DLRV 2

Chapter : 02

“Come to think of it, she isn’t really a saint or a savior, is she?”

“Who knows? The temple announced it, so people just assume it’s true.”

The temple hadn’t officially announced that I had disappeared yet. If the outside world knew I was gone, they’d probably worry that the “resurrected one” might be taken by the royal family, nobles, or even foreign powers.

The fact that they hadn’t accepted a single one of the many visitation requests pushed toward me, using my consent as an excuse, proved this.

Besides, it had only been three days since I escaped the temple. They would believe I could be found soon. Their thinking was obvious.

But it couldn’t be hidden forever. Eventually, wanted posters would appear on the streets, and an official search party would be formed. I planned to leave this city, and if possible, this country, before that happened.

Thanks to the heaps of gold and jewels the priests had brought to win my favor, I had enough funds to escape. Also, all the “unofficial” knowledge I had learned to enter the royal palace still remained in my head.

“Miss, your carriage has arrived.”

The person I had been waiting for quietly approached. A broker who worked in the city’s underworld.

In every city, there were carriages you could hire without revealing your name or status—if you paid, they would take you wherever you wanted. They could even make fake identification and help you avoid city guards when necessary.

To survive the scheming of the royal palace, my parents had taught me how to use this world early on. A person in charge must know everything from the highest place to issue orders without stepping forward themselves, they said.

It was fortunate. My lifelong lessons weren’t wasted.

“Sorry, but the security has tightened. It might be difficult.”

“What do you mean?”

“The holy knights are guarding the gates day and night. Everyone seems to be cautious.”

I nodded to show I understood. The broker, who had approached me while hidden in the crowd, disappeared just as quickly as he had come.

I wasn’t disappointed. In this situation, anyone would first block the city. Still, thousands of pilgrims and tourists passed through this city every day.

A quiet search would take time, so controlling the entrances first, by any excuse, was reasonable. I had only checked to see if leaving quietly was possible.

I needed to return to my lodgings. Pulling my dark gray pilgrim hood low over my face, I turned to leave.

Because the city attracted many tourists, finding a place to stay wasn’t difficult. But I changed locations every day just in case.

Today’s lodging was relatively on the outskirts of the lodging district. The price was cheap, and surprisingly, many pilgrims stayed there.

I knew this from reading tourist guides scattered around the temple.

I planned to escape the city first since creating a fake ID would take time. But now, trapped here, maybe I could get the ID made too? Could I hide safely until then?

Lost in thought, I slowed my pace. Then, suddenly, I sensed commotion nearby. Looking ahead, I saw holy knights patrolling the streets.

I almost stopped but kept walking calmly. My clothes looked like those of any pilgrim.

My face? They wouldn’t recognize me. I had altered my appearance using a magical device.

The necklace-shaped device had a limited number of uses and duration, but it was one of the temple’s treasures. Good thing I had stolen it.

“Worshipper.”

As I passed them, a quiet voice called from behind. I calmly turned to see a lone knight from the group staring at me. His black hair stood out sharply against the white armor.

A black-haired holy knight?

“Me?”

“Yes, worshipper. Excuse me, but may I ask you a few questions?”

“Go ahead, knight.”

“Is your lodging in that pink building over there?”

“Why do you ask?”

“We received a report that criminals are hiding there. If you return now, you might get caught up, so could you wait here for a moment?”

Nearby pilgrims looked uneasy. I glanced at them, then back at the knight.

“Will this be resolved today?”

“Of course.”

“In that case, I’ll take care of something else and return.”

“During the operation, we may need to ask lodging guests for cooperation. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

It was basically an order to wait. I paused briefly, then smiled and nodded.

“Seems like it will take a while. May I quickly take care of personal business? I think I can explain at that shop over there.”

Nearby was a small general store for the guests. The knight squinted, checking the location.

“…Very well, do as you wish.”

Suppressing impatience, I calmly walked. The knight’s eyes didn’t leave me. I bit my lip and frowned. My appearance-altering magic worked, and the room was new this morning. Nothing in the room could prove my identity.

…Where did they pick up my trail?

Opening the general store’s door, a dusty smell hit me. I strode inside.

The store owner was an elderly man with poor hearing and vision. The shop wasn’t really for business—it relied on the store’s history.

Past old displays and portraits, I saw him sitting near the counter.

“Hello, excuse me, I’ll go out the back.”

The old man nodded even though he didn’t fully understand. Behind was a side room where a respected high priest once drank tea.

It was a famous spot for pilgrims. I handed the man a coin to thank him.

Next to the side room was a back alley exit. I had noticed it right after reserving the lodging—an escape route and a rendezvous point if trouble arose.

“Hello, owner.”

As I touched the back door handle, I heard the knight’s voice from the shop. I didn’t hesitate and opened the door. Only one person could pass at a time.

From the shadows, something leapt out.

[You’re late!]

Ah, good. You were quick to get here.

“Hurry, complaints later.”

[This way!]

A tiny, fist-sized figure led the way. I tightened my cloak and quickly followed. The store inside was noisy, but I didn’t care. They couldn’t catch me.

Because I had a great ally.

Watching the plump squirrel’s tail flutter as it ran ahead, I smiled.

Outside, I changed my appearance again. It cost a use of the device, but being cautious was better.

I went straight to the furthest lodging, took a room, and finally breathed easy. I had no idea where I was being followed, and running endlessly in the city was exhausting. I needed another plan.

[Ugh, my fur got dirty…]

The squirrel, running the city streets for me, was covered in stains. I brushed its head with my finger.

“I’ll clean you soon. Did you find anything?”

[There was a hole the wild dogs used, but humans blocked it recently.]

“Humans always cause trouble.”

[My acorns?]

“Here.”

I offered the squirrel the pile of acorns I bought earlier. Its nose twitched eagerly.

[Good acorns!]

The squirrel leapt into the pile like swimming. Watching it reminded me of the first time I met it in the temple’s large central garden.

And it was just a squirrel. An animal. A four-legged mammal.

This squirrel was the first being to show me that I could communicate with non-humans after my resurrection.

At that time, I had just awakened as a resurrected one.

The wild praise I encountered immediately after awakening filled me with fear and disgust. The blame and contempt from my past life still felt fresh, yet everyone bowed, claiming it was all in the past. It was ridiculous and annoying.

So, I first wanted to die again. Both attempts failed when the priests discovered me. Later, all dangerous objects around me disappeared.

Eventually, I isolated myself in a room by choice, but at first, it was basically imprisonment.

To persuade me, they left me alone for a few days without much stimulation, allowing me time to think.

Then, I regained my reason. I accepted the scar on my neck and that I was alive. I understood the prophecy and the influence a “resurrected one” could wield.

The ‘Anelli Roam’ who once stood on the execution block was a villain everyone wanted dead,
but the resurrected ‘Anelli Roam’ had awakened by the grace of God.
The scar on my neck was the clearest and most obvious proof of God’s blessing.