Alfheim (2)

“You must be tired from your long journey. I’ve prepared a place for you to rest, so I think it would be best if you head there first.”

The Saintess of Earth, Nina, guided us to our resting quarters as if nothing had happened.

Titan was still gloomy, but she didn’t seem to care much.

No, that’s probably not true. She must care. She knew about Titan’s existence and had expressed hope to meet him. Perhaps she’s just someone who doesn’t know how to express herself.

If not, Titan’s situation would be too pitiful.

It would be truly unfortunate if someone who shares his pain were to turn away from him.

“Then please rest well today. I’ll visit you at an appropriate time tomorrow.”

The room Nina prepared for us—no, it would be better to call it a house.

We received a small cottage.

Of course, though it’s described as small, it’s spacious enough for each member of our party to have their own room.

Though there likely aren’t any people here who could be considered enemies, it’s still reassuring to be gathered together like this.

And since we’ll probably be staying for a long time, it’s not a bad arrangement.

“Hmm, I checked the kitchen, and it has everything we need. Lost, what would you like for dinner tonight?”

“A warm stew would be nice.”

“Stew… Then I should start simmering it now.”

“Ah, I’ll help.”

“Patients should rest. Today, I’ll take care of everything.”

Línea looked at us sprawled out on the living room sofa with a bitter smile. Titan was in a half-dazed state, and I was suffering from the aftereffects of using Canopus’s Jar.

As for Claire… well, she could probably still move, but let’s leave her be in recognition of her achievement of breaking through the biting wind head-on.

Even if I don’t like it, giving credit where it’s due prevents emotional rifts from forming.

As I listened to the bubbling sounds coming from the kitchen, I thought to myself.

“So, what do we do now.”

The Saintess of Earth, Nina, is hiding the most crucial information about the <Wind’s Tomb>. Otherwise, Hraesvelgr’s attitude wouldn’t make sense.

It’s hard to believe she could be evil, having become an apostle in accordance with the gods’ will, but she’s still human after all.

Even an elf who has lived for hundreds of years can become angry in the face of family deaths.

“Titan, are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? If anything, I think it’s fortunate.”

“If you say so, then that’s how it is.”

A person who gets swept up in such emotions.

The Saintess of Earth, Nina, might unexpectedly be someone who lacks maturity.

*     *      *

After eating the stew Línea made for us, we went to bed early.

My body, exhausted from fatigue and pain, fell asleep quickly, and when I opened my eyes, sunlight was already streaming through the window.

“That seems about right.”

Judging by the time, I must have slept for a good 10 hours.

I may have woken up at this hour, but the others might be different.

Sure enough, when I went to the living room, I saw Titan inspecting his weapon and Línea preparing medicine. Claire was nowhere to be seen.

Yes, it’s better to let the kid sleep as much as she needs.

She should get as much rest as she slept.

“Ah, Lost. Would you like me to heat up the stew from yesterday?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll just make do with a few slices of bread. Nina will probably call for us soon.”

I stuff some bread from the table into my mouth.

Perhaps treating us as guests, the bread was soft and delicious.

After sitting on the living room sofa waiting for a visitor for about an hour…

“Pleased to meet you, Cielo-nim. I am Rel, one of Nina-nim’s guards. I apologize for the early hour, but Nina-nim has instructed me to escort you to the meeting hall.”

“What about my companions?”

“…The message is for you to come alone today.”

“I see. Understood.”

I expected this. Considering how Nina looked at Titan yesterday, she probably didn’t want to meet him.

In fact, I didn’t want to bring Titan along and create an awkward atmosphere either.

“Then I’ll be back.”

“Ah, Lost. What would you like for dinner tonight?”

I place an order for “anything suitable” to Línea, who seemed to be enjoying herself as if playing newlyweds.

As expected, her expression turned cold, but she’ll manage well on her own.

Her affection is appreciated, but sometimes it feels excessive. I need to moderate it somehow.

“Titan.”

“…”

“Is there anything you want to say or hear about this?”

“I’m fine.”

“Alright.”

I believe Titan will sort out his feelings on his own eventually.

Of course, whether to interfere is entirely my decision.

“Then I’ll go and confront her properly, so look forward to it.”

“Heh, what a strange guy.”

Titan let out a hollow laugh.

For now, I suppose this much is enough. At least I saw him smile.

*     *      *

The place Nina’s guard guided me to was unexpectedly not a meeting hall.

It was a spacious, bright garden filled with blooming flowers. In the center was a large tea table.

The Saintess of Earth, Nina, was tilting her teacup there.

Does she intend to talk over tea? Fortunately, I’m not uncomfortable with this sort of situation.

In fact, this kind of setting is even more familiar to me…

“I hope you slept well last night.”

“Yes, thanks to your consideration, I was able to rest comfortably.”

As I naturally took a seat across from her, my teacup was filled.

A herbal tea with a subtle fragrance. I’m not sure which leaves were used.

The elves probably have some special knowledge about it.

“Hmm, it’s refreshing and pleasant.”

“I’m glad.”

I tried to break the somewhat stiff atmosphere with an uncharacteristic comment about the tea, but I received only a brief reply.

Already I feel suffocated.

-Aaack! I can’t breathe!

Did she understand my feelings?

Nina’s teapot suddenly started speaking.

Is it a magical teapot?

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I’d heard this voice a few times before.

“Senior Hecate, I was wondering where you were this morning, so you were hiding in here?”

-Hoeeeeee~

Nina opened the teapot lid with a disgusted expression, and a small ghost popped out, making hoeing sounds.

Damn, it’s Hecate again.

At this point, I’m starting to think this cursed ghost is following me.

-I was trying to surprise you! How was it? Were you surprised, Nina?

“Yes, I was surprised.”

While Nina responded to Hecate’s antics as if she was used to it and dumped the entire contents of the teapot onto the ground, Hecate floated up and approached me.

-Nice to see you, junior. Did you miss me? Unfortunately, I can’t show my formerly magnificent appearance these days. But instead, you get to see this cute and adorable form, so you’re lucky, aren’t you?

In the form of a baby ghost, looking like someone had flipped a tablecloth over themselves. Just looking at it makes me feel like I could exorcise it right now.

-Hoeee! What are you doing?! I’ll really get exorcised now!

“Ah, so this wasn’t a joke this time. Then why exactly are you in that form?”

-You’re so insensitive! What a terrible person! An absolutely terrible person!

Tap tap tap tap!

Curious, I shone some holy power on her, and Hecate hit me in anger. Of course, it didn’t hurt.

However, if her current appearance isn’t intentional, and if her apparent weakness isn’t a lie, then what could have caused this?

I couldn’t help but express my curiosity about it.

“How did you end up like that?”

-You know what? A woman’s heart is like a reed, changing this way and that at times.

“I see.”

I didn’t want to engage with a joke that wasn’t even funny, so I just agreed.

If she doesn’t want to tell me, I don’t particularly care to know.

Besides, conversations with Hecate are mentally exhausting, so I didn’t want to drag it out.

-That can’t be right! Why are you accepting that?!

“Senior, if you keep thrashing about, the snacks on the table will fall.”

-Hmph! I’ll let it slide just this once.

“Ah, yes.”

With those words, Hecate picked up a cookie from the table and began to munch on it.

I watched as the cookie crumbs disappeared into her semi-transparent spiritual body.

Is she actually digesting that? Like a slime?

-I became like this for your sake, junior.

“Such profound intent!”

-…Why are you drawing on holy power?

“Weren’t you giving me a chance to exorcise you?”

The thought that she might be helping me relieve my stress made me happy.

But apparently that wasn’t the case.

With a slight feeling of regret, I quietly calmed my holy power.

Though she’s mentally exhausting, irritating, and annoying in many ways, I don’t genuinely want to kill her.

-I did some background research on how a prickly, ill-tempered priest like you became an apostle, you know?

“Vicarious Saint, please restrain yourself. If you fire that, Senior Hecate will truly be exorcised.”

“…”

Background research on me.

Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

The fact that the master of the ghost city did such a thing sends chills down my spine.

Though I know Hecate isn’t a bad person… or rather, a bad ghost, I can’t seem to overcome that sense of disconnect. It’s unsettling and unpleasant.

-And guess what?! I found you’re connected to the <Corruptor>!

Hecate floated over and poked me with her elbow.

Barely tolerating that blatant and unpleasant action, I asked based on the clue I had just grasped.

“Did the Corruptor do this to you? That’s what happens when you keep making snide remarks to people…”

-Why do you think I was making snide remarks? I simply can’t understand. Cielo, you really lack proper respect for this beautiful senior.

With an appearance like a flipped tablecloth, it’s hardly beautiful.

If we’re going by her previous form, maybe, but now she just looks cute at best with those poses.

Even having such thoughts makes me hate myself, but…

-Actually, I owed the <Corruptor> my life in my younger days.

“Ah… I know.”

Come to think of it, that’s right.

I remember seeing such a scene briefly when Eremus showed me his life.

Clearly…

-I’ll give you my life, so please spare these people?

-…

-I mean, I’m a Saintess of the church after all. My life should have some value, don’t you think?

-Woman.

-Woman?! I have a name, you know? It’s Hecate!

-Why are you sacrificing yourself?

-Because I’ve taken responsibility for them! How unseemly would it be if I just made fancy speeches and then ran away?

-…Take those maggots and get out.

-Oh! Really?

-Before I change my mind. Now.

-Yes sir!

I believe that’s how the conversation went.

Now that I think about it, Hecate hasn’t changed much from then to now.

Moreover, the fact that she still considers that incident a debt shows that her humanity isn’t all bad.

As an apostle of the gods, she knew how to sacrifice herself for others, but her unique snarky attitude seems unavoidable.

I wondered if she hit her head when she died, but it seems she was like this when alive as well—how unfortunate.

“Hmm, I understand. So you were snarking to repay your debt and ended up getting kicked by Eremus…”

-That’s not it!

“Then how did you end up getting hit? Seeing only your spirit form remaining, it seems you were heavily corroded.”

-Your premise is that I got hit? Isn’t that disrespectful to both me and Eremus?

“Now that you mention it, you’re right. I should apologize to Eremus, even though he isn’t here.”

-What about me? No, that’s not the point. Anyway, I went to find Eremus to repay my debt, and he was deeply moved by my kind and noble intentions…

Self-praise.

Well, I’ll ignore that part.

I could barely accept that Hecate wasn’t beaten by Eremus. Come to think of it, didn’t Eremus let Hecate go when she was alive?

Yes, he has good humanity.

-So I made a body for Eremus that could move freely! He’s probably traveling the world now!

“…Pardon?”

I was lost in thought for a moment, and when I came back to reality, I had to ask again about Hecate’s conclusion.

-I went sha-sha-shak! and pa-ba-bat! and forcibly saved him when he was waiting for death! I used more power than expected, which is why I ended up like this.

Unfortunately, even after asking again, the result didn’t change.

*     *      *

<City Awaiting the Sun>, Rubia, was currently in a state of emergency.

The troublemaker who had once threatened Rubia had returned to the city.

Although the grudge with her was said to have been well-settled with money and an apology from her guardian, this time the situation was a bit different.

The sight of the girl, Lilia, appearing alone without her guardian, reminded more than a few people of the first moment of trial that had visited Rubia.

Fortunately, though, Lilia wasn’t alone as they thought.

“Heeheeheehee! Dad, this is Rubia! Is this the place where it always rains?”

Lilia was cradling a black lion doll preciously in her arms, talking to it.

Such a sight might have seemed cute, but surprisingly, the doll moved as if it were alive and responded to Lilia’s words.

“Is that so? How interesting. I’m curious about the place you stayed.”

The black lion doll that Claire had left as a farewell gift to Lilia.

Eremus’s soul was currently possessing it.

“Look forward to it! I’ll guide you well!”

Without anyone knowing, the father-daughter journey had already begun.