episode_0104

“… Thank you.”

She muttered like that.

-side.

Suddenly, he kissed the back of my hand.

“… Yes?”

“… Huh?”

The gently opened eyes slowly widened.

-Kudang!

She jumped up and the chair fell violently.

Helena looked almost frightened, as if she had never been so peaceful.

The warmth of something soft and soft resting on the back of my hand is vivid.

“Ah, uh, uh, ah… Well, just now, that’s… ! Of prayer, that… !”

It seemed as if he was habitually looking for a tin helmet as he fumbled around with a red face, but it had been a long time since I had taken it from him.

“Ki, after praying, the object, uh, a statue of a god, a holy relic, etc. Sometimes that happens… there is… .”

Although I was embarrassed, I also knew what that behavior meant.

Believers often kiss objects that symbolize God to show their loyalty to God.

“Sin, sorry… .”

Helena gave up making excuses and bowed low.

“It’s okay. I know what it is.”

I don’t know why it did that to the back of my hand, but I guess it was because I was too immersed in it.

“Ah, you mean you know…? ?”

“I have seen believers kissing statues of gods or holy relics a few times. Since I understand what it means, there is nothing to be so ashamed of.”

“Ah… . Oh, yes, that’s right… ! you’re right… !”

“Well, I was embarrassed.”

“… Sorry.”

Watching them flounder makes me want to make fun of them.

But I held back because I felt like I would cry if I teased him here.

“Still, I’m glad you’re feeling much better than before.”

He looks much better now than before, when he looked lost and shaking in the storm.

Helena smiled brightly at me and responded to my words.

“Yes. It really is!”

***

It was the time when everyone was asleep.

Helena, lying in bed, tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep easily.

“… … .”

It’s been like this for several days.

A few days have passed since I returned to Supervia after collapsing the second laboratory of the Majin soldier training plan and meeting with Ian.

However, Helena still remembers that night every night.

My heart doesn’t waver anymore.

Faith has been replaced.

That was the problem.

This is what happened at the moment it was replaced.

-side.

That sound is still clear in my ears.

The sound was unfamiliar, as if it came from someone else’s mouth, but it came from my own lips.

Helena covered herself with a blanket and touched her lips.

It was soft and smooth, small and slightly thick, and touched the back of his rough hand.

I keep thinking about the feel and body temperature of that hand, which is large and reliable enough to cover my waist with just one hand.

“… … .”

Helena turned over again and lay down.

I remember the moment I first met Ian.

Also, I clearly remember the time when Ian took care of me when I collapsed from overexertion.

I already felt it then.

Something new was added to the faith that had been chipped away at MacDerlin Abbey.

But, this feeling right now… .

Helena broke off her thoughts and closed her eyes.

It comes to mind again.

That night when I held Ian’s hand, in front of him, thought of him, and prayed to him in my heart.

That moment when I was so intoxicated by the person that came to my mind that I committed it unconsciously… .

*

“Sister, I guess… .”

“Yes, as expected… .”

Lucia and Vivian also had minor concerns that could not be ignored.

These days, Helena has trouble falling asleep at night.

That’s not all.

I don’t know what it’s doing, but it’s rustling and squirming.

Helena didn’t seem to know, but they heard it every night in the quiet room.

It was the same for Mercy.

“Now you’re trying to become an adult… .”

Vivian and Lucia agreed in silence.

Lucia spoke as if in defense.

“Well, since I’m 19… . Rather late… . Oh, no… .”

“Umm… . Of course, it would be a bit awkward to say something like this to Ian… ?”

“That’s right… .”

Even though Ian’s role required him to know the worries of the warriors, there were times when he wasn’t.

Not just for Helena, but for Ian as well.

“Have I come to like someone?”

“It doesn’t have to be that way, right…? ?”

“But there is a high probability that I will do something like that because I like it.”

The three thought for a moment.

Their main schedule is training.

And it’s all about conquering dungeons.

It’s not that I don’t have free time, but I don’t really have any contact points to meet people of the opposite sex and get closer.

“Since when has Helena been like that?”

Katy, who had been quietly listening to Lucia’s question, spoke.

“It was from the day I consulted with Ian after clearing out the Mine Lab… .”

The tone of voice was casual, without any pitch or pitch, as usual, but somehow I felt a chill.

But the three couldn’t afford to worry about the cold.

The person you can see most naturally and has many contacts with.

Ian was the only one.

That means… .

“A.”

Lucia denied it as if it made no sense.

“That, that, that, kinda, um… . Ah, there’s no law saying it can’t be done, but… Oh, that’s not what I meant… .”

Vivian was about to explain something, but her face fell and she kept her mouth shut.

Mercy also tilted her chin as if she was disturbed.

In the end, there was no answer they could come up with.

There was only one thing he could do for Helena.

“Let’s pretend we don’t know… .”

***

“Ha… .”

Aria returned to the room and fell down on the bed.

My mind is pounding and my stomach is pounding.

‘Why are you doing this to me… .’

I hear auditory hallucinations.

That auditory hallucination wasn’t the auditory hallucination it was before.

On his way into the city, the crowds who saw him booed him.

It wasn’t just aimed at himself.

It was a boo directed at everyone in the first party.

I couldn’t really hear what they were saying.

I didn’t want to hear it.

I just wanted that moment to pass quickly.

I missed myself, the person who naturally supported many people and looked down on them.

There was a time when everything was within reach.

If you wanted something, you could just reach out and take it.

Except for one person.

But now, so much more than just that one person has become distant.

‘What should I do… ?’

A few days have passed since the trial.

In the meantime, the first party, led by Sylvia and given missions, managed to clear several dungeons with difficulty.

Beatrice, who is completely unable to fight, was unable to participate because she was still in rehabilitation.

It was a very difficult schedule as Kylie struggled after losing one arm.

Still, I did it.

Because Sylvia went forward with the courage to risk her life.

She made up for the lack of power on her own.

As this happened, Aria’s value continued to decline day by day.

‘It’s okay like this… ? What should I do… . please… . I don’t know anything… .’

Aria put her hands together and prayed for the first time in a very long time.

Even though I don’t really believe in God.

Even though I know that praying to God won’t solve anything.

I held his hand tightly and drew a picture of Ian.

Whenever I ran into a problem, I looked to the person who gave me the answer.

‘please… . Please answer anything… .’

Suddenly, Aria remembered what happened in court.

The way he tried to protect them by saying it was confidential.

Why did you do that?

It’s something I’ve always wondered about, but I’ve been busy so I haven’t been able to think about it deeply.

‘Maybe… .’

A hope sprouted in their hearts that they might still be there.

‘Is there any other reason than that? ?’

Unless otherwise.

If that’s really the case.

Even if it’s impossible to go back to the way it was before.

Wouldn’t it be possible to improve it a little bit?

-Sureuk.

Aria immediately started writing the letter.

Toward Ian.

If you apologize and apologize again, one day his heart may become more open than it is now.

Aria carefully selected words and refined sentences.

Meanwhile, several discarded letters were lying around on the floor.

‘This should be enough…’ ?’

Finally, I picked up the completed letter and blew on it until the ink dried.

As she was putting the letter in the envelope, she suddenly realized that this alone was not enough.

I needed something material that could express my apology.

‘What is there… . Something that might help Ian… .’

Ian is currently raising a new warrior.

then… .

Aria looked down at her necklace.

A holy relic that dramatically increases the effectiveness of all miracles.

It is one of the accessories said to have been used by apostles in history.

‘This might help.’

Aria took off the necklace and put it in the envelope with the letter.

Although his life was controlled by the imperial family, it was not to the point where he couldn’t even send a letter.

‘The imperial family probably knows where Ian is. Above all, if it is given to Ian, even the imperial family will not ignore it… .’

Arya sent a letter to Ian through imperial personnel.

I don’t expect this to change his mind right away.

still.

I prayed that they would give me an answer again, because it would be at least a little bit good.

*

Ian, who returned to Supervia, completed the application for the official warrior exam.

I was promised that I would be guided once a suitable dungeon was found and selected.

Vivian, Helena, and Lucia did not neglect their training and solved two more D-class dungeons in just a few days.

In a short period of time, their reputation grew quickly.

It was partly because Ian revealed his identity, but the growth of the three was also too rapid.

Ian’s party was always at the top of newsletters and bulletin boards.

Katy’s training, supervised by Galatea and Marlion, has also begun.

Around that time.

[Invitation to Fiorene Street Disposal Auction]

Dear Ian, an invitation has arrived.

The host was Imperial Grace.

Although it is an auction, it is hosted by the imperial family and expensive items will be displayed, so it will have a luxurious atmosphere, like a banquet for nobles.

‘I don’t like going to places where there are a lot of nobles… . Still, there is something I want among the items Fiorene used, so I guess I should go. ‘I also talked to Grace.’

It will be a luxurious banquet as it is hosted by the imperial family.

Thanks to Grace’s free-spirited personality, there was no set dress code, but it was still an occasion where one had to dress extravagantly and formally.

Women dress.

Men wear suits.

‘I don’t like suits because they are stuffy… .’

As he read the brief content, his eyes were fixed on the bottom line.

[Up to 2 companions allowed.]

Again, Ian turned his eyes towards the group in front of him.

After the meal was over, we were eating dessert.

Kati, Vivian, Helena, Lucia.

And Mercy, transformed into an elf, is jumping around on Vivian’s chest.

Vivian lowered her head in shame and pursed her lips.

It looks just like a squirrel with a bunch of fruit in it.

As Ian looked at them, they also looked at Ian.

When people looked at him asking what was going on, Ian waved his hand and looked down.

‘… What do we do?’