“I can take it.”

Everyone looked at Illeon with their mouths wide open.

“N-No way!”

The first to make a sound was Esho.

“We all tried hanging onto it together, and it didn’t budge.”

“Is that so?”

When Illeon put the book back in its original place, Esho rushed over. He grabbed it with both hands and hung on with all his weight, but even with him pulling and hanging onto it, the book remained firmly in place. Illeon pushed up the bandage, looking surprised as well.

“Let’s try it again.”

Illeon lifted the book without exerting much force. Instead of returning it to its original position, he placed it on the floor next to the altar. When Roben tried to move it again, this time, the book seemed stuck to the floor and didn’t move.

“This is strange. It seems like there’s a special power in Duke, or rather, Brother Noeri.”

“I heard that Oder doesn’t receive the power of plot development, but…”

“Lady Duchess seems to have approved Brother Noeri going directly into Hadumsha because of that.”

As everyone spoke a few words, Illeon easily tucked the book against his side.

“So, can we take this with us?”

However, an unexpected change occurred.

“I know that this place is the world inside the book ‘The Flower of the Blind Beast.'”

Even after saying the incantation, the curtain surrounding the sanctuary did not lift.

Illeon touched the transparent curtain with his hand, and the counterforce lightly pushed his hand away. When he applied force and struck the curtain with his fist, the curtain bounced back, repelling his fist with the force he applied.

“We can’t pass through here.”

When he turned around, the priests were also dumbfounded.

“It’s the first time we’ve tried something like this!”

Esho replied as if stung by Illeon’s gaze.

“First, let’s put the prophecy book back in its place and contact Lady Duchess. At least, now we know we can lift the book.”

When Iris spoke, Illeon looked at Elisia.

“While we’re at it, I want to see this book too.”

“The prophecy book?”

“The part that describes your and my fate.”

“Ah…”

Although she had read countless books before, her hands trembled as she tried to turn the pages in front of him.

The passage Elisia showed him was the scene where she faced death from Sabiel and the moment when Carina met him for the first time in front of Cafe Cardinal. And the part where Carina opened Illeon’s eyes.

Scanning through key scenes, Illeon raised his head when they reached a part that had not yet unfolded in the original work.

“Now it’s done.”

Elisia closed the book. She didn’t know what to say to him willingly in a different position from waiting for her death.

His life was fully written in some book without him knowing it.

Illeon’s expression showed little emotional movement, but it made her more concerned.

Those who came up from the sanctuary gathered in Roben’s room.
Leon greeted Roben with proper etiquette.

“I formally greet the Duke. I am Priest Roben.”

“I am Priest Eshoya. ……”

Esho, who spoke informally to anyone, glanced at Iris and added a few words.

“Formally. I see. We didn’t exchange proper greetings the day we met at my house sponsorship.”

In fact, Leon had been feeling emotional since he saw Roben and Esho again.

He also remembered the day when he felt like a puppet, controlled by strings tied to his limbs when he was under the implication. He had to watch himself, bound tightly with the awareness of saying and doing things he would never do otherwise.

Yet, when he saw the two young men walking and talking with Elysia at the sponsorship, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes in disdain.

Suppressing the impulse to clear away all the males around Elysia, Leon barely managed to offer greetings.

“Duke Klevent, I am Leon.”

“I am Priest Iris.”

In the awkward atmosphere, Iris added her greeting belatedly.

“First, let me serve you tea. Duke, you may or may not be familiar with it.”

Roben politely stood up and brought a tray with teacups.

Soon, he grimaced and made a disgruntled expression while muttering.

“Why?”

Esho asked, and he replied quietly.

“No one else has come, so there are only four teacups.”

After placing a cup of warm and fragrant tea in front of everyone, Roben, who had run out of his share, sat down awkwardly without saying anything.

At that moment, Leon pushed the teacup that was in front of him towards Roben.

“Drink.”

“What? No, I couldn’t. How can I…”

“I can drink this.”

Leon lifted the teacup, took a sip, and then brought Elysia’s hand, which was holding the teacup, back to its original position.

“I, Leon.”

Flustered Elysia quickly put the teacup down on the table after glancing at Esho and Iris, who couldn’t hide their astonished expressions. She thought she would attract more attention if she fumbled.

Even Roben, who had become accustomed to the awkwardness of the priestly life, looked surprised for a moment but soon returned to his usual attitude.

“Oder is the descendant of a god. I know he is the only being who cannot be compelled by coercion.”