The Sponsored Heroines Are Coming for Me

Chapter 172

Chapter 172

— In this world, there exist beings who have crossed over from another dimension.

I took a small breath.

‘...That’s creepy.’

It was a statement I hadn’t expected, not even for a moment.

Of course, his expression had shown he was about to say something serious.

Even with the authority and kindness of an archbishop, there was a gravity in his demeanor.

But to open his mouth and say, “There are people who have crossed over from another dimension”?

‘...He’s definitely testing me.’

It’s a dangerous statement to make without any hint of context.

If someone who knows nothing heard such words, they might think, “Has the archbishop gone senile?”

So, to some extent, the archbishop must be suspicious of me.

And the fact that he didn’t beat around the bush, but directly threw that statement at me...

‘It’s a test.’

He’s testing me.

I have no idea why the archbishop is testing me, or exactly what he means by “people who crossed dimensions”.

But one thing is certain: if I fall out of his favor, a quick death on the execution platform, or worse, burning at the stake as a witch, would be a happy ending.

Therefore, my stance is clear.

“Are there such beings?”

I simply asked back as if I didn’t understand. Usually, this is the most natural response, right?

I added a suspicious look as I asked, as if to say, ‘Are you sure you’re alright?’

“Heh. Indeed,” the archbishop just laughed it off pleasantly, continuing to observe me in silence, as if gauging my reaction.

What a sly old man.

But I won’t let him drag me into his game.

“Beings that crossed dimensions? What do you mean by that?”

I acted as if I didn’t understand.

Well, it’s not really acting, is it? I don’t know what he means by “people who crossed dimensions” either.

It could be someone possessed, or perhaps actual aliens from another dimension.

In this situation, playing dumb is the best option.

“Hmmm. Yes, I should explain from the beginning.”

The archbishop stroked his beard thoughtfully.

He soon began to speak again.

“Officially, they’re called ‘Dimensional Wanderers’. They take control of human minds and manipulate them. Usually, if someone’s personality suddenly changes one day, it’s a sign of their presence.”

“Such beings exist?”

“Yes. They’re usually full of greed. They try to take control of something and cause chaos. That’s why we call them Wanderers.”

“Wanderers?”

“It means beings whose souls have no resting place, wandering in greed for this world, seizing bodies and corrupting it.”

Finishing his explanation, the archbishop scanned me with a meaningful gaze.

What a sly character.

He tosses a plausible answer and watches for a reaction.

Then, he asks more questions and observes again.

He’s slowly feeding information while testing my responses.

From his behavior, I was now sure of one thing.

I was definitely under suspicion.

But why?

Did I do something suspicious?

Admittedly, I’ve been making some big moves lately.

Most notably, I was personally rewarded by the Emperor.

‘I’m not sure how or why he took an interest in me, but...’

He must have noticed something and decided to probe me.

‘...Hah.’

I never thought I’d be suspected of being a possessor.

It’s unsettling, like having a fundamental flaw pointed out.

‘Then again, when you think about it...’

Though I tried to walk confidently, the truth is that I felt uneasy deep down.

‘Who would’ve thought they’d suspect my true identity?’

It was a question that came out of nowhere, catching me off guard.

Even someone as experienced as I am couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spine.

‘At least it doesn’t seem like the suspicion has gotten worse.’

— Click

As I opened the door to the dorm, I replayed the conversation with the archbishop in my mind.

‘I didn’t handle it badly.’

Playing dumb with all my might—that was the best response I could give under the circumstances.

It didn’t seem like the suspicion had deepened overall.

In fact, by the end, the archbishop seemed more like he was questioning himself, as if thinking, “Did I misjudge?”

Of course, I can’t say the suspicion is completely gone.

The archbishop’s final offer was certainly filled with meaning.

‘... This is dizzying.’

So much unexpected information came at me suddenly and in overwhelming amounts.

Most of all, the existence of the “Wanderers”.

I suspect this means there were others who had also experienced possession before me.

If that’s the case, do they know about my existence as well?

And what impact will the revelation of “possession” have on the future of the scenario, considering it wasn’t a part of the original game?

“Ugh.”

The situation was so complex it made my head throb.

However, this isn’t something that thinking more about right now will resolve.

I need to gather more information. I’ll leave judgment for later.

After a shower, I came to a conclusion and headed for bed. Sometimes, a refresh is exactly what’s needed.

Today, I’ll stop thinking and just rest.

... Or at least, that was the plan.

“?”

I stopped in my tracks, puzzled as I stood in front of the bed.

The bed looked oddly lumpy.

What is this?

A ghost?

Did a wild animal somehow get in here?

I cautiously pulled back the blanket.

— Shhhh... Snore.

— Mmmnya...

Lina and Danya were curled up under the covers.

Well, at least it’s not a wild animal... right?

Why are they sleeping here?

Now that I think about it, the air in the dorm feels a bit cold.

They probably crawled under the blanket to escape the chill and ended up falling asleep.

“By the way, are they even allowed to be out this late?”

Ah.

Now that I remember, once you reach Aether Class, the curfew no longer applies.

It’s one of the perks of being in Aether Class: you get treated almost like a graduate in terms of school regulations.

“... Well, I’m sure Elena handled it somehow.”

She did extend the curfew last time too.

There’s no harm in it, right?

Today’s been full of too much to process.

My mind is overflowing with new information, and I’d rather stop thinking for now.

I noticed there was just enough space between Lina and Danya for me to lie down.

Good thing I bought a slightly larger bed than usual.

‘... Come to think of it, if Asteria’s returned, hasn’t Master also arrived?’

With that last thought, I drifted off into a deep sleep.