Chapter: 297
A few days passed like that.
During those few days, all Encia did was send a letter somewhere. Aside from that, she just lounged around the house and chatted with me.
I wasn’t this lazy before I fell asleep… How did it come to this? It feels like she’s completely fallen apart…
“Are you just going to do nothing and read a book today too?”
“Yeah. There’s nothing else to do.”
“Isn’t there anything you should be doing as a wizard? Like making it rain, or having academic exchanges with other wizards?”
“I passed that annoying stuff off to Cecil. That kid can handle his share too.”
This won’t do… This girl… If I don’t do something soon…
But how? Can I really change this child’s mind just by saying something?
Considering she’s been asleep for decades, my words aren’t exactly persuasive!
Ugh… This kid is really a handful.
“But don’t worry, if there’s something to do, I’ll definitely get it done. I won’t just laze around.”
Watching Encia puff out her chest with confidence, I let out a small sigh inside. Sure. What can I do? She’s probably loaded, capable, has connections, and raised her apprentice well. Why bother being a slave to work when she can live comfortably without doing anything?
As for the tasks I had… I’ve already compiled my teachings into a book. Hmm.
Honestly, it seems like there’s no issue just relaxing. That’s the current Encia for you.
“…”
Hot, for a moment I felt jealous of Encia! I envied the fact that she could just do nothing and have fun!
No, that won’t do. Maybe for others that’s fine. But that’s just not me.
As the Goddess of Life, I have my duties regarding the afterlife and paradise, tasks in the Pantheon, along with various other responsibilities. Even though I’ve delegated most of them to others, I can’t completely ignore them. I have to keep an eye on what’s happening at the very least. And if something goes wrong, I need to intervene.
Isn’t that… my responsibility for giving life in this world?
The other kids and Asherit rolled their eyes at my worries, dismissing them as needless concern. But what can I say? This is just how I am.
While I complain about wanting to sleep, rest, and play, I can’t turn away from the work I’ve left to the others, and somehow end up creating new tasks for myself.
What am I really trying to do? Do I want to play? Or not? I have no idea. Truly.
“Well, if you’re okay with it, I suppose that’s what matters.”
At my words, Encia smiled faintly and focused back on the book in her hands.
Ugh. What should I do with this child? She’s way past the age to get married already.
“Shia. Don’t you have any interest in men?”
“Men?”
“Yeah. Don’t you ever think about starting a family or raising children?”
“Um… Not really? I’ve raised an apprentice instead of a child, and I gave up on having a family since I couldn’t find anyone suitable.”
“No suitable partner?”
Encia closed the book she was reading as she responded.
“Well, I’ve received marriage proposals before, but I turned them all down. Even if they weren’t at my level, I wouldn’t feel good about someone unless we could connect to some degree.”
Hmm. Hmm… That’s valid too.
Encia isn’t your average girl; she’s one of the top wizards among Procyon… It wouldn’t even be possible for her to have a proper conversation with a regular person.
If there’s someone she could connect with, they’d probably be some old geezer.
In the end, she must not have found a suitable match, hence her becoming a spinster wizard.
“I feel like you’re implying something rude.”
“No? Not really?”
In this era where people usually marry in their mid to late teens, Encia in her 30s would definitely be considered an old maid. Yep.
Let’s drop this topic. It would only dig a wound in Encia’s heart.
“I’m just letting you know beforehand! I’m not interested in marriage! If I had wanted to, I would have picked someone by now!”
“Right. If that’s how you feel, then it is what it is. At least for you.”
Even so… Encia’s words might hold truth. The magic community would see a wizard of her caliber as a treasure worth pursuing, come hell or high water.
The biggest factor is that Encia simply wasn’t interested.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Time flowed like this. Several months passed.
“Master! We have a guest!”
Cecil’s voice reached Encia, who was holed up in her room.
“A guest?”
“Yes. He said he came in response to your letter. He’s a young man.”
“Oh. Finally here, huh?”
Um… Has he really arrived?
But a young man? Young? That guy?
“I’ll show him to the living room. I’ll be down in a moment.”
“Yes!”
“Tia too. Make sure to prepare yourself mentally.”
“Do I need to do that?”
“Hmm… That’s fair too.”
After saying this, Encia grabbed a robe that was carelessly hanging on a nearby chair, threw it on, and headed down to the living room.
And…
“It’s been a while, Luke.”
The guest waiting in the living room was, as expected, Arthur.
Arthur, still looking like he did in his youth, dressed in peculiar armor.
He didn’t have a Dainsleif strapped to his waist, but rather a plain-looking longsword… Aside from the odd material of his armor, he could pass for an ordinary knight.
“Hmm. I got your letter and came at once. So, what’s the urgent matter?”
“Please, take a seat. Cecil, bring some refreshments.”
“Yes.”
After Cecil left the living room, Encia leaned back against the sofa and spoke.
“Tia has woken up.”
“Hmm? Is that really true?!”
“Yes. Much sooner than I expected, actually.”
Sooner than expected… Well, I thought it would be decades before she woke.
I had said the same to Shia.
“So, can we talk now?”
“Yes. I’m listening even now. Unfortunately, I can’t hear you directly.”
Well, if I went down from the Pantheon and visited him in person, I could face him and talk…
But seeing Arthur’s face directly is… a little embarrassing!
We’re meeting again after parting ways like that. How can I face him now!
Honestly, I’m not even inclined to have this conversation; it feels like I’m adding unnecessary details to a story that’s already concluded!
“I see… So that means you’re hearing me.”
“Yes, right? Tia?”
“Yeah. I’m listening.”
“She says she’s listening.”
Arthur’s expression changes at those words.
His face displays a complex tangle of emotions: longing, sadness, joy, tenderness. It’s a mix of various feelings all rolled into one expression.
With a strange face that seems both smiling and crying, Arthur spoke up.
“Gaia… no, Master. You’re there, right…?”
Arthur’s voice carried those same emotions.
Someone like me, you should have been able to forget easily. Why were you still missing me?
Really, what a foolish child.
“Tia. You need to respond.”
“Ah, yes… Ahem. It’s been a while, Arthur.”
“It’s been a while, Arthur,” she says. Ah! From now on, I will only convey Tia’s words. You two should talk as if you’re having a direct conversation. If you want to ask anything, do so after your chat ends.”
Arthur nodded along with Encia’s words and said.
“In that time… A lot happened. I can’t even count the times I’ve regretted sending you away, Master. If I’d expressed my feelings sooner. If I had ignored the nuisances like the Empire and paid more attention to you… I wouldn’t have regretted it so much.”
“It’s not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it’s me for not letting you know that my body’s lifespan was running out.”
“No. Even regaining the throne, it was my fault for not paying enough attention to you, Master.”
“Emperor…?”
“Sia. I’ll explain later.”
After exchanging a quick word with Encia, who cocked her head in confusion for a moment, I continued.
“I, on the other hand… didn’t tell Vivi and you that time was running out, so that’s my fault.”
“No. It’s my fault.”
“No. It’s mine.”
“I told you, it’s my fault!”
“Even if it’s on me…”
As their conversation flowed along like this, Encia, who was relaying between the two, finally snapped.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake! Why are you two dragging this story out, insisting on whose fault it is? Just wrap it up saying you both share the blame! It’s not progressing at all!!!”
Engaging in a screeching outburst, Encia’s cry managed to stop both Arthur and me, exclaiming that it was our fault.
“I have a mountain of questions piling up, but I’ll save them for later! After you finish! So hurry up and get on with it!!”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“I’m, I’m sorry, Sia.”
“Alright! Starting over! No more self-blame!!”
With Encia’s shout, Arthur and I resumed our conversation once more.
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