“Go to where I walked. Since we haven’t encountered any soldiers, it seems relatively safe.”

“Why are you helping us?”

In response to my question, he stared at me. A smile appeared on his face, full of deep wrinkles. I gazed through that face. The keen eyes seemed as if they were speaking to me.

“I just felt like it was something I had to do.”

It was an incomprehensible statement. Uranus was renowned as a wise and kind high priest. However, he was from the kingdom. There was no reason for him to help us, the exiled ones from the kingdom, especially considering he had managed to evade the kingdom soldiers under royal orders.

“Your young face in prayer comes to mind once again.”

Looking at me, he said, “I will regret offering a snack to your hands, hastily rising due to time constraints. It’s a truly regrettable situation.”

Perhaps my eyes were filled with questions.

The friendly warmth in his gaze towards me was unfamiliar.

There was nothing between him and me that could be called fate. If anything, there was more of a fateful connection.

Did I not steal his Aqua Marine? He might not know.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Uranus’s smile deepened.

“If I tell you that I knew the truth a little earlier than you, would that be an answer?”

“…….”

“No matter how powerful ancient magic is, there can be no gap for a thousand years. Ten years ago, old memories found me.”

No one understood that statement. Except me.

I involuntarily held my breath.

Tyrene told me that I was the reincarnation of Hilda, a spirit who lived mixed with ancient humans.

According to her, there was no one else like me. But what High Priest Uranus had just said was something that could only be said if he knew the tragedy of a thousand years ago.

“But I could only know about my subjectivity in fragments and couldn’t do anything about it. Even if the tragedy of memories was regrettable, there was no boiling anger.”

“There was none?”

I asked without realizing it. It was a reaction opposite to the hatred I felt towards humans.

“I already fell in love with the humans of this land.”

Uranus spoke placidly. Because he loved humans, even if the memories of the past came to mind, he couldn’t hate them.

“Due to the sins of a forgotten past, I couldn’t make everyone die. The fact that I have such thoughts means that I am not a spirit but a human. Beings from ancient memories never forget, no matter how much time passes.”

“…….”

“It’s only been a few months since I recognized your existence. It’s been since the imperial envoy arrived in the kingdom.”

I intuitively realized.

It must have been the moment I first absorbed the priest’s power. Due to the disturbance of the kingdom’s magic caused by Giovanni’s presence, I was able to see the crack in the shaken power.

If Giovanni’s existence did not mesh with the priest’s power, I would not have been able to find ‘myself’ and would have died, just like in my past life.
“I thought I should help.”

Tyrene was attached to Uranus’s Aqua Marine.

Did he not know that Uranus held a fragment of the spirit? No, if he knew, there was no way he wouldn’t have told me.

Uranus hadn’t seen Tyrene like I did.

“Or did he also hide his own truth from him?”

“When the young priest who lost his power confessed to me.”

My heart thumped.

“I reassured him, saying it was a temporary phenomenon. The despair of the young priest saddened me, but if your existence is revealed, a tragedy like in the past will happen.”

“…….”

“The remaining mission awakened by the old memories is to help you safely leave this land.”

The puzzled eyes of the group who couldn’t understand Uranus’s words stabbed me.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t say anything.

My gaze was fixed only on High Priest Uranus.

No matter how much Tyrene talked, I couldn’t feel that I was the spirit Hilda.

But the favor Uranus, who I had never had a proper conversation with, showed, made me feel a camaraderie I had never experienced.

That feeling was unfamiliar.

“Although this country will become more difficult in the future, I plan to dedicate the rest of my life to doing my best.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to prevent me from leaving altogether?”

I managed to say a word.

If he knew everything, he would know how important I was to the kingdom after absorbing the priest’s power.

Now, he had chosen me over the kingdom.

“Fellow beings are important to me too.”

“…….”

“We probably won’t meet again.”

Uranus sighed with regret.

A smile soon appeared on his face, devoid of any lingering feelings.

“You will do well in any harsh land. Your existence itself is a blessing.”

“…….”

“I spoke too much out of regret. Please go quickly. Many soldiers have entered the village. It’s dangerous to delay any longer.”

He pointed to the empty alley.

Giovanni pulled me away, still dazed.

“Let’s go.”

It was when I passed by his side. I hesitated and took out the Aqua Marine from my pocket.

It was a gem that Tyrene had been attached to, but I didn’t need it since my power had increased.

Now that my body could substitute for the gem’s role.