Chapter 47
“Huh?”
—That guy, Jute… it’d be best not to get too involved with him.
“What?”
I frowned. Huh? Out of nowhere? This was the first time Comet ever told me not to get involved with someone he’d met. Not that I had met a whole lot of people so far…
Why? Is there a problem?
I asked in my mind, and Comet paused briefly before replying.
—No, it’s just… I have a bad feeling.
A bad feeling?
When I furrowed my brow and asked again, Comet added,
—Before you awakened me, I was aware of myself because of a very foul and strange energy. Until then, I had been sleeping with even my appearance completely hidden. It was an extremely wicked and bizarre energy. And earlier, I felt a similar uneasy feeling from the boy you met.
Something extremely unpleasant, he said.
Naturally, Comet’s words made me recall that moment. Instantly, that man’s face popped into my mind—the beautiful man who slowly looked down at me and said he was “looking for a way.” He had told me to “clench my fist,” and that’s when the gauntlet changed form and Comet responded to me.
So if Comet is now saying he felt something unpleasant… he must be referring to the fact that the man discovered Comet was my way to survive. But it’s strange. Why would Comet find him unpleasant? Why would he sense something wrong with Jute?
Wait a second. Does that mean, just as I suspected, Jute is connected to that man?
“…That can’t be right.”
No way. That’s impossible. I already saw his true colors today—a cocky little brat. I muttered aloud and shook my head. There was no need to link that man and every random guy just because of one comment.
“See you soon, Verdet… my love.”
That memory resurfaced, and I let out a long sigh. Honestly, ever since that man said those words to me, I’d been projecting him onto everything that reminded me of him. Maybe that’s why I ended up taking someone like Jute—an immature, concept-obsessed boy—so seriously.
Just then—
—That man? Who are you talking about?
Comet asked again.
Hmm? I don’t think Comet knows him. They probably never met. I decided to kindly explain.
Someone told me to clench my fist to make a contract with you. And thanks to what he said, I did make a contract with you. That’s how I ended up returning to the past. So I was wondering if the unpleasant feeling you sensed might be related to him.
—He recognized me? …A human? That’s impossible.
Comet denied it outright. Huh?
—How could a human recognize me? After my last contract, I completely hid even my appearance and tried to fade from this world. How could a person possibly recognize me?
“But… what if he’s not human?”
—Unless he’s a god, that’s impossible.
…A god?
I jolted at those words. What nonsense was this?
“A god?”
I recalled the man’s appearance and presence. Now that I thought about it, there really was something mystical about him. Almost as if he didn’t belong to this world. So… was he a god?
So putting it all together: a non-human man helped me; Comet sensed something extremely unpleasant from him; and he felt that same unpleasantness from Jute?
The more I tried to make sense of it, the more confused I became…
“There’s no such thing as a god, though.”
—What do you mean? Spirits like me exist. Why wouldn’t gods?
“…”
Comet’s retort made me blink. W-Well, when he puts it that way, it kind of makes sense…
Sure, I don’t personally believe in religion, but in the Empire, there are a lot of people who do. The only religion I knew of believed in a single god, even if it wasn’t the official state religion. Are there different kinds of gods?
“Are there multiple types of gods, like there are spirits like you?”
—Of course. That ‘one god’ you know is just the monotheistic god from that specific religion.
“Ah, I see.”
I responded and blinked again.
Then the man saying “see you soon” could’ve meant in some kind of heaven…? And here I am projecting him onto every man I meet, taking his words literally.
—Sigh… anyway, what I’m trying to say is, you should avoid that boy. He’s giving off seriously ominous vibes.
Okay. I’ll think about it later—if I run into him again.
I answered Comet and slowly closed my eyes. Jute said something about me being twenty, but let’s be real—that was nonsense. And besides, I’m not even sure I’ll ever see him again. People who live in those kinds of back alleys usually don’t live long.
—Please, master, seriously think about it. It’s way too suspicious. And even if he is a god, if he gives off that unpleasant a feeling…
Comet continued muttering in my mind, but I could feel my consciousness slowly fading. I exhaled and finally closed my eyes completely. Sleep washed over me like a wave.
Let’s sleep first… Once I wake up, I have to tell my family about the Parrot Gang’s location… I have so much to do.
I completely closed my eyes. Drowsiness swept over me like a tide.
A week later. Imperial Palace.
“Are you ready for today?”
Anna asked, clutching her skirt tightly. Her face was stiff with tension. I jolted awake mid-nap and lifted my head. Ready for what? And why does she look so nervous, like someone heading into battle?
“Of course I’m ready.”
Mayra replied instead. And her response was even more solemn than Anna’s. What? What are they talking about? I blinked in confusion.
“You look so pretty today. We put in the effort too, you know? It took twice as long as usual to get ready.”
“I was worried we wouldn’t have time to send out invitations since the decision was made so last minute, but thank goodness.”
“S-Sorry, but… I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I carefully and very, very cautiously interjected. Invitations? What invitations?
Now that they mentioned it, yeah, I was groomed for a long time today. The bath took twice as long, I changed outfits several times, and styling my hair took forever.
I thought all that was to fix my face, which looked like a wreck from exhaustion. But apparently, it was because there was another event planned for today.
Just as I was glancing between the two, waiting for an explanation, Mayra suddenly let out a frustrated sigh.
“Sis.”
“Huh? …Yeah?”
“I told you. Even Hebe told you. Don’t you remember? You really don’t remember the invitation?”
She shot me a sharp glare. It said, Don’t pretend you don’t know. I flinched and averted my eyes.
I was really sorry… but I had zero recollection. I’d been having the busiest week of my life.
During the day, I went through grueling training with Theodore. At night, I explored the mansion, testing out locations connected to magic circles. And in the middle of all that, I had to keep showing up at the palace to play with Princess Anna.
But thanks to all that effort, I had identified quite a few locations of the magic circles. I’d even learned the layout of this massive ducal estate inside and out.
