Chapter: 516
As the sunset painted the sky in crimson hues, the chaos within the academy had almost perfectly evolved.
No lives lost, minimal material damage. The contaminated barrier had returned to normal. The Evil God’s Energy lingering throughout the academy had vanished thanks to Lucy’s miracles. There was no longer any room for chaos, even if someone tried to create it.
“Thank you for your hard work, Saintess.”
After various procedural matters were concluded, the bishop bowed his head, and Phoebe slightly lifted the corners of her mouth.
“The ones who worked hard are actually you, Bishop, and the other priests. What have I really done?”
“As a proxy of God Jushin, you faced the Void Evil God. Despite your hardships and exhaustion, you moved tirelessly, reassuring others, and handled various matters with the First Queen. How can you say you’ve done nothing?”
The bishop, thinking Phoebe was being humble, continued with a relaxed smile, but Phoebe couldn’t bring herself to nod in agreement.
She thought she had done nothing today.
It was Lucy who caught on to the Evil God’s plans. It was Lucy who prepared various things to counter it. It was Lucy who eliminated all the variables underground. It was Lucy who purified all the Evil God’s energy afterward.
All Phoebe did was dance on the stage created by the Apostle of God.
She moved desperately, trusting the voice of the scriptwriter.
Yet, the person who should be in the spotlight received no attention, while she, who had no reason to grab attention, received all the accolades. How could Phoebe help but feel her head droop?
“That’s right, Saintess. If it weren’t for you, how many victims would there have been?”
“Not just inside the academy; the outsiders were in danger too.”
“…Maybe us as well.”
“The guilt of the sin caused by our impotence is washed away, and you saved our lives. So, please accept our gratitude.”
The priests, seeing Phoebe’s complex expression, praised her nobility and expressed their thanks.
They hoped the Saintess would understand their hearts, smiling in a way that made Phoebe’s thoughts even more complicated without their knowledge.
“No, everyone…”
I know.
I know Lady Allen shouldn’t step forward.
If the identity of the Apostle is revealed in the coldness of the Jushin Church, great turmoil will arise.
I know the Young Lady does not wish for the countless victims that would arise in the chaos.
That’s why you’re entrusting me with all the accolades.
I understand it in my head.
“I truly…”
But I cannot accept it in my heart.
Hearing praise for accomplishments I did not achieve is one thing.
That the person who deserves the praise hears none, and instead is viewed with harsh eyes under malicious rumors is another.
“Nothing…”
Is this also a trial? Is the Lord Jushin giving me trials in my heart? If I overcome this, will something change?
“Saintess, it’s time to close the doors.”
As Phoebe hesitated to speak, Arthur and Frey appeared behind her. The bishop and priests smiled and bowed their heads at the sight of the two people who usually got along closely with Phoebe.
“My apologies, friends of the Saintess. It’s our incompetence that delayed the time.”
“Not at all, Bishop. Priests. You risked your lives to protect the people on the street, so how could the word incompetence come into that?”
Arthur mentioned that he thought there would be a thank-you coming from the academy and kingdom, and after exchanging some words, led Phoebe out of the church.
“Prince, what about the Young Lady?”
“She’s making snoring sounds while sleeping. She must have worn herself out.”
“Is there nothing wrong?”
“Many esteemed people say she’s perfectly fine. You don’t need to worry.”
“…That’s a relief.”
Phoebe, who had shifted her incompetence onto Lucy and even taken away the credit for the miracles she created, let out a sigh of relief filled with guilt.
Noticing Phoebe’s drooping shoulders, Arthur pondered for a moment before cautiously speaking.
“Saintess.”
“Yes.”
“I know it might seem presumptuous, but I think you should at least accept our gratitude.”
Following Arthur in silence, Phoebe abruptly stopped and slowly raised her head.
Arthur’s shadow stretched long beneath the sunset, catching her eye.
“I can roughly guess why you feel uncomfortable with gratitude, but doesn’t increasing the weight of your heart also increase the burdens of others?”
“I know that, but…”
“Are you perhaps looking to see Lucy Allen’s face turn bright red and run away?”
“…Excuse me?”
“I’d like to see that too. It’s quite funny seeing that girl, who is immune to compliments, flustered.”
“I want to see it too. Lucy is cute.”
The two shared a nod in agreement, their expressions making Phoebe’s cheeks glow under the sunset.
“Th-that kind of talk…”
“Do you not want to see it?”
“No, I…”
“Really?”
“I want to see… but that’s a completely different story from what I’m trying to say!”
As Phoebe raised her voice in panic, Arthur merely shrugged.
“Saintess, Lucy Allen knows more than we think. She even remembers the words of my mother that I had forgotten.”
As Arthur muttered that Lucy’s wisdom was closer to divine than human, Phoebe blinked while Frey tilted her head.
Seeing the two didn’t understand, Arthur chuckled and continued.
“However, there’s something she doesn’t know. No matter how much the sun tries to hide behind the clouds, the clouds will eventually part.”
There’s no need for anyone to go out of their way to say how great Lucy is. Even if she tries to hide herself, those remaining on the ground will eventually meet her light.
“Until that time comes, can we not let the bashful sun hide its face? When that day comes, it won’t be able to hide even if it wants to.”
As Phoebe quietly listened to Arthur’s words, she saw her shadow buried in the darkness as the sunset faded.
“Indeed, I must endure until that day for that person.”
Not long after Phoebe voiced her thoughts, the street lamps lit up, dispelling the darkness. Under the bright light, Arthur’s face wore a relaxed smile.
“You’ve let go of a lot, Prince.”
“Thanks to whom, I’ve recalled precious memories.”
“Really? It’s a good yet troublesome matter.”
“…Excuse me?”
“The Young Lady is just one person, isn’t she?”
Arthur, struck by Phoebe’s teasing tone beneath the streetlamp, finally realized it and stepped back to hide his flushed face.
Seeing Arthur’s shy reaction, Phoebe chuckled and turned to tease Frey about Arthur being the Pitiful Prince.
“Lady Kent, do you know what Joy is doing right now?”
“She’s caught by the professor. I was scared ’cause I couldn’t see the professor’s pupils.”
“Hmm. Then it seems we won’t be seeing her today.”
*
A warm spring breeze brushed against my skin, carrying someone’s song.
It wasn’t the kind of singing you would call good, but it was soothing to the ears, and if you listened closely, it calmed your heart.
Focusing on the song that felt like it would bring good dreams if played while falling asleep, I suddenly felt droplets on my face and opened my eyes.
Facing a ceiling stained dark, I finally realized I had been asleep just moments ago.
How strange. What was I doing that I fell asleep? I was definitely…
Ah. I remembered. After performing the Miracle of Purification, I just collapsed.
Performing the Miracle of Purification was indeed tough. I, the one who wouldn’t lose to anyone in divine energy, felt it was as if my divinity was depleted to the point of death.
Still, surprisingly enough, it turned out well.
Forcing my weary body up, I rubbed my face and noticed tears gathered at the corners of my eyes.
What’s this? Did I have a sad dream? Did I dream about speaking in a coherent tone and realize it couldn’t happen, bursting into tears?
[Have you woken up? How do you feel?]
‘Totally fine!’
[Haah, what a relief. Seriously, why does this robust child faint at every little event? Each time, it feels like my heart drops.]
‘You have no heart to drop, right?’
<...That’s just a metaphor! A metaphor!>
While my grandfather’s grumbling echoed in the background, I stretched and looked around in the darkness.
Near my bedside, Erin seemed to have fallen asleep while watching over me. The Sloppy Fox was snoring by the window. I felt the presence of Karl outside the door.
The stillness of the night, where everyone was sound asleep, signaled that everything had come to an end.
Phew. There were countless variables, but somehow, I managed to get through it.
It’s a relief, but next time, let’s do it safely rather than with all this trial and error.
Trying to move according to my own selfishness is way too tiring.
If I just threw a tantrum and brought Benedict here, I wouldn’t have had to suffer this much.
As I grumbled about doing something foolish out of personal greed, a notification sound reached my ears.
– Ding!
Looking up at the sound, a blue window appeared before me. It was the content of the quest I had just scrolled down to review.
[How long will the fairies keep sleeping?]
Undeniably, what was written in that blue window was a quest I had never seen before in my life.
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