CH 77

One day I was concentrating on my training to become an Aura Master.

Unlike me, who was exempted from all labor as my alchemist’s father’s assistant, today the Count’s servants seemed very busy.

<Do you think the maids are particularly busy? Or is it just my mood? >

“I don’t think it’s only because of your mood.”

Just then, the voices of the maids were heard.

“Did you hear from the Head Maid? Cardinal Cattleya is coming tomorrow.”

“What? The Matron? Is it a special day tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, let’s clean the chapel first.”

Agnes clapped her hands together and rejoiced.

<Oh, Cattleya is coming. It’s been a really long time!>

“That’s right. I guess she’s going to spend this holiday in the Castle.”

<Holiday? Ah! Come to think of it, tomorrow is the first day of the new year.>

The first day of the New Year.

The first day of the first month of the New Year was a very important holiday in a church that values the lunar calendar. On this day, a large number of offerings for atonement and prosperity were burned in a ceremony.

‘New Year.’

I brooded over the word. A very special event day was approaching.

✠

<Ellet, wake up! You should exercise in the morning!>

The sun shone through the windows that I forgot to close the curtains last night. It was quite late in the morning considering the fact that the winter’s sun had a later rise.

I wriggled under the covers. 

“I want to sleep more…”

<Don’t do that, look out the window! It rained last night and a double rainbow appeared. Come on, let’s go outside and sweat in the light of the rainbow!>

“unh……I’m sleep……”

<How can you become a Master with that spirit! Cadet Ellet, wake up!>

“Don’t wanna……I’ll sleep……”

I rolled the blanket over my head and curled up like a slouch.

<Gee, why is this kid who usually doesn’t oversleep like this today?>

“There are days like this……”

<Wait, are you sick?!>

Agnes poked her face inside the blanket. It was an excellent horror effect straight from a movie.

“It’s not like that. I just want to rest and do nothing today.”

<Hmmm, you have a firm will.>

“yes. See you later, Agnes.”

I turned to the other side and tried to sleep. I fell asleep quickly thanks to the warm and cozy bed.

“Hmm.”

It was around 10 am when I woke up again.

After lounging around for a while, I came out of the blanket to get my first meal. Even after I finished eating, I just sat around in the room.

Agnes put both hands on her waist, looking at me who had no intention of going out at all.

<Are you really not going to practice?>

“Yes.”

<You won’t even make potions?>

“Yes.”

<A kid who lived so faithfully? Are you in late puberty?

If I gave a positive answer, she had the momentum to immediately start a face-to-face pep talk.

“It’s not like that.”

That was then. The voices of the butler and the maids came from outside the window.

“Look, maid! The Matron just arrived!”

“Al-already?! Oh my, the Madam probably hasn’t woken up yet!”

“There’s no more time! Hurry up, wake up the madam and help her in the morning preparations!”

Upon hearing the news of the arrival of a close friend, Agnes’ eyes lit up.

<Cattleya is here! Let’s go say hi, Ellet!>

“Yes, we should.”

I finally got dressed and went out of the room.

It was obvious where Cardinal Cattleya, who had just arrived, would be. I stepped into the chapel on the first floor of the main building. It was easy to find a middle-aged woman praying in the middle of a reverent space with lit candles 

<It’s Cattleya!>

I waited for Cardinal Cattleya’s prayer to end and approached. 

“Hello, your grace the Cardinal.”

“What’s up with this church-like greeting? Just calm me Matron as always. How have you been, Ellet?”

“Good.”

A soft smile crept across Cardinal Cattleya’s face as she looked at her granddaughter’s friend. Like a lie, her usual coldness was fading away.

Soon, her gaze turned a little away from me. 

“Agnes too?”

<Yes, yes. Leya, how are you? Are you feeling pain anywhere?>

It was revealed earlier on that Agnes’ soul was with me thanks to the necklace of relic. 

Although they could not hear each other’s voices, Agnes and Cardinal Cattleya looked at each other with warm eyes. The scene of friendship that transcends life and death was heartwarming.

“She said she’s been well. She also asked about the health of the Matron.” 

“My health? Please tell her I’m still healthy, so I have a long way to go to her side.”

“Yes. Did you hear that, Agnes?”

<Sheesh. This girl, the way she talks is always……>

“She’s grumbling right now about the way I talk, right?”

<……>

“Pffff……yes. You two must have been really close.”

After that, I helped the two of them communicate for a while. Suddenly, there was someone’s well-being I was curious about.

“How’s Thesilid?”

“If it’s a Thesilid…not long ago he became the owner of the holy sword. He’s making a name for himself. He’s growing well accordingly to the Vatican’s expectations. Today, Thesilid will be in charge of the torch relay for the burning offerings in the Vatican”

“I see.”

“You care quite a bit. Wasn’t your only point of contact the dungeon sink that occurred 10 years ago?”

“I happened to meet him again recently.” 

“Really?”

The eyes, filled with time and wisdom, looked deeply into me.

“Ellet.”

Cardinal Cattleya opened her mouth.

“Thesilid Argent is unlikely to lead a normal life.”

“……”

“So, being involved with him……”

As the words continued, I could see that Cardinal Cattleya’s jaw tightened.

“Matron.”

I cut off her words.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Don’t say anything more.”

“……”

Thesilid must have been abnormally reflected in her Eyesight of Vitality, which can see the lifespan that has been lived and the rest of the lifespan to live.

Cardinal Cattleya was trying to warn me even by breaking her ban.

<What is it? Even Cattleya seems to care about Thesilid?>

Agnes muttered as if she was dying to know Thesilid’s identity. 

“Thank you for your kindness, Matron.”

“……Come to think of it, I think I said something unnecessary. You are not an ordinary child either.”

Cardinal Cattleya smiled kindly. I replied with a smile face to face.

“Oh, Mother! You came earlier than expected!”

The Countess appeared just in time, it was a good time to leave.

“Then I will go my way.”

I politely bowed to Cardinal Cattleya and the Countess and left the chapel. As soon as I left the place, I turned to the library, borrowed books of literature from the continent, and spent time reading them.

It is convenient to see it in the integrated study, but then Agnes will be bored.

<Wait, don’t turn the pages yet. I mean, I didn’t finish reading it.>

“Agnes reads the sentence while savoring it.” 

<You read too fast.>

“There are readers like Agnes, and there are readers like me.”

When I had finished reading a few books and exchanging opinions with Agnes, I noticed that it was getting dark outside the window.

Soon the sun was going down.

[‘The World-building God’ announces that the time has come]

Shrrek.

Without hesitation, I pushed the chair back and stood up.

“I have work to do, Agnes.”

<Work? You said you were going to play today.> 

“It’s important. Let’s go.” 

The early evening sky was as dark blue as the deep sea. I sent my eyes near the western horizon. 

A crescent moon as thin as a nail mark. The new moon was hanging there.

I went up to the Count’s roof to avoid the eyes of the servants.

<You are weird today. Why do you keep doing things you’ve never done before?>

“Everything has a reason. Agnes should also take a good look.”

It is now January and February approaches. The breath that came out of my mouth was shattered white. It was quickly swept away by the cold wind of a winter night.

I opened the system. After a long time, I turned on the ‘Ranking’ notification setting and looked up at the sky again.

It was when I waited for about half an hour. 

Paaaah-!

A star fell with a flash of light from the western sky. After a brief moment, I took a deep breath.

<A shooting star? Were you here to see that?>

“Yes.”

<I see, did you make a wish?>

Agnes playfully introduced superstitions. However, my expression was stiff.

“Agnes, that’s not such an auspicious sign.”

<Huh? Then?>

That was the moment.

[<System> Your ranking changes. Current ranking: 8th (▼1).]

A drop of one rank.

It’s not because I’m weak. It’s just….

“……He’s here.”

‘He’ has finally crossed over to this world.

<Who’s here?>

“Do you remember what Carpeus said?”

– Soon the new moon will come to the human world. On that day, the ‘A newly born Chaos and Evil’ will come to light.

<Don’t tell me……>

I opened my mouth to Agnes, who was astonished. 

‘He’ in this world.

“It’s the Final Boss.”

Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

When the winter wind engulfed my body.