Chapter 54

It was an unbelievable combination of words.

The mayor of Morneveil was dead.

And not only that—

I had killed him?!

It was so absurd that I couldn’t even feel wronged.

I just stood there with my mouth hanging open when Dominic’s voice reached me.

“Roasted Chestnut…”

He was staring at me with shocked eyes.

For some reason, it felt like I could hear the words behind his gaze.

“When you said you were going to persuade the mayor… did you mean murder?”

‘It wasn’t me, Dominic-ssi!’

Even if it was late, I looked at him with all the injustice and sorrow I could muster.

A choice appeared.

There was nothing to consider.

I immediately chose the first option.

Even if I escaped right now, my murder charge would not disappear.

If I didn’t want to spend my entire time in Morneveil being chased, I needed to be arrested first and clear my name afterward.

Asking Dominic for help was no different from choosing the escape option.

Later, during interrogation, I could ask him to testify about my whereabouts over the past few days, but now was not the time.

I surrendered quietly.

And now—

I was sitting on a mattress stuffed with straw inside a jail cell.

With my handcuffed hands, I held my forehead.

“Ha…”

A deep sigh escaped me naturally.

Throughout the entire interrogation at the police station, I sincerely explained my innocence.

I even presented Dominic, who had been with me during that time, as a witness, but it was completely useless.

They politely deprived Dominic of the chance to speak and simply continued treating me as the culprit.

It felt like they were forcing every detail to fit a conclusion that had already been decided.

And after hearing how the mayor of Morneveil had been killed, I was even more dumbfounded.

The mayor of Morneveil had died last night in his bedroom after being stabbed in the back of the neck with an extremely thin and sharp awl.

He died instantly without even having the chance to scream, and there were almost no visible wounds on the corpse.

It was a murder method created by someone with extensive anatomical knowledge.

‘How am I supposed to do something like that?’

I wanted to grab the collar of the officer accusing me of murder and shake him violently.

But by that point, I had an idea of who had framed me.

After realizing who was behind it, I stopped trying to explain myself.

I didn’t admit guilt.

I simply gave up on further explanations.

And that was how I ended up locked in the holding cell.

‘This is insane.’

The mayor being dead had completely thrown off my playthrough.

Listening to the snoring of the old man locked in the cell across from me, I sat on the worn mattress and thought about how I was going to overcome this obstacle.

The rescue of the sacrifices was the biggest problem.

Even if I managed to save them, it would be meaningless if there was no force capable of protecting them.

If they stayed inside Morneveil, the Apostles of the Void would simply drag them away and use them as sacrifices again.

‘Were there three sacrifices used for the ritual on the third day?’

While I was thinking about where to hide the three men, the sound of rusty hinges creaking echoed.

I glanced over, wondering if another new criminal had been brought into the holding cells.

A long shadow stretched across the floor.

A shadow longer than any human could possibly have.

The owner of the shadow reached my cell.

Perhaps he was shocked by what he saw, because Dominic couldn’t say anything.

A choice appeared.

Now the choices were pushing ‘Call Edel’ again.

After a brief moment of thought, I chose the first option.

Immediately, my face became sorrowful on its own, and warmth gathered around my eyes.

A trembling voice escaped.

“Dominic-ssi…”

To anyone watching, I looked exactly like someone who had suddenly been imprisoned, grown anxious, and finally relaxed after seeing someone familiar.

‘Not bad.’

Following the choice’s direction, I continued acting pitiful.

“Good heavens, Roasted Chestnut…”

Dominic placed his hand against the black iron bars.

“To think they locked Roasted Chestnut in a place like this. I cannot believe it. I will release you immediately.”

Although I hadn’t selected the third option, he said something very similar.

If it was Dominic, he was certainly capable of carrying out what he said.

But I had no choice but to refuse.

“It’s fine.”

“Why do you not ask me, your companion, for help?”

“Even if I leave this place, my charges won’t disappear. In fact, I would only add the crime of escaping.”

I stepped closer to the bars and looked up at Dominic.

Then I stated who I believed was behind this.

“The person who framed me for murder is Lady Edel. She must have been the one who killed the mayor as well.”

Edel was someone skilled at preparing sacrifices, having offered countless victims for human sacrifice rituals.

I was certain this was her work.

Dominic narrowed his eyes.

“Miss Edel… did this to Roasted Chestnut?”

“Yes. It seems she wants to force me into joining the cult.”

The moment Dominic heard my words, he immediately understood the situation.

She intended to push me into a dead end and then make me join the cult in exchange for clearing my murder accusation.

I knew Edel had an obsessive and persistent personality.

But I never expected things to go this far after only two days.

‘Technically, it’s only one day.’

I wondered if showing her the spectacle of my resurrection right in front of her had been a mistake.

From her perspective, she probably couldn’t bear leaving someone who had received a miracle from a god outside the cult.

“Wasn’t Miss Edel supposed to be your companion? Like me?”

“That’s correct.”

To Dominic, who seemed unable to understand, I gave a hollow laugh.

“Lady Edel probably believes this is something she is doing for my sake.”

It was a trap within CallOVo’s companion system.

NPCs who became companions were extremely favorable toward the player and used their abilities to the fullest for the player’s benefit.

But the standard for “benefiting the player” was based on the NPC’s own perspective.

If an NPC believed something was right, they would not hesitate to take actions that led the player toward a bad ending.

Just like now.

Regardless, one thing was certain.

The situation was ruined.

I had been arrested many times in the reporter route, but this was the first time I had ever been accused of murdering the mayor of Morneveil.

“Dominic-ssi. Even if I get out of here, the problem comes afterward. Originally, I planned to use the mayor’s authority to safely protect the sacrifices I rescued, but that’s no longer possible.”

There was no way to escape the cult’s influence.

Sending them outside Morneveil would also be difficult.

The city was surrounded by valleys, meaning we had to use the train.

And we would be caught at the station.

At that moment, Dominic calmly asked:

“If the problem of protecting the sacrifices is solved, can Roasted Chestnut leave this place?”

I quickly turned the idea over in my head.

Certainly, if that could be resolved, escaping from prison was acceptable.

I could gather the remaining evidence while being wanted.

After all, I had previously collected evidence while being hunted as a fugitive during the reporter route.

“Yes, it would be fine to lea—”

I stopped mid-sentence.

Before I could even finish speaking, the iron bars Dominic had been touching began violently shaking.

They repeatedly stretched out into sharp, thorn-like spikes and then shrank back down.

Then suddenly—

Bang!

One spike shot out.

“…!”

The tip of the spike grazed my cheek.

A sharp pain flashed.

Slowly.

The spike returned.

With blood staining its tip.

The iron bars finally changed shape.

They spread apart, creating an opening large enough for me to walk through.

“I apologize, Roasted Chestnut. This was slightly different from changing size… I was in a hurry and made a mistake.”

Dominic repeatedly apologized while examining me.

“No, it’s fine. This isn’t even an injury. Thank you for getting me out.”

I rubbed my cheek while pretending to wipe away the blood with the back of my hand.

I was actually trying to remove the goosebumps that had risen on my skin.

Just as I was about to quietly escape the holding cell—

Dominic suddenly pulled me backward.

At the same time, a second visitor arrived.

A woman entered the holding area with small, quick steps.

She wore a high-neck dress that covered her neck, a wide-brimmed hat with a silk veil hanging from it, silk gloves on her hands, and carried a parasol.

She gently lifted the veil of her hat and looked up at Dominic with red eyes.

“Doctor Dominic?”

Then she noticed the empty jail cell.

“Oh.”

Edel made a surprised sound and asked anxiously:

“Doctor! Where did Little Lamb go?”

Her expression, as though she had rushed here worried about me, was touching.

If she weren’t the very person who had put me in prison.

When Dominic did not answer, she nervously bit her lip.

“Where did he go…? It’s dangerous outside… Where could Little Lamb have gone alone…? Little Lamb… I need to protect him…”

Her quiet muttering carried a subtle horror.

Watching from behind Dominic like I had front-row seats, I felt slightly afraid.

Dominic simply allowed her to continue until she began biting her silk glove.

Edel, who had shredded the end of her glove instead of her fingernails, finally regained her senses and glanced behind Dominic.

“Oh, but… Doctor Dominic, behind you…”

She noticed.

The jail was dark, but considering how poorly I was hiding, it would have been strange if she hadn’t.

I had already been preparing excuses and lies for what I would say to Edel.

I tried to step forward, but Dominic’s hand stopped me.

“Miss Edel.”

“Y-yes?”

Edel flinched and looked up at Dominic.

Dominic slowly bent down.

Edel’s eyes gradually widened.

Meeting her gaze, Dominic spoke calmly.

“There is no need to feel anxious or impatient.”

His blue eyes reflected Edel.

Edel slightly parted her lips.

“Excitement only clouds judgment. Miss Edel, you remember when you received treatment, correct?”

“…Yes, Doctor.”

The eyes that had been shining with something close to madness moments ago became dull and empty.

“It is unfortunate that there is no chair here where you can rest comfortably.”

“……”

“Would you like to come a little closer to me?”

“…Yes.”

As if entranced, Edel stepped forward.

The distance between her and Dominic was now less than the length of a hand.

“Roasted Chestnut… No, Little Lamb, will be found. Miss Edel always does her best. However, he is not here right now. He will not be at my clinic either.”

Dominic continued speaking slowly.

“How about focusing on preparing today’s ritual? Performing the ritual slightly differently than usual may help relieve stress.”

His voice slowly sank deeper.

Through her eardrums.

Further inside.

“For example… offering believers as sacrifices would also be good. Becoming a sacrifice for the god is the believers’ ideal. Miss Edel, you are the cult leader, so you should fulfill the wishes of your faithful followers.”

Dominic asked in a dreamy, languid voice.

“Do you understand what I mean, Miss Edel?”

Edel answered yes and smiled without hesitation.

“I will prepare a grand ritual, Doctor.”

She looked infinitely loyal.

Perhaps she would have accepted anything Dominic told her.

Even if that thing was…

To die right here.

A chill ran through me.

Even though I conveniently used Dominic’s abilities, I couldn’t help the instinctive resistance I felt whenever I saw something like this.

I watched Edel’s back as she left.

Dominic turned toward me and his expression changed in surprise.

“Roasted Chestnut, are you alright? You are sweating heavily. Here, use this handkerchief.”

I vigorously wiped my face with the handkerchief, which was practically the size of a towel.

My mind slowly returned.

“Miss Edel seems to have frightened you greatly. However, something like this will not happen again. I have spoken with Miss Edel properly.”

“…Thank you.”

My cracked voice expressed my gratitude.

Dominic smiled.

He seemed to think I was simply exhausted from all of this.

Thankfully, I had just escaped prison.

“But, Roasted Chestnut.”

Dominic folded the handkerchief I returned and asked:

“What is the badge you have attached inside your clothes?”