Chapter: 287
“Jack! Oh, God! Thank you so much!”
“Mother. Wait a moment!…”
“What do you mean, wait a moment!”
Duke Burrow, who was listening to the loud voices coming from outside, turned his head with a satisfied smile.
There was a benefactor who had brought Jack this far sitting there.
“Karia. Once again, I want to thank you.”
“How many times do I have to tell you it’s nothing? I just brought him, so stop worrying about it.”
“Haha. But you’re the only one I can express my gratitude to, what can I do?”
It was an inappropriate arrogance to show toward a duke of a country, but Duke Burrow didn’t care one bit about such things.
The person standing before him was once a comrade wandering the same frontlines and previously had the power to face the duke.
“It’s truly astonishing. The Apostle of Evil God tried to engulf this territory. The fact that we were rescued from that crisis. And that my son, whom I thought was lost, has returned alive. That the savior is you, whom I thought was dead.”
Karia. The shadow of the kingdom. The one who led a direct organization under the former king.
Even though part of her identity was revealed, she remained a monster shrouded in secrecy.
“Why? Am I annoying since I’ve returned alive?”
“Hmmm. Not that I’m bothered, but your existence is quite uncomfortable, you know.”
“Don’t worry. As you can see, I’ve become a has-been. I can’t move as actively as before.”
“You’ve also aged, it seems.”
The moment age was mentioned, one of Karia’s eyebrows lifted, and the duke couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Puhaha! So you’re still a woman after all! Sensitive about age, huh?”
“…Lately, someone keeps teasing me about that, so it’s quite troublesome. Can you please not do that, Duke?”
“The more you resist, the more you should laugh it off. Old lady. Isn’t that something you used to say?”
“If you keep it up, should I call you Grandpa?!”
“Well, I don’t mind. It’s not entirely a wrong statement.”
Duke Burrow laughed as if it were no big deal and carefully adjusted his necklace.
“A knight weak enough to fall for the Evil God’s schemes should be treated like an old man who needs to be locked away.”
This incident left a significant shock on Duke Burrow.
He thought he was growing weak as he aged, but to not even notice the Evil God’s schemes!
His incompetence had led the entire territory into crisis. If not for someone else’s salvation, the territory would have surrendered to the Evil God.
“Are you planning to step down?”
“No. It seems like it’ll take quite some time for my son to achieve greatness, so I can’t do that.”
“Then?”
“I need to reclaim what I lost.”
Over ten years ago.
The moment Duke Burrow saw his first son die, he fell into despair and dropped everything.
He was so hurt by the loss of his beloved son that he removed everything that reminded him of him.
He threw away all his son’s belongings.
Instead of holding the spear he had kept for his entire life, he picked up a sword.
Worried that he might lose something he loved again, he kept his remaining son at a distance.
He had lived that way since his eldest son died.
“I plan to wield a spear again.”
What changed that thought was someone he met in a place where he couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality.
Someone who radiated warmth like the sun.
Someone with beauty that seemed to be sculpted by the gods themselves.
A sacred being with a clear and beautiful voice.
The admonishment she had given still lingered in the duke’s heart.
“When I recall what the one who gave me this necklace said, a passion rises in my heart. I felt that I needed to change.”
“…Oh. That’s quite a good thing.”
Karia, watching the duke speak with such emotion while looking at the necklace, suddenly felt her words caught in her throat.
The one who had definitely given that necklace must be their Employer, and if it was something their Employer said, it must have been something like “sloppy” or “trash.”
How on earth could that be distorted into something so touching in his mind?!
“If I could meet that person, I’d bow my head at least a few times.”
Don’t ever let the truth slip.
Don’t let him know that the one who gave him that emotion was the Employer.
Sometimes, illusions are most beautiful when they remain illusions.
“Karia. So I have a few things I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Do you perhaps know anything about the person who handed you this necklace?”
There are things you can still use when the illusion remains an illusion.
“Sure. The one who rescued the prince was our Employer.”
“Is that person from the Arts Church?”
“Don’t ask me that knowing the answer. You know what kind of person I am, right?”
It was well known that Karia could read a person’s thoughts through their gestures, gaze, and tone.
That was precisely why she always accompanied the king to discussions.
“Has that ability not faded? It’s gotten a bit more awkward, huh?”
“Hahaha. What can I do? It’s the talent I possess.”
“Sigh. Yes. I know. Right now, the Arts Church might be treated as the savior of the territory, but it’s likely that the one who truly saved this territory is someone among the followers of Lord Jushin. It’s possible to guess by looking at the remnants of the divine.”
“Correct.”
“The fact that that person credited the Arts Church likely has to do with their current discomfort with the Church of Jushin.”
“That’s also correct.”
“I won’t expect you to cooperate with the Church of Jushin.”
“Dukes certainly talk quickly, huh.”
“Wasn’t it you who pushed me to talk faster by force?”
“Let’s forget minor matters. It’s an old story, isn’t it?”
Duke Burrow let out a laughing on his own at Karia’s shrug. She wasn’t as human-like as before, but she had become a bit more relatable.
“Is that person your current master?”
“Employer. It’s slightly different from a master.”
“Either way, isn’t the fact that you work for that person the same? Please express my gratitude to them. And also let them know that this miserable old man is willing to stake everything to repay their kindness.”
They saved the lives of the territory residents. They saved the family. They saved those dear to the duke. They even granted the duke enlightenment.
He couldn’t sacrifice his life since there were things he needed to protect, but he still had to do everything he could to reach that grace, even if it was just a bit.
“Got it, Duke. I’ll let our Employer know.”
As Karia spoke, she stood up.
“Are you leaving already?”
“I can’t interfere with a family reunion any longer than this.”
“That’s just it. Well, have a safe trip.”
As Karia stood by the door with the duke seeing her off, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
“Oh. By the way, Duke.”
And when she turned her head, Karia’s face had changed from before. It was now in the form of a girl you might see in the countryside, suitably cute and endearing.
“…What is it?”
“I might borrow the prince for a bit later.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Our Employer said they want to raise the prince.”
Until just now, the duke had been speaking as if he would do anything, but when the name of the prince came up, he gave an ambiguous smile.
“If he desires it, I’d gladly permit it.”
“If it’s the prince’s wish, then it’s okay, right?”
“Sure.”
“Then that’s good. Thank you for the good answer, Duke.”
After Karia slipped out like that, the duke leaned back and let out a long sigh while looking at the ceiling.
Only his appearance had changed over time, but his personality remained the same.
There was no need to warn her that she might be watched from anywhere at any time.
“I would never do anything to harm that person.”
Is this also proof that she has changed as a human?
*
After sending Jack back to the territory, the first thing I did was mend my school uniform.
I could wear the old school uniform, but there were several uncomfortable parts when I actually put it on and moved around.
So I asked Alsatine and visited the best places among the academy’s uniform shops. I planned to drop it off today and ask Karl to pick it up tomorrow morning.
“Make it fit my body, right?”
But now I slightly regretted that choice.
Feeling the piercing gaze of the shopkeeper at the uniform shop staring at me, I felt an immense mental burden.
I felt like I was under the pressure of three shop assistants sticking to me like glue when I went to the clothing store.
[Did you cause some mischief here too?]
‘Never happened!… Probably.’
I couldn’t firmly state anything since I didn’t know how much ruckus the past Lucy had caused.
Could this person also be a victim of past Lucy? Is that why she’s glaring at me with resentment?
“I understand. Young lady. Please come back tomorrow.”
‘Uh. About measurements and such…’
“Old hag. I know it’s worn-out, but you should at least use a measuring tape, right?”
“It’s okay. I can see it with my eyes.”
…Uh, I can trust her, right?
She must have skill since she was introduced by Alsatine. If something goes wrong, I could just tell Karia to harass Alsatine.
After a short hesitation, I handed over the uniform I brought, and the shopkeeper firmly spoke.
“Please hand me what you’re wearing too.”
‘What? No. I mean, if I do that…’
“What am I supposed to wear home then? Can’t you think of such things?”
“Don’t worry. It won’t take long to do one thing.”
While saying this, the old lady handed me something to wear temporarily.
Hmm. Since you’re this confident, should I wait for a while?
Just to see how good she is.
As I was watching her mend the clothes, my thoughts were as follows.
I felt like I would be enchanted just watching the needle move.
It seemed like she was doing something simple, but every time her hands moved, the clothes changed dramatically!
This isn’t a human skill anymore!
It’s magic! Magic!
“Could you try it on for me? There might be points to fix.”
While I was expressing my admiration for grandma’s skill, the alterations were quickly finished.
Whoah. This is amazing.
Just by surveying it with my eyes, how could it fit me so well?!
Does this grandma have a program installed to check human sizes in her eyes?!
“Looks good. I’ll have everything finished by the time you come back tomorrow.”
‘Got it! Thank you very much!’
“Hmph. It’s not that it has too many wrinkles. Make sure you do well fitting me, who’s cute.”
Thrilled to meet a talented individual I couldn’t even comprehend in the game, I walked down the academy street with light steps.
I had been through so much hardship lately.
Since I had a day off, I thought I might as well do some sightseeing.
Looking around the academy street to reminisce about old memories.
Yeah, that’s it…
Huh? Isn’t that Joy sitting outside the store over there?
It is. Joy, Arthur, and even Frey are there.
Seeing Arthur sigh, it seems like Frey might have caused some trouble again.
Curious, I skipped over to them.
‘Hello.’
“Hi, you sloppies. Wasting time here again?”
I greeted them as usual, but my friends’ reactions were unusual.
Usually, they would smile and greet me back, but this time, they were just staring at me with their mouths agape.
‘…What’s wrong with you guys?’
“Why are you trying to look even dumber than you already are?”
Only when I raised my voice again did Frey finally spoke.
“…Lucy?”
‘Yes. That’s me.’
“Is your brain so full of information that it’s starting to lose your memories, you fool knight? You should know just by looking.”
“Ah, it’s Lucy. You’ve changed a lot, so I was surprised.”
“Really. Did something happen over the weekend? You’ve become so beautiful that I almost didn’t recognize you.”
‘Is that so?’
“Isn’t it that our dolt’s eyesight is so sloppy that she almost didn’t recognize you?”
“My eyes are perfectly fine!”
As Frey and Joy regained their senses and the table erupted into a commotion, Arthur remained frozen, still staring at my face.
What’s wrong? Is he sick?
‘Arthur?’
“Pitiful prince? Have you forgotten how to speak?”
I asked, tilting my head, and suddenly, Arthur rushed to stand up.
“…Uh, well, Lucy Allen.”
‘Yes.’
“What’s going on?”
“I…I remembered something I need to do, so I’ll go for a bit.”
What’s up with him? Why is he acting so oddly?
…Could it be.
Have I been so engrossed in preparing to face Tariki that I let my guard down, and he didn’t follow through on what he was supposed to do?!
He’s running away because he thinks he might get caught!
Arthur, no matter what, you’re in my palm!
I’ll slowly roll you along and check if you’ve been slacking off! Just wait!
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