“Jacal! Oh, my God! Thank you so much!”
“Mother, just a moment!...”
“A moment? What do you mean a moment!”
The Duke of Burrow, listening to the loud voices coming from outside, turned his head with a pleased smile.
There sat the benefactor who had brought Jacal this far.
“Karia. Once again, I must express my gratitude.”
“How many times do I have to say it? All I did was bring him here, so don’t worry about it.”
“Haha. But you’re the only one I can thank, so what can I do?”
Though Karia’s attitude was inappropriate for dealing with a duke, the Duke of Burrow didn’t mind at all.
What sat before him was a former comrade from the same front lines, someone who had once held the power to face a duke.
“It’s truly remarkable. The apostle of the evil god attempting to consume this territory. That we were saved from that crisis. And that my son, whom I thought I might lose again, has returned alive. And the savior is you, whom I thought was dead.”
Karia, the shadow of the kingdom. Once led a direct agency under the former king.
Despite her identity being somewhat revealed, she was a monster who maintained thorough secrecy.
“Why? Does my returning bother you?”
“Hmmm. Not that it doesn’t bother me. Your existence is quite an annoyance.”
“Don’t worry. As you can see, I’ve become a useless old man. I can’t move as actively as before.”
“So you’re getting old, too?”
The moment the topic of age came up, one of Karia’s eyebrows shot up, and the duke couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
“Ha ha ha! It seems you’re still a woman after all! Sensitive about your age, I see!”
“...Lately, someone keeps teasing me about that, so it’s a bit troubling. Could you not do that, Duke?”
“The more you try to brush it off, the more you should laugh it off. You used to say that all the time, didn’t you?”
“If you keep this up, I’ll start calling you an old man?!”
“Well, I don’t mind. It’s not entirely wrong.”
The Duke of Burrow laughed it off as if it were nothing but then carefully adjusted the necklace around his neck.
“It’s normal for an aging warrior to be weak enough to fall for the tricks of the evil god’s apostle. Being treated like an old man who should be holed up in a room is fitting.”
This incident left a significant shock to the Duke of Burrow.
He thought he was growing weaker with age, but to think he could fall for the evil god’s trickery without realizing it.
His incompetence had led the entire territory into crisis. If it weren’t for someone else’s salvation, the territory would have been dedicated to the evil god.
“Are you thinking of stepping down?”
“No. I’ll need some time before my son can rise to prominence, so I can’t do that.”
“Then?”
“I need to reclaim what I’ve lost.”
Over ten years ago.
Seeing the death of his first son, the Duke of Burrow fell into despair and let everything go.
He was so deeply wounded by the loss of his beloved son that he removed everything that reminded him of that face.
He threw away all of his son’s belongings.
Instead of holding the spear he had clung to for life, he took up a sword.
Afraid of losing again what he cherished, he kept his remaining son at a distance.
He had lived like that ever since his eldest son died.
“I’m thinking of taking up the spear again.”
The thought changed due to someone he met in a place where he couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality.
Someone who held warmth like the sun.
Someone with beauty that seemed as if crafted directly by the divine.
A holy being with a clear and beautiful voice.
The reprimand she gave him still lingered in the duke’s heart.
“When I recall the words of the one who handed me this necklace, I feel a passion welling up in my heart. It made me think that I needed to change.”
“...Oh. That’s great news.”
As Karia looked at the duke speaking with emotion while gazing at the necklace, she suddenly felt her mouth go dry.
The one who had given him that necklace must surely be their employer. If it was their employer’s words, they must have been something trivial, something lowly.
How could it be twisted into something moving in his mind?!
“If I could meet that person, I would bow my head as many times as necessary.”
Let’s not reveal the truth.
Let’s not let him know that the one who brought him such emotion is their employer.
There are times when a fantasy should remain a fantasy for it to be beautiful.
“Karia. I have a few things I want to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Do you happen to know anything about the person who gave you this necklace?”
There might be things I could use while a fantasy is still a fantasy.
“Yeah, I know. The one who saved the prince was our employer.”
“Is he from the Artistic Order?”
“Don’t ask if you already know he isn’t. You know what kind of person I am, right?”
It was well known that Karia could gauge a person’s inner feelings through their gestures, gazes, and tones.
It was because of that ability that she always accompanied the king during discussions.
“Has that ability weakened? You’ve become more bothersome.”
“Haha. What can I do? This is my talent.”
“Sigh. I know. Right now, the Artistic Order is treated as a savior in this territory, but it’s likely that the true savior of this territory is one of those who serves the god. It’s possible to make guesses from the scent of divinity.”
“Correct.”
“The fact that he credited the Artistic Order is likely because he finds the current god’s church bothersome.”
“That’s also correct.”
“I wouldn’t want to cooperate with the god’s church.”
“Dukes like you are quick to the point.”
“Wasn’t it you who made it fast, almost by force?”
“Let’s forget the trivial matters. That’s an old story, right?”
The duke chuckled at Karia’s shrugging shoulders. She used to be more inhuman than this, but now she had become a bit more human.
“That person is your current master, isn’t it?”
“Employer. It’s a bit different from a master.”
“Regardless, isn’t it the same that you work for that person? Please convey my thanks to him. And also tell him that this pathetic old man can stake everything to repay him.”
He saved the lives of the territory’s citizens. He saved the family. He saved those the duke cherished. He even brought enlightenment to the duke.
Though he couldn’t sacrifice his life as there were still things he needed to protect, he should at least do everything possible to touch a fraction of that grace.
“I understand, Duke. I will pass it on to my employer.”
As Karia spoke that, she rose from her seat.
“Are you leaving already?”
“I can’t interfere with this family reunion any longer.”
“That’s true. Well then, take care.”
As Karia received the duke’s send-off and stood at the door, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
“Oh, right. Duke.”
And when she turned her head, Karia’s expression had changed from earlier. It now resembled that of a suitably cute and endearing young lady one would see in the countryside.
“...What is it?”
“I might borrow the prince for a bit later.”
“...What do you mean by that?”
“Our employer said they wanted to raise the prince.”
Until just a moment ago, the duke had seemed like he would do anything for her, but upon hearing the prince’s name, a vague smile appeared on his face.
“If it’s what he desires, I’d be willing to allow it.”
“So you mean it’s okay if it’s what the prince himself wants?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all I need. Thank you for the good answer, Duke.”
After Karia slipped out, the duke leaned back against his chair, letting out a long sigh while looking at the ceiling.
He had only grown softer compared to before, but his old nature remained unchanged.
There was no need to warn that she might be watching from anywhere at any time in that way.
“I wouldn’t do anything that could harm that person.”
Is this also proof that she has changed as a person?
After sending Jacal back to the territory, the first thing I did was alter my school uniform.
Though it was my old uniform and I could technically wear it, there were several uncomfortable parts when moving around in it.
So, I asked Alsetin and visited the best tailor shop for academy uniforms. I intended to leave it today and come back tomorrow morning to pick it up.
“Are you asking for it to be tailored to fit you now?”
But now, I slightly regretted that choice.
Being scrutinized by the tailor shop owner’s gaze as she looked at me was quite a mental burden.
It felt like I was being pressured by three clerks clinging to me when I went to the clothing store.
<Did you do something terrible here too?>
‘Never!...I mean, probably.’
I couldn’t assert anything since I had no idea how much trouble the past Lucy had caused.
Could this person be a victim of the past Lucy? Is that why she’s glaring at me with resentment!?
“I understand, my Lady. Please come back tomorrow.”
‘Umm, about the measurements...’
“Old hag, I get that it’s old-fashioned, but shouldn’t you at least use a measuring tape?”
“It’s alright. I can see it with my eyes.”
...Oh. Is that trustworthy?
Since Alsetin introduced her, her skills should be solid. If anything goes wrong, I can just tell Karia and have her torment Alsetin.
After a brief hesitation, I handed over the school uniform I brought, and the elderly lady spoke firmly.
“Please also give me what you’re currently wearing.”
“Pardon? No, if I do that...”
“Then what am I supposed to wear? Can’t you even think of that?”
“Don’t worry. It won’t take long to do one thing.”
The elderly lady said that as she handed me something to wear temporarily.
Hmm. Since she’s so confident, should I wait a bit?
I might as well see how well she does.
As I observed the process of the elderly lady altering the clothing from the side, I felt enchanted.
Watching the needle move made me feel like I could be mesmerized.
It seemed like nothing special, but every time her hands moved, the clothing transformed!
This is no longer human skill!
It’s magic! Magic!
“Could you try it on for me? There might be things to fix.”
While I was admiring the elderly lady’s skills, the alterations were quickly finished.
Wow, amazing.
Just by glancing at it, how is it that it fits perfectly?!
Is there some program in her eyes that checks human measurements!?
“Looks good. I’ll have everything ready by the time you come back tomorrow.”
‘Yes! I’m counting on you!’
“Hmph. You’re not just full of wrinkles after all. Make sure to do well for cute me.”
Excited from meeting someone whose existence I couldn’t even fathom in the game, I walked the academy streets with light steps.
I had been through hell lately.
Today, I thought I might as well take a break and do some sightseeing.
Wandering around the academy streets, I would reminisce about old memories.
Yeah. That sounds good...
Huh? Is that Joy sitting outside that shop over there?
That’s right. It’s Joy, Arthur, and even Frey.
Seeing Arthur let out a sigh, it seems like Frey caused some trouble again.
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As curiosity piqued, I approached them with quick steps.
“Hello.”
“Hey, losers. Wasting time here again?”
I greeted them as usual, but my friends’ reactions were not the same as usual.
Normally, they would have greeted me back with smiles, but now they were staring at my face, mouths agape.
‘...What’s going on?’
“Why do you look even more stupid than usual?”
Only after I spoke again did Frey finally respond.
“...Lucy?”
‘Yes. That’s right.’
“Is your brain so full of information that you can’t even remember who I am, idiot detective? You should know just by looking.”
“It’s Lucy. I’m surprised how much you’ve changed.”
“Really? Did something happen over the weekend? My Lady has become so beautiful that I almost didn’t recognize her.”
‘Is that so?’
“Isn’t our idiot just saying he couldn’t recognize because he’s so incompetent?!”
“My eyesight is perfectly fine!”
Even as Frey and Joy regained their senses and filled the table with noise, Arthur was still frozen, staring at my face.
What’s up with him? Is he sick?
‘Arthur?’
“Poor prince? Have you forgotten how to speak?”
I tilted my head and asked, and suddenly Arthur jumped up.
“...Ah. Uh. What is it? Lucy Alrn.”
‘Yes.’
“What’s going on?”
“I... I just remembered I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving for a bit.”
What is he really doing? Why is he acting so strangely?
...Could it be?
While I was preparing to face Tariki, did he not properly fulfill his assigned task because I let my guard down?!
He’s running away now because he’s afraid of being found out!
Arthur, even so, you’re in the palm of my hand.
I’ll check one by one if you’ve been slacking off or not! Just wait!