episode_0053

I was transferred to Queen Ludmilla’s presence, still trapped in the mausoleum prison.

As Ludmilla reached out her hand towards me, the cubic mausoleum prison disintegrated as her eyes sparkled.

“Have you found Shari’s mother?”

“….”

Instead of answering, Ludmilla looked at Shari, who was perched on my head.

Wait, she’s not saying she found her.

“Shari. Separate yourself from that man and come forward.”

Ludmilla ordered Shari.

Shari opened her eyes wide, slowly detached from my head, and came forward.

And Ludmilla’s eyes began to sparkle again.

“Just a moment! What are you doing….”

Suddenly, a large magic circle appeared around Shari as if enclosing her.

With a few gestures from Ludmilla, the magic circle entrapped Shari just like the mausoleum prison had trapped me.

Shari, with a bewildered expression, looked at me.

“Stay still, human. If you don’t want to die.”

Ludmilla continued to cast an unknown spell on Shari, her eyes glowing.

Shari tried to break through the magic circle and escape, but surprisingly, she couldn’t get out as she collided with the magic circle.

A magic that can trap a ghost? I’ve never heard of such a thing.

The magic circle trapping Shari gradually increased in number, eventually making Shari’s form completely invisible.

I stared blankly at the magic circle trapping Shari, unable to believe it.

“Sigh… Magic that confines a spirit indeed consumes a lot of magical power.”

“Why are you suddenly doing this? What crime has Shari committed?”

“To prevent that child from hearing what I’m about to say.”

Ludmilla said with a slightly weary expression.

“Right now, Shari won’t be able to come out of that barrier or hear anything. Don’t worry, once the barrier is lifted, she’ll come out unharmed.”

“Why… didn’t you let Shari meet her mother if you found her?”

“I found her.”

“But why did you trap Shari?”

Feeling a sense of foreboding, I asked Ludmilla.

If you found her mother, then you should let Shari meet her. It might be a sad reunion since she has become a ghost, but Shari wanted to see her mother after all.

“Porte. That child’s mother is a woman named Porte. And….”

“And….?”

“Porte… is dead.”

* * *

I listened to Ludmilla’s detailed story about Shari’s mother.

Porte was a woman who lived the life of a writer and traveler.

She left Ainblad and traveled to various places on the continent, writing books about what she saw and experienced firsthand.

Once she embarked on a journey, her passion was so great that she wouldn’t return for months.

The Ainblad library had dozens of her travelogues and books.

Among the demons, she was quite famous as a writer, and she even had fans who idolized her.

Whenever she left Ainblad, rumors about her upcoming book spread everywhere.

Porte had a deep interest in ecology and geography, making her books academically valuable.

Then she became pregnant with Shari.

Since she hadn’t married anyone, no one knew who the father was.

Even while pregnant, she traveled near Ainblad, visiting famous flower gardens and landmarks for prenatal education.

After Shari was born, she raised her alone in Ainblad, dedicating herself to motherhood.

As Shari grew old enough to walk on her own, Porte started traveling with her again.

Writing books while traveling was her main job, and she couldn’t leave her daughter alone at home.

Unfortunately, that became a burden, and Porte lost her daughter.

It’s unknown what accident occurred during their travels that led to them being separated.

But one thing is certain, one day she returned to Ainblad without her daughter.

“Porte didn’t even know that his daughter had been taken by humans. He said he searched the place where he lost her several times, gathering people in Ainblad to find her.”

Ludmila narrowed her eyes and looked at the magic circle that imprisoned Shari as she spoke.

A mother who lost her daughter while traveling.

Honestly, I thought the responsibility of not properly taking care of her daughter fell heavily on her.

But even if it wasn’t Porte, there were definitely mothers who foolishly lost their children.

I also had a dizzying experience when I was young, holding someone else’s hand for a moment in the market with my mom.

If someone had taken me away with ill intentions back then, I might never have been able to return home.

Accidents like that always happen.

“I understand what kind of person Shari’s mother was. But why on earth….”

“Porte ultimately failed to find his daughter and fell ill. Whether it was a sickness of the heart or where he got the fatal illness, I don’t know, but he died shortly after.”

“….”

“I understand your desire to let this child meet her mother. But sometimes, not knowing can be a mercy, right? If you want, I can tell her that Porte has gone on a long journey and hasn’t returned yet.”

It was only then that I realized Ludmila had imprisoned Shari with magic to prevent her from hearing the conversation.

Wanting to see her mother, but hearing the news of her mother’s death could be an unbearable shock for a child.

Even if she was a ghost, just the thought of it made my heart ache.

“Human, I ask you. Do you still want to tell that child about Porte’s story?”

Ludmila asked me.

Even if she asked me that now, honestly, I’m not sure.

Emotionally, it might be better for Shari not to know about her mother’s death.

But on the other hand, that might just be my opinion.

If I were in Shari’s shoes, I would have wanted to know the truth.

No matter how painful the truth is, I would rather know it forever than not know it, because accepting it properly is my responsibility.

“Can I ask a few more questions?”

After much deliberation, I opened my mouth to Ludmila.

“Speak.”

“Is there a grave for Porte?”

“We don’t bury the dead. We cremate them with the flames of magic.”

“Then is Porte’s house still there?”

“It should still be there.”

I was relieved that the house was still standing.

I made up my mind.

I thought it was better to tell the truth properly rather than deceive Shari.

She had the right to know about her mother.

I had no right to take away that right by thinking for Shari.

So, rather than deceiving her, wouldn’t it be better to tell her the truth and do what I can?

“I have a favor to ask….”

I slowly opened my mouth to Ludmila.

* * *

I decided to visit the house where Porte lived with Shari.

It was a difficult opportunity I obtained by asking Ludmila.

Even when I was imprisoned in the magic prison, Shari never left my side, so Ludmila specially allowed me to visit Porte’s house with Shari.

I had only one day.

If I didn’t leave this place on time, Ludmila might actually execute me.

“She’s staring at us so much….”

The cold gazes of the other demons had become familiar by now.

Anyway, the fact that I am alive and wandering around in this Einblad itself was a great privilege.

I still haven’t told Shari about her mother’s work.

I haven’t sorted out where to start and how to bring it up yet.

I thought about telling her before entering Forte’s house, but the words just wouldn’t come out.

Shari, knowing that she was going to her original home, was leading the way with a happy face.

I looked at her with a complicated expression and followed behind her.

Forte’s house was located in a quiet place far from the busy streets of Einblad.

Bright purple flowers were blooming beautifully in the neatly arranged yard.

I carefully opened the door with the key I received from Ludmilla and entered the house.

As soon as I entered the house, the smell of books filled the air.

The desk, where Forte seemed to be writing, still had half-written books, pens, and ink bottles on it.

The bookshelves were full of various books, and a large map of the continent was hanging on one wall.

Although there was no one in the house, there was a sense of life that the homeowner would return soon.

It was a house that gave off a warm and nostalgic feeling unique to a home.

“Shari.”

I called out Shari’s name as she wandered around the house in a daze.

Shari turned to look at me, blinking her eyes.

“I have something important to tell you, but… ”

I slowly opened my trembling lips.

Although I had already made up my mind to tell her, when it came time to speak, my lips wouldn’t move easily.

“I found out about your mother’s news through Queen Ludmilla.”

Shari was quietly looking at me.

“Your mother… passed away from an illness not long ago.”

Finally, I told Shari the truth.

Shari’s expression slowly froze.

I heard that she was a very wonderful person. She wrote a lot of books while traveling. Her books are still popular in Einblad. So… ”

No, let’s not say unnecessary things.

“I’m sorry, Shari. for delivering this news.”

Shari’s expression seemed like she was about to cry any moment.

But she didn’t shed a tear.

Maybe because she’s a ghost.

I couldn’t figure out what to say to Shari.

Shari stood still, staring blankly at the house for a long time.

And then, after a while, Shari slowly approached the desk where Forte used to write.

There was a half-open book on the desk.

And next to it, there was a large notebook.

Shari showed interest in the notebook and carefully picked it up.

And when she unfolded the first page, there was writing that seemed to be written by Forte.

“…. Should I read it?”

Shari nodded slowly.

I began to read the writing in the notebook to Shari.

—–

My beloved daughter,

Yesterday, I dreamed that you were coming back home.

You are the most beautiful and lovely child in the world.

I regret and shed tears every day for the day I lost you.

I still want to believe that you are alive somewhere.

I hope there will be a day when you come back to Einblad as if nothing had happened.

I wanted to show you the wide and beautiful world that I have seen.

I can’t forget the sight of you laughing and running in the field of yellow flowers in the Loubelle Gorge.

I think this mother has committed a great sin against you. Losing you is entirely my fault.

Maybe I deserve to be punished for it.

This mother feels like she’s going to hell, burdened with the sin of not being able to protect you.

I remember the time when I read you travel stories and drew pictures for you.

You said you wanted to travel with me too.

You, who were so interested in new places and flowers, resemble me a lot.

In the time I have left, I want to draw the places we couldn’t go together.

I will carry the guilt until the moment I close my eyes for the rest of my life, I won’t forget you.

I miss you, Shari.

I’m sorry, my dear.

—–

After reading the beginning of the note, I flipped through the pages.

The remaining pages were filled with drawings.

A flower garden blooming with various colors of flowers, a field of yellow grass seen from a cliff, a forest full of fallen leaves, and more.

Various landscapes were skillfully drawn like a painter.

And in all those landscapes, there was Shari smiling brightly.

From the contents of the note, it seemed like the drawings were made after losing Shari.

Porte longed for his daughter and meticulously drew her in the landscapes.

Shari couldn’t take her eyes off those drawings.

Slowly flipping through the note, I showed Shari the drawings inside.

The vivid drawings made it seem like Shari was actually in those landscapes.

That night, I read and showed Shari the records left by Porte until she was satisfied.

Hoping that it would bring some comfort to Shari’s heart.