episode_0221

Episode 221

The saint’s own sandwich and tea are a simple but easy lunch.

Leelia seemed very curious about what Carmel and I were doing as we sat together affectionately. No, what you’re curious about is not ‘what’ but ‘how much’.

And the reason why Carmel brought him here. Actually, I’m curious about that too.

Carmel was elegantly making teeth marks on the sandwich without answering my and Leelia’s curiosity.

“It’s not bad. Although it is a dish that cannot fail.”

“Ah, yes… thank you.”

“Why don’t you hurry up and lift it? You don’t have to worry about me.”

Even though I tried to tell her not to look at her in front of the queen… Moreover, even though she apologized, she had already been abusive in the past. No matter how much it is Leelia, it is natural to be cautious.

“Yes, then…”

In a more natural manner than I feared, Leelia picked up the sandwich in the basket and began to eat it. A happy expression naturally spreads across your face.

Well, it was Riellia’s strength that she didn’t get discouraged to a large extent.

After finishing one sandwich and taking a gulp of black tea to clear her mouth, Leelia seemed intent on solving her curiosity in earnest.

“But what were you two talking about?”

Carmel’s eyes meet mine. We quickly reached an agreement and I spoke as the representative.

“We were talking about the future. About what to do with Aila’s gang who escaped.”

“Mmm. I see. The castle is definitely in the princess’s hands, but we won’t be at ease unless we defeat those scary shamans.”

Leelia’s expression darkens a little.

The raid on the monastery, and the inhabitants of Sesennes and the Marquis James, who are stripped of their human form. Leelia must also have been acutely aware of Aila’s fear.

“Didn’t you say that you found out the whereabouts of the Marquis through his remaining ritual? When do you plan to start the chase?”

“That’s it…”

You must face Aela. It is an inevitable fate. However, they could not head to the Katerina Ruins without any defense, where it was clear that they had dug a trap and were waiting.

It is highly likely that what Aila wants is Carmel. If that’s the case, then I guess I’ll have to use that to conversely set up a trap.

I roughly summarized the story I had with Carmel a while ago and relayed it to Leelia. Leelia looked very surprised.

“Aela… That witch doctor was the queen’s mother?”

The surprising point is a bit different from what I expected. Of course, this would be surprising if you didn’t know about it.

“…Okay. But I want you to keep this a secret, saint.”

Actually, this is a pretty big secret. If it were Leelia, there would be no need to worry about spreading unnecessary rumors.

“Ah, yes… of course. But is it really better for the queen than for me? You are the mother who gave birth, right?”

This is a question I asked myself once. Although the nuance is slightly different.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Because I won’t be shaken.”

Carmel said that and glanced at me. His face was a little red, as if he was remembering what he was doing before Leelia came.

Leelia’s question just now could be considered somewhat rude. If it were the usual Carmel, she might have reacted more sharply. But now there was no sign of that at all.

Leelia also seemed to sense something in Carmel’s attitude.

“You’ve changed a little, Queen Carmel.”

Carmel frowned. The reason he didn’t bother answering was probably because he knew that.

Reelia said with a cheerful face as she organized the basket and tea set on the table.

“I’ll just leave. When you leave, please be sure to call me too, princess.”

Of course I intend to. Because the power of the saint of Reelia is the most effective means to combat the curse.

After Reelia left the room, I spoke to Carmel, who was still frowning.

“You’ve definitely changed, mother.”

“…What has changed?”

“That’s right… Think about the first time you met Leelia. Every word was like a knife. Are you going to see Leelia again?”

“No. I’m still a disgusting person. It’s just so bright, as if it doesn’t know about the filth in the world… I should say that just looking at it makes me angry. Also, the black tea was too steep.”

Anyway, that’s not true. Leelia is not unaware of the filth of the world. Rather, it is the child who faces it most closely and still tries to fight back. But there is no need to correct it now.

“But why just now?”

“Do you like that saint?”

“Are you answering a question with a question… But I have to be honest. Yes, I like it.”

“That’s why. I decided not to hate the things you like.”

Carmel’s sudden words left me speechless for a moment. But soon I found the sullen-faced Carmel unbearably lovely.

“…You’ve really changed a lot.”

“Of course, right? Because it hasn’t been long since I escaped from the curse…”

“Even if you take away Mystilia’s influence, that’s true. Your mother is definitely changing for the better.”

Carmel furrowed her eyebrows as if she felt uncomfortable saying that she was changing. But it wasn’t really unpleasant.

Carmel answered while blushing.

“…Thank you.”

Looking at Carmel, who had a strange expression of happiness or discomfort, I climbed onto her lap again.

* * *

“Princess, are you okay for a moment?”

“Yes, Pilgret.”

Pilgret approached informally and politely. A sheet of paper was spread out on the desk. It appears to be the guard post near the Katerina Ruins that I ordered.

“As you said, we have set up a surveillance post around the ruins. After examining the records, it appears that the underground ruins are not very deep. There is only one entrance, and if you really went in there, you would be a fox caught in a trap.”

Aila is cornered. Maybe he’s trying to make me think that way.

However, looking at the given facts, it is undeniable that Aila is in a difficult situation. No matter how many supplies were stored underground, it would not have been enough for one group to survive for long.

All you have to do is wait for them to dry out and die. What will I do if I choose to play the long game? Well, I might be able to survive somehow with the power of the body-transforming grimoire.

“Mmm, good job. If you notice anything unusual or someone escapes, report it as quickly as possible, but don’t get too close just in case. Of course, we also strictly control anyone else’s entry.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And another entrance may have been connected later. Please search the surrounding area closely for hidden entrances.”

“Yes, I will.”

Pilgret rolled up the unfolded paper and left the room. Looking at his back, I was lost in thought for a moment.

A way to neutralize Aila’s power was already being considered before leaving the royal capital. The problem is to create a situation in which the means can be fully utilized.

Even excluding ‘Songs Praising Life’, Aila is a powerful shaman. I had a feeling that there might still be more hidden cards.

Well, anyway, for now, it is better to just wait rather than take hard measures. Thanks to the gaping holes in the government, there was ample reason to sit back in the name of rebuilding and stabilizing Sancerne.

First, let’s wait and see the situation. That was the car I was thinking of.

* * *

“Princess! Something like this…!”

A knight rushes forward. There was an envelope in his hand.

“What is it? Is this a letter worth making such a fuss about?”

“It came from the Gerard family… but it was sent through transmission magic!”

“Transfer magic…?”

Now that I have accumulated knowledge of magic, albeit at a rudimentary level, I know it well. How difficult it is to create physical phenomena using mana.

Magic at the level of transmitting an object to another space is impossible without borrowing the power of a grimoire.

I took the letter from the knight’s hand. When I opened it, a faint smell of tree nuts wafted out.

At the same time, words were engraved in my mind like a calm voice.

– It’s been a while, Princess Sera.

We cannot forget this unique experience. It was the tree of knowledge. Is this also some kind of magic?

While I was wondering whether I should answer, the next sentence began.

– This is a one-way communication, not a conversation. You can think of it as something similar to the letters you use. The reason I am sending you this letter through Gerard is because a great threat is approaching.

It’s a good thing you didn’t answer. The driver who had a puzzled look on his face when he saw me standing there blankly was even more puzzled.

But what is the big threat?

– Where you are, in Seville, someone is trying to get to my roots. One with a twisted and evil will, no doubt. If he were to take control of any part of me, it would be a huge crisis for the kingdom.

An evil one trying to get to the roots of the Tree of Knowledge.

Only one person comes to mind. Coincidentally, she is currently living underground.

– I don’t know what specifically they plan to do. It would depend on his evil intentions. Please stop him. If you will do so, I will give you whatever you want.

The letter that was not a letter from the Tree of Knowledge ended there. The letters in my mind completely disappeared, leaving behind the smell of acorns.

Meanwhile, numerous thoughts began to bloom within me.