episode_0082
by fnovelpia
“I knew you were coming on the last day of the Christmas Eve Festival, but I didn’t know you were here this early.”
“Because something urgent came up.”
“Is it because of the royal family?”
Alana shrugged.
“That’s what it is.”
Karl drank his coffee quietly.
Alana, who was a couple years older than Karl, was definitely a good person. Beatrice was amazed just by seeing this heroine. She had a weapon called memories that Chloe and Daniela did not have.
Between sharing secrets.
Spending a long time together is something special, and it leaves an indelible mark on every part of our lives.
So Beatrice looked at Alana and admired her, but at the same time, she tried hard not to show it.
Envy of what you don’t have. Because you feel an unconscious sense of defeat due to lack, but you don’t want to show it to the other person and make them feel superior.
“Are you staying for a while?”
Beatrice asked.
“After Christmas Eve, I’ll be going next week. So, there’s a lot I want to do before I leave. There’s a lot I have to do… .”
As she said that, Alana smiled faintly.
As the soft gaze turned to the sword, Beatrice felt ominous and picked up the teacup.
The saint, who is busy with construction, has a lot to do. And during the sacred and pious Christmas period… It is obvious what kind of expectations she has. She must be imagining things, forgetting her duties as a saint, intoxicated by the special atmosphere of the Academy.
[If I had lived as a student at the Academy instead of a saint.]
Alana dreams of a life walking around the Academy with Carl, lost in the realm of innumerable possibilities. Her dreams are blocked by reality. The memories and time she would have made with Carl here, the sweet fruits that could only be made at the Academy.
In the original work, there was an episode where he secretly escaped the surveillance of the religious order and walked around the system with a sword. It was a beautiful Christmas party for just the two of them.
Beatrice became even more wary as she remembered the night date between the two that she had read about before the ice age.
‘I feel even better since the Academy is hosting it.’
Unlike the original, the Holy Night Festival held at the Academy will be meaningful to the two. However, Beatrice never intended for it to happen. The Academy hosted it using the power of the Student Council, so it is impossible for a saint to only do good things.
“I can’t stay long. The church will be busy.”
“… That’s right. Everyone will be confused because of the truth about the royal family.”
“……”
Beatrice’s mood became uncomfortable with the expression, “the truth about the royal family.”
She thinks it is nothing more than a one-sided claim by the saint and the church. It is nothing more than a cunning plot to steal the empire from the royal family.
Because they have no idea about the legends and tales of the Green Emperor, or the empire he built through sacrifice and responsibility.
The suffering of those left behind… .
“I’m worried that the Unknown will appear again. Their power that I saw in the palace was so scary.”
“That’s why I have to stop it. Because it’s my mission.”
Beatrice nodded at Alana’s assurance, smiling as best she could to hide the discomfort and anger she was feeling.
At first glance, her pretty smile makes her look like an academy student afraid of the appearance of the royal family, but in reality, she is an unknown person in the conversation, so she surprisingly contains deep ridicule.
“First of all… .”
“?”
As Beatrice looked away with a smile, Alana pointed somewhere.
“I want to go look around the department store!”
Where Alana’s finger was pointing was a department store that was visible from afar.
A large white building located in the middle of a commercial district.
“……”
“Knife, will you come with me?”
“… I happened to have something to buy.”
Beatrice rested her chin on her hand and watched the two innocent people. Her eyes seemed to flash between her bangs blowing in the wind. It was so fast that she couldn’t notice it because of the bright sunlight, but it was vivid as if it was responding to her feelings. It could be dangerous.
‘Okay, enjoy yourself.’
Beatrice laughed inwardly.
‘This will be my last time coming to the Academy.’
In the original, the semester ended up passing and the saintess was given special admission to the academy, but Beatrice had no intention of accepting that development.
The royal family has appeared, causing chaos not only in the religious order but also throughout the continent? Then, all right. I will make it even more violent. I thought to myself, so seriously that you, the saint, will not dare to turn a blind eye to love affairs.
“What about Beatrice?”
Karl asked Beatrice, who was planning her future.
“I want to go too.”
She said it without even thinking about it. As if she had been waiting for it.
“Why?”
“I have something to buy.”
“Do I really need to buy it now?”
“Yes.”
He answered in an amused manner to Alana, who seemed to be very wary for some reason.
“It’s a place I know well. I go there often.”
“… often?”
This time the knife reacts.
“Maybe if I go, the store manager will guide me personally.”
“Store manager?”
“Well, since you’re a valuable customer. If there’s anything you want, tell me. I can buy it for you.”
Beatrice felt like bragging. Few people could beat her with her wealth, with the giant Matthias on his back. It would be even better if the opponent was a priest who lived a humble life.
She wanted to show off her wealth to discourage Alana and look good to Karl. Of course, Karl, as the successor to the Mainer Duke family, would have no shortage of wealth, but as an adopted son and an agent of the Intelligence Service, there would be limits to how much he could spend.
“It’s a gift, Carl. You desperately called my name to protect me in the palace.”
“……”
“It was touching, because that voice helped me get through the darkness.”
While watching Beatrice spouting out unnecessary things, Karl looked at Alana’s expression.
“Since you have come a long way, my lady, I will treat you well.”
It was like, “Eat this and get out of here.”
“A precious item that you have never had in your life.”
*
Before we knew it, it was evening and the sun was setting.
The shopping trip, which was both uncomfortable and exciting, and both anxious and enjoyable, was over.
Leaving Beatrice behind, who said she had to go first because something urgent had come up, Karl walked through the commercial district with Alana.
In his hand he was holding the shopping bag Beatrice had given him.
I barely managed to stop Beatrice from giving me so many things that it seemed like overspending.
Karl was slightly surprised. In the original, she was a spendthrift, but she spent a lot of money on suspicious bets rather than shopping.
As far as Karl knew, Beatrice was not a heroine who was very interested in buying things and dressing up. As expected, she was the heroine who was most different from the original.
‘Still, the ending is similar.’
Beatrice’s appearance, choosing an excessive number of gifts in front of Karl, seemed somewhat like that of an addict. It overlapped with the original’s appearance, where she lived on alcohol and betting.
Although she seemed like an addict, it didn’t feel bad that she was going to such lengths for Karl. In fact, it even seemed cute in contrast to her usual calm and proud appearance.
Ps …
I couldn’t help but laugh as I recalled Beatrice urging me to treasure the gift she had chosen for me until the very end.
“What do you like so much?”
“… Huh?”
Forgetting that there was a companion next to me.
“What are you thinking that makes you look so happy?”
“That, just. No thoughts… .”
“Don’t be too happy because you just got it for free.”
It was a cold voice that did not seem like a saint. It was a voice I had heard when I was very, very young, when I would occasionally be scolded by Alana. It was a voice I never thought I would hear even as a grown adult.
“But that kid still has an eye for detail.”
“……”
Carl again thought silence was best.
Alana rustled the shopping bag in her hand. It was also a gift from Beatrice. Unlike when she had chosen a gift for Karl, she had chosen it in an instant, saying, “Please give me that one.”
“Alana, I think you and I would get along well.”
“… Really?”
Karl, who had been trying to remain silent, spoke urgently.
“Yeah, wouldn’t it be really pretty even if you just wore it without having to tie a scarf?”
“Huh… . You mean this scarf looks so pretty?”
“No! Alana, you’ll digest it.”
I had a feeling that if I didn’t say something like this, that scarf would end up in the trash can, not to mention a corner of the closet.
Alana paused for a moment at the skilled sword’s answer. Then her face turned slightly red.
It was unexpected.
In Alana’s memory, Carl had never given her such a skillful compliment. At least in front of her, he had always seemed embarrassed and bashful.
When he was young, he was a child who looked up to Alana, but when did he become so mature and manly? How did he feel so distant and seem like he would run away if he didn’t hold his hand?
‘Is it because of that kid?’
Maybe he met another woman when Alana wasn’t around. No, he shouldn’t have met her, he should just say he got to know her. There shouldn’t be a woman he’s seeing.
“You know, Carl. You’ve changed a little, haven’t you?”
“… Is that so?”
Again-
Alana, who had been walking alongside me, stopped at the sound of footsteps.
She spoke to Karl, who was looking at her questioningly.
“Becoming a minor, joining the intelligence agency, coming to the academy… there were a lot of things that happened, right?”
“……”
I couldn’t say, “All right, it’s for your sake,” because it wasn’t the time yet.
“I think it looks cool somehow.”
“Are you teasing me like you did when you were little again?”
“No, seriously.”
Alana’s beige hair fluttered in the evening breeze that blew gently. Her pink eyes smiled with interest.
“Because we can’t live like we did when we were kids anymore. The days we spent together on the island will never come back.”
“That, that’s what… .”
It was a truly absurd statement at a truly absurd moment. Carl was taken aback when he suddenly said that things could not go on as they used to.
“The world, destiny will lead us. To a bigger and wider place.”
“……”
Before I knew it, I was concentrating on the voice that had the nobleness of a saint.
“I’m already on stage. I’ve been given the duty of being a saint.”
“I know, me too.”
I feel it deeply. The meaning of being a saint, of being so exalted, that in order to be together, the sword itself must rise.
“Really? I don’t think you know.”
“What does it mean?”
“It means it’s not enough.”
“… What?”
Alana smiled. It was her usual beautiful smile. But at the same time, she looked depressed.
“Everyone, you can come out.”
“!?”
In the alley where there were only two people, a sound was made at Alana’s call. To be exact, Carl had not noticed the sound until now. It was also because of the saintess’ permission that they had finally revealed their presence.
Swish-
A group of about five or six people appeared from various alleys. Although they were suspicious people covered in robes, Karl did not notice them at all.
One of them stepped forward in front of Carl and Alana, took off his robe, and revealed his face. It was a face Carl recognized.
“Yes, Sir Nathan!?”
“Hello, Lord Mayor. I hope you’ve been well.”
Since the incident at the palace wasn’t that long ago, Nathan only exchanged a brief greeting.
“Uh, how did you get here… .”
“I, as the leader, cannot miss out on the important task of escorting the saintess.”
“……”
As he said, it was rather strange that the saintess who had appeared after a hundred years was wandering around outside without protection. However, what surprised Carl was not the fact that Nathan was guarding Alana.
“Based on your reaction, I guess you didn’t notice that we were there with you two.”
Carl couldn’t answer Nathan’s words. He felt ashamed of himself for not even dreaming that Nathan was like that and that his subordinates were hovering around him.
“Thank you for your hard work, Sir Nathan and everyone else.”
“No. It was nice to be able to see the system while escorting the saintess.”
“Hehehe, then that’s good. That’s all for today’s deviation. I have to go back to the headquarters.”
“I will serve you.”
Rob’s knights, led by Nathan, knelt on one knee.
“……”
The sight of knights, all of them, kneeling and paying their respects without hesitation was magnificent. The knights bowing their heads far below the sword’s eye level was surprising.
However, the fact that the person they were kneeling before was Alana, who seemed so familiar, aroused in him mixed feelings of wonder and discomfort.
“I have something to say to Karl, so could you step aside for a moment?”
“Of course.”
As soon as he answered, Nathan turned around and made a gesture to his subordinates. Soon, he led his subordinates and disappeared into the alley, hiding his presence once again.
“How is it?”
“Alana… .”
“Looking at your expression, you really didn’t know, like Sir Nathan said?”
“……”
“I told you. It’s not enough.”
The smile on Alana’s face, which had been smiling kindly, suddenly disappeared. She looked at the knife with a serious and slightly worried expression.
Swish-
Alana came closer and placed her fingertips on the jaw of the sword.
“The power, the status, the will and the ability to achieve it… are still lacking.”
He didn’t have the confidence to look into the pink eyes that were staring at him from up close. So, Karl avoided eye contact and looked away.
“Knife, look at me.”
She took the lead, as she had done since she was young. Carl had always been subordinate to Alana. There was a reason why Alana was surprised by the rough behavior he showed at the cafe today.
“Can you see?”
“……”
Carl looked into her eyes reluctantly.
Alana’s clear eyes were different from before, and they were like the eyes of a saint radiating a divine aura. They were kind yet strict, beautiful yet like a symbol of a taboo that could never be crossed. That’s why I didn’t have the confidence to face them.
“I came here. From the squalid island, from the terrible experiments of the archbishop who treated us so cruelly… .”
“Ugh.”
Carl’s mood seemed very uncomfortable, as if he was being forced to remember memories he didn’t want to remember. Alana stared at Carl with satisfaction.
She senses a difference from before in the way Carl seems to want to avoid her gaze.
different.
It’s not that I avoid Alana because I’m embarrassed to deal with her like a shy child.
He cannot meet Alana’s gaze because of his own incompetence, the shame that comes from the gap he just felt with the knights of the sect. The so-called sense of entitlement.
This is what she intended to do, to stimulate Karl’s mind.
“I told you. You can’t go back to the way things were. I don’t plan on doing that.”
“Al, Alana… !”
It sounded like a cruel farewell.
“But we can meet here together.”
“!”
“I came up first as a saint. Carl, it’s your turn next.”
The fingertips that had been caressing his chin soon moved to Karl’s chest. She gently spread her palm and placed it on Karl’s chest. Soon, light spread from her fingertips. It was the light that illuminated the dark alley where the sun was just setting.
“You are the master of the holy sword, the one who will cut down the darkness. The messenger of God who will end the thousand-year war.”
I feel a strong authority that contains divine power.
“The only companion who will be with me… .”
At Alana’s call, Carl opened his eyes wide.
“… A man who might become!”
“What?”
Alana’s serious face suddenly changed into an innocent, bashful smile.
“It might happen, so cheer up and come to me quickly.”
“……”
“Immerse yourself in the academy life and don’t turn a blind eye to the harsh things.”
Are you kidding me again, like when you were a kid?
Alana laughed at the sight of the dumb sword.
“Because a saint needs a knight. A really cool knight who can wield the holy sword.”
I couldn’t tell how much was serious and how much was a joke.
It has been like that in the past, and it is like that now.
And in the future too.
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