episode_0244

The scenery of Barth City was so beautiful. The open and high sky, people moving around energetically, and even children playing and smiling brightly without any worries.

How much effort did it take to create a city like this? . I smiled vaguely, recalling the early days of the founding of the nation, which were full of confusion and conflict.

… Of course, thanks to the efforts of many people, it has improved a lot now, but compared to cities like this, there are still many shortcomings.

“It’s a nice city.”

I muttered that as I slowly looked around at the slightly envious, yet resolutely resolute, sights of Barth’s poetry.

“Saras is also a good city.”

Mr. Baroque spoke in a calm voice, wondering how he could recognize my complicated feelings like a ghost.

yes. Saras is definitely a good city too. That is correct. However, it is also a city that still has many shortcomings. I smiled bitterly and shook my head.

“There are many shortcomings.”

“It will gradually get better.”

It is not a prophecy from a prophet who can see the future, nor is it knowledge of the future conveyed by a human from the future, so how can I feel so reassured?

I blinked and looked at Mr. Baroque, then smiled and nodded.

“I need to work harder.”

“We will also try harder.”

They only say things that make me feel really good.

I chuckled and felt a little annoyed at the sight of Mr. Baroque completely oblivious to the subject that had ignited my heart, so I pounded Mr. Baroque’s forearm with my fist.

“… ? Why are you doing that?”

“It’s nothing.”

I shook my head while saying that, and Mr. Baroque did not understand my reaction and tilted his head.

Mr. Baroque will never know why I did this even if he was dead until I told him directly.

“Let’s go quickly. I can’t stand here forever.”

“… Yes.”

Well, someday the day will come when we can talk about it. I smiled slightly as I looked at Mr. Baroque, who was walking with a nervous expression on his face.

I swallow my heart and hope that at least once before that day comes, he will look at my feelings like this.

* * *

After that, I walked around for about 4 hours. Our tour of Barth City ended only when the sun began to set towards the ridge.

Following Mr. Baroque’s words that it would soon be time for dinner and soon the guard would change, Mr. Baroque and I headed to his home.

“Did you enjoy it?”

The road to Mr. Baroque’s home.

Even though it was dusk, I was walking along a street full of people, and stopped for a moment when I heard Mr. Baroque’s voice coming from next to me.

“Yes. It was a city that was fun to see because it had many differences from Saras. Hehe.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Mr. Baroque answered with a grin, and I smiled brightly as I looked at him.

We smiled at each other for a moment and started walking again. After walking for a while, I looked up at the sky and said.

“By the way… . It’s been a while since I set foot in someone’s home.”

Mr. Baroque blinked and looked at me in surprise at my words, and I chuckled at him.

“Why?”

“Oh, excuse me. Since I had only seen her in the cathedral’s chapel, prayer room, and the saint’s room, I was a little surprised and stopped without realizing it.”

“Before I became a saint, I was an ordinary girl. It was normal to go to someone’s house.”

what… . Although going out to play doesn’t remain as a good memory anymore… .

I smiled bitterly and looked at Mr. Baroque, and Mr. Baroque, who made eye contact with me, immediately closed his eyes and said.

“I didn’t know much about the saint’s past because I knew very little about it. Sorry.”

While saying that, he pressed his finger on Mr. Baroque’s forehead as he tried to lower his head, preventing him from lowering his head.

“There is no need to apologize like that. Because there’s something everyone doesn’t know. Ignorance is absolutely not a sin. It’s a sin not to try to know.”

okay… . Not wanting to know is a sin, ignorance is not a sin.

If only I had tried to know a little more about her… . If only we had paid a little more attention to her and not to other people and stories… .

“I still have a long way to go. Thank you for your teaching.”

The thoughts that had bubbled up like bubbles melted away as soon as I heard Mr. Baroque’s voice.

I came to my senses half a beat later, swallowed back the bitter feeling of disgust and smiled faintly.

“It’s not something I would be grateful for. I still don’t have enough.”

Mr. Baroque just smiled as if he was troubled by my words, but did not respond in particular.

As we walked a little further, we stopped at a two-story building that was a bit old but neatly maintained.

house… . It wasn’t much different from the commercial buildings nearby, but even taking that into account, it was a very pretty house.

“This is my home.”

“Wow… . Unlike other buildings, the first floor is decorated with flowers, and I think it’s really pretty!”

“My mother used to run a flower shop.”

In the past, you did it… ? Are you saying you’re not doing it now?

For a moment, I blinked at the past tense that suddenly came out of Mr. Baroque’s mouth, but I had an intuition that nothing good would come of bringing it up, so I kept my mouth shut.

“I will take you inside.”

“Yes.”

I smiled slightly and went inside the house. The inside of the house was much more beautiful than the outside.

The colorful blooming summer flowers and their fragrant scent were a delight to the eyes and nose, and the well-maintained furniture was neatly arranged, as if the word ‘neat’ had been imprinted on it.

“It’s a shabby place, but I hope you can rest comfortably.”

“It’s shabby. It’s a really pretty and great house.”

“I feel relieved to hear you say that. I will take you to your seat.”

Following Mr. Baroque’s guidance, I sat down and took off the cloak I was wearing. I sighed as the cloak, which was so hot and blocked my vision, disappeared.

As soon as I sat down, Mr. Baroque, who had gone inside the house and fetched water to drink, laughed when he saw me like that and set down the cup in front of me.

“I guess the cloak was very stuffy.”

“Ahaha. Because I don’t like feeling stuffy. The reason I couldn’t wear a veil to cover my face was because I was frustrated.”

“Is that so? I always thought you didn’t wear a veil because you wanted to make direct eye contact with people… .”

“Ah… . That’s an excuse the bishop made up. If you say out loud that you can’t use it because you’re frustrated, the saint’s face will be lost… . You know?”

Mr. Baroque, who was listening to the story, nodded with an understanding look and sat down.

I stopped talking for a moment, quenched my thirst with cool water, and looked at the flowers in a daze. Mr. Baroque, who was looking at the flowers with me, frowned and said,

“Anyway, it’s almost time to come, but strangely it’s late.”

“Are you talking about your older brother?”

“Yes. What’s going on――”

As Mr. Baroque continued speaking, there was a loud crashing sound of something falling from upstairs.

Mr. Baroque frowned, took out a dagger from his belt, held it, and glared at the stairs.

“――Please wait a moment. I will check it right away.”

“Be careful… .”

“At most, they would be petty thieves or wild animals. no… . It can’t be a wild animal, so it must be a petty thief. Anyway, I will finish it and come back soon.”

As Mr. Baroque said that and was about to approach the stairs, the sound of heavy footsteps began to come down the stairs.

Upon hearing those footsteps, Mr. Baroque immediately sighed and put away his dagger.

As I was blinking, wondering what was going on, someone came down the stairs and appeared.

Although there were some differences, such as the color of his hair and the scars on his face, he was a man who very much resembled Mr. Baroque.

“Haaam… . what… . who is this… ? Oh, what was it you? Why are you so late?”

“When did you come so early, brother?”

“It’s so shameful that you said that you came early when your brother took care of you and took the time to go on vacation. Would you like to strengthen your friendship like before?”

The man showed his teeth and smiled viciously, and Mr. Baroque sighed and shook his head.

“It’s something I can’t do as I get older. Okay, so just sit down.”

“Tsk. He seems like a boring guy.”

The man who tapped Mr. Baroque on the shoulder turned to me and said hello.

“Ah, my greeting is late. I like this guy’s tongue… Huh?”

Suddenly, the man who couldn’t finish his sentence and blinked, looked at me intently, then smiled bitterly and lowered his head.

“Hmm… . This guy’s older brother is called Beit――Saint.”

“Do you know me――Ah. Cloak… .”

Surprised that he recognized me, I belatedly realized that I had taken off my cloak and smiled awkwardly.

“I should have noticed from the moment I came with my younger brother, I’m sorry. Please forgive my rudeness at the gate.”

“No, no! are you okay! At that time, I was hiding my identity too! So don’t bow your head like that!”

“It puts my mind at ease when you say that. Thank you.”

Mr. Bate smiled slightly as he said that, and as I looked at Mr. Bate’s smile, I blinked, thinking that he really looked exactly like Mr. Baroque.

Mr. Baroque, who was looking at Mr. Bate, tapped Mr. Bate on the shoulder, and Mr. Bate smiled and nodded.

“Okay. I won’t say anything unnecessary.”

What nonsense? Before I could express my doubts, Mr. Bate, who was sitting across from me, clapped his hands lightly to brighten the mood.

“Now. The greetings are over. As I said before, I will tell you about the hero of Barth’s poetry.”

What is coming has come. I nodded, thinking so.