The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 40.2

“I would like to pray.”

What I need isn’t the reward but the church for praying.

In the church’s prayer room, praying for a certain amount of time can grant a specific trait.

A Graceful blessing.

A trait that prevents magic once.

‘It’s fine to ask Aquines about the first scripture afterward.’

However, there are two issues.

First, I have no religion.

I don’t believe in gods.

If anything, my stance is closer to ‘unknown’ rather than ‘believes in or not,’ but still, I don’t lean toward believing.

‘Will my prayers even be effective if I don’t believe in gods?’

In the game, you just had to perform the praying motion in the prayer room for a set time.

I’m not sure if it will be effective now that this world has become real.

And the second.

Obtaining traits through prayer was possible only for playable characters.

According to the setting, those who are said to have received destiny.

I don’t know if Judas fits that condition.

‘I did receive the quest ‘Twist of Fate, Beginning of cause’.’

But I only saw that quest name after coming here.

It’s hard to be certain if Judas has a main quest-like fate or not.

‘If it doesn’t work out, it’s a pity, but I’ll have to find another way.’

It’s a trait worth enduring for a day.

More importantly, I met priest Aquines.

Aquines smiled brightly at my request to pray.

“Of course. At this time, we can assist you in using the space freely. By the way, are you a believer of the Moon God?”

“No, not really…”

“It’s alright. Truth is the sea, and learning is the river flowing to the sea. There is no heresy in enlightenment.”

In a world based on polytheism.

It’s fine to pray to the god you believe in at a church of another religion.

It’s different depending on the religion, and in reality, very few people actually do it.

Even if they do, they are treated as eccentric.

And now, I have become that eccentric person.

Argon observed me as if he were seeing something strange.

“You didn’t seem so devout.”

“You shouldn’t judge people by their appearances.”

“Even when you were with me, you never…”

Hermes’s rebuttal left me speechless.

So, I decided to just be shameless about it.

“I just suddenly wanted to.”

“Hmm… You’re really unpredictable.”

“I guess I am the kind of person who does such things…”

What is this?

It seems like everyone accepts that I’m acting out of character, understanding that it’s just my nature to be this way.

Is that how I am perceived?

I suppose it is.

Unlike the others, Aquines simply smiled.

“Faith sometimes comes suddenly and brings enlightenment. It’s a good sign.”

His smile seemed almost sacred.

I felt a twinge of guilt for some reason.

Not only do I not believe in God, but I’m also just doing this for the sake of gaining some special trait… how selfish of me….

***

Aquines guided me to the church’s prayer room.

Hermes waited at the door, and Argon went back first.

“May you have a time full of the Holy Spirit.”

Aquines said this as he left.

It was such a burdensome and apologetic farewell.

I sat in the chair placed in the center of the narrow prayer room.

In front of me, on the altar, was the symbol of the Moon God.

A large, ivory-colored circle.

It symbolized the moon, specifically the full moon.

“Hmm…”

I pondered for a moment and then clasped my hands together.

‘…Is this how it’s supposed to be?’

This was a ‘prayer motion’ from a game.

I started having doubts within 10 seconds.

Is this really right?

I don’t think this would be considered a proper prayer.

If I were a god, I’d probably be so displeased that I’d send down some divine punishment.

Prayer.

Prayer is, after all, the act of earnestly hoping and wishing for something, isn’t it?

If you fervently repeat that wish and ask someone for it, wouldn’t that also be a prayer?

‘…Please give me the special trait.’

For an hour, I inwardly pouted for a special trait.

***

[Hidden Quest “Devout Prayer” Discovered.]

‘Is this working?’

If it’s a devout prayer, it must be the name of a quest I know.

[Moon Trait Holder Confirmed.]

‘…Huh?’

[“Devout Prayer” has been changed to “Revelation Discovery.”]

[“Revelation Discovery” in Progress… (1%)]

What is this?

It should be fine, right…?

***

Outside the prayer room, Priest Aquines was waiting.

When he saw me, he spoke with concern.

“It seems it wasn’t a satisfying prayer.”

It must be my expression giving it away.

I couldn’t figure out what the status window that appeared at the end meant.

It’s a name I’ve never seen before.

Because of that, I was a bit dazed, and it seems it showed on my face.

“No. Um… it’s okay. Actually, this is my first time with something like this…”

“Everyone finds the first time difficult. What’s important is the consistency to keep up that will.”

…Still uncomfortable.

The person is too righteous and honest.

Maybe it’s because they’re younger than I remember, but they seem much more enthusiastic and hopeful….

That aside.

I need to ask what I’m curious about.

“Father, about what you mentioned earlier, concerning the first scripture…”

“Oh! Are you interested in that story?”

Aquines’s eyes lit up as he asked.

A little apologetically…

“Yes. It was intriguing because I haven’t heard of it before.”

“That’s a good attitude. There are two things in the world that are hard to grasp no matter how much you ponder, and one of them is learning towards the truth. Listening to various opinions is a very desirable attitude. If you immerse yourself in just one field, your insight and perspective will deepen but become narrow.”

I… feel like blood is coming from my ears?

“By the way, can you read?”

I recently found out.

I can’t read the script of this world.

My codename written on the bankbook given by the Information Guild.

Cruel Hedgehog.

And the Blind Star.

I learned to read these from Eurydice.

Florin is read with the numbers attached.

So, I’m illiterate.

I didn’t know because I hadn’t had a reason to read until now.

I can roughly recognize it since it’s somewhat similar to the alphabet, but I can’t interpret it.

I learned for sure when confirming the request this time.

Argon read the request content for me.

‘Should I… learn from someone….’

Aquines nodded as if he understood.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed. I’ll read it to you instead. Is the time okay with you?”

I glanced at Hermes.

She checked her watch and nodded.

“I have about 30 minutes to spare. The request ended early.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Alright. By the way, how much do you know about the first scripture?”

“Not much…”

I only know as much as others do.

I hadn’t explored the distant history of the game’s background.

“In that case, this version would be good. There are various ways to interpret the expressions and metaphors of the scripture, but this edition is the easiest to understand. It was written by a scholar named Scola, who personified the divine beings.”

Following that, Aquines began reading the content.

There were things I already knew, but I listened carefully just in case.

The entity called the Primordial Being.

Using the powers of the sun and moon, which were once one, it sealed the Void Demon God.

Later, the sun and moon were divided.

“…What was once one was separated by external pressure, so this was not a normal parting. Especially, the sun had expended much of its inherent power and became distorted. The distorted sun began to crave the moon in order to regain its original power. To restore its former self.”

Aquines spoke skillfully, as if telling a fairy tale.

“The Primordial Being, who had sealed the Demon God, said before falling into eternal sleep that, in the distant future, the Demon God would break the seal and be resurrected. For that event, the sun and moon needed to become one again. Not separated powers, but unified power was required. Therefore…”

With a very peaceful tone.

Just as I was about to get a little bored.

In the next passage, I widened my eyes and spoke out.

“Because the sun had to absorb the moon’s power to mend its distortion, it decided to find and kill the moon.”

“……”

Mad fire.

The distorted sun.

My magical power.

Moon Attribute. The Power of the Moon.

Tragedy.

Eliza, who was choking my neck.

‘…Could it be?’

***

Eliza was reading the first deciphered Bible in the study room.

She had reached a rather intriguing part when someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

It was Miguel.

He respectfully handed Eliza a document.

“This is the investigation report on the person who attacked the lady on her last birthday when we were selecting candidates.”

The incident that had given a pretext for exiling Narcissus.

It had been a long time, and she had almost forgotten about it.

It wasn’t particularly important either.

“That did happen.”

Eliza skimmed through the document.

Her eyes, which had been moving quickly, suddenly stopped as if caught by something.

She lingered on a particular part.

‘…From Judeca.’

The assigned guardian, Anggra.

‘…Just like Judas…’

Miguel cautiously spoke up.

“And regarding the note we found last time.”

The note that was presumed to contain someone’s orders.

Though the content had evaporated, making it impossible to be sure, Eliza had sensed magical energy from the note.

There were traces of it being pressed with a pen, so he had requested an expert for restoration.

“They have restored the content.”

Eliza immediately responded.

“Bring it here.”