"Are you okay?"
When I felt like I could finally control my body properly, it was already late at night.
I still had a slight fever, but I opened my eyes as I sat up. Looking around, I found myself in a cozy and soft bed.
"…Where?"
"This is my private room in Ophelis Hall. At the request of Lady Yennekar and Lady Lortel, I brought you here."
"..."
I was at a loss for words at the sight of Bell standing next to me.
All I could remember was suddenly getting dizzy after drinking a cup of water.
It was difficult to accurately judge the situation from that alone, so I asked Bell to explain it to me further.
"It seems that Lady Patriciana caused trouble."
"Patriciana? That fourth year troublemaker magician?"
"Yes. Have you met her before?"
"…Yeah. It wasn't on particularly great terms, though."
Last time, she had gotten hold of Merilda, who was walking around the camp. She started making a fuss about me supposedly abusing her.
Her sister Trayciana had rushed in, grabbing the girl's head and shoving it down, apologizing over and over. After that, Trayciana helped me with retaking the Elte Company.
Now, that same girl was causing trouble with reagents. I guess some people really couldn't be fixed.
I took a deep breath as I stared blankly into the air for a moment.
"So, where is she now?"
"She's being held in Lady Trayciana's room."
"Being held…?"
"When I was doing my routine check, I saw her on her knees, practicing apologizing with Lady Trayciana."
"..."
"She was quite passionate. They're not even from a military family, so I wonder if they received training elsewhere?"
To be honest, Trayciana never really did anything wrong. However, she always apologized as well, since she felt she was a part of Patriciana's incidents. She did it the last time, too.
It was clear that she would drag Patriciana by her ear, press down on her head, and apologize from the bottom of her heart once again.
"Well, sooner or later they'll probably come bearing presents. I think that right now, you should focus on getting some rest."
"What a life I have."
"You don't have to worry about what comes after. Lady Trayciana is an expert in this area…"
"…What area…?"
I got up as I continued pressing on my temples. My headache subsided quite a bit, but the slight fever was still there.
"Whenever Lady Patriciana causes an incident, Trayciana always comes and apologizes… and her apology always differs depending on the case. That's why she's known as somewhat of an expert at apologies within the school."
"..."
"Well, I guess you wouldn't be interested in this kind of gossip."
Seeing Bell at the table doing embroidery, I asked her what she was doing.
She was not in her usual maid outfit, which was rather decorated with a rose pattern. It seemed that since it was already late at night and there was nothing left to do, she was wearing comfortable clothes.
Since Bell was always neat and tidy in everything she did, it was almost impossible for a regular student to see her in casual clothes.
Even though she was only wearing a simple pajama dress, her appearance had changed quite drastically.
"I… have been quite unlucky these days…"
"You don't look great. Do you still not feel well? You should sleep some more."
"No, I can't keep occupying someone else's bed forever. It's just… I can't tell if my common sense is lacking or if all of the students at this school are just weird. To the abduction expert, the apology expert… and the drinking water terrorist…"
"…What I'm certain of is that Young Master Ed is a rational person with common sense. So, there's no need for him to adapt his way of thinking to the environment…"
It really felt like there were only a few sane people at the school—especially among students in the alchemy department. They were always so engrossed and obsessed with alchemy…
Seriously, what was with that department…? It was no joke to call them a department full of outcasts…
"So… why did you have to bring me all the way to your personal room in Ophelis Hall? I feel bad because I already know how busy you are."
"It was no problem. Either way, I had a bunch of things to take care of tonight."
"If I just rested back in the cabin, I would have recovered on my own. So, why did you bring me all the way over here?"
"Well… In my personal opinion, leaving you in the camp would have been much more dangerous. As for the details… It's a bit complicated to explain…"
Bell put the scarf she had been embroidering on the table as she fell into deep thought.
"Just… I think you should rest here tonight. It won't be a problem since I have to go out and take a watch shift anyway."
"…When do you even sleep?"
"I sleep for a couple of hours in the morning, and I take a short nap when I have time during the day. My morning schedule is pretty lax, and I was able to rest quite a bit over break."
A good night's sleep wasn't an everyday thing for her, it was an event.
No matter how passionate and sincere a person was, they would eventually become exhausted at some point… Despite that fact, Bell had skin that was more radiant than anyone else's, and a strong vitality around her.
There were people whose fuel in life was their work. People born with such a mindset usually ended up in high positions.
And that was true for Bell Maya.
" I thought I was living a pretty sincere life, but you're on a different level."
"...?"
"…Never mind."
That was normal. Once someone had that mindset, the question of 'why do you work so hard' became strange.
Since I wasn't in a position to say anything, I just nodded my head.
"Would you like some snacks? Eating sweet things will help speed up your recovery."
"It's fine. I have already overcome the effects of that drug to some extent."
"I see. I heard that you are going to Cledric Monastery some time this week. I was worried that you wouldn't be able to recover before then."
"Yeah, you don't have to worry. I somehow got over the initial effects of it, but… I wonder if there are any aftereffects."
"I asked her about that, and she said there was nothing to worry about. Maybe when the sun comes up, they will come visit you to explain."
I nodded my head as I tried to endure the slight headache that remained.
Slowly, my body and mind started to get better. Only then did I fully see all of Bell's private room.
Simply put, it was different from what I had imagined.
No one could deny that being the head maid of Ophelis Hall was a prestigious and high-income position. It was a dream position for anyone who worked within the related field.
The attire for the position was also glamorous, making it stand out. It was quite different from a traditional maid, where modesty was considered a necessary virtue. However, it couldn't be helped.
In fact, as it was a position that directly served all of the distinguished students who studied at Silvenia, she was also somewhat the face of Silvenia.
Since she held such a large responsibility as the face of Silvenia, the school also needed to treat her with as much support and consideration as possible.
For such a position… her room was very small. A small bed, a wooden table and chair, a window with adequate light, and a simple wardrobe with decent storage.
There were also some portraits of historical figures hanging on the wall. On the table, there was a landscape painting and a dagger with a wildcat pattern on it.
"The head maid's private room is being used as a warehouse."
Perhaps because she noticed that I was completely puzzled as I looked at the room, Bell spoke first.
"I feel out of place sleeping in a room that is much too large for me… So, I'm still using the same room I used when I was a senior maid."
"You're frugal."
"I'm pretty ordinary."
Frugality was also a relative concept to some extent.
No matter how frugal a person might be, it was no easy task to maintain such an attitude after working somewhere as luxurious as Ophelis Hall for several years… especially in the position of head maid.
Although she was in a position where there would be no issue with her being a little greedy or extravagant, she remained like that. She was truly a person who could be considered a maid who came down from heaven.
"What were you doing before you became a maid?"
I felt my body's strength return as I swung my arms around.
I then gently pushed out a question that was hidden in my chest.
Rumors circulated here and there throughout Ophelis Hall, but there wasn't anything that was particularly revealing.
Although it would be rude to dig too deep into her past, it wouldn't be too disrespectful to just ask her briefly out of curiosity.
"Hmm…"
However, Bell pondered for a moment before saying,
"It's not a very interesting story… It's not really something to talk about."
Don't ask.
After seeing that attitude, anyone would be able to interpret what she was trying to say.
I decided to move past it, figuring that she must have her own reasons.
"Yeah, sorry if I was rude. I wasn't trying to dig into your past or anything."
It would be rude to delve any deeper into her personal history than necessary. However, after I gave her my apology, Bell suddenly shook her head.
On the contrary, she looked perplexed.
"I… seem to have said something misleading. My apologies, Young Master Ed. It wasn't a particularly rude question."
"What?"
"What I'm saying is that… It's not very pleasant… and it's rather dark. And I don't think there's any particular reason to talk about something dark. It's not something I'm particularly trying to hide."
Bell picked up the embroidery she had put down as she fiddled with the needle again. It seemed like it would be a long scarf.
Looking at the scarf she was making, it seemed like it was for a student. It looked like she was embroidering or repairing it. It was something that another maid should have been taking care of, yet she was doing it herself.
"I am the illegitimate child of House Flanchel, from the northeastern part of the Empire. My last name, Maya, comes from my mother's side of the family."
Bell suddenly revealed a major truth nonchalantly.
With that one line alone I realized just how unusual Bell's birth really was. It was easy to see that her life mustn't have been easy.
"Do you know Baron Flanchel?"
"…I think I've heard the name before."
It was a name that I was rather uncertain of.
However, I was certain that I hadn't seen him at the social gathering at the Rothstaylor Estate. A gathering where small, medium, and influential aristocrats came in person, and if not, they at least sent gifts.
"Actually, it's more natural to not know of him. Baron Flanchel produced a lot of bureaucrats, mainly in charge of long-distance diplomacy with areas located on the eastern continent. As it was located in the northeastern part of the empire with rather rough terrain, sea routes were used much more than carriages when heading towards the empire."
"For him to be a baron, it seems he was quite old."
"I do not know. Anyway, you won't be able to find it on the map anymore. It was taken over by Count Melin. In fact, as you are a member of the grand House Rothstaylor, such an incident is a rather minor event."
"..."
What did it mean for a noble's territory to merge into the territory of a higher noble? I could think of a variety of possibilities, but most of them weren't pleasant.
"As a member of a diplomatic family, he went abroad a lot, especially to the distant eastern continent. He tried to introduce new agricultural equipment and sericulture, as well as promote large-scale projects to level the rough land."
The name Flanchel didn't ring any bells in my memory.
However, since Bell was able to talk about such details… I started to feel strange.
While he was only a minor baron whom I had passed, to Bell he was the one who took care of her during her childhood.
"There were many attempts to make the estate more prosperous, but most of them didn't end well."
"…You were the illegitimate child of that Flanchel family…?"
"Yes. I am an illegitimate child of the official heir, Dalvern."
"I see… Your life must not have been easy."
"Perhaps. If I had been a key figure in a fierce battle for power, perhaps my life would have been much different."
Since he was a minor noble that was losing in a battle for power, he mustn't have cared about his children… Especially one that was born out of wedlock. Perhaps he saw Bell as a political weakness or a thorn in his side?
"Unexpectedly, during my childhood I was actually cared for, as I lived in the mansion. The forces hardly ever looked towards me, either."
"..."
"So, there is nothing particularly hurtful about my story. And I have never been ashamed of my identity. However, there are some who are surprised when I say that I am from an aristocratic family."
I was the same.
It was ironic in some way that the maid who took care of the nobles was actually from a noble family.
"But if you think about it, it actually makes sense. As this is a position that requires hospitality and the management of nobles, it would be more appropriate for individuals who know well about their manners to have the position."
"If you think about it that way, that makes sense. But where in the world is there a noble who chooses to be a maid?"
"Exactly. Which is what makes me the perfect person for the job. There were times when my status as an illegitimate child was harmful, but at the same time, I am also very grateful for it, as it has made it possible for me to become like this."
Actually, rather than the fact she came from an aristocratic family, the innate side of her that was so hardworking and sincere was much more influential… However, I decided to not bring up such minor details.
"By the way, isn't that in the complete opposite direction of Acken Island, which is located southwest of the continent? How did you leave your home and travel such a long distance to become a maid here?"
"The former head maid, Elris, was an acquaintance of my father's. She was from the eastern continent. One of the many children my father reached out to, since she had nowhere to go… And from the family's point of view, even if there was no intense greed or desire for power, they wouldn't want to keep their illegitimate children with them forever. They needed to get rid of us so that we could both live our lives to the fullest."
At that point I realized it.
As Bell told her story, she was consciously skipping through the depressing and gloomy parts.
Well, she was able to survive, and she was born to a noble family.
Even though she was in a peculiar situation, the way she spoke made it seem as if there weren't any major hardships in her life.
Perhaps she didn't want to make me depressed with her story. Such kindness was ingrained in her body.
Seeing Bell Maya act like that… I felt thrown off.
"It must have been difficult."
"It was not particularly difficult."
"I know that it was hard for you."
"There were times like that, but it's still nice to say I came from a noble family. Though, since you grew up in House Rothstaylor, I can't possibly brag about such a thing to you."
Skillfully maneuvering the conversation to compliment me instead. She was truly a master at dealing with uncomfortable situations.
"…Okay."
So, I threw in the towel.
Bell Maya was conscious of the fact that I had given up. She put her embroidery down for a moment as she looked at me.
"Actually, who doesn't have a difficult time? Everyone has ups and downs in their life. Especially within Ophelis Hall, I see that more often."
"I can't argue with that. My House is also in complete turmoil right now."
"That's right. So, I am not one to plead for sympathy because of my misfortune and pitiful life."
The round moon outside the window.
As always, the moonlight illuminated the world fairly.
Although it shone like a midday sun, it instead gave off a feeling of peace to people's hearts.
When there was a dazzlingly bright light, sometimes you also needed a softer one behind it.
Bell Maya was such a light. One who didn't clearly illuminate the stage, yet she was still there.
"Still, it wouldn't be polite for me to end things here after you showed such curiosity about me."
"No, it's fine. I was just a little curious, that's all. I'm already busy with my own things, so I don't have the energy to wonder about others. If you don't want to, you don't need to tell me any more."
"No. It's not that I don't want to, but rather that I want to say it honestly."
"...?"
She didn't want to, yet she wanted to say it?
I had an absurd expression on my face from the contradiction she had just uttered. Bell Maya then spoke with an awkward expression on her face.
"What I just said was rather general. But since it is you who I am telling it to, I've had a change of heart."
"A change of heart? Is there something you want to tell me now?"
"Yes. Well… there is something I want you to hear."
It was surprising to see a woman who was consistent with her business-like attitude to suddenly act like that.
She was not someone who would have personal feelings for me. Both Bell and I knew that fact.
Rather, our relationship was great because it felt like a work relationship. That was why I was able to throw down the white flag and start speaking casually to Bell, who kept on insisting on me doing so.
"Do you know about the end of the Flanchel family?"
No matter who it was, both tragedy and comedy intersected in their life.
If you looked back on the path you lived, there were surely many times where you were both sad and happy.
I didn't know how many were in Bell's past, but my gut feeling was crying out.
At the very least, it seemed that it was Bell's darkest past that she had kept hidden.
Yet, as always, her elegant and clear tone of voice remained unchanged.
"It was just a minor event in history… A minor aristocrat with no desire for power. Most end up with similar outcomes."
"Were they discarded in a power struggle between high-ranking nobles?"
"Similar. It's a rather normal story that doesn't need to be explained, but I still remember the ending clearly. It happened when I was a child. At that time, the former head maid Elris was visiting the mansion as a guest."
Bell closed her eyes.
Only Bell herself knew what her life as a child was like. She didn't give details. She just briefly moved the story along.
"The amount demanded by Count Melin could no longer be met through the tax revenue within the estate. Thus, we were forced to sell our valuables, fire our servants, and were thus robbed of all our personal assets. And like that, the estate's warehouse grew increasingly empty."
"..."
I had guessed as much to some extent, but I kept my mouth shut and listened.
"The baron went directly to Count Melin to try and make an appeal, but it was to no avail. When he demanded to be given someone, Baron Flanchel realized it then. The person Count Melin wanted as tribute was just an illegitimate child that wasn't anything special."
She spoke like that, but the name of that illegitimate child was probably…
"A person whose name was not even on the family tree. An illegitimate child of House Flanchel… It was fine to sacrifice the child. In fact, perhaps if the child went to Count Melin, it could have lived a happier life. But to give them up with his own hands… It was too cruel."
"..."
"For some reason, holding that illegitimate child he had raised with his own two hands, he felt an emotional connection. Family love is sometimes referred to as a curse that blocks a person's path."
The speed at which she continued to embroider was constant. Bell Maya was a maid who faithfully performed the given task at any time.
"So, he came up with an innovative way to deal with the situation. A way to forcefully publicize the matter so things wouldn't move according to the unreasonable demands of Count Melin. One that other nobles wouldn't easily pass up."
"..."
"It was really quite the method to deal with things. One that would also rid him of all his pain. He wouldn't have to see the faces of the other nobles that harassed him. He wouldn't have to feel remorse when looking towards his own people, who he couldn't protect. And he wouldn't have to feel heartbroken, looking at the sad expression on his young illegitimate child's face, the child who didn't know anything about the world. It was a quick way out."
"What did he do?" I asked lightly.
However, the answer she gave was quite heavy.
"All he needed was a few supplies. A long rope and an old wooden chair."
"..."
"The rope should be long enough to make a loop and tie it to the ceiling. The chair should be light enough to be easily knocked over."
Then, she stopped talking.
Silence.
Thirty seconds? One minute?
Not saying a word to each other, I lowered my gaze in that quiet room.
"However, it's not a depressing story in the end. You could think of him as a whistleblower? Like a fairy tale, in the end Count Melin met his demise when the news came out, leaving a rather refreshing feeling."
"I think I've heard of that before. That's something all the older professors know about."
"That's right. The story of Count Melin is famous. Two years later, he lost everything. News of his cruel past deeds came to light… It was only natural…"
Bell closed her eyes and spoke.
Normally, she wouldn't talk about such a thing to another person. However, she wanted to tell me.
Now, I understood what she meant by that.
"But it's not a good decision to take your own life."
"..."
"No one knows what will happen in the future."
If the baron had just closed his eyes and passed the illegitimate child over to him, two years later he might have been laughing at his downfall.
While speaking, Bell slowly opened her eyes as she put the needle through the scarf.
What that young girl must have seen when she opened the baron's door…
Only Bell could remember just what kind of sight that was.
"I'm sorry for the depressing story."
"No. There's nothing to apologize for. Also, I wanted to tell you… I am living life as fruitfully as I can."
"I know. You're living a life much harder than anyone else."
Bell put down her embroidery for a moment as she looked out the moonlit window.
"And that's a relief."
* * *
"Please tell me when you go to Cledric Monastery. I'll prepare you some light refreshments to eat on your way and a few presents."
"Thank you for the refreshments. But why the presents?"
"The abbess is someone I know well. She has helped me a lot and is a very kind person. I want you to deliver a gift for me since you're going there. The refreshments are just a bribe for you to hand over the gift on my behalf."
"You don't have to bribe me to do that…though, I'll still gladly take those snacks."
Bell then lifted a candlestick from the corner of the room, as if she was going to go out and do her nighttime check.
"If possible, I think it would be better for you to sleep here until morning. It's not a good idea for you to walk through the forest at night unless you're sure of your condition."
"Is that so…? I feel like I've gotten my grip now, though…"
"Well, you've been through a lot of surprising things before. There have also been quite a few times in my life where I was flustered and put in unexpected situations… But whenever that happens, I consciously tell myself this."
Bell lifted the hem of her dress as she said, politely, "When you are flustered, it's best to talk things over with yourself."
Much of Bell's past was still a mystery. Even though I was told a fragment of it, I couldn't recklessly try to dig any deeper into it.
It must have been full of hardships that I could not even imagine.
Nevertheless, she continued to push through, talking things over with herself—as if she were hypnotizing herself.
As if she had expected things to turn out like they had from the start. As if there was no need to panic at all. That was the secret behind why she was always able to keep such a calm and serious demeanor.
* * *
"…I knew this would happen."
The next morning, Patriciana and Trayciana ran in through the door, slamming their heads on the floor.
"We!!! Are!!! Sorry!!!!!!! Forgive us for our crimes!!!!!!!!"
The sequence of opening the door, throwing a pile of presents on the table, and falling to the floor while banging their heads onto the ground was like a performance.
Trayciana was sitting next to Patriciana, holding her head and shoving it onto the floor.
If I had to give a score, it was easily a 100 on a scale of 10 points.
"My sister!!! It's because she doesn't know anything!!!!"
"….Ahh…! That hurts…! Ahhhhh… S-Sorry…"
"I'm really, really, really sorry!!!!! Sorry!!!!!"
I sat on the bed with a ridiculous expression on my face, looking down at the twin sisters with their heads bowed.
Seeing my fourth year upper-class students there with their heads lowered… It was an unforgettable sight to see.
-x-X-x-
For Lucy Mayreel, the saying the 'world is large' never made sense.
When she raised her head, looking out at the sea of stars, she could only tilt her head in question.
Her collar, fluttering in the cool early autumn wind, rubbed against her skin. It was somewhat ticklish.
Secretly climbing on the ledge of Obel Hall's roof, holding onto her witch hat to keep it from flying… Nothing had changed since she entered the school.
A cat with a black tail and white fur approached, sitting down next to her.
The cat perched on the railing as it let out a drowsy meow. It looked towards Lucy, staring intently at the jerky she was holding.
Lucy glared back at the cat as she swallowed the rest of the jerky in one bite. She had the same blank expression on her face as always.
The cat remained still as it licked its paws. Lucy then looked back up at the sky.
The world was rather ephemeral and meaningless to an archmage who had reached such a level.
Looking out at the school from the rooftop of Obel Hall, it felt like she could fit the entire campus in her fist.
She stretched out her hand towards the landscape. As she clenched her fist, the entire school fell into Lucy's small hands.
The day would surely come when even Silvenia Academy, which the Archmage Glockt highly cherished, would disappear in vain—no matter how hard she tried to save it.
A massive natural disaster, the passage of time, or a political struggle. It didn't matter what the cause would be. The only thing that mattered was the fact that, one day, the school would disappear.
Even if she continued to save the school from crises time and time again, as Glockt had asked of her… the passage of time wouldn't stop.
Lucy Mayreel looked out towards the stars.
Looking up, not down.
Without being swayed by time, the shining stars and moon in the sky always remained in the same spot.
She could always look out at the milky way.
If the world really was created by Telos, why would he create a world that was so susceptible to change? Wouldn't it have been better if he had made everything stand completely still, like the stars and the moon in the sky?
What immediately came to mind was the face of a blond boy.
Those thoughts and feelings Lucy had about life were considered 'empty' from that boy's point of view.
For him, it was more important to worry about how to live tomorrow.
All human beings on earth were busy trying to survive each and every day.
Even if they reached a state where they didn't have to worry about their survival, where they could work towards the dreams they held dear to their hearts, where they devoted themselves to their children or future generations, or strived to become even stronger and reach a higher level… One way or another, they all lived their lives on earth intensely.
However, for Lucy, who was detached from such things… She could never understand it.
"Be the reason for my life."
Suddenly, a tickling sensation rose to the tip of her nose. Lucy clenched the hand that was holding onto her witch hat.
She had said it impulsively at the time. Either way, it was past the time to be embarrassed over it.
She felt a feeling of gratitude towards the boy, who nodded his head, not hesitating for a moment. Whatever problem Lucy found herself in, he would help her think about it.
Saying the name 'Ed Rothstaylor' with her own mouth, the first thing that came to mind was him sitting alone in front of the campfire, sharpening his arrows in solitude.
Lucy questioned herself once more.
Even though she uttered those words impulsively, how could Ed Rothstaylor be the 'reason' for her life?
No, in the first place, what did it mean to have a life with meaning and a life with reason?
After she let go of the heavy burden that came with the will of the Archmage Glockt, what reason could come of her empty life?
Doubts over her lifestyle and way of thinking started to flood her head. Lucy looked up at the sky again with sullen eyes.
The Milky Way stretched out in a sea of stars.
* * *
"I want to go to the monastery, too."
The long-awaited weekend, when I could finally concentrate on raising my repair skill to learn the Bow Crafting Skill.
I woke up early in the morning to take care of the camp, finish leftover maintenance work, and finally repair some of the worn-out maid uniforms.
However, I suddenly heard that absurd demand.
"…What?"
"If you're going to the monastery, I will go, too."
A blue autumn sky. The sun was out, hovering in the middle of the sky and warmly enveloping the camp at midday.
Lucy was sitting on a tree stump under the sun, curled up and sleeping.
Occasionally, I would find her napping here and there, so it wasn't surprising anymore.
She would tiredly get up and cling to me, sit by my workbench and watch what I was doing, or lie in my lap and complain about not wanting to go to class… Well, that had all become the norm for me.
However, she would always look exhausted, too tired to do anything… She also never asked for anything, aside from when she occasionally muttered about jerky.
So, her sudden declaration about going to the monastery felt completely out of the blue to me.
"…What's with you?"
"I just want to go."
"..."
It had been three days since Patriciana caused a scene with her reagent.
As an apology, Trayciana had brought over some new wooden camping furniture and equipment. Apparently, she had asked Bell in advance what I would be the happiest with.
In addition, she brought over special Bloomriver magic engineering materials, medicinal herbs, various dried fish that were easy to store, a machete to help with living in the wild, and advanced repair tools to help me practice repairing.
She pressed down on Patriciana's head, saying that she would make sure it never happened again, two or three times over… Trayciana really had become quite skilled at apologizing.
She really was an expert at apologizing.
Though, no one in the world would want such a title…
It was a sight that brought a tear to my eye.
"For now, let me tell you my answer… It won't happen."
"..."
"Cledric Monastery isn't a place just anyone can enter. It's a religious sanctuary, so only authorized people can enter."
Lucy opened her mouth before I could even finish my sentence. Still, she couldn't come.
It wasn't something I could decide in the first place.
"But you're going. And you're a guy."
"Because I received special permission from the saint. Also, she had to suddenly come up with a good reason for it. What was it again…? That I'm an expert on a special disease the saint had recently been suffering from… Medical support, was it…? Anyway, she came up with some strange reason for bringing me…"
I didn't know the details, since I left the process of my approval entirely to Clarice.
Anyway, my only purpose was to attend the ceremony held at Cledric Monastery in order to meet with Princess Persica.
"Well, if you asked the saint to come up with some excuse to bring you along, that would be fine. However, you can't now."
"Why?"
"First of all, it's a burden to suddenly ask her to come up with a reason now, when we leave tomorrow."
Lucy was sitting on a tree stump, clutching her knees and grunting.
It looked like she wanted to use force, but she knew that it wasn't a situation where she could use force to get what she wanted.
"Don't make that face. There's nothing I can do, either. Why do you want to go to the monastery in the first place?"
"Because you are going."
"..."
"I like this camp, but without you, it's empty. I don't like empty cabins with no one in them."
There was no way I wouldn't know what she meant by that.
The Archmage Glockt, who took her in and took care of her, had built a cabin in the Lamelin Mountain Range and lived there.
That cabin he passed away in must have felt empty to her.
"I hate this."
"Anyway, it will only be for a few days, so don't think about it too much. Also, I had to get an excused absence from the school for this. If you suddenly leave Acken Island now, they will mark you absent for all of your classes."
"I don't care if I miss a few days of class."
"That's… That's true."
A few absent marks wouldn't create a single dent in Lucy Mayreel's overwhelming performance grades.
Even among the professors, they wondered why she even went to school.
Though, it wasn't uncommon for students who were talented at a level beyond the school's curriculum to continue attending Silvenia for a diploma.
"Anyway, it's too late for you to get permission… So just rest here on Acken Island. I'm not going to do anything major there. I'm just going to have a conversation."
"Conversation?"
"About the Holy Blue Dragon."
Hearing that, Lucy had a blank expression on her face again.
At that point in time, Lucy was the only one I could speak freely with about the Holy Blue Dragon.
"I… I saw a future where the Holy Blue Dragon destroys the entirety of Acken Island. And I also saw it come to reality."
The storyline within
At that point, asking people to believe anything about it was too much. It was too difficult to fully explain, and it would be better if I didn't get treated like a psychopath.
"Regular people would dismiss my words, saying that I'm out of my mind. Though, honestly, forcing them to believe it is absurd."
"..."
"Still, there are only two people who I know will believe in what I say without a doubt. That's you and Saint Clarice of the Telos Religious Group."
I had memories of facing the Holy Blue Dragon while rewinding time together. We were the ones who shared those memories.
The only people who could fully understand the seriousness of the situation.
Other than that, there were others who fully trusted me. For example, Yennekar and Lortel… However, honestly speaking, it would be impossible for them to treat the matter seriously.
They'd probably believe it, but… There was no way the seriousness of the situation could be accurately conveyed.
Face-to-face against that roaring dragon that filled the entire sky. Destroying the entire ground with its horrific scales that crashed into the school… There was a big difference between hearing about it and actually seeing it.
"So, for now I'm going to ask Saint Clarice for help. I haven't had the opportunity to have a thorough talk about it with her yet, so this will be my chance. I need to make sure we figure out what we exactly have to do."
"Have to do…?"
"To completely defeat Velbrok, we need to gather as many forces as possible. At the very least, gathering power from both the religious group and imperial power is essential."
I decided to share some of my plans with Lucy.
"Right now, the imperial power is split into three sides. First, it's necessary to unite them, and bring them all to our side as allies."
"You're going to end the dispute over the throne?"
"It should have already been over."
In
It was the opportunity that solidified her position as the next emperor.
However, the scenario had completely derailed. Princess Selah survived, Princess Persica had gathered power, and Princess Penia had given up her seat as student council president.
In addition, Krepin's subjugation took place earlier than in the original storyline. Thus, Princess Penia didn't have time to use it to her advantage.
I didn't particularly care about her political vision or qualifications as the emperor.
What mattered was that she was the only person who could protect the school from Velbrok. She was the only one who could gather all of the imperial knights to Acken Island, and she was the only one of the princesses who would actually listen to my opinion to some extent.
In order to minimize the casualties within the school, we needed to gather all of the imperial knights. The only person who could make such a decision was Penia, a student of Silvenia who had been at Acken Island for several years.
"This visit to the monastery is a crucial task towards the subjugation of the Holy Blue Dragon… This is extremely important."
"…Okay."
Lucy nodded her head with a blank expression on her face, as if she understood what I was saying.
Though, she still looked unhappy. It didn't seem she was upset with me in particular, but it didn't make me feel any better about seeing that.
Since I wasn't happy seeing Lucy like that, I comforted her by patting her on the head.
* * *
"These are some light refreshments for you to eat on the way. A snack that was made through pickling and aging various seasonal fruits from Countess Zahul… I'm sure you will enjoy it. When you arrive at Cledric Monastery, will you please deliver this to the abbess?"
The next morning, I stopped by Ophelis Hall, accepting Bell's request.
I was handed fancily-packaged snacks and a present—I had no idea what was inside.
As expected of the face of Ophelis Hall, the way she packaged it was both neat and fancy.
* * *
"Your application for an excused absence has been confirmed by the school~! But Cledric Monastery… Although it's not far away, it's not a place one would usually go during the middle of a semester. However, since your job is to assist the saint, it can't be helped… To be assisting the saint directly… You're quite impressive, Ed! Anyway! Don't worry about your classes, just have fun~!"
I was in Assistant Professor Cleoh's private laboratory. I stopped by to check on my excused absence forms, but the place was already a hectic mess.
Professor Kaleid had run away without doing any work, so Anise was stuck doing twice the amount of paperwork.
Assistant Professor Cleoh looked like she was barely keeping it together. Still, she smiled kindly as she took care of my excused absence and bid me farewell.
She looked like she was moving into another realm.
* * *
"Take care of yourself. Don't worry about camp, I can do the basic camp management by myself now… So, don't be surprised when you come back and see how clean the camp is!"
Saying farewell to Yennekar, who smiled back at me, I felt my steps getting lighter.
In the past, I was always anxious when I had to leave the camp for a few days. Now that I had a companion who stayed at the camp with me, I feel much more at ease.
Once again, I was reminded of how blessed I was to have Yennekar.
* * *
"The procedures have been completed. When you come back next week, please come in this way so we can process your paperwork once more, student Ed Rothstaylor."
Finally, I completed all of the formalities and procedures necessary at the entrance of the school at Mexes Bridge.
Passing through the main gate, heading towards Mexes Bridge, I could see the saint's large carriage in front of me.
Of course, I wouldn't be riding in it.
"The attendants will ride separately in another carriage that has been prepared over there."
The saint's importance within the Telos Religious Group was almost at the level of their God Telos.
So, the respect they showed towards me, a direct companion appointed by the saint, was also quite extreme.
A priest dressed in religious robes politely guided me towards another carriage. The way he politely lowered his head towards me left me with quite a strange feeling.
"All of the other carriages will be around the vicinity of the Saint's carriage. There isn't anything you need to do, so please rest easy. If there are any problems, please let me know."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"You can put your luggage inside the carriage. Then, I'll be off to check on the rest of the schedule…"
The young priest nodded as he departed towards the saint's carriage.
Saint Clarice came to Mexes Bridge and hopped into her large carriage as soon as she finished her schedule for the Telos Religious Group.
Even before departing for Cledric Monastery, she was busy taking care of her other schedule. She really was a busy person.
As I didn't have anything to do after loading my luggage into the carriage, I watched the other workers do their tasks.
They were working hard, but they seemed to be struggling because of the sheer amount of luggage there was.
Everyone else was working, so it felt a bit disrespectful to be resting on my own.
They were people who would be taking care of me over the next few days, so there was nothing wrong with lending them a hand. I rolled up my sleeves as I helped a worker push some luggage into the carriage.
"Young Master, there is no need for you to work up a sweat. But thanks to you, I survived."
"Haha, I thought you were a nobleman. But you are much stronger than I thought. Are you a student from the combat department?"
The kind workers spoke to me with big smiles on their faces. I told them I was a student of the magic department as I helped them load some more bags and wooden boxes into the carriages.
Since the schedule was so tight, they could use any help they could get. The workers all laughed, thanking me as they began to work harder.
"You can move those bags over there. I heard they are official gifts from Ophelis Hall and the school for the monastery… So, it'd be bad if we damaged them. Please be careful when you move them."
It seemed that Bell had given me a gift to give privately, but also an official one on behalf of Ophelis Hall.
I nodded my head as I picked up a decently sized wooden crate, lifting it.
"Uh, uh…"
Why was it so heavy?
It wasn't that large, but it was much heavier than I thought.
"Oh, young master. You must be tired. You've already helped us enough, so please rest easy inside the carriage…!"
"I also tried to lift that box earlier, and had no idea how heavy it was… There must be quite a bit inside of it. You should go and take a break. Nothing good will come from having you overworked and fatigued."
"Yes. We are workers who were paid to do this, but you're an aide to the saint. If your precious body is hurt, it would only hurt our hearts more!"
Hearing the compassionate workers constantly telling me to take a break, I would feel bad if I rejected their offer. The box didn't look like it would be that heavy, but… nothing good would come out of me overworking myself.
I bowed politely as I jumped into the carriage. There was nothing wrong with taking it easy.
With that thought in mind, I got into the carriage… but across from me was a girl I was quite familiar with.
"Aren't the workers quite kind? I always feel so pleased to see them! Though, you are rather strong, Ed. Not just anyone can keep up with the pace of those workers…"
"…What are you doing here…?"
I was going to speak respectfully, but quickly caught myself.
Sitting opposite me was a girl with brown hair. An immature noble girl who was a current first year student at Silvenia.
Kylie Eckner.
"I am also coming to assist Saint Clarice."
"..."
"I hurriedly ran here to ride in the same carriage as you, Ed."
Seeing Kylie smile as if she were the happiest girl in the world, I was at a loss for words.
"Before we arrive at Cledric Monastery, I wanted to have the chance to speak with you, Ed."
"That's why you went through so much trouble…"
"You had something important to tell me, right? I felt like you were trying to tell me something at the camp last time."
When and where did she notice that?
In the eyes of that innocent girl, I could see the experience and maturity that came with being the saint of the Telos Religious Group.
"Would you mind telling me? Because… I am ready to listen to whatever you have to say."
The driver got into his seat and swung the whip.
With that… the carriage slowly made its way towards the monastery.
-x-X-x-
As expected, the landscape was gorgeous and a truly superb view.
The coast was famous for being one of the most beautiful areas within the Zahul territory.
After making our way along the forest road for some time, we eventually reached a wide coast. Even the workers, who had been there many times before, exclaimed in admiration.
The coast dazzled under the midday sun. It was as if it were covered in sparkling jewels.
However, by itself it was no different than the coast you would see on Acken Island. What really caught my eye was the towering monastery that was in the middle of the vast sea.
Cledric Monastery.
Even though it was a monster built out of old bricks, the sheer size and grandeur of it was overwhelming.
It was impossible to tell just how tall the spires reaching for the sky truly were. There were at least six or seven that I could see from where I was. The rock beneath it also acted as a natural fortress.
It couldn't be compared to Ophelis Hall or Trix Hall, the tallest buildings in Silvenia. It was like a castle taken straight out of a fairy tale, floating out in the sea.
"We probably won't be able to enter now."
Kylie Eckner, who was sitting across from me—also known as Saint Clarice in disguise—looked out the window as she spoke.
"It seems that high tide is in full swing… we can only enter after sunset, when the tide lowers."
"Is that so…?"
"Probably on foot. We will have to carry our luggage on our own."
Kylie, who was sitting across from me and tidying up her uniform, smiled.
Surprisingly, the journey wasn't that long. About half a day by horse-drawn carriage? It felt like the carriage was moving faster than normal, but the monastery was still a lot closer than I had expected.
Though, in the first place, Acken Island was located right next to Zahul's territory. Since Cledric Monastery was there, it wasn't all that far away.
"Regardless of who visits, they will have to exit the carriage and travel there by foot. Whether they are a member of the imperial family or the Saint of the Telos Religious Group, they all need to personally walk across. That is because there is no way for a carriage to pass through such a short-lived road at low tide."
"It's a more troublesome place to reach than I thought."
"Under our God Telos' protection, we are taught that all human beings are equal."
"..."
"Well, I'm just guessing that's what they will tell us later."
Since the Saint herself was saying that, I didn't dare argue.
However, the workers sitting nearby laughed out loud.
"Hahaha. This young lady is surprisingly well aware of the meaning behind that monastery. Though, this is the first time I've seen you. Are you a student from Silvenia?"
Even though she wore a disguise, she was still a noble girl from a far-off border region.
Though, none of the workers in the carriage could have imagined who she really was. As they naively spoke to her, she calmly continued to act.
"I'm a first year student in the Magic Department."
Surprisingly, she was rather thorough when hiding her true identity.
Though, in the first place, I felt that she acted less like her real self when she was the Saint.
"I am just a regular student who came to assist Saint Clarice."
"Oh, the same reason as the young man. Did you meet with the Saint at school?"
"I think you must definitely have a special relationship with her, seeing as she invited you both personally. You two shouldn't be stuck here sitting in the same carriage as workers like us."
The chattering workers were already gulping down beer.
Drinking in broad daylight. Though, as long as they were capable of unloading the luggage at the beach, their work would be finished.
There was no way the workers would be allowed to enter Cledric Monastery, which was strictly forbidden to males. So, the nuns from the monastery would have to carry the luggage inside instead.
"It is a great honor for ordinary people like us to be able to move the Saint's luggage. Even though we are directly helping her, we can't help but feel like she's so far away from us. For you two, who are still wearing uniforms, it must be a great honor to personally help her."
"I'm sure the Saint holds a heart of gratitude towards the workers who are always working hard."
"This young lady speaks quite nicely. She's rather faithful, as if straight out of a textbook."
Seeing Kylie smiling like that, it made me wonder just what kind of expression the workers would make if they were to realize that the person they were praising so much was Saint Clarice herself.
As for me, there were so many extra ears in the carriage that I couldn't have a decent conversation with her.
In the first place, it was no easy task to have a long and serious conversation with Clarice, since she was always accompanied by an escort or several members of the religious group.
Although she was riding in the carriage as Kylie, who I could have a private conversation with, it was still a difficult situation. If I spoke to her as if she were actually Clarice, the workers would probably find it strange and look at me weirdly.
In particular, they would think it was ridiculous to hear me talking about the Holy Blue Dragon so confidently.
"Young man, I heard that you are going inside the monastery… I'm sure that will be a very valuable experience for you."
"That's true. We only know of its majestic exterior, but we have no idea about what it's like inside. You will be able to see it all with your own two eyes…"
"Not only that, the place is full of nuns who don't know anything about the world. I'm sure when they see you, their whole lives will change. HAHAHA!"
Did all guys think the same thing?
After they said all of that, the workers all looked at me as if they were envious. I didn't know what to say to them, so I only responded that I was simply going to do my job.
Perhaps they thought I was trying to keep quiet and not accidentally reveal any more than necessary, because they all started to gossip amongst themselves after that.
"I don't think anyone would simply enter the monastery out of curiosity."
"Well, there's no need for us to understand something like that. We don't live in high society like them."
Honestly, I wasn't planning to enter the monastery with inappropriate thoughts, but hearing them talk like that… It seemed that they all had the wrong idea.
"It's not a big deal. I am just… assisting the Saint."
"How could it not be a big deal when you are helping the Saint herself? Though, I am curious how that granny Abbess is going to react."
"Abbess… you mean…?"
"That's right! That Granny Austin!"
Hearing that name from the workers, Kylie started to chuckle as if she knew something.
"Do you know the abbess?"
"Of course we do. When we unload the luggage, she is always the one who brings over the nuns to pick it up from the shore. Inside the monastery, she is called King Granny. When you see her in person you will know the reason right away. Didn't she say she was turning 109 this year? It's crazy that she's even still alive."
"Haha, that old lady really doesn't plan on dying. Last time, when she came to pay me for some ingredients, she started giving me all this cream that is supposedly good for the skin… I can't believe she still has the energy to do all that."
When I imagined an abbess, the image that came to mind was a faithful and loving nun.
However, I was completely bewildered by the strange reaction of the workers. When I turned to look at Kylie, she was also smiling happily.
"About Abbess Austin… you probably know something."
"Of course I do. You'll never forget her once you meet her."
It was impressive to see Kylie smiling like that. I wondered what the reason behind it was.
* * *
"My goodness! That brat Julien. Even though he's been married fifteen years, he still acts like a child! Since we know each other, shouldn't he at least lower the cost by half?! Isn't that common decency?"
"Granny Austin, did you argue with that Kohelton merchant again?"
"He kept on yapping and yapping! Does he think I don't know a handful of oysters should cost thirty silver coins?! Does he think they're worth gold?! I was telling him that the Saint likes oysters, so I needed to buy them to add to the dinner menu!"
"Hahaha. Talking to a merchant, you're not supposed to tell them how much you need something. You've lived so long, yet you didn't know that?"
"As if I wouldn't know that! I've known Julien since he was a little kid with snot coming out of his nose. I thought he would at least have some consideration for me!'
Hearing that she was 109, I thought she would be an old woman who was on the brink of death… Unexpectedly, she was someone with a rather large and powerful voice.
"That brat! Seeing him lower his head saying that it was the cheapest he could sell them to me… I just couldn't get angry at him. Haaah…!"
"Well, considering it's Julien, it's not a bad deal, King Granny."
"I've been taking care of all those people inside the monastery for all this time, yet all these brats that I've known for over thirty years are really starting to push it! Just because the monastery is large, they think I've got a large budget!"
Abbess Austin's angry voice echoed across the shore.
All of the people from the monastery were already out on the shore. They came out early in the morning at low tide, preparing to meet the saint at the shore. They'd been waiting for nearly half a day already, so they must have been quite bored.
I tidied my clothes, brushed off my hood, and stepped out of the carriage.
Carriages couldn't enter the crumbly, sandy beaches of the coast. The saint's magnificently large carriage was parked in front of the other carriages that were lined up along the shore. Though, the Saint wasn't inside.
"Ahhhh!"
Kylie got out of the carriage cheerfully, smiling as she spoke.
"I should head to the saint's carriage now. Once the sun sets and the road to the monastery opens back up, there'll be a lot of things I 'have to do'."
"Okay. Well… you don't need to accompany me, right?"
"If we go together, we'll just stand out more. That's because I'm going to change back now."
She spoke as if she were going to do something amazing, but she was just turning off the magic engineering equipment she was wearing.
I nodded, my hand waving farewell to her as I walked towards the front of the group.
"Oh! Is that the Rothstaylor boy? You must be having a hard time with the political situation being so rowdy!"
House Rothstaylor was currently in the middle of a crisis. However, at one point in time, it was considered the most powerful family within the empire—the most famous among the dukes.
No matter how bad a spot the House was in, it was still a family that a nun wouldn't be able to speak casually with.
And yet, Abbess Austin smiled wide as she didn't hold her words back.
Hearing the name Rothstaylor, the workers I was riding with earlier all changed their expressions completely.
I was just a boy who was casually sitting with them in a shabby carriage. They thought that, at most, I was just an heir of some noble family on the outskirts of the empire, one without any authority or power. They could have never imagined I was from House Rothstaylor.
They all looked as if they were thinking back on what they said earlier when they were drinking beer, hoping they didn't make a mistake.
I went to the abbess, tying the hem of my robe tight as I bowed my head in greeting.
"I am Ed Rothstaylor. I will be in your care over the next few days as I assist the Saint."
"…Hey, hey! I've lived for more than a hundred years, yet I've never seen a noble bow their head, showing their respect to some old abbess on the outskirts of the empire."
"I was only reinstated into House Rothstaylor recently. Before that happened, I lived as a commoner. It is only natural to treat someone who has lived for more than a hundred years with basic courtesy."
"You're a completely different boy than I thought you'd be! Hearing all of the stories from my friends in the capital, they all spoke of how the people under Duke Rothstaylor were crazy…"
That was rather disrespectful.
That granny didn't seem to be backing down even in front of a noble from an influential house. All of the workers and nuns around us watched on as if it were expected.
When a person had years and years of experience behind them, they had the power to naturally gather the respect of those around them.
Even though she didn't have any real authority, the fact that she had faithfully followed the Telos Religious Group all her life meant that she was treated as one of the highest elders—someone who was untouchable within the religious group.
She reminded me of those grandmothers who had been doing business in a corner of the market for decades.
Although she was dressed in a neat uniform, her hair was completely white and the wrinkles across her face showed her age.
Her eyes were as white and lifeless as her hair. It looked like she couldn't see out of one of her eyes at all, as the pupil wasn't responding. Her fingers also trembled from time to time because of the lack of strength in her arms.
Since she'd lived a life as long as nearly two people combined, it couldn't be helped that her health would be declining. Nevertheless, she still showed a bright, lively spirit. She put her hands on her waist, puffed her chest out, and abruptly shouted out, "It's getting cold!"
It looked like she wouldn't back down and speak respectfully even if one were an aristocrat or a count.
I started to understand what the workers were saying on the carriage. The way she spoke, there was no such thing as respect, politeness, or manners… Yet she still had a mysterious attitude around her that didn't offend.
The highest elder within Cledric Monastery, and one of the few who had stayed with the Telos Religious Group for over eighty years, as well as a nun who was able to control young troublemakers who were full of themselves.
Working in the field for over eighty years, she was able to take care of anything, as easy as breathing.
She had read and deciphered the holy book more than the Archbishop or the Holy Father himself. In fact, occasionally high-ranking bishops would come to her and ask for help in explaining the holy book. Even the most high-ranking clergy would bow their heads towards her.
I handed the gift Bell prepared over after removing it from my leather bag.
"This is a gift from Bell Maya, the head maid of Ophelis Hall at Silvenia Academy. She asked me to deliver this to you personally."
"Bell?! That little girl became the head maid at Ophelis Hall?! Time sure flies by fast! It feels like just yesterday they brought over the deceased Elris!"
"Is that so?"
"Gosh. I shouldn't talk about her past, but she didn't have the greatest of childhoods. It's a relief to hear that she is doing well now! She's a good kid! She's doing great!"
"If it's about Baron Flanchel, I've heard his story from Bell herself."
Abbess Austin fell silent for a moment, seemingly speechless.
She had both hands on her waist, frozen like a statue.
"Then, young Rothstaylor boy, I guess you're an adult now. That little maid, who was always quietly judging others… She was rather trapped in her past emotionally, thinking of herself as a traitor. But I guess she's changed now, to the point that someone like you gained her recognition. You must be a fairly competent person then."
"…I do not know. Bell never seemed that critical of others to me, though."
"Don't judge a book by its cover! I know she would hate me saying this, but that little girl has a miserable temperament, always being highly wary of others! The only reason she is able to act kind towards everyone is because she doesn't fully treat them equally."
Another unexpected story.
Bell Maya was known as a kind and caring maid within Ophelis Hall, one who approached everything with sincerity, handling everything with certainty.
"Well, it seems that young girl has gotten better than she was in the past. I guess people really do grow up quickly…. Before this old woman realized something, she had already become an adult."
Abbess Austin laughed out loud as she quickly gave out instructions to the nuns, who had followed along, telling them to grab and organize the luggage.
The saint's carriage was in front of me. Everyone was being cautious, whether they realized it or not—except for the abbess, who didn't give a damn and only focused on making sure everything was getting done.
In the first place, the large-scale ceremony that the saint and various distinguished guests were attending was nothing more than a simple annual event for her.
She had served a total of four saints throughout her long life. To such an incredible and experienced person, there was no hesitation or worry in preparation for the event.
"Anyway, things are going to be a headache. Even though your house is in chaos, you're calmer and more collected than I thought. It's as if you have a perfect personality… Which is why your visit to the monastery isn't going to be easy for you."
"…Pardon?"
"That's because there isn't a decent guy anywhere near here these days! If I were ninety years younger, I'd give it a shot, too! HAHAHA!"
After saying that, she smiled widely again. I didn't smile back, staring right at her.
"…I thought that was pretty funny… I guess my humor doesn't work well with young kids these days."
"Honestly, I am rather flustered."
"Well, when you get as old as me, you're able to look deep into someone with just a glance. Even though you act like a noble, you still have all the qualities a young girl would want in a husband."
Saying that, Abbess Austin glanced around. She spoke with her eyes.
I looked around and I noticed the nuns who came with Abbess Austin. Each and every one of them looked my way with nervous expressions on their faces.
There were about twenty of them, all doing their own tasks while simultaneously glancing my way. The tension between them was clear.
A clumsy red-haired nun, who was behind the carriage, stuck her head out. She looked my way before hiding again. Another nun with neatly braided black hair, who looked rather sincere, played with her red ears as if embarrassed.
"Rumors are already going around in the monastery. 'A gentle, dignified nobleman who even the saint acknowledged will come to the monastery for a few days.' What else was there? 'His appearance could even make the gods in the sky jealous!' 'His personality is so thoughtful, he even listens to all the birds that pass by.' 'His magic skills surpass his young age, which is why his rank within Silvenia is so high…' And that he's 'like a prince who flirts with the hearts of various young girls of influential families.'"
"..."
"It's scary how out-of-hand a rumor can blow up. The fairy tale delusions of these teenage girls even scare me, although I've been right next to them for all these years. Still, isn't it better for those girls to act their age once in a while? Though, I guess since all the expectations are about you, you must not think the same."
I pressed on my temples as if I had a headache. Abbess Austin burst out with an exhilarated laugh, as if seeing me like that was hilarious.
"HAHAHAHA! Still, since you were born with a stick between your legs, you should enjoy situations like these! Where else would you have the chance to experience being the center of such rumors? Receiving the undivided attention of all these beautiful girls at once? So, spread your shoulders wide and stand tall! Have a little fun! But…"
Surprisingly, she was rather open-minded. She was the exact opposite of the image I had of an abbess. Being in a monastery, I thought she would highly value asceticism, although that didn't seem to be the case.
"…At night, make sure to lock your door."
"…Are they going to break in…?"
"In my opinion, girls of that age are harder to control than the crude mercenaries of the lawless region of Kohelton. Although this old lady tries to keep them in check, sometimes they break out and cause a scene. Whenever a man comes to the monastery, it becomes a major event. That's why we have a policy that normally forbids outsiders from entering. However, now that you—a young, handsome aristocrat—are visiting, it's obvious what they will try to do."
Abbess Austin pounded on her chest, clearing her throat with a groan as she continued.
"Well, it's up to you to decide how much fun you want to have, but… I still want you to be careful. I won't explain in detail, but many of the nuns here have rather difficult backgrounds. A few are illegitimate children of noble families, who can never be publicly revealed. There are also kids that were born with cursed blood. Anyway… Many of them were placed here thinking that if they believe in God, their problems will be solved. But just leaving them in this place with me won't necessarily solve anything."
"..."
"Many here were born without any luck, and I am in a role where I need to take responsibility for them until the day I die. But you, your future is bright. Not only will you be their prince charming, showing them the pleasure of a forbidden love, but you also have the power to show them a future more than anything they can imagine. Well, I guess that's obvious."
She let out a heavy sigh, not putting her arms down.
It wasn't a pleasant story to hear, but it was one she needed to say. She didn't look happy having to say it, either.
"Haha… Anyway, I'm sure you understand. When you get to be my age, you start babbling about all sorts of things. Now all I can do is worry about the future. This old lady can't be proud of a single thing, even though I've lived such a long life."
"That's not true. I have heard a lot about you. You can't help but be worried about those things."
"…Well I'm relieved that you seem to be much more mature than other nobles. I'm glad the saint has a good eye for people. Alright. Since I approve of you, let me ask you a favor."
"A favor?"
Abbess Austin's aggressive temperament probably came from her struggle to stay alive all those years.
Nevertheless, Abbess Austin's sincerity and care towards the nuns was plentiful.
Then, for some reason, Abbess Austin lowered her voice drastically. It was as if she didn't want to be overheard.
"Even though the nuns of this monastery are to live a celibate life, separated from the rest of the world… They are only human."
"..."
"Following the will of God is important, but I also think having dreams at a young age is necessary. It's proof that you're really alive. That's why I don't want to break the illusions and fantasies these girls hold dear, even though I'm sure it will eventually come to pass. What I'm trying to say is, please act as their prince as much as possible."
That was something I couldn't guarantee.
As for me, I was just a regular person who was also struggling to survive.
"During midnight prayer, have you ever seen a nun looking up at the stars at night, joyfully daydreaming? I'm sure you haven't."
"..."
"I live as a servant of my God. But thinking back on myself, I realize that I am just a human who is in charge of taking care of all these kids. I don't want to take away their humanity by pushing faith."
She put on a smile as she continued.
"They are my daughters, who came from my heart."
She then said a joke, as if she was embarrassed.
"Even at this age, I still have some stamina left. Enough to have 270 daughters."
I felt a connection to Abbess Austin, who truly raised the nuns like her own daughters… So, I decided to give it a try.
"I will try my best."
The corners of her lips rose sharply when I said that.
An elder of the Telos Religious Group for over eighty years, one who was in charge of the monastery for nearly fifty. I could see why everyone called her King Granny.
She was someone who deserved the utmost respect. Since it seemed like I understood what she was trying to tell me, she suddenly said something unexpected.
"By the way, can I tell you something that will make you even happier?"
We had to wait until the sun set for the path to open up anyway.
Perhaps because she had no one else to chat with, the abbess spoke quietly to me, as if she knew everything.
"This is a secret, but I support the Princess of Benevolence, Penia."
Princess Persica's visit. It seemed that she had already realized to some extent that the purpose of my visit was to have a conversation with her.
Despite being trapped in the monastery, it was impossible to be completely oblivious to news regarding the battle over the throne.
Abbess Austin smiled softly, a clear reminder that we were allies.
* * *
Bang.
The lid of the box flew high in the sky.
A female magician poked her head out of the carriage as she brushed her hair back. Inside the box were several leather bags that she had been carrying with her.
Inside were a simple wand and magic supplies. And lots and lots of jerky.
Could it be called a change for her? Not really, since she was just taking a nap like always.
Rather, since the carriage swayed subtly, she became even drowsier—making it an unexpectedly great place to have a nap in.
"..."
Lucy Mayreel stretched as she came out of the luggage compartment with her usual blank and tired face.
Drool marks were clearly visible on her lips.