Demon of Sorrow (4)

Though I hate to admit it, Hecate’s advice was truly helpful.

The image of the Saintess engraved in my mind had prevented me from thinking about honing my own abilities.

Chains that suppress. Chains that bind the body to keep it from straying.

Restraint and protection. Oppression and warning.

It can take any form.

“Thank you for your service, Sir Allen.”

“Ah, yes. Take care on your way back, Lost.”

That’s enough with Edge Forys. No need to get more involved.

At least here, I can’t do anything that would seem like borrowing his hand.

Now I need to build up my relationship with Ilina Crowley again…

“Heeheeheehee!”

Just as I was setting out to find Ilina Crowley’s location to stage another coincidence.

“Ta-da! Look at this! Isn’t it cute? Claire-unnie bought it for me?”

There was someone who beat me to it.

And quite a familiar face at that.

Lilia, her eyes sparkling as she held up a teddy bear to show it off.

“Hmph, hmph. It was nothing. I just noticed you couldn’t take your eyes off it. I simply bought it before you could become bothersome.”

And following Lilia who was making that display, Claire who smiled gently before pretending not to care.

“Wow, what a cute teddy bear?”

And even Ilina Crowley, grinning from ear to ear as if she couldn’t contain how adorable she found the scene.

“Right? Right?”

“By the way, what a strange coincidence meeting here. I met your unnie earlier too.”

“Really? But that’s not the case with us! We were looking for you to show this off! Look! It moves when you put it down like this?”

The teddy bear walks step by step after being placed on the ground. Lilia breaks into a bright smile at the sight.

“You’re right? How fascinating.”

“Heeheeheehee!”

Unexpectedly, my companions had been maintaining their interactions with Ilina Crowley.

And quite skillfully at that.

It’s touching that they specifically say they were looking for her, not just running into her by chance.

If an adult had done that it would seem suspicious, but since both Lilia and Claire are still young and innocent, the effect is particularly special.

The proof is in how quickly Ilina Crowley’s expression softens.

I’m worried she might melt completely.

She looks even happier than when she won 2,000 gold from gambling.

“You little ones, where’s Linea? Why are you alone?”

While it was a good excuse to join them, it was also my genuine concern.

Where did these damn kids leave their guardian?

It’s hard to imagine Linea would just let them wander off?

Well, we can tell where Titan is from the sounds still coming from the arena.

“Ah, Lost…”

“Heeheeheek! Hello! Hello!”

Setting aside Lilia who had completely lost her formal speech, unusually enough, Claire seemed flustered.

“Unnie seems to have gotten lost.”

“I see, you two came all the way here after she got distracted, is that it?”

“…”

Children’s obvious lies are easy to see through.

While it’s Linea’s fault for losing track of them, I can understand somewhat given her difficulty with crowds. However, the two little ones who left behind Linea while she was distracted by the sights are also at fault.

“I’m sorry.”

“So! rry!”

Claire bowed her head calmly while Lilia apologized energetically, still not seeming to understand what the problem was.

I’m starting to think Lilia is better than Claire now.

Though she’s the one who broke my limbs, at least she expresses her emotions more freely than Claire, which makes her more entertaining to watch.

“Thank you for looking after the children, Princess Ilina.”

“Ah, um, it’s not like I was looking after them, we just happened to meet…”

“Still, just having an adult present helps.”

“Oh, hmm! I-is that so?”

This one’s just an adult on the outside too, with contents not much different from a child.

Look how happy she gets just from a bit of praise.

While waiting there for Linea to find us, I continue making small talk with Ilina Crowley.

“By the way Lost, where did you go?”

Just then, Claire asked as if suddenly remembering something.

This is a good flow.

“I was just having a conversation with Duke Forys.”

I show Claire the seal Edge Forys gave me.

Even without showing it, Claire who knows about my relationship with Edge Forys would have understood.

The reason I deliberately showed this was because of Ilina Crowley.

See what a high-status and capable priest I am.

It’s a device to demonstrate that.

“Grand Mage Duke Edge Forys’s seal… I thought this in the arena too, but you really are an amazing person.”

“Haha, not at all. I was probably just suitable as someone he could share trivial concerns with that he couldn’t tell others.”

Of course, Edge Forys wouldn’t share even a letter of his worries in front of me. But what does it matter?

I already received proof that I could use his name. As long as I’m not caught using it, I can sell his name as many times as I want.

“Would Princess Ilina like to share any worries too?”

“Oh, um… I… no.”

I didn’t expect her to fall for it right away. Even knowing I’m a priest capable of conversing with Edge Forys.

It takes a lot of courage to share your worries in the first place.

“Then if you ever feel like it, please contact me anytime. This is the address of the inn where we’re staying. If you tell the innkeeper, I’ll come to see you.”

I leave room for possibility.

“We got to enjoy a meal and it was fun hearing various stories about Arcanum then. Moreover, you even protected our children?”

I speak as if we owe her a debt to lower the mental burden.

I leave myself in her mind as a capable and approachable medium she can consult anytime.

“I feel sorry that all I can offer in return is listening to your stories.”

“…I suppose that’s true?”

See, this brings us halfway there.

At least someone who has worries, who has been carrying those worries until now and had no one to consult with.

They naturally long for someone who can help them.

“Hah, Claire… Lilia…”

Just as we were waiting there chatting until Linea found us, she came running over panting heavily.

She must have been very worried about the kids.

Well, considering Lilia’s actual combat power, I wonder if there’s any point in worrying, but still.

Though there are absolute powerhouses like Edge Forys and the Mystic King stationed here, so it’s better to avoid catching their attention if possible.

“Hah… huff…”

She must have been running around desperately, as it took quite a while for Linea to catch her breath. She must have been very worried.

“Lost…”

“Yes, Linea. Good work.”

“If you’re going to take the children, couldn’t you tell me beforehand?”

“I didn’t take them. We just happened to meet here.”

“I see…”

Linea hung her head.

I was about to pat her head to show appreciation for her hard work, but Linea roughly knocked my hand away.

Well, if you don’t like it, fine.

“…I want to take a bath.”

“Right, we should head back to the inn and rest first.”

Linea muttered while uncomfortably peeling her clothes that were sticking to her body with her fingers.

Since she was wearing light clothing consisting of a white robe and shirt, I took off my coat and draped it over her before things could get awkward.

“Bear with the heat.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Linea smiled brightly and nodded at my consideration.

“Tch…”

And Ilina Crowley who was watching clicked her tongue.

It didn’t seem like she was jealous of how well I treated Linea.

Just the fact that Linea had something she didn’t.

That must have stung.

“Then Princess Ilina, I’ll see you next time.”

“Huh? Oh yes, that’s right. Take care, priest. Let’s meet again.”

I decided to end this meeting before the atmosphere could get worse.

The interpersonal compatibility between Ilina Crowley and Linea is too poor.

Maybe I should exclude Linea from this matter.

*     *     *

Arcanum is really small.

Of course, that’s not literally true, it just means we run into acquaintances too often.

“My Lost, did you enjoy your sightseeing today?”

“Teacher? If you were coming, it would have been nice if you told us beforehand.”

Teacher Revenna was at the inn where we’re staying.

She had been waiting for us while occupying a table.

She started naturally ordering food while beckoning us over.

“I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. We didn’t have enough time to talk last time, so isn’t this a good time to catch up properly today?”

My companions’ gazes gathered on me as Teacher Revenna clasped her hands together with a bright smile.

While Linea gave a bitter smile, Claire’s gaze held curiosity.

‘Who is she?’

‘The teacher who taught me how to live in this world. In some ways, you could say she was like a parent to me.’

Claire, who didn’t know exactly what my relationship with Teacher Revenna was, whispered her question and I whispered back. Claire’s expression twisted at that… I really don’t get along with this damn kid.

“My? So Linea wasn’t the only one. Hmm… three women in your party. How surprising.”

“I understand what you’re thinking, but please don’t include these little ones in that category.”

“They don’t look that different to me?”

“…”

If you think about actual age, that’s true.

But I’ve had 10 years of mental growth accompanying me.

“So saying not to include those two means Linea is fine?”

“Wh-what are you saying?! Lost!”

“Teacher, I’m already mentally exhausted today, could you please stop there?”

“Hmm… You’re right. Looking at your eyes, it seems like you’ve taken the full brunt of time. You used to have such bright, sparkling eyes.”

I did take the full brunt of time.

Though that doesn’t mean I’ve aged.

You could say she saw accurately since I’ve lived a life of different density.

“Right. Lost’s eyes are so rotten that… except when he’s sleeping or unconscious, it’s hard to feel like we’re the same age?”

“So that’s what you meant before?”

She said a little when sleeping.

Seems she meant my eyes are unpleasant to look at.

“Now then, why don’t you all tell me what you saw and felt today?”

“Me first! Look! When you put it down like this, it walks?”

“Wow, what a cute teddy bear.”

Lilia approached Teacher Revenna with her characteristic friendliness.

In some ways, she’s remarkable. How did someone like her endure alone for thousands of years?

“How much did it cost?”

“What’s cost?”

“Lost?”

“It’s not my fault. Besides, she’s just someone I’m looking after, I haven’t had time to educate her.”

I quickly make excuses.

Teacher is stricter than anyone when it comes to education.

“But this one, Claire, is a child I taught directly. She’s quite bright.”

“…Lost, this is a debt.”

“My! She really is bright!”

Claire’s complaint seemed to strike a chord with Teacher.

The hostility instantly vanished from her eyes that had been glaring at me.

Light conversation continued for a while after that. Most of the topics were about what kind of journey we’d had.

When the mood had mellowed like that.

“By the way Teacher? How did you come out alone without Master?”

I decided to voice the doubt I had been harboring.

While I was glad to meet Teacher, I also had questions that came to mind.

Master who was always with Teacher.

Where could Master be? If they came together, I have some questions about the sword…

“Hadard? I don’t know.”

“Pardon…?”

That person has no life skills, did you just abandon them?

“They won’t die even if left somewhere?”

“You’re raising Master to be strong.”

I wonder if they’re digging up tree roots to eat somewhere. No, they’re good with swords so maybe they’re hunting?

They probably can’t tell what’s edible and what’s not though…

“Then since it’s regrettable, let me ask you instead. Do you know anything about this sword?”

“Lost, where did you learn the manners of drawing a blade at the dinner table?”

“I learned them from Master.”

“I thought so. I’ll have to give them a good scolding when I get back.”

I’m sorry, Master.

But please understand that I can be as strict with you as you were strict with me.

“Since it’s come to this, please tell me. Do you know anything?”

“What? I don’t want to. You should figure it out yourself. Isn’t that Hadard’s homework for you? I’m disappointed you’d try to find the answer from me.”

“I don’t remember receiving such homework…”

But thinking about it now, it could be.

Though it seems more like an excuse not to tell me.

Either way, once it’s come to this, Teacher will definitely keep her mouth shut.

In the end, I didn’t learn anything.

“Then shall we move on to my main point? Lost? Return the Morpheus’s Dream Fragment.”

“…Yes, alright.”

I obediently handed over the <Morpheus’s Dream Fragment> I had been carrying.

Now that I’ve become a saint, it probably won’t be as effective as before anyway.

Moreover, considering the meaning behind Teacher giving me this, it’s only natural.

I’ve already felt deep in my bones how painful the loss of memories can be, so I don’t need any more of this teaching.

And so Teacher retrieved the <Morpheus’s Dream Fragment> from me, and.

“Claire. I’ll give this to you.”

“What are you doing…?!”

She passed it on to Claire.