Conquest Complete, So Why Is the Affection Dropping? - Chapter 22
“Wait a minute, what are you saying? There’s no way Hexion would betray me!”
“Didn’t demons attack as soon as the warp gate was restored and a portal opened in the sky? This couldn’t have happened without someone leaking information beforehand.”
“It was just a coincidence. Space and time are disconnected outside the barrier, how could anyone leak information?”
“We investigated the incident’s circumstances. There are records showing that on the day Divine Master departed to repair the city walls, Hexion guided you to West Square and induced your interest in ancient artifacts.”
That’s because going through West Square is the fastest way to get to the horse stables. The warp gate is so huge that it’s all you can see when entering the square, isn’t it natural to ask what it is?
“And when the demons appeared with their summoned beasts, Divine Master acted strangely, like being controlled by something.”
“I wasn’t being controlled!”
No, I was controlled. I gave in to impulsive desires because I was embarrassed to face Hexion.
But that was something I brought upon myself. It wasn’t Hexion’s fault.
“Hexion deliberately let you be kidnapped by the demon riding the summoned beast, then claimed to have found you outside the temple and brought you back. All circumstances are suspicious.”
“I’m telling you it’s all a misunderstanding!”
Wasn’t my escapade supposed to end with just embarrassment and regret? Why has it suddenly resulted in Hexion being arrested and charged?
“For now, we must isolate him and monitor his movements. Divine Master, please go to your room.”
“Wait, Hexion! Hexion!”
Even though I called out to Hexion, no one would release him. No one would let me go to him.
Usually, they would step aside at my slightest word, but now they stood firm like rocks, not budging an inch.
“I’ll explain. I’ll explain everything!”
“Shin Joo. Right now, you need to separate from that man and rest.”
“What rest? I’m not sick!”
Even being the Divine Master, there was nothing I could do when several men blocked my way. I could only call out Hexion’s name while watching his retreating figure being dragged away with a dark expression.
***
I was confined to my room.
Strictly speaking, I wasn’t imprisoned. I could study in the library, pray in the prayer room, and walk in the garden. I just couldn’t go see Hexion.
They said he was now locked in the temple’s underground prison.
“Venom. There seems to be a misunderstanding. Please let me meet Hexion.”
“Divine Master, you must not be deceived by that traitor.”
The guardian knight Venom firmly shook his head. For some reason, Venom and others all called Hexion a ‘traitor.’
For unknown reasons, they all spouted nonsense about Hexion conspiring with demons and betraying the temple.
“It’s a misunderstanding. There’s no way Hexion would betray me.”
“But demon tokens were found in Hexion’s room.”
“…What?”
Just as I was about to say that’s nonsense, Venom handed me a white paper bundle.
When I opened the paper, there was a large black feather as thick as my forearm.
“It’s a feather from a demon’s summoned beast, reeking of blood. He must have been in blood communion with them.”
The feather looked oddly familiar. Of course, it would.
This was something I had put in Hexion’s inventory when I learned through the jewel in Niflheim that he was trapped, thinking it might help him.
‘This was Marvis’s possession. Of course, it’s a demon item!’
As I grabbed the feather trying to explain, this time Baal the priest handed me a bundle wrapped in white cloth from behind.
“This is a pass bearing the seal of the Dark City’s leader. He must have been communicating with demons using this pass!”
‘I sent that too!’
I transferred it to his inventory thinking he might be wandering in demon territory.
Then other priests and knights started bringing out more evidence.
A horn made from demon beast bones, a magic stone lamp engraved with the ouroboros pattern, rope made from plants that don’t grow in the Holy City, and a signal bell containing condensed magical power…
They were all things I had sent.
I never expected the karma from ransacking Marvis’s belongings and stuffing them into Hexion’s inventory would come back like this.
I thought Marvis might come after me for recklessly taking his things, but I never imagined Hexion would be charged!
“Wait a moment. This is a misunderstanding. I sent these things!”
I desperately tried to explain.
“Hexion and I share an inventory. I brought these from Niflheim. They were just transferred to Hexion’s room when I put them in the inventory!”
Statement deemed inappropriate and deleted. Reason: Contains information that cannot be processed within the game world.
The system arbitrarily deleted my statement even though it didn’t contain any inappropriate words. A chill ran down my spine.
What is this? I can’t even explain. What should I do?
“Divine Master, you’re still defending Hexion despite such clear evidence!”
“Look, well… anyway, it’s all a misunderstanding. There are circumstances here!”
“Oh my, you’ve been thoroughly bewitched!”
The priests looked at me with shocked faces. Their expressions were like looking at a foolish emperor who had abandoned state affairs to indulge in wine and women, falling for the schemes of an evil concubine. Countless eyes filled with despair turned toward me. I felt desperate too.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Of course, they didn’t interrogate me. There was no physical hardship either.
Considering that I had been kidnapped by demons and barely returned after ten days, they didn’t force me to study or pray, the meals were more luxurious than usual, and with two additional dedicated attendants besides Venom, life had actually become more comfortable.
The problem was that no matter how much my quality of life improved, it didn’t help my frustration. Naturally, since I couldn’t clear up the misunderstanding or meet Hexion.
The biggest problem was that I was the one who had put Hexion in this predicament. It was maddening that I couldn’t find a way to defend him.
‘How on earth do I explain this?’
This damn system readily allows dialogue that spreads my embarrassment, but strictly blocks my words trying to explain the situation, claiming they interfere with the system. Talking to a wall would be less frustrating than this.
‘The inventory sharing is a game function to begin with, so why can’t I explain it? If it’s not allowed because it’s meta-speech, then the system should have prevented situations requiring explanation in the first place!’
Glaring resentfully at the system window didn’t solve anything. The same went for the priests and knights.
They say fanatics are the scariest, and these people wouldn’t even listen to me, the Divine Master, instead just repeating what they believed like parrots.
Especially Priest Baal and Knight Venom were actively leading the slander against Hexion. They must have had something against Hexion all along.
‘Hexion, I hope you’re okay.’
My worries only grew since I couldn’t visit him. Nothing tasted good, and sleep brought no rest.
After waking in the morning, I had no energy to get up and just stared blankly at the ceiling until afternoon passed. Despite wasting the day so uselessly, my guilt was directed at Hexion rather than my life.
Why did I follow Marvis? I couldn’t even complete his route anyway. Hexion showed me the most affection, I should have tried harder instead of giving up because I was embarrassed.
I shouldn’t have taken Marvis’s things. Why did I stuff those things into the inventory? I wouldn’t even use them.
Various regrets rose and scattered like pages I couldn’t grasp.
‘This game was supposed to be fun, why am I experiencing such stress after being transmigrated into it.’
I don’t understand why this is happening to me. Just as I was sighing with intense regret, something suddenly flashed through my mind.
‘Right, this is a game!’
My mind cleared like I’d been splashed with cold water.
