Several days passed after that.
Of course, Neo’s grand plan didn’t yield any immediate results. It was a plan that required a long investment of time to see the light.
And Neo’s attitude began to change.
“…Neo, you seem really passionate about your classes lately.”
The part where she suggested taking a break because she didn’t want to attend class completely vanished. For Ezekiel, it was something to be glad about, but the girl’s behavior went a bit too far.
She didn’t care about the time. No matter the position of the sun, she never left the library, and even while eating, she was examining magical materials on the side.
However, for Neo, this was natural.
How could she just stand by while someone precious to her carried a burdened past?
But what truly broke her heart was Ezekiel’s demeanor.
‘How could this happen?’
Neo looked in wonder at Ezekiel, who focused without a care in the world, giving his all to his training.
“It has to be done like this to unravel, feel your three meridians─”
It was astonishing to Neo that Ezekiel was living so normally as if nothing ever happened in the past.
Was he concentrating like this to avoid thinking about the past? Or was it that he couldn’t ignore it but was exerting tremendous mental strength to fulfill his duties?
…Either way, it was both heartbreaking and impressive.
Perhaps because of this.
Occasionally, whenever she had a break, Neo couldn’t help but ask Ezekiel very cautiously if he had any desire to return to the past.
But Ezekiel’s answer was unexpected.
“…Not really?”
“Not really?”
Neo blurted out, unable to contain her surprise at his utterly different reaction.
She realized too late that her reaction was too intense, but fortunately, Ezekiel didn’t make a big deal out of it.
However, Ezekiel replied calmly.
“I’ve never really thought about wanting to go back to the past. After all… I don’t remember much anyway.”
Ezekiel’s eyes looked quite hollow as he said that.
He seemed to think that even if he did go back, he couldn’t change anything. He had probably become accustomed to this sense of powerlessness.
Neo’s thoughts began to grow complicated.
No matter how perfectly the spirit trap was designed, Ezekiel also needed motivation for it to mean anything.
How could she inspire a spark in someone who felt like nothing but ashes? She thought about it but gave up for now.
It didn’t seem like it was something that could be resolved in a day or two. She needed to take her time and ponder seriously.
But then it happened.
“By the way, today is the last class.”
“…What?”
Ezekiel’s recent statement threw her off completely. It was a declaration that the only person she had opened her heart to would be leaving, and saying goodbye to someone precious was always painful.
But.
“…”
Neo quickly put on a calm face.
“Oh, is that so? Well, that can happen.”
Even though she couldn’t look at Ezekiel, she forced herself to respond that way. She was very concerned her voice might shake.
‘It wouldn’t be right to keep the teacher trapped in the palace.’
Ezekiel had no obligation to work in the palace at all. He was merely lingering due to some attachment to his comrades, so letting him go was the right thing to do.
“What will you do if you quit your job?”
“Um…”
Ezekiel, drinking water from his canteen, seemed to be deep in thought at Neo’s question.
It would be nice if Ezekiel could happily take a break. She hoped he had some concrete plan in mind.
“Well, I guess I won’t do anything.”
“Nothing?”
“Yeah, I’ve never had such a moment in my life.”
She could only quietly nod.
There are so many lazy people in this world.
In their case, they usually rest a lot and then think maybe they should try living diligently now, but Ezekiel was different. He had never lived a moment without intense effort.
Living the rest of life idly wouldn’t be bad either.
At that moment, this time Ezekiel asked her.
“By the way, you’ve been focused solely on making barriers all day lately. Aren’t you getting tired of it?”
“Not at all.”
She was speaking from the heart.
Since receiving Mirabel’s assignment, no other interests existed for Neo.
All she wanted was one last request.
“Promise you’ll see my barrier someday.”
“Spirit trap, right?”
Neo nodded.
Ezekiel easily agreed.
“Of course, I’ll see it. It’s your creation.”
It seemed Ezekiel understood it simply as asking to see a barrier, but Neo’s situation was a bit more complicated.
It also meant he should see the records she had regarding Ezekiel. It meant she wanted him to see her achievements.
However…
The girl was clumsy and still young.
The last class ended without exchanging any particular farewells. It was extremely disappointing for her.
.
.
.
A few years later.
Neo finally completed the spirit trap.
Now, only detailed work remained.
“Spirit trap! I need to complete the spirit trap!”
The crazy Mirabel shouted. Even in her madness, she readily obeyed Neo’s words, making it very easy to assign tasks.
Amidst that chaos, Neo brought someone with her.
A very young girl.
No, to be precise, it would be right to describe her as a doll with the appearance of a young girl. She wasn’t a real human, but a meticulously crafted scroll doll made by Neo.
Mirabel blinked her eyes.
“Uh…? Who is this…?”
Neo grinned as if asking why she was confused.
“She’s your daughter, right? What do you mean you don’t recognize her?”
“Mom!”
The doll said, causing Mirabel to tilt her head. Did she have a daughter?
“Mom, mom~”
But the behavior of the girl, who cheerfully laughed and hugged her, seemed to erase any doubts. She soon welcomed the doll with a bright smile.
“My daughter…? Daughter…!”
“And here.”
Neo additionally handed Mirabel something. It was a basket filled with luxurious food.
Mirabel’s mouth dropped open.
“Have you been struggling because you’re hanging on to the spirit trap these days? Here, take care of yourself. I’ll leave this here.”
“Thank you! Thank you!”
The crazed Mirabel could never play a guiding role when she eventually met Ezekiel. That’s why she had attached the intricately crafted doll made from scrolls…
‘Is this really okay?’
Neo suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Mirabel seemed happier than she expected to have a daughter.
She shook her head. She steeled her heart.
‘Mirabel, this is also for you.’
In the end, what Mirabel wanted was for her records to be widely known so that Ezekiel could find peace, right? It was a necessary task for that.
Yeah, thinking that way, Neo stepped back.
One day.
“Uh…?!”
As Neo quietly worked in the library, her eyes widened in surprise. She despised making loud noises, but there was nothing she could do about it.
The cause was a letter.
Moreover, it wasn’t just any ordinary letter.
It was a letter written by Ezekiel!
A letter from Ezekiel had arrived!
And it was a whopping five pages long!
It had been so long since her heart raced this fast that Neo had to take several deep breaths. Ten times or more.
“Whoo….”
On one hand, she also felt anxious.
What if it contained bad news? Worry surged in her mind.
But anyway, her hand was moving without her noticing.
She wanted to check what the long-awaited contact from Ezekiel was about, more than any curiosity she had at the moment.
Shwaak–!
Finally, Ezekiel’s letter revealed itself.
And after a while.
“…?”
Neo tilted her head.
The girl, now a woman known as the 5th Princess, turned her face this way and that, confused as to what it meant.
Did she read it upside down? But it was the same even when she flipped the letter.
“This…?”
The 5th Princess murmured without realizing it.
“…There’s hardly any part I can recognize.”
Just as she whispered, it was true.
Half of the writing was illegible, and all five pages were not even intended for Neo.
It seemed he intended to send one page to each princess, but somehow all five pages ended up with Neo.
The girl soon understood the situation.
The repeatedly strange phrases, the hard-to-read handwriting, the madness of the situation… it became clear. Ezekiel had written a drunken letter.
Only after a long time could she barely understand the intention behind the letter.
It was just an ordinary greeting. I hope you all find happiness; I hope your wishes come true… something like that.
Did he think of the princesses even while drunk?
Neo felt her heart swell.
She wanted to help Ezekiel even more.
Perhaps that’s why.
It struck her like a bolt of lightning.
Could it be that if the letter were sent in a drunken stupor, he might not even know what he sent himself?
Without hesitation, Neo grabbed a pen.
She had to find a way to pull Ezekiel out of his lethargy, to make him known to the world.
Someday… a move that would lead her to the spirit trap.
It was a risky gamble, but she had no choice.
Because Neo loved Ezekiel so much.
So.
The woman’s hand immediately began to write the first line of her reply.
[ First of all, thank you for the proposal. ]
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