The two follow Hilbert as he leads them through the town of Lemone.
「While you’re in this town, I’ll make sure you want for nothing~!」
In contrast to his cheerful voice, both Omi and Mika are quiet. For Mika, walking through Lemone, the townscape is familiar, but that’s precisely why it evokes memories of those days at every turn. Mika tries to maintain her composure, but that only lasts until they enter the inn Hilbert has brought them to.
「Please stay at this inn during your time in town. The fees have already been more than paid for, so please don’t hesitate to ask for any services you need, including meals, sleepwear, and so on~」
It’s the most luxurious inn in town, and it was also his former base of operations.
「Sir Hilbert.」
Omi supports Mika from behind as she calls the name of the merchant with his pasted-on smile. He turns to face Omi without breaking his smile.
「I’ve heard from Cardinal Gilbert that you are a person of high standing. So you don’t need to use honorifics with me… Anyway, is something the matter?」
「I hate to spurn your kindness, but we’re thinking of staying at a different inn, just the two of us. So I apologize for the refusal, but we’ll pay the fees properly—could you recommend a more modest inn farther from the town center?」
Hilbert is somewhat surprised by Omi’s request, but without showing it, he answers:
「Umm… is there something unsatisfactory? This inn has first-class service and meals… And since Saint Mika is familiar with this place, I thought it would be easier for her to stay somewhere she knows…」
Hilbert visibly furrows his brows for a while, then claps his hands as if struck by an idea.
「I understand. In that case, I’ll bring several options for you to consider. Please wait in the dining hall until then!!」
He dashes off like a cartoon character.
◯◯◯
After a while, Hilbert returns and presents them with information about several inns. As she initially stated, Omi chooses the inn farthest from the town center, in the outskirts. She politely declines Hilbert’s offer to take care of the payment.
After arranging to meet with Hilbert again in about half an hour, the two take a breather in a room at the inn.
「Lady Omi…」
「What is it?」
Mika calls out to Omi.
「Thank you for your consideration earlier. I’m… okay now.」
「Mika.」
「I understand.」
「No, you don’t. Relax your shoulders a bit more. This has only just begun.」
「That might be the difficult part,」 Omi continues.
「No matter what anyone thinks of you, I will absolutely be on your side. Never, ever forget that.」
◇◇◇
「When the body is cold, the heart grows cold too」—those are Omi’s words. She prepares tea with her own hands and serves it to Mika. Thanks to Omi’s thoughtfulness, Mika shows some signs of recovery. After a while, Hilbert visits them again. He bows his head, asking them to come with him.
「Understood.」
The one who answers is Omi. She sees a complex color in Hilbert’s eyes. It’s a color where various emotions—sorrow, entreaty, remorse, anger—mix together without becoming a single shade.
Having observed people for a long time, she understands. That color is unique to those who have suffered for a long time.
「This way.」
Hilbert’s usually cheerful voice is subdued. The place he takes them to is the church of Lemone. As soon as they enter, a white-haired priest who notices the three rushes over.
「Pleased to meet you. My name is Leito. I’ve heard about you from Cardinal Gilbert. Saint Mika and—Lady Omi, correct?」
Omi answers 「That’s right,」 and Mika nods.
「We’ll be in your care in Lemone for a while. Please treat us kindly.」
Mika bows her head. Just for that simple act, Priest Leito’s eyes widen for a moment, and he implores her to raise her head. As Mika follows his request and lifts her head, Omi poses a question to him.
「Now that introductions are over, let’s get to the main point. There must be some reason why you’ve brought us here so urgently on our first day of arrival?」
Leito doesn’t answer clearly but simply says, 「Please follow me.」 They follow him into a room that only church officials can enter. Furthermore, after moving a shelf in that room, they see another door deeper inside.
「The reason Cardinal Gilbert summoned you two lies beyond this door.」
He tells them with his back still turned and opens the door.
「This is…」
The one who speaks is Mika. What’s in the room is a coffin. Inside it, made of a highly transparent crystal-like material, lies a young girl. The girl in the coffin, hands folded just below her chest with her eyes closed, is so emaciated that one might mistake her for having nothing but skin and bones, almost like one of the Living Dead.
「Her name is Melissa—Melissa Machiavelli.」
Priest Leito turns to face them and announces. In that moment, Mika senses the same thing in Priest Leito’s eyes that she saw in Hilbert’s.
「She is a girl who was driven to the brink of death by Ryūgūin.」
The girl in the coffin before them confronts Mika with her physical presence, clearly and mercilessly forcing her to face her own mistakes.
If you enjoy it and wish to see more, please consider giving it a 5-star rating for the series on NU. Click Here.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
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Chapter 301
◇◇◇
The two follow Hilbert as he leads them through the town of Lemone.
「While you’re in this town, I’ll make sure you want for nothing~!」
In contrast to his cheerful voice, both Omi and Mika are quiet. For Mika, walking through Lemone, the townscape is familiar, but that’s precisely why it evokes memories of those days at every turn. Mika tries to maintain her composure, but that only lasts until they enter the inn Hilbert has brought them to.
「Please stay at this inn during your time in town. The fees have already been more than paid for, so please don’t hesitate to ask for any services you need, including meals, sleepwear, and so on~」
It’s the most luxurious inn in town, and it was also his former base of operations.
「Sir Hilbert.」
Omi supports Mika from behind as she calls the name of the merchant with his pasted-on smile. He turns to face Omi without breaking his smile.
「I’ve heard from Cardinal Gilbert that you are a person of high standing. So you don’t need to use honorifics with me… Anyway, is something the matter?」
「I hate to spurn your kindness, but we’re thinking of staying at a different inn, just the two of us. So I apologize for the refusal, but we’ll pay the fees properly—could you recommend a more modest inn farther from the town center?」
Hilbert is somewhat surprised by Omi’s request, but without showing it, he answers:
「Umm… is there something unsatisfactory? This inn has first-class service and meals… And since Saint Mika is familiar with this place, I thought it would be easier for her to stay somewhere she knows…」
Hilbert visibly furrows his brows for a while, then claps his hands as if struck by an idea.
「I understand. In that case, I’ll bring several options for you to consider. Please wait in the dining hall until then!!」
He dashes off like a cartoon character.
◯◯◯
After a while, Hilbert returns and presents them with information about several inns. As she initially stated, Omi chooses the inn farthest from the town center, in the outskirts. She politely declines Hilbert’s offer to take care of the payment.
After arranging to meet with Hilbert again in about half an hour, the two take a breather in a room at the inn.
「Lady Omi…」
「What is it?」
Mika calls out to Omi.
「Thank you for your consideration earlier. I’m… okay now.」
「Mika.」
「I understand.」
「No, you don’t. Relax your shoulders a bit more. This has only just begun.」
「That might be the difficult part,」 Omi continues.
「No matter what anyone thinks of you, I will absolutely be on your side. Never, ever forget that.」
◇◇◇
「When the body is cold, the heart grows cold too」—those are Omi’s words.
She prepares tea with her own hands and serves it to Mika.
Thanks to Omi’s thoughtfulness, Mika shows some signs of recovery. After a while, Hilbert visits them again. He bows his head, asking them to come with him.
「Understood.」
The one who answers is Omi.
She sees a complex color in Hilbert’s eyes.
It’s a color where various emotions—sorrow, entreaty, remorse, anger—mix together without becoming a single shade.
Having observed people for a long time, she understands.
That color is unique to those who have suffered for a long time.
「This way.」
Hilbert’s usually cheerful voice is subdued.
The place he takes them to is the church of Lemone.
As soon as they enter, a white-haired priest who notices the three rushes over.
「Pleased to meet you. My name is Leito. I’ve heard about you from Cardinal Gilbert. Saint Mika and—Lady Omi, correct?」
Omi answers 「That’s right,」 and Mika nods.
「We’ll be in your care in Lemone for a while. Please treat us kindly.」
Mika bows her head.
Just for that simple act, Priest Leito’s eyes widen for a moment, and he implores her to raise her head.
As Mika follows his request and lifts her head, Omi poses a question to him.
「Now that introductions are over, let’s get to the main point.
There must be some reason why you’ve brought us here so urgently on our first day of arrival?」
Leito doesn’t answer clearly but simply says, 「Please follow me.」 They follow him into a room that only church officials can enter. Furthermore, after moving a shelf in that room, they see another door deeper inside.
「The reason Cardinal Gilbert summoned you two lies beyond this door.」
He tells them with his back still turned and opens the door.
「This is…」
The one who speaks is Mika.
What’s in the room is a coffin.
Inside it, made of a highly transparent crystal-like material, lies a young girl.
The girl in the coffin, hands folded just below her chest with her eyes closed, is so emaciated that one might mistake her for having nothing but skin and bones, almost like one of the Living Dead.
「Her name is Melissa—Melissa Machiavelli.」
Priest Leito turns to face them and announces.
In that moment, Mika senses the same thing in Priest Leito’s eyes that she saw in Hilbert’s.
「She is a girl who was driven to the brink of death by Ryūgūin.」
The girl in the coffin before them confronts Mika with her physical presence, clearly and mercilessly forcing her to face her own mistakes.
If you enjoy it and wish to see more, please consider giving it a 5-star rating for the series on NU. Click Here.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
<< Table of Contents >>