189 – Behind the Scenes (5)
Early in the morning, the Saints’ convoy was waiting in front of the inn.
Demon Sword Scholar Robert Pace expressed his disapproval as he looked at the golden armored paladins behind Silverine.
“Well, what are they?”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. “Because I won’t harm you.”
“This…” “I didn’t expect that at all.”
“The church only harbors ill feelings toward the vampire species itself, but does not project hatred onto each individual individually. Especially a gentle vampire like you.”
Robert Pace said as if he was somewhat embarrassed.
“I guess I’ll either die from a warlock or a paladin.”
“No, the church is taking this matter seriously enough to put aside any ill feelings.”
The history of vampires is stained with blood. Entire races were blinded by desire and committed unforgivable sins, and at times were massacred by humans. At the center of that messy history was always a religious denomination.
Most of the humans who witnessed that history firsthand died of old age, but they were not vampires. Although a long time had passed, Robert Pace, who witnessed the tragedy with his own eyes, could not help but feel uncomfortable with the church.
He sighed and spoke in a half-resigned tone.
“Am I going to Chengdu?”
“That place is the safest place. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
He bit his lip for a moment.
“… I don’t know what to do. Actually, that strange woman said something to me that I couldn’t understand. It was an ancient language that no one speaks anymore. I searched through old books and vaguely deciphered these words… It was ‘there is no place for you to run’. “That’s what she said.”
Silverine was silent for a moment.
“After that, I kept having strange dreams. “I kept encountering a strange-looking man in front of the Black Lake.”
“….”
“Every time I have that dream, I always wake up drenched in sweat. “This, too, must be a type of curse.”
“It is highly likely that it is a precursor to a curse. Strictly speaking… It would be better to accept that fate itself, facing a warlock, is a curse. “It may seem like too much, but that’s how black magic works.”
The scary thing about black magic is that the beginning and end can never be predicted. It doesn’t cost you magic power, but it takes something equivalent. The price is sometimes paid by individuals, and sometimes by the entire nation. Rather than magic, it was closer to something created at a higher level to trick humans.
Looking at the church’s golden carriage, he muttered as if he had given up.
“Curse, curse…. “I was possessed by a curse.”
Sylverin looked down at him coldly and nodded.
“It would be a big loss for us if you wasted your time in the wrong place and passed away.”
A curse is like ink dropped into a glass of water. Once it started mixing, it was impossible to separate the ink. The church did not believe they could save him. The goal was to preserve his life as much as possible and obtain useful information.
His face became even darker.
“Resist… “I’m afraid of what the price will be.”
“One way or another, it is the same that you have to go to Seongdo, where Haeju Temple is located. And conforming will never end well.”
He nodded his head.
“Good. “I will go to Seongdo.”
***
While talking to Xenia, Haley was twisting his body and taking off his clothes so roughly that it felt like they were going to tear.
“These crappy clothes!”
Then he took off his clothes and threw them on the floor.
It was a dress with flowing booties, but it seems that wasn’t the case for Hailey.
As she took off her dress, her underwear was clearly exposed. Even though I could clearly see the inside of the greenhouse, I was so frustrated that I didn’t try to cover myself. In response, the other female students approached Hayley and covered her, as if they were used to it.
Seeing that, Xenia told me.
“Newbie. Be careful when approaching Hayley for the week before or after prom. “It’s a bit hysterical.”
“Rather than that… “Are you okay, senior?”
The situation was worse for Xenia. She may have ruined the prom, but Hailey was still able to walk away.
She said with her detached face.
“… “What can I do? I’m just screwing everything up.”
Sometimes I can’t get used to it when I see someone spouting harsh words with such a classy and classy face.
“….”
“No one wanted to dance anyway. “All my classmates are just unlucky and sh*tty guys.”
This may be something she says to protect herself from feeling deprived. I thought that I shouldn’t bother them by bringing up the dance story.
“Can you walk alone?”
“It’s okay. I’m not a weak woman who begs like this, am I? “My sparring partner has his limbs bandaged right now.”
“… Still, I will help.”
***
After the art department class ended, the students left like a stream. I approached Xenia, who was sitting alone in front of the easel.
She was holding out her staff and getting ready to move.
“Can I carry you on my back?”
Xenia looked at me blankly and shook her head.
“No, if you show that behavior, you will be criticized for being rude to a decent junior. “If you want to help, please carry my luggage.”
Then he handed me a bag containing textbooks.
I slung my bag over one shoulder and held Xenia’s wrist with my other arm to keep her from falling.
“Hey, look at this guy?”
Xenia was a little embarrassed, but she didn’t try to get rid of it.
Then, I slowly walked out of the greenhouse at my own pace.
“Where are you going?”
“… Ministry of Magic lecture building.”
We were silent while teaching the academy campus.
I’m not very talkative, but she didn’t expect that Xenia, who likes to talk, would suddenly keep her silence.
She opened her mouth when the lecture building came into view from afar.
“Newbie.”
“Yes, senior.”
“My… “The law is amazing.”
“Didn’t you take care of me all these years?”
“Yes, I took good care of the other new recruits, but I cared for the new recruit a little more.”
“Thank you.”
“So, bury your bones in the art department.”
“….”
Unlike her usual lively attitude, Xenia spoke with some serious thought.
“Newbie. “I have something I want to tell you.”
“Yes.”
“It might sound a little unpleasant.”
“You can talk.”
“I like everything about you, but there’s just one thing I’m missing.”
“… ?”
“If I look closely, it seems like you have no intention of becoming close friends with your classmates or seniors in the art department. “It’s such a shame.”
“….”
“Haley and I follow along very well, but we don’t interact with the other kids at all. One of the new recruits this time, Lilith, seems to be okay. She is sweet and pretty. Also, Marietta has a sweet personality and is cute.”
“….”
“With the exception of you, all the other first-year students in the art club have become close and tease each other, but you seem to be the only one adrift in a different place.”
“I still have enough.”
“Ha, seeing as he doesn’t form a relationship, he seems like the kind of person who will leave. Even if that’s not what you really mean, that’s what we think. So I’m anxious. Is it really possible that our art department is just something to enjoy for a little while?”
“… No.”
“Do you usually like traveling alone? I thought you had a lot of friends, but that one kid from the theater club was all you had? Your side was pierced, but the person who came and was truly worried was with him… You only had blonde hair. I don’t know how you’re doing, but when I see you… “Ugh.”
Xenia sighed as if she was upset.
There was a point that she was keenly aware of.
I am prepared to leave at any time. Just like animals saving energy for the winter. That may have become my habit.
Even at the orphanage and when I was taken away by Silverine, I was always prepared for being abandoned. It was the same in the art department. We built our bond step by step, but we never felt safe and prepared for when everything went wrong.
I lived a life that I couldn’t survive otherwise.
As we reached the lecture hall, she shook off my hand and limped up her stairs. And then in the middle of it she turned around and she said.
“I hope you make friends even if you are not in the art department. I’m just saying this because it occurred to me. “Even if you decide to stick to that method, she will be equally happy, so don’t feel too pressured.”
“….”
“Hey, newbie, but he keeps looking at us. What did we do wrong?”
Xenia points to a place with her hand. There was no person there, but a pure white wolf. The guy sits still with only his head sticking out from between the trees in his garden. As we watched, the spirit turned and disappeared through the bushes.
It was Luna’s wolf spirit.
***
When lunch time arrived, I quietly ate in a corner. I slowly chewed on Xenia’s words while forcibly eating the meat. Then someone suddenly appeared in front of me, put down a plate and sat down across from me.
It was Olivia, the fiancée of Ruskus, who was my sparring evaluation partner.
She took a seat and started eating without saying hello.
There was a bruise at the corner of Olivia’s mouth that looked a bit old.
I thought for a moment and then opened my mouth.
“… Senior.”
“Yes.”
“Did anything happen?”
“You suddenly grabbed Ruscus and of course something happened.”
“….”
“Ah, I was a little scared to deal with the aftermath, but it was so good. “You look the coolest in the world.”
“What happened after that?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear? “He said he was going to cause trouble again, but somehow the principality’s ambassador just appeared.”
“….”
“The embassy of the principality was created to prevent diplomatic problems because there are many people in Eternia who claim to be royals or nobles whose identities are hidden. The ambassador took one look and immediately reported it to his superiors. Thanks to that, Ruscus was placed on probation.”
“So, did it go well?”
Olivia said with a grin.
“Now that his family found out about it and the situation was overturned, he won’t be able to play around with his hands anymore. “I can breathe now.”
“Good.”
“The ambassador, who found out about my situation, also sent me a letter saying they would spare no support.”
“….”
Olivia put down her fork and looked at me quietly.
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“You did it?”
I shoved the meat into my mouth and shook my head.
“It has nothing to do with me.”
She didn’t seem to believe me. But she didn’t want to pursue it further.
“Yes, I guess so. Anyway, I wanted to say thank you because I benefited from you a lot. “I owe you a lot this time, so I will come forward and help you wherever I can.”
Olivia finished her meal and stood up, picking up her plate.
Is there any help she can give me? In any case, it’s good to have one more person on my side.
No, there just happens to be one.
I caught Olivia as she was about to leave.
“Hey, senior.”
“Huh?”
“Can you do me a favor?”