No Secrets (4)

[ Persona subtly underlines the first option.]

[ Persona enthusiastically supports the second option.]

Oh, how confusing.

Lines of text floated up beneath the options and took over my view. It seems that the choices affect the roles. Otherwise, why would those personas bother to interfere and add their comments?

It looks like the first choice, [Selfless Friendship], gets the support of the because of the consequence 'Celestina's Suspicion +100'. One of the 's keywords was '#Suspicious', after all.

As for the supporting the [Fated Love] option, there's no need to explain. It's a clear choice for various reasons.

' remains silent.'

Unlike the other two personas who appeared now and then with much fuss, the third persona, which had the lowest level of immersion, remained quiet. However, I have a feeling that the third option is definitely related to the .

I am accompanying Leonardo, and I declared that the reason I am helping him is to 'properly conclude your story.'

Even though it was almost like being interrogated—only after clearly stating my purpose did he call me the Apostle. To survive in this world, and to fulfill what the writers want from me, I must be with Leonardo. When there is a purpose, my role becomes clear. Therefore, the third option must be related to the role of .

After weighing the three options, I made my decision.

"I can't deceive you, Lady Celestina. The truth is… we are together because we share the same purpose."

[Option (3) – We are together because we share the same purpose. (Count Ertinez' disappointment +10)]

I can handle Count Ertinez' disappointment. Right now, the priority is to bring out the quiet persona. 

Each persona comes with its own unique abilities, making the third choice more beneficial in the long run. As I calmly finished the sentence, the question mark next to Celestina's face popped. Her expression changed slightly.

"A purpose, you say."

"Leo has his own purpose, and helping him is my purpose."

"Oh."

Her expression wasn't that of someone hearing an unexpected answer, but rather someone who had anticipated it. Celestina's hands, which were resting on the table, came together as if in prayer. What kind of face does someone have who believes in the unseen and untouchable? In this world, where divinity is proven through various means, her expression is less dreamy but still retains a hint of wonder.

"So, this is why you sought out my brother."

'She knows something.'

I placed my hands on the table, neatly folded them, and began to speak.

"Rather, it was Leo who found me. Isn't that right?"

'It was no coincidence that Leonardo was in Sinistra.'

I used a gentle tone but kept my speech consistent. I couldn't give the impression of asking out of ignorance. Such a demeanour wouldn't suit the .

[ Persona awakens.]

Keywords – #Prophet, #???, #???

Unique Ability – (Locked due to low role immersion. Current immersion: 6%)[Role – Apostle Isaac]

This part went as planned. Now, I need to maintain the persona as much as possible and increase the immersion level. From my experience at the last banquet, I learned that reaching 20% immersion unlocks the unique ability and the second keyword, so the target is clear. All that remains is to immerse myself in this role and the given situation.

Mythology is the main theme of this play. And in many of these stories, there are people who know something—those who stand out because they know just a bit more than others. They appear in human form, but in reality, they are avatars of someone who briefly intervenes to steer the story in the desired direction and then disappears. 

In mythology, that someone is a god. In a fable, that someone is the author. So, I know well the feeling they give. People who will soon step off the stage and vanish. People who speak briefly and intensely. People whose words carry conviction. Every actor becomes an avatar for someone else, speaking someone else's words. There is no story of my own in that. If I had wanted to speak about myself, I wouldn't have become an actor. I am always ready to become a liar.

"This world is like a grand stage; there are no coincidences, only things that are plausibly planned. As you have seen."

In some ways, I might be the exact opposite of a liar. Celestina had a moment of blankness on her face, then clasped her interlocked hands tighter.

"…Yes. On my way out from dawn prayer, I saw my brother's back as he left the castle. He said he had to go to Sinistra and that I wouldn't see him for a while. He made me promise not to tell anyone."

I simply listened, maintaining a gentle smile while leisurely swirling my teacup. However, my mind was in turmoil throughout her story. Prediction and certainty are not the same. The suspicion I had in my mind—that 'Leonardo Ertinez intentionally headed to Sinistra'—was now a fact. At that moment, Celestina turned her head and looked at Leonardo.

"You had to go to Sinistra to meet Isaac, didn't you?"

Through the course of the conversation, Leonardo also seemed to realize that the original Leonardo had not been there by chance, and his expression gradually hardened.

"…Yes. Contrary to Isaac's opinion, I believe he sought me out first."

Fortunately, Celestina didn't notice the change in his expression and reminisced about the day the original Leonardo left.

"I'm glad you achieved your purpose in Sinistra. It didn't take as long as I expected. The farewell he left me felt like something a person you wouldn't see for a long time would say. Of course, a month and a half is quite long enough, but I thought it would take even longer."

As she refilled the teacups for Leonardo and Vittorio, Celestina continued speaking.

"Still, he said he would definitely come back. It was a rather suspicious farewell, but I let him go, believing only his last words."

Leonardo and I locked eyes. While I couldn't explain with words the connection we shared—like —it was clear that we were feeling something similar.

Then, a question mark appeared beside Celestina's face, signaling the second question that needed to be addressed.

"More importantly, I've been wondering since earlier—what happened to your hand?"

Leonardo flinched as he subconsciously grasped the hand resting on the table. His hand had become rough, too calloused and scarred from wounds that had torn and then reattached through holy water, making it impossible for him to even feel another person's warmth.

Celestina whispered softly, "You were an artist, after all. Even if you deny it with your own words."

「Oh, so that's why my hearing…」

It felt like Leonardo was whispering directly behind me. I barely managed to suppress a sudden itch along my spine, sending shivers down my back. When I asked why, Leonardo replied, his voice tinged with discomfort:

「Now I understand why my physical hearing is so sharp. When I first opened my eyes in this body, it was weak and untrained. Leonardo Ertinez was a musician.」

[Even if my brother lacks talent in swordsmanship, he excels at that. His skill in playing the lute is undeniable.]

"The reason he avoids sword training isn't just because he lacks talent; it's also because his hands are precious for playing. So, what could have led a person like him to come here with hands like this?"

Celestina was dead serious. Born as the second son of a prestigious family of swordsmen, he had an artistic temperament. This was an unexpected revelation.

'…Alright, Leo. I feel like we're repeating ourselves, but do you have any knowledge about playing instruments?'

「Not at all. Oh, there was one time I had to ring the bell in place of the bell-ringer who had hurt his leg… but I failed to control my strength and ended up putting a huge hole in the bell. I had to compensate the church for it.」

'We're doomed.'

Will a choice prompt appear this time? It doesn't seem so. Perhaps the status window that appeared during the first question was a way of asking what mask I would use to get through these three questions. Or it might be because I'm not the one who should answer this question.

Leonardo looked down at his calloused hands before gazing at Celestina. Then he calmly said, "There was no choice. There were things I had to protect."

That was a difficult answer to brush off as simply avoiding the question. It wasn't the best answer, but I thought Leonardo had been honest in his own way. At least he wasn't the type to casually lie like the protagonist of this story.

Pop! The question mark burst like a bubble.

And I could see a noticeable crack starting to form in Celestina's expression. It was a much larger fissure than when she noticed his deteriorated tea-making skills or his oddly changed demeanour. It was the expression of someone who had discovered a significant flaw.

Finally, Celestina muttered, placing her teacup on the table with a clatter. The moment her lips moved, I already knew what she was going to say.

"You're not my brother, are you?"

Ah, can I smooth this over?

The initial thought was that it was impossible, but then a flurry of ideas for damage control raced through my mind. Gripping my hands tightly in anxiety, I looked at Leonardo and he smiled. It was an exceptionally relaxed and easygoing smile.

'Huh?'

His smiling face was oddly cheerful and unfamiliar, as if I were looking at a stranger for the first time. And then our eyes met.

[Viewing information.]

Rank – Minor Character (Scenario Weight 3.8%)

Role – 'Leonardo Ertinez'

"Who else would I be if I'm not your brother?"

Leonardo asked mischievously while looking at Celestina.