Reincarnated as an Instructor in an Adult Game

Relia and Tia were consulting about something with Karinal as well. When I looked at Lea she was watching that scene with narrowed eyes and a smile. They were probably checking whether everyone including me was lying. After all, she had been adorably sniffing since a while ago. That always bothered me. How did she tell them apart by smell? Was that just something you got used to?

Pope Mirishu seemed to have finished consulting with her escort Kuna. She turned a face that looked like she was hiding her emotions toward me and opened her mouth.

“May I ask the next question?”

“Please ask whatever you like.”

“Thank you. When did you learn the Cardinal was in the royal capital?”

“When I heard from people at the castle that Pope Mirishu was visiting.”

“…You said it was for your students. Did the Cardinal have some plan to do something to your students?”

“Among my students is the hero’s son. The Cardinal’s plan was to use the dark side to kidnap him and hand Pope Mirishu over in exchange for that person.”

…Yes. Consultation time had started. I had not lied so it should be fine, but my existence was getting more and more suspicious… I grumbled that in a small voice to Lea beside me. She turned toward me, blinked, then hid her mouth with one hand and laughed happily again without a sound. Then she poked my side with the hand not hiding her mouth and said, “It can’t be helped.”

What bothered me was whether Kuna-san had magic or a magic tool that could tell if someone was lying. Consulting this often, that was about all I could think of… She was someone a country’s top kept beside her. It would not be strange for her to have one.

Pope Mirishu seemed to have finished consulting. She looked at me and this time started speaking as if it was a little hard to say.

“If your students had not been involved… would I not have been saved?”

Lea and I both blinked at that question. Not just the two of us. Relia, Tia, and Karinal also blinked and stared at Pope Mirishu. Kuna-san was looking at me with a troubled smile… eh. That person smiles? I had never seen that expression in play videos or even in the profile. More than that, what a troublesome question to ask. I had already put up a check by saying it was for the students… I had not thought she would come at it from another angle.

I smiled in a troubled way, rubbed the back of my neck with one hand, let out a small breath, and answered.

“No… I would have saved you. I knew what kind of person the Cardinal was. I would not hand Pope Mirishu over to someone like that.”

“Ah. Thank you. Um, please give me a little time.”

This time Pope Mirishu turned her whole body toward Kuna-san and started consulting in earnest. I looked at Relia and Tia and asked if there was any information they wanted to put in my ear. The two of them understood and told Karinal something. Then while preparing a refill of tea I confirmed with just my eyes that they were telling Sharle something Pope Mirishu could not see. Sharle heard Karinal, came over to me, and told me by my ear in a voice too small for the others to hear.

First, the book with the first Pope’s name that only I had been able to read. Pope Mirishu had been able to read it, and it had already been handed over. Next, the ones who handed that book over were not Relia and Tia. A girl who appeared suddenly? had handed it to Pope Mirishu.

What was interesting was that at that time she had known the first Pope, called Pope Mirishu the second, and called me “handful.” There were all kinds of things to think about, but the instant I heard “handful” Pafa’s face crossed my mind. Did she use her power? I panicked inwardly but did not let it show. I asked Sharle to hurry and check on Pafa. She smiled wryly and answered “already,” and I let out a small breath of relief. They had heard from Hurlin and Miina so Sharle and the others had apparently panicked too, but there seemed to be no problem and she was relieved.

I switched my head to the book. Why could Pope Mirishu read it? Because she worshipped Lady Riera? …No. Then Maya and the others would be able to read it too, and they should be able to speak the word “Tiburiera.” In that case the only thing I could think was that it was related to the rare skill Pope Mirishu had, Holy Divine Power.

Holy Divine Power was listed in the profile as a support skill that raised light-attribute magic power to the limit. There was actually another meaning. Those who had Holy Divine Power were chosen as Pope of the Holy Kingdom of Kail. Not that they had it. It was inherited…

While I was thinking that, Pope Mirishu finally finished consulting and turned this way. At the same time Kuna-san walked over, quietly set that book in front of me, and went back.

“You can read that book, correct, Raide-sama?”

“Yes. For some reason I can. Because I could read it, I proposed that the book had to be returned.”

“I see. …I am sorry for taking so much of your time. This is the last question. I heard from the two princesses that you have saved various people with ’sudden actions.’”

“…Yes.”

I glanced at Relia and Tia and they looked away. What exactly had they told her. I had saved people, sure, but they did not have to tell her anything. Lea was desperately holding her mouth because she was laughing too hard. Give me a break…

Pope Mirishu’s eyes, which had been looking straight at me until now, swam a little. She continued as if it was hard to say.

“You do not have to force an answer to this question. In your ’sudden actions,’ is the Goddess… Lady Riera involved?”

“…”

The question hit the mark so hard I could not answer at once. For the actions themselves my own will also applied, so if I was asked whether she was involved in everything I could say she was not. But if it was that she reincarnated me… then she was involved in everything. Because I was reincarnated I knew, and I was able to save the students and the girls. The question was how far that counted as a lie… I was stuck.

While I was worrying how to answer I heard someone stand and looked that way. Pope Mirishu was smiling as if she had given up and shaking her head.

“I am sorry. I did not mean to put you in a difficult spot. Princess Ariales, Princess Retia, thank you for making time. We will return to our rooms…”

“…She is involved.”

“Eh…?”

“Please remember only this. I move by my own will. I am not being directed, and I am not being forced to move. But if you ask whether she is involved… the answer is ’yes.’”

I let out a small breath as if I had given in, then answered. Relia and Tia’s eyes went wide in surprise. The ones who looked most surprised were Kuna-san and Pope Mirishu. Pope Mirishu sat back down while her far-too-large chest swayed as if she were shaken, and stared at my face with her eyes still wide. The only ones not showing surprise were Lea and Sharle, who were smiling like they were enjoying themselves.

This was the limit of what I could answer now… The scariest thing was that telling someone the contents of every event would make the future unpredictable. In that case it was safer to “consult” after an event started and then deal with it. “Consult.” That was important. Really important… scolding was scary. Things were already warped and compounded in various ways, but I wanted them to forgive me that…

“She is… involved, then?”

“I will also tell you this. I have never seen Lady Riera’s form, and I have never heard her voice. This is ’everything’ I can answer.”

“’Everything’…”

I smiled a little and looked at Kuna-san. She noticed, smiled in a troubled way, and whispered to Pope Mirishu. I wanted to thank Kuna-san for reacting to the small lie. She had probably whispered with that in mind too, and I wanted some information as well, not just to answer. I wanted them to look the other way on this much information, all right?

Lea lightly tugged my clothes. I kept my eyes on Pope Mirishu and leaned my face in. She said in a small, exasperated voice,

“You didn’t have to go that far, did you?”

“True… but you realized Kuna-san can see through lies, right?”

“Haa. Yeah~”

Lea answered while sighing at me. I smiled wryly and pulled my face away, then got poked in the side under the table. She was not hiding her mouth, so maybe that conversation had been overheard too? While receiving everyone’s gazes I took a sip of the completely cold tea and wondered how long they were going to stare. Even if it could not be helped because it was awkward, could they stop?