Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Responsibility Without Pleasure (2)
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"Hmm-hmm, hum~♪"
Sophia Aquilova was heading to the chapel with lighter steps than ever before.
She had always lived without a care in the world, which was her greatest strength, but today's Sophia was even more special.
"Hmm-hmm~♪♩"
She was humming a tune as she walked toward the chapel, clutching an invitation in her hand.
It was something Swordsmanship Instructor Chiron had handed her right after morning classes ended not long ago.
- "Aquilova. Take this."
- "What's this?"
- "It's an invitation to the Swordmaster qualification exam."
A Swordmaster qualification exam invitation.
Chiron had scratched his head in disbelief as he gave it to her.
- "I never imagined the day would come when I'd be handing one of these to a student while serving as an instructor at Erebos."
- "Is it something good?"
- "It's an honor. There are barely seven Swordmasters in the entire kingdom. No, make that six now that Count Raimund has fallen from grace."
- "Hmm... Why'd that count fall from grace anyway?"
It was only natural that Chiron's jaw dropped at Sophia's question.
- "It's because of you, Aquilova! That assassin we repelled during the dungeon exploration practical!"
- "Oh, right, that happened."
- "That's not something you just brush off as 'oh, right'! Don't you even remember nearly dying?"
She didn't bother remembering things that weren't important.
- "So, if I show this to Master, will he be happy?"
What mattered to Sophia was something else entirely.
She was curious about how her master, Leo, would react upon seeing this Swordmaster qualification exam invitation.
Chiron had grinned at the question and said,
- "What master wouldn't be thrilled that his disciple might become a Swordmaster? If I were your master, I'd be doing cartwheels."
That was why Sophia was so excited.
"Cartwheels, huh..."
Sophia pictured it.
Her master, always so composed, occasionally shameless, and effortlessly relaxed, jumping for joy at her achievement.
"Hehe."
Just imagining it made the corners of her mouth twitch upward.
"Gotta go brag right now."
Sophia quickened her pace. When she showed him this envelope, Leo would surely look at her in surprise and pat her head.
He'd praise her, saying she did well and that she was truly his disciple. Buoyed by the thought, Sophia flung open the chapel doors.
"Master, I'm here! Look what your disciple brought!"
She strode in confidently, but there was no response.
Instead, she sensed a strangely urgent presence from the stairs leading to the attic.
"Huh?"
Sophia tilted her head and headed up to the attic.
The attic was where Leo lived. Sophia had stubbornly visited a few times before, but it was a simple room with just a desk, a wardrobe, and a bed.
Sure enough, Leo was sitting at the desk with the scriptures open.
"Ah, you're here?"
"Y-yeah... I called from outside earlier..."
"My apologies. I got so absorbed in the book that I forgot."
Leo gave her a warm smile.
"I've prepared a meal downstairs, so please eat first."
Sophia nodded but felt a twinge of suspicion.
It was her special instinct.
"Priest... are you hiding something?"
"P-pardon?"
Leo blinked a few times.
Every expression was unlike his usual self. Sophia's eyes narrowed. Her plan to boast about the Swordmaster exam was already forgotten.
"*Sniff sniff*."
Sophia focused on her sense of smell.
Her nose could pick up most presences.
"...Hmm."
There was no scent.
The attic only carried the musty smell of dust and Leo's own fragrance.
"What's wrong, Miss Sophia? Aren't you hungry? I made meat stew today."
"..."
But Sophia had recently learned of something that didn't give off a scent.
The gray furball that Priest Leo had brought home at some point. He called it a spirit, and true to his word, it had no smell. That was one reason Sophia disliked the mutt.
No smell meant it was inherently lacking something as a living being.
"...Master, where's that thing?"
"If you mean Void... well... it's out for a walk."
"A walk?"
"Yes. It's gotten more independent lately and wanders the academy on its own just fine. Why don't you take Void for a walk yourself, Miss Sophia? It could be some exercise for you."
"..."
Sophia didn't miss the sweat trickling down Leo's temple.
And then she realized the source of the odd feeling in the attic.
"Master."
"Yes?"
"Could you stand up from that chair?"
Leo's expression hardened at Sophia's words.
And rightly so—he had been sitting at the desk ever since she entered the attic. Normally, he would have stood up immediately to offer her food, but today he hadn't budged. As if hiding something under the desk.
"What's under there?"
"...Miss Sophia, let me explain first..."
"Now."
At Sophia's urging, Leo reluctantly stood from the chair.
Then, a small girl—no, creature—wriggled out from under the desk.
"...What are you?"
Sophia let out a wave of killing intent.
*
It took quite some time to clear up the misunderstanding.
"So, this furball evolved into a person?"
"That's right."
"And it just had to take the form of that smug girl from the magic department?"
"...Yes."
Sophia crossed her arms and glared at the small girl perched on the bed. Her white limbs peeking from the loose clothes were unmistakably those of a child. One who looked exactly like Isolde.
After hearing that this little one's true identity was the spirit Void, Sophia let out a deep sigh of relief.
"I thought... for a second it was your secret daughter or something."
"...As if."
Isolde had only just become an adult.
Having a daughter this age would be a disaster.
For me too, of course.
"...Anyway... this is amazing."
Sophia tilted her head and examined the little Isolde—no, Void—closely.
"...It's a perfect likeness. Like her childhood self."
"Because it is her childhood self."
It had grown by feeding on Isolde's mana.
I wonder if it'll evolve into the current Isolde later.
Who knows.
I'd prefer it didn't evolve if possible.
"...Hand."
Sophia extended her hand out of curiosity.
Back when Void was a puppy, Sophia had tried training it a few times to tame it. Void had ignored her every time.
Maybe it would act a bit differently now.
But her hopes were dashed.
It bit her.
"Aaaah! It bit me! It bit me!"
Void had chomped down on Sophia's hand.
And in human form, it had become even more cunning. As Sophia flailed wildly with a look like she might devour it any second, it cautiously approached me and hugged my arm tightly.
"...What! Get off Master right now!"
"Bue."
As a finishing touch, Void stuck out its tongue.
The mockery in its gray eyes was unmistakable.
Sophia's temper flared predictably.
"Master, move aside! I'm going to cut down this pest!"
"Miss Sophia, please, put down the Ink Sword."
"Bue."
"Can't you cut it out too? Why fan the flames?"
Why does this chapel only attract beasts?
In the midst of my bewilderment, unable to do anything, salvation arrived.
"...What kind of circus is this?"
Saintess Candidate Elise de Lua.
She had apparently finished her duties at the grand cathedral and made a rare appearance, only to frown at the village comedy unfolding in the chapel.
"Did Miss Isolde use some rejuvenation magic? I recall hearing that great archmages can reverse aging or something like that."
"No, it's not that... This one's a spirit."
"A spirit?"
"Yes. It seems to have evolved into a similar form after receiving Miss Isolde's mana."
Right on cue, Void snuggled into my arms.
"Hmm..."
Elise, having heard the story, reacted much like Sophia.
She poked the soft flesh in disbelief, then grimaced.
"This is quite the predicament. Even if you're known for your frugality and piety, and your aversion to women is set in stone... if word gets out that you're living under the same roof as a child like this..."
"If word gets out?"
"Your reputation will hit rock bottom. It's perfect fodder for gossips. 'Priest's secret bastard child discovered' or the like."
"..."
I couldn't argue.
If even Sophia misunderstood, what would others think?
And the fact that Void looked just like Isolde was another problem.
We already had enough misunderstandings piling up because of Otilie.
I didn't want to add more scandals.
'Maybe I should talk to Isolde.'
No.
Isolde had just shed one burden from her heart.
I didn't want to give her another.
Better to keep it secret for now. But with Void's active nature, it wouldn't stay cooped up in the chapel.
"Hmm..."
Elise, who had been listening quietly to my concerns, clapped her hands.
"I've got a great idea."
"A great idea?"
"Yes. What if we take her in at Ophelia Hall?"
"Ophelia Hall?"
Ophelia Hall was the finest dormitory at Erebos Royal Academy. Naturally, it was far better accommodations for Void than this chapel.
Above all, with its ironclad security, Void's existence wouldn't leak out to the academy.
"What do you think?"
What was there to think about?
I took Elise's hand firmly.
"Thank you, Miss Elise."
*
"Miss, what in the world... is this?"
That evening.
Ophelia Hall.
Helena, who had been cleaning the hallway as usual, gaped at the girl Elise brought with her.
"As you can see, we have a new family member. Get along well."
"...Where on earth did you bring this child from?"
"Actually, she's a spirit. Priest Leo's spirit."
Elise explained everything.
That Priest Leo's spirit had evolved into a human form. That it resembled Isolde from the magic department, who supplied its mana. And that it was too risky to leave it at the chapel, so they brought it to Ophelia Hall.
Having heard the full story, Helena's eyelid twitched.
It sounded like a heartwarming tale at first glance.
But there was no way Miss Elise had brought this spirit to Ophelia Hall out of pure kindness.
"...Miss, don't tell me."
"Yes. This spirit is inseparably tied to the priest anyway. It's like a daughter. So... taking extreme care of her benefits us in many ways."
"In what ways?"
"Operation Leviathan."
Helena sighed.
"Protecting this child will naturally make the priest visit here often. We can use the child as an excuse to keep him late into the night, and create a 'family' atmosphere. I'll be the mom, and the priest the dad."
"..."
"What do you think? An amazing plan, right?"
"Th-that..."
Pathetic.
Utterly pathetic.
And not just pathetic.
'...Miss, how far are you going to fall...'
Even if she adored that thug of a priest, this was too much.
The miss had ended up with a child in tow, effectively becoming an unwed mother with a kid.
I knew she was willing to give her heart, liver, and gall, but to go so far as to pick up a burden like this?
And childcare for the self-centered Elise, no less.
Could there be two less compatible words?
"...Miss, even so... wouldn't you taking care of a child cause problems in many ways? I must strongly oppose this."
"Huh? Why would I take care of her?"
"Pardon?"
"Pardon?"
Only then did Helena realize the conversation was going off track.
"Then... who did you think would look after this child when you brought her here?"
"Helena, of course."
"...Pardon?"
Elise smiled brightly and explained.
"I'm no good with kids, right? So you'd do much better than me, as a maid. You helped me a lot when I was little—drying my hair, dressing me. So I'm leaving this child's care to you. Please take good care of her!"
"Miss? Miss!"
Without waiting for a reply, she dashed off, leaving Helena alone with the wide-eyed little spirit Void.
"...Damn it..."
Helena swallowed the curse rising in her throat.
Then Void approached and patted her shoulder.
It was meant as comfort.
"At least our little spirit has more shame than you, miss..."
"Bue."
"...Should I just smack it...?"
Helena seriously contemplated it.