Chapter 13: Another Beginning (5)
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.”
Without even the slightest hint of hesitation, Cecilia answered imdiately.
It was clear to anyone that she was on full guard.
At that, Rahma let out an awkward laugh, as if flustered.
“Ah, hm. It seems I’ve sohow put you in an uncomfortable position, Miss Everglenn.”
He waved his hand dismissively, as if to say he ant nothing by it, and took a step back.
“I had no intention of making you uncomfortable. I just thought you might be troubled about sothing.”
“It’s true that I am troubled, as you say, Professor.”
Cecilia’s voice was clear and firm, drawing a straight line in the sand.
“However, it’s nothing I would particularly tell you about, nor sothing I would seek help or advice for.”
“I see.”
Rahma nodded slowly.
“It seems I was being hasty. After so many years as a bishop, it’s beco sothing of a habit… hohoho.”
Even as he chuckled, embarrassed, he never once lost his kindly smile.
“I suppose this is ddling you didn’t ask for, but should you ever feel you might need my help, please co to
at any ti. Nothing brings
more joy than being of help to students in need.”
To this, Cecilia replied in an extrely businesslike tone.
“Yes, I will.”
“I hope your troubles are resolved smoothly, Miss Everglenn. Well then…”
Watching Rahma get flatly turned down in a way that could make a bystander feel awkward, I couldn’t help but click my tongue.
She was utterly rciless.
I almost wanted to ask myself if I was out of my mind for having tried to approach her so casually just a mont ago.
‘Well…’
I was reminded of her in my previous life—mocked and ridiculed by countless students, yet never once shrinking back.
Back then, I thought she was just pretending to be strong…
But seeing her now, perhaps she truly hadn’t cared in the slightest.
Maybe the reason she avoided others after leaving her seat was nothing more than the thought, ‘The dog’s barking, how noisy.’
‘Approaching her clumsily would just be a waste.’
Better to leave than to raise unnecessary suspicion, I thought, just as I was about to slip away.
“Excuse .”
Cecilia, who had been alone, was now looking straight at .
“Weren’t you waiting because you had sothing you wanted to say to ?”
“……”
It seed she had already noticed.
Seeing no benefit in pretending ignorance, I stepped out from behind the bookshelf where I had been hiding and spoke in a slightly defensive tone.
“Believe it or not, I wasn’t intentionally hiding.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I ca to return a borrowed book and was looking for sothing to read. Then I saw you talking with the professor and was waiting for a chance to leave quietly…”
I showed her the return slip I’d just been handed, and thankfully, she nodded as if satisfied.
Or maybe she simply didn’t care enough about
to press further.
She wasn’t even trying to hide the books in her hands, as if it didn’t matter at all.
That made
speak in a tone more cautious than usual.
“You seem interested in a rather difficult field.”
She said nothing.
At least she wasn’t openly on guard against
like Rahma had been—that was sothing.
“……”
After staring at
in silence for a long mont, Cecilia suddenly shifted her posture and hugged the books to her chest.
The awkward silence dragged on, making
think I should just say goodbye and leave.
“In this field…”
Just when I thought she’d walk away without a word, she spoke quietly.
“…you seem to know it well.”
Her reaction was so different from Rahma’s that I couldn’t help but be taken aback.
‘…What’s going on?’
The Cecilia I knew didn’t start conversations unless there was a very good reason.
And even when she did, she kept them short and avoided long talks as much as possible.
‘I have no idea what’s gotten into her…’
But since I’d been given the chance, I decided to be a little greedy.
“Yes, I’ve picked up a few things here and there.”
“Picked up?”
At her puzzled reaction, I paused briefly before speaking quietly.
“My mother was a magician.”
That was also the reason I had wanted to join Wands in my previous life.
Though in the end, my father, Count Gwendil, had opposed it so strongly it was practically a threat, and I had to give up.
“A magician? As far as I know, the Countess Gwendil isn’t one. Was I mistaken?”
I gave a bitter smile and replied in a lower voice.
“She was a mistress.”
At that, Cecilia’s body flinched ever so slightly.
“And she passed away so ti ago, so it’s understandable you wouldn’t know.”
“Oh.”
For once, Cecilia looked genuinely flustered.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t an anything by it. I really didn’t know… I’ve made a mistake.”
Secrets have a strange kind of power.
Sotis they are a person’s reverse scale or weakness, but other tis they impose a sense of debt and kinship—half by force—on the one who learns them.
And if two people share similar secrets, that effect only grows stronger.
I hadn’t planned it, but I’d known since my past life that Cecilia Everglenn had a similarly complicated family background.
‘It feels a bit like I’m manipulating her… but…’
Would it ever be heavier than the nearly two hundred corpses?
Telling myself that, I waved my hand as if it didn’t bother .
“No, I should apologize. I brought up sothing unnecessary and made you uncomfortable.”
As I spoke, my eyes carefully skimd the titles of the books she held.
“So this might be a sensitive question, but… have you been hearing voices or seeing things?”
“……”
It was indeed a sensitive and rude question.
I could even see the wariness rising in her eyes.
So I quickly followed up as if it were the most natural continuation.
“Necromancy, shamanism, exorcism… all of these involve beings from the spirit realm. And when one perceives these spirit-realm entities, it’s usually through hearing or sight—that is, by seeing or hearing them.”
“…It’s similar.”
Only then did Cecilia ease her guard slightly and give a slow nod.
The fact that the cause was due to a spirit was sothing I already knew well, but I had absolutely no intention of bringing that up recklessly here and now.
‘It’s only that the public doesn’t know, but as for the cause itself… she must already know it well herself.’
And that fact was being kept a strict secret at the present ti.
If I said it here, it would be the perfect way to draw suspicion.
All that was publicly known around this era was that ever since she was young, unpleasant incidents had continuously occurred around her, and that she had lived alone in a secluded villa, as if in exile.
That officially ntioning her existence was no different from declaring war on them.
‘And that she was openly called the Everglenn family’s vengeful ghost.’
It was so well-known that even I had heard about it.
‘For now, here….’
After a brief mont of thought, I decided to speak to her in a roundabout way.
“When interacting with beings from other worlds, such as those of the Spirit Realm or ntal entities, my mother used to say that willpower was the most important thing above all else.”
A story I had heard countless tis instead of bedti fairy tales when I was young.
As I forced myself to recall those and strung the words together, Cecilia began to listen quietly.
“She used to say that when dealing with such beings, it was common for people to lose themselves.”
“I think I know what you an.”
Perhaps sothing clicked with her, as she slowly nodded her head.
“She also said it was similar to the feeling of losing your way. The weaker the person’s will, the more easily they would be swept away and forget themselves. And that leaving behind so sort of guidepost for such tis was a good thod.”
“A guidepost….”
After mulling over my last words for a mont, she slowly lifted her head and stared straight at .
“If you don’t mind
asking, what did your mother say one should use as a guidepost?”
“She ntioned various things. mories, people, objects, places. It didn’t matter what it was, as long as it was sothing precious or intense for oneself—in short, a mory that could never be forgotten. She told
to make such things my guidepost.”
“……”
Cecilia silently looked down at the book she was holding in her arms.
And then, a mont later, she dipped her head ever so slightly toward .
“Thank you sincerely for the good advice.”
With those words, she said she would excuse herself first and passed by .
As I watched her quiet footsteps fade away without a sound, I briefly wondered if I should have been a bit more forward….
‘No, I shouldn’t get impatient.’
Soone like her would only retreat if approached too hastily.
It was best to narrow the distance gradually, just like I had now.
‘Co to think of it….’
I discreetly checked the ti.
There wasn’t much left until my appointnt with Allen.
Had that much ti already passed?
“I’d better hurry a bit.”
It was the mont I muttered that and tried to take a step.
“…!”
A very brief instant.
Literally, a mont in the blink of an eye—but I sensed an odd disturbance from the brand.
The brand pulsed.
A subtle throb, almost as if it were a heart.
I could clearly feel it.
By the ti I reflexively placed my hand on my collarbone, that strange sensation had long since vanished.
“……”
I stood rooted to the spot for a mont, then slowly turned my head to look around.
…There was no one.
There was absolutely no one around .
It was the first day of classes, so there should have been many people gathered and bustling about, yet strangely, not a single presence could be felt in my vicinity.
‘Hoo.’
I let out a silent sigh and lowered the hand I’d been holding to my collarbone.
And then.
“…I really should hurry.”
I spoke the sa words as before, but this ti they carried a different aning, as if reaffirming them to myself.
“I didn’t expect you to co visit on the very first day.”
“Was I being a bother after all?”
After parting ways with Allen, I headed straight to none other than the cathedral.
“No, it’s not that you’re a bother. It’s just….”
Sister Roberta moved the hand covering her cheek to hide her mouth.
“To be honest, I’m doing this because I’m happy.”
Letting out a small laugh, she slightly lifted her head to peer outside the cathedral.
Seeing the gradually darkening sky, she gave a small nod.
“But it’s far too late now. For the two of us to be… wrestling would be a bit—oh my, ahem, excuse .”
Sister Roberta cleared her throat and glanced around.
There were a few people inside the cathedral, but seeing that no one was paying attention to this spot, she let out a small sigh of relief.
“You’re with the Crooks, aren’t you, Lian Gwendil?”
"Yes, that’s correct, Sister. And I’d appreciate it if you could speak comfortably to ."
Sister Roberta nodded.
"I shall do so. More importantly, Lian, do you know how the classes will proceed from now on?"
"Yes."
For one month, the five dormitories would conduct joint classes.
In other words, a schedule like today’s would continue for the entire month.
But after that—
More precisely, starting from the end of the first dungeon practicum class, the format of the lessons would change entirely.
The daily joint classes would be reduced to one subject per day, and instead, students would freely choose from a wide range of specialized classes suited to their dormitory and future career path.
"I also know that you teach the Crooks combat thods, weapon skills, and the control of holy power, Sister."
"I see."
Roberta smiled with satisfaction.
"So you ca to seek
out despite the fact that, when the ti cos, you’ll naturally receive lessons. Is it because you’re in such a hurry, or perhaps because you won’t be satisfied with the regular classes?"
I chose silence instead of an answer.
Even so, Sister Roberta kept nodding as though she found
increasingly likable.
"Very well, it’s late, but I can still impart a few teachings to you."
"Is that really true?"
"Yes, though it will only be theoretical."
Sister Roberta, who had turned to lead the way, suddenly turned her head to look at .
"Co to think of it, I forgot to ask you this, Lian."
"Yes, Sister."
"What level are you aiming for?"
"What do you an by that?"
She still had a gentle smile in her eyes.
"I an, knowing the realm you wish to reach will help
guide you."
To her question, I answered with one of my own.
"How strong are you, Sister?"
"Hmm."
Even at the sudden question, she showed no sign of being flustered.
"Well… I’d say I’m not the sort to die a aningless death sowhere, at least."
Hearing her say that, I replied in a calm voice.
"Then, until I win."
"Pardon?"
She tilted her head as if she had misheard , and I repeated myself once more.
"I will, Sister."
Sister Roberta silently looked at , her eyes glinting.
Looking straight back at her, I finished my words.
"Until I win."
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