Lucia used a carriage mobilized by her family for the wounded Eleanor and Justitia.
They say they are nobles in name only, but nobles are nobles. Spending that much wasn’t much of a problem.
The only problem is the awkward atmosphere in this closed space.
“Hmm, hmm… … .”
Justitia has not yet woken up and occupied a chair. He didn’t look particularly tired, and he was making quiet, even breathing sounds as if he had just fallen asleep.
Lucia was sitting on a chair, legs crossed, looking out the window.
Although it was a narrow window, it was comforting to be able to see the scenery of the world.
And the long-awaited Eleanor.
She is… … .
“… … .”
He was silent with his head bowed. His usual bright appearance is nowhere to be found and he is afraid to make eye contact as if he is just a sinner.
Seeing her so different from what she usually knew, Lucia couldn’t speak to her.
I was afraid to talk to him because he had changed so much.
After hesitating for a long time, Lucia finally opened her mouth.
“Come to think of it, Oz.”
“… … Why Master?”
The topic she chose was about Oz.
It was something the two of them had in common, and it was also something that Eleanor would most likely react to.
And pretend not to, but Eleanor was Eleanor. When I brought up the topic of Oz, he responded immediately.
Lucia nodded inwardly, thinking that the story about Oz was the one that drew the most attention.
“uh… … . therefore.”
There was just a problem.
‘What should I say?’
It was nice to bring up the topic of Oz, but I haven’t decided what to say yet.
Because it was too spontaneous.
Rather, the atmosphere could have been even more terrible if he had slipped into the topic of Oz.
“Choi, did you overturn the empire recently? Did you know?”
Choose something that is as big as possible and has a lot of stories at the same time.
It would be nice if you could explain the part where Oz was active, excluding elements such as political battles within the empire.
With that thought in mind, Lucia brought out the beginning.
but… … .
“yes.”
“Ah, you knew… … .”
Lucia didn’t know.
That Eleanor was helping with that under the surface.
Even the fact that her sudden action had accelerated her plan in the first place, and as a result, she had fallen to the ground.
“… … I still don’t know exactly, so can you tell me? what happened.”
But Eleanor is also aware that Lucia is trying to set things back.
So I responded as best I could.
Obviously I can’t go back to the way it was before. Because she can no longer be innocent.
But that doesn’t mean the old woman is gone.
No matter how much his appearance changed, his heart that cherished his friends did not change.
“Yes… … Wouldn’t it be better to explain how it happened first?”
As if tracing her memory, Lucia gradually began to recount the things that had happened in the empire.
The day when Diskre went to Oz. What he asked Oz for.
And even what Oz, who heard it, told himself without hesitation.
The beginning of the story was smooth and interesting.
As a result, a small smile began to form on both of their lips.
Obviously different from before.
However, the two were still able to act as friends.
“I got into a fight with the head of the Stillena family.”
And.
“And I heard that Oz had a scuffle with the Imperial Knights… … Apparently, ‘that’ Sir Perses also had a blast.”
and then.
“It must have been a fierce battle. Mine did too, but Oz looked pretty tired too.”
intoxicated by the atmosphere
“Then on the roof.”
“On the roof?”
“A romantic key… … .”
“… … .”
Lucia stepped into the danger zone.
Seeing the suddenly frozen figure of Lucia, Eleanor was also able to understand the story that followed.
Yes, she was quick-witted from before. And even more so now that you are free from all limitations.
An awkward atmosphere began to flow between the two again.
The corners of her mouth, which had been raised, slowly came down and became expressionless, and Eleanor’s eyes gradually died.
Even so, the reason she doesn’t act as usual is because she has a sense of debt in her heart.
‘Yeah, what subject am I… … .’
There was no bloody atmosphere like before. Instead, an infinitely melancholy and somber atmosphere began to pervade the carriage again.
Lucia seemed to be suffocating.
Apparently, it was self-inflicted that brought up this topic.
She tried to set the mood somehow, but… … .
“Then are you dating the master now?”
“yes? oh yeah… … .”
Eleanor reluctantly continued the topic. Wouldn’t that be a shocking situation for her as well?
“yes? It’s something to celebrate. Lucia though. Because you connected with the master. It was a bit unexpected, but… … If it were you, you would get along well with your master.”
“uh… … ?”
She thought Lucia had won the race.
It was unexpected that they won the championship by beating strong candidates such as Arrieta and Baek Yang.
But Eleanor did not know.
‘I’m not the only one… … .’
That Oz has already started walking the path of human waste.
While she was locked in her room and suffering, Oz had already sorted out his relationship with Baek Yang.
And at the time she was hunting the monsters in the empire, that beast was only affecting Lucia.
Lucia was troubled.
Should I be honest about this, or should I leave it to Oz?
You don’t have to take the risk yourself. Obviously but… … .
“… … It’s not just me.”
“yes?”
Seeing Eleanor holding back her tears, Lucia thought she should speak.
“There is a white sheep and there is a saintess.”
“… … yes?”
A gap began to form in Eleanor’s answer. It seemed that the brain was taking time to interpret Lucia’s words.
“Baekyang and I are confirmed… … The saintess is almost an open secret.”
“No, wait… … everything?”
Eleanor was horrified.
It is true, of course, that Oz was at a loss. I didn’t know I would make that choice.
Didn’t Oz say in the first place that there were many problems to be solved and that he had to organize his mind?
Furthermore, there were also scattered issues of status between each other.
Prince, heir, and saintess.
No matter who it was, I wasn’t in a position where I could connect just because my heart was connected.
That’s why Eleanor also respected Oz’s choice.
Because right now, he himself had such a problem of identity right in front of his eyes.
But what kind of change of heart would it be to come up with the answer of everything now?
How did you come to the conclusion that those thoughts didn’t seem to pass through your brain?
What about the excuses you made earlier to put the answer on hold?
No, if it was going to be like that in the first place, what on earth have you been refusing while citing various reasons… … ?
“uh… … therefore.”
What if it was before?
Did he lose control of himself and get angry again?
Eleanor couldn’t be sure.
I couldn’t be sure… … .
‘Even at that time, I must have been speechless because I was dumbfounded… … .’
In front of that absurd conclusion, it seemed that he couldn’t have behaved as usual.
A storm of thoughts raced through Eleanor’s head and vanished.
Eleanor, who had been stuttering like a broken computer for a while, managed to spit out a short sentence.
“… … I think my teacher has changed too much without me knowing.”
A feeling I can’t express.
Eleanor felt sad. It was fine now.
However, inside her, her evaluation of Oz was eroding furiously.
‘I’ll still love you… … .’
Eleanor sighed as she thought of that.
It’s all a thing of the past now.
There is no Eleanor of the past who gets angry when she hears such a story.
Because she has grown up, both in a good way and in a bad way.
“ah… … , Come to think of it, there has been another change in Oz recently.”
“What do you still have left?”
“… … .”
Seeing Eleanor’s expression, Lucia hesitated for a moment.
Little by little, the familiar side of her that she knew is revealed.
Lucia felt eerie yet nostalgic about that.
Is that why?
“… … It seems like you did it with the saintess.”
She crossed the line again.
“… … .”
Silence flows inside the carriage.
Left behind in that silence, Lucia realized that she had crossed the line once again.
You shouldn’t talk about other people’s private lives. No, I shouldn’t have made Eleanor sad with such a provocative topic before that.
‘I didn’t mean to do this… … .’
I just thought it would be nice if Eleanor could get her energy back and return to her old self.
If so, one of the two.
Run out of control like before, or burst into tears out of sadness.
Something that neither side can welcome.
That’s why it was the moment Lucia tried to rectify the situation somehow.
“Can you say it again?”
The voice came from an unexpected direction.
Lucia trembled and carefully turned her head.
“Tell me one more time. Who did Oz do with?”
There was a blonde haired warrior with terrifying eyes, reminiscent of Eleanor of the past.
* * *
who would have predicted that?
After asking Lucia to track down Eleanor’s Justitia, I was going to follow right away.
I thought Lucia and Justitia would be able to do it, but I couldn’t help but worry.
However, I did not know that an unexpected situation would catch my ankle.
“Ugh… … .”
“… … it’s okay? number of animals.”
Who could have thought.
that Mary would suddenly fall ill. Moreover, the symptoms she was experiencing were not ordinary.
“What happened… … .”
Marie’s body was full of wounds from divine power, as if it had been torn from the inside.
this is the case
A very big event too.
There is no one in this ＜Skientia＞ who does not know that Mari is an existence of the ＜Underworld＞. Isn’t that why she’s being looked down on?
But I couldn’t say it was all that bad.
Either way, she’s different.
If you know that you are hurt by divine power, it is natural to be careful when treating her wounds.
“Who did it?”
The problem starts here.
Even though he was clearly aware of her existence, the fact that he poured out his holy power meant that he had the intention to attack.
Violence without permission within ＜Skientia＞, especially if it was committed by a priest, could not be overlooked.
A priest attacking and injuring a poor student for something other than training.
This is already an international issue.
“no… … Hey.”
“No? What is not?”
“… … I did it.”
“Marie, it’s okay to be honest. I will help you no matter what. Or are you worried about your opponent? If so, you have to say more. Before it becomes irreversible.”
“Ugh, no… … .”
Marie is too kind, which is a problem.
It is clear that he is doing this because he fears that someone will be harmed because of himself.
Or did you harm yourself or something? How does she, being of ＜Underworld＞, use her divine power?
“Okay, Marie. If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to.”
I’ll figure it out on my own from now on. I didn’t like the way the church bastards were doing.
It was like that, starting with Olivia Blue, the guys from the leadership team were blocking the meeting with Arrieta.
It wouldn’t be bad to reinforce discipline after a long time.
And the guy who made Marie like this will definitely pay the price.
* * *
“Saintess, I will try again.”
“Yes!”
Olivia Blue was educating Arrieta.
Of course, education doesn’t mean teaching knowledge.
“Recently, the atmosphere with Oz-nim has been strange. What happened?”
Olivia asked Arrieta as if she were acting for someone else.
Yes, the education she is doing was one of the measures to cover up her affair with Oz.
Arrieta cannot lie. No, even if he could have done it, he would have been 100% caught looking at his current appearance.
“Saint… … . I can’t manage my expression again.”
“oh… … .”
Arrieta’s face was visibly red at the mention of Oz’s name.
It was a part that anyone could guess what had happened.
‘It can’t go on like this.’
If you get caught, trouble will happen.
Seeing that she still maintains the qualities of a saint, it won’t be a big deal, but the noise will continue to be heard.
It is clear that he will probably take measures to prevent him from meeting Oz again.
‘The Pope is still missing… … There is no one who can protect the saintess anymore.’
Lucia Domine, who played the role of a huge breakwater in politics within the church, has disappeared. Of course, no one attacks Arrieta. But it will happen when this thing comes to light.
‘Before that, somehow… … .’
Arrieta’s condition must be calmed down. At least you’ll have to get her to keep her composure.
“Sir Olivia!”
“… … Currently, the saintess is teaching. I would have asked you not to open the door.”
“I’m sorry. But right now, in front of the leadership building… … .”
Olivia sighed as she looked at the pale priest.
It was like being reprimanded because it seemed clear that something had happened just by looking at the immediate appearance.
“what’s going on?”
“… … His Highness, the King of Darkness, has come to us ready for battle.”
“This crazy bastard is really… … .”
Even Olivia, who had been calm, couldn’t hold back her swearing this time.