We are friends. I want to help."
"...."
I silently turned my fingertip towards the Miko.
That's the poison dish.
I've already kidnapped you, there's no going back.
There's no backup plan.
I have to make a move.
I have two cards here.
Myself, and this person.
That's it, I have to assume the worst case scenario.
The Pope, the Cardinal, Therese, and Claire are my enemies.
Cliff, Aisha, and Gisu are already in Hitogami's clutches.
Although only an hour has passed, the Temple Knights must have mobilized.
Even though I didn't think anyone saw me teleport, I have to assume that I was seen and that the Temple Knights will arrive here at any moment.
Since there's no time to reset the MK-I's summoning setup, I already used a bog to hide it underground.
That would be the worst case scenario.
Just thinking about it makes me feel helpless.
All I have on hand is my own power, and the Miko.
With these two cards, I have to overcome this situation.
"Miko, before I can trust you, please answer my questions."
"Of course."
I need to question the Miko.
She did say she wanted to help me.
But before I put my trust in her, I need information.
"Please describe your ability as a Miko."
"Don't you already know?"
"I would like to hear it again directly from you."
It may be different from Orsted's information.
I need to reconfirm it.
"I can see the surface of a person's memories."
"Surface?"
"Yes. I can see a little bit of what a person is thinking and the memories associated with it."
"Isn't that the same as being able to read minds?"
"No, I can only see the past, the longer I look into someone's eyes the farther back I can see..."
She can see a person's memories...
But she can only see memories related to a person's present thoughts.
That kind of thing.
"Can you only look?"
"Yes, I can only look."
"It's not possible for you to return a person who lost their mind to their original state?"
"I cannot. If I used my power in conjunction with healing magic, it might be possible to come up with some kind of way..."
She can't restore Zenith's memories.
"... So you're not able to freely read your target's mind."
"Well, I can guess as much."
So she can only see memories related to what her target is thinking.
However, it's not like someone can just stop thinking in the middle of a conversation.
If someone asks [What did you have for breakfast?] then that's obviously going to be their next thought.
"Then as a guy with a shady background, I'd like to avoid making eye contact with you."
She's basically a human lie detector.
She can condemn anyone she doesn't like.
All she needs to do is make eye contact.
Even if she were to tell a lie, nobody would know...
It wouldn't matter.
The Miko is that kind of existence.
I understood as much by watching Zanoba.
Someone like that is of incredible political importance.
"But Rudeus-sama never looked away before."
"Because I wasn't doing anything shady."
Before, I wouldn't avert my eyes from the Miko.
But I'm getting desperate.
If she can see my memories just by looking into my eyes, then it would save time explaining everything.
"Oh? Is that okay? If you look into my eyes like that, I'll see everything..."
"...."
"Huh, Orsted-sama has such a curse... I see, Hitogami... His first advice... Ara?"
The Miko suddenly blushed.
What's wrong?
Did you see something erotic?
Well, if you were at my inquisition, you would have seen something like that anyway.
You've probably seen stuff like Milis priests' affairs before.
"So, two people at the same time... being in love with two people... Ah, an altar... eh? .... EH?"
At last, the Miko finally looked away.
She broke out into a cold sweat.
Her breathing was also rough.
She seems to have seen something she shouldn't have.
"What did you see?"
"Impure memories... And, a book, one that isn't allowed by the Milis religion, and... a strange ritual..."[2]
"Then you have seen into my soul."
"Y-, yes."
The Miko retreated a little bit and adjusted her skirt to cover herself.
I have my peace of mind.
Roxyism may not be as white as the Milis religion, but it's still a beautiful blue.
It's not something out of an ero-doujinshi.
"Let's return to the discussion."
"Yes..."
I cleared my throat.
I'm sure I should be embarrassed right now.
In any other situation I would certainly feel ashamed.
Like getting caught being intimate, or suddenly blurting out some dirty line.[3]
But this is different.
I didn't suddenly blurt anything out.
I have restraint...
Anyway, let's continue the talk.
"First of all, why did this happen. Miko-sama, who do you think the person behind this is?"
"The Cardinal, or perhaps the Pope trying to frame him. I do not think Hitogami is involved."