As I arrived at the main church in the heart of the town, I was greeted by Father San, a middle-aged priest whose gentle demeanor matched the kindness in his eyes. His robes, simple yet dignified, swayed as he walked. The faint scent of incense lingered in the air, mixing with the soft echoes of our footsteps on the polished stone floor.

"Please, follow me," Father San said softly, leading me through the grand halls of the church.

We stopped in front of a large wooden door adorned with intricate carvings of saints and angels. Father San gave a light knock, then pushed it open, revealing a modest but authoritative office.

At the center of the room stood a sturdy oak table surrounded by a few simple chairs for visitors. Sunlight streamed through the window, where an elderly man stood with his back to us. His white beard cascaded like a river of snow, and his hands were clasped behind him as he gazed out at the bustling town below.

The old man turned at the sound of the door, his piercing yet warm gaze settling on me. He gestured toward a chair in front of his desk.

"Please, have a seat," he said, his voice deep and steady.

I hesitated briefly before nodding and sitting down. Father San moved to stand respectfully beside him, his hands folded neatly. The elderly priest, now seated behind his desk, leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the polished wood as he studied me.

"You must be the new child from the orphanage," he began, his tone contemplative. "The way you carry yourself... You strike me as someone who has already lived a second life."

My heart froze, and I could feel the blood drain from my face.

Wait, what? Does he know? How? Panic surged through me. This is bad. Did I slip up somehow? What if—

The priest’s deep laughter broke through my spiraling thoughts.

"Hahaha! I’m only teasing," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "You’ve just got a remarkable presence for someone so young. Your parents must have raised you well."

I exhaled shakily, trying to calm my racing heart. But his next words struck a deeper chord.

"I heard about your life in the mountains," he said softly, his tone somber. "Your parents sacrificed themselves to get you to safety during the monster attack. Their love for you was evident in their final act."

His words hit me like a stone. That’s right—I actually remember now. We lived in isolation with our parents, far removed from the outside world. They raised us in peace, unaware of the dangers beyond the mountains. Because of this, we knew almost nothing about the world beyond our home.

But then, everything changed during the attack. Since my brother and I were reincarnated, our memories from our previous lives were added to the ones we made in this world. After the incident, those memories became even more tangled.

For me, this life feels like a blur—a faint echo compared to the vivid recollections of my past life. But my brother? He doesn’t even have that. He was struck on the head during the attack, and it wiped everything from this life clean. His memories from our previous life replaced it all, leaving him unable to recall even a fragment of the parents who loved us so deeply.

"They were good, normal parents," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "Too bad my brother can’t remember them..."

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Father Thomas and Father San exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

"I’m sorry to bring up such painful memories," Father Thomas said gently. "That wasn’t my intention."

I shook my head, sitting up straighter. "It’s okay. What matters is that their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Because of them, my brother and I are still here. Their deaths… had meaning."

A silence filled the room, heavy yet not uncomfortable. Father Thomas regarded me with an expression I couldn’t quite place—admiration, perhaps, or respect.

"You have a strong will for someone so young," he said at last, a faint smile softening his features.

Father San, who had remained quiet, seemed surprised by my response. He blinked, glancing between me and the head priest as if weighing my words.

Father Thomas leaned back slightly, his tone shifting. "Alright. Let’s move on to why I asked to speak with you."

I straightened in my seat, my curiosity piqued.

"I have a proposal for you," he said.

I tilted my head. "A proposal?"

He folded his hands on the desk, his gaze steady. "I know this may seem sudden, especially after all you’ve been through, but we want to help you and your brother get adopted."

I blinked, taken aback. Adopted? That wasn’t what I had expected at all.

"There are noble families I trust who could give you and your brother a safe home, maybe even a better life," Father Thomas continued. "And don’t worry—you wouldn’t be separated from your brother."

I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Why? Aren’t you going to recruit me into the church, like… The Faithful Conclave?"

At the mention of the Conclave, Father Thomas’s brows furrowed, and Father San’s posture stiffened.

"How do you know about them?" Father San asked cautiously, his voice tinged with suspicion.

I quickly waved a hand, trying to cover my mistake. "I’ve… heard rumors."

Father Thomas sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Let me be clear—I may be part of the church, but I am not one of them. In fact, I oppose everything they stand for. I won’t let someone like you—a rare, pure talent—fall into their hands. You have the potential to be so much more. Perhaps even a hero."

I frowned, the words "rare talent" sticking in my mind. "Isn’t it risky for you to help someone like me?"

Father Thomas smiled faintly. "Only if they found out. But they won’t, because no one knows about your abilities except Father San, myself, and you."

My shoulders relaxed slightly, though doubt still lingered. "You’ve gone that far to protect us?"

Both priests nodded.

Father Thomas leaned forward again, his gaze serious. "So, what do you say, Saya? Will you accept our offer?"

I hesitated, my mind racing. On the surface, the offer seemed ideal—better living conditions, a home, perhaps even a mansion where my brother could be safe from danger. But something about it didn’t sit right with me. I wanted to help my brother, yes, but I wanted to do it on my own terms. And there was the issue of freedom. Would I truly be free if I accepted?

After a moment of silence, I shook my head. "I’m sorry, Father Thomas, but I have to refuse the offer."

Both priests were visibly surprised.

"Are you sure about that?" Father Thomas asked, leaning back in his chair with a concerned frown. "This is a rare opportunity. You and your brother could live a life of luxury, far from the orphanage."

I thought back to when my brother, Gain, and I used to watch adventure shows in our previous lives. He would always comment with excitement, "Damn, being an adventurer sounds nice. You could do anything you wanted."

I smiled faintly at the memory. "Thank you for the offer, Father Thomas, but I want to become an adventurer."

Father Thomas didn’t seem convinced. "You could still become an adventurer even if you were adopted."

"That’s true," I admitted. "But the only reason you want us adopted is to keep us away from the Faithful Conclave, isn’t it?"

His brow furrowed, but he didn’t deny it.

"I’ll steer clear of them on my own. I have no intention of getting involved with them in the first place. Besides, the orphanage isn’t so bad. I don’t see any reason to leave."

Father Thomas sighed, a small smile playing on his lips. "You’re quite a smart kid. Very well, I’ll respect your decision. We won’t tell anyone about your abilities, so they won’t find out. But you must also promise to keep your powers a secret—including from your brother."

Father San nodded in agreement, his expression firm.

I smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Father Thomas. I’ll keep it a secret. And as for my brother, he’s not the type to show off, so I think we’ll be fine."

With that, our conversation came to an end. Father San escorted me out of the office, his pace slow and steady. As we stepped back into the church’s main hall, my thoughts turned to Gain.

Come to think of it… What is Big Bro doing right now?

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Meanwhile, in a different part of town, Gain stood motionless, staring up at a towering man built like a warrior.