Double Agent {TRotSH x OC Insert}

Chapter V

Inside the dimly lit room of the inn, Noriyuki Himura sat cross-legged on the floor, a candle flickering next to him as he flipped through the pages of his Catalyst book. The intricate runes of the [Gluttony] and [Humility] sections glowed faintly beneath his fingertips. His cold, calculating gaze swept over the spells, searching for something that could turn the tide in the coming Wave.

Noriyuki: Consume Essence... could be useful if I get overwhelmed.

He muttered, barely audible. His expression remained emotionless, though his mind raced with strategies.

Noriyuki: [Humility] offers a wide arsenal of defensive spells though some of them consume a lot of MP. The effects they have are great though it would be best if I use them sparingly. If only [Gluttony] offered a type of spell that preys on any mana.

His fingers paused, contemplating the balance between offense and defense.

Across the room, Ina sat gracefully on a low bed, her long fingers turning the pages of an ancient tome she'd received from the Ancient One. The text was written in an incomprehensible script, yet she read it with ease. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she absorbed the cryptic knowledge within. Occasionally, she hummed a soft, haunting melody-an eerie tune that filled the room with an otherworldly calm.

In the corner, Prima, the slime, bounced around joyfully, chasing a small, adorable creature-a Takodachi-across the wooden floor. The two of them moved in energetic bursts, weaving around furniture with playful enthusiasm. Prima's gelatinous form rippled as she gleefully pursued the Takodachi, who squeaked in delight, its tiny form darting just out of reach before scurrying away again.

It was a peaceful time between the party though such atmosphere is quickly cut with a sharpened knife.

Ina: That was out of character for you.

Noriyuki didn't respond immediately. He remained silent, his eyes still glued to the pages of the book, as if hoping the answers he sought would drown out the tension creeping up inside him. His fingers hesitated on a spell, but his mind wasn't really on the text anymore.

Ina didn't push. Instead, she continued, her tone soft but pointed.

Ina: You shouldn't let them sway you. You've faced worse, haven't you?

He let out a slow breath, the weight of her words pulling at something deep within him. After a long pause, his voice, colder than usual but tinged with something raw, broke the silence.

Noriyuki: This is the first time I've ever been accused of false testimony... and the culprit got away with it.

His hand fell from the page, and he finally looked up, though his gaze remained distant.

Noriyuki: At first, I didn't think much of it. I've been in situations where trust was a gamble, and betrayal was just another piece on the board.

His jaw tightened slightly.

Noriyuki: But Kureha's comment... that shook me.

Ina watched him with quiet attentiveness, her expression unreadable as she let him speak.

Noriyuki: I've always valued the people I call friends and comrades. I never imagined I'd be betrayed that easily, especially by someone I believed would stand with me against the Wave.

His voice dropped, almost a whisper.

Noriyuki: I knew I'd been set up the moment I've entered the throne room-even before Naofumi-but... it still got to me.

He let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

Noriyuki: Guess I'm not as untouchable as I thought.

Ina closed her book gently, leaning forward slightly. Her expression was soft but sharp, filled with the eerie serenity she always carried.