Chapter 77
Gremory, in the form of a cat, buried her face into Cheshion’s chest. Cheshion held and gently petted her as he walked up the stairs out of the underground.
“It’s okay now, Mori. Only bright days await you.”
“…It’s still dark.”
“If you lift your head, it’ll get brighter. Can you breathe better like that?”
Gremory didn’t reply, only gave a weak flick of her limp tail. Cheshion looked at her with sympathy, stroking her back.
At last, they reached the surface. Bright sunlight poured in through the window.
“Mori, look over there.”
At Cheshion’s words, Gremory slowly lifted her head and looked outside. Her half-closed eyes began to widen.
“The monsters are gone?”
All the monsters that had lived near Fort Poquint had been purified. The black, twisted trees had regained their lush, original form. Sunlight poured down over them.
Tweet tweet—birdsong echoed peacefully. Gremory’s tense body slowly relaxed.
Cheshion placed a light kiss on the back of Gremory’s small head.
“Mori, destroying the remaining soul fragments will be hard, but hang in there a bit longer. Once you’re free from the Demon God, we’ll travel together and enjoy beautiful sights in freedom, okay?”
“…Okay.”
Back at the Edel Ducal Estate.
Gremory was drinking daytime liquor in the garden with Isolen. Isolen poured whiskey into a glass while eyeing Gremory’s haggard face. She looked as burdened as a weary old soul.
“So, that happened 200 years ago? You were the Demon God’s twin sister?”
“Sigh… Why does this taste so awful? I feel like throwing up. Don’t humans say alcohol tastes sweet when you’re troubled?”
“You say you feel like puking, but you’ve already had two bottles. Just finish what’s in your glass and stop. Here, have some snacks too.”
Isolen stabbed an apple slice with a fork and popped it into Gremory’s mouth. Gremory munched it slowly. Isolen, while pitying her, also began to feel annoyed.
How long am I supposed to babysit her? This is getting annoying. I’ve got work to do too.
She had come back; she could at least pretend to work or help as a maid. But this freeloader witch was just lazing around.
Gremory buried her face in her hands, sighing repeatedly. Drunk, she began to whine about her life.
“How can someone’s life be this miserable? After all I went through, I died, and now I was reincarnated just to be a sacrifice?”
“Yeah, your life’s tragic. But once you destroy the rest of the soul fragments, everything will calm down, right? Just hold on a bit more.”
“Seriety must want me to destroy the soul fragments too, right?”
“Of course. That’s the only way she’ll be freed from pain.”
Gremory gulped down the whiskey in her glass and began to rant.
“I honestly don’t like Princess Ibelia. Why do I have to do what she says and clean up the royal family’s mess? I’m clearly the victim here—why should I handle the aftermath too?”
“Yeah, it makes sense you don’t like her.”
“I hate the royal family. They’re annoying. I wish they’d destroy the soul fragments themselves. Why do I have to deal with it?”
Isolen was getting irritated with the unusually whiny Gremory. Just as she was thinking of an excuse to leave, Gremory lifted her head and smiled calmly.
“Letting it all out like that helped. Thanks for listening.”
“Of course I listened. We’re friends, after all.”
“Right, friends. You’re a precious friend to me. I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Wha—what’s with that all of a sudden? That’s so cheesy.”
Isolen was speechless. The strange hostility she had felt earlier vanished. In its place, guilt began to grow.
I’m the worst. She just told me I’m a precious friend, and I was getting annoyed at her…
Memories of their time together flashed through Isolen’s mind—tea parties, exchanging gifts, laughing while driving out Catherine.
“…Mori, I’ll take over your tasks for now. Just rest and pull yourself together.”
“No, hic… You’ve got a lot to do, right? I’ll help you… ugh.”
Gremory staggered to her feet and started dry-heaving. The alcohol had finally hit her. Isolen quickly caught her.
“What work?! Just go lie down and sober up!”
“No. If you work alone, it’s tough. I’ll help…”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying! What do you think you can do in that state?”
Just then, something caught Gremory’s eye.
“A black goat!”
A chubby black goat was wandering the garden, origin unknown. Gremory broke free from Isolen and ran toward it.
At the same time, Ibelia stepped down from a carriage, having brought the goats as a gift. Seeing Gremory run up, she greeted her cheerfully.
“Nice to see you, Mori. No need to come all the way out to greet me.”
“…”
“I heard you succeeded in destroying the first soul fragment. With the Demon God’s power weakened, he shouldn’t be as violent for now. And… Oh heavens, watch out!”
Gremory, staggering toward her, tripped. Ibelia caught her quickly, but the wave of alcohol smell made her frown.
“Did you… drink during the day?”
“…”
Gremory looked up and stared at Ibelia’s face. Her drunken eyes slowly regained focus.
“…Mori?”
Just as Ibelia sensed something was wrong and murmured—
“Blaaagh!”
Gremory vomited right onto Ibelia’s dress.
Silence fell. Anna, who was bringing out snacks, saw the scene and dropped her plate.
Unbothered, Gremory slumped against Ibelia and passed out peacefully.
Ibelia changed into one of Gremory’s dresses. While Gremory lay snoring, belly exposed, Cheshion met Ibelia in the sitting room.
“I’ll apologize on Mori’s behalf. She’s mentally and physically drained lately.”
Cheshion poured tea into Ibelia’s cup. She smiled lightly and took a sip.
“It’s fine. I’ll consider it Amelia’s revenge against the royal family.”
“How’s your body? You fainted from divine punishment, yet you woke up quickly.”
“Guess the heavens went easy on me since it’s my first offense. I’m a little tired, but I can manage.”
“There must be a reason you came all the way to the duchy in that condition. Something urgent?”
“Yes. Two things. First, there’s a stir about the Dead Lands being purified. I’ll cover it up as a blessing from the heavens, so you just play dumb.”
Cheshion nodded. If the empire found out the real reason behind the purification—especially the royal family’s crimes, black magic, and the demons from 200 years ago—it would cause massive chaos.
“Alright. And the second reason?”
“Do you still have the magical creature I gave you? The first emperor’s companion?”
“You mean Ham? I figured he was unusual when he showed me those visions. So he was the emperor’s companion. He’s turned gray now and doesn’t move. Only glows when showing memories.”
“He’s old. Over 200. That’s long-lived even for a magical creature. He’ll shine again soon.”
“Meaning, when Ham glows again, he’ll show the location of the second soul fragment?”
Ibelia just smiled in reply. She feared that if she said more, she might faint again—or worse.
“I’ve said what I needed to say. I’ll take my leave now.”
“You just got here. Why not rest for a day?”
“A royal guest makes servants nervous.”
Ibelia climbed back into her carriage and returned to the palace. Her face remained dark the whole ride. Forcing others into hardship was never enjoyable.
But that wasn’t the only issue. After being struck by divine punishment, her foresight had greatly weakened. She couldn’t see the future, and had even forgotten the visions she once knew.
This is bad. I clearly saw something terrible happening to me in the future, but I can’t remember what it was.
That’s why she had to leave the Edel estate in a hurry. She feared her presence might bring misfortune to it.
And… I think there was something I had to tell them about the second soul fragment… but I can’t remember. Just thinking about it makes my head feel like it’ll split.
While she struggled to recall through the pounding headache, the sun slowly began to set.
Thanks to a speed enchantment cast by a palace magician, her carriage safely and swiftly reached the capital.
A knight helped Ibelia down as she stepped out.
