When I Cleared the Death Game World, I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Even if They Talk About Doom Flags, I'm Actually Immortal. - Chapter 44

After successfully rescuing Luna, Lior and his companions reported the incident to the guild before heading to Ren’s house.

The reason Lior accompanied them was, once again, because he had been invited to stay the night.

According to Ren, it was to “express gratitude for today.”

For Lior, it was also a convenient excuse—having used his cheat ability for healing, he wanted to monitor their condition just in case.

That night, after the three of them finished dinner, Lior found himself in a familiar situation.

Just like the last time he stayed over, he was given Ren’s room for the night.

Sitting on the plush bed—one that Ren likely used on a daily basis—Lior gazed out the window at the moon.

Knock, knock.

There was a knock on the door.

“Ah, please come in,” he called out.

The door creaked open, revealing Ren in pajamas.

“Hey there. You’re not doing anything weird in my sister’s room, are you?”

“I—I’m not!”

“Oh, what a shame.”

Ren chuckled playfully before settling down beside Lior.

A faintly sweet scent tickled his nose.

Sitting side by side on a bed in the dead of night—with a girl, no less—

(W-What is going on…? At this hour…?)

Even in his previous life, Lior had never experienced a situation like this. His heart pounded with nervous excitement.

Seeing him at a loss for words, Ren smirked teasingly.

“Could it be… Lior, are you nervous?”

“I-I mean… well…”

“I am, a little. Look.”

“Wha—!?”

Ren took Lior’s hand and placed it gently against the space between her collarbone and chest.

It wasn’t quite over her heart, but he could still feel the rapid pulse beneath his fingertips.

The quickened heartbeat spoke volumes about her own nervousness.

(Why is Ren nervous too?)

As Lior tilted his head in confusion, Ren let go of his hand and averted her gaze, looking somewhat awkward.

“…The truth is… there’s something I need to tell you, Lior. I’ve been deceiving you.”

“You deceived me…? What do you mean?”

“…Do you remember the day when you were feeling down after those three men humiliated you?”

“Ah, yes. That was when I had just arrived in this town.”

Back when Lior first came to town, three swordsmen had schemed against him, stealing his achievements and tarnishing his reputation within the guild.

Though everything had since been resolved, it remained a bitter memory.

That day, Ren had approached him and offered words of comfort.

Lior had been deeply grateful for that kindness.

“It wasn’t a coincidence that I spoke to you that day.”

“Huh?”

“I was keeping an eye on you, suspecting that you might be an agent sent by the Monarch Cult.”

“The Monarch Cult…?”

(What’s that?)

Lior tilted his head, owl-like, at the unfamiliar term.

From the name alone, it sounded like some kind of religious group.

“It’s only natural that you don’t know. It’s a secret organization, known to only a few. But you’ve at least heard of the Monarch Kingdom, haven’t you?”

“Oh, yes. I think I’ve read about it. It was a kingdom that existed in this region, right?”

His tutor had once mentioned it.

Long ago, in the lands surrounding the Orion Marquisate—where Lior now lived—there had been a kingdom called the Monarch Kingdom.

However, about two centuries ago, an incompetent king took the throne. Under his rule, civil war erupted, and the kingdom crumbled from within.

Seizing the opportunity, the Empire invaded and ultimately took control.

“That’s right. The Monarch Kingdom was conquered by the Empire, and its name was erased from history. But its ideals… they never truly disappeared.”

“Wait… So the Monarch Cult is connected to that kingdom?”

“Yes. For some reason, the Monarch King started worshipping demons and neglected his duties as a ruler. In the end, the kingdom fell to the Empire, but their devotion to those demons didn’t die out.”

(That’s bizarre.)

Why had the Monarch King suddenly begun worshipping demons?

And how had their faith survived even after the kingdom was destroyed?

If Ren was telling the truth, then a demonic cult that had originated in the Monarch Kingdom still existed in the present day.

A group that worshipped demons… That alone sent a shiver down Lior’s spine.

“Um… so, is this Monarch Cult a dangerous group?”

“…”

“…Ren?”

Ren clenched her fists.

As she stared at the floor, flames of hatred flickered in her eyes.

“…They’re the ones who killed our parents.”

“…I’m sorry. That was a thoughtless question.”

Ren and Luna lived alone.

There had never been any mention of their parents.

Lior had always found it odd, but now he understood—something had happened between them and the cult.

“Don’t apologize. It’s something I would’ve had to tell you eventually. The Monarch Cult will kill without hesitation in the name of their faith. I’m certain the men from today were funded by them. The symbols on their daggers were unmistakable.”

“Even those daggers belonged to the cult…? A group that worships demons and wields demonic power… Sounds like a nightmare.”

“The Empire and the Adventurer’s Guild both consider them a serious threat. Their existence is kept under wraps to prevent reckless individuals from getting involved, but high-ranking adventurers—A-rank and above—receive bounty notices.”

“Wow…”

This was no small-time religious sect.

A secretive, dangerous organization, feared by both the Empire and the Guild…

And somehow, Lior had gotten himself caught up in it.

A Secret Evil Organization Hidden from the Public

(This feels like something straight out of a game… Or rather, is it exactly that?)

The name Monarch Cult caught in Lior’s mind.

It felt familiar—like something from the storyline of Last Quest… or maybe not.

No, he couldn’t quite remember.

It was that frustrating feeling, like when you grab your phone to search for something, only to forget what you were looking for the moment you open the search bar.

It was on the tip of his tongue, yet just out of reach.

No use dwelling on it. These kinds of things tend to come back when you least expect them.

With that, Lior quickly gave up on trying to remember.

“Wait, now that I think about it—you were suspecting me at first, weren’t you?”

“Yeah… Sorry about that. It’s just that, for someone your age, you moved like… well, an assassin. I honestly thought you might be one of the cult’s executioners…”

“W-What?! No way! I have nothing to do with any cult!”

“Haha… I know that now. Lior, you might seem timid at first, but you’re actually surprisingly reliable. Not exactly normal, but… you’re kind. I realized that on the very first day.”

“I’m glad to hear that…”

It seemed Ren no longer had any doubts about him.

Well, if she had, she probably wouldn’t have shared all this information in the first place.

“Honestly, I should be the one apologizing. I was suspicious of you, and yet you still helped save Luna… and in the end, I just collapsed like that…”

Ren slumped her shoulders in guilt.

She must have felt bad for doubting someone, then relying on them for help without offering anything in return.

But Lior wasn’t bothered by it at all. It wasn’t like he had suffered any losses because of her.

“Please don’t worry about it. It’s only natural to be wary of a suspicious outsider. If anything, I should be the one thanking you—because of you, I was able to pick myself up and continue being an adventurer. So… thank you.”

“Lior… Thank you.”

The moonlight streaming through the window bathed Ren in its glow.

Her gentle smile shone softly in the pale light.

“I never thought I’d be into younger guys, but…”

“…?”