Fainting here was dangerous; anything could happen in the forest at night.

‘I can’t. I just have to go a little further.’

Just then, a shadow appeared before his fading consciousness.

Luca cried out in desperation.

“Help me…!”

That was the last sound Luca could make.

Hours later.

When he woke up, he found himself in an old, small log cabin.

Jolted, he sat up.

‘Where is this?!’

His last memory had been of the prayer room in the Holy Office.

So Luca had appeared again?

But the situation looked more serious than usual.

Even when his memory was fragmented, he usually woke up near the Holy Office.

Today was the first time he had woken up in such an unfamiliar place.

‘Is this… Luca’s hideout?’

But there was no sign of any household items.

He looked around cautiously.

The makeshift bed he was lying on, one old wooden table, two chairs, and a pungent odor.

That was all.

‘Could I have been kidnapped?’

But he had no injuries, and his arms and legs were not bound.

Then, the old wooden door creaked open.

A man with grey hair and glasses appeared.

“You’re finally awake?”

The man with glasses smiled at him.

But that smile sent a chill down his spine.

Terrified, he covered himself with the blanket, head and all.

“Who are you?”

“Ah, I was going to ask you that.”

The man didn’t seem hostile.

Maybe he didn’t mean harm.

Then, the man revealed his identity.

“My name is Ed Frieh. Don’t worry, I’m not suspicious. I found you unconscious in the forest and brought you here.”

“Where is this…?”

“Don’t worry. This is my secret hideout.”

On hearing that, he felt a bit more at ease.

‘I get it now. Luca tried to escape from the Holy Office but fainted in the forest. If this man hadn’t found me…’

He would have been mauled by wild animals.

He slowly unfolded the blanket surrounding him.

Swish.

His face, which had been hidden, was now revealed.

And suddenly Ed exclaimed.

“Your eye color is…?”

“…!”

Startled, he clenched the blanket.

But Ed was faster.

He grabbed his wrist and began closely examining his face.

Terrified, he shouted.

“Why, why are you doing this!”

“Those golden eyes, you are a high-ranking cleric, aren’t you?”

“…!”

Involuntarily, he flinched.

“In that case, your real name would be Papyer.”

He knew him.

Resigned, Papyer nodded.

Then Ed tilted his head slightly.
“Hmm, strange, isn’t it? When I first discovered you, your eyes were definitely red.”

Had this man, in the meantime, also noted Luca’s eye color?

“Your tone as well… it seems different now.”

Papier’s intuition was telling him.

This man is dangerous.

“Was the walking miracle of the Sanctuary actually two people?”

“……!”

Papier’s reaction gave him certainty.

A euphoric light flickered in Ed’s eyes.

‘So the rumor was true…!’

In fact, Ed had tried various methods to find out about Papier.

But it wasn’t easy. All he had found were weird rumors.

During the day, a meek senior clergyman, but at night he becomes lecherous.

Or that he had a hidden twin.

But now, all the puzzles fit together.

‘Ah, how interesting this is!’

Then all that remains is to confirm the truth.

Smiling kindly, Ed tightly bound Papier with ropes.

Papier resisted and yelled.

“What on earth… aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I have no intention of harming you.”

“Then why are you doing this…?”

“Ah, because I want to meet your other personality.”

“……What?”

Ed grinned.

“Don’t worry. Once I meet him, I’ll send you straight home.”

“……!”

And so a day passed.

Aside from tying him up, Ed treated Papier with the utmost service.

But Papier no longer had the mental capacity to endure this situation.

‘I want to go home… Sanctuary, please save me…’

Finally, his head slumped toward the floor.

Soon after, Luca woke up.

Ed murmured, looking at Luca with interest.

“It was true, dual personalities.”

“You, who are you? Where is this?”

“Hmm, repeating the same thing twice is a first.”

After hearing the full explanation from Ed, Luca was stunned.

“So you’re saying you’re both my life-saver and my blackmailer…?”

“Please don’t be disappointed. First, hear my story, then judge.”

Ed made Luca an offer.

If he informed him about both Papier and Luca, he would safely send them back to the Sanctuary.

Having exclusive information about the next Sanctuary leader excited Ed more than anything.

However, Luca chuckled at those words.

“Look at this. This is clearly blackmail.”

“Do you know how much it costs to go from here to the Sanctuary? It’s a terrible business decision on my part.”

“What are you talking about…? Is this place not a sacred area?”

Ed nodded his head.

“The place I brought you is the far west of the Empire, right where Prihi’s upper zone is.”

“……!”

“So, getting back to the sacred area will cost you a lot, from carriages to food and accommodation.”

Then Luca started laughing loudly.

“Pfft…! Hahaha!”

Ed’s face twisted.

“…May I ask what’s so funny?”

“You got it all wrong. I have no intention of returning to the Sanctuary.”

“……What?”

“I should be thanking you for bringing me to the far west of the Empire.”

Then Ed finally understood why this man was lying in the middle of the forest.

‘…He ran away from the Sanctuary.’

Well, that changes the story.

“Hmm, thinking about it, the Sanctuary must be desperately looking for their lost miracle. How much could I get for selling this information?”

“You…!”

Ed polished his glasses and gave a sinister smile.

“How about it? Are you willing to make a deal now?”