Chapter 39

When the elf picked up a scented candle for the third time, Eugene hesitated over whether to remind her that they had no use for candles as a source of light on their journey. Just as he was about to speak, the corner of his eye caught a flash of white fabric.

It was not the sort of white mixed with beige or dingy gray, but pure white—the kind commoners would hardly ever wear. Eugene's heart tightened for an instant. Concealed among the crowd, he carefully peered at those in white robes under the cover of the bustling streets. Sure enough, he spotted an iris-shaped Saint Insignia at the hem of their robes.

They were members of the Judgement Tribunal. But Archbishop Terrence did not live in Golden Apple Town. Why had they split up from the bishop and appeared here?

Eugene's question was soon answered.

He saw a sheet of paper posted by the Judgement Tribunal. The person drawn on it looked remarkably like him. A violent surge rose in Eugene's heart.

Impossible. The Judgement Tribunal members who had hunted them last time had clearly all been killed by his teacher. It was precisely because of that that his teacher had burned through all his Soulfire and ultimately been forced to shatter his Soul Core. The Holy See could not possibly know what he looked like, yet this situation... For a moment, Eugene suspected the Lionheart Guild, but immediately dismissed the thought. Leaving aside Gwendolyn's character, Odovish's contract alone was enough to ensure the Lionheart Guild kept this secret absolutely secure.

Elufiel quickly noticed Eugene's unsettled state and softly asked, "What is it?" Then she spotted the conspicuous white-robed believers.

"Uh-oh. It looks like we're in trouble."

Eugene frowned. Though his heart was pounding wildly, he forced himself to remain calm. "I'm their target. We should split up."

"Wait." Elufiel interrupted him. "They seem to be searching based on that portrait. How does the Holy See treat elves?"

Eugene did not understand the point of her question, but he answered anyway. "Not very friendly, but they won't make a move lightly." The Holy See had once suffered heavily at the hands of those powerful nonhuman races. Though it had only been a minor battle—not even enough to be called a war—the terrible casualties had still forced the Holy See to tacitly accept their activities right under its nose, or rather, to refrain from interfering with them.

"Then that's enough." The elf smiled and pulled out a small purple sphere. "Take this, then use it."

Eugene took the orb and instinctively clenched it tightly. Before long, he sensed something beginning to change.

Elufiel swiftly pulled up his cloak hood and covered his head. The white-robed members of the Judgement Tribunal were already very close to them.

"What is this...?" Eugene asked in amazement, looking at the bead in his hand.

Elufiel took the bead from his hand and stuffed it back into her toy box. She gave him a gentle push, pretending to be an ordinary tourist casually browsing as they walked, while quickly explaining in a low voice, "A fun little trinket. It can temporarily turn other creatures into elves. Don't worry, it's perfectly safe and has no side effects."

"You there in the hood, stop walking." The very next second after Elufiel finished speaking, an arrogant voice sounded from behind them.

Elufiel could have guessed with her toes that it belonged to a member of the Judgement Tribunal.

She and Eugene turned around. At close range, Elufiel saw the appearances of these Judgement Tribunal divine casters. Two looked middle-aged, while the other two appeared younger, but it was hard to tell who was actually older. That depended on the rank of their divine arts and how long they had been at a certain rank. They were all impeccably groomed, without even a wrinkle at the hem of their robes. Rather than the infamous Judgement Tribunal, they looked more like priests who spent their lives before holy statues.

"Is there something you need, esteemed priests?" Elufiel asked innocently.

One of the Judgement Tribunal members who looked older said, "Tell your companion to remove his hood."

Elufiel recognized him as the owner of that arrogant voice from before.

"Well, I'm afraid that would be inconvenient," Elufiel said awkwardly.

"Inconvenient?" The man snorted. "Are you harboring an Arcane caster?"

"An Arcane caster?" Elufiel shook her head. "No, of course not. I mean, he isn't human." As she spoke, she gently pulled down Eugene's hood.

What appeared before everyone was an exceptionally fair face, more handsome than any human's. Two long, pointed ears extended from between his tousled platinum-blond hair—unmistakable signs of an elf.

Everyone was startled for an instant. After all, elves had not openly appeared on the continent for many years.

"My lords, are you looking for an Arcane caster? My elf friend shouldn't be a problem, right?" Elufiel asked timidly.

Another Judgement Tribunal member who looked younger swept his unfriendly gaze over the two of them. "How did you come to know an elf? What is your purpose in coming here?"

"I was a child abandoned by my family. Ada found me and raised me." Elufiel casually fabricated a story. "Later, I ran out of the forest alone to play. An old priest taught me how to wield the Goddess of Light's power. Look."

A small ball of Holy Light appeared beside Elufiel's hand and quickly vanished. "I originally planned to catch snow rabbits on the northern shore of Lake Inoma this time, but when I passed through here, I heard that an archbishop was giving a sermon, so I stayed for a while. He is my friend. He followed me to protect me because he was afraid I might be in danger alone."

The elf did not hesitate in the slightest, her lie sounding even more convincing than the truth. Combined with the crowd watching nearby—seeing a living elf was hardly an everyday occurrence—the Judgement Tribunal members found it difficult to make any decision for the moment. Even if they wanted to detain a living elf, without a suitable reason, the Holy See's sharpest blade had no choice but to let them leave. Their reputation for mercy and virtue could not be casually ruined.