"...Hmm."
At this mont, he appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, a storm of thoughts had begun in his mind.
Doesn't recognize ?
What does that an?
Angry? Doesn't want to see anymore?
Is it so sort of stranger play?
Or... does she truly not recognize ?
Amnesia?
No, this isn't a Korean drama, why has this plot suddenly appeared!
...
Herbert complained internally for a while, feeling that the current situation was extrely strange.
His first reaction was that the Disheartened Bishop was sulking, intentionally pretending not to recognize him.
Clearly, it was just a joke before!
Why suddenly act so distant, can't you take a joke?
But simultaneously, Herbert also had another guess in his heart.
What if everything the Ashen Bishop said was true?
What if... she really didn't have this mory?
After searching for a while, he slowly raised his head, took a deep breath and asked, "Sorry, I'm a bit confused right now, can you tell what year it is?"
"What year?"
The "Ashen Bishop" tilted her head, a bit puzzled, but she still answered him, "The Era of Faith has just passed its second millennium."
Upon hearing the answer, Herbert was sowhat prepared at heart, but still it sent a tremor through him.
The second millennium, aning... Era of Faith 2000!
A thousand years ago!
His sixth sense was indeed correct, this Ashen Bishop was truly odd.
The Ashen Bishop in front of him wasn't the one he knew, but her "adolescent period" (suspected) a thousand years ago!
Is it a ti displacent? Or an ancient mory?
Herbert was more inclined towards the latter.
Under the unknown effects of [Silence and Noise], he encountered a mory from a thousand years ago.
Or if according to the previous speculation "the phantom isn't just from his own mory," then this very likely cos from one of the Ashen Bishop's mories.
The Ashen Bishop saw Herbert fall into deep thought and after waiting for a while, she inquired, "So, can you tell where we t before? How did I hurt you?"
She was truly puzzled about what had happened with this man.
There was no deception in her gaze, the joy of the other was real, clearly he truly knew her.
Yet, she had no mory, which made her feel a bit sorry.
anwhile, the Paladin aura emanating from the other couldn't be faked, further proving he wasn't lying.
Who are you?
Who exactly are you?
"...There's no need for that." Herbert took a deep breath, looked at the Ashen Bishop, and pretended to be strong, shaking his head.
He lowered his head, sighed, and said, "Since you don't rember, there's no need to recall it again, let's just assu nothing happened in the past."
Herbert's voice was low and hoarse, revealing deep exhaustion.
This appearance of a deep-hearted man hurt by a "heartbreaker" indeed left the Ashen Bishop feeling a bit helpless.
"...You?"
The Ashen Bishop was a bit stunned.
What's the situation?
She seed to have inexplicably taken on so heavy emotional debt—yet she didn't even know him.
"Since you don't rember , it doesn't matter, just... let's consider this our first eting."
"Yes, exactly that!"
Herbert suddenly raised his head, vigorously shook it off, swept away the gloom upon him, his eyes once again gleaming, looking at the Ashen Bishop, he said in a deep voice:
"Let's get to know each other again."
He strode forward, ca before the Ashen Bishop, and bowed to her with the highest courtesies of a Paladin.
"Paladin, Herbert Albert, greets you!"
And facing Herbert's "respectful salute," the Ashen Bishop was a little at a loss, but silently chose to return the courtesy, bowing in response.
"Secret Keeper, Ophidia, greets you."
After the salute, Herbert nodded at Ophidia, showing a gentle smile.
He inwardly let out a long breath.
Good.
Very good.
The na, obtained!
Previously, during his interactions with the Ashen Bishop, he had always been in a relatively low position, lacking the qualification for equal dialogue with her.
This was the first ti he knew her real na.
And obtaining the na enabled Herbert to continue with this performance.
Otherwise, it would be hard to explain claiming to know the other and being hurt without knowing her na.
Herbert nodded secretly, realizing that the Ashen Bishop... no, Ophidia remained silent after being coaxed into revealing her na.
Like a tight-lipped person, struggling to co up with a word.
"Why are you so silent? Don't you have anything to ask ?" he asked curiously.
Isn't that strange?
In this situation, no matter how silent, you should inquire a bit more, right?
Furthermore, in Herbert's impression, the Ashen Bishop of the future was not soone lacking in verbal skill or socially withdrawn.
"..."
The Ashen Bishop paused for a mont, shook her head, and said tiredly, "Secret Keepers are silent; words are not our weapon, silence is."
Upon hearing this answer, Herbert suddenly realized the greatest difference between the Ophidia before him and the Ashen Bishop of the future.
If the future Ashen Bishop seed like soone who was detached from everything and no longer cared for rules, a carefree figure.
Then the Ophidia before him was like the most standard Secret Keeper, strictly adhering to all the rules of a Secret Keeper.
Hide the face, maintain silence, endure solitude.
Like a taut string, pulled to its fullest, threatening to snap at any mont.
Herbert did not understand the circumstances of a thousand years ago, he didn't know what had happened to Ophidia, nor what she encountered during that period.
But he could see that Ophidia was carrying many burdens.
The invisible shadow laid on her felt like a grand mountain, seemingly almost breaking her back.
Thus, he chose to directly inquire.
Herbert looked at Ophidia and asked softly, with so pity in his voice, "Carrying all these, it must be hard, right?"
He didn't specify what Ophidia was carrying—because he didn't know.
But Ophidia understood.
Her face, hidden beneath the hood, changed slightly; she bit her lip and slowly shook her head, saying, "…This is my responsibility."
She did not deny the difficulty, she didn't stubbornly claim she wasn't tired.
Instead, she replied with "responsibility."
"After they left, when I chose to bear their souls and watch over these secrets alone, I should bear this responsibility."
Ophidia's answer was very firm.
Perhaps she had been asked too many tis before, or she had rehearsed such an answer countless tis in her heart.
She was a Secret Keeper, destined from the start to accompany solitude.
She had long understood the responsibility she bore.
Herbert paused, shook his head, and asked, "Ophidia, you don't need to be so harsh on yourself, couldn't you find soone else to share the burden?"
"Share the burden?"
Ophidia wasn't angered by the belittlent; she knew Herbert was worried about her, she explained slowly, "Herbert, I understand your concern, but... this is my own choice."
Everyone has their choices.
So choose to adhere to rules for life, so choose to ally with the Evil God, and others choose to bear everything.
"Moreover, who else could be found?"
Ophidia shook her head, calmly stating the fact, "Since that disaster, the Secret Keepers at the Mist Monastery have been reduced to a na only, no need for new sacrifices..."
"."
A steady and powerful voice interrupted Ophidia's sigh.
Herbert's expression was serious as he stepped forward once more.
He looked at the clearly unprepared for this turn of events Ophidia and said in a deep voice:
"I will beco a Secret Keeper."
"Please let join you!"
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