novelraw Chapter 105 : Chapter 105
Chapter 105 : Chapter 105
Chapter 105: The Lost Library (1)
Noon, the campus of Cia-Harphe Academy.
As a sharply honed cold wind brushed past Abel's collar,
[Professor Argento.]
Konstanze opened her mouth.
Abel and Konstanze were sitting on a bench.
Side by side, staring straight ahead.
[You seem to have been quite busy.]
“I suppose I was.”
Abel moved his shod foot. He crushed a leaf that had been rolling at his feet. As he cleared away the fragmented leaf, he recalled that he had probably been busy.
It wasn't for the sake of looking after the state of affairs. He had merely hovered around the students. He felt more like a professor than the Sword Saint. The semester evaluations would begin today, and the practical evaluation was a week away. It was probably right to have interacted with them moderately before leaving for Portsmouth. Abel reviewed with a stoic expression. Demian, Ernst, Roberta. The nature of the three students' talents.
[……You enjoyed it, didn't you?]
Konstanze wore a smile.
[Taking care of the students.]
“I'm not sure.”
Abel's gaze shifted to a distant place.
Students were walking in a group. Roberta, who had come to participate in the practical evaluation, stood in the middle, smiling cautiously. Demian and Ernst looked to be in a bad mood. Monika was walking silently with her nose clutched, and Lizer seemed to be using spirits to break down the foul smell.
“Vice President.”
Beyond the students, there were more students.
They seemed to be busy dealing with Roberta's mischief. It would probably take about half a day. If the professors helped, it could be restored easily. Due to this incident, Roberta received disciplinary action. After submitting twenty handwritten apology letters, she would have to visit every classroom to apologize.
“Why do you enjoy it?”
Curtis had decided to take care of the compensation for damages.
No matter how chaotic it was, it had been wrapped up as a mere prank.
“Teaching students, I mean.”
[……Well.]
At Abel's question, Konstanze pursed her lips.
No, that was a doll. The woman lost in thought was nothing more than a doll, and it was because she was a doll that he had asked. One that blindly cherished students, and broke when a student passed away. Even so, she was just a doll that could be restored with a few commands.
[Because I can take responsibility.]
Konstanze's answer was probably correct.
Because she was a doll, she had chosen a suitable answer through calculation and knowledge.
[Adults ought to take responsibility for children.]
“I see.”
Abel nodded once.
He then fell silent. As an awkward silence flowed, Konstanze stood up and took a step.
[I'll be going, Professor Argento. I have to deal with Miss Sinclair's mischief. With my clones, of course.]
“I will go to help as well.”
[Take your time.]
You seem to have a lot on your mind.
Konstanze muttered so and then smiled,
“Vice President.”
Abel asked quietly.
“Do you remember Fleur de Saint-Pierre.”
[Of course.]
Konstanze's answer was clear.
[She is a child who died. A child we couldn't take responsibility for, but there is no time to be immersed in sadness. There are so many children we must take responsibility for.]
Clear, and at the same time, barely optimistic.
Be absolutely optimistic. Iris's command was dominating Konstanze.
[Well then.]
As Konstanze's footsteps faded away,
Abel let out a faint sigh. He had no intention of refuting her. Everything Konstanze said was valid. Above all, Abel was more accustomed. To witnessing the deaths of the young, and engraving it somewhere in his heart.
It was merely ceremonial. Just a ritual performed with form and procedure. To picture the deceased in one's heart, and to suffer from a little guilt. Just as mourning repeats and hardens into a funeral, and as prayer flourishes and gives birth to liturgy, Abel was mourning Fleur in a way that had become too clear.
Thus, he clasped his hands.
There were statues of the main gods nearby.
He prayed. With his eyes closed and head bowed.
‘I hope you are well.’
There was no response.
For Abel, prayer had been useless for a long time.
His divine power no longer responded. It was because in the eyes of the main gods, Abel, and in Abel's eyes, the main gods, had become obvious. Prayer was a way of communication that could be sincere because it was incomplete.
Death was no different.
Abel had mastered it too well,
And he merely found it difficult to endure himself.
* * *
Evening, the Black Swan Building of Cia-Harphe Academy.
Monika, having finished her daily routine, dressed in her outdoor clothes. She was planning to go to the capital to do some shopping. There was little left of the Orléans family's sponsorship money that was given to her every month. It must be because she had been buying fresh flowers every day. Flowers that bloomed by hand, not through spells, were quite expensive.
‘Shall I go.’
Monika picked up the leather pouch containing gold coins.
In one hand, she held a shopping basket, and in the other, a scripture.
She intended to browse the scripture during her travel time. The semester evaluations had started today, and the course Monika was taking,
‘I’d rather swing a sword…….’
For Monika, memorization was like poison.
‘The first Pope had an audience with the five main gods at the summit of the World Tree.’
Gugugugugu──!
Amidst the prevalent sound of the scheduled airship's propellers,
Monika read the scripture, mixed in with the students. To interpret the old era based on the introduction of Soteriology, the first of the seven scriptures. She recalled the scope of the questions for
‘The World Tree is a blessing bestowed by the Mother God. The Pantheon is a distant temple built with countless World Trees as pillars, and one of the pillars that make up the Pantheon fell on Epezeria.’
This happened on November 7th, 43rd year of the Imperial Calendar──,
Wait. Do I have to memorize the date, November 7th, 43rd year?
Monika thought with a sigh. She was now reading the scripture while walking the streets of the capital.
‘The death of the first Pope is truly mysterious. After resolving to die, he entered a coffin, and the outside was sealed with large nails. However, when the coffin was opened three days later, he had disappeared. Without a trace, the first Pope.’
This happened on September 21st, 107th year of the Imperial Calendar──,
Wait a minute. When was the day the first Pope met the main gods?
‘Damn it, I can’t do this.’
Monika closed the scripture.
She put it into the shopping basket and lifted her head.
The scenery of the commercial district was laid out. An area where various shops filled a hill formed in a spiral shape. Because the commercial district was so large, it was impossible to travel on foot. One had to use the cable car that connected to each section.
‘Abel-sensei said no canned food…….’
Let’s buy ingredients that are easy to cook.
As Monika was thinking so and boarded the cable car,
- My, what's that rotten smell coming from somewhere.
- Did you smell it too? It's like the stench of a non-existent arm decaying.
- A non-existent arm decaying……, quite literary.
Uhahat, they went.
Three or four passengers jeered, glancing at Monika.
It was nothing. Monika pouted her lips and pretended not to notice. Until recently, she used to go out with her hand covered by a glove, but now she was used to walking around with her prosthetic arm exposed. If she was going to be despised wherever she went, it was better to become stronger herself.
Sons of bitches.
It was something she could just think and move on from.
Above all, not everyone looked down on Monika's disability.
If there was just one thing she didn't know,
‘This…….’
Monika moved her hands.
She reached out with her left hand made of flesh, and covered her right hand made of a monster's remains. She caressed it. It was just cold.
‘……can this be beautiful.’
Beautiful. Everything about you is beautiful.
Fleur had said so, but to Monika, it still felt like a strange adjective. If it was beautiful, it should be like a jewel, or like a sculpture, and if not, shouldn't it be acknowledged by the majority? And so, isn't all beauty universal?
What do you think.
How would you argue against that.
With your round blue eyes sparkling,
And your lips, always holding a stubborn smile, opening,
You would……,
“It’s dangerous.”
Suddenly, a voice reached Monika's ear.
“It’s dangerous, Miss Lohengrin.”
Monika, who had been lost in thought, lifted her head.
In the seat opposite Monika, a man completely covered in plate armor was sitting.
It was a truly strange armor. Because so many iron plates had been added, the shape of the armor was distorted. The roundly swollen shape was just like an onion.
“Um……”
Monika knew the man's name.
“Hello, Mr. Grylls.”
“It’s not a good hello. This world is full of danger. What are you going to do if this cable car crashes right now? It's dangerous. We are always in danger!”
Canaria Grylls.
The owner of ‘You Only Live Once’, a shop for survivalists.
Monika had been indebted to Canaria before. When she moved into the Black Swan Building, she had bought several items from Canaria's shop at a low price.
“I happened to see you and boarded the cable car, but I can't stand it. The risk of overturning is too high. The steel cable the car is hanging from is too thin, and the pulley is loose.”
“Yes, right……”
Monika smiled awkwardly.
Canaria was steeped in fear. As befitting the owner of a shop for survivalists.
“Why, Miss Lohengrin. Why don't you visit our shop again? I followed you to ask this.”
“Well……”
Because it seemed like she had gone too far.
Because Abel-sensei was worried, and because it seemed she had acquired enough strength to protect herself.
Before Monika said that,
“……I’m not scared anymore.”
She opened her mouth in a cautious tone.
“Before, I was scared that another war would break out……”
“It's dangerous. War is dangerous. War games are also dangerous. You could get a concussion if you get hit in the head with a toy sword.”
“I was scared of being harmed by someone……”
“It's dangerous. Others are dangerous. Even family is dangerous. My parents tried to sell me to the circus.”
“I was scared even just standing still……”
“It's dangerous. Life itself is dangerous. You could die right now from misstepping while going down the stairs!”
“……I think I’m okay now.”
Monika whispered so and smiled, but,
“Hmm.”
Canaria thought for a very brief moment, then,
“In that case, Miss Lohengrin, what would you do in a situation like this?”
He asked, holding up one index finger.
“You may not be in danger, but if someone close to you is in danger……”
Are you not concerned about such a situation?
.
.
.
A little later, the bustling streets of capital Naflansee.
Monika stood still with a swollen shopping basket,
“So……”
Abel narrowed his eyes.
“You fell for a merchant’s trick and bought those things.”
“They’re not, they’re not ‘those things’. They’re high-performance security devices. I’m going to give them to Trisha, Melisha, and Sasha tomorrow. I also bought armor for Thunderstorm to wear!”
Monika argued, hugging her shopping basket.
She had just run into Abel by chance. Abel, who had checked the items in her shopping basket, had questioned their purpose, and Monika was arguing even though she knew she was in the wrong. In the first place, it wasn't just Monika who was wrong. Abel was also thoroughly in the wrong.
“What are you doing right now, Sensei!”
Monika pointed to the wooden board Abel was holding.
Seeking a partner for a contract marriage. As soon as Monika read the words written on the wooden board, her mind went blank.
“Did you finally realize you’re of marriageable age? You’re looking for a partner in a truly outrageous way!”
“……I'm just being punished.”
Abel placed the wooden board at his feet.
He frowned and remained silent, then continued in a sigh-filled voice.
“Monika, as part of a mission given by His Holiness the Pope……”
“His Holiness the Pope told you to get married?”
“……That’s right.”
“Who would believe that? You might as well say His Holiness the Pope is raising a thousand earthworms?”
“I saw him doing just that when I met him after a long time.”
“Oh, please.”
Monika's expression contorted.
On the other hand, she thought it might not be a bluff. The story about the earthworms was surely a lie, but she had a hunch that he was active as the Sword Saint to maintain a cover identity. Even so, what was wrong was wrong.
“Listen carefully, Sensei.”
Hmph, it went.
Monika said, puffing out a breath through her nose.
“You’ll never find a partner that way. What kind of crazy woman would suddenly agree to a marriage──.”
“──I’ll do it.”
“would say yes.”
“──I'll marry you.”
Silence.
Monika, who had been chattering away, fell silent.
It was to mull over the words she had heard from behind her. Getting married? Monika's eyes widened as she grasped the meaning. But it was strange. It wasn't the meaning of the words, but the tone of the voice itself that gave her chills. It was because such a beautiful voice had brushed past her ear.
“I’ll marry you, Mr. Abel Argento.”
Monika hesitated and looked back.
Abel stood still with a blank expression.
“But I don't want a fake marriage.”
A woman wrapped in a thick robe.
Abel and Monika knew her name.
“I’ll give you a chance to love me.”
The face revealed through the gap in the robe was blurry, but it wasn't difficult to recognize her identity.
“How about it, isn't it an honor?”
Penelope Polastiras.
The empire's greatest songstress stood facing Abel.