The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 234

※ This book contains depictions of coercive/dubcon/noncon acts, violence, and immorality. Reader discretion is advised.

Mana, turning around to look at them, had taken off his priest’s hat at some point, and although his hair was tangled and his clothes disheveled from passing through for so long, he was wearing the most sincere smile they had seen so far.

A warm breeze blowing from somewhere caressed everyone’s cheeks. Mana swept back his hair, which was tangled in the wind, and he looked unbelievably free.

Since the current appearance was the result of remodeling what was originally a temple of Aiha into a temple of Kail after the empire occupied this place, it was, in a way, natural that a part of the temple of Aiha remained.

However, everyone was surprised to find that there was such a large space.

Roina gathered her energy and probed the surroundings, and realized that this place was a space created by some kind of magic.

It was a space similar to the Field of Time that Quies had created, or the seemingly alive Room of Darkness in the imperial palace.

“…This is amazing. Was this originally part of the temple of Aiha?”

At Roina’s question, Mana readily nodded. Women waved or smiled at Mana from various places upon seeing him. They were all Castrello women.

“As you would know if you visited my teacher’s temple, water originally comes out in the temple of Aiha. The longer it exists, the greater the amount and area. It’s not a place that is visible from the outside, and you can’t even properly approach it unless guided by a priest of Aiha. This ‘Water Room’ of this temple, which has existed for hundreds of years, is the perfect place to hide.”

Roina was speechless and looked at the women. No one looked like they were forced to be here. Everyone looked free, joyful, and happy.

“You’re very surprised, aren’t you? Well, it’s no wonder. The temple of Aiha that my teacher moved and created has a short history.”

“…Neilla-nim seemed to regard it as very sacred, but is it okay to use it like this?”

Mana simply smiled bitterly and nodded.

“My teacher opposed both me deceiving people and opening the Water Room inside the temple. However, she seems to be just watching what I’m doing because she agrees that the lives of this country and its people are more important than all that.”

“Then, are all the people here…?”

“They are those who have suffered under the empire and wish for the restoration of the Castrello Kingdom.”

“Why are they all women?”

“I’m the unusual one. In the first place, only women are given the qualifications to serve the goddess Aiha. Even before the empire occupied this place, women were not so restrained…”

“I, although I have crossed the line I have maintained until now, wanted to give the qualifications to enter only to women at the very least.”

Because that is the will of Aiha-nim. Mana smiled faintly and answered. Roina looked at such Mana with a complex expression. Was it just something done out of faith?

At that time, a woman came running towards them. She had been mixed in with the women around and seemed to have run over upon seeing their arrival. Compared to the other women, she still had a slightly awkward air about her, and a slight scent of the outside, like that of sand wind, lingered on her.

“Mana-nim!”

“Neilla-nim. You have guests.”

Mana turned around with a gentle smile and introduced her to the group.

“This is Neilla-nim, whom you were looking for.”

Neilla and the group sat down in a temporary resting place made of nearby rocks and tree trunks.

Neilla, who was looking at them, seemed uneasy. She nervously touched her freely flowing hair, which women outside rarely had the chance to show, and said,

“…Is my father looking for me?”

Roina, trying to suppress the sigh that was about to escape her, nodded. She wanted to look as calm as possible, hoping her intention not to harm her would be felt.

“Yes. But I don’t intend to take Neilla-ssi away. However, I would still like you to tell us your story.”

Neilla’s face brightened briefly at the words that she would not be taken away, but she looked down at the ground again at the request to tell her story. She seemed to be afraid of something.

“Neilla-ssi’s father suspects Priest Mana of being the culprit.”

“!! Oh,”

Roina covered Neilla’s hand with one of her own, which was trembling anxiously.

“So please tell us. It’s not like we’re going to tell your whole story right away. Let’s think of a way together.”

Roina looked at Neilla with calm eyes, and Neilla, who had been meeting Roina’s gaze with wavering eyes, finally bit her lip as if she had made up her mind.