Ask for a Safe Airship

“Then, farewell, Saint.”

“…Yes.”

After the night filled with guilt, anxiety, and worry toward the child had completely ended.

The time when she had to bestow the Saint’s blessing and protection upon the child and the child’s companions.

The time when she finally had to part with the child had at last arrived.

Strictly speaking, this too was something promised to the child, but. It was a meeting that was scheduled to end in farewell, but.

The aftermath of having exhausted the child to the core within the limited time of three days did not easily subside.

Even though it was all, regardless of the child’s will, creating the image of the child that Daina herself desired using the Artifact Subjugation necklace.

They were appearances and times that she simply could not forget.

‘…Did you really have to go this far?’

However, the vanished illusion and the child’s rebuke that took its place were also unforgettable.

This morning, as soon as the child woke up, she apologized and begged for forgiveness.

To the extent that the child said they would get angry if the word ‘sorry’ came out of Daina’s mouth one more time.

A situation where it wouldn’t be strange at all if all affection had completely fallen away.

It was a predetermined sequence that she would flinch and watch carefully at every breath and gesture of the child.

But, seeing how the child drew a line by calling her Saint instead of by name, it seemed already too late to turn back.

Such an unstable state of mind, coupled with concerns about what the child would have to do in the future, showed little sign of calming down.

And more and more thoughts followed one after another, given that the tasks the child would soon have to bear could not be endured with ordinary resolve.

Knowing that there was not a single good thing about trembling with anxiety like this made Daina even more anxious.

She had heard from the child dozens of times that everything would be fine, but would it really be okay?

Should she stop the child from going to the Tower even now?

Thinking about it, Daina herself knew that she didn’t even deserve to worry like this, but still, she couldn’t completely erase her anxiety and concern.

Just, the child had already left her side to find their companions.

And with the situation being that in just a little while from now, she would have to give the Saint’s blessing and protection as a farewell gift.

“Um… Saint? What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

She tried to compose her heart, which was fluctuating with various turbid emotions even at the moment of stepping onto the altar.

After all, she would never meet the child again.

Although the child had promised with their own mouth to visit again later. But who in the world would want to visit someone who had selectively committed only dislikable and shameful acts?

“What have I… done…”

The price of being blinded by momentary desire was this devastating.

Despite seeing the appearance she wanted to see, encountering the gaze she wanted to face, and hearing the words she wanted to hear.

In the end, all that remained was an even greater sense of deprivation and emptiness.

Eventually, as even the footsteps of a regular pace came to an end, she arrived at the heart of the massive temple.

What she faced were white pillars stacked in the form of a circle and one small platform located at their center.

And, already arrived there ahead of her…

“I’ve heard the news, Saint. That you met Lord Lua’s companions.”

“Iji…”

The only one who knew her from the time before she became a Saint.

Was that why?

The heart she was trying hard to compose suddenly collapsed, and she grabbed the hand of the person who had spent a long time with her.

After reaching a quiet room not long after that, what began right after was a story about the past three days, known only to herself and the child.

As expected, he was noticeably surprised and asked what on earth she had been thinking.

However, it was already too late. Since it was almost a foregone conclusion that she would never meet the child again anyway.

“I don’t know, don’t know what to do, Iji. No, I don’t think there’s anything I can do at this point…!”

She simply poured out tears, swallowed regrets, and condemned her past choices.

The answer from the man, who had only been exhaling faint sighs silently, was of a more realistic kind.

“Don’t tell anyone that you stayed with Lua. You mustn’t say anything about Lua.”

“I will meet with Lua once. I should be able to meet for a very brief moment.”

“For now, let’s do what the Saint needs to do. Bestowing the power of the Goddess upon Lua’s companions will be helping Lua.”

“The future… let’s think about it later.”

After Iji’s continued comforting words that weren’t quite comfort, she barely grasped the thread of reason and went back outside.

She allowed for the guests waiting outside the temple to be brought in.

Not long after that, she reunited with the child’s companions.

“…We greet the Saint.”

The conversation that followed was nothing more or less than abstract encouragement.

It was not much different from what she had told others who had come to receive the Saint’s blessing and protection until now.

“May the Goddess… smooth your path ahead.”

And so, after mere words of encouragement were given to the three students one by one.

She crafted one by one the blessings and protections that the child had asked for previously using holy power.

She gave them to those who would have to navigate various dangers and crises with the child.

And, bowing her head slightly.

“Please… take care of Lord Lua.”

She also conveyed a heartfelt wish in a voice so small that it would be hard to hear without concentrating.

Eventually, what she faced were the bewildered voices of a girl and a boy, and the face of another girl who continued to remain silent.

“Hmm, it seems more like we’ll have to rely on Lua… But we’ll do our best.”

“Nothing will happen. Even though Lua looks naive on the outside, they’re quite formidable in many ways.”

She was envious.

The single truth that those before her had permission to continue their time with the child for a long time to come was, maddeningly, envious.

Nevertheless, now she could only wish.

That no hardship or pain would be given to the child.

That the end of the path the child had started to walk would not be a thorny one…

She had to wish more earnestly than ever before.

“Then, farewell.”

And so, she turned her back.

In the opposite direction from the footsteps that would surely head toward where the child would be.

However, not long after that.

Really, not even a few seconds later. Because a small shadow literally popped out of nowhere.

“…Why are you crying? Didn’t you say you could do anything for me?”

The uninvited guest who was covering from head to toe with a long robe.

The small hand that had held her without any suspicion, not even noticing the desire and malice directed toward them.

A young child who received the kindness and goodwill given without a speck of selfishness in a not-so-desirable form.

“Bless me, Saint. Either way, it’s a dangerous place as you said.”

The most foolish person in the world. Came once again.

Eventually, the blessing and protection given while biting her trembling lips, and the child responded with words of thanks.

“I already have plans with Asha sister, so I can’t come right away. But I will definitely visit. As promised.”

Finally, after receiving assurance that this farewell would not be the end, she collapsed.

She felt more ashamed and miserable than at any other time she had lived.

Why did the child make her feel so wretched?

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

“That’s enough. And to be fair, I’m not entirely blameless either.”

Each brief gesture of wiping away her flowing tears instead of herself caused somewhere in her heart to ache greatly.

Even after the child had finally left, she couldn’t calm down so easily.

There was no moment when she regretted her past self more than this moment. Not a single moment.

“…Why this airship again? Didn’t you say you’d send a different one?”

[Ah, sorry, sorry~. It turns out the one I mentioned is temporarily under repair.]

What followed right after was Rayner’s characteristically light voice saying that the airship in front of us would be sufficient.

Of course, it would be sufficient.

When you think about it, even being tied to a missile with a rope and flying to the Tower would be sufficient.

So, don’t say strange things and quickly send a safe airship—

[If you keep this up, I’ll spread the video of you whimpering on the airship as promotional material?]

“A-Are you crazy? Wait, how did you know?!”

[CCTV isn’t just for show, little secretary. Oh, didn’t I tell you that it’s linked to my device in real-time?]

So I was being played in Rayner’s palm this time too.

As a result, I had no choice but to reluctantly board that airship that specialized in rough driving.

As expected, the playful smiles of people who saw my face turning pale followed.

“We can’t take Lua to an amusement park.”

“…Don’t tease me.”

“You were so ready to accept any punishment before. Do you know how disappointed I was with you, Lua?”

“I-I didn’t want to make Rea sister disappointed… …No, just tease me as much as you want…”

Not long after that, lurch.

And again, “AAAAH.”

Unfortunately, because the distance between the Holy Kingdom and the Tower was several times longer than the distance between the Academy and the Holy Kingdom.

In the end, I couldn’t endure much and had to tremble while almost on the verge of fainting.

…Couldn’t we go a little slower?

At this rate, I’ll be completely exhausted by the time we reach the Tower.

“Hey, Lua. Should I cast a sleep spell on you?”

Almost simultaneously, vigorous nodding.

Although magically induced sleep counts as a status ailment, I didn’t care at this point and wanted to escape to dreamland from the roller coaster disguised as an airship.

Right after that, my eyelids became heavier than ever before as I was directly hit by Rea’s sleep spell.

Just before completely closing my eyes, I thought I heard a clicking sound from somewhere… but I must have misheard.

Rustle

“…She definitely looks more comfortable lying in a wider space.”

“Wait, you’re taking another photo? What if she wakes up?”

“It’s fine. The spell won’t break that easily.”

Click

“Goodness, since when did you adore her this much?”

“From the beginning.”

Click

Click

“Um, senior… No matter what, I think it would be better if you took pictures moderately…”

“The word ‘moderate’ isn’t in my dictionary.”

“Give up, Iris. Among your seniors, and even among the professors, there was no one who could persuade her.”