episode_0021

Vivian was placed in the carriage seat while we were going to Agnes Monastery.

This was possible because we rented a carriage large enough for four people to ride.

I sat on the floor in the middle and massaged Vivian’s arm to check her condition.

‘There’s quite a bit of mana waste accumulated.’

Compared to when we first met, we have become incomparably stronger, but we still have a long way to go.

Since the King Slime was sent in one shot, the firepower is sufficient.

So for the time being, you just need to focus on training to manage mana efficiently.

The mana circuit has become more unstable than expected, but it is within a range that can be stabilized quickly.

A pseudo-ice barrier was used by forcibly growing ice crystals.

In the end, I impulsively used magic because of Felix.

Two unexpected factors must have made the mana flow unstable.

It’s a bit funny how I learned this information. During the second session, I felt sore and I realized it while rubbing myself against a tree to relieve muscle pain.

Afterwards, I was able to naturally detect mana currents and waste products in other people’s bodies.

In the third round, I am using it to take care of other warriors besides myself.

Anyway, Vivian is still on the thin side, but she has gained a decent amount of weight.

All you have to do from now on is follow along consistently.

But, um… .

Massaging other places while you’re asleep is a bit dirty.

There’s no point in creating an uncomfortable situation later… .

“Mercy.”

“Huh?”

“You will be in charge of the massage from now on.”

“Why are you doing that? Don’t gnaw on it.”

“… The choice of words is a bit inconvenient.”

“Hmph.”

He smiled sinisterly and switched places with me.

“But what can I do?”

“Just do what you normally do.”

Mercy also received a lot of massages from me.

It wasn’t like I was fighting or using magic, I just thought it would be cool and good to do it.

“Umm… . I’m not sure, but I’ll give it a try!”

Mercy rolled up her sleeves and looked down at Vivian’s body.

“It’s clear that Ruby has Vivian’s heart… .”

“Don’t be foolish.”

“Chet. I’m at an age where I’m really curious about things like that.”

Mercy kneaded and pressed Vivian’s body while grumbling.

It’s a bit clumsy, but he’s pretty good at following it, probably because he’s had time to do it from me.

For your information, I don’t know Mercy’s age either.

The lifespan of elves is unknown, so it is impossible to even estimate it.

Since it wasn’t that important to our relationship now, I wasn’t really curious about it.

*

“Vivian, wake up.”

“Neueh… .”

Vivian woke up sobbing and covered her mouth in surprise.

The voice that was completely relaxed seemed embarrassed.

“Ugh… .”

At the same time, he carefully embraces the magic stone he brought with both hands.

I laughed and got off first, and Vivian followed.

“… uh? Where is it?”

Vivian, who saw the monastery, wondered if she was expecting a training camp.

“I will rest here today.”

“… Ah.”

She answered briefly and seemed to have finally remembered the situation she would face.

After wandering for two years, she ran away and barely gave up her life to taking care of her children.

It is the moment when we reunite with those children in completely different ways.

Vivian’s hands trembled slightly, perhaps because she was excited or nervous.

Fearing that he might drop the magic stone, I hug him tighter.

“Come on, let’s go, the kids will be happy too!”

Mercy pushed Vivian’s back and moved Vivian’s feet, which were not moving.

Me and Katy followed behind them.

The abbot of Petra came out to meet us.

Her eyes first turned to Vivian’s magic stone.

“You passed.”

Petra smiled gently.

“You have borne big and beautiful fruits as a result of your long efforts.”

“Ah… .”

As if those words had flipped a switch, tears flowed from the corners of Vivian’s eyes.

“Thank you… thank you… .”

Vivian answered with difficulty in a voice that was holding back tears.

Petra took her wrist and gently guided her inside.

“Children will be happy to see it too.”

*

The children gathered in one place were surprised by Vivian’s unexpected appearance.

I was surprised twice by the change in clothes and atmosphere.

After hearing the explanation of the large magic stone in my hand, I was once more surprised and immediately turned into chaos.

Vivian burst out crying, which she had been holding back, and hugged some of the children together, sharing the joy of their reunion.

Mercy consoled Vivian and told the children various stories.

I watched it from a few steps away.

… It is a scene so utterly touching that it pricks my conscience.

To be honest, the reason why Vivian was brought here right away is a bit devious, but there is nothing sinister about it.

If we let the children meet like today on the first day of their achievement, wouldn’t they follow along better in the future? .

There was such a calculation.

I did it because I wanted to eliminate as many anxiety factors as possible.

Somehow, I feel like a really bad person.

To put it in a good light, you could say it’s a strategy to encourage improvement… .

“Ian, you are also very considerate.”

Petra’s pure praise pricked my conscience even more.

“Hmm… . I’m not really that kind of person.”

“You can’t do this without someone like that. Isn’t there a saying that a person who can pretend to be good their whole life is the same as a really good person?”

It makes me even more uncomfortable because they seem to believe that I am good without any doubt.

If you think about it, it’s not a bad thing… .

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“More than that, you came back in a timely manner.”

Petra handed me a rolled up piece of parchment.

“It is said that there will be a public examination at MacDullin Abbey soon.”

I unfolded the parchment while listening to her.

It was intended to welcome a variety of guests, including officials or managers from each city or country who are interested in the public examination.

“I don’t know if there is a priest who can meet Ian’s expectations, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go there at least once. It’s something I’ve been preparing for for quite some time.”

“Let’s stop by. By the way, this is my first time hearing about an open exam. What is it?”

“You probably think so because this is the first time it has been implemented. To put it simply, only the ‘priests’ who will belong to the party are trained separately and take the test.”

The key was simple.

A priest’s divine power or miracles are different from physical strengthening or magic using mana.

Therefore, priests must be trained in a special environment that is different from theirs.

The role of this McDerlin public exam is to implement and publicize the results of the theory.

Those who pass this test are granted the status of ‘temporary warrior’ and may receive support from those who participated in the test or be invited to parties.

The premise is not wrong.

Although I can use simple magic and spells as well as body strengthening, I cannot handle miracles.

There is a case called Arya who lacks faith, so it is not just a matter of faith.

I don’t know the exact reason.

The basis of using mana is the same, so my training method is also effective for priests.

Anyway, I feel like this public exam is a battle of spirit between the Seonghwa Church and the imperial family… .

It’s not something I care about.

It’s MacDerlin Abbey.

I’m trying to see if I have any memories that I can use for the second round.

“… Huh?”

A few kids came up to me.

They are literally children, much younger than Emma, who is a teenager.

The kids around my hips look up at me blankly.

Petra next to me just smiles happily, but I am a little embarrassed.

I don’t know how to deal with kids… .

“Well, do you have something to say?”

Instead of answering, the children continued to look at me, exchanged glances with each other, and bowed.

“Thank you~”

It was just an infinitely clear and transparent voice.

Vivian, who is with her children over there, looks here and smiles contentedly.

Mercy behind him shook his shoulders with a mischievous smile.

… He sent it.

“Uh, yeah… .”

Fortunately, the kids just said hello and rushed back.

Petra, who was next to me, also twitched the corners of her mouth as if she was having fun.

“… Just smile comfortably.”

“Ah, no, hmm. Sorry.”

Children are harder to deal with than good people.

I don’t know what to do.

In that respect, it’s nice that monsters and bad people are very simple to deal with.

… When I think about it this way, I feel like a person with some kind of personality flaw.

*

Vivian and the kids, and me, Mercy, and Katy.

A meal was held where everyone gathered together.

Naturally, the main focus was Vivian and the children.

Earlier, it seemed like I couldn’t even talk properly because I was crying.

Now, we chatter and chat about what’s going on and ask questions.

“Is it okay for everyone to stay here?”

“Yes! I’m so happy because they give me a lot to eat and I can sleep comfortably.”

“If we want to go out and play, we can play, and there are no adults hitting us or swearing at us!”

… What kind of life have you been living?

“Sister, sister. You know, the other day Adele cried because she missed her sister?”

“Oh my, really?”

“Well, well… ? When did I do that!”

“Huh? You cried yesterday too, right?”

Mr. “… . I’m not the only one crying? Hannah was like that too?”

“Hey! Why did I, no, why did I… ! it’s not me… !”

As usual, something similar to a war of nerves between the children over Vivian broke out.

“No! You cried because Vivian abandoned us!”

It suddenly became quiet, as if cold water had been poured into the hall.

Hannah, the person who said that, blushed and lowered her head.

Adele, who reported it, also averted her gaze, probably realizing she had said something pointless.

“… Adele.”

Emma, the eldest of the children, spoke in a cold voice.

“Sorry… .”

Although she was still smiling, Vivian’s face also showed regret and sadness.

Vivian walked over and sat down next to Hannah.

“Hannah.”

“Yes… .”

Vivian placed the child named Hannah on her lap and hugged her tightly.

“There’s no way she would do that.”

“Still, I know, but… .”

Hannah, who was trying to say something, ended up burying her head in Vivian’s shoulder and swallowing her tears.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, sister… .”

“It’s okay.”

Vivian quietly patted Hannah on the back.

Adele, who spoke for no reason, almost felt like a criminal and was glared at by the children.

After safely calming down Hannah, the conversation became lively again.

In exchange for the crying that had just occurred, Hannah gained monopoly on Vivian’s lap.

As the conversation progressed one by one, people began to look at me.

The curious eyes put pressure on me.

While there was silence for a moment, Hannah, who was sitting on Vivian’s lap, suddenly called out to me.

“Oppa.”

“Yes.”

“Are you your boyfriend?”

“Push!”

Mercy sitting in front almost spit out her food.

Katy, sitting next to me, stopped spooning.

I barely swallowed the food I had chewed.

“Ha, Hannah… ! What are you talking about… !”

Vivian tried to calm things down, but the children’s attention had already turned to me.

Both men and women pay attention to my answer.

… I feel like dying.

Wouldn’t it be more comfortable when surrounded by a group of black knights?

“It’s not like that… . Everyone knows he’s a manager, right? That’s it.”

“Yeah, right! Why are you doing this so hard, really… .”

“But that’s okay. Whenever my sister even talks about my brother, she really likes it, and if she even makes eye contact with her brother, she keeps smiling like an idiot.”

“… … .”

“And also, I bought nice clothes for my sister and dressed her up. You only do that to people you like!”

I know you are at an age where you are most interested in such things.

I know, but why did something like this happen to me? .

Vivian’s red-cheeked eyes looked at me in confusion and then returned again and again.

“I can’t admit it… . A man who carries around so many pretty girls is her boyfriend!”

At those words, the children’s eyes glanced at Mercy and Katy.

Mercy is dying of laughter right now.

“Foot, Puheuk… .”

Mercy, who had swallowed her laughter, suddenly made a flower cup with her hand and grinned.

“How do you feel? The feeling of hanging out with pretty girls.”

“… I am so ecstatic that I am almost dying.”

“Be more happy.”

“Yes, I am very grateful.”

“Puhihihi!”

Look at those ears that are red.

Ah, this is really disgusting… .

“Ha, Hannah… ! then no… ! Well, Ian is the manager, so… . I, too, smiled because you helped me like this, uh, like that… the poor. Those sisters are just good people who help… .”

Even after Vivian explained, suspicion remained.

Each child sitting nearby began to evaluate me.

“I used to do that when my mom and dad fought. They say ability is the most important thing for men. If you don’t have the ability to make money, just go out and live in a fertilizer warehouse.”

“Then you have the ability, right? I think my height and size are okay.”

“The face looks a bit scary, but that’s in its own way… .”

“Last time I saw you, you broke a knife with your bare hands.”

“Tch. So doesn’t that mean he’s stronger than us? I guess my sister is safe… .”

“No, you can only go to such dangerous places, right?”

I can hear everything, I can hear everything.

Even though I have particularly good ears to begin with, I whisper too loudly.

If you’re going to do this, say it out loud… .

“Guys, let’s do it in moderation?”

It wasn’t until Emma intervened that the children quieted down.

I guess he’s a powerful figure among the kids.

Vivian is a good person who listens well.

*

By the time the kids were focused on Vivian again, I quietly left the restaurant.

I have nothing to say if we stay together, and it feels burdensome to keep looking at him.

Mercy seems to fit in well, but she doesn’t fit in with me at all.

I was crunching on what I was eating while preparing dessert in the kitchen.

Someone followed me.

“Kathi? Why aren’t you at the restaurant?”

Kati shook her head and sat down at the kitchen table.

Well, there’s nothing he needs to see there either.

He’s a guy who doesn’t talk much even when I’m with him.

Leaving Katy gnawing, I took out a lump of slime from my pocket and wiped it thoroughly with salt and running water.

Yellow slime is acidic, but green slime is edible because it is just a squishy organism.

Although it has no nutritional value.

Cleaned slime was put in a pot with water and sugar and boiled over low heat, stirring with a spatula.

Suddenly, another person came into the kitchen.

“Oh, can I help you?”

It was Emma.

“It’s okay. I’m sure there’s still a lot more to talk about, so can I leave like this?”

“It would be better for the kids to talk rather than me. I’m all grown up now… .”

Although Vivian took care of them, they were eventually separated from their parents.

Such children end up growing up earlier than their peers.

That precocity is not right.

Children need time to be children.

Emma grew up too early.

“Anything that is still the size of a bean is said to be old.”

When I first met Sylvia and Kati, they were exactly the same age as Emma is now.

“You can just go and hug him and give him a hug. You are still quite young.”

“Umm… . That’s a bit… .”

“I think I would actually like it if it were Vivian.”

Emma scratched her cheek sheepishly, as if imagining that scene.

“Okay, next time… . Rather, I came because I thought I should at least say hello to you separately.”

“Greetings?”

“Yes. I was surprised to see my sister today. She looks so pretty, clean, eats a lot of food, and looks better… I had never even imagined it. There were times when I would sadly talk about a hero as if I admired him, but now it seems like I am one step closer to becoming that person.”

Emma bowed politely.

Unlike those kids earlier, it was a sincere greeting.

“It’s all thanks to Ian. Thank you so much.”

I couldn’t be happy seeing the manners that were inappropriate for my age.

Emma was a child trained by the village chief at the orphanage, and was also a highly anticipated prospect.

Taking advantage of the village chief’s vain expectations, Emma said she would protect Vivian and the children as long as she could.

It was a greeting that fully conveyed the weight that this little guy had to carry in that orphanage.

I can still see unhealed bruises on my hands, wrists, and nape of my neck.

“Yes, I’m grateful that you know. Now, take this.”

He took out a small, flat container that could fit in the palm of his hand from his pocket and handed it to him.

Emma asked, looking down at the macaron-like round thing.

“What is this?”

“Apply to bruised area once a day.”

It is an ointment to apply to the bruise.

It’s not that precious, but it’s not something Emma can afford.

Emma took the ointment in her arms.

“Thank you… . But, what were you making?”

Emma looked into the pot.

Translucent green, sticky mucus was radiating heat.

“This? Sad… Just jelly.”

Some people don’t like it when it’s called slime, so there’s no need to tell them.

When I took out the sufficiently hardened jelly on a cutting board to cool it down.

Someone came to see me.

“Ian?”

It was a nun whose name I did not know.

She handed me the envelope with trembling hands.

White seal on a red envelope.

It’s coming.

“A messenger came and brought this… .”

“Ah, thank you.”

When I broke the seal and checked the contents, it was a letter from the emperor, as expected.

The content was simple.

The order was to come to the imperial palace immediately and explain the banishment.

This is a letter addressed to the well-known ‘Philip’.

I guess you’ve finally heard the news.