"...I don't understand how that works." Melia was frowning as she looked at the man sitting opposite of her.

Melia was fully prepared for a grueling journey filled with hardships. Yet, just after half a day of walking, they stumbled across a friendly caravan headed for the capital.

What kind of coincidence was that? Here, within the thickets of <The Great Prioen Forest>, where beasts roamed, and the paths were never set?

She was so proud of being someone's guide, yet her excitement was short-lived. Moreover, because there were so many people, it was clear that Aventine wasn't going to share his food.

"Oi," She poked Aventine with her foot. "Are you asleep?"

Aventine opened one eye and raised a brow as if to ask,

What?

However, he said nothing.

Melia just looked incredulously at him. Was he not going to explain anything?

"Heh,"

Instead, a smug look appeared on Aventine's face. It was clear that he understood her concerns, but refused to elaborate.

"Y-You—!" Melia felt anger bubble up her stomach. However, there were other people in the carriage, and she didn't want to be a nuisance. She could still remember how fierce her parents were whenever it came to things like these.

Life as a commoner was full of hardships. Offending the wrong people could easily get you killed.

Or worse.

Even hitchhiking on a caravan like they were doing now was full of risks. Melia didn't understand how Aventine could be so calm. What if they were robbed and left in the middle of the forest instead?

Melia could barely contain her worries.

***

Unbeknownst to Melia, she wasn't worrying alone.

"Young Miss... Are you sure about bringing those two along? Especially that guy with weird clothes?" A young man, wearing a formal black coat, like a butler, was glancing at the beautiful young lady in front of him.

"It will be fine, Joseph." The young lady replied with a laugh. "I checked. Even you can beat both of them in a fight."

"Then why show them kindness?" Joseph asked.

"Hm? Well, the young man looked quite charming, don't you think? Plus, he offered me a few items that piqued my interest. He's likely a traveling noble from far away. His black hair isn't normal around these parts, after all."

"Uhuh..." Joseph nodded vaguely, "What did he offer you, if I may ask?"

"These,"

The young lady spread out her hands, and a pair of sapphires came into view. They were pretty small, but they glistened in the sunlight that shone through the carriage windows.

"Gemstones!" Joseph gasped. "Young Miss! These are of shocking quality!"

"Exactly~" Giggling, the young lady kept the stones in her bosom. "From what my father has repeatedly told me, it is worth being acquainted with such a unique character."

***

Although the carriage ride through the great forest wasn't as comfortable as being in a car, it was better than having to walk all the way through. Although I knew that a pair of high-quality sapphires was a steep price, I couldn't miss this opportunity.

I checked.

Obviously.

The other caravans going through weren't as accepting as this one. Among the six others currently within the forest, two were slave caravans, one was an adventurer party, and the other three were a lot shadier.

Judging from the symbols they tattooed on their skin, they were from the same group that attacked Melia's caravan. Asking them for a ride would be suicidal.

Moreover, I was also familiar with the noble crest that the young lady held. Through [Absolute Awareness], I knew that they governed the distant southern lands of the Leisha Kingdom.

The young lady's father was a Duke.

More importantly, Young Lady Archisse was a respectable character. However, after a preliminary scan of her personality, it seemed like she had a peculiar fondness for younger men.

In fact, I didn't need to use [Absolute Awareness] to discover this. All I had to do was look at the faces of her knights.

Although the mage who was guarding her was an old man, the knights were all young and full of spirit.

Some were geniuses around Melia's age.

"I'm not judging..." 

But having novices as your guards didn't seem all that safe.

Anyways.

"We'll be passing by Minerva City for the night to rest and resupply." A young knight came up to me and bowed. "The Young Miss wishes to inform you, and hopes that it isn't a bother."

I smiled. The language barrier was getting thinner as I learned the language of this world with [Absolute Awareness]. Although the influx of knowledge was huge, I was able to absorb it faster than I did with the mana cultivation techniques.

Perhaps I was talented in that regard.

Moreover, I had done this on Earth before. Just one moment in [Absolute Awareness] for a language was enough for me to become relatively fluent.

"Tell the Young Miss that Melia and I view such matters like watching snow fall on a winter morning. In fact, all we have is gratitude to her and her family for having accepted us within her caravan."

The knight heard my words and bowed respectfully. The way I strung my words was reminiscent of this world's nobility. The nuances I had used would have hammered that point in.

As the knight left, Melia looked at me with a squinted gaze.

"Is it just me, or were you faking your accent when we met?"

How perceptive of her.

"Ah, that," I feigned a laugh, "I was trying to act mysterious."

Hearing my reply, Melia rolled her eyes. It didn't seem like she believed me. She changed the topic.

"Have you been to the city of Minerva before, Aventine? I heard that the Wisdom Monks call this city their homeland."

"I have not." I shook my head. "However, I have heard much. It seems like quite the city. The monks you mentioned are especially intriguing. Shall we give them a visit?"

Melia nodded vigorously. "Yes! Let's do that!"

Shaking my head, I gazed at the distant city walls of Minerva. To have heard of the Wisdom Monks was an understatement. When I learned of the name Minerva along with the Wisdom Monks, I was surprised and my curiosity was magnificently piqued.

On Earth, Minerva was the Roman Goddess of wisdom. Athena, for the ancient Greeks.

So, I took a peek.

A dangerous one.

"I thought that, like Earth, the gods were either slumbering or simply didn't care..." I muttered under my breath.

Here, they were definitely awake. They cared about people trying to spy on them. A lot.

Now, I was debating on whether or not I should give Minerva's temple a visit.

***

Yesterday.

In a cave.

After setting Melia down and bandaging her wounds, Aventine sat at the mouth of the cave and entertained the idea of blasphemy as he once did before. To understand the world he was in, it was 'fun' to start from its gods.

Closing his eyes, he let his mana roil. His gift, [Absolute Awareness], allowed him to sense the world around him. Like an ethereal eyeball, capable of observing all things. Or an all-hearing ear.

He moved his mana, and his consciousness appeared before the nearby city of Minerva, watching its inhabitants go about their day. For a moment, he paused.

A familiar feeling emanated from one of the buildings at the center of the city.

Aventine knew this feeling.

Although it was much livelier than the aura he had felt on Earth, it was awfully similar. It was the aura of a [God].

Upon realizing the implication of his prying, Aventine cut the movement of his mana. However, something else had kept him there, supplying him with the energy to keep his gift active.

((A prying eye. I don't sense any malice from your technique nor do I sense any goodwill either.))

Thoughts were transmitted straight into Aventine's mind.

((Who are you?))