Chapter 123 – Crossroads (2)

“My apologies for the outburst.”

Serr, now composed, slumped back into her chair, bowing her head. She summoned a small water spirit over her bleeding hand.

“Though it’s hypocritical of me to say this after losing my temper…Sirin will be fine. We should focus on what we can do.” She seemed to be talking more to herself than to us.

“Again, my apologies.”

As Serr bowed her head again, she tightened her grip on the spirit.

–Kyu-ee? Kyu-uuk…

“Wait! I’ll do it!”

Rubia grabbed Serr’s hand.

“Is that really necessary? I can just—”

—KYAAAAAGH!

“NO! I SAID I’LL DO IT! LISTEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO YOU!”

“As you wish.”

Serr chuckled, dismissing the spirit as Rubia frantically channeled healing energy.

“You’re rather fond of cute things, aren’t you, Priestess Rubia?”

“It’s not about ‘cute’. I’m trying to prevent you from traumatizing Hermilla with your…methods.”

“Would obliterating a spirit truly be so traumatizing?”

“Are you insane?!” Rubia glared at Serr.

Serr blinked, then shook her head.

“Close, but not quite. Lower your tone. And the inflection at the end. Like this: ‘Are you insane?’”

“I wasn’t trying to—”

“Pfft…” Hermilla covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.

“Hermilla,” Serr said, “there’s nothing amusing about Rubia’s behavior. It’s perfectly natural for intelligent beings to emulate someone as brilliant as myself. There’s no shame in it, Rubia. I understand completely.”

“Just…stop talking… Ugh. Seriously. Just…stop.” Rubia finished healing Serr’s hand and pulled me into a hug. “Don’t…don’t learn from her, Noah. Okay?”

“Okay…”

“A little shamelessness wouldn’t hurt. Makes life much easier.”

“That’s not shamelessness. That’s insanity.”

“Geniuses are often perceived as insane. By lesser minds, of course. It’s not madness, it’s…exceptionalism. Anyway,” Serr said, now that the tension had eased slightly, “Hermilla. Is everything you’ve told us…true?”

Hermilla sipped her cold coffee, then nodded.

“Yes. No lies.”

“No lies…but omissions, perhaps? Tell us everything, Hermilla. Are you not afraid of incurring the wrath of the Tower Master?” Serr raised a clenched fist.

“I thought you didn’t like that title.”

“I don’t.”

“And yet, you use it yourself.”

“Because right now…I need to be…Tower Master Serr. Not just…Serr.”

“You’re…a strange one. Regardless, I haven’t lied. And the only thing I’ve omitted…are the events after Rubia’s abduction. Which are…irrelevant, for now.”

“Hmm. Is that so?” Serr uncrossed her arms, her fist slowly unclenching.

And then…

…a chilling wave of bloodlust washed over us.

“Hermilla.”

The space around Serr distorted, fractured, and twisted.

“Do you take me for a fool?”

Step. Step.

A female spirit, radiating power, emerged from the distorted space.

“Oh my… A High Spirit. Impressive. You seem…rather upset.”

Hermilla’s expression vanished, replaced by a chillingly blank mask. A menacing aura emanated from her.

“I have no desire to kill you, friend of Sirin. But…speak truthfully.”

“Sometimes…ignorance is bliss.” The aura surrounding Hermilla intensified, then condensed, being reabsorbed into her form as she stood. “And sometimes…even when you know…it’s best to…pretend you don’t.”

Hermilla clenched her fists.

“The Tower Master…answers to no one. Not even…you. The only one who can command me…is Sirin.”

Tens of thousands of spirits filled the sky.

“How dare you.”

Hermilla’s form blurred.

“I have earned that right.”

Cataclysmic power crackled around the High Spirit.

And then…

A warm touch rested on my fist, halting the gathering power.

“Hermilla…!”

I glanced down.

Noah stood on tiptoe, her small hands clasped tightly around my fist.

“Um…you see…I…uh…what was I saying…?”

“…Miss Noah?”

“Noah! What are you—?!”

“Miss Noah! Explain yourself!”

“Eek!”

Noah flinched at the sudden attention, her grip tightening on my hand. She shook her head vehemently.

“Wait, Rubia! Hermilla and I…we need to talk!”

“What are you—”

“Just…trust me!”

Rubia stopped, her momentum broken. The spirits in the sky dissipated.

But the divine power still crackled around Noah. And the High Spirit, radiating bloodlust, hadn’t withdrawn its attack.

In this suffocating atmosphere, with the weight of imminent death pressing down on us…Noah smiled. A bright, genuine smile.

“Miss Noah? Perhaps you could explain this…sudden change of heart?”

“Hermilla…we’re friends, right?”

“…Friends?”

“Yes! Friends! You…you said…you’d be my first friend…” Noah’s voice wavered, her smile faltering. “Was…was that a lie…?”

“…No. Of course not.”

“It wasn’t…?”

“…No.”

“Right? Hee hee… We’re friends.” The smile returned, brighter than before. “So…I…I trust you.”

She released the greatsword’s hilt, placing her other hand on top of mine.

“Rubia says…friends shouldn’t have…secrets.”

She pulled my hand down, her gaze locking onto mine.

“And we’re friends…”

“So…tell me.”

I was speechless.

Her eyes…so clear…so trusting…

It was like looking into a mirror, reflecting all my sins back at me.

“Uh…”

“It’s okay… I’ll just…tell you. Friends…shouldn’t have secrets.” She fidgeted, then continued, “So…um…since you might be embarrassed…I’ll tell you my secret first, okay?”

She released my hand, pointing at her eyes, a nervous giggle escaping her lips.

“I…I can’t see…unless I’m holding my greatsword. Well, not exactly… I can’t…sense anything…without it.”

She paused, tilting her head, then turned abruptly.

“Oh! I was going to tell Serr too! She’s my friend! I wasn’t…hiding it… I just…forgot…”

Serr, watching Noah’s flustered rambling, sighed, shaking her head with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

“The great Tower Master Serr cannot befriend such a foolish monkey.”

“…What?”

“However…” Serr dismissed the High Spirit, walking towards Noah, a gentle smile gracing her lips. “…the genius Serr…might be persuaded to make an exception.”

“R-really? So…we’re friends—?”

“Not so fast. Hee hee.” Serr ruffled Noah’s hair playfully, then turned to me, her expression hardening. “Hermilla.”

“…Yes?”

“You’re a terrible person. Did you know that?”

“Ahaha… Perhaps…a little.”

“Then allow me to punch you. Just once. And we’ll call it even.” She raised a clenched fist.

Tap. Tap. Rubia’s footsteps approached.

“If you want our cooperation, Hermilla…you’ll tell us everything. Now.” Rubia pulled Noah into a protective embrace.

“Very well. I’ll tell you…everything. But first…”

Hermilla knelt, meeting Noah’s gaze. She took Noah’s hand and placed it back on the greatsword’s hilt.

“Huh…?”

“Noah, do you consider me…a friend?”

“Of course!”

“Even though…I tried to do…bad things?”

“Well…that doesn’t make you a bad person, Hermilla.”

“…Why?”

“Because…”

Noah pulled away from Rubia and grabbed the blade of the greatsword.

“Noah?!”

Clang!

The blade, sharp enough to draw blood with a touch, failed to cut Noah’s skin. It clattered harmlessly to the floor, repelled by the divine power radiating from her.

“Because you were protecting us…even at the cost of your own life.”