Chapter 59
How many days had passed since then?
The vacation I had received from the Grand Temple due to the debutante event was almost over.
Until then, I had planned to go out diligently. Naturally, it was to look for mages.
Wearing a simple dress for a rare outing, I left the mansion. But there was one place I needed to stop by first.
“Brother.”
I approached Meteo with a bright smile. He was leaning against a large golden chain tree in the garden, reading a newspaper.
Meteo was also enjoying a short break before returning to the Grand Temple.
Originally, the Pluto family had planned to host a ball in his honor, but he adamantly refused, so it never happened.
Was it my appearance that disturbed him?
A slight crease appeared on Meteo’s otherwise perfect forehead.
“Being called that by you feels so strange.”
“Then get used to it! Honestly, I feel a bit awkward too.”
“If you’re awkward, wouldn’t it be better to just call me by my usual name?”
Meteo turned his eyes back to the newspaper. I scampered over and crouched beside him.
Being close to Meteo, I caught a faint, pleasant fragrance from him.
“What are you reading?”
“…Checking where and how many people died again. The distribution of mages changes daily.”
“I see.”
I already knew what he meant.
At the Grand Temple, the locations of mage appearances were marked on maps and published in the newspaper. As a result, two full pages of the newspaper were filled with the Empire’s map.
From six years ago until now, the map was densely packed with mage activity.
Among all regions, the north was particularly crowded, with barely any empty space.
As I stared at the map, something occurred to me.
“…It really feels like a miracle that we survived six years and met again. Meteo, I heard you got caught up with high-level mages eleven times.”
“Well, I heard you went to the demon world about nine times during that period too?”
Finally, Meteo looked up and met my gaze.
I smiled a little.
“Yeah. But thanks to that, my skills improved a lot! There were even times I thought I’d die, though many of the demons were just small fry. How about you? I’ve really been curious.”
Because his training was private, hardly anyone knew how Meteo had spent his time.
We only heard updates when he returned from the demon world.
Whenever someone survived an encounter with high-level mages, they had to report it to the Grand Temple.
I wondered what kind of place the demon world Meteo had visited was.
Had he suffered much?
Which demons did he meet there? How did he make it back alive?
Hopefully, he didn’t meet the Demon King…
With these questions and worries, I waited for Meteo’s answer.
“…Well, all demon worlds are pretty similar.”
His answer was very brief.
I opened my eyes wide in disbelief as he folded the newspaper.
How could all demon worlds be similar?
Every demon we’d encountered had been insane in their own way.
Maybe he just didn’t want to talk about it or found it troublesome. If that was the case, I had no intention of pressing further.
As Meteo stood up, I did the same.
He began walking and spoke.
“I’m going to my room. You should go inside too.”
“Leaving already?”
“Yeah. I need to rest.”
“Wow! We finally meet after so long, we could spend more time together. I’m curious about so many things!”
“I’ve never played with my little sister before, so it wouldn’t be fun.”
His tone was flat.
I guess I was the only one happy to see him after six years.
As I followed him, I said,
“Actually, I came to say something. I’m going into the city. Want to come? I heard there’s a new weapon shop. Also, we could look for mages along the way.”
“….”
Meteo stopped abruptly. I stopped a step behind him.
I thought he might scold me for bothering him. Just as I thought that…
He turned and started walking again.
“Alright. If that’s the case, let’s go together.”
“….”
As expected, he’s addicted to training.
Well, he wouldn’t mind checking out a weapon shop and hunting mages!
Feeling a little happy, I caught up to Meteo.
The weather was refreshing, and the sunlight felt gentle and warm.
We rode a carriage straight to the bustling city. I unfolded the flyers I had brought.
[☆Ciel Weapon Shop Grand Opening!☆
Featuring special weapons invented through the innovative creativity of the handsome owner, Sirilote. (Compatible with Holy Power)
―Owner Sirilote’s Profile―
Studied abroad.
Serious about weapon development.
Winner of numerous invention awards throughout the Empire.
Handsome face.]
“….”
The owner seemed a bit strange.
When I first saw the flyer, I was horrified.
The owner’s name was ‘Sirilote’?
Could it really be the same Sirilote? The one I grew up with in the orphanage?
I decided I had to visit the Ciel Weapon Shop at least once before going to the Grand Temple.
If this Sirilote was indeed the friend I knew as a child, I couldn’t ignore it.
“Could it be over there?”
While walking through the busy streets with Meteo, he suddenly pointed at a shop.
Looking at the exterior, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The shop looked almost too extravagant to be a weapon store.
A colorful garland decorated the entrance, and the walls were practically covered with flower decorations and balloons.
I wondered if it was a toy store rather than a weapon shop and stared at the sign.
[Ciel Weapon Shop]
No doubt about it—it was definitely a weapon shop.
“Hmm. It’s a lively place for a weapon shop. Let’s go in.”
“Alright.”
Meteo replied calmly.
When we pushed the door open, a wooden puppet on it began to dance, accompanied by music.
I was startled and looked back at the door.
“Wow. Amazing. They have all this?”
Had the shop owner invented that too?
I felt a little excited about the weapon shop, though I was even more curious whether the owner was truly my old friend.
“I knew customers would like this.”
“!”
At that moment, I looked away from the puppet at the unfamiliar voice.
Turning around, I saw a boy with sky-blue hair so bright it seemed unreal, and jet-black eyes like obsidian.
He looked about fifteen or sixteen, around my age.
One person immediately came to mind when I saw him.
Sirilote.
The boy before me bore the grown-up appearance of Sirilote, who had been at the orphanage with me as a child.
Sirilote looked at me, and his eyes widened.
“Crescent?”
“…Siril? You remember me?”
I thought he might have forgotten, since we were so young.
Of course, I remembered Sirilote, since my memory wasn’t that of an eight-year-old, but he had been a child back then.
Sirilote smiled broadly, his mouth stretching ear to ear.
“Of course. How could I forget the most beautiful girl in Eva Orphanage?”
“You’re still as cheeky as ever.”
I smiled faintly but replied brusquely.
But calling me a beauty—well, the last time we met, I was eight.
What kind of beauty talk is that for an eight-year-old?
Though thinking back, even younger, people often told me I was pretty.
“How could I forget you, Crescent? The orphanage went wild when they heard you were leaving under the patronage of the Pluto family and later gained Holy Power.”
“Oh? I see.”
Right!
I hadn’t realized that.
The appearance of a girl with Holy Power after 150 years had become the talk of the entire Empire.
It must have been even more shocking for Eva Orphanage.
Sirilote spoke again.
“Even before, I thought if I came to the north, I might get to see you. It’s an honor that you remembered me.”
“Then why didn’t you write me a letter?”
If we had known we were both coming to the north, we could have met earlier.
But I guess the time we spent apart without knowing each other was just too long.
I shivered at that thought.
“You two know each other?”
Meteo asked, glancing at Sirilote with narrow eyes.
