Chapter 118 – Heresy (2)

My mind was reeling.

Sirin wouldn’t be joining the fight.
I was a heretic.
Because of Rubia.
And neither of them seemed particularly bothered by it.

“Uh…um…what?”

I didn’t understand. I didn’t want to understand.

I just…wanted jelly. I wanted to lie in bed, wrapped in a soft blanket, with Rubia feeding me jelly…

“Hahaha! That expression! Priceless. Well, Noah, let this be a lesson. That’s how the world works.”

“Huh…?”

“The strong make the rules. They shape the world in their image. And do you think it’s difficult for them to crush a single person? The reasons for your…heresy are obvious. Rubia, the object of your affections, disappears for half a month. You possess a Fragment of the End. You’re clearly mad, corrupted by its power. What other justification do they need?”

“Corrupted…? But the Fragment doesn’t…I mean, I feel strange when I use it, but it goes away…”

Had I changed without realizing it?

“Rubia…am I…strange?”

Rubia, startled by the question, smiled sadly. She lifted me onto her lap, holding me close.

“Not at all. You’re perfect, just as you are.”

A soft kiss pressed against my cheek.

“Hee hee…that tickles. So…it’s all just…lies?”

“Noah,” Serr said, sighing, “the world is a strange place. If a human lives among monkeys, they become a monkey. If they refuse…they’re deemed an outsider, and destroyed.” She leaned back in her chair, a wry smile on her lips. “So here we are. A tiny, naïve monkey, a slightly less tiny but arrogant monkey, a genius monkey, and a divine monkey.”

Rubia chuckled, nuzzling my hair.

“Divine? Hardly. Don’t worry, Noah. I’m on your side, no matter what.”

“Mm…thank you.”

I burrowed into her embrace, finding comfort in her warmth.

Her hand strayed to my thigh, her touch a little too familiar. I caught her hand, holding it tight.

“So…I shouldn’t…stay with you anymore. I’ll just cause more trouble…”

“That depends on Rubia’s decision. Serr, you should consider your options as well.” Sirin’s voice was serious, her posture stiff.

It’s okay…it’s okay. It wasn’t like we’d be separated forever. We could sneak around, meet at night… That would be thrilling…romantic, even.

And even apart, Rubia could sense me… It wasn’t a true separation.

So…whatever Rubia decided…it would be okay. I had to be okay with it. I wouldn’t show any disappointment. I would be strong.

“You can either enter the city and build a subjugation team in secret, or face Valoran on your own. The former is significantly easier. There will be civilian casualties, inevitably, but with preparation, we can minimize the damage.”

Clink. Serr’s coffee cup tilted.
A soft sigh rustled through Rubia’s hair.
My heart pounded against my ribs.

“The latter…is far more dangerous. If Valoran appears in the other city…the casualties will be catastrophic. Even if you move quickly, that city will be destroyed.”

“I’ll defer to Rubia’s judgment.”

Clatter. Serr’s empty cup landed on the table.

“I…” Rubia said, her voice firm, “I’ll stay with Noah.”

“…What?”

Serr chuckled and stood, leaving the room. Sirin smiled faintly.

“Why that choice, Rubia?”

“I’m not sure how to sugarcoat this, so I’ll be blunt. I saved Cartia. I saved it, against the Empire and Erden’s wishes. Without me, it would have been razed to the ground long ago.”

“Likely, yes.”

“No. Definitely. And if that city, the one abandoned by Erden, the one I saved…if they dare to turn on Noah because of some decree…”

Rubia’s arms tightened around me.

“Let it burn. I’d gladly be the one to burn it to the ground.”

“Even though you’re a priestess?”

“Hah! I saved them once. What more do they want? Repaying kindness with betrayal makes them animals, not humans. And frankly…Noah is far more important to me than Cartia.”

“Haha! You value Noah more than tens of thousands of lives?”

“Of course. I’m selfish. And I was a monster, not long ago. I wanted to kill them all, not save them. I used to be kind, yes. Naïve. That’s why I saved Cartia. But if this had happened before I met Noah…if it had happened even a short time ago…I would have stayed in my room, sipping coffee, and thought, ‘good riddance.’”

“Rubia…?”

Rubia flinched, her hands flying to cover my ears.

Too late.

“Anyway, that’s my decision. And the same goes for Ursphere. The city Noah saved. The city that celebrated her. If they reject her…they deserve whatever comes to them. Right, Noah?”

“Well…no…but—”

“If you had to choose, Noah. Me, or a city. What would you do?”

“I’d save you, of course.”

“And I would do the same for you.”

“But…but you’re a priestess—mmmph!”

Rubia’s lips silenced me.

“Mmph…! Wh-why…?”

“Did you not like it?”

“N-no! I mean…I did…but…”

“So you liked it?”

Her bluntness left me speechless. I could only nod, my face burning.

“Then…shall we do it again?”

“L-later… When we’re alone…in a room…”

“I’m not sure it will end with just a kiss, then.”

“Eek! Quiet…”

“Heh heh… You’ve certainly changed, Noah. Completely changed.”

Sirin, who’d been watching us quietly, stood and placed a fist-sized orb on the table.

“Noah, I played a significant role in your…heresy. I owe you an apology.”

“Sirin? Why?”

“Wasn’t it at my request that Rubia stayed here?”

“But…that was to save Serr…”

“Regardless, this is the result. I’ll make it easier for you. Just wait.”

“Uh…”

Sirin ruffled my hair affectionately, then smiled at Rubia.

“You won’t regret this, Rubia. Will you?”

“Of course not.”

“Good.”

She turned to the orb.

“You heard all that, didn’t you? I told you. The future you saw…is already broken.”

[Ahaha…indeed. I’ve never been so wrong. To think it would turn out exactly as you predicted.]

A familiar voice echoed from the orb.

“…Huh?”

[My, my. Recognized my voice, did you? How touching. It’s been a while, Miss Noah. And Lady Rubia. Or…do you prefer Lady Aileen?]

“Aileen…? Don’t tell me…”

[Indeed! It’s me, Hermilla! From the Adventurer’s Guild in Alrba!]

A faint clapping sound echoed from the orb.

Hermilla.

She’d found me when I first arrived in this world, lost and confused. Helped me become an adventurer. Looked out for me… My benefactor.

“H-Hermilla…?”

[Yes, Miss Noah. It’s me. It’s so good to hear from you.]

“I’ll leave you to it. I have things to attend to.”

[Alright. Have fun. Though, that gruff act is a little much, Sirin. Trying to sound authoritative, are we?]

“…Shut up.”

[I keep telling you, it just makes you sound adorable.]

“One more word, and I’ll come over there and spank you myself.”

Sirin clicked her tongue and stormed out of the room.

With Sirin and Serr gone, the room felt strangely quiet. Rubia looked dazed, and I…

“Sniffle…hic…Hermilla…”

…was on the verge of tears.

[Miss Noah, you promised you’d come back to Alrba after you reached Cartia. Why haven’t you come back yet? I miss you.]

“H-huh…? Sniff…miss me…? I…I miss you too…”

I started to climb out of Rubia’s lap to wipe my tears, when…

“Aha. So Noah misses Hermilla.”

A chilling creak echoed beside my ear.