April 19, 2021
"But I’m fine now."
[That’s not possible. It must have been difficult.]
The monster’s voice sank, heavy and damp, like soaked cotton. Having lived for so long, the beast understood human nature well. People did not dare to be jealous of those far above them. But the moment someone of high standing fell within reach, they would tear into them with vicious delight. A god who had lost their authority would have been an easy target. There was no way Alicia had been fine, not when she had to endure it all with such a fragile body.
"But because of that, I was able to come this far. The person I am today was shaped by those experiences."
[...]
"If I hadn’t made that choice back then, I wouldn’t be who I am now. I wouldn’t have met you, the mon—"
Alicia trailed off mid-sentence.
She swallowed hard, meeting the creature’s eyes. It had helped her so much. Calling it simply "monster" felt... wrong.
"...What’s your name?"
[Name?]
The monster tilted its head.
"It feels strange to keep calling you ‘monster’ all the time."
[...]
"...Did I say something wrong?"
The way it silently gazed at her made Alicia smile awkwardly. She still didn’t fully understand the creature.
[I have no name.]
"You don’t?"
[Without a ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ name, one is forgotten. That is why we were forgotten. No one remembers us anymore. That was our punishment.]
"...Then how about I give you one?"
[You?]
The monster’s eyes grew noticeably wider. Alicia chuckled at its intense gaze, rubbing her cheek in embarrassment.
"Only if you’re okay with it, of course. Since we’ll be together, it doesn’t feel right to keep calling you ‘monster’."
[...]
"Do you not like it?"
[No. I like it. If it’s from you, I’ll accept anything.]
Its eyes sparkled, like a child receiving an unexpected gift. Alicia reached out and gently stroked its head.
"Then... how about Pelsi?"
[Memory.]
The creature let out a low rumble.
"You understand its meaning."
[You taught me. Everything I know, I learned from you.]
"Your god must have been kind."
[Yes. They were kind. That’s why everyone loved them. And... you were the one who gave me my original name as well.]
The monster’s gaze grew unfocused, its long, slitted pupils glistening faintly. Even though it knew that Alicia was different from the god it once served, it couldn’t help but search for traces of them in her.
A beast that had loved its god could only continue to cherish even the smallest fragments they had left behind.
"Then, we’ll use Pelsi as a placeholder until you remember your original name—"
[My name is Pelsi. From the moment you named me, I became Pelsi.]
"Then... what was your original name?"
[A name exists to be spoken. If no one remembers or calls it, it loses meaning. So, I am Pelsi. And I like this name.]
Not "monster" anymore—Pelsi.
The newly named beast purred softly, rubbing its face against Alicia’s hand. Its grin, baring sharp teeth, was nothing short of joyful.
***
James frowned at his reflection in the mirror.
The fabric of his clothes was so delicate it looked as if it would melt at a mere touch. He had no idea how much it cost, but one thing was certain—the man staring back at him looked far more like a noble than he ever had before.
"It suits you much better than I expected," Jerpeneus remarked with a grin.
"Are you sure I should be attending this party?"
"There are already plenty of people curious about you. Of course, you have to go."
"But I understand the current situation isn’t exactly ideal."
"That’s why you need to enjoy the party. In a place like this, looking the part is a matter of survival."
Unlike Schwarhan, where high society hosted only a handful of grand parties each year, the capital city of Alogost was entirely different. The nobility there led extravagantly adorned lives, far more lavish than those in any other region of the empire.
They danced under the glow of grand chandeliers, engaging in witty banter, all while flaunting their wealth and power. To navigate their world, one had to preen like a peacock, always displaying the most brilliant plumage.
"There might be nobles who recognize me from my time as a painter."
"And yet, a man so concerned about noble eyes was bold enough to pull a stunt like that?"
"......."
"Don’t worry too much. You can always adjust your story as needed. Besides, no one here would be foolish enough to say anything outright."
Jerpeneus dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand.
Perhaps in Schwarhan, where only a handful of people appreciated fine art, James’s name might have carried some weight. But in the capital? No chance. Every noble with influence had their own personal artists under patronage.
No matter how skilled James was, if he hadn’t secured a powerful backer, he would have been left drifting between the lesser nobility.
"What do you mean by ‘adjust’?"
"Think logically. Would a mere painter have the ability to hunt witches? Unless, of course, he suddenly received a divine revelation and gained some special power."
"......."
"Why are you looking at me like that? The whole thing is fabricated anyway. A few more lies won’t make a difference."
Jerpeneus adjusted his cravat with a satisfied smirk. He hadn’t gone through the trouble of bringing the "proxy of God" here just to keep him hidden away. He needed to put him on display, to provoke Hermann, and ultimately, to draw out Cabelenus.
"Now, let’s stop wasting time and head out. Oh, but before we do, you should take off that bracelet."
"I can’t."
James instinctively took half a step back before catching himself. But it was too late—Jerpeneus was already intrigued.
"Why not?"
"...It belonged to my lover. No matter what happens, I won’t take it off."
James subtly moved his hand to cover the bracelet, but that only made Jerpeneus more curious.
"Is that so?"
His sharp eyes narrowed slightly. But he had no reason to press the issue.
The bracelet itself looked plain—just a simple piece of string threaded with small beads. There was nothing remarkable about it. And besides, James had already undergone multiple security checks before entering the palace. If there had been any issue with the bracelet, it would have been discovered long ago.
Perhaps I’m just overthinking it.
Jerpeneus ran a finger along his jawline before brushing the thought aside.
***
The frozen breath of the land shattered into white wisps.
Cabelenus pulled the reins of his horse, staring across the endless snowy plains.
The fierce, bone-chilling winds howled as always, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"There doesn’t seem to be anything unusual."
<Is that so?>
Cabelenus pressed his fingers against his temple. The modified communication device, an improved version of the old relic-based system, had finally been miniaturized after years of research. However, the constant buzzing of another person’s voice inside his head was something he still hadn’t gotten used to.
"Are there any other relics nearby?"
<No. According to the records, the last trace of the Prime in Schwarhan is that tower.>
"Then that means it’s not Schwarhan, after all."
<Since he was exiled, the likelihood of him being outside the region is much higher.>
"I had my suspicions, but it’s still disappointing."
Cabelenus frowned as he looked up at the crumbling tower. If the Prime had been so obsessed with god, wouldn’t he have tried to return to Schwarhan? He had checked just in case, but there was nothing left to find.
<What will you do now? Will you return?>
"It’s too soon to head back. I’ll keep moving west for now."
<Will you be alright? I’ve heard that security around the border region has been unusually tight lately.>
"That’s why I came alone. It’s easier to move without anyone trailing me."
<Just in case, I should remind you not to cause any commotion.>
For Cabelenus, taking out a few soldiers was as easy as flexing a finger. But reckless actions would only attract unwanted attention. If he wanted to move quietly, patience was required.
"You think I don’t have enough sense for that?"
<It’s about the young lady, after all.>
"...She’s doing well, right?"
<Yes. Her complexion has improved significantly, thanks to the soup.>
"Is that so."
Cabelenus’s voice softened noticeably. He wanted to contact Alicia himself, but the communication device was still unreliable. He had to conserve its energy just in case.
<If you have any messages for her, I can deliver them.>
"Tell her I’ll be back soon."
<That’s it?>
Gajev’s voice dropped slightly, his amusement barely hidden.
"Do I need to say more?"
<Well, I thought maybe you’d want to say something... sweeter.>
"That’s something I should say in person."
A faint smile flickered across Cabelenus’s lips. The time they had been apart before had been far worse, but that didn’t mean he didn’t miss her now.
As he rolled up his sleeve, a small bracelet—delicate beads strung together—stood out against his wrist, an oddly mismatched accessory for a warrior like him.
***
"I assumed the ‘God’s Representative’ would be older, but I see I was wrong."
"Look at that beauty! Even among the young noble heirs, none can compare."
"That’s exactly why he’s the God’s Representative. If the Prime ever devoted himself, surely he would have looked just like that."
James ignored the murmurs and took a slow sip of wine. Ever since he had been introduced as the ‘Representative of God,’ people had been utterly captivated by him. Even when he wasn’t paying attention, he could hear them whispering about him, their gazes fixed upon him.
"This wine has a pleasant aroma."
"I’m glad it suits your taste. In fact, it was prepared specially for an honored guest tonight."
No sooner had the Marquis of Mandarin spoken than the attendees eagerly reached for their wine glasses.
Maintaining his composed smile, James picked up a piece of chocolate from the towering display and took a bite. Immediately, as if on cue, others reached for the chocolates as well. The rich sweetness melted on his tongue as he took another sip of wine. A faint smirk played at the corner of his lips.
"Everyone seems quite interested in the ‘God’s Representative.’"
Jerpeneus’s eyes glinted with amusement as he observed James. The once-awkward painter, who had fumbled through his first few gatherings, had now grown accustomed to playing the role of a divine envoy.
"That’s only natural. Even if faith isn’t what it once was, the will of God remains tied to the empire."
The Marquis of Mandarin, who had remained at Jerpeneus’s side all evening, rubbed his hands together and bared his teeth in a broad grin. He was a staunch supporter of the imperial faction and had played a significant role in Jerpeneus’s rise to power.
"True."
Jerpeneus cast a leisurely glance around the room. Thanks to his association with the so-called ‘Representative of God,’ the way people looked at him had changed.
"The public sentiment is favorable. If this continues, even the Grand Duke won’t be able to act rashly against us."
"We’ll see. The patience of the old fox must be wearing thin by now."
"The will of God is with us. He won’t be able to move so easily."
"If he has the right allies, he might."
Jerpeneus’s gaze settled on Duke Melta, who stood apart from the crowd, silently observing the situation. Not everyone was convinced by the spectacle of the ‘God’s Representative.’ There were still those who cast doubtful looks, suspecting it to be nothing more than a clever ruse.
"Duke Melta is nothing more than a toothless tiger now."
"Are you certain? Perhaps he’s only pretending to be."
"If he were going to act, he would have done so long ago."
"Is that what you think?"
"He did nothing when his daughter died. Do you really think he’ll act for his grandson? If he had any intention of stepping in, he would have done so the moment the Grand Duke was cast onto the battlefield."
The Marquis of Mandarin covered his mouth with his hand, chuckling.
Many had expected Duke Melta to retaliate after the death of the former Empress. Yet, instead of avenging his daughter, he had done nothing. Rather than take action, he had turned away from his surviving grandson and let silence be his response to the entire affair.
