chapter 18:The Mysterious Visitor and the Hidden Truth

"I hope Ryutaro will like it," said Grace.

"Yeah, I really hope he likes it and accepts it," Charlotte added.

"If he doesn't accept it, we can just beat him up," Aurelia said with a grin.

They all laughed together. But as they stepped out of the store, Charlotte suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyes fixed on someone she recognized.

"Isn't that...?" Charlotte muttered.

Aurelia and Grace, noticing her surprise, also stopped and turned to see who had caught Charlotte's attention.

"What's wrong?" Grace asked.

"Why do you look so shocked? Do you know him?" Aurelia questioned.

The person Charlotte was staring at was a man wearing the traditional robes of a priest, strolling through the city.

"Of course, I know him. That's Pope Gilbert," Charlotte said in a serious tone.

"So, he's a member of the church?" Aurelia asked.

"Yes, he's a member of the church, just like I used to be. But his rank was much higher than mine," Charlotte explained.

"Hmm... so he's a high-ranking church official?" Aurelia mused.

"You could say that," Charlotte replied.

"Interesting... but why is he here?" Grace wondered.

"Yeah, why would a church figure visit this place?" Aurelia added.

"That's exactly what I want to find out," Charlotte said, her mind racing.

They pondered for a moment but found no clear answer until Aurelia came up with an idea.

"Hmm... How about we follow him and see what he's doing here?" Aurelia suggested.

Grace immediately agreed, and Charlotte nodded as well.

"Not a bad idea. Let's do it," Grace said.

"Yeah, I also want to know what a pope is doing here. Maybe I'll find answers about what the commander said that day," Charlotte added.

Without hesitation, the three of them began tailing Pope Gilbert, making sure to remain unseen.

---

Meanwhile, on Ryutaro's side...

"Phew, finally done," Ryutaro muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead.

He entered the house, eager to rest.

"Hmm... those three are taking a long time to come back," he noted.

Alex, the spirit residing within him, suddenly spoke.

"Maybe they found something interesting for you," Alex said.

"Yeah, I hope so... As long as they don't run into trouble," Ryutaro replied.

Just as he was about to close his eyes, a sudden knock on the door interrupted him.

Knock, knock.

Ryutaro got up from his chair and walked toward the door.

"Well, speak of the devil. They must be back," he said, opening it.

However, to his surprise, it wasn't them. Instead, a young woman with pink hair stood at the entrance.

"Eh? Who are you?" Ryutaro asked, puzzled.

The woman bowed slightly and lifted her dress in a formal curtsy.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alice de Rosette, princess of the Rosette Kingdom," she said politely.

"So, you're a noble?" Ryutaro asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not just a noble; I am the king's daughter," Alice corrected him.

"Interesting... But what is a princess doing here in the middle of this forest? And alone, no less, without any guards?" Ryutaro questioned.

Alice's expression darkened as she explained the reason for her visit.

"I have come to ask for your help," she said, her voice filled with desperation.

Ryutaro was taken aback.

"Huh? You need my help? For what?" he asked.

"My father, King Rosette, has fallen ill after being poisoned. Despite all our efforts, we haven't found a cure. Just when I was about to give up, a masked woman approached me and told me that deep within the Black Forest, there is someone with a rare healing ability—someone who might be able to save my father," Alice explained, her eyes filled with hope.

Ryutaro frowned.

"A masked woman? Who is she?" he asked.

"I don't know. She called herself Noir... and she said that someone living with you might recognize her," Alice revealed.

"Hmm... Noir, huh? Never heard of her," Ryutaro muttered.

As he tried to process this information, Alice suddenly fell to her knees.

"Hey! What are you doing? Why are you bowing like that?" Ryutaro asked in shock.

"Please, I beg you! You're my only hope. I don't know who else to turn to," Alice pleaded, lowering her head.

Ryutaro sighed and massaged his temples.

"Stand up. Before I make a decision, come inside first. We need to wait for the others to return," he said.

"The others? You mean you live with more people?" Alice asked.

"Of course. I live with three women. Didn't the woman who called herself Noir mention that?" Ryutaro replied.

"Oh... Sorry, I was too focused on asking for your help that I forgot," Alice admitted.

She stood up and entered the house, waiting for the others to return.

---

Back to Charlotte, Grace, and Aurelia...

The three of them continued following Pope Gilbert, and to their shock, they saw him entering a store that specialized in selling slaves.

"Why is he going in there?" Grace asked.

"Yeah, isn't that a slave market?" Aurelia added.

"Maybe we'll find the answer if we go deeper inside," Charlotte said, determined.

They cautiously entered the store without being noticed.

The atmosphere inside was grim. Dozens of slaves were caged, looking malnourished and poorly treated.

"This is horrible... They're barely being taken care of," Aurelia whispered.

"Yeah, look at that one," Charlotte pointed at a frail-looking slave. "They're practically starving them to death. This place is disgusting."

"Forget about that for now. Let's focus on following the pope," Grace reminded them.

They moved closer, hiding near one of the cages. Then, they overheard the conversation between the pope and the slave trader.

"Welcome, sir. How can I assist you?" the trader greeted.

"I'm here to purchase a slave," Pope Gilbert replied.

"You've come to the right place, sir. What kind of slave are you looking for? A warrior slave? A guard slave? Or perhaps... a pleasure slave?" the trader asked.

"Of course, a pleasure slave," the pope said without hesitation.

The three women, hidden behind the cages, were shocked—especially Charlotte, who clenched her fists in anger.

"Why is he buying a pleasure slave? Could it be that what the commander said was true?" Charlotte whispered.

"Maybe… But one thing is clear: the church isn't as holy as it appears," Grace stated.

"Exactly. Good thing you left that place when you did. Who knows? You might have been their next target," Aurelia said.

"You're right, Aurelia. I'm glad I left," Charlotte admitted.

They continued to eavesdrop.

"A pleasure slave, sir? We have plenty to choose from. Please, follow me," the trader said, leading the pope deeper into the store.

"They're going further inside. Should we keep following them?" Aurelia asked.

"I'll go with whatever you two decide," Grace said.

Charlotte hesitated but ultimately shook her head.

"Forget it. We have something more important to deal with right now," Charlotte said firmly.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot because I was so focused on following him. Let's get out of here," Aurelia agreed.

"Yeah, let's go home," Grace added.

With a heavy heart, Charlotte left the store, filled with anger.

"What is the church hiding from me?" she wondered.

Grace activated a teleportation spell, and the three of them vanished, heading straight home.

What will their reaction be when they find Alice at home? Who is Noir, and why does she know about Ryutaro's powers? Does one of the three women recognize her? And will they agree to help the dying King Rosette? Find out in Chapter 19!

*If I made any minor mistakes that might be distracting, I sincerely apologize. I have done my best for this novel, and if you enjoy it, please consider giving it a like and sharing your feedback, suggestions, or criticism so I can learn and improve. Thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter!*