Samuel did not betray the Temple's expectations.
Since he found me so easily, the Temple that trusted his abilities would rest assured and open the city gates, and the strict inspections would return to normal. The city gates becoming more lenient was welcome news for me as well.
As if to prove my conjecture, the sudden inspections that had been conducted on the streets were nowhere to be seen.
Now I might be able to find a cargo carriage to sneak out on. Even if not that, my options had increased.
Fingering the Temple's treasure around my neck, I calmly organized my thoughts. Taking this off to divert Samuel's attention, even for a moment, was certainly possible.
The problem was that the time given to me would not be long, and despite that, I had to definitely escape this city within that short time.
Contacting a back-alley broker to procure a carriage or horse again would take too long.
Honestly, I thought there would be at least a dog hole somewhere in the city, but I never expected the wall management to be this thorough. Should I look for underground waterways instead?
As I considered several alternatives, I unexpectedly reached a grocery store. Perhaps surprised by the unexpected location, Samuel, who had been quiet all along, spoke up.
"Do you cook your own meals?"
"Why? Do you think I've never let a drop of water touch my hands?"
Actually, I have never cooked with my own hands.
However, I was confident in pretending to be familiar with any task. A person from Roam ought to be able to deceive everyone.
Like the mother's theatrical performance, notorious for having fallen ill from missing her daughter.
"You don't need to do such laborious work yourself."
"It's a hobby."
Picking up a basket of acorns, I indifferently raised my eyes. Glancing upward, I saw a bird appearing as a dot in the high sky circling around. I casually shifted my gaze to the stall.
"......I wonder if this shop's meat is fresh."
I went around dozens of butcher shops to find freshly caught meat still dripping with blood.
Samuel seemed to have doubts about my utterly incomprehensible behavior, but perhaps because it was too trivial to question as suspicious, he did not interfere. Perhaps he really thought I genuinely enjoyed cooking.
Though my hands possessed the power to produce the worst results from anything, this was never revealed even when I was in Roam.
The handkerchief I gave Maxel as a gift was entrusted to an artisan with the finest embroidery skills, and the fact that everyone thought it was my own handiwork was also included in that.
I heard Lilia was good with her hands. She was skilled in household affairs and also had talent for making simple handicrafts, often giving handmade items or snacks as gifts to acquaintances. The handkerchief Maxel used was also Lilia's work.
Lilia was in many ways a woman who was the complete opposite of me.
She was from a fallen family but by chance became acquainted with a lower noble and came to the capital, and by chance caught the eye of some count and received patronage, and by chance obtained the precious opportunity to attend an imperial banquet.
Her life as heard through rumors was entirely composed of fortuitous luck. It was different from my life, which had been tightly woven without gaps from birth.
"Resurrected One?"
I snapped to attention at the low call. The butcher shop owner who had packaged the fresh meat still showing traces of blood was standing awkwardly while glancing at Samuel. Belatedly trying to receive the meat from his hands, Samuel extended his hand first.
"I will carry it for you."
He seemed to have mistaken that I was standing stiffly because I found it repulsive to receive the meat directly.
I, who had intended to snatch the meat from him, changed my mind. It was large, heavy, and smelled fishy, so I didn't really want to carry it myself. If he was going to misunderstand on his own and help, there was no reason to refuse.
"Then let's return to the room now."
"You're not cooking today?"
"Yes. I got tired from buying ingredients."
"Are you planning to leave the raw meat in your room?"
"Why?"
Of course, leaving raw meat in a narrow room would fill the space with a fishy smell. The freshness of the meat would also decline, and perhaps it might even spoil.
As someone who had witnessed my struggle to obtain freshly caught meat, my behavior was naturally incomprehensible.
But unfortunately, I had no intention of explaining. Furthermore, I secretly hoped he would misunderstand in a different direction.
"Are you worried I might perform some wicked magic with that?"
"I did not say such a thing."
"Because even you know that's not possible. They say evil things delight in fresh life, but what can one do with dead meat?"
As I muttered indifferently, a cold emotion settled on Samuel's face. It wasn't scary at all.
"I just want to make you suffer. I'm tormenting you, right now."
"This?"
"Yes. I'm thinking of treating you to a dish made with that meat."
Going around butcher shops to find unnecessary fresh meat, deliberately spoiling the meat obtained that way, and then feeding you the dish made from it. Because I want to torment you.
My words were easy to understand. Anyone who could understand words would have noticed the malice filled within.
I gazed at him, hoping even a trace of weariness would appear on Samuel's face. His gray eyes were composed.
"The Lord bestows tribulation in various forms. Acceptance is only proper as His servant."
"......Let's hurry back. I want to rest."
Ah, exhausting.
Whether my feelings were fully revealed on my face, Samuel asked with a hint of puzzlement.
"If tormenting behavior consumes unnecessary mental effort, is there a need to deliberately do it?"
"Are you asking if I have a reason to torment you, right now?"
"Yes."
"It's an evil deed, there's no grand reason. You must not have heard my rumors. I was famous for being vicious."
"Since you have become the Resurrected One, you may leave behind whatever your name was in the secular world."
"Like you?"
Even the desire to sneer vanished. Instead, what filled that place was a cold chill.
Samuel did not answer my counter-question. Since it would obviously be an affirmation even without hearing it, I replied with an indifferent tone without slowing my walking pace.
"I am not one who has pledged allegiance to the Temple."
"But you are the Resurrected One."
An illusion arose as if bile was rising from within. It was true that I intended to abandon my name from the secular world as Samuel said, but that wasn't because I was the Resurrected One.
"My name is not Resurrected One, Sir Samuel."
Immediately after speaking the words, slight regret followed.
It was skepticism about what kind of conversation I was attempting with a fanatic who would accept even incomprehensible malice as the Lord's tribulation.
Given his mental state, that man surely wouldn't even know my name.
"The Lord......"
"If you keep proselytizing."
I, who had been walking only looking forward, suddenly stopped. Pointing to the bag in Samuel's hand with my chin, I warned seriously.
"The Lord will bestow upon you the tribulation of making you eat raw meat."
Samuel fell silent.
No matter how he was, he apparently didn't want to eat raw meat dripping with blood. Thanks to that, the return journey became somewhat quieter.
It was the first moment when his faith had become somewhat useful.
* * *
The night wind was cold. Since more than an hour had passed since I left the window open, the air in the room had cooled to be no different from outside.
I was waiting with the raw meat placed on the windowsill. Was it too much greed to hope this bloody smell would spread to the high sky?
I was secretly watching the window with wary eyes, thinking the one I wanted to call wouldn't come and unnecessary beasts might be lured instead, when a large black shadow flew in with a flutter.
[Aneli!]
The squirrel that had been gnawing on an acorn jumped onto my lap in surprise. I stroked the squirrel's back with my fingertips and looked toward the window.
Seeing the white bird's head suddenly poking in from outside the window, a sigh of relief escaped me.
"You're late."
At my whisper that seemed to scold, the eagle fluttered its wings.
[Were you waiting for me, Aneli?]
"Yes."
As I nodded readily, the eagle's fierce eyes turned toward me.
The sharp eyes looked as if it was angry, but actually the eagle had quite a gentle personality.
Though it had attacked the squirrel, after I gave it raw meat, it didn't attempt such a thing again.
[How did you know I arrived?]
"How could I not know?"
A laugh burst out at the sudden question. While flying all over the sky calling my name like that.
[Did you hear it?]
"Yes."
Knowing that I was the only one who could hear that voice, I still felt nervous that someone else might hear. I kept inadvertently turning my gaze toward where the eagle's cry could be heard, which was so embarrassing.
"You came back to help me, right?"
[Aneli gave me raw meat! Thanks to that, my babies are growing well!]
The reason this father eagle appeared in the Great Temple's front courtyard was to find food to feed its chicks.
This was also why the eagle was particularly grateful that I had diligently obtained meat for it. Because I kept its chicks from going hungry.
......Even though a beast knows how to care for its young like this.
Pushing away the sudden sentiment that rose, I leaned my upper body toward the eagle's head.
"Is there a way?"
[I spoke to a hyung I know!]
The eagle proudly raised its yellow beak.
A hyung it knows?
[He said he could carry Aneli!]
"What?"
In my bewilderment, my voice inadvertently rose. Immediately covering my mouth, I glanced at the door and held my breath for a moment.
Samuel would still be outside that door. Biting my tongue and composing my voice, I asked again in a whisper.
"There's a bird that big?"
[Yes!]
Looking at the eyes filled with certainty, it wasn't a lie.
"When is it possible?"
[Hm, hyung needs to be where he can grab Aneli.]
Certainly, if it's a bird large enough to carry a person and take flight, it wouldn't be able to meet in a narrow alley.
Then would the city's central plaza be good? Taking a deep breath and lost in thought, I glanced at the door. I need to separate Samuel too.
Fingering the magic tool around my neck, I suddenly looked down at the squirrel sitting on my lap. Actually, there's no creature as agile as this one.
"Alright, this is the final operation."
The squirrel that had been hugging the acorn looked up at me with puzzled eyes. Meeting those squirrel eyes, I smiled gently.
I could see my face faintly reflected in the clear squirrel eyes.