Chapter 74

Fortunately, the temple provided guests with loose robe-like overcoats that were quite spacious.

Hiding Shin Jae-heon with one was a simple matter.

And whenever it was needed, I’d just lift the coat slightly, letting Shin Jae-heon peek out from my clothes pocket to use his tracking skill.

He’d then indicate the direction.

At this point, it was like I was walking around with a mini Shin Jae-heon shaped navigation device.

Of course, looking suspicious would be a problem, so Joo Yian and I kept up a conversation that made us seem like we were discussing something important.

“We must ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

“Indeed.”

An awkward air flowed between Joo Yian, who wasn’t used to acting, and me.

Awkward! This was seriously awkward!

“Shall we take a look down this way too?”

Joo Yian pointed down the corridor that Shin Jae-heon had mentioned.

This was starting to make it hard to tell if we were the pope and a count, or a real estate agent showing a building to a prospective buyer.

Shin Jae-heon, watching it all in real time, offered his brutally honest commentary.

Meanwhile, Hunter So Yeri was smacking her lips. She was just as good at teasing people as Shin Jae-heon.

Good thing she wasn’t nearby.

In any case, we managed to tour the temple while narrowly avoiding the RP dungeon penalties.

Of course, it wasn’t without close calls along the way.

It happened the moment he poked his head out of the pocket—someone came bursting out from the adjacent corridor.

“!”

Startled, I quickly pulled my coat closed, and a small voice came from the pocket.

“Eek.”

It must have felt like a gale to the shrunken Shin Jae-heon.

For an S-rank, he was acting like I thought he was some squishy jelly.

What a fuss!

Instead of replying, I gave the pocket he was in a light tap.

Joo Yian, who had been watching us, chuckled silently.

After overcoming various such obstacles, we arrived at a corridor on the second floor.

It was somewhat removed from the room where Joo Yian had been.

Didn’t they say she was carrying a hot cup too?

Detouring all this way just to deliver snacks to Joo Yian’s room?

I raised an eyebrow. What if the kid who brought the snacks was the one who poisoned them?

At those words, I recalled the temple’s layout as we’d passed through it.

As he said that, he peeked his head out of the pocket again.

Confirming no one was around, he activated his tracking skill once more.

Then he narrowed his eyes.

“…I have no idea how he sprinkled poison on the cookies.”

He ducked back into the pocket and continued via chat.

I had no idea what excuse he’d used to summon the young priestess, but I was thinking the same thing.

The place he mentioned was a secluded room at the end of the corridor.

Then he bolted right out. It was starting to add up.

The advantage of Shin Jae-heon’s tracking skill was that it could follow someone even without knowing who they were.

However, because of that, unless you continuously trace the trail from the spot where a party member was attacked, you couldn’t tell where they’d gone.

We’d followed the traces inside the building, so now it was time to check where they’d headed outside.

That meant we were done with our business in the temple.

“Shall we head back to the room for now?”

Joo Yian asked in a soft voice. I nodded.

“Yes. Thank you for showing us around.”

Deep down, I wanted to just say ‘Well then!’ and leap out the window to continue the chase, but that would guarantee an RP dungeon penalty.

Joo Yian smiled brightly at my words.

“What does the count think of the temple’s defenses?”

It had to be a question just to avoid heading back too abruptly.

I decided to offer some lip service for the holy knights who were clearly listening intently.

“They’re airtight and impeccably prepared, as expected of the Holy Knights. Even the knights of my family could learn a thing or two.”

At my words, the holy knights straightened up proudly again.

No one dislikes hearing praise, after all. And coming from the leader of the Empire’s Guardian Knights, it must have felt especially good.

But it wasn’t empty flattery.

To my B-rank eyes, their ranks weren’t visible, which meant they were at least all A-rank or higher.

Which implied?

Otherwise, how could they slip through the tight security of A-rank holy knights?

There were plenty of cases where hunters had low ranks but high skill ranks.

In short, we needed to stay on our toes.

We dismissed the sparkling system window announcing the clear and returned to the room.

“Are you going to head out and track immediately?”

The moment we got back to the room, Joo Yian asked after dismissing the others.

“Yes.”

I nodded and took Shin Jae-heon out of my pocket again.

The pocket must have been stuffy; he was stretching his body. Even with the loose clothing, it had to have been cramped.

He rotated his arms as he spoke.

“The traces visible with the tracking skill fade over time, so we need to chase as quickly as possible.”

Joo Yian nodded.

“Understood. But…”

Then he looked at us both with a troubled expression.

“If a situation arises where you might incur a penalty, just come back.”

It was advice because it was an RP dungeon. You never knew when things might go sideways and trigger a penalty.

But I thought differently.

“I don’t think we’ll get a penalty just from taking that guy’s head.”

That jerk was going to be taken care of by this Shin Yuri, so rest easy!

I flashed a smile, and Joo Yian gave a hesitant one in return.

“Of course, but you never know. We still don’t know who it is, and besides, both of you are well-known figures. If that person recognizes you…”

“…Oh.”

This quest only popped up for me; neither of them reacted.

But seeing the reward of God’s Shop Level 4 snapped me wide awake.

The higher the level, the more interesting items seemed to appear.

These were coins I’d been saving in case of emergencies, without buying the Galaxy Server skill keys.

I planned to clear this quest, check what’s in the Level 4 God’s Shop, and then buy skills.

No, maybe I’d bring up the inventory this time?

Did I even have any B-rank usable items? I didn’t remember having any junk like that.

As I pondered happily,

“Even on the way there, if someone recognizes you two, you might get a penalty.”

Joo Yian continued slowly.

I set aside my thoughts and nodded to him.

“You’re right.”

But?

We’d always find a way. Just like we always did.

My eyes met Shin Jae-heon’s for a moment.

He seemed to be thinking the same.

“Then prepare some disguises.”

At my words, Joo Yian blinked with eyes sparkling innocently.