ring on my finger.

This ring, set with a bumpy, rough black gem, was a subspace magical tool.

I’d been wearing it since I left Roam, and while the only downside was that it could only store precious metals, since having money could solve most conveniences anyway, I’d swept up all the money I’d received from the temple without worry.

So, at present, it was essentially my entire fortune.

Could it be that a tracking spell had been placed on the money I swept up then? I’d heard that sometimes, those who feared theft would place expensive tracking spells on each individual gold coin.

Even if that were the case, I had no way of distinguishing which coins had the spell on them. Nor could I just abandon the money and leave.

I’d already thrown away the entire bag I’d brought from the previous lodging when I moved here. If I had no money, I’d completely lose the capital to escape.

Or perhaps I had a tracking spell on me? But I hadn’t come into contact with any mages since my resurrection.

In the midst of my confusion, I heard footsteps outside the room. The gait was heavy and had weight to it. I could also hear the friction of armor chains.

Maybe it wouldn’t come to this room…

Knock, knock.

The immediate knock made me hold my breath. As I remained silent, staring at the closed door, another knock came. Still, I didn’t answer.

“I know you’re in there.”

The calm voice sounded familiar. It was definitely the black-haired Holy Knight I’d met on the street earlier. The same one I’d just seen outside the window.

“I heard you’ve been very confused since you awoke. The temple understands your confusion, and only hopes that you don’t become endangered by this wandering.”

His words weren’t a test. He was certain that I, the Resurrected One, was in this room. Then what I needed to know was how he had found my location.

After a moment’s thought, I stood before the door. If he had wanted to take me by force, he would have opened the door already, so I could tell he had no intention of dragging me out against my will.

“Take all the time you need to collect your thoughts. However, for your safety, I beg that you at least accept my escort.”

I flung the door open and came face to face with the Holy Knight standing there. I stared straight into his gray eyes.

“Who are you, Sir Knight?”

Even with the sudden opening of the door, he showed no sign of surprise. Probably because he already knew I was standing in front of the door.

This man was different from the other Holy Knights. He was far more capable. He was likely the one who had found me at my previous lodging as well.

“My first greeting. I am Samuel, who serves God.”

Samuel. I’d heard that name before. Samuel Bent. He was the second son of the Bent family, but due to the manifestation of powerful divine power, he had determined his future at a young age.

“The one from the Bent family…”

“I am one who has long since devoted myself to the temple. You may call me Sir Samuel.”

He gazed at me steadily as he curtly corrected my address.

When I’d encountered him on the street earlier, I’d fled without any thought of looking closely, but seeing him now, he was easily a head taller than me.

Moreover, he was of such large build that he filled the open doorway. It seemed his natural frame was large and broad, not just because of the armor.

Was it because of the posture of looking down at me? His face, half in shadow, looked exceedingly cold and arrogant.

His features were clear and strong, and his tightly shut lips suggested a stubborn disposition.

In a word, he was the very image of a Holy Knight, with a face so rigid it seemed no flexibility could be found.

“So, Sir Knight is the famous Samuel Bent?”

“…Clergy do not follow their worldly family names.”

He seemed quite displeased with the ‘Bent’ attached to his name, as a slight frown creased his brow.

“Did I misstate your birth, Sir Knight?”

“You stated it correctly.”

“Why do you look so disgusted, then, if it’s correct?”

“It is meaningless to dwell on a clergyman’s birthplace. I am merely correcting you, as you seem unfamiliar with temple culture.”

“What use do I have for temple culture?”

“I heard you’ve had no proper interaction at the main temple since your resurrection. I understand you find it unfamiliar due to the lack of anyone to help you adapt.”

He wasn’t understanding my refutation at all.

Or perhaps he was deliberately ignoring it.

“…I see, Sir Samuel. So, in any case, you are the very Holy Knight with that formidable tracking skill, aren’t you?”

Samuel Bent was a Holy Knight with excellent tracking skills, always proudly touted by the temple. It was said he had never once lost the one he was pursuing.

I’d heard he’d recently been away to catch a necromancer who’d escaped from the temple’s prison, but it seemed they’d called him in just to catch me.

“It’s interesting to meet such a temple celebrity, but what should I do? It seems the person Sir Knight is looking for isn’t me.”

“You cannot deceive me with just your appearance.”

My smiling denial was rendered meaningless by Samuel’s confident rebuttal.

At least he’d noticed that the ‘me’ he met earlier and the ‘me’ now had different appearances.

Which meant the magical tool was working properly, but…

“How can Sir Knight be so sure of my identity?”

“I cannot fail to recognize the one chosen by God.”

No, there’s definitely something. Something I haven’t thought of. I must have made a mistake somewhere and given this man a clue.

I scrutinized Samuel’s face, hoping for some hint. But his expressionless face was as solid as a steadfast rock.