Ch.363Chapter 363 – The Pendant

Several days had passed since Beatrice visited my room.

As I slowly opened my eyes on the soft bed, I felt weight on both sides of me. Quietly turning my head, I saw Eve on one side and Sera on the other, both sound asleep with exhausted expressions.

‘How cute.’

Their faces, oblivious to the world as they slept, were adorable. I smiled slightly, quietly watching the two sleeping figures. Then, as I carefully raised myself to leave the bed without waking them and was about to put on my armor…

“…Kay, you’re awake.”

Eve’s voice reached me. When I turned to look, she was watching me with half-open eyes and a smile. Seemingly reluctant to get up, she remained lying down with the blanket pulled up to her neck.

“I was trying not to wake you.”

“At this hour, I’d normally be up anyway. If anything, you’ve woken up later than usual.”

Eve said with a smile. At the same time, I noticed Sera turning to her side with a small groan.

“Sera’s always been a heavy sleeper, so she’s just not awake yet.”

“…I see.”

It would be better to let her sleep more. On the other hand, something about Eve’s comment bothered me.

‘Later than usual, huh?’

Since becoming this body, I’d never slept in. Of course, even now I was waking up quite early compared to others, but the fact that something unusual was happening made me slightly anxious.

‘Didn’t she say that feeling fatigue in the morning can happen if one’s condition isn’t good?’

That was what Beatrice had said when examining my body a few days ago. Indeed, I had been noticing that my wake-up time was gradually getting later.

I decided I should examine my body tonight. Then I noticed something strange.

“Eve, are you going back to sleep?”

Eve was still lying in bed, not getting up. Hearing my question, she looked slightly incredulous.

“Kay, don’t we have a promise?”

“A promise?”

“The one we made a few days ago when Sera and I came to your room. Don’t you remember?”

“…No, I remember.”

It was from that very night when I had my body examined by Beatrice and was contemplating her future path.

As forewarned, Eve had visited with Sera. Eve came in thin clothing like before, and Sera wore something similar in design but different in color. Eve had entered my room holding the hand of an extremely embarrassed Sera, saying they had come to visit as promised.

And then she had pulled me straight into bed.

However, we were all particularly tired that day, so our energy drained faster than usual, and we fell asleep quickly.

And yesterday, they said they would come again because it wasn’t enough.

‘…So the promise I made then was…’

I slowly sorted through the events of the past few days, searching my memory. Finally, I was able to recall the promise I had made with them.

‘…Do I really have to do this?’

It’s a bit embarrassing.

But a promise is a promise. Steeling myself, I quietly approached Eve and lowered my head. Eve closed her eyes and gently tilted her head toward me, like a baby bird waiting for food from its mother.

Then, as our lips lightly touched and parted, I whispered quietly to Eve.

“…I love you, Eve.”

“I love you too, Kay.”

With a satisfied smile, Eve got up from the bed.

Then she immediately rummaged through the luggage Sera had brought and took out something that looked like a flask containing some substance. It had a spray nozzle attached to the opening.

“What’s that?”

“According to Sera, it’s a potion that cleanses the body. Since it’s not easy to wash on the ship, Sera made it.”

She said Sera had made it casually because we couldn’t ask Chris, Kara, or Beatrice to clean our bodies every day.

“…I’m not sure if that’s something to be made ‘casually,’ but more importantly, the ship isn’t exactly an environment for making potions. How did she make it?”

“I wonder about that too.”

Eve answered nonchalantly. Then she sprayed the potion on herself using the nozzle, and soon began spraying it on me as well.

Immediately, I felt refreshed, as if something unpleasant clinging to my body had been washed away. It was like the clean feeling after just having bathed.

“Magic is amazing.”

“I hear this was based on Christina’s holy arts.”

I stand corrected.

Soon Eve and I exchanged light smiles and continued to get dressed. Naturally, Eve and Sera had brought clean clothes with them. After dressing together, I put on all my armor and was about to don my helmet last.

“…Morning?”

“Good morning, Sera.”

Perhaps we had made too much noise. Sera opened her eyes. Like Eve, her eyes were half-closed. Soon Sera assessed the situation, looked at the blanket with a hint of regret, and then looked at me.

“Kay.”

With her eyes closed, she turned her head toward me just like Eve had done earlier.

‘…This is really embarrassing.’

I had just done this a moment ago. And now the other party was watching me with a smiling face.

At least before there was no audience, but now there was.

‘But I promised, so I have no choice.’

Promises are meant to be kept.

I gave Sera a light kiss and then whispered softly.

“I love you, Sera.”

“I love you… you… Kay.”

Sera seemed to have stopped herself from using a different form of address. Soon she too smiled and began to get up from the bed.

+

Though I had woken up later than usual, it was still early by most people’s standards. As a result, there was plenty of time left before breakfast, and after accepting Eve and Sera’s opinion that they didn’t want to just return to their cabins, we decided after some discussion to get some fresh air outside.

When we went out on deck with Eve and Sera, the refreshing sea air greeted us, and I could see Eve and Sera stretching with smiling faces, enjoying the breeze.

And in the distance, I saw Beatrice waving at us.

…Beatrice?

“That one wasn’t the type to wake up this early before, was she?”

“…You’re right?”

Thinking that her lifestyle had changed drastically, I approached Beatrice. She greeted us with a mischievous grin.

“The three of you together?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not a problem, but I’m a bit curious why the three of you are together.”

Beatrice said with half-lidded eyes. Eve looked at Beatrice with unreadable eyes. But Sera turned her gaze away, slightly flustered.

“Thanks to Miss Sera, I think I can guess what happened.”

Beatrice said with a slight smile. I gently asked her.

“…You’ll keep it a secret, right?”

“What good would it do me to embarrass you and those two?”

Beatrice answered calmly.

“At least I’ll never spread it around. You never know how things might turn out in this world. Rest assured, helmet.”

“Alright.”

Judging by her eyes and attitude, it didn’t seem like Beatrice would gossip about this to others. On the other hand, Eve and Sera seemed to have slightly different thoughts.

“…Your expression has softened a lot.”

“I wonder if all these unusual behaviors lately are to appeal…”

I could hear them whispering. Then new footsteps sounded behind us.

“G-good morning!”

Chris appeared behind us, greeting us. Behind her, I could see Kara and Sia approaching as well. Unlike Chris who had greeted us loudly, the other two were just lightly waving their hands.

“Is Chris out to get some air too?”

“Oh, no. I was just curious where everyone was, so I came up to the deck.”

Chris answered while gently grabbing my arm. And Sia muttered slightly discontentedly.

“I told them to keep displays of affection away from others’ eyes…”

“Perhaps she’s anxious because of her age?”

At Kara’s question, Sia gave her a slight glare. But seeing Kara’s expression devoid of any real malice, she sighed and looked back at me.

“So, why are you on deck, Kay?”

“Just came out to get some fresh air.”

I answered quietly, looking at Sia.

“Because today is the day.”

I said, looking far out over the sea. Nothing was visible now. But this ship was currently sailing at several times the speed of an ordinary vessel thanks to Beatrice’s magic, so even though we couldn’t see it now, it would soon reveal itself.

“Gema Port…”

“Though it’s not visible yet.”

Chris and Sera quietly added.

“If our calculations are correct, we should arrive at the port around the time breakfast ends.”

“So this moment is our last rest before entering the port.”

Beatrice and Eve each added a comment.

Soon Sia looked at me and said.

“How is your physical condition, Kay?”

“I think it won’t hinder me in combat.”

“Are you assuming there will be combat?”

“Unfortunately, things have never resolved easily before.”

It seems that whenever I think there won’t be a fight, we end up fighting. Sia nodded and said.

“Then absolutely do not overexert yourself. Remember that there are many who would grieve if you were injured.”

“I know.”

I nodded in response to Sia’s words.

“Though I said that, I still hope nothing happens.”

“That’s a difficult wish.”

I sighed lightly in response to Kara’s words.

“Still, I can at least say it, can’t I?”

I grumbled lightly, watching the distant sea.

+

Several hours later.

“Port in sight!”

With the vigorous voice of the lookout sailor, Diana, who was fully armed, looked at us.

“You’ve already decided what to do, right?”

“Yes.”

I nodded in response to Diana’s question.

“Unless something significant happens, the ship will remain docked at the port until you all return. From the port entry procedures to preventing others from inspecting this vessel, everything will be handled by the former paladins of the Emiris Order.”

Of course, five people couldn’t guard the ship completely, so they would be the face while others provided the muscle. That was why Diana and the sailors were armed.

“Meanwhile, I will travel by boat to the island that is our destination with my companions.”

“Will you be alright going by yourselves?”

“We will be fine.”

Anyway, there was a limit to how many people could fit in the boat, and it was better to move in small numbers for ease of movement. Just our six companions, plus Kara, were planning to go.

“With Kara and Beatrice, I don’t think we’ll have any trouble moving around inside the island in question.”

Kara knew a lot about the Order, and Beatrice was a mage. With those two, we could probably deal with or force our way through most security measures.

Of course, I had also borrowed a rosary from one of the paladins just in case.

“Conversely, will you be alright without Kara, Lady Diana?”

“What do you take me for? I’ll be fine. I plan to dock quietly without causing any fights. That’s why I brought in the former Emiris Order paladins.”

Diana answered.

“I’ll take care of my side, so don’t worry. Just focus on going and coming back safely with the others. They’re all precious, right?”

“Yes.”

I answered while looking at Gema Port.

“Cheeky fellow.”

Diana laughed at my unhesitating response. Then she slightly lifted the pendant she was wearing around her neck and handed it to me, saying quietly.

“Take this with you. It’s an enchanted item that should block at least one fatal blow.”

“What is this?”

“A gift my daughter gave me. …I’ve been using it to keep her portrait.”

Startled by Diana’s words, I tried to hand it back.

“Please keep it. It’s a family heirloom.”

“I’m giving you something precious as a charm for your safe return. You must come back, understand?”

Diana handed the pendant back to me.

“You need it more than I do, going to a dangerous place. Take it.”

“…Alright.”

If she insisted this much, I had no choice. Maybe I should quietly pass it to Chris just in case.

When I slightly lifted the side of the pendant, I could see the small portrait inside.

“Is the person in this portrait your daughter?”

It was a question I asked while looking at the portrait of a cleric with blonde hair and gentle red eyes inside the pendant. Diana nodded.

“Yes. My daughter, Platina.”

“The former Saint, right?”

Chronologically, she would have been Kara’s senior. Diana nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. My poor daughter, sacrificed to the Order’s political games.”

“I see.”

Diana sighed softly. Then she smiled slightly and said.

“That’s why I suddenly thought: this child would protect you all who are confronting the Order that unjustly sacrificed her.”

“I see.”

I nodded as I spoke.

“So take it with you. You can return it to me when everything is over. Understood?”

“I understand.”

Thinking that I would definitely bring it back safely, I looked again at the gentle-featured woman in the portrait.

‘…They look alike.’

She had features that made me think this is what Kara might look like when she grew up. Feeling somewhat uneasy, I carefully tucked the pendant into my breast pocket.

Just then, a sailor came running urgently.

“Captain! Could you come here for a moment?!”

I immediately exchanged glances with Diana and headed toward the source of the voice.

“What’s the matter?!”

“Please check the port!”

The sailor spoke urgently. I passed by the sailor and looked directly at the port.

Soon, I noticed something strange.

“…It’s quiet?”

There were empty ships. Buildings that seemed weathered by the sea breeze. A desolate street caught my eye.

And no people were visible.

The port was filled with a silence so complete that one could hear a mouse scurrying.