Chapter 30: Friendly Exchanges with Former Colleagues
After barging into the archives, the conflict didn't last long. Once Aeron intervened, the priests of the Order held little resentment toward the unexpected visitors.
Because the moment Aeron entered, he had Arsène knock them out.
Without giving them any chance to resist, Arsène immediately emerged from the shadows as soon as Aeron stepped inside, rendering all the priests present unconscious.
Persona Masks, aren't they fascinating?
"I'm just here to retrieve something. Please cooperate a little, will you?"
To be safe, Aeron personally tied up all his former colleagues before allowing Rover and Ciaccona to show themselves.
"...Seems there's a reason you're not well-liked."
"Fame is as burdensome as fattening a pig—it's inevitable to encounter people who disagree with you when you're out and about."
"That's clearly not what Rover meant..."
Ciaccona and Rover followed behind Aeron, quietly complaining about his actions.
"How am I supposed to sing in the square after this...?"
"Don't worry, with me backing you, none of them dare lay a finger on you."
"Sounds like something a thug would say..."
Rather than "Golden Anthem," what Ciaccona and Rover were more curious about now was "how did this guy even become a priest?"
But despite their thoughts, the work still had to be done.
Once inside the archives, the three immediately began searching for the posthumous work of "Golden Anthem." Thanks to the priests' efforts, they found the target item without much trouble.
"This... is what we're looking for?"
Rover stared at the utterly ordinary-looking manuscript in Aeron's hand, wondering why Montelli would want such a thing.
"Yes, there are rumors about the poetry in here. I suppose they're interested in that."
"Rumors?"
Hearing Rover's question, Aeron glanced at Ciaccona. Seeing her still wearing her cheerful smile, he continued:
"Rumors say that playing this composition will cause Echoes to be possessed by the spirits of the 'Golden Anthem' poetry club members."
"They died exiled by the Order, their resentment lingering unwillingly in the great fire for years, transforming into spirits through their music and poetry."
"To put it plainly, playing the music from this will attract monsters—that's the general idea."
Just as Aeron finished explaining the rumors about the composition to Rover, Ciaccona immediately chimed in:
"Oh? I never expected you, Father Aeron, to care about such things?"
"I don't particularly care myself, mainly here to work for Montelli... What's that look for?"
"Nothing at all~ It's just... kind of amusing to think that you, who usually don't even believe in the Sentinels' teachings, would say something like that?"
"Don't misrepresent me—I call that analyzing situations case by case."
"Alright, alright, I get it."
After teasing Aeron, Ciaccona turned back and pointed at the priests he had tied up, asking again:
"Won't you get in trouble for doing this?"
"Just a friendly greeting. I know my limits—it's not the first time I've taken the fall for you anyway."
"Hey, is this my fault?!"
"But cleanup is still necessary. I'll head out first—you two can untie them."
After giving instructions to Ciaccona, Aeron turned to look at Rover.
"Can you help with this?"
"Mhm."
Rover nodded, agreeing to Aeron's request.
After receiving Rover's response, Aeron breathed a sigh of relief as if a weight had been lifted. After tossing out a few trash-talk lines like "Farewell, my dear colleagues," he left the scene to Rover and Ciaccona.
Once Aeron's figure disappeared through the library entrance, the previously somewhat noisy space immediately fell silent, leaving only the tightly bound priests slumped on the floor.
Rover and Ciaccona exchanged glances without saying much, immediately beginning to untie these unfortunate priests.
Meanwhile, Rover took this opportunity to quietly strike up a conversation with Ciaccona:
"Miss Ciaccona... are you familiar with Aeron?"
"Well... you could say that, since I've caused him quite a bit of trouble..."
As she spoke, Ciaccona scratched her head somewhat sheepishly.
"Could you tell me what kind of person he is?"
"Well... that's not really for me to say."
Ciaccona tilted her head, considering her choice of words.
"When we first met, there were unpleasant things like warnings and telling me to leave..."
At this point, Ciaccona glanced toward the entrance to make sure Aeron wasn't coming back in, then continued speaking to Rover in an even quieter voice.
"When I was being harassed by more serious priests, he would unreasonably take me away, and he wouldn't report my issues to the Order either... though he never said why."
Ciaccona paused, her movements slowing for a moment, her voice carrying something more complex.
"If I had to say... it's like he can see things others can't? Though he acts like he doesn't care."
Rover observed Ciaccona's expression—she seemed to hold quite a favorable impression of Aeron, despite him being a priest.
"Well, that's probably the feeling." Ciaccona deftly untied the last knot, clapped her hands, straightened up, and looked at Rover, her emerald eyes appearing particularly clear and bright in the dim light.
"But he'd definitely never admit it himself, only saying things like 'coincidence,' 'going with the flow,' or 'just doing my job.'"
"...It seems you understand him quite well." Rover stated, accompanied by a smile.
"Well, I wouldn't put it that way... Anyway, though he's a troublemaker, I can guarantee he's a good person. How's that?"
Rover nodded slightly without giving a definite "yes" or "no" answer.
"At least for now, our goals align."
As they spoke, the two had already freed all the priests from their restraints, ensuring they were only temporarily unconscious and not seriously harmed.
...
When the two walked out of the library, Aeron was leaning idly against the outer wall.
"Oh, that was pretty quick,"
"Not everyone likes to leave loose ends like you do."
"I'm your client, isn't it normal to give you more work?"
"Well, thank you so much then."
Watching the familiar banter between Ciaccona and Aeron, a relieved smile appeared on Rover's face.
Anyway, that priest wasn't the enemy she had imagined—being sure of that was enough.
"We've got the transcript... how do we verify the poem's authenticity?"
She interrupted their little theater, reminding them it was time to focus on the task at hand.
"Then you'll have to ask the person before me. I'm not that omnipotent."
Aeron tossed the topic to Ciaccona, and the bard puffed out his chest proudly after receiving acknowledgment.
"Of course, but not here. I know a place—follow me!"
"Lead the way."
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