Chapter 726
Israfil and Dana.
The news that the two leading figures of the Holy Federation’s moderates and hardliners would meet for talks sent Efnelle into an uproar.
The two were guided directly into the conference hall.
A picturesque outdoor table set on the fifth floor of the building.
Dressed in ceremonial robes, the two Saints gracefully lifted their teacups and drank. On the table, an array of luxurious refreshments were laid out in vivid colors.
It was the very image of a classic teatime, but there was one rather peculiar detail.
The two were playing chess.
“I’m curious, you rarely even show your face, what wind blew you here today?”
Tak.
Dana moved a knight.
“I came to speak of the obvious.”
Israfil advanced a knight as well.
“I wish to discuss the punishment of the inquisitor, ‘Leight’. who recently provoked a border incident.”
“.......”
“It is certain he launched a preemptive strike on the Dark Alliance without authorization from above, and his justification was weak and baseless. Above all, to feign agreement to a prisoner exchange, then crucify the captives on a red cross in full view of the border garrisons—”
Clack.
Israfil captured Dana’s knight with her rook, curling her lips.
“It is a grave matter. It nearly escalated into war. Yet instead of punishing him, you used your Saintly authority to exempt him from trial.”
Dana leaned her chin on her hand with a listless expression.
“Was it such a big deal to remove a few of the cultists of evil?”
“Dana!”
“Leight is a loyal warrior the Federation cannot do without. His reputation as the man who has slain more necromancers than anyone else is, shall we say, impressive.”
This time Dana picked up her rook.
“If you put it like that, I have something to say as well. The Ever Kire incident on distant Roke Island.”
Israfil’s closed eyes twitched.
“From the reports, the affair ended far too smoothly. There are large gaps in the record. How could mere necromancers have found the location of Ever Kire? Don’t you wonder?”
She lifted her rook, then licked it lightly with her tongue.
“Surely no one from Efnelle’s own priests was dispatched there. Why, the very thought would be a heinous act of treason.”
Tak—
And she set it down, capturing the queen on the opposite side. Israfil smiled, refusing to yield.
“Treason, you say? That term applies better to those who caught Ever Kire fleeing at the border, then deliberately let her go, and afterward pinned the blame on innocent Paladins before slaughtering them.”
“Oh, did such a thing happen? I had no idea.”
Sparks crackled in the gaze of the two Saints.
Unlike the lovely outdoor teatime setting, the atmosphere was filled with deadly tension.
“How tiresome.”
Dana let her hands drop as if bored.
“How did the child who was once so capable, so cold, and so merciless turn into an idealist who cries only for peace?”
“Do you think peace is a bad thing?”
“Peace. Peace itself is good.”
Dana’s eyes sank into a gloomy cast as she continued.
“But only after we drive out the necromancers and unite the continent under Efnelle will it have any meaning.”
“.......”
“The Great Scripture emphasizes time and again to root out the evil that wields dark power. That is the will of the Goddess. We and they can never coexist.”
“If war becomes unavoidable, then we must fight.”
Israfil replied.
“But I am saying, stirring up filthy tricks merely to bring about war is wrong.”
“Why?”
“When war comes, countless lives are endangered, and the people suffer immense pain and hardship. As Saints, we must share in their suffering.”
“Why?”
Israfil’s brow furrowed in anger. Dana, pleased, waved her hand with a smile.
“It is all for the Great Goddess. Surely the people too would consider it an honor to eliminate enemies and offer their lives for Her sacred will.”
“They do not consider it an honor.”
Israfil cut her off.
“How long has it been since you stepped out of luxury and met the common folk? For them, surviving day by day, eating and enduring, is what matters most.”
“My head aches whenever I talk to you.”
Dana grimaced.
“How old are you again?”
“......Why do you ask?”
“Because for all your years, you’re still trapped in some good-child syndrome. Peace, morals, the people—you never face reality, only spout pleasant words with no plan. Is it politics? As the rumors say, are you aiming for the Pontifex seat? If not—”
Dana’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you trying to imitate Anna Cross?”
At those words, Israfil’s shut eyes flew open. From behind her surged waves of holiness, distorting the air with murderous force.
“Hmm, struck a nerve?”
Dana raised her holiness in response.
A hair-trigger situation.
“Saint Israfil! There’s an emergency!”
One of Israfil’s aides rushed up, whispered urgently in her ear. At the same time, someone did likewise for Dana.
“!”
Israfil’s face turned pale. Dana, delighted, licked her lips and stood up.
“Seems like something has erupted, big enough to make all this look trivial.”
Creak—
Dana rose, patted Israfil’s shoulder.
“Do your best.”
Even after Dana departed, Israfil sat frozen in place.
* * *
The sixth day of Simon’s hospitalization.
And only the third day since Anna entered Roke Island.
“Oh my, good morning, doctor!”
“Hello, Lady Ayla!”
“Hahaha! You’re full of energy today as always.”
She had become a sudden star in Keyzen.
Everyone was charmed by Anna’s gentle, warm demeanor.
She never simply passed someone by. She always greeted them kindly, spoke first, and if anyone was working, she rolled up her sleeves to help however she could.
At first, people had been brusque or found her bothersome, but before long, they felt her sincerity, and one by one, opened their hearts.
—So our child...
—They say there’s no right answer to parenting. For now, why not try trusting your child?
She even gave counsel.
Those who met Anna found themselves revealing their worries without realizing it, and she always gave wise answers that never left anyone feeling slighted.
The ward, once quiet and stagnant, grew lively with her presence.
She even somehow learned the birthday of a janitor, and prepared a little celebration.
When he returned, Anna and others waited in the janitor’s breakroom, clapping as she handed him a homemade cake.
The sight of him moved to tears struck everyone deeply.
Such a simple, schoolyard-like surprise—laughing, celebrating, being happy—made them realize how much they had lost in everyday life. People took a moment to reflect.
Anna’s influence was a benevolent one. People smiled a little more, tried to be a little kinder. A doctor afraid of water resolved to learn swimming, and a married couple long at odds reconciled.
“......Mom, what on earth are you up to?”
Simon muttered, scratching his head from his bed. Of course, even he could not escape the rumors.
She blinked.
“Hmm? I just did as I always do.”
“Haha.”
Whether thanks to Anna’s reputation, or because his health had improved, Simon was finally released from his ban on leaving the hospital.
Simon decided to take Anna to visit the home of Professor Farahan, who taught Defense Against Holiness.
They had exchanged letters in the past, Simon often mentioning Farahan, and Anna had pressed Simon persistently that she wanted to meet him.
At last, the meeting was arranged at Farahan’s home.
“Thank you so much, Professor, for guiding Simon, and for protecting him.”
Anna did not hide her identity this time. She revealed she was Simon’s mother.
Since Farahan was keeping Simon’s gift of holiness a secret, and even teaching him white magic, she thought it proper to admit she was both Simon’s parent and a priest.
Farahan wore a relaxed expression, as if a long-standing mystery had been solved.
“So that was why Simon, a necromancer, could wield white magic.”
Of course, it wasn’t that there had never been cases of necromancers and priests marrying on this vast continent, but there had never been a child like Simon, who could wield both Darkness and Holiness at once.
Much less a child who could fuse the two to create ‘Chaos’.
Anna and Farahan sat and spoke for hours. They shared the great commonality of both being from the Holy Federation, their words flowed easily, and their topics were endless. Simply by existing for each other, they became sources of comfort.
Their conversation continued until night fell.
‘This is the first time I’ve ever seen Professor Farahan talk so much.’
Simon watched the two from a distance, smiling with satisfaction.
“Someday, I would really like to invite you to our home, Professor.”
“Hoho! I appreciate the sentiment, but this old man cannot leave the island.”
Upon Farahan’s body lay both a tracking spell and a powerful curse. The moment he set foot off the island, the curse would trigger. Even attempts to remove it with purification magic only resulted in the curse seizing his throat and choking him, making release impossible.
Since both the parents and the elders of Keyzen were extremely sensitive to the mere fact that a priest resided on Roke Island, such measures were only natural.
“If within the remainder of this old man’s life I am able to step outside, then I will surely visit Leshill.”
Anna still looked as though she wanted to talk more, but curfew was fast approaching.
Simon had only just been allowed to go out, so he couldn’t break curfew on the very first day.
“Thank you very much, Professor.”
Anna bowed deeply at the waist with courtesy.
“Please continue to look after Simon. He is a lacking child, but please teach him much.”
“Gratula mi kibilis.”
After offering the utmost respectful greeting, one reserved for high priests, Farahan lifted his head.
“It is I, in my twilight years, who is honored to have met such an outstanding child, and to be able to pass on even a grain more of knowledge.”
* * *
The seventh day of hospitalization.
At last, Simon was acknowledged to have no further health issues, and it was decided he would be discharged. That very day, he was to return to Leshill.
The Legion, as soon as vacation began, had already left Roke Island to pursue the strengthening of its forces.
Because of the heavy losses suffered in the war at northern Carlos, replenishing numbers for the next great battle was the top priority.
Erzebet headed to the “Insect Graveyard” to explosively increase the number of Corpse Spiders, Akemius went to inspect the Skullwing nests in the “Jungle of Screams”, and Prince, naturally, was in “Deathland”.
Feer, meanwhile, chose once again to head north to Carlos. There, he would review the troops, assess the state of the North Star, Xairos, and lastly decide what to do with the mines located in the Frost Field.
If the resources buried in the mine could be sold, the Legion would gain a stable source of funding. With undead labor, workforce was no issue.
However, the mine at present was left in its natural state, so developing it would take significant time and cost. Feer planned to confirm the situation himself, and if needed, collaborate with the Grand Duke’s side to develop the mines.
—Won’t you come with me to Leshill, to meet Father?
Simon asked cautiously, but the reply was that unless there was a reason to meet, it was better not to.
Since that was Feer’s view, Simon had no intention of forcing it. Richard, after all, had not tried to meet with Feer or the other Legion generals either.
Still, just in case, Simon decided to bring with him Herseba, the general of the Mummy Troop, who could command all the Legion’s forces.
On the day of discharge, as he made his way to the teleportation magic circle, everyone Simon and Anna had met in the ward came outside to wave.
“Please return safely, Madam!”
“Come visit us anytime, Ayla!”
Some even shed tears at the farewell. Anna hugged each of them in turn, smiling and saying they would surely meet again.
From a little distance away, Simon, Loraine, and Serne quietly watched.
“Your aunt, she really seems like a wonderful person.”
Loraine said. Simon flinched, but forced a smile in reply.
“Thanks.”
“I never knew there could be someone who shined like that. I want to become a person like her, someday.”
“Hmhm—”
Serne only smiled meaningfully.
Soon, after leaving the ward and bidding final farewells to Loraine and Serne, Simon stepped onto the teleportation circle bound for Leshill.
He surrendered himself to the familiar floating sensation as his feet lifted from the ground.
* * *
Moments later.
When he opened his eyes, the picture of a familiar mountain village spread before him. Simon stretched both arms wide and shouted with relief.
“I’m back!”
It was Leshill, his nostalgic hometown where he had lived for sixteen years.
Here, sheer towering mountains spread like a folding screen. The fact that a place remained unchanged, no matter when he came, gave him emotional comfort.
And yet.
‘Hm?’
Looking again, it was somewhat different.
No, very different.
Sssshhhhhhh—!
The sky was dark, and rain poured down in torrents. The roads were nothing but mud, and landslides had exposed raw yellow earth in patches.
Trees had collapsed, grass torn away as if slashed by blades. Simon quickly pulled out an umbrella and held it over Anna.
“I didn’t expect it to still be raining like this. When I came to meet you, it wasn’t nearly this bad.”
Anna spoke.
“Q-quickly, let’s go back home, Mother.”
“Yes, let’s.”
The two moved forward. The valley seemed to have overflowed, the other side was nothing but a sea of water, only rooftops visible amid the currents.
Kwarrrrr!
Now lightning struck as well. The whole area flashed white, then returned to gloom.
“I wonder if your father is safe.”
Anna gazed up at the mountains. If the territory was suffering this much flood damage, Richard must be exhausting himself running everywhere.
“I’ll go and help Father!”
“Do you know where he is, that you would run off? Wait at home until he returns. Don’t rush, there will be plenty of work to do from now on.”
She was right. The rain was falling so heavily that one could not see a step ahead. Without knowing Richard’s whereabouts, rushing out would only be dangerous.
For now, they returned home.
Fortunately, Simon’s house was on relatively high ground, so it had neither flooded nor been swept away.
Clack—
As Simon entered and shut the door, the roar of the downpour filling his ears turned into the dull patter of rain striking the walls.
Simon removed his soaked uniform, while Anna lit the fireplace.
Warmth soon spread, filling the home with heat.
Rumble-rumble-rumble!
The rain continued as though to break the roof. Simon and Anna waited nervously for Richard in the kitchen.
“I’m worried.”
Anna muttered as she stirred the soup boiling in a pot.
“Lete is supposed to come soon. With the roads like this, I wonder if she’ll even make it.”
Simon jumped up from his chair.
“Lete is coming?”
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