Vol 8 Chapter 135 (1/2)

Chapter 135: Once again into the Labyrinth of Trial

Translator: Tseirp

Arriving at Granhart-san’s room, I knocked on the door.

However, as if they could not hear the sound of the knockings, there wasn’t any reaction from the inside.

However, I did not call out to the people inside and merely waited in front of the door.

It was merely a gut feeling but a strange sense of tension was being transmitted to me as if asking me to patiently wait before entering.

After waiting for a short while, I once again knocked on the door and this time, I called out.

“It’s Luciel. Granhart-san, or Estia, please come out.”

Perhaps because they knew it was me after I knocked and called out, the room door opened the instant I felt the atmosphere transmitted from within change.

It was Estia who opened the door and inside, Granhart-san was pitched forward and face down on the table.

It seemed like he was asleep.

Looking at that situation, I questioned Estia.

“What happened here?”

“That man’s tone was way too strict. I accidentally made him sleep.”

It wasn’t Estia herself, I didn’t imagine that I would be speaking with the Darkness Spirit that possesses Estia right off the bat but I questioned the Darkness Spirit without hesitation as if it was nothing.

“Inform me why you, the Darkness Spirit, possessed Estia this early in the morning?”

“Because that man was persistently questioning Estia and focused on her words whenever she stammered. That’s not an inquiry but an interrogation to find a suspect.”

Certainly, in addition to being stiff, Granhart-san’s inquiry totally ends up as interrogations. He strangely takes on an authoritative att.i.tude so it’s not surprising that Estia got frightened.

“Is that why you made him sleep? It’s just my guess but perhaps not much time has pa.s.sed since today’s interrogation begin right?”

“I have to take into account Estia’s feelings of going through an interrogation within the same oppressive s.p.a.ce since the day after arriving here. I wonder how many times did Estia think of breaking down this room.”

Although I can’t understand why Granhart-san does his inquiries in an interrogative manner but I guess it is reasonable for Estia to want to escape.

Wouldn’t it be better for a female to do the inquiry for a female?

I thought up until that point and then abandoned the idea.

Since the inquiry itself would be in vain either way.

“Ha~. Oh well. Follow me then.”

“Where to?”

The Darkness Spirit gave a curious expression … actually, it’s Estia’s face but it gradually changed to a look of apprehension as she began staring at me.

“You’ll know if you follow me. I’ll say it beforehand, your sister is also at that place.”

” … You are strangely understanding. Perhaps you have fallen for ane-sama? Or have you fallen for Estia? Or perhaps … surely you did not fall for me?” (TL: Ane-sama = respectful way of addressing an elder sister or a respected elder female character)

I’ll admit that I like Fornoir.

But, what’s with after that? She’s flying way off the rails.

Why’s the spirit of Darkness such a pain?

Since I don’t have the confidence in using indirect expressions, I took a deep breath and calmly replied.

“Considering the actions we’ve taken until now, have there been elements that showed that I have fallen for Estia or you?”

“There weren’t?”

” … Please recognize that there are differences between the values of humans and that of spirits.”

Feeling mentally tired, I secretly felt envious of the sleeping Granhart-san as I left a note for him behind.

“Even if there would be another inquiry later, don’t worry as I won’t let it be done in an oppressive s.p.a.ce. Now let’s hurry up and leave.”

“You are really considerate. Perhaps you’ve really fallen for me?”

While handing the noisy Darkness Spirit, we once again returned to Pope-sama’s personal room.

“Isn’t this gate-like door the door to the Pope’s room?”

” … You’ve seen it before?”

“Yeah … to me, as a spirit, it was a brief moment but there was a human that I could share and have fun with … it reminds me of such fond memories.”

The Darkness Spirit possessing Estia laughed gently.

Maybe she had strong memories together with Sir Rainstar?

While having such thoughts, I stopped in front of Pope-sama’s personal room and called out after knocking on the door.

“It’s Luciel. I’ve brought Estia along.”

“Enter.”

When the door opened after the voice was transmitted from within, the female attendants left the personal room and we entered as if exchanging places.

There was a horse beside Pope-sama … personally, I knew but for the female attendants who do not know about the circ.u.mstances, it must have been a surreal sight.

I was uneasy thinking about what the female attendants were feeling looking at Fornoir but I calmed myself down and gave my homage as a va.s.sal. At that instant, Fornoir stepped in front of Pope-sama.

I judged that there was danger and wanted to stand in front of Pope-sama but she placed a hand on my shoulder and confronted Estia herself.

“It’s been a long time, Darkness-chan.”

“Ha~, the crybaby Fluna has seriously become a splendid Pope.”

Perhaps because she was possessing Estia, they were conversing regularly in the shared Galdardia language.

” … So you 2 are normal acquaintances?”

“Of course. All spirits are acquainted with me. However, at that time, I didn’t have enough power so …”

“Guys who pry into the past are disliked you know.”

“Bururu.”

That’s right … that’s what I felt Fornoir was saying as well.

To be treated this poorly just for asking if they are acquaintances or not, I decided to only talk about the labyrinth.

“So? I take it that you wouldn’t purposely send Luciel all the way to where I was just to exchange greetings right?”

“I wasn’t lying when I said that I wanted to see Darkness-chan. I’d like you to listen to Luciel for the reason for calling you here.”

Even though she has a mystical voice, I ended up thinking that Pope-sama was somehow cute when she talks for a long time as I conveyed the matter on hand.

“Firstly, do you know of the labyrinth within the church?”

“A labyrinth in the church headquarters? … I do sense fluctuations of Darkness from the facility that was used in the past though?”

Once the Darkness Spirit closed her eyes, she immediately sensed the Labyrinth of Tribulations.

“That’s right. It appeared slightly less than 50 years ago but thanks to Luciel clearing the labyrinth on his own a couple of years ago, we were able to perform the funeral for many of our brethrens.”