novelraw Chapter 58 : Chapter 58
Chapter 58 : Chapter 58
Chapter 58: The Funeral of Things (2)
In the midst of the silence, Monika's mouth opened.
“Not at all……, I don't?”
It was true that she had been wary. Because they were the children of renowned families. Outside of CIAR, she probably wouldn't have even been able to make eye contact with them.
But she had never particularly disliked them. The students of Abel's class, though not ordinary, had never shown a sense of superiority precisely because they were not ordinary. Rather, it was Monika who had been concerned that she might be found unpleasant. Because she had been ignored countless times during her janitor days.
“I don't dislike you. I've never thought that.”
It's not that there isn't anyone I dislike…….
Monika thought, glancing at Fleur's seat.
There was no one there. Fleur had left without waiting in the classroom.
“Unni Fleur said so.”
Roberta scratched the back of her neck.
“She said she had a few words with Unni Monika, and it seemed like you found her very difficult. So she said it would be better not to approach you.”
“No, I've never found her difficult……”
Difficult? Her?
Monika frowned. To Monika, Fleur was just a hateful child. She had never been scared of her.
“If it's a misunderstanding, that's a relief, but by the way, Unni Fleur is……”
Roberta's gaze tilted along with Monika's.
After staring at Fleur's seat for a while, she looked at Demian and Ernst alternately.
“Is she okay? Everyone's keeping quiet about it, but you know. Something unusual is happening to the Saint-Pierre family.”
At Roberta's words, Demian crossed his arms and Ernst let out a sigh. There was no way they wouldn't know. The ‘Daily Watcher’, as well as all the news sources in the capital, were talking about it. About the murder cases being committed against the members of the Saint-Pierre family.
“It's a sad thing. There are too many evil people in this world.”
Demian muttered with a frown.
It was a tumultuous era. Although national-scale armed conflicts had become rare since the Mirror War, crime, fueled by industrialization, was becoming rampant. Groups that even bought and sold murder based on the logic of capital had emerged. In short, Demian predicted that it was the crime of a force outside the Saint-Pierre family.
“Is it anything new? Even our family is quite a mess.”
Ernst whispered with a bitter smile.
It was always like that. The nobles had even killed their own kin. As long as it was to seize power. Cases of harming one's parents to seize a title were ordinary, and being young was not entirely safe either. In short, Ernst predicted that it was the work of an insider of the Saint-Pierre family.
‘Why is everyone so calm?’
Monika thought, pursing her lips.
Demian and Ernst's expressions were so calm. They just seemed to find it bitter, but they didn't show any signs of fear or bewilderment. Rather, they seemed to be resigned.
Monika was no different. During her days of barely surviving in the slums, she had witnessed corpses every day. That's precisely why she didn't know. About the power struggles between noble families, or within a family.
“In any case, I understand, O goddess of amber.”
Ahem, he went.
Ernst clearing his throat.
“Anyway, I understand, Monika.”
Demian translated Ernst's words.
“I, Ernst von Tresckow, am duly considering. So you may unburden your heart.”
“I know everything. So you can be honest.”
“You must have received countless censures while working as a janitor. It is a very sad thing. There are truly many who deserve to be struck by lightning.”
“You must have been bullied a lot during your janitor days. It's a regrettable thing. Why are there so many damn bastards?”
“But, O goddess, I want to engrave my sincerity in your jewel-like eyes.”
“Er, how can you write letters on someone's eyes?”
Demian's expression hardened.
“That's torture. I refuse to translate.”
“You idiot, it means to trust me.”
“I see. Trust me, Monika.”
“Even if you find us uncomfortable……”
“Even if you think badly of us……”
“I will prove it. That I, Ernst von Tresckow, am a man with a clean heart.”
“I'll prove it. That I don't have a heart condition.”
“Do it properly, Demian!”
“Your words are too difficult.”
“Argh, really!”
Ernst scratched his head irritably.
Ahah, she went. Monika burst into laughter without realizing it. A silence followed. Monika covered her mouth and looked around. Roberta, Demian, and Ernst looked at each other alternately, then soon nodded their heads.
“I look forward to working with you, Unni.”
Roberta's hand extended toward Monika.
“We're not such bad people. Oppa Demian's heart just got sick from reading the wrong books when he was a child, and Oppa Ernst, although he pretends not to be, is just a strange person no different from Oppa Demian.”
They're strange, but they're not bad people.
Roberta whispered so.
“Right?”
“Ah……”
Monika hesitated for a moment, then,
“Yeah, I think so.”
She extended her hand, whispering softly.
“I look forward to working with you too.”
A faint warmth settled in the space between their hands.
.
.
.
[I'm glad you're safe, Lady Monika.]
Fabien said, carrying a plate.
[I have heard the general story. They say they plan to disassemble the combat-type golems in the research building shortly.]
“They're going to disassemble them?”
[That is correct. Because they have to figure out the cause of the rampage.]
Thump, he went.
A plate was placed beside Monika.
On the plate, engraved with a rose pattern, was a large beef steak. It was a rare steak made by searing the surface of a tenderloin. The center, where the juices had gathered, was sparkling like fresh fruit pulp.
[The other golems, including myself, have also been summoned.]
Then, thump, he went.
A glass was placed beside Monika.
It was filled with warm mulled wine. Wine that had been boiled for a long time with fruits and various spices. Monika wrapped her hands around the glass containing it. The rich cinnamon scent filled Monika's nose.
[It seems they are planning a large-scale inspection. In case the other golems also go on a rampage.]
“……I see.”
Monika lifted the glass.
After moistening her lips with the mulled wine, she looked at Fabien.
“Is it…… a common thing for golems to go on a rampage?”
[Well.]
Fabien sat across from Monika.
With a mechanical smile on his face.
[It could be said to be common, or it could be said to be not. If we were to discuss the probability, it is similar to the possibility of getting into a traffic accident. The high and low of the index would be judged differently by each intelligent life form. A golem does not have the authority to distinguish.]
Fabien's outline reflected in Monika's amber eyes.
So upright. Monika thought as she looked at Fabien. Fabien, sitting in the chair, was like a sculpture. There was not even a slight tremor, and his fresh blond hair and golden eyes were somehow scrupulous. Like the living room scenery spread out behind Fabien.
The Black Swan Building of Cia-Harpe Academy.
Monika had just returned to the dormitory. Abel had not shown up in the end, and the classmates had soon dispersed. It seemed the situation was quite complicated. To the point of even summoning the other golems.
Meanwhile, the structure of Monika's living room had changed.
The scenery that was like a survivalist's dwelling had become desolate. It was because she had disposed of things she thought were unnecessary. The box full of canned food, the books on how to survive in a disaster, even various tools like a rainwater filtration device were sold off, leaving a few coins.
On the other hand, names were left.
The pieces of paper with the names of those who had lived in Sarrifis.
Only that was filling the living room wall.
‘You said you wished I would decorate my dwelling like a peer.’
Monika recalled Abel's words.
He had said he wished she would place her favorite dolls, be engrossed in decorating the wallpaper and flooring, and fill it with such pleasant decorations that were beautiful even if useless.
I don't know. Monika thought, resting her chin on her hand. What on earth is a dwelling like a peer?
“……Mr. Fabien, are you okay?”
In the first place, what is it to be like a peer?
Monika opened her mouth, wondering so.
“The other golems died. Aren't you sad?”
Fabien tilted his head to one side.
The Mana Reactor attached to his chest flickered. A halo of light sparkled from between his neatly worn clothes.
[You are pure, Lady Monika.]
A smile spread across Fabien's lips.
[It must be a time when your sensitivity is prominent. Because most humans in their adolescence are like that.]
Is that so. Was the question I just asked like a peer?
Damn it, I don't know what's what. Just as Monika thought so and tilted her eyes,
[Lady Monika, one of the golems you and the others faced today is…….]
Probably my wife, he said.
Fabien muttered in an endlessly calm tone.
[Will you be shocked if I say this? But please don't be. Golems do not have the concept of a married couple. It was just a relationship ordered by our former master. She was the young lady of a cleric family, and she loved playing with dolls very much.]
Golems are always okay. Because they have no emotions.
So they do not die. They are just disposed of.
They also do not feel sadness. Although they can feign it.
[So, Lady Monika.]
Fabien attached his elbows to his body. Lightly, so as not to seem forced. It was forbidden to extend one's hands under the table. Because it meant one did not trust the other person.
In other words, it was a posture faithful to etiquette. Sitting upright in the chair as if in a painting,
[You have worked hard today as well.]
Fabien whispered in a clear tone.
[Please have your meal. You must be very hungry.]
* * *
Weekend afternoon, the catacomb of the Naflansee Cathedral.
Monika stood with her back to the elevator. She was waiting for Abel, shuffling the stone floor with the front of her boots.
When on earth is he coming? Monika opened the pocket watch hanging from her waist. Three hours had already passed. Since Abel had left for an interview with the archbishop of the Naflansee Cathedral. In the meantime, Monika had stopped by the commercial district to do some shopping. A large, bulging paper bag was placed beside Monika.
“I'm sorry, Monika.”
Abel appeared shortly after.
Holding a letter sealed with a wax stamp.
“It took longer than expected. Everyone was busy.”
Eat a candy, he said.
Abel said, holding out a wrapped lollipop.
“They can't help but be busy. The commercial district was also incredibly crowded.”
Monika nibbled on the lollipop.
She looked around, holding the paper bag in her arms.
Clerics were busily coming and going.
“Because the Moonlight Day is just around the corner.”
The Moonlight Day was a national holiday commemorating the birth of the first Pope.
The moon that wandered Epezeria. It was the right eye of the World God. If the sun symbolized the emperor, the moon meant the pope, and because the gaze of the dead god became the moonlight and shone on the first pope, it was the Moonlight Day. Monika had learned that the holiday had such a meaning.
“Good for you.”
Abel said, calling the elevator.
“You'll get a three-day break starting next Monday.”
“I won't rest. I have so much to do. I have to train in swordsmanship, and I have to write a short thesis. And I still don't know how to control my divine power……”
“There is no need for that.”
Thud, he went.
The elevator stopping beside Abel.
Abel opened the iron gate and looked back at Monika.
“Enjoy the festival with your friends.”
“No thanks. Trisha, Melisha, and Sasha will probably be going to work anyway.”
“Wouldn't it be fine to use my name? Professor Argento summoned the janitors for a personal matter. It would be fine to report it like that. If you want, I can send a letter.”
The elevator began to ascend.
As the sound of the chains winding echoed, Abel examined the letter he had received from the archbishop. After breaking the wax seal on the outer envelope, he checked the contents. It was, so to speak, an approval for an exorcism rite.
“Emilio Mackenzie.”
Monika opened her mouth.
“That child who was summoned with the golems……, was he really possessed by an evil spirit?”
Such a rumor was spreading.
That Emilio was possessed by an evil spirit, and that he would wander the school grounds without being aware of it himself. That the rampage of the golems was also the work of the evil spirit that had possessed Emilio.
There were also several witnesses. There were students who had seen Emilio walking on the campus late at night, or muttering strange things.
“I don't know.”
Abel answered indifferently.
At the same time, he recalled the ghost story Joshua had told him. Did he say a boy possessed by an evil spirit wanders? To devour good souls. It seemed the students of CIAR thought the old ghost story was related to Emilio.
‘That can't be.’
Abel shook his head.
A ghost story was a rumor that hardened over a long period of time, and Emilio was just a boy of about ten. And he probably wasn't even possessed by an evil spirit. Abel had not found any trace of an evil spirit from Emilio.
‘What is inside that child is…….’
Not an evil spirit.
It must be something more bizarre.
Abel was certain as he sealed the archbishop's approval. The monster's core-like shape he had detected in Emilio's body. Based on that, it was highly likely that high-level black magic was involved. Handling the power of monsters was also one of the schools of black magic.
‘That is why an exorcism rite is needed.’
The exorcism rite was not just a ritual to cast out evil spirits. It was just that what possessed the inner thoughts of a living being was mainly an evil spirit, it was closer to the work of purifying a contaminated mind.
The process of transferring a part of one's soul into the body of the possessed.
That is why it was accompanied by danger. The body was a frame made for a single being, and it was bound to become unstable if a separate soul dwelled in it. Not only the possessed, but also the one performing the exorcism rite was in danger of death.
“Teacher Abel.”
Suddenly, Monika said.
“Actually, I also……, saw something like an evil spirit a while ago.”
Abel looked back at Monika.
Monika stood leaning against the elevator.
“I don't know if it really was an evil spirit.”
Heave-ho, she went.
Monika said, holding the paper bag upright.
“Because I had never seen an evil spirit before. As funeral costs decreased, evil spirits also decreased, right? But……”
Monika's lips pursed.
A funeral is a ritual to guide the soul of the deceased to the Underworld. A soul that did not experience this would soon degenerate into an evil spirit. That is why evil spirits were rampant in the days when death was common. For example, in the era dominated by war, epidemics, and natural disasters.
“……I think it was an evil spirit.”
Monika told Abel.
About the black woman she had seen a few weeks ago.
That's right. The being Monika saw must be an evil spirit. Abel thought, putting the archbishop's approval in the inner pocket of his formal wear. To think that an evil spirit was witnessed in the middle of CIAR. It was something that could not be easily understood.
“Monika.”
Abel stood beside Monika.
The religious group organized by the apostates, the serial killings against the Saint-Pierre family, the evil spirit witnessed at CIAR, and Emilio Mackenzie, who was eroded by black magic. All these incidents must be connected by a single thread. Abel was certain through his past experiences.
“It must be heavy. Give it here.”
But, he did not tell Monika.
He just snatched the large, bulging paper bag.
“Candles, straw dolls, and flower blossoms……”
Abel looked inside the paper bag.
“You bought a lot. What are you going to use them for?”
“I'm going to hold a funeral.”
At Abel's question, Monika answered.
“With Mr. Fabien……, I'm going to hold a funeral for the combat-type golems.”