Nearly two weeks have passed since I arrived in Arburn, the official capital of the Principality of Agreable.
The insect incident in the alleyways has calmed down, and what’s causing a commotion instead was the installation of the magic tools.
The motivation of the patrol guards has been restored, and peace has returned to the alleyways. But in the end, why the government acted is still a mystery. Giselle is investigating the matter, but it’s a matter of the country’s upper echelons. There is no way we can find out easily.
The mysterious person who eavesdropped on my conversation with Giselle had never shown themselves since then, so I have no idea who they were.
“What a poor weather.”
It was cloudy and looked like it was about to rain.
It’s days like this that bad things are bound to happen.
The day of my condemnation was also rainy.
“I hope nothing happens…”
That’s what I thought as I went out.
Giselle, who is usually with me, has gone out to investigate the country’s actions, and there’s no need to take Jed with me, so I’m alone today.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the church.”
A church I found while guarding a back alley. It was empty when I entered it, standing quietly. I didn’t know if it was because of the weather or the bad location, but I was grateful to be alone.
I was surrounded by a solemn atmosphere as the silence flowed.
“How nostalgic…”
When I was living in the Ansanse Kingdom, I used to visit the church with my father and brother. We were not devout believers, however.
It was the last place I saw my late mother, so I felt like I could see her whenever I visited the church.
“Mother…”
I vaguely recalled my mother’s face.
She had a face very similar to my current one, but unlike me, she always wore a gentle smile.
I loved my mother because she cared about our family more than anyone else.
I now regret not bringing one of her portraits when I left the house.
“Mother, if you have lived, would I still be here?”
I was often told that when she was alive, my mother was a better magician than anyone else. I have learned a few things from her, too.
If my mother had lived, would the tragedy have ever happened?
Would my mother have noticed the charm spell earlier and stopped it?
I asked the statue of the Holy Mother, but got no answer.
I felt sad, even though it was natural.
“It’s useless to only think about what ifs, right?”
No matter how much I thought about it, I could not change the past.
For the next hour or so, I stared blankly at the statue of the Holy Mother.
“Let’s get out of here.”
As I got up and left the church, the cloudy sky was getting worse.
It was going to start raining soon.
I started to walk back to the inn before it started to rain.
“Elle…?”
Just after I passed through the church gate, a different, lower voice called my name.
I have a bad feeling about this.
I shouldn’t look back.
It’s better to just walk away.
An alarm sounded in my head. But why did I turn around?
“Father…”
My father’s face, which I hadn’t seen in a month, had gotten skinny.