Voyage Of The Villainess

She turned around only to see that the high priest was just behind her now.

"Yes, I found the item I want ."

"I see, so now that you get the item, do tell me Lady Malaya. Who are you and to whom god do you belong as a champion?"

'This guy is pretty straightforward about this champion thing again. Well, what did I expect? he's a high priest after all.' Malaya chuckled inside her mind. Then she faced the head priest with confidence.

The high priest was only a meter apart from Malaya.

"I want now to be real and be honest, head priest," Malaya started speaking. "First of all, I don't have any idea what do you mean by being a champion and serving a god or where do I belong like what you're talking about,"

The head priest didn't change any expression. "But Evereen brought you here, along with the guide, and told me that you are a champion of God along with Sir Kayden."

"Evereen?" Malaya tried to remember if she had someone known as Evereen that she passed her. " I don't know who she is even though the name was not familiar to me."

"She's the one who was wearing a white dress and had some red stains on her."

"Ah, that white lady!" 

"Yes, that white lady. So are you still going to deny yourself being a champion of a god?" The head priest said.

"I apologize to the head priest if this causes some misunderstandings." Malaya said while putting down her head then she looked directly at the high priest " But I only lied to the white lady about me being a champion of a god since that time. I'm afraid that I will be in trouble if I don't answer her question. " Malaya explained. "I don't know about Kayden. However, I'm pretty sure about myself that the only time I've heard about this champion about gods is when that white lady spoke of it that time. Again, I apologized to you for lying, your excellency. "

There was a brief silence in the room as the head priest fell into contemplation. 

'There is no way that Evereen will make a mistake like this. This was the first time it happened like this. Besides, she knows what she's doing.  We are pretty sure that Evereen is a direct messenger from Bradimyll to help me sense other champions so that I would not meet any champion who could pose a threat to me. Is she lying or perhaps she is not really aware? Then I will ask her a few more questions to see if she was lying or not. First, I'll give her some insight into the champions of gods. Maybe she just needed a little bit of insight about this.''

"Lady Malaya, if everything looks so unclear to you. Then let me explain to you, the champion is the people that were chosen by the gods to cause a significant change in the world or play a certain and special role that is beneficial to others. I am Akio Haruto, the champion of the god Bradimyll." The head priest formed a small grin on his face when he saw the quick surprise that flashed on Malaya's face.

"As far as I can see, you seem surprised to hear my name, are you someone from another world like me?"

'Crap, that was dangerous. And he was quite bold declaring himself a transmigrator to strangers.' Malaya composed herself. "No, I'm not. I'm just surprised because you reminded me of someone that I know who has a different name since they came to another world,"

'But that explains all the modern things, from the walls to the houses and other kinds of stuff I saw in this city. But unlike him, I'm not going to tell him that I'm a transmigrator or more like a reincarnator easily. No, I'm not going to expose who I truly am just easily. I need to take care of my identity and be careful to the high priest that I still have no idea of his motives.'

"Is she lying again? But someone she knew?" The head priest maintained his expression but his mind has a lot going on. "Someone? Would it be alright  and comfortable for you if you told me who they are?"

"If I do, what will you do to them if you know who they are?" Malaya said with caution and seriousness.

They just stared at each other's eyes for a moment before the head priest talked again. "Nothing. It seems they are a close friend of yours so I won't dig deep any further. Whether or not you are a champion or not, I just want to give you a warning. This is not safe for you to pretend that you are a champion of God or not have any awareness about this. This kind of path is very sacred and powerful. The reason why the gods have chosen their champion is to establish more of their power in this world. And there are other champions who are not as benevolent as me."

"Then, how will I know if they are the chosen champions of gods like what you're talking about?"

The head priest smiled. "Well, that was a quite common and predictable question, Lady Malaya. First, you can notice them right away since they stand out too much. They pretty much do some out-of-this-world things like the things you see in this city. Or they have overpowered abilities. But if they are not, well, there is really no knowing whether they are not unless they told you."

"I see so it's a matter of chances. Why are you telling me all of this?" Malaya asked again with more seriousness this time.

"One since Evereen let both of you enter here, that indicates that both of you are good people, then the second," The head priest faintly smiled. "Perhaps due to guilt that could never be removed." 

The air was once again filled with silence but Malaya was the first one to break this. "Head priest, I know this is out of the compensation area but if you don't mind, may I ask another favor? Don't worry I will pay it by any means as long as it doesn't cause harm to myself or to anyone."

The head priest looked at Malaya's stern blue eyes. "I see, if that's so let me hear your favor first, and I will decide whether to accept it or not."

***

After the time in the treasury room, Malaya went with Lila to visit the gravestone of her master. They offered white glowing flowers in his grave.

"Lord Gregor, How are you? I know you are now happy and peacefully resting. Oh, I have something important that I want to share with you, Lord Gregor. I finally found someone who can be my friend for life and I will join her in her journey to find my purpose," Lila said with a smile as she looked at the grave.

"It sounds like she proposed to you," Malaya who was standing behind Lila was startled to hear Kayden beside her.

"Yeah," Malaya chuckled. "She proposed to me to be her servant but I refused it. Anyways, how are the repairs?"

"The house repairs are all complete. While your weapon and mine, they will be finished within two days," Kayden said. " It takes a lot more process to finish our weapons especially yours."

"I see but two days are not that bad," Malaya nodded her head. "Then why are you here when they are not finished yet, I thought you are going to stay in the dwarves' house until then?"

"I never said I'm going to stay there."

"Then why are you here? Did you miss me?" Malaya said lightheartedly and chuckled.

"Yes," 

"Ah, I see, I miss... Ah, what?" Due to her surprise, Malaya faced Kayden, her startled eyes to Kayden's serious eyes clashed together as if she already knew what her reactions would be.

'Am I on the right mind to hear him say yes?! No that can't be, I have just misheard it.' Malaya averted her gaze. "Then since we have time, we can have some time to explore the city," she said, trying to change the awkward subject.

Lila who heard this immediately turned to both of them. "Then if that is your plan, I will guide you both here! I know every nook of the city like looking at the back of my hands!"

"Yes, I think it will be easier for us to look at the city if we had you as a guide. Thank you, Lila," Malaya smiled as she clasped both Lila's hands. Kayden didn't say anything but it seemed to them that he would join them too.

"I'm so excited about what is going to happen for us and to look at the wonderful view here in the city."

"Yes, me too. I will make sure that we will enjoy the trip." Lila said while her eyes were twinkling like the stars and holding Malaya's hands.

On the next day, the trio happily decided to tour Moon city together.