episode_0081

After some time had passed, Lavender managed to regain consciousness somehow.

Sitting up on the floor, he seemed to have regained some semblance of clarity compared to before he collapsed.

Should he consider himself fortunate, or should he feel regretful?

He didn’t seem to remember much about the conversation they had just had.

“Did we just… have an important conversation?”

“No, but it’s okay since I remember it.”

Although he didn’t seem to remember much, he had heard everything he wanted to hear and remembered it clearly. That was enough.

It would take two years to graduate, but with a bit of luck and effort, he might be able to cut it down to a year and a half.

The option of dropping out midway was not something he had seriously considered.

He could become a priest, or maybe even a professor. And even if not, there were plenty of people who would highly value a graduate who had completed the lessons of a saint.

There was no reason not to graduate, as it would secure social status and honor while also validating the knowledge he had accumulated.

And perhaps it would be more pleasing for others to see him as a university graduate rather than a dropout. Hmm.

Putting aside thoughts of the future for now, he decided to take care of Lavender first.

He felt responsible for leaving him somewhat intoxicated and unattended.

“Lavender, shall we go back now?”

“Should we… What time is it?”

As he opened the door of the inn, a guest entered, and he caught a glimpse of the street beyond.

The sky seemed to have darkened a while ago, and the stalls that had lined both sides of the street on the way here were being tidied up one by one.

“It’s time to go back.”

“Will you be going to school tomorrow?”

“Yes. I only have morning classes, so it’ll be over quickly.”

“In the morning. Then you should go in early and rest.”

Lavender got up. He could have rested a bit if he was tired and dizzy.

But he couldn’t help but appreciate the kindness shown to him.

Even in a state where he couldn’t shake off the effects of alcohol, he had managed to find his way back to the inn.

He wasn’t the type to enjoy drinking to that extent in the first place, but he was relieved that he wouldn’t end up drinking and passing out on the streets somewhere.

“Here, take off your coat if you’re uncomfortable.”

“Okay….”

“Gulp… Yes, now lie down. It might be warm, but I’ll leave the window slightly open since it’s getting chilly.”

With a thud, Lavender collapsed onto the hastily made bed. After tossing and turning for a moment, he seemed to fall asleep in an instant.

It was time for him to leave the room. If he wanted to go to school tomorrow, he had to fall asleep early as Lavender had suggested.

So he turned off the candle he had brought to slightly illuminate the room and was about to close the door.

“…Lavender, are you asleep?”

“….”

On a whim, he closed the door from the inside, trying to prevent Lavender from waking up.

Then, he quietly walked over, making sure not to wake him, and slipped into the bed next to him.

This reminded him of the past.

Inevitably, in the inn with only one bed, in the church with only one room for guests, and on the road with no resting place.

On the road from Volle to Alpen, in those days that had already passed by, they used to lie down together in the same spot.

Back then, they would have fallen asleep without a care, feeling only the warmth and coziness.

But now, different thoughts crossed his mind.

‘Like this, it’s just…’

No, no. It’s not the time yet. I have to wait until I’m an adult.

But no matter how much he tried to suppress those thoughts, it seemed that one’s mind couldn’t control thoughts like a candle that could be lit and extinguished at will.

Since the future had not yet arrived, he could freely unfold the wings of his imagination.

It was an extension of the fantasies he had been having since his time at university. Somewhat verbose, dreamlike, or even slightly risqué.

Lost in these fleeting moments of happy daydreams, there was one fact that kept resurfacing like a thorn in his side.

The obstacle blocking the path to his imagination was one that he couldn’t overcome.

“The Pope has once again caused a scandal with Father.”

Yes, Heinie had said that to him not long ago.

Even if she was a princess, she was not the type to deceive herself as a friend, and there was no reason for her to create lies on this topic, so it was rational to see it as the truth.

The stage of the civil war that had unfolded so far was beyond the Alps.

Even if Lavender wanted to intervene, he couldn’t easily find a way, and as a knight with only one body, there was nothing he could do.

It was almost impossible for one person to change the course of the battle. If he wanted to make a change as an individual, he had to become an adult.

However, adults generally did not involve themselves in conflicts among secular nobles.

From the moment they set foot on the battlefield, the casualties soared to an unprecedented level.

Now, it was only recorded on a few torn pieces of parchment, but in the past, there had been such wars. From the perspective of a frontline soldier, it could even be called a clash of natural disasters.

And so, it had come to this.

Once again, adults aimed their weapons at each other, and to prevent the tragedy of fighting against brothers of the same faith, they strategically avoided getting involved in politics.

The one who had taken on the role of a saint with the body of a knight had left for the far east to face only heretics.

The one who chose to remain as a priest rather than a saint set off to the distant sea, where even life and death were uncertain.

And finally, there was a holy maiden who confined herself to a university.

The adults maintained their independence by parting ways with the secular world in their own manner.

The excuse that their marriage was impossible was attached because adults could also be considered a kind of clergy. However, the truth was that it was a well-known secret that it could once again lead to conflict.

Therefore, the adults had also taken a step back in this civil war.

When the Pope was trying to open a two-faced front, they would do the same.

The reason the battlefield had been beyond the Alps so far was that there had been no relevant parties below.

But now, there was a Pope who had openly challenged the Emperor beyond mere relations.

Travelers from all over the world arrived at the university and spread rumors with bored mouths. It was himself who picked up those rumors one by one, but it was an unexpected turn of events.

Who would have known that the Pope, who was weak and neurotic, would throw himself into a plot that he thought had already dried up.

No, no.

The important thing from the beginning was not that fact, but the fact that Lavender was practically confirmed to be swept up in this.

So he had to do something as well, but there was still a lingering word.

It was what Amelie mentioned about the constraints that adults had.

“Adults should not get involved in secular matters.”

Then was he a holy maiden? If the criterion was the manifestation of miracles, then the holy maiden was correct.

But the moment he thought that way, another thought came to mind. The second constraint of adults that Amelie mentioned.

“Oh, and holy maidens cannot marry.”

…Thinking like that, he still didn’t seem like an adult.

*****

-Fresh and warm bread, freshly baked this morning! Come and try some before you go!

As the cry from the nearby street vendor announced the start of the day, he opened his eyes.

The cool morning air and sunlight were gradually flowing in through the window. It would have been a refreshing morning if he hadn’t drunk so much the night before.

Rubbing his slightly throbbing head and trying to sit up, something hung on his other arm.

Since he didn’t remember throwing his luggage on the bed, he turned his head to see what it was, and there was Lycia sleeping soundly there.

My arm was more wrapped around than cut, but I didn’t want to wake Lycia for no reason.

I lay back down quietly and slowly recalled the hazy memories.

How did I get home? Was there anything unusual last night? Fortunately, memories of the return trip were sparse.

After chatting about how we had been spending our time, we got moderately drunk and returned to the inn with Lycia. Instead of going back to her room, the girl fell asleep here.

Thinking back on the conversations from yesterday, it seemed like the girl didn’t receive much affection while we were apart.

Could her falling asleep by my side be a way to fulfill that need?

Lycia soon woke up. She yawned, groggily got up, looked around with blurry eyes, and then widened her eyes slightly when our gazes met, asking in a slightly slurred voice, “Oh, you’re awake?”

“Yeah. Isn’t it time for you to get up too? You have to go to school today.”

“Oh, right…”

And another yawn.

With a groan and a stretch, she got out of bed.

After dressing lightly, we went downstairs to the inn’s first floor, where the owner was already busy preparing breakfast.

Some guests had already finished their breakfast and left. It meant we had woken up a bit later than usual.

The hangover wasn’t too bad.

Still feeling a bit queasy, I settled for a light stew for breakfast.

And then the rest of the day’s plans went out the window.

Originally, this trip was planned for about a week, assuming things would relax a bit.

During this time, we had been exploring unique drinks, dishes, and interesting knick-knacks with Lycia.

We could probably continue exploring in the afternoon, but for now, the girl had to attend her morning classes.

“By the way, what do you think Raven has been up to all this time?”

“Well, I think it’s about time to start changing equipment, so I might go look around.”

I saw the girl off as she prepared to leave.

Lycia, who had grabbed a pen, paper, and a small booklet of notes, was about to take her first step when I noticed someone subtly staring at me.

“Excuse me, are you Raven?”

“Yes, I am. Do you have some business with me?”

“Yes, I do.”

Unable to resist the persistent gaze, I turned to see him handing me a scroll.

It seemed to be a letter from the village administrator, but the seal bore the mark of Count Canossa.

“This is a letter from Count Canossa to you.”

“The Count? What could this be about?”

“I’m not sure of the contents, but he added a request for a prompt response.”