DLRV 05

Chapter : 05

Samuel did not disappoint the Temple’s expectations.

He had found me far too easily.

The Temple, trusting completely in his abilities, would now relax. They would reopen the city gates, and the previously strict inspections would return to normal.

And that was good news for me as well.

As if proving my assumption, the random searches that had been conducted throughout the streets had completely vanished.

If it was now, I could probably find a cargo wagon to sneak out of the city in. Even if not, my options had increased considerably.

As I touched the Temple treasure hanging around my neck, I calmly organized my thoughts.

Removing it and diverting Samuel’s attention for a short while was possible.

The problem was that the time I would gain would not be very long.

And within that short window, I would have to escape the city for good.

Contacting the underworld broker again to arrange a wagon or horse would take too much time.

Honestly, I had expected there to be at least some sort of hidden hole in the city walls. Who knew their maintenance would be this thorough?

Maybe I should investigate the underground sewers instead?

While considering several alternatives, I eventually arrived at a grocery store.

Apparently surprised by my destination, Samuel—who had been silent the entire time—finally spoke.

“Do you cook your own meals?”

“Why? Do I look like someone who’s never gotten a drop of water on her hands?”

In truth, I had never cooked a meal myself.

But I was very confident in pretending to be experienced at something.

A daughter of Roam should be able to deceive anyone.

Just like Mother’s dramatic performance of collapsing from longing for her daughter—a story currently spreading throughout society.

“You do not need to trouble yourself with such labor.”

“It’s a hobby.”

I casually picked up a basket of acorns and raised my gaze.

High above in the sky, a tiny dot circled lazily.

A bird.

I naturally shifted my attention back to the stalls.

“I wonder if this place sells fresh meat.”

I visited dozens of butcher shops searching for freshly slaughtered raw meat, still dripping with blood.

Samuel seemed confused by my incomprehensible actions, but they were so harmless that he never questioned me seriously.

Perhaps he truly believed I had suddenly become passionate about cooking.

My hands, meanwhile, possessed the miraculous ability to turn anything into the worst possible result.

Yet no one in House Roam had ever discovered that fact.

The handkerchief I once gifted Maxel had actually been embroidered by the finest artisan available.

Everyone simply assumed I had made it myself.

I had heard that Lilia was quite skilled with her hands.

She excelled at housework and simple handicrafts, often gifting handmade items and snacks to those around her.

Even the handkerchief Maxel currently used had been made by Lilia.

Lilia was my complete opposite in every way.

She came from a ruined family.

By chance, she befriended a minor noble and was brought to the capital.

By chance, a count took an interest in her and became her patron.

By chance, she received the opportunity to attend an imperial banquet.

Every story I heard about her life seemed built upon lucky coincidences.

Unlike mine.

Unlike the life that had been planned and arranged from birth without a single gap.

“Resurrected One?”

The quiet call snapped me out of my thoughts.

The butcher stood awkwardly nearby, glancing nervously at Samuel while holding the package of bloody meat.

I reached out to take it, but Samuel moved first.

“I’ll carry it.”

Apparently, he thought I had hesitated because I disliked touching the raw meat myself.

I had been about to take it from him, but quickly changed my mind.

There was a lot of it.

It was heavy.

And it smelled awful.

No reason to carry it myself if he was volunteering.

“Then let’s head back.”

“You are not cooking today?”

“No. Buying ingredients exhausted me.”

“You intend to leave raw meat in your room?”

“Why?”

In a cramped room, the smell of blood would seep into everything.

The meat would lose freshness.

It might even spoil.

Having watched me search all over the city for fresh meat, my behavior was naturally impossible to understand.

Unfortunately, I had no intention of explaining.

In fact, I secretly hoped he would misunderstand.

“Are you worried I’ll use it for some dark magic?”

“I never said that.”

“You know it wouldn’t work anyway. Evil things delight in living sacrifices. What could anyone accomplish with dead meat?”

As I murmured casually, a cold expression crossed Samuel’s face.

It wasn’t frightening at all.

“I’m doing it because I want to make your life difficult.”

“This?”

“Yes.”

I smiled.

“I’m planning to serve you a meal made from that meat.”

First, I dragged him around countless butcher shops.

Then I let the precious meat spoil.

Then I would cook it and feed it to him.

Because I wanted to torment him.

The meaning was simple.

My words dripped with obvious malice.

I stared at Samuel, hoping to see at least a hint of disgust.

His gray eyes remained calm.

“God sends trials in many forms. Enduring them is only natural for His servants.”

“…Let’s just go back. I’m tired.”

Ah.

I was exhausted.

Apparently my feelings showed on my face.

Samuel looked faintly puzzled.

“If tormenting me consumes so much of your energy, is there any reason to continue?”

“Are you asking why I want to make your life difficult?”

“Yes.”

“Evil deeds are simply evil deeds. They don’t require grand reasons.”

I continued walking.

“Haven’t you heard the rumors? I was famous for being cruel.”

“You are a Resurrected One now. Whatever worldly name you once carried can be abandoned.”

“Like you did?”

Even my desire to mock him disappeared.

Only coldness remained.

Samuel did not answer.

He didn’t need to.

The answer was obvious.

“I never devoted myself to the Temple.”

“But you are a Resurrected One.”

The words made something sour rise in my stomach.

He was right that I intended to abandon my old identity.

But not because I was a Resurrected One.

“My name is not ‘Resurrected One,’ Sir Samuel.”

The moment I said it, I regretted it slightly.

Why was I even trying to have a conversation with a fanatic who interpreted every act of hostility as a trial sent by God?

Judging by his mindset, he probably didn’t even know my name.

“God—”

“If you keep preaching at me.”

I suddenly stopped walking.

Pointing at the package in his hands with my chin, I issued a serious warning.

“God is going to test you by making you eat raw meat.”

Samuel immediately fell silent.

Apparently even he had no desire to eat bloody raw meat.

For the first time, his devotion became useful.

The night wind was cold.

I had left the window open for over an hour, and the room’s air had become just as chilly as outside.

I sat waiting with the raw meat hanging from the windowsill.

Maybe it was too much to hope that the smell of blood would drift all the way into the skies.

Part of me worried I might attract useless animals instead of the one I wanted.

Then suddenly, a large dark shadow descended from above.

[Anelli!]

The squirrel, who had been nibbling on an acorn, startled and jumped into my lap.

I stroked its back and looked toward the window.

The sight of a large white bird poking its head inside made me sigh in relief.

“You’re late.”

At my whispering reproach, the eagle flapped its wings.

[You were waiting for me, Anelli?]

“Yes.”

I nodded honestly.

The eagle fixed its fierce eyes on me.

Those sharp eyes always looked angry, but in truth, the eagle was surprisingly gentle.

It had once tried to eat the squirrel.

But after I began feeding it raw meat, it never attempted such a thing again.

[How did you know I arrived?]

“How could I not?”

I laughed.

It flew around the entire sky shouting my name.

[You could hear me?]

“Yes.”

Knowing I was the only person who could hear its voice didn’t make things less awkward.

I constantly found myself glancing toward wherever it was calling from, worried someone might notice.

“Did you come back to help me?”

[You gave me raw meat! My chicks are growing well because of you!]

The father eagle had first appeared at the Grand Temple searching for food for its young.

That was why it was especially grateful to me.

I had helped keep its chicks from starving.

…Even beasts cared for their children like this.

Pushing the thought away, I leaned closer to the eagle.

“Do you have a plan?”

[I asked an older brother I know!]

The eagle proudly lifted its yellow beak.

An older brother?

[He said he can pick up Anelli and carry you away.]

“What?”

My voice rose involuntarily.

I immediately clamped a hand over my mouth and glanced toward the door.

Samuel was still outside.

Lowering my voice again, I whispered,

“There’s a bird that big?”

[Yes!]

The eagle looked completely sincere.

“When can he do it?”

[You just need to be somewhere he can grab you.]

That made sense.

A bird large enough to carry a person wouldn’t be able to operate in narrow alleys.

Maybe the city’s central square would work?

While considering the idea, I glanced toward the door again.

I still needed to get rid of Samuel somehow.

Absentmindedly touching the magic tool around my neck, I looked down at the squirrel sitting on my lap.

When it came to speed, there really weren’t many creatures faster than this little fellow.

“Good.”

I smiled.

“One final operation.”

The squirrel, clutching its acorns, stared up at me with confused eyes.

I met its gaze and smiled brightly.

In those clear squirrel eyes, I could faintly see my own reflection.