Anyway, Athanas’s attempt at acting was about as convincing as a cat promising not to knock things off the table. Seriously, if this guy was angling for a gig in undercover work, he’d stick out like a sore thumb.

… I hesitated at the top of the staircase that plunged into the basement’s suffocating darkness below.

It’s really creepy and ominous, isn’t it...

Mind manipulation doesn’t work on me, but the real concern is what comes next. What if Athanas or the player behind him figures out I’m immune to brainwashing or forgetfulness?

“…Pardon?”

Athanas loomed over me, his eyes boring into mine. “You looked more surprised seeing my face than when you nearly fell over earlier.”

Leaning against the wall, I craned my neck to peer down the shadowy staircase, staring into what seemed like an abyss ready to swallow me whole.

Cut out my... tongue?

Frozen in shock and horror, Casimir chuckled lightly, as if she found my shock amusing.

“You just have a way with words that’s almost dangerous. It’s worrying.”

As I soaked in the warm bath, all sorts of random thoughts crossed my mind.

Could other players, swayed by the Order, be faking ignorance like me? Are they genuine believers or sly actors?

Ex... husband? And he’s here in the Cathedral?

Wait, you guys got married, divorced, and still get along?

“To be precise, he was someone I married before converting.” Casimir explained.

“That’s right. Once we took our oaths, everything in our past, including our marriage vows, became irrelevant.”

Walking around the Capital’s Cathedral in my country bumpkin attire would’ve definitely turned heads. So, I ended up with a cloak to cover it up.

Damn, this thing weighs a ton.

“I’ll come by as an apprentice paladin and check in on you often. You can fill me in on what’s been happening then.”

Why does he look so pleased with his idea?