"Senior, there's something I want to talk to you about..."
Tassia mumbled, her emerald eyes reflecting the dancing flames of the campfire.
'Rorschach had lived two lives... and in both, he had been a young man who'd never experienced a girl confessing to him. Right now, it felt like the plot of his life was sliding toward a romantic comedy light novel.'
He was perfectly calm.
"Go ahead."
"The great Mother of the World who created the land was betrayed by Her children and fell into a deep slumber. The betrayers hid this history from the Mother's other children and became Divine Spirits who lorded over their siblings.
Now, the Mother of the World is gradually awakening. The betrayers, knowing they cannot stop it, fear the Mother's punishment and have fled from our world one after another, which is what led to the so-called Era of Silence.
We are also the Great Mother's children. Those who awaken the Mother and return to her embrace will receive the Mother's forgiveness and become her most beloved children.
This is the doctrine of the 'Return of the Holy Mother' Sect."
'So it's not that kind of development after all,' Rorschach thought. He composed himself and slowly stood up.
"How did you know... Continue."
"Eight days ago, you checked into an inn in Doug Town in Limborg, were attacked, and then escaped. The ones who attacked you were from the 'Return of the Holy Mother' Sect. The innkeeper, under the instruction of a mid-level member of the Sect, Viscount Limbourg, instigated a group of thieves to test you."
Tassia's voice turned cold.
"Correct. How do you know that?"
"I'm a member of the Sect."
"That's obvious. You've been deliberately getting close to me from the very beginning. Is it because I'm the only Mage in the group?"
"I, Anastasia, am the Saintess of the 'Return of the Holy Mother' Sect, known as the child closest to the Great Mother."
Rorschach remained calm, even looking at her with a playful expression.
"Then keep reporting what you know." The voice came from behind Tassia. The Ranger's figure emerged from the darkness.
"Huh?" Tassia felt something cold pressed against the back of her head.
It was Hill's Hand Cannon. "Don't move. It's loaded."
Two more people emerged from behind the other carriages: Singrev, holding his hammer with both hands, and Mr. Ah Le, holding his Walking Stick Sword. The four of them surrounded Tassia.
A blazing fire ignited in Rorschach's right hand, his Fireball Skill ready to be cast. "Miss Saintess, why have you stopped talking?"
"Eh? When did you all..."
"While you were cowering in the carriage, we had a little discussion. I was just on night watch duty, you see. I never expected you to come to me on your own. I'm honored, Your Holiness." Rorschach couldn't help but use a villainous tone, almost bursting out with a wicked cackle.
Tassia raised her hands without hesitation. "You win! I originally only wanted to confess to Mage Rorschach, but since it's come to this, I'll just tell all of you everything. Big Sis Ranger, could you please move your gun barrel away? It could go off easily!"
"Spit it out. Why's the 'Find the Old Lady' Sect got a problem with us?"
Tassia slumped to the ground and shook her head.
"'Find the Old Lady'... The Sect's Grand Cultivator received a Divine Revelation to intercept a merchant caravan traveling from the Imperial Capital to Valuva. They can't let the goods being transported reach the Holy Kingdom. If they fail, it will have a negative impact on the Great Mother's fated revival..."
"Your 'old lady' can be affected by three carts of leather? Be more specific..."
Mr. Ah Le interrupted Singrev and asked, "Aren't you the Saintess? Why are other people in the Sect the ones receiving Divine Revelations?"
Tassia scratched her chestnut hair and answered, "This 'Saintess'... I don't know why it's me either. It's always been the Sect's Grand Cultivators and Elders who conduct the secret rites to receive Divine Revelations. They used to be very vague, but this was the clearest one ever. Maybe the Mother of the World has really woken up a little?
Based on my own guess, it's probably because I have a real talent for Natural Magic. I can learn anything from the Natural System almost instantly. I was raised by people from the Sect since I was a child. I don't know who my parents are or where they are...
When I got a little older, the Sect used the Viscount's name to recommend me to the Tower of Forest to study Natural System Magic. They also stuffed two other kids my age in there with me.
They're all idiots! Brainwashed fanatics! They watched me all day, every day, and reported everything back to the Sect. The other people in the Tower are all self-righteous jerks, and they actually thought we were good friends!"
Tassia's chest heaved.
"I wanted to run away last year. I begged my teacher to send me somewhere far away from the Sect, and after a lot of pestering, I managed to get a letter of recommendation to the Tower of Storms. I tried to escape on my way back to the Sect, but I was caught and brought back on the very same day. After that, it was solitary confinement. They locked me up."
'Starting out as an orphan... are you trying to be the protagonist?' Rorschach resisted the urge to make a sarcastic comment and focused on the key point. "You failed to escape? Then what's happening now?" 'Don't tell me there's a group from the Sect following you, about to come kill us!'
Tassia became agitated. "Listen up, this information is very important! The person who caught me was the Protector of Limborg, Leopold. That old man and his subordinates are nominally Limborg's Cavalry Guard Team, but they're actually the Sect's elite unit, the 'Desert Hunters.'
After he caught me, I was watched by a Knight Squad, but they were suddenly reassigned a few days ago. How could I let a chance like that slip by? The useless replacements weren't even real Professionals. They thought they could watch me? Of course I escaped and ran into you guys.
The Hunters are definitely here for you. Leopold is a very powerful guy, a Samurai who has been blessed by a Divine Spirit. He's not some nobody like the innkeeper or those thieves..."
Hearing this, Singrev got extremely smug. "Heh heh, we already beat up that big lug and his men! Young Master Rorschach took out three of them with one big Fireball! We ain't so bad ourselves."
"Are you really that strong?" Tassia was a little skeptical. She scrutinized the small team, then sighed. "Ai, the Tower of Forest doesn't really teach magic from the Shaping Power Energy System. My fists aren't hard enough..."
"I fainted because I exhausted my Magic Power in battle..."
"Leopold himself has disappeared, but his six Knights have been eliminated."
"Mhm, I don't think the Sect will be able to cause you any trouble for a while. They've all been busy running around lately. Don't ask me what they're busy with, I really don't know!"
The "public trial" lasted for most of the night. Tassia's throat was practically smoking by the time she finally convinced Mr. Ah Le to let her stay temporarily, and for Hill to be assigned to watch her—after all, with Tassia's Immortal Jump Magic, they wouldn't need to hunt anymore. After everyone else dispersed, Mr. Ah Le and Rorschach, who was on watch, remained.
"Mr. Ah Le, aren't you going to explain?"
"Explain what?" Mr. Ah Le's face flickered in and out of the dancing firelight. He maintained his usual business-like smile, but right now, Rorschach found it extremely grating.
"Don't you think you were a bit too blunt when you cut Tassia off? In the Sect's eyes, what exactly are we transporting?"
"What the Sect thinks we're doing... is that really important, Mage Rorschach?"
Rorschach's chest heaved. He closed in on Ah Le, step by step. "Sir, 'is that really important'? We're being hunted down and nearly lost our lives over three damn carts of leather? I think you'd better explain yourself!"
"I think it's best if no one is clear on the matter. Mage Rorschach, the rest of the journey should be safe now. You can also part ways with us at the next city. I will pay the remainder of your commission as agreed."
Mr. Ah Le sat down leisurely in front of the campfire. "To be perfectly honest, do you think Singrev and Hill haven't guessed there's something wrong with our cargo? But they aren't newly-minted Adventurers. They understand that as hired hands, they don't need to know too much about their employer's business.
You became a Mage at such a young age; you're a cut above the rest of your peers. So please, don't let a young man's impulse sway you, all right? You have a bright future ahead of you. There's no need to get hung up on this."
"..."
"Mage Rorschach, I will take over the watch for the second half of the night. Please get some rest."