Here is the brief summary of the conversation with Grand Crow that took place in the dream.
First, there was no time to drag things out.
To be precise, the Month of Repose. He had been warned that everything had to be finished before the day Yuria would be offered as a sacrifice.
During the Month of Repose, many high-ranking priests attended the ceremony. Accordingly, the security of Audrey House would be reinforced to a degree incomparable to normal times. The relaxed atmosphere that prevailed now would gradually disappear as that date approached.
“...On top of that, there will be priests there who know Raymond extremely well, so it’s dangerously risky.”
By irony, Yuria was the candidate for “Magnificence” from the Cult of Healing — the very same cult to which “Raymond” belonged. Against people who knew him well, he was unlikely to be able to maintain the mental cast. Which left Gunther with no choice.
A short, decisive battle. He had to finish everything in Audrey House as quickly as possible. Gunther let out a bitter smile.
“The more I think about it, the more insane this mission sounds.”
What if he died here, or his mental cast was completely exhausted? It did not seem likely that everything would simply go smoothly and return him to a “save point.” He had to assume the worst-case scenario.
“This could become the final Game Over.”
Gunther properly embraced the necessary caution.
And second, the moment everything was ready, he had to send the signal immediately.
“Then he promised he would provide support.”
This was Audrey House. The very center of Luthien Theocracy’s territory. Even if he managed to escape from here with the Magnificences, the real problems would only begin after that.
“A pursuit will begin. A blockade that will be absolutely impossible to break through.”
That was precisely why Grand Crow had proposed an escape by sea. He had already made arrangements with the pirates of the kingdom of Nereus and promised everything would be ready the moment the signal was sent. An operation into which Night Raven had poured colossal effort.
However, throughout the entire conversation, Gunther had been troubled by Grand Crow’s true intentions.
“He wants me to kill the Magnificences and take only Dominic out.”
Of course, Gunther himself understood that this was far more efficient. If the Magnificences and their candidates had been adults, he might have considered that option. But killing innocent children... justifying it with a future that had not even come yet — that was a choice he could not make. In the end, only one path remained.
“No matter the cost, take the Magnificences with me and get them onto the ship.”
The first step toward that was to gather as much information about Audrey House as possible...
“...Teacher? I came.”
Gunther cut off his thoughts and raised his head. Yuria was timidly peeking in from the doorway.
He had called for her. Talking with Yuria helped with gathering information and, more importantly, did not arouse suspicion. He was the only adult here she could talk to. There was no need to worry about the story leaking outside.
“Come in, Yuri—”
But at that moment, before he could finish speaking, something unexpected happened.
Yuria carefully took a few steps, then suddenly sped up and threw herself toward him.
Thud.
Because Raymond’s build was so imposing, the girl wrapped her arms not around his torso but around one of his legs. Pressing her face into his knee and clasping tightly, Yuria froze there. Her warmth, like that of a small animal, was conveyed to him completely.
Gunther stood still, looking down at the Yuria clinging to his leg. His reaction came a little late, as he was trying to figure out how he was supposed to respond to this.
“Today... what are we going to play?”
Apparently his reaction had seemed too cold. Yuria stepped back with an anxious expression and asked carefully once more. Gunther hurriedly smiled and replied,
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Yes...”
The classroom assigned to the Guide had everything necessary: tea, sweets, children’s toys, and more. Of course, there were magical surveillance lures hidden there as well, but without showing it, Gunther took out sweet tea and cookies. Yuria’s eyes lit up.
“I-is it okay to eat?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you for the food!”
The role of the Guide, in short, boiled down to one thing: persuading the Magnificence candidate to abandon resistance and entrust their entire existence to the god.
Surely Audrey was watching right now, checking how diligently he was fulfilling his role. Gunther felt a moment of concern, but there was no need.
The moment Yuria took a bite of the cookie, she relaxed and began talking first. Stories about her friends, small events from the day, funny incidents from the past. Her chattiness clearly exceeded what one would expect from a ten-year-old girl. Like a child returning from school, she was pouring out everything she had been holding in all day.
“...She reminds me of Suhyeon.”
Yuria, her face covered in crumbs, stole a glance at him.
“I’m probably too noisy...”
“No, it was interesting.”
“Hehe, really?”
Thanks to that, Gunther obtained quite useful information.
The relationships inside Audrey House. The large and small incidents that had happened over this time. Even which teachers taught which lessons.
He learned more about Yuria herself than he had expected. That she originally came from the countryside of the Theocracy and had brilliantly passed the aptitude test three years ago before entering Audrey House. The unexpected fact that she had ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ originally had a very spirited personality. The scar on her forehead she had gotten from a fall years ago, which wrinkled amusingly whenever she laughed. Even the fact that she preferred salty cookies over sweet ones.
He learned everything.
...And at that moment.
“...?”
While Yuria continued chattering, Gunther suddenly felt someone else’s gaze. Someone walking past the corridor had slowed down for a moment and looked into the classroom. For coincidence, the location of the Guide’s classroom was far too secluded. The moment their eyes met, the silhouette immediately quickened and disappeared as if nothing had happened.
“...Remesia?”
Yuria seemed to have noticed nothing. Gunther understood: this sudden visit from Remesia was an extremely important clue.
Meanwhile, Yuria kept talking for a long while until her gaze froze on the calendar in the corner of the classroom. For the first time, a heavy shadow fell across her face.
“Only two weeks left...?”
Gunther silently nodded and calmly asked,
“Are you afraid?”
For both Yuria and the observing Audrey, that question would sound like a test of faith.
However, Yuria could not answer immediately. She surely knew what she was supposed to say, but the closeness that had formed in that short time did not let her lie so easily. She really was an exceptionally kind child.
“...I’m glad.”
“Yes, I see.”
Gunther arranged the next meeting with Yuria for tomorrow at the same time. Judging by her expression, waiting even one day nearly made her dizzy with anticipation, but there was no other path. To save her and the other children within two weeks, he had to move aggressively.
Rustle—
After sending Yuria back, Gunther began walking through Audrey House, pretending he was simply taking a stroll.
“Oh, teacher, hello! So, have you settled in well?”
“That walking path over there is much better. By the way, would you like to have dinner together this evening?”
Most of the teachers here were priests. So they could not help but feel great fondness toward “Raymond,” who had passed through the elite educational path. Raymond was someone who, with enough effort, could have become an archbishop himself. Gunther looked at the teachers with indifference, but so as not to betray their expectations, he smiled just enough and responded politely.
Yet his gaze remained fixed beyond them.
Hummmmm—
[Activating Heavenly Mechanism Vision (Lv. 2)!]
There could not have been better news. Abilities that did not originate from gods, but from his original characteristic “???,” were still preserved.
Gunther’s perception silently expanded. Beneath the ordinary façade of Audrey House, the true design intent and structure emerged layer by layer. Gunther summarized his impression in a single phrase:
“...A death trap.”
Magical traps were buried beneath the floor, their activation conditions masterfully concealed. In the walls, columns, staircase railings — nearly every place the eye could land — mechanical devices disguised as parts of the interior had been embedded. Surveillance, alarms, restraint, elimination. Traps of different types and purposes overlapped one another’s blind spots, functioning as a single mechanism.
...This structure was not made to stop intruders from outside. It was designed to instantly seize or kill any of its own people who tried to leave without permission.
But there were still loopholes.
[You’re planning to lead children out of a place like this? Do you have even a shred of reason left?]
[Fine, I’ll support you. I want to watch your body turn into a sieve.]
[They are already our vessels. Do not dare try to steal what has submitted to us in flesh, heart, and breath.]
Gunther ignored the malicious whispers drilling into his ears and waited. He had gathered the core clues, and now it was time for the final key. Soon, just as he was beginning to grow impatient...
Snap—
Someone grabbed his arm again. Instant pressure. Strength that was not so easy to shake off even with Raymond’s trained body. Gunther did not resist and allowed himself to be dragged deep into the thicket.
“...This time you’re not surprised?”
A face flickered through the leaves. Golden hair and blue eyes flashed for a moment in the sunset light. Gunther spoke quietly, addressing Dominic.
“Because I was waiting for you.”
He clearly remembered the words Dominic had spoken yesterday.
“Ah, sorry. I’m in a hurry. It’s now or never, there’s really no time.”
Dominic knew how to move while avoiding Audrey House’s surveillance. In other words, the initiative in contact belonged entirely to him. And Gunther knew that in a situation where the Month of Repose was already right around the corner, Dominic would not hesitate.
“I know Dominic’s personality better than anyone.”
He had predicted that the moment he created an opening, the boy would immediately make contact. And that was exactly what happened. Dominic muttered under his breath,
“I knew I was right. A helper. Why did you pretend not to understand yesterday? You seriously scared me.”
“I didn’t want to give you false hope.”
“What?”
“There’s nothing more terrible than nurturing hope while trapped in hell.”
“Then why today...”
Dominic frowned for a moment, then parted his lips. His pupils shook violently. Confusion, a question, and unbelievable anticipation all flashed through them at once.
“No, wait...”
Again, clever Dominic did not miss nuances in words.
“Don’t tell me... you found a way? In just one day?”
Gunther did not answer for a while, only silently looking at that stunned face. Receiving recognition from the original story’s protagonist, the one he had liked so much... it was more pleasant than he had expected. Gunther gave the faintest smile and nodded.
“Yes, I found one.”
A way to get out of here.
