“Don’t talk nonsense. It couldn’t have been her!”

“Do you know her?”

I innocently inquired.

“But surely, there can’t be just one beauty in the world with blonde hair and red eyes. Could you have mistaken her for someone else?”

“……”

Silence ensued. Altair stared intently at me, then quickly averted his gaze.

“We’ll see about that. Anyway……”

Altair’s eyes slightly flickered.

“Thank you for the help, Holy Maiden.”

Was that… a smile?

At me?

While I stood there blankly, Altair quickly left the scene.

‘What’s going on?’

(This is a time delimiter.)

‘What’s with her…’

Altair touched his throbbing forehead, lost in thought.

Ever since he arrived at Donovan Ducal Palace, his head had been muddled, so it was no wonder he had a headache.

First of all, the bothersome Holy Maiden, who was supposed to be dead, was alive and well.

And sitting right beside Duke Donovan, no less.

At first, he even suspected that she had been possessed, but judging by her continual stay at Donovan’s side, it seemed unlikely.

If she were a player, she would certainly know that the ultimate goal of this game was to subjugate the Demon King.

The terminology might have been confusing, mixed with phrases from players of zones South 7 and East 6, but since these terms were common among adventurers of this world, there was no room for suspicion.

So, Altair made a quick decision.

To woo the bothersome Holy Maiden and make maximum use of her.

After all, there was no one easier to raise affection with than Angelica.

Due to the continuous abuse she suffered throughout her upbringing, even a little kindness caused her affection to soar.

Of course, in the actual game, she would die before he could do anything, rendering any increased affection useless, but now, ‘Elysia’ had supposedly saved her life.

“……Ha.”

Altair sighed.

‘Did that bastard possess Elysia? No, that’s impossible. It absolutely can’t be.’

The memory was still vivid.

Learning that a player he hadn’t even noticed had stolen first place at the last moment, Altair felt a fury he’d never known.

First place had always belonged to him.

And now, someone who had been far behind had claimed it?

He knew there was a pursuer.

But he had always considered them a strong second place, never an equal competitor, so he hadn’t even bothered to remember their nickname.

‘…And to top it off, Elysia.’

When he learned that he had possessed Leto, he thought that was it.

Who could be better than the protagonist for possession?

Especially one that was nearly perfect in appearance, personality, and ability.

But if the other party was Elysia, that changed things.

Elysia Steinhardt was the first princess of the empire and effectively the real power, manipulating the weakwilled crown prince.

She could arguably be considered even better than the protagonist.

Now that he was in the game, becoming strong didn’t necessarily require being Leto, but seizing Elysia’s status and power would be difficult.

And that powerful person possessed by someone decided to save that bothersome Holy Maiden…

‘But she played her cards well. That much is certain.’

‘Elysia’ didn’t merely save Angelica. Somehow, she even attached herself to Duke Donovan and suggested they leave together when ‘Leto’ appears.

Of course, Angelica, owing her life to her benefactor, would be loyal, and all information about him would naturally flow to Elysia.

Unless naive Angelica had directly disclosed Elysia’s identity to him, that is.

‘……’

Altair glared at nothing. Indeed, there was only one way to resolve this situation: approach Angelica and counter Elysia.

‘But the relationship with the Duke seemed far from simple…’
Sitting beside the Duke is not a place a simple country priestess can occupy. Even if she has achieved great deeds, she should be at best on par with a knight commander.

And the fact that she sat beside him…

‘I need to find out. Thoroughly.’

Altair headed towards his comrades’ abode. He had a weapon that even Elysia could not possess. That was his comrades, who followed him blindly.

Unlike that troublesome priestess, their skills were also strong.

(This is a time separator.)

“So, where did you go out tonight?”

To be honest, I was not surprised at all.

There was no chance Hades wouldn’t notice my absence.

However, when his amethyst eyes, shining like obsidian, stared at me, I would be lying if I said my heart wasn’t slightly tightened.

“…I couldn’t sleep.”

“Priestess.”

Hades’s voice had dropped low.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but you are too insensitive to danger.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Priestess…”

Hades lowered his head.

“I know you are strong. I admit it. But do you think you can be safe from all dangers?”

“Hades.”

I looked at him straight.

My mind was complicated due to my conversation with Altair, but one fact was certain.

I would follow him, hiding my identity.

This was not only for me but also for the sake of Hades.