NOVEL NEXT chapter 39
39. When I woke up, I was being held captive by the Saint!?
“Vuh… huh?”
When I woke up, a white room made of marble came into view.
“What on earth…?”
Clink, clink.
What is this?
I was bound to a chair with golden chains.
“Oh? You’ve awakened.”
I turned my gaze toward the voice of Elgu.
I was captivated by her beauty.
An adult woman draped in a veil, adorned in a white ceremonial robe.
She exuded a dignified aura, yet there was a hint of sorrow about her.
It stirred a protective instinct within me.
“Ah… you are…?”
For some reason, my words stumbled.
It was as if I felt a snag deep within my heart.
“Oh dear, how terrible. You don’t… remember me, do you?”
She feigned a sorrowful act, deliberately exaggerated. Despite the abnormality of the situation, I felt a surge of protectiveness toward her.
“I-I’m sorry, my mind is clouded…”
Upon hearing that, the saint leaned forward, peering down.
“I see… that is quite unfortunate.”
Convenient.
At that moment, her veil swayed, revealing her eyes.
“Huh?”
A strange sound escaped my lips.
Those eyes held a sense of déjà vu.
Sticky, black eyes.
Despair floated within them.
They pierced straight through me.
While a sense of comfort and relief enveloped my body, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of discomfort.
“Well, it seems you’re thirsty, aren’t you? How about some tea?”
I was taken aback by the accurate guess about my thirst,
a mix of surprise and discomfort washing over me,
but my liberated body naturally settled into the chair,
and I took a sip of the tea.
The aroma tickled my nostrils,
and the much-needed moisture filled my body.
“It’s… delicious,”
I placed the teacup on the table
and looked at the woman.
Her appearance remained unchanged,
leaning on her elbows, gazing at me.
“Um… excuse me? Is there something…?”
Hehe.
The woman smiled happily.
“I just feel so… happy♪”
Her words resonated in my mind,
melting away my thoughts,
as if my vision was dissolving…
“Huh?”
“Oh dear? Are you sleepy? How adorable.”
◇◇◇
Gora and Ayla exchanged glances, unsure of what to do with the unconscious Rainer and the Great Sage, when Egu said,
“Papa…”
thinking of Elg with a sad expression.
“Well, I guess we have no choice but to ask for the details?”
Gora sighed as he hoisted the two of them up,
heading to reunite with the main body of the Resistance.
As they made their way through the forest,
the main body of the Resistance appeared.
At the forefront was Wide and… Gildia!?
“What the—!?”
Gora let out a strange sound, as if his trauma had resurfaced.
Ayla stood frozen in shock.
“What!? Great Sage!!”
Gildia paid no mind to the two of them,
snatching the Great Sage from Gora’s shoulder.
Lying on the Ground
“Speak! You lot! What happened!!”
As Gora and Ayla remained silent, perhaps due to trauma,
“I’ll… talk.”
From there, the explanation from Rainer to Gildia began, and after hearing it all, Gildia felt a sense of unease.
“This is strange; everything is filled with oddities. I suppose I have no choice but to ask the Great Sage…”
Having regained his composure, Gora suggested,
“Shall we return to the inn for now?”
Thus, everyone decided to head back to the inn to discuss.