Isekai Tyrant

Chapter V - Personal Soundboard

I sat down on the comfortable wooden chair that was inside the confessional. There was a dark screen that obstructed my view to the limit that I could only see a faint silhouette of the other chair behind it. The screen was installed on a square table that left no space below it. By the screen's lower part was a small flap.

It took me minutes before I finally reeled in the absurdity of my situation.

'What the fuck am I doing here?'

Why did I let myself get caught with that lady's antics? Everything happened so weird and sudden; I want to die from embarrassment. She told me that she's going to make me see my family but she led me here instead. Her attitude made me think she was going to perform a miracle or something, but she just left me in here. Could she be a scammer? No. More plausibly, is she a witch? I didn't even protest once when she dragged me away...

A chill traveled up my spine.

'It's not my fault.' I consoled myself. 'The cathedral was just too pretty. I couldn't resist looking at it. That's why I got myself dragged along. Hahahaha... '

'Nevertheless...' I gazed at the dark screen. 'What am I even supposed to do here?'

'Should I just leave?' I turned my attention towards the door. My thoughts were interrupted at the sound of the door from the other half of the confession box opening and closing. The silhouette of a young woman entered. She gracefully took the other wooden chair and sat down.

"Hello." She greeted me kindly. Her voice was muffled before it reached my ears.

"Hello." I greeted back.

"How long have you been here? I apologize if I happened to make you wait long. I was at the cathedral's library. I didn't expect the cathedral to have any visitors, especially at the first day of the festival when the pope and all higher priests of the cathedral are away. They are busy blessing the castle for the start of the festival. So if you wouldn't mind..." She did a small bow. "This priestess would be the one to hear your confession."

"Is it really necessary?"

"I beg your pardon?" Her voice sounded surprised.

"For the pope and a high priest to hear the confession instead."

She shook her head. "No. As long as they're a direct servant of The Lord, they are able to use the ark and hear your confession."

"Oh, I'm not here to confess." I corrected her. "I just happened to get in here while I was lost in my thoughts. The confessional simply looked pretty so I got inside without thinking. I'm sorry."

I stood up to leave.

I have to get back soon. If the servants finally find their monarch is missing, it would cause great discord in the imperial palace. I've done what I wanted to do here and I've been away for far too long.

"Wait!"

I stopped and looked back.

"Please. Don't go." She called out to me. "Whatever these thoughts plaguing you might be, it has led you to seek the ark and speak inside it. So please stay and speak your mind out. Inside the sacred walls of the ark, only this priestess and the gods can hear your voice. No matter what, anything you say would be buried deep within this servant's heart and His Lord's ears only."

She has a way with words, I'll give her that. After some reconsideration, I sat back down and crossed my arms. Under a broad chest, I felt the heart that became stuffy at my solemn thoughts. I stared at her dark silhouette. Perhaps it'd actually do me well to speak to someone and try to calm these thoughts I've been harboring for a long time since I've arrived here alone. Besides, both our identities are hidden, and she made a holy vow. It should be fine.