Chapter 77
Chapter 77
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: In Search of Companions
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"From now on, your name is Luna. Got it?"
"I am Lunia."
"I know that. But you can't use the name Lunia in this world. It's the name of a goddess. What do you think would happen if you went around saying, 'I am Lunia'?"
"Even if it's just an empty shell, they would welcome me back to the earth after thousands of years and shed tears of joy."
"That's not it! You'd get reported as a crazy woman claiming to be the goddess and dragged off by the inquisitors for torture! No, that might actually be better! Who knows how far the Underground Vermin's influence has spread? If you go around saying 'I am the goddess,' they'll snatch you right back up! Do you want to be tied up there again?!"
I yelled, and Lunia... Luna shook her head vigorously.
"Then from now on, your name is Luna. Never say Lunia anywhere."
"Unable to be called by my true name..."
"Huh?"
"It's nothing."
Spending a few days with Luna had made one thing clear: sticking by her side too long would give me a stress-related illness.
She spoke in an overly archaic manner, yet she never said things directly—she always beat around the bush until it made me dizzy just listening.
Above all, she had zero common sense about the human world, to the point where being around her sometimes made me feel like the idiot.
It was a miracle she'd reached even this level after days of constant corrections.
And there was an even more practical issue.
"Ugh..."
On the third day, Luna grimaced in pain, clutching her stomach and chest as she collapsed. But after three days of her antics, I asked casually.
"What is it this time?"
"Pain... all over my body..."
"Did you forget to eat again?"
"No... I... haa... I ate properly... and drank... ugh... but this is..."
"You didn't forget to go to the bathroom, right?"
"That... too... no..."
Only then did I jump to my feet.
I'd drilled into her the basics—eating, drinking, even handling bodily functions—to prevent disasters, and she'd seemed to understand.
If she was suddenly in this much pain from something else...
"Aftereffects?"
"It seems... like... ugh!"
Seeing her break out in cold sweat and writhe, I quickly pulled out my Light Saber and activated its healing power.
But her condition didn't improve. She curled up on the ground like a shrimp, gasping for breath.
Three days had passed—why now, with no warning?
I checked her complexion and pulse, probing her state.
"Why isn't the healing working? It was originally your power—it should work on you even if not on others! Where does it hurt? Curse? Spell?"
"B-breathing... so hard... my stomach... huuugh...! My head... hurts so much..."
Muscles twitched across her body, and she clutched her head, retching repeatedly.
"Damn... what the hell? No signs of a curse at all..."
Frustrated, I supported her and pressed her.
"What happened? You were fine yesterday! Nothing today? Tell me exactly what you did!"
"Ugh...! I woke up... ate with you... while you went to the nearby city with your hood up to buy daily necessities..."
Had she been attacked then?
"I tidied up the camp... and suddenly thought... no need to do it three times a day so bothersome... better to finish it all at once..."
"Pardon?"
"So... I measured a day's worth of food and water... and consumed it all at once..."
"Hey."
It kept happening like this.
Having never lived as a human, Luna had no grasp of basic human physiology and did all sorts of outrageous things.
She'd taken the most familiar human form for everyone, but living as a real human was entirely new to her—a complete blank slate.
It felt like carrying around a pampered princess instead of a goddess.
I had her suck on some preserved salted meat I'd packed for emergencies to ease the salt poisoning symptoms and waited for her stomach issues to settle, feeling like a total fool.
"In this urgent situation, why am I here playing idiot wrangler? I'm not a babysitter..."
Soon after, her condition improved, and Luna sat down beside me.
"I truly thought I'd return to the stars this time. Once again, you saved me. My gratitude for your noble soul's exalted deed."
"If I'd just watched you keel over from gorging a whole day's food and water at once, I'd be too ashamed to admit it anywhere. That's why I helped. Please stop doing stupid shit."
"I always make the most rational judgment—"
"Got it. If you're better, let's move. I need to find my companions quick."
"Do you know where they are?"
"That's why I'm heading to the nearest city to mask up and gather info."
"Then allow me to guide you."
I gaped at her in disbelief, tilting my head.
"You? Guide?"
Luna looked faintly miffed.
"Yes, I can guide you."
"The girl who nearly died from chugging a day's meals is leading the way? Guess I don't need to worry about directions at all."
"...I know the direction."
Her voice rose a bit—turns out even this emotionless woman could get annoyed.
"You know where they are? The three of them—where?"
"Not exactly your companions' location. But I know where someone is who can easily find them for you."
"Who?"
"Linian."
It had been ages since hearing that name after leaving Libertà.
Libertà had burned down, so Linian must have left too. I had no clue where she'd gone since, but Luna knew?
"How do you know where Linian is?"
"Linian is one of my first creations, alongside Solaris and Lunarin. In human terms, like my child. They're the ones most strongly connected to me, so even if they don't know where I am, I know where they are. Even in my current state without divinity."
Luna closed her eyes, focusing as if searching, then turned toward another direction.
"I can only sense her position, but Linian, having lived among humans far longer, can pinpoint many others I can't. Meeting her and asking about your companions should reveal their location easily."
"......She won't suddenly attack when we meet? She'll cooperate properly?"
Luna narrowed her eyes at me.
"Do you doubt and belittle every word and action of mine?"
"...Put your hand on your heart and think about the last three days."
"......"
Luna literally placed her hand on her chest and stared blankly at the sky.
Less than ten seconds later, she replied.
"Upon reflection, you have no reason to think that."
......Her shamelessness was a talent.
Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis had spent the past three days supporting the gravely injured Benjamin, who could barely move, as they headed toward a major Lunia Church cathedral nearby.
All the while, they stayed up nights weeping, desperately searching for any trace of Alvis.
"Sniff... Alvis, where the hell are you...? You're alive, right...?"
"Sob... Idiot... Moron... Leaving us to escape alone—what were we supposed to do...?"
"Hic... H-he couldn't be dead... He must be alive. When we meet... I'll slap him as hard as I can... for worrying us..."
"Urgh..."
Benjamin groaned in pain from his bedroll, and the three hurriedly changed his bandages and applied medicine.
Breathing raggedly, he expressed his thanks.
"Huff... huff... Thank you, ladies of the Holy Warrior. I've been nothing but a burden since he saved my life—it's shameful..."
"Just focus on recovering. Once we reach the church and you clear up the misunderstanding about Alvis and us, we'll ask for nothing more."
"Huff... Of course! I never dreamed Robert was the traitor... or that the current Holy Warrior was a fake. I'll survive to the church and expose the truth. But the Holy Warrior..."
Asking about Alvis's whereabouts darkened their faces completely.
Realizing his slip, Benjamin backpedaled hastily.
"N-no intent to worry you! And he's surely alive."
"Thank you for the comfort."
"It's not empty words. Alvis was the real Holy Warrior, right? And there are forces wishing his death, with Robert—one of the Goddess's Sword Squadron lieutenants—among them. If he'd failed to escape and truly died, news of the fake Holy Warrior's execution would be blasting worldwide nonstop."
Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis exchanged glances, clinging to faint hope.
"Impostors get public executions as examples. Especially with multiple Roberts plotting against Alvis—they'd broadcast it far and wide to crush followers like you. No such news means he's alive."
"...You're right. Thank you. I was too panicked to think of that."
As Benjamin rested again, the three women built a campfire and prepared camp.
Their hearts were a bit lighter, but without Alvis noisily hyping things up during setup and meals, a gaping hole lingered in each of their chests.
Not just Ravi and Lenis, who'd shared their bodies with him, but even Elfin, who'd always cursed and hated him.
'Alvis... I miss you... Please be alive...'
If Alvis appeared alive before her eyes again, Elfin felt she'd joyfully accept even if he suddenly kissed her like last time.