Chapter 203: Having Meaning (6)
That night, the corridors within the monastery were quiet. Since an unfortunate incident had taken place, no one was wandering around in them at night unnecessarily.
Either way, since the nuns started their day early, they had already all gone to bed. The guests who were aware of the circumstances regarding Abbess Austin's death wouldn't dare leave their rooms in order to avoid suspicion.
Thanks to that fact, Assistant Bishop Melinir and I were able to cross through the corridors without being seen by anyone.
"In the basement of the Cledric Monastery… there is a 'Penance Room'…"
The clinking of the key ring.
Large bundles of keys, too many to even count, hung from the waist of Melinir, the Assistant Bishop. It looked as if she really held all of the keys to every room within the monastery.
We passed through the eerie hallway as we went down the stairs at the end.
"Some of the nuns regularly come to the penance room to confess their sins. Since many of the nuns have troublesome pasts where they committed great sins, on the night of a full moon they spend their time there, reflecting on their sins."
"Is that so…?"
"However, that is only the surface reason."
As we continued, we passed the large hall on the first floor before going back down another corridor.
We went through the dining room, communal kitchen, storage, prayer room, and a small garden towards the annex across from the vegetable garden. Even inside the annex, we had to go all the way inside, turn at the end of the longest corridor, and go down a staircase that led to the basement.
Next to the stairs was a sign that said 'Penance Room'. Even though it was meant to be a place of penance, it was still excessively isolated from everywhere else.
As we went down the basement's stairs, I saw a dungeon of sorts made of bricks. Melinir put the key in the iron gate, heading inside. Following her, I could see a series of private rooms on both sides of the long corridor.
Each cell was separated by an iron gate. Looking inside, there was only a simple holy book, prayer supplies, and a small window that let the moonlight in. It was truly a place where you strictly prayed for penance and asked for your past sins to be forgiven.
What sin would one have to commit to come to the isolated penance room within an already remote monastery? Even though many of the nuns had complicated circumstances, I was sure it was still rare to go that far.
And like I thought, each cell was covered in dust within every nook and cranny. The iron bars were also heavily rusted, as if they had not been opened for a long time. In fact, it looked as if the penance room was only created in name.
"We… have to go even further…"
Melinir led me across the corridor within the Penance Room, which stretched all the way down.
When we reached the end, there was a bookshelf with simple furnishings and holy books on it.
When I asked if that was the end, Melinir tiptoed as she pulled out a holy book near the top outermost end. She then shoved her hand into the empty space as if she were turning something.
Clunk.
There was a strange sound, as if a lever had turned. With that, the bookshelf was pushed aside, and a large wooden door was revealed.
"..."
As I held back my shock, Melinir had a complicated expression on her face as she lowered her gaze.
It seemed like whatever it was, it was better for me to see it for myself than to hear her explanation… Melinir put another key into the wooden door.
Creak.
A secret door opened as I looked inside.
It really was a sight that made one gulp down their dry saliva after seeing for the first time.
Grrrrrrr!
Clang! Clang!
Grrrrrrrrr! Grrrrrrrr!
The sound of animals breathing.
The sound that came pouring out as soon as the wooden door was opened made me feel as if I had entered a cage full of animals.
However… the ones that were in the cells, which had a similar structure to the ones we had seen before… didn't look like wild animals.
However, they didn't look completely human, either.
Melinir slowly closed her eyes as if she had already accepted everything. She then walked with me down the hallway.
Looking at the cells on both sides… I couldn't help but be at a loss for words and swallow my dry saliva for a moment.
Upon seeing that humans had entered the underground secret cells, the beasts slammed against the iron bars, their eyes bright red.
Although they looked somewhat human, they had the ears and tails of animals and they drooled. All of them… were dressed as nuns.
Non-humans.
A group that, at one point in time, rampaged across the northern grasslands as they tried to kill Emperor Kroel.
One of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Kroel Empire, and the losers of the war between the Kroel Empire and the Non-Humans…
Enemies of the Kroel Empire that were completely erased from history.
* * *
"Amputator Zellan."
The name of a war hero who, along with the Guardian Obel, protected the imperial family from the non-humans.
The three magicians who aided Guardian Obel in the war against the non-humans were famous.
Inquirer Glast, Outlaw Kaleid, and Amputator Zellan.
Inquirer Glast had already passed away and Outlaw Kaleid was a professor at Silvenia… but the whereabouts of Amputator Zellan were still unknown. However, I recently heard that name again from Abbess Austin.
"Well. Have you ever heard of the war hero 'Zellan'? He also used to stop by the monastery and donate. If you were to look even further back… there was also the archmage, Glockt."
That was what she told me when I was assigned my room.
Abbess Austin was basically a living history book.
It seemed that she was regularly in contact with Zellan. After the war, Zellan had personally come to visit the monastery.
The reason was probably…
"After the war against the non-humans, the one who brought thirteen non-human children to Abbess Austin… was none other than the war hero, Amputator Zellan."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Grrrrrr!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of an animal, not a human. The cells were full of beasts that smacked against the iron bars, ready to bite us with their teeth at any moment.
Among them… there was the red-haired girl who had dropped off my luggage when I first arrived at the monastery.
She was now completely different from back then. I frowned upon seeing her act as if she had lost all sense of reason.
Despite the ruckus they were causing, Melinir somehow kept it together as she continued speaking. Maybe the reason she closed her eyes was because she didn't want to see that maddening sight.
"They are a group of non-humans that survived the war, but were left behind by their village for being too young and not strong enough. This was especially the case for young girls."
"You're saying that… Zellan entrusted Abbess Austin with these children…?"
"Yes. Although they are non-humans with a different lifespan from regular humans, they are still children. Because they are innocent children who were not a part of the bloody war, he thought that they could be saved."
The non-humans were a race born for the sake of war. They were born full of greed and dreamed of overthrowing the empire.
At least, that was what the Kroel Imperial Family said of the non-humans.
Was it because of the painful casualties of that war? The persecution towards the non-humans was rather famous.
The non-human tribes who lived on the borders of this vast empire were completely annihilated.
"He… was skeptical of the fact that the war could only end in bloodshed. When he met with Abbess Austin to have his sins forgiven, he ended up entrusting her with the children he brought back from the battlefield. That was all in atonement for his sins."
"Then, this penance room…"
"No matter how much love these children are given, they still have the blood of beasts that boils under a full moon at night. That's why… When it gets close to a full moon, these non-human children—who are normally among the other nuns—come down to the penance room on their own."
When intoxicated under a full moon, they became beasts that couldn't help but sink their teeth into humans.
Knowing that fact themselves, the non-human children came down to the penance room of their own accord.
Until they could finally regain their sanity and be able to live alongside humans again… In order not to harm others, they imprisoned themselves in solitary confinement.
When the full moon passed, they went back to being nuns leading a life of religion. That was the life of the non-human children that lived there, mixed in with the other nuns of Cledric Monastery.
"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 who were born with cursed blood, as well."
Abbess Austin had already told me that implicitly. Those who were born with cursed blood, was that what she meant?
She was hiding non-human children, who the empire greatly despised, inside the monastery.
"If the imperial family finds out about this…"
"They won't stand still. It will lead to a larger problem that will directly put the existence of Cledric Monastery at risk."
I looked at one of the cells. A girl with red hair in beautiful braids. She was the girl I met at the shore, who carried my luggage. Her nun uniform, which usually neatly covered her from head to toe, was completely disorganized.
Her gentle and meek exterior was gone. The ears of a beast could be seen through her veil. I supposed that, with the uniform of a nun, it was possible to easily hide those ears.
It seemed that as long as they were able to separate the living space of the non-human children well, they would be able to continue their life of religion without anyone ever finding out.
And Cledric Monastery was completely isolated from the rest of the world. Even on that far-off island, being stuck in that isolated annex could completely minimize contact with the rest of the world.
"Still, Abbess Austin never compromised."
"...…"
"These children are trying harder than anyone else to overcome their cursed blood and blend into human society. And… they have nothing to do with the bloody war their ancestors fought in."
Melinir bit her lip as if it were painful to speak.
"This goes for anywhere, at any time… Children are innocent."
Wars were not fought with the hands of children. After all, children were only victims of war.
Because Abbess Austin knew that fact, she accepted them while avoiding the eyes of the Empire.
"They are my daughters who came from my heart."
That one line she told me showed how meaningful Abbess Austin's life was.
"And… The rumors about a 'ghost' rummaging around the monastery a few days ago. The truth is very different from what you are thinking, Young Master Ed."
"…What do you mean?"
Melinir led me further down the hallway. One of the twenty private cells had a broken window.
Seeing it, I couldn't help but swallow my dry saliva.
"A few days ago in the middle of the night, Eileen, a non-human child, escaped."
She was a girl with beautiful blonde hair and mysterious blue eyes. Occasionally, when I went to the repair room, I could see her blushing face as she avoided eye contact.
Rumors of a 'ghost' running around the monastery.
I assumed that Lucy Mayreel was just hiding in the monastery, but…
"Abbess Austin… went out in the middle of the night to find Eileen."
"I'm going to catch a ghost."
What Abbess Austin's last words meant… It was completely different from what everyone thought.
"Eileen is a particularly rational child among the non-humans. Even when close to the full moon, she is able to act like a regular human being. She is capable of keeping her rationality to some extent, but… like the other children, she is also unable to fully control herself under the full moon."
"So, what you're telling me is…"
"…As Saint Clarice said in the meeting, no one within the Telos Religious Group would ever harbor the desire to murder Abbess Austin."
Melinir was well aware of it all, possibly from the beginning.
"Especially in Cledric Monastery, Abbess Austin is everyone's savior. So, for her to suddenly be murdered… the cause has to be…"
If we ruled out murder over personal vengeance, the only possibility left was the lunacy of a blood-drunken beast.
And fortunately, there just happened to be another girl who was running around on the roof, trying to avoid being seen by others in the monastery at the same time.
With the circumstances matching so well… it was basically certain.
"But Abbess Austin was found in her room. She also had a dagger wound and the room was still neat. Isn't that all too calm for a supposed beast who lost its sense of reason?"
"That…"
"Besides, is it even possible for a non-human who is intoxicated by the full moon to walk around the monastery for days without being seen by anyone? Is that even…"
Before I could even finish my sentence, I stopped speaking.
A new possibility popped into my head… and with that, the pieces of the puzzle were finally put together.
* * *
At the meeting the next morning, the imperial family responded and said the investigation unit would not arrive at Cledric Monastery until late in the afternoon.
In addition, depending on the condition of the tide, they might not be able to enter the monastery until midnight. Ultimately, that meant everyone had to stay in a suffocating environment, where all of the nobles were wary of each other.
However, I already knew the full story.
It seemed that the meeting with all of the guests that Saint Clarice had called upon wasn't going to last very long.
"Last night, I heard that all of you stayed in your rooms. After checking on all of you, it seemed that no one else was seriously injured. Everything seems to have returned to normal after arresting Lucy Mayreel."
Princess Persica, who presided over the meeting at the chapel's podium, reassured the distinguished guests who were gathered.
"Tonight, the investigation team will come in and finish the rest. We'll hand over Lucy Mayreel to the investigation team, each submit a brief testimony, and then you can all return to your estates."
Assistant Bishop Melinir was sitting behind her with an anxious expression on her face. Saint Clarice was glaring at Persica with a face full of dissatisfaction.
However, Clarice did not speak rudely. Persica's authority definitely made her someone who could not be easily pushed aside… but it also seemed like she didn't want to act hastily and lead the situation to an unexpected outcome.
It seemed as if she was planning something.
"Lucy Mayreel was locked up in the attic at the top of the spire, the place which is the easiest to monitor. There are only a few paths she can take to descend from there, so it won't be easy for her to avoid everyone's eyes."
If Lucy Mayreel really wanted to, it wouldn't be a problem for her to escape from that attic.
However, even at that moment, Lucy had no intention of breaking out of there.
"Are there any questions or complaints?"
As if to confirm everything, Princess Persica asked the crowd for their input. No one responded. As if Persica thought that would be the case, she had a triumphant expression on her face.
Completely different from yesterday, when they were causing a ruckus, the crowd was silent.
Everything had ended with no harm done to them. That alone was reason enough to sit silently.
Since Lucy Mayreel was offered as a sacrifice of sorts to settle the incident, speaking up now would only lead to one's own loss.
With her arms crossed, leaning back against the chair… Saint Clarice glared at me.
It felt as if she were asking me if it was really okay to leave things like that. I closed my eyes and shook my head.
"Then, let's put an end to this unfortunate incident that happened in Cledric Monastery… We will end things here."
And like that, everything came to an end.
That was the end of the incident.
* * *
In the chapel after the meeting, there was only silence.
Princess Persica, who was seated at the front of the table, swept her hand over her face. Tune was standing nearby, guarding her.
"Everything is almost done."
"Good work, Princess Persica."
"Things were rough with the unexpected incident. Anyway, let's finish things up here and head back to the imperial palace."
Princess Persica spoke with an exhausted note to her voice, as if she were complaining.
"Even after all of this… I didn't walk away with a harvest. This trip was rather in vain…"
Suddenly looking up at the stained glass of the chapel, there was a magnificently large image of an angel made with beautiful colors.
Princess Persica did not believe in God, nor did she have anything like faith.
The only reason she came to the monastery to attend the ceremony was for politics.
Still, since she came all the way there, wouldn't it be fine to just pray to God once?
With that thought in mind, Princess Persica put her hands together.
Thud!
It was the sound of her pushing a chair and getting up.
After the meeting, there were no distinguished guests left in the chapel. That was because there was no reason for any of the guests to come to the chapel once the nuns began their work.
However, way in the back, where it was difficult to see well… There was a boy sitting there comfortably, but not enough to be considered rude. Perhaps he was waiting for all of the guests to leave?
He stood from his seat calmly as he walked along the red carpet that led to the central podium.
When Princess Persica looked towards him in confusion, it was someone she recognized.
Blond hair and an intelligent air about him.
It was Ed Rothstaylor, the boy she had only heard rumors of.
With his sudden change in family circumstances, he wasn't someone that could have a personal conversation with the princess. And yet, he continued to walk directly towards her.
"Were you praying? Sorry to disturb you."
Ed Rothstaylor sat in the seat opposite of Princess Persica as he put his hands together, praying with her.
While Princess Persica was contemplating what to say, Ed Rothstaylor spoke first, his eyes closed.
"Actually, I'm only praying like this out of courtesy. I don't actually believe in God."
The same was true of Persica. Ed Rothstaylor was also someone who didn't have anything like faith.
He was a human who had lived through his life with a sense of realism and survival rather than worrying about God and the rest of the world. There was no room in his mind to believe in an invisible higher being.
He was only praying to avoid being rude and to match the mood.
"Even if there really was someone that created this world, who exists up there in the skies, such a feeble prayer would never reach their ears."
"You're saying quite an interesting statement in a sacred area of the Telos Religious Group, Ed Rothstaylor. I've heard a lot about you, but you're more interesting than I thought."
"But isn't it obvious? How could there be such a thing as an omniscient being who understands all of the events and truths of this world? Both my prayer and the truth of Abbess Austin's death… Unless you were right there, how could you know what the truth was?"
It was a puzzling incident. The tension inside the monastery also seemed to have grown quite a bit.
So, now it was the time to clear it all up.
"But… at the very least, wouldn't you know, Princess Persica?"
"Are you speaking of me? What do you mean?"
He kept his hands clasped together in prayer as he spoke.
"The fact that Abbess Austin's death was from suicide."
Her escort, Tune, trembled.
It was a rare mistake for a woman who always completed her duty quietly.
-x-X-x-
"That was the story of Baron Flanchel."
Yennekar Palerover, who was sitting across the campfire, didn't look great. She didn't know what to say, so she only looked at Bell with tears welling up in her eyes.
Seeing her act like that, Bell felt as if she had said something unnecessary.
Although she said it wasn't anything special, everyone would agree that Bell's life story was depressing.
For anyone other than Bell, who had a rather strong heart, it wouldn't be strange if they had lost their will to live after experiencing that.
Even though she was an illegitimate child, Baron Flanchel still sacrificed himself to save his daughter, who was born of his own blood.
In the end, he was able to avoid giving his daughter up to the hands of a greedy noble… but in return, he had to give up his life.
It was a drastic and tragic story. Yennekar couldn't help but feel depressed upon hearing it.
"I'm sorry, Bell. I didn't know a thing… yet I asked you to tell me…"
"You don't have to apologize. The reason I usually avoid telling others my story is because it tends to put them in an uncomfortable spot. And… It really isn't a major scar that's left on me."
"Really? But… if I were in your position, I'm sure I would have been deeply wounded…"
"Well, I was shocked at the time. But… As I said, like when I told Ed the story, there were some things that I deliberately omitted."
Bell threw a few more pieces of firewood into the campfire to help the flames grow. It was still the middle of the night, so she had to maintain the fire for a while longer.
"Parts you deliberately left out…? Why? Was there something you didn't want to tell Ed?"
"It was because the message of the story would change."
Yennekar tilted her head, but Bell didn't try to explain any further.
The reason Bell told Ed of her past was because she wanted to make sure he would never come to the extreme decision of suicide again.
As long as you were alive, the day you'd see the light would surely come.
That was why you needed to survive. Even if it felt as if there was no pleasure in that grueling world, which held only trials and tribulations up ahead…
Brace yourself, clench your teeth, and stand firm to survive.
"It's important to survive and continue moving forward with your life. However, that doesn't apply to everyone in this world."
"Bell… what are you trying to say?"
"It's nothing much. It's just that Baron Flanchel had already been ill for a long time. Had he not taken his own life, he would have passed away soon after."
Hearing that, Yennekar was at a loss for words.
That was what Bell had not told Ed.
Either way, Baron Flanchel only had a short period left to live.
And at the end of his life, he looked back on his life, ready to accept death.
"Whoever they may be, when a person faces death, they always reflect on the life they have walked."
"Bell…"
"Baron Flanchel probably wanted to have some meaning to his life."
By revealing the truth about Baron Flanchel's health, the message of the story and his sacrificial death completely changed.
Yennekar finally realized why Bell had not told Ed about it.
She could also understand why Bell was able to speak of the tragedy without being depressed or scarred.
For Bell, the story of Baron Flanchel's death was neither sad nor tragic.
It was the heroic story of a noble who decided to go out on his own terms.
Bell Maya's room was decorated with a dagger engraved with a wildcat symbol.
It was a dagger of House Flanchel that her father, Balmid Flanchel, had put in her hands as a keepsake with a kind smile on his face the day he was to pass.
After finishing the story, she looked up at the sky, which was filled with stars that looked like specs of salt.
* * *
"Abbess Austin… committed suicide…?"
No one was there to hear it.
Still, someone might have accidentally heard it. If that had happened, it would have been dangerous.
Persica started to become filled with anxiety, though Ed Rothstaylor didn't seem to care at all.
"How did you find out that Abbess Austin was hiding children from a non-human tribe?"
Ed Rothstaylor, who was praying, suddenly threw a fastball. Princess Persica and Tune had no choice but to hold their breath.
"What are you saying?"
His response was natural. He didn't stutter, nor show any signs of being flustered.
"Did you happen to somehow have contact with Amputator Zellan? Aside from him, no one else knows the hidden secrets of Cledric Monastery."
"You're talking about something you don't know."
"You can be honest and tell me. I have already confirmed that no one else is here in the chapel."
She had heard a lot of rumors about Ed Rothstaylor.
In any case, she knew well that he was a mysterious and strangely sharp person.
However, she had no idea that her first meeting with him would be like a punch in the stomach… Princess Persica swallowed her breath.
"One thing is for certain. You've fallen into a trap, Princess Persica."
"..."
"You've fallen into a trap set by Abbess Austin, and now you are trying to somehow escape, right?"
The reason Lucy Mayreel stayed still even when she was being accused of murder.
Even if she didn't do anything, Persica was already trapped in a corner. At first, he couldn't understand what was going on, but after gathering his thoughts… everything started to become clear.
"Wasn't the real reason you attended the ceremony at Cledric Monastery to persuade Abbess Austin, knowing that she was hiding non-humans? To demand that she formally support you in the upcoming imperial household meeting?"
To Abbess Austin, all of the nuns in Cledric Abbey were like her daughters.
Even with the non-humans… that fact never changed.
"Telling her that you would keep it a secret if she were to formally support you, and once you seized the throne, you would close your eyes to what she was doing… No matter how much Abbess Austin supported Princess Penia, she was bound to be shaken by such an offer."
"You are saying something rather interesting."
Princess Persica calmly responded, but on the inside, she was completely confused.
After all, there were no clues for Ed Rothstaylor to be able to infer any of it. So, where did all the information leak from?
At least within the monastery, only Tune knew all of that information. However, it was difficult to believe that Tune would have betrayed her.
She wouldn't have anything to gain by betraying her. Above all else, she had always escorted Persica as her closest aide.
There was no advantage to treachery, and above all else, it was because she was always escorting Persica.
"It's definitely a valid reason to travel all the way here. If you could bring Abbess Austin to your side, you would have quite the influential figure within the Telos Religious Group openly supporting you."
However, the situation did not go as Princess Persica intended.
When Abbess Austin, the target she was trying to persuade, was found dead… All of her plans failed.
It didn't happen all that long after Princess Persica came to Cledric Monastery.
"Your plans to persuade her didn't work out as you anticipated."
"If you speak of blasphemy and insult me any longer, I will not stand still. Although this is not the Imperial Palace… you should know well that my authority is incomparable to that of Duke Rothstaylor."
"I am not here to undermine your authority. I am here to negotiate."
Ed Rothstaylor, who was praying, slowly opened his eyes.
He didn't look flustered, disrespectful, or even mocking.
He was simply speaking calmly and rationally.
Ed Rothstaylor, who she had only heard rumors about, was very different from what Princess Persica had imagined.
He never got flustered, even in front of Princess Persica, who had a level of authority that pierced through the skies.
"Putting all of the circumstances together, it becomes possible to infer that Abbess Austin committed suicide in response to your threats, Princess Persica."
"That's a leap in logic."
"I'm not sure of that. In the long run, even after you seize the throne, Abbess Austin would still be forced to continue being swayed by the imperial household."
The war against the non-humans who tried to murder the emperor. It still remained a fresh wound in the hearts of those in the empire.
As long as Princess Persica continued to keep the secret that Cledric Monastery was protecting enemies of the empire, they would be forced to listen to her every word until the day she died.
Accepting Zellan's request was simply the abbess's personal decision.
That meant that she alone would be the one unable to do anything.
So… she made her decision.
"Princess Persica never thought of such a thing."
"Tune!"
Shink!
Tune drew her sword as she placed it towards Ed Rothstaylor's neck.
An atmosphere sharper than the blade near his neck filled the church. Tune's blade was pointed straight at Ed Rothstaylor's neck without the slightest tremble, but Ed didn't move.
"Princess Persica. We don't want this situation to turn into armed conflict."
Ed Rothstaylor always spoke the truth calmly.
"I am many times stronger than your guard."
Looking up from the podium in a respectful manner, not making direct eye contact, Ed Rothstaylor spoke calmly.
Tune was a well-known person even among the Imperial Knight Templars. A master of swordsmanship who had been walking a path of talent since early childhood.
However, there was a sense of certainty in Ed Rothstaylor's words. He didn't have an expression of confidence or pride. He was simply stating the facts as they were.
"If that's not the case, why are you so obsessed with arresting Lucy Mayreel?"
Princess Persica's eyes trembled slightly.
"The other nuns here may not know, but since you saw her in the Rose Palace, you should know well, Princess Persica. Lucy Mayreel isn't the kind of person that can be simply arrested like this. She is a magician who can easily destroy this entire monastery with a single gesture."
Nevertheless, Princess Persica proudly ordered the arrest of Lucy Mayreel.
Even though she knew just how futile it was.
"Did you already know that Lucy Mayreel wouldn't try and resist?"
Lucy, who strangely refrained from defending herself.
Persica had no hesitation in her actions… As if she expected Lucy to react as such to some extent.
"When Lucy pleads her innocence and reveals the truth, the abbess' plans will go to waste."
The abbess' plan was simple.
By taking her own life, she could stop Persica's plan of taking control over the monastery by keeping the secret of the non-human children.
However, if she disappeared, Persica's purpose also disappeared.
It didn't end there.
Austin, a respected elder of Telos Religious Group, had taken her own life in order to avoid yielding to the political pressure of Princess Persica.
That fact had an unbelievable level of political pressure aimed towards Persica.
If it was revealed that the death of an elder everyone highly respected occurred because of Persica's actions… it was hard to imagine just how severe the political backlash would be.
At the very least, the entirety of the Telos Religious Group would become her enemy. All members of the Telos Religious Group within the imperial household would turn their backs on her, and all of the noble families who were baptized by the Telos Religious Group would do the same.
Even though she was a simple abbess, Austin was someone who could not be messed with. Princess Persica had said that herself, with her own mouth.
Those words had come back to bite her.
Abbess Austin was already dead. An elder who was no longer in this world.
However, her wrinkled and lifeless hands were wrapped around the shoulders of Princess Persica.
The feeling of being embraced from behind… Her skin crawled at the feeling of a skeleton in a nun's robe pressing against her back.
"Abbess Austin wouldn't want all of this to be revealed to the world. If the entire truth comes to light, the truth regarding the non-humans protected by the monastery will be revealed as well."
No one knew just what kind of conversation Lucy had with Abbess Austin while she was still alive.
However, Lucy knew the truth. That was why she kept her mouth shut.
In the end, there was only one thing Abbess Austin wanted.
'Maintaining the status quo.'
To stop Princess Persica from controlling the monastery politically, so that the non-human children could continue living as they had been.
And to achieve it, she sacrificed her life. It was a surefire and clean way to achieve it.
The truth of Abbess Austin's death should never be revealed to the world.
That was beneficial for both Persica and the deceased Abbess Austin. Persica may not have wanted that at first, but after realizing she had been wrapped up in something beyond her, she had no choice.
By the time she realized she had fallen into a trap set by the deceased, her body was already halfway submerged.
Princess Persica was struggling to get out of the situation she had been placed in.
That was why… she was keeping her mouth shut.
"I will pretend not to know any of this. Only God, who listened to our prayers, will know. That is, if there truly is a God."
From the very start, he said that he came to negotiate.
"From what I know, you are in control of the Imperial Knights. So, if I ever ask, please send a certain number of Imperial Knights to Acken Island. You only need to do it once. That is my requirement…"
The Imperial Knight Commander had taken Princess Persica's side.
That was why it was possible to say that Princess Persica herself was indirectly wielding control of the Knight Templars.
When the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok would descend, the Knight Templars needed to be on Acken Island—no matter what.
"Also, as hard as it may be, please ensure that Lucy Mayreel is acquitted. I only have those two requirements. If you can guarantee me those two things, then what we spoke of today… Only God will know of it."
An opponent that could not be defeated through force.
Ed Rothstaylor was a man who could handle high-ranking spirits, and even conditionally summon the power of an ultimate spirit.
At that moment, within the closed-off Cledric Monastery, there was no one that could defeat him.
However, Ed Rothstaylor wasn't the type of person to solve every situation through force alone.
Force was only one of his many means to accomplish his goals. Even though the difference in status with Princess Persica was massive, the only reason he could negotiate on equal footing was because of the force he had on his side.
After all, the negotiation table was reserved for the powerful.
Ed Rothstaylor was a person who understood that fact well.
"Ed… Rothstaylor…"
He never said anything more than necessary. He simply sat there in the prayer room, looking up at the stained glass above the podium.
Without even the slightest change in emotion… The insides of that man were as deep as the darkest parts of the sea.
Princess Persica slowly closed her eyes before opening them, slowly expressing her intention to surrender. Suddenly, the sound of grinding teeth was heard.
"Alright… you have won this time."
Princess Persica had a feeling about it already.
In the battle for the throne, she needed to remain especially vigilant against that man.
* * *
I was contacted and told that the investigation team had arrived at the shore. It was later than originally planned, as the sun had already completely set.
The low tide was later than expected, so even though the moon was already high in the sky, they still had to wait because of the high tide. It seemed that it would take a while longer before the investigation team could enter. If there was ever a chance to see Lucy, that was the last time.
Since Princess Persica herself guaranteed Lucy Mayreel's innocence, I was certain that she would be released after a minor investigation. Princess Persica also had a large influence over the imperial investigation team.
It would be best for the both of us if the death of Abbess Austin remained an unsolved case.
I climbed up the steeple of the monastery that stretched high into the sky. Even after passing Saint Clarice's room, I still had quite a long way to go.
The width of the stairs gradually became narrower. When I eventually reached the end of the staircase that led to the attic, there was only a small space that a single person could pass through.
I opened the wooden door as I entered the dusty attic.
"..."
Lucy Mayreel was not present. There was only a hole in the wall that seemed to have been made through magic.
Whooosh!
There was only the sound of a draft coming in. Slowly looking out of the hole, it led directly to the roof of the monastery. She must have used that to escape.
Though, in reality, she had no intention of actually escaping. It was nothing more than her going out for a walk.
I climbed down onto the roof as I made my way across the top of the monastery. My clothes were filthy from the dirt and dust, but I didn't care.
I carefully traversed across the outer roof of the monastery. It was a confusing and slippery landscape to walk across. Past the coastline, I could even see the road that led to Zahul Mansion.
On the opposite end, the night sea continued to stretch out. Since it was already dark, everything was eerie. Though, I could see the coastline lit up with campfires, as the investigation team was stationed there.
Once the low tide came in, those investigators would slowly enter the monastery.
The sky was full of stars.
Under the chilly sea breeze, I jumped down onto another section of the roof that stretched out.
Thud!
After landing, I turned around… to find something unexpected. She didn't look flustered, but she didn't immediately say anything, either.
"…You came."
Lucy Mayreel was holding her knees to her chest as she looked at the stars, enjoying the sea breeze.
Underneath the roof of the spire, there were several swords made of light that were lined up like a cage.
The advanced light magic, Dazzling Swords. A spell used to seal or block access to a specific space.
And beneath the roof, trapped in Dazzling Swords… There was a girl, crying on her knees.
Her uniform was ruined, her hands covered in blood. Her sharp nails looked exactly the same as the non-humans that ran wild under the full moon.
She also had the ears of a beast on the sides of her head. It looked as if she were crying.
It was Eileen, the non-human girl who escaped—the one that Assistant Bishop Melinir mentioned. It was obvious just by looking at her bountiful blonde hair and thin, pale wrists.
"You were protecting her."
"She won't say anything. It looks like she was hurt, and since she occasionally turns into a beast that tries to attack, I had to lock her up."
A face full of tears and blood on her hands.
What that meant… I didn't bother saying it.
Looking inside the cage made of Dazzling Swords, there were some things laid out. It seemed that Lucy had stolen a few things from the cafeteria on the first floor of the main building and brought them to Eileen. She probably did it all at night. That also explained the rumors of the ghost.
Rumors of a ghost wandering around the main building… Half of it was Eileen, and the other half was Lucy.
Lucy had been protecting Eileen after capturing her. She knew the entire truth from the beginning.
I looked up at the starry sky for a moment, then I went over to Lucy and sat down next to her.
I could see the coast where the investigation team was stationed. Alongside the stars up in the sky, the light that came from their campfires resembled floating stars.
"Still, you should have told me."
"There was no time for that. I was busy trying to think things through as well."
"What were you thinking?"
"Just that… the granny… she knew Grandpa Glockt… So, I couldn't help but think about things."
An old acquaintance of Archmage Glockt.
That was why Lucy had sat down with Abbess Austin the night before, talking with her.
The truth of her death was slightly different from what I had told Princess Persica.
Abbess Austin's cause of death was murder.
I only explained things to Princess Persica in a way that would cause her to misunderstand the situation in order to gain political advantage. It was all for the sake of subjugating Velbrok.
"So, can you explain what happened now?"
Lucy hugged her knees tightly with a strangely depressed and exhausted expression on her face.
She stared blankly out at the night sea and the sky full of stars.
A cool sea breeze passed by as Lucy's hair fluttered in the wind.
The lights of the campfires along the coastline… I wondered if her heart was softening from the peaceful scene.
Lucy slowly opened her mouth.
"I met with the granny here yesterday."
* * *
Lucy Mayreel found Abbess Austin lying down, bleeding on the roof of the monastery, under the starry night sky.
"Ohhh… an uninvited guest, at this time… and an interesting one, as well."
Lucy, who was jumping around the roof of the monastery like a stray cat roaming the city at night, trembled.
The abbess was leaning against the roof, covered in blood.
It wasn't an amount that an elderly woman would be able to handle. Even if it was too late, she still tried to gather magic power to stop her bleeding. However, Abbess Austin stopped Lucy's treatment.
"It's already too late to treat me. I know my body better than anyone else. Cough…"
"..."
"When you live in the same body for over 100 years, you are able to recognize when things aren't looking good. So, don't be so bothered."
No matter what she said, Lucy couldn't stand still.
Lucy clutched her hat tightly as she jumped and landed in front of Abbess Austin, who was lying down.
Checking her wounds, Lucy couldn't help but frown.
By her lower abdomen, there was a small hole—as if she was attacked by something like an animal's claw. It wasn't as big as she had thought, but it was severely deep.
If she were a strong, healthy man, it might not have been a fatal wound. However, for an elderly woman who was already over 100 years old, that type of wound and the amount she was bleeding meant that her life was in danger.
Moreover, her condition was even more dire, as she had been left on the roof for a long time.
No matter how talented she was with magic, it wasn't possible for her to move blood that had already bled out back into her body.
Abbess Austin's face, which was becoming pale, was difficult for Lucy to handle.
However, the most surprising thing was her following words.
"I didn't believe it when that old man Glockt said he had a disciple… But you look just like him, even at a glance."
Austin recognized Lucy.
Even though she was a living history book, it wouldn't have been easy to recognize Lucy Mayreel at a glance.
She recently made a name for herself in the imperial household. She was also famous as being the top student in all of Silvenia, but… Recognizing Lucy while her consciousness was fading was an incredible feat.
An acquaintance of the Archmage Glockt Elderbane.
That alone made Lucy's eyes tremble.
"That old man… he probably didn't have much talent at teaching magic… My poor child, you must have gone through a lot."
It seemed that she was close friends with him.
Lucy tried to save Austin by gathering magic power to close her wounds, but her 109-year-old elderly body had already suffered too much.
"For the disciple of that old man to appear like this at the end of my life… It seems that my lord Telos has listened to my prayers."
"Don't talk too much. Blood… keeps coming out…"
"Can you consider my old friendship with Glockt and grant the final two wishes of this old lady?"
She had already completely ruled out the possibility of her surviving. Even in such a state, she continued to speak calmly and benevolently. It was definitely thanks to her age.
"The child who gave me this wound is still running around on the roof of the monastery. I somehow managed to hide her with rumors of a 'ghost', but… it won't last long. Can you catch her before then and help her?"
Lucy, who had always had a blank expression on her face, frowned as if anxious. It was rare for Lucy to show such emotions.
"…That's easy."
"Thank you. And…I want to sit in my chair when I close my eyes. Could you move me to my room…?"
"You have to go to the hospital, not your room."
"I'm asking this of you. I have something I need to take care of in my room."
"If you tell me, I'll do it for you."
"Unfortunately, this is something this old lady has to do herself."
Arguing in such a place was time wasted. Austin's eyes were slowly losing their vitality.
Lucy clenched her teeth as she gathered magic power and cast spatial-magic to carry Abbess Austin's body to her room.
A shabby and frugal room. Abbess Austin's body was placed inside, where there was nothing special aside from the beautiful moonlight that shone in.
Sitting down on the wooden chair she often sat in while praying, she started to cough heavily when trying to laugh out loud.
"Keuk… Kakakk."
Abbess Austin, who smiled as if everything was alright, struggled to breathe.
The desk in her room was full of letters from Princess Persica. They were about the non-humans she kept in the monastery, asking her if she was going to support her in the battle for the throne.
Lucy skimmed through the contents, then looked back at Austin.
Sitting in the chair, Austin struggled to speak.
"Now… you should leave. There's nothing good about staying here any longer."
"What are you going to do here…?"
Hearing that, Austin smiled and said, "I have to protect my daughters."
At that point, Lucy knew what Austin was thinking.
It was obvious what would happen to the monastery if her corpse was found with the traces of a beast attacking her. It was impossible for a wild beast to be in the monastery, as it was built on a rocky island, isolated from the world. It wouldn't take long before the investigations led to the truth of the non-humans.
And there was an isolated penance room in the basement of the monastery. If the imperial army fully searched the place, they would surely find out about it—or the fact that some of the nuns had the ears of beasts.
That was why it was important that she didn't make it a big deal. If she had to come up with a plan to deal with it, it would be best if she could also restrain Princess Persica from exerting her influence on the monastery.
And the method to do so… was obvious.
Struggling to reach the desk, Austin burned all of the letters from Princess Persica with a large candlestick nearby.
"Alright, get going. I want to be alone now."
Lucy watched silently. She bit her lower lip as she nodded her head. Austin didn't want to show Lucy what was going to happen.
The moment Lucy was about to head out from the window…
"You must also be having the same troubles that old man Glockt did when he was young."
Although she spoke slowly, in a hoarse voice that was losing its vitality, her words were a punch in the stomach to Lucy.
"You're afraid of that empty void that will soon consume your life. Living a life that has no meaning. For those who reach such a high stage, they start to become afraid of the emptiness that is left behind."
Lucy stared at Austin, who was coughing as she slowly spoke, with eyes filled with astonishment.
"That being said, don't try to artificially create meaning in your life or wander around looking for it… the meaning of your life can't be found. You have to give it meaning. Yeah. You have to give your life meaning."
"…What are you saying…?"
"If you came in from the carriage that came from Silvenia, then you must have followed that young boy…?"
From the start, was she somewhat aware that Lucy had been hiding in the carriage? Thinking back on it, after arriving at the shore, Austin didn't move far from Ed's carriage.
She must have been monitoring the interior of the carriage. However, after judging Ed's personality, she must have concluded that it wouldn't be a problem.
She was truly an amazing and wise woman.
The wisdom she accumulated over the years was as sharp as a sword.
"With a guy like him, that's a pretty good meaning to your life."
It was truly an Austin-like farewell as she smiled, bleeding from her lips.
And like that, the old woman sent the girl away.
Closing the window with her trembling hands, she managed to open the bottom drawer despite her blurry vision.
Inside was a ceremonial dagger. She gripped the handle of the dagger with her wrinkled hands.
The target was her injured lower abdomen.
Fortunately, since the girl who attacked her had small hands, the area of the wound was also small. The issue was that it was deep.
By putting a dagger into it, she could cover the traces of being 'attacked by a beast'. By doing so, she would leave only the traces of being 'stabbed by a dagger'.
The suspect would then broaden into anyone who could hold a dagger.
Suddenly, the moonlight outside her window caught her eye.
Abbess Austin opened her eyes, seeing the same sight she always saw when she prayed alone in her room. That night, it was all the more special.
She looked at the frail and skinny wrist that held the dagger. There was a time when her skin was beautiful and smooth, but that was all in the past.
Nevertheless, now that her life was coming to an end, she could proudly declare that she was able to respect her daughters.
She truly lived a meaningful life.
It had already been a long time since her closest acquaintances had left for heaven first due to their age.
She was a little late, but she lived a satisfying life. She laughed out loud, shouting out about just how incredible the life she lived was.
It was a great feeling.
Then, Austin tightened her grip on the dagger.
* * *
"I couldn't do anything."
Lucy held her knees as she looked down at the night sea. Her hair fluttered in the wind, hitting her cheeks.
With her head on her knees and an absent-minded expression on her face… Lucy opened her mouth again.
"You know, I could destroy this entire monastery if I wanted to."
"I know."
"When I gather my magic power… I can travel a long distance that would take hours in a carriage, all in an instant. I can even cast dozens of advanced spells all at once."
"Yeah, you're quite amazing."
"Yet… I couldn't do anything."
Lucy Mayreel couldn't do anything. Even though she had an enormous amount of magic power and was incredibly strong, she could only stand still and watch.
All of Austin's hard work, effort, and sacrifice would go in vain if the matter was publicized. If news of her efforts to hide non-humans in the monastery were revealed, her death would become something shameful.
That was why, even when she was labeled as the main suspect, Lucy kept her mouth shut.
She didn't know how her actions would be interpreted or how they would change the situation. She had no idea of what would happen.
But with things going the way Austin wanted them to, the only thing she could do was stand still and follow along.
"She was the first acquaintance of that old man Glockt I have ever met… yet we didn't talk much."
"I'm sorry."
"…I wanted to save her."
"You tried, but it couldn't be helped."
As we spoke back and forth, I continued to sit next to Lucy as we looked out at the night sea.
It was finally time for the low tide. The soldiers on the coastline were preparing to move to the monastery, clearing the campfires one or two at a time.
From a distance, the sight of the soldiers raising their torches one by one was magnificent. Seeing a group of torches along the sandy beach, reflecting off the surface of the water—it looked as if a fire was spreading over the sea.
We sat side by side for a long time as we watched.
"Sniff."
Drip, drip.
Not long after, tears started to drip from Lucy's eyes.
Her tears clumped together as they fell down. I wasn't surprised to see her like that.
"In this world… There are many things that can't be resolved through force alone."
In a world where politics were intertwined, ideologies clashed, and good and evil were mixed, there were many things that could not be resolved through force alone. That was because humans were complex, and the human mind was difficult.
For a girl who had just started to finally traverse the world, such complicated truths of life were too difficult to understand.
The process of her becoming an adult.
Even though it was a process everyone went through, it doesn't make it any less difficult.
I pressed down and stroked Lucy's hair as her tears continued to fall.
I wrapped my arm around Lucy's shoulders as we looked out at the night sea together for a long time.
The night scenery was quite spectacular, fitting for the top of the spire of the magnificent monastery.
There were quite a few shooting stars in the sky that left behind long streaks of light.
-x-X-x-
The next morning, the circumstances of Abbess Austin's death were formally proclaimed to the nuns.
A natural death from old age. As she was overworking herself for several days in preparation for the ceremony, even running around on the roof of the monastery at night, she had hurt herself. It ended up causing excessive bleeding and a heart attack.
In reality, it was clear that her death was a murder. Though, the announcement didn't say as such.
Considering Abbess Austin's age, a sudden natural death was easily believed. So, among the regular nuns, there were no suspicions.
The tragic news of Abbess Austin's death brought sadness and a depressing atmosphere to the monastery.
As for those who knew it was murder, it wasn't difficult to keep them quiet.
Assistant Bishop Melinir, who knew the entire truth, naturally didn't want to make the situation bigger.
Princess Persica also had no reason to argue if it meant she could leave the entire situation behind her under the pretense of a natural death.
As for Saint Clarice, I persuaded her myself. She didn't object, as she believed that the deceased Abbess Austin would also want things to end like that.
With all three parties agreeing to keep their mouths shut, everything proceeded smoothly.
The distinguished guests, who knew that her death was a murder, also agreed to keep their mouths shut. For them, there was nothing good that would come from sparking unnecessary suspicions.
If things became any bigger, they would be forcefully involved in the incident more than they wanted to be.
And like that, everyone nodded their heads as Saint Clarice and Princess Persica announced to keep the truth under wraps…
In doing so, the truth about the non-humans in the monastery was also buried away.
The next morning, after taking care of a few things, I was told that there would be a memorial for Abbess Austin by the entrance of the monastery.
Life in the monastery always started in the early morning. Despite being exhausted from being interrogated and giving their testimonies all night, all of the nuns went to Abbess Austin's memorial. I couldn't be the only one staying back in my room.
And yet, when I woke up to the sound of waves crashing against the shore from my window, my entire body felt heavy.
Later, I'd have to ride in a carriage the entire day as I made my way back to Silvenia Academy. However, I still had enough time to attend her memorial procession. Though, if I wanted to make it, I would have to wake up right at that moment.
However, for some strange reason, no matter how hard I tried, my body felt heavy.
Compared to my life at the camp, I was nowhere near as exhausted, so why did my body feel so heavy?
Feeling uncomfortably heavy, I flung the blanket off of me to find Lucy sleeping with her head buried on my chest.
"..."
Her witch hat, which she always carried around with her, was placed next to the pillow. Was it really my bed?
Yesterday, she was clearly depressed, so it was difficult to just leave her alone. Only then did I remember that I had brought her along with me.
Telling her 'everything will be alright' over and over again seemed like it wouldn't be of any use. So, instead, I told her that I would stay next to her.
When a person was really feeling down and was struggling to get by, the most meaningful thing you could do for them was to be by their side.
"Hey, Lucy."
Still, I needed to get up.
After calling her name softly a few times to wake her, her closed eyelids slowly lifted up. Lucy looked as drowsy and dazed as she always did. As her bluish eyes faced me, she suddenly pushed on my upper body to sit up.
It looked like she didn't even realize when she fell asleep. While sitting there in a daze, she wiped the saliva around her mouth with her sleeve. Her pupils widened slightly as she spoke in a more proper tone than usual.
"I didn't realize I fell asleep."
"Yesterday was a tough day for you, so I understand..."
Was it a mistake to suddenly bring up the day before?
Lucy didn't say anything, as if she were embarrassed upon remembering how she bawled with her arms wrapped around my shoulders.
"…You don't have to worry. There are times in life when things like this happen."
It was obvious that something happened last night, as she stayed silent and looked at me shyly. It was clear to anyone that Lucy Mayreel had fallen asleep on top of me while crying.
I wasn't entirely sure how I should even console her when the place she wept was on my chest.
Lucy belatedly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, trying to keep a poker face, as if nothing had happened. However, it didn't seem to work as well as she thought.
Seeing her look down with that expression on her face was quite a new experience. Since she always had a carefree and disinterested expression in every situation, as if she were a god, seeing her like that wasn't very common.
"Anyway… I have to get up now. I have to head back to Silvenia later today, so I have to take care of some things now… And I should also head to the granny's memorial. It has probably started by now. After all, mornings start early here in the monastery."
Looking out the window, the morning mist remained. By the time I headed out, I was sure it would disappear.
"I should go and finish my work."
When I mentioned Abbess Austin, Lucy reacted strangely… She quietly nodded her head. It was a bit unusual to see her act so obedient.
After that, everything went by quickly. I first went to the washroom on the first floor as Lucy followed me, holding my sleeve tightly.
After quickly washing my face, I put on my coat, leather pants, and magician's robe. I then tidied up Lucy's school uniform, which was wrinkled all over. Though, at that point it was impossible to make her sleeves look neat.
After that, Lucy sat on my lap as if she wanted something. I thought she meant for me to tie her hair up. I combed Lucy's hair with a brush one of the nuns prepared. I then tied her hair up with a hairband so that it wouldn't get in her way.
I also had to fix her loose tie and the incorrectly buttoned shirt.
Taking care of all of those things had become natural for me, though the nuns who passed by watched with puzzled expressions on their faces… I didn't care, as it would be the last time we would ever see each other.
After that, Lucy followed me to the first floor of the monastery, holding onto my sleeve.
Lucy was still walking slowly, as if she was tired because of the early morning. However, when she saw the memorial taking place at the entrance of the monastery in the early morning, she bit her lip as if her dull heart was starting to feel something.
A pile of flowers surrounded a portrait of Abbess Austin. The morning sun rose from the eastern sky as the sound of the crashing waves echoed.
All of the nuns continued to pray solemnly. It seemed as if time had stopped…
Lucy and I continued to watch for a while longer.
* * *
"Thank you for taking good care of Eileen. She is currently resting in her room. We'll make sure to make the necessary preparations before nightfall."
Lucy had captured Eileen, handing her over to Assistant Bishop Melinir.
After Abbess Austin's death, management of the monastery had been passed down to her. She was officially the head diocesan of the region.
There were only a few people inside the entire monastery who knew about the non-humans. Since Melinir was the highest senior among those who knew, naturally she was the one that could be entrusted with Eileen.
After the main prayer, it was time for people to pray for Abbess Austin as they pleased. Many of the nuns sat in front of her portrait as they stood still, praying.
After completing her duties, Assistant Bishop Melinir took the opportunity to speak with me. At the very back of the ceremony, she spoke to me while leaning against a stone wall.
"She's rather heartbroken… Since it was an unfortunate accident while under the influence of the full moon, all of her other non-human colleagues will understand."
Melinir, who was already in the uniform of the abbess, quietly spoke to me.
The Holy Father Eldane heard the news early in the morning. Hearing the news of Abbess Austin's passing, he immediately delivered his condolences.
Then he instructed Assistant Bishop Melinir to fulfill the role of abbess and take care of the situation at the monastery.
"I'm sure all of the other non-human children will understand. Stabbing the abbess because of her cursed blood… It wasn't something that only Eileen could have done. Any one of them would have also done the same."
"…At least she won't be harassed for harming Abbess Austin."
"Yes. Everyone will understand her situation, but… Whether or not she can forgive herself is a different story."
When I saw Eileen, she had her face buried in her lap, wiping her tears with her bloody hands.
For a girl who hadn't even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet, it was too much for her. And yet, no matter how much I thought about it, it was something she needed to take responsibility for.
It was something that she needed to overcome on her own. All I could do was cheer for her from the sidelines.
"Would you like to give a prayer? Even if you are not a member of the monastery, you can leave a flower."
"Yeah."
Before I could answer, Lucy responded first, nodding her head.
Assistant Bishop Melinir trembled as she looked at Lucy. She then closed her eyes and silently nodded her head.
Like me, Lucy didn't believe in God.
Rather, she was a girl who was strong enough to even chase away Mebula.
Nevertheless, it was an act of courtesy to Austin, who had left the world.
She placed a white rose down before she put her hands together to pray.
She looked completely different than her usual self, who was always lying down and taking a nap.
Only then did I realize how serious Lucy could be if she wanted to.
* * *
"Are you leaving for Silvenia today?"
"Yes. The carriage is set to arrive tonight at low tide. Until then, I will be staying here to watch over the memorial service."
"Please take a break as you see fit. As everyone has already given their flowers and prayers, there's not much left to do."
"That's okay. I will continue to watch over things."
As the day went on, nuns continued to fill the entrance of the monastery where the memorial was being held.
It was depressing to watch all of the heartbroken nuns mourn, but I continued to stay and watch over them.
Lucy hated crowded places, yet she stood next to me without complaining once.
Occasionally, a nun I was briefly acquainted with would pass by. They would come to me and share stories about Austin from when she was still alive.
After a group of nuns left, a group of outside visitors came.
Most of them knew the true circumstances of Austin's death, so they looked rather hesitant. Yet, they still came to pay tribute to her legacy before leaving.
Though, there was no need for them to have such hesitant and guilty expressions on their faces. After all, that was how Austin would have wanted things to be after her death.
Although I didn't see it myself, I could still tell. She must have passed away with a large smile on her face, more so than anyone else.
I sat down as I watched the guests leave. Shortly after, Saint Clarice personally came and laid down a flower.
When one died, it was the highest honor to have Saint Clarice—the face of the Telos Religious Group—come and give her prayers.
No one would argue that Abbess Austin wasn't a person deserving of such an honorable memorial.
Later, Princess Persica came to place down a flower. She came closer with a serious yet complicated expression on her face.
The princess and the saint.
A girl who was born with imperial blood that held the highest authority in the empire. The other was a girl who received God's greatest blessings.
They had both come to pay their respects to Abbess Austin, who passed away.
It was no easy task to condense all 109 years of her life into one sentence, but it was true that she had lived quite a fulfilling life.
* * *
"I have received news that the carriage for Silvenia has arrived on the shore. The saint has also said that she has finished her preparations to leave, so you can slowly start getting ready to depart. I would like to express my sincere gratitude towards you, as an Assistant Bishop and the new abbess of this monastery, for staying with us until the very end, Ed Rothstaylor."
"..."
"Cledric Monastery will never forget that House Rothstaylor lent us the strength to overcome this incident with no major problems."
Assistant Bishop Melinir bowed her head as she thanked me.
From my point of view, there was no need for her to thank me. I waved my hand in the air as I said it was fine.
Even after the nuns went to do their daily tasks and the distinguished guests left one by one, Lucy and I continued to stay at the memorial.
When it was time to clean up the memorial service, Lucy used her magic power to quickly clean the area. I also lent a hand with certain tasks that required physical strength.
Because of that, by the time the sun went down, everything was finished. All that was left was to clean up the memorial table, which had a portrait of Austin smiling alongside a bunch of flowers.
Time passed quickly and before I knew it, it was already low tide. I was so distracted that I couldn't even tell how fast the day had passed.
Suddenly, Lucy raised her eyes as she looked around. Did she notice something strange?
As I had said countless times before, in the monastery, mornings started early. That also meant nights started early.
By the time the moon was in the middle of the sky, more than half of the nuns had already gone to bed.
There were only a few nuns that remained by the entrance of the monastery, which led to the coastline. That was because they would be late to bed if they were still outside at that time.
Thanks to that, the area around the memorial was completely quiet. The outer door was also closed, making it impossible for anyone else to enter.
The memorial service was being held in a space between the front door of the monastery and the outer wall. And although it was blocked off by iron bars…
There were several nuns who climbed over them. Lucy had noticed their presence.
Dozens of girls jumped over the iron bars and landed on the ground. Their animal-like ears and tails were strange to see, but they didn't seem to have fallen under the madness of the full moon.
They occasionally made grumbling noises, but it wasn't aggressive.
The cursed blood of a non-human sometimes made them lose their sanity. Yet, it seemed as if their miserable feelings were keeping them sane.
The reason was… the death of their benefactor.
The non-human children had been hiding around all day, waiting for the sun to set.
They all gathered in front of the memorial table in unison. We had already removed all of the other tables, so only the one memorial remained.
However, they didn't care as they gathered together and prayed. They were the last ones to mourn, giving their prayers at the memorial.
Some sat on nearby rocks and some on the dirt as they quietly lowered their tails and prayed.
In front of them, Eileen sat still, covered in tears.
Her lush blonde hair fell down to the floor as she prayed under the moonlight, wearing a filthy nun's uniform…
Although she was mixed with the blood of a beast… She looked like a faithful servant who truthfully believed in her God.
"You should get going before you're late."
"…Alright."
Now that the tide had dropped, we slowly made our way towards the shore. Leaving behind the girls who prayed under the moonlight, it was time for us to go on our own way.
If we didn't leave then, we would have had to stay at the monastery until the next day.
That wouldn't be a major issue, but I wanted to go back to the academy quickly to focus on my studies. I didn't want to fall behind in my classes more than I already had.
As if realizing how I felt, Assistant Bishop Melinir closed her eyes and smiled.
"Now, we will all be going back to our lives."
After one passes, life continues as if they never existed in the first place.
The clock ticks forward, the sun rises, and before you realize it, the moon comes out.
Life repeats itself.
Some may feel as if that repetitive flow of life was meaningless, while others know how to find and give meaning to such a monotonous, repetitive life.
Even with Austin gone, the sun would continue to rise on the monastery. Even when one passed, the life of others had to continue.
After all, we were still alive.
And we had to survive.
* * *
"So, something happened."
"Oh my god. You must have had a hard time doing all of this."
"Not particularly. I was just standing around most of the time. Rather… I was also surprised."
When I returned to the camp from the monastery, I was too surprised to sleep.
When I left, I was still working on expanding my cabin. Upon coming back, it seemed nearly complete.
Of course, the process of trimming and processing the logs was the most labor-intensive task… And the construction itself wasn't that difficult if you could borrow the power of spirits.
Yet even then, I never thought that Yennekar would be able to finish all of it while I was at the monastery for ten days.
Thinking about it… Yennekar's cabin was also built in five days because of the spirits being forced to work overtime.
Takan's leadership… Could it even be called leadership?
…Anyway, thanks to Takan's leadership, the spirits worked in perfect harmony. They had an extreme efficiency that went beyond the scope of common sense.
It was only natural that it went beyond the scope of common sense… Because Takan's way of thinking was beyond the scope of common sense in the first place.
When I looked around the camp with my spiritual resonance, I could see exhausted low-ranking spirits scattered around like corpses.
Mugg, who went to Cledric Monastery with me, looked at the low-ranking spirits scattered around with mixed feelings.
Not long ago, he was also one of them. Now that he had risen to the rank of mid-ranking spirit, he no longer suffered to such an extent. Though, I was sure that if I left him behind in the camp, he wouldn't have been safe either.
[I am really lucky to have signed a contract with Young Master Ed. Let's be together forever… This loyal yet worthless Mugg will be loyal towards you for the rest of my life…!!! ]
It seemed like he was feeling extra emotional.
"This… was really all done…?"
A cabin that was built according to my pre-designed plan was now right in front of me.
A zelkova tree spread its large branches near the camp. Using the trunk of the tree as a pillar, the large first floor of the cabin was built. The 2nd floor was leaning against a higher section of the trunk, also being supported by another safety pillar.
Seeing how cleanly and perfectly it was built, I had completely forgotten about wanting to train my woodworking skills. That was a quality that I could never achieve on my own. The structure of the cabin was amazing, and the windows on each floor were perfect. It was truly incredible.
It seemed like the parts that connected the cabin to the tree trunk were nailed in with an iron rod. There was no excess on the rods, either, as if they had all been cut perfectly. It was surprising to see such detail and precision, as spirits weren't talented at such a thing.
The part where the support was connected seemed to have been nailed in by burying an iron rod, and traces of the protruding part remained as if they were all cut off. It was truly meticulous work.
"Hehe!"
Yennekar smiled while making a V-shape with her fingers. Suddenly, she lowered her head as if feeling bashful.
"Actually… I was only going to finish about half of the basic structure of it. But while I was in class, Takan took initiative and finished it all…"
"…Are the other spirits okay?"
"It seems that they were doing construction throughout the night while I was unaware… They also worked on it while I went to class… I guess he was hiding the fact that they were working on it in case I said something… I only scolded Takan after I belatedly realized what he was doing…"
Yennekar pouted as she fiddled with the tips of her fingers. Her spirits really were excessively loyal to her.
Well, it was a good thing to be so beloved by spirits. However, if they continued to work themselves to that extent, Yennekar wouldn't feel all that great about it either.
While the two of us spoke, Takan smiled, looking satisfied at the cabin. It was definitely all his doing.
"Ah, but I'll take care of the spirits now that they're done! So, you can just be happy and not worry about them! Ha! Haha!"
"Even though you suddenly laugh like that, it doesn't mean the situation will change… Either way, this is a good thing for me."
I looked up at the cabin that was now one floor taller.
I then looked towards the wooden shelter built on another side of the camp. It was the first shelter I had ever made, the place where I slept under the cold night wind and buzzing insects on my first day.
Seeing the difference in size between the two structures was overwhelming. I started to have a strange feeling as I looked down.
It… was a wave of emotions.
"The interior is still empty. I wasn't sure how to arrange the furniture, so I think you will have to do it yourself!"
"…Alright."
Only having to arrange the furniture, even if I had to do it a hundred more times, was a job I would easily accept. It was much easier than having to build the cabin like she did. Rather, that task was so simple, I couldn't help but laugh.
I would use the second floor as a library and magic engineering workshop. The first floor would be used as my main living space… So, that meant all my sensitive and delicate equipment should go up to the second floor.
As I was happily thinking about how to organize everything and arrange my furniture…
"By the way, are you going back to school tomorrow…?"
"Yeah. That's right."
"Then… Since you just came back, you must not have heard the news."
Yennekar rolled up her sleeves as she put a cooking pot over the campfire.
"Your younger sister, Tanya… I heard she is going to have another student meeting… And I think she is going to call for you to attend. I believe it's one of the regularly held meetings they always have."
It was the student council president's natural right to be able to convene a meeting with students.
However, Yennekar tilted her head as if she were concerned.
"But this meeting seems rather unusual… There are many rumors going around, as only children from famous and prestigious families were called to attend…"
"…What rumors?"
"The student council president… it seems she is trying to grow her influence not only within Silvenia, but also outside…"
Hearing that, I couldn't help but tilt my head.
One thing was certain… It felt like Tanya was drawing a blueprint for something big.
What was it…? I felt like I had to go and ask her myself.