Before I knew it, Kate ended up sitting at the dinner table. With Marie and Cecily each occupying a seat next to , she naturally sat across from them, which ans she took a seat next to Rina.
When I asked if she had eaten, she said she had eaten beforehand. Because of that, we quietly waited until we all finished eating.
It’s not like I did nothing while waiting. I checked from ti to ti, and I could see her with her eyes closed, hands neatly folded, praying.
Thanks to that, the al was quiet until it was over, and after ordering dessert, the real conversation began.
“First, how did you know I was here?”
“I followed the scent of lilacs. And the destination was here.”
“… …”
From the first response, it was truly ridiculous. She hadn’t even been professionally trained at tracking, and she claid to have followed a scent.
The lilac scent emanating from my body was indeed strong, but in Kate’s case, it can be considered sowhat unique.
Kate, after facing all the stares directed at her one by one, cautiously opened her mouth with a slightly wary voice.
“But Isaac, is it okay to have a conversation here?”
“Oh. These people all know who I am, so you can relax.”
“I see. But…”
She hesitated for a mont and glanced alternately at Marie and Cecily sitting on either side of . In response to her puzzled look, Marie wrapped her arms around mine with a sulky expression, and Cecily smiled and leaned in. Anyone could tell we were lovers.
Kate seed to have noticed sothing from their odd behavior and nodded her head.
“I didn’t expect you to have two fiancées.”
“The official fiancée is still just . Cecily is unofficial.”
Marie subtly emphasized that she was the first. Cecily didn’t seem to have any objections as she remained silent. I chuckled at the playful territoriality of the two won and then looked across the table again. Rina, sitting next to Kate, seed to be just observing, sipping her tea.
“So, why did you co here? If you’re going to talk about the seed again, I’ll kick you out, so you should know that.”
“I will formally apologize for that part. My unnecessary obsession made Isaac uncomfortable, so if you wish, I will accept any punishnt you deem necessary.”
“Huh?”
What’s going on? It’s like the character suddenly changed.
Kate lowered her head and politely asked for forgiveness, which was rather surprising. Not just , but even Marie, who had been firm until now, seed taken aback.
Kate had been demanding the seed from at every opportunity for the past two days, so why was she suddenly apologizing today? Unless sothing had happened in between, it didn’t add up. And there was only one expected reason for that. I recalled Kate’s fanatical side and decided to probe a bit.
“Were you scolded by Luminous by any chance?”
“…Yes.”
Kate responded to my question with a gloomy expression, confirming my suspicions.
Luminous is a rciful god who may inflict punishnt upon the wicked, but to devoted followers like Kate or , he is a compassionate deity. He rarely loses his temper and seldom raises his voice.
However, it seems he must have been quite upset if Kate was feeling so down.
“It seems he scolded you quite a bit.”
“…He even raised his voice for the first ti. He asked what I was doing, and even though he understood why, it was still quite impolite. He told to apologize imdiately.”
If he raised his voice to that extent, it appears Luminous was very angry. After all, she had nearly caused harm to others for her own sake.
Although Luminous was rciful, he also had strict principles, so this matter couldn’t be overlooked. If a child did sothing like stealing to please their parents, even normal parents would scold them sternly.
‘I guess she won’t be talking about seed for a while.’
I gazed at the gloomy Kate and had a feeling that the talk about seed would be put on hold for so ti.
If Luminous had scolded Kate to that extent, there was a high chance that she had given up.
“Alright. Since Luminous has scolded you, I’ll let this matter go. So, what’s the real reason you ca to see ?”
“It’s related to Xenon’s…”
“Just call Isaac for now. You might make a mistake later.”
“Understood. Isaac, it’s related to your safety.”
“My safety?”
I opened my eyes wide at the ntion of a close connection to my safety. Curiosity also flickered in Rina’s eyes, who was sitting next to Kate.
I wondered what could be happening to during this peaceful ti. Kate is a person who has been on a pilgrimage. She must have a clearer understanding of the situation around the Academy than we do. Unlike before, she looked at with determination in her green eyes and spoke.
“Yes. As you all know, I’ve been on a pilgrimage, hunting down devil worshipers who have spread throughout the world. Even just before arriving in the Minerva Empire, I was busy eliminating devil worshipers.”
“Devil worshipers…”
Originally, devil worshipers operated in secret, unbeknownst to anyone. Especially in regions where many disappearances occurred, devil worshipers were deeply involved.
The reason we didn’t notice until now, before these incidents began occurring consecutively, was simple: dulled judgnt and complacency due to long-lasting peace, and indifference. The devil war had erupted a whopping 3,000 years ago, and even the elves had vague mories of it. Naturally, there was little interest.
“Devil worshipers were unknown until the events surrounding Xenon. But now their presence is rising to the surface, and their influence is gradually waning with each passing day. Do you understand what this ans?”
“Are you saying Isaac might be targeted by devil worshipers?”
Cecily imdiately answered Kate’s question, and Kate nodded in agreent.
In fact, I had only a rough idea until the talk about devil worshippers ca up, but it feels quite different when I hear it directly from Kate.
“Yes. Xenon’s Biography was a coincidence, but it directly revealed the existence of devil worshippers, so of course, they are actively working to eliminate Isaac. It’s already a widely spread testimony among devil worshippers.”
“Testimony… you say? Are devil worshippers forming organizations among themselves?”
“I’m not certain, but it’s highly likely. There are traces of their activities for at least a hundred years, after all.”
It’s more serious than I thought. Another reason not to reveal my identity has arisen. I have a dependable knight with , but until the devil worshippers are completely eradicated, there’s a very high chance that my acquaintances will be in danger.
I don’t know how powerful the devil worshippers are, so I need to be more cautious in my actions.
“Furthermore, most things related to the underworld are influenced by devil worshippers, from drugs to smuggling, and even the black market. It will take quite so ti for a complete eradication.”
“So, are you telling to hide and not publish books until then?”
“You can publish books, that’s not an issue. Just be careful not to reveal your true identity. I also plan to stay here for about a month before leaving for sowhere else. If I stay here longer, it will raise suspicions.”
Did Luminous give her a hard ti about this? Kate calmly explained in her polite voice. She was different from the way she used to be, always asking for seed. It felt a bit odd, but it was satisfying enough.
“Do you think there are devil worshippers in the Minerva Empire, Cardinal?”
Rina, who had been quiet, spoke up. It was only natural for her to be concerned since it was her own country.
“Of course. Devil worshippers are like cockroaches, multiplying unless you crush their heads. The Minerva Empire is no different just because it’s called an empire. Perhaps we can find evidence of that organization here.”
“If the Cardinal wishes, I can provide military support.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll decline. Devil worshippers go into hiding as soon as their cockroach-like presence is exposed, so secrecy is crucial.”
As I heard, things related to devils seem to be treated worse than insects.
And to think she would talk about crushing the head of devil worshipers or request my seed with such an innocent face. Honestly, it’s hard to believe.
She’s said to have blue magic that flickers like flas and even carries the title “Blue Fla,” but just looking at her, I can’t really tell.
“Alright. Do you have anything else to say?”
“One more thing. Isaac.”
“Yes?”
“It might be uncomfortable, but it’s related to the seed.”
I wondered why she hadn’t ntioned it earlier. When Kate brought up the topic of seed more seriously(?), the atmosphere changed in an instant.
From Marie, who had been cautious since Kate’s arrival, to Cecily, who had shown a softer attitude.
Finally, Rina elegantly sipped her tea and looked even more focused.
I opened my mouth as if feeling a strange atmosphere and said sowhat awkwardly.
“Didn’t you get scolded by Luminous a little while ago?”
“Yes. But I haven’t given up. Since you two are here, I’ll formally request it.”
She said confidently with her sparkling erald eyes.
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I receive Isaac’s seed?”
At the sa ti, a sharp response ca back, not from but from Marie. Marie tightened her grip on my arm and said to Kate with even more strength.
“Cardinal Kate, do you love Isaac?”
“… …”
“There you have it. You don’t even love him, but you’re willing to have a child for Luminous. Will Luminous be pleased? No, he’ll definitely be sad. He’ll be sad that the child he loves is giving up their body for his sake.”
Right. Our girlfriend speaks well. As Marie spoke each word ticulously, Kate had nothing to say and was keeping her mouth shut.
She seed to want to say sothing, but it was impossible.
The problem is that it’s not just Marie who thinks like this.
“Marie is right. Marie and I promised Isaac a future because we love him. What about you, Cardinal? You just covet the holy power that Isaac possesses. If a man with even stronger sacred power than Isaac appears, wouldn’t you go to him?.”
“Luminous would never forgive that.”
Cecily delivered a heavy blow of factual violence right to Kate’s weakness. Kate imdiately tried to defend herself, but the words pierced through her essence, and that was the end of it.
I just watched because my girls took care of saying the things I wanted to say. So, it was just a spectacle for . Kate, perhaps chastened by Luminous’s scolding, did not put up a fight like she did last ti.
When Kate chose to remain silent, Marie seed to take it as a victory and continued with her triumphant words.
“Even if you manage to win Isaac’s heart, I won’t acknowledge you. There’s nothing as despicable as using love as a ans.”
“…I see.”
“Above all! I find you detestable. Even I, who am engaged, don’t suddenly rush to have a child. Even if it works out, you’ll have to wait at least four years.”
Academy graduation is roughly around that ti, so a formal wedding will also be around then.
Under Marie’s continuous criticism, Kate had no more energy to respond and could only nod her head. Just when it seed like it was coming to an end.
“Well then…”
“Yes?”
“If I genuinely love Isaac, is it okay for to accept his seed?”
A question filled with a determination to receive my seed in any way possible hung in the air. Not just , but everyone else was left bewildered by that question.
In the anti, Kate wore a warm smile and placed her hand over her heart before quietly opening her mouth.
“Luminous has indeed scolded , but after that, he said sothing like this. Not to give everything to him, but to seek the true happiness I desire. He said that a devotee’s happiness is also his own happiness…”
“…”
“After hearing those words, I changed my thinking. Love soone sincerely and find happiness. Love soone, and not only will I find my happiness, but I will also bring happiness to Luminous. And the person I will co to love…”
She then looked straight at , blushing, and shyly confessed.
“The author of Xenon’s Biography, who is favored by Luminous. Isaac.”
“…”
“Thinking like that makes my heart race, and I feel my face turning red. The scent of lilacs emanating from Isaac feels like a drug to , and I feel the sanctity seeping into .”
Oh my…
“Is this… love?”
I wonder what her thought process is like to lead to this developnt.
Translators note:
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