Chapter 35: Kidnapped by Good Intentions

Click—

The brass lock made a mechanical snap.

Kritiya carefully tucked the key, tied to a string, into her collar, feeling cold metal against her chest.

“Thanks, Tiya, for coming with me,” Diya said softly from beside her.

Kritiya just shook her head.

The two walked side by side down the stairs to the street.

“Let’s see… I need to head to Romern’s Grand Cathedral to pre-register for the Preparatory Knight Academy exam.”

Diya pressed a basket against her arm, chatting as if complaining.

“It’s usually funded by the emperor, with officials sent to oversee it, hosted by the local church.”

“Brother’s the worst—kept reminding me not to forget, but now he’s too busy to come.”

“Why?”

“Well… something about work. He said he’ll be back after dark, no need for dinner… no clue what job takes all day and night,” Diya said, slightly annoyed.

They chatted idly, leaving the house, heading for the Radiant Church’s Grand Cathedral in Romern.

I stayed immersed in decoding the ancient scroll’s seal, using the evil god’s magic knowledge, mentally simulating, barely sparing attention for the outside world.

“Oh—did you know? Romern’s split into Upper and Lower Districts, but the cathedral’s neither—it’s in its own Church District,” Diya said eagerly.

“I heard a bishop once said, ‘Gold may favor some, but God treats all equally,’ so the cathedral’s reachable from both districts.”

Kritiya listened quietly, nodding occasionally.

“And… the Proverbs Q&A section—I’ve mastered it. Next year’s literacy exam is just pass-or-fail, not selective, so I’m sure I’ll be fine—thanks to you, Tiya.”

“What’s selective, then?”

Kritiya asked suddenly.

“Um… Radiance affinity, and… background, I think? I only know roughly—the exact tests change every time,” Diya said with a smile.

Kritiya nodded, asking no more.

The two walked along the street, soon passing through the Lower District, nearing the Church District.

To show divine majesty, the cathedral towered over nearby buildings.

Blocks away, its gray twin spires loomed overhead.

“Honestly, I could’ve come alone, but I dragged you along. I’m relying on you too much, Tiya—sorry. Learning to read, errands like this… even Brother’s brighter since you came, like old times…

Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare… Oh, I’m blabbing—sorry,” Diya said, gazing at the grand hall, almost to herself.

Kritiya opened her mouth to reply, but Diya’s blonde ponytail swayed as she turned, speaking softly but firmly.

“Alright, this is far enough. I’ll go the rest of the way alone—just wait here, Tiya.”

Kritiya nodded.

Diya’s face flashed with nervousness, then resolve.

She took a deep breath, as if bracing for the unknown, and walked toward the towering cathedral.

Kritiya’s arm twitched under her cloak but stayed still, watching Diya’s back.

‘Will something bad happen?’

I heard Kritiya ask—was she asking me?

I thought, finding no other explanation.

Maybe my worries about Diya’s future, whenever I saw her, seeped into Kritiya’s mind.

I didn’t know how to answer—those events haven’t happened yet.

I stayed silent.

But thinking it over, things were moving positively so far.

The rift between Nolan and Diya hadn’t deepened.

Even if Diya enters the academy, they could stay in touch, catching dangers early…

It’ll be fine—there’s a way.

As I pondered Diya’s future, watching her vanish into the cathedral’s entrance, I spotted a familiar figure descending, surrounded by several maids.

Kritiya froze, not expecting to see her here.

She nodded in greeting, but the girl in black-and-white nun’s robes approached first.

“Oh, Sister Kritiya, you’re here too?”

“Just accompanying someone,” Kritiya said.

“That cute blonde girl who went in? Is she your friend?”

Kritiya nodded.

I focused on the girl—Elyria, the noble girl we met at the monastery.

She toyed with her braid, saying, “I thought you’d visit me again, but you never came.”

“No time before…”

Kritiya paused.

“Will you have time later?”

Elyria blinked, but Kritiya stayed silent, motionless, as if caught in a tough choice.

“Oh—never mind, I was kidding. Father’s calling me home soon, so I came to pray at the cathedral before leaving,” Elyria said, tilting her head, stepping back.

“Then, safe travels,” Kritiya said, looking up.

Elyria didn’t move, glancing back at the building.

“This is my first time at Romern’s Grand Cathedral.”

“Mine too,” Kritiya said.

Elyria turned back.

“Did you know? When this cathedral was built, it was for the Three-Eyed Goddess, patron of commerce and fairness.

But as the knightly orders swept north and south, northern lords submitted, and the city’s cathedral fell under the Holy Light—her statues and paintings erased, rebuilt for the Radiant God.”

“I… didn’t know,” Kritiya said after thinking.

I frowned—Elyria’s tone sounded like an old scholar had possessed her.

She said no more.

A maid whispered to her, and Elyria nodded gracefully, stepping away.

“Then, Sister Kritiya, farewell. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

Through Kritiya’s eyes, I watched Elyria, supported by maids, climb into a box carriage.

The horses, whipped, galloped off.

***

Diya’s registration didn’t take long.

Soon, she emerged smiling, task done.

The two girls headed home.

No—only one returned.

Halfway, Diya said she’d stop at the market for supplies, sending Kritiya home first.

Unlocking the door, Kritiya stepped inside, blinking.

The neatly stacked papers on the desk were scattered.

“Nolan?”

As Kritiya spoke, footsteps sounded behind.

She spun around, and I saw a scarred figure in chainmail and a black cloak, holding a heavy sword—Darryl!

Wearing the disguise from our first meeting, with a faint blood scent.

Had she just fought?

Why now?

Didn’t we agree I’d find her?

Why when Kritiya’s awake?

This could turn messy.

“Hey! Urgent—listen…”

“You… it’s you!”

Right—Kritiya had seen this Darryl, clashed with her, left a bad impression.

It’s fine, Darryl.

Kritiya’s smart.

Explain calmly, she’ll see you’re not bad—

Just lower the sword, don’t scare her…

“Listen, give me the ancient scroll! It’s fishy, probably a trap! It’s not safe with you!”

Darryl waved her sword excitedly, stepping closer.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kritiya said, clutching her cloak, face paling, backing away from the “villain” who’d attacked her before.

“The first adventurer who found the scroll—I tracked him down. He was incoherent, mentally broken, couldn’t recall what happened! It’s likely laced with a hallucination poison or curse!”

“Don’t come closer—I don’t know you!”

Darryl advanced.

Kritiya, breathing hard, stared at the fierce warrior.

“I followed the trail—everyone who touched the scroll had hallucinations, memory issues! Ouen, who studied it deeply, was hit worst!”

Kritiya bit her lip, turning to run, but Darryl, quick, grabbed her wrist.

“Worse, severe cases lose reason, turning beastly aggressive.”

“Don’t touch me!”

Kritiya spun, biting Darryl’s gloved wrist.

Oh no—

I thought, Kritiya’s hitting every symptom Darryl described.

Darryl, unbothered by the bite, pulled Kritiya close, dropped her sword, and yanked a weighted chain from her cloak.

With a clank, it bound Kritiya’s arms and legs.

She opened her mouth to scream, but a gag was stuffed in.

“Sorry, Miss Airi, you’re already affected, losing reason. To find the scroll, I need to cure you first,” Darryl said.

The scroll’s hidden in the courtyard downstairs… cloaked by magic!

Couldn’t you search properly?

I thought.

I’d been cautious, fearing it might explode or worse, avoiding contact, only mentally studying the seal, just starting to make progress.

“Now, you’re coming with me. I shouldn’t have entrusted a kid with something this dangerous—your state’s my fault.”

Darryl, watching Kritiya struggle, bound and gagged, blamed herself.

Kritiya’s resistance backfired, convincing Darryl she’d lost her mind.

Call it stubbornness or defiance, but beneath Kritiya’s cold exterior, I knew she had a relentless spirit, fighting against all odds.

Like when Black Mage Ross attacked—despite the old nun’s death, she fired her last crossbow bolt.

Or in the novel, as a villain clashing with Nolan, humiliated yet scheming revenge, ultimately using black magic in desperation—twisted, but true to her core.

These thoughts flashed in a moment.

Darryl secured the chain with a lock, then pulled a black sack from her cloak—why so many kidnapping tools?—and yanked it open.

The sack came down over Kritiya’s head, plunging everything into darkness.