304. The Master's Grace (3)
304. The Master's Grace (3)
- 1 -
"If only Teacher were here."
Sonia's murmur drifted across the empty terrace.
She missed the touch that always embraced her from behind, that stroked her hair.
And right at that moment...
- I am always by your side.
Her heart stopped.
The warmth wrapping around her shoulders, the voice seeping into her ear. It wasn't an illusion.
- Sonia. My beloved disciple.
That voice seeped into Sonia's ear like a breeze.
But to Sonia, it came as a warmth hotter than the sun.
Sonia carefully turned to her side.
"Teacher..."
In the shadow of the building, a faint outline slowly began to take shape.
"Uh..."
She bit her lip at the sensation of the contract mark blazing.
Her mana was being manipulated by someone else—by the one person she loved and revered most.
"Haa..."
When that heat reached its peak, Sonia gasped and gazed at the completed form.
A black silhouette.
Purple eyes.
And that distinctive scent, heavy yet smooth.
- You are doing well.
Her teacher stood before Sonia.
As if she had been there from the very beginning.
It was always like this.
When standing before Libertas, Sonia lost herself.
Her hands, having lost all sense of direction, simply clasped together before her stomach, and her heart raced out of control.
Her reason crumbled, and only her emotions ran wild.
Yet she could still restrain herself because she was Libertas's disciple.
- It has only been a day since I saw you yesterday.
Libertas's hand cupped Sonia's cheek.
A warm hand. A gentle touch.
A sensation enveloped Sonia, so vivid it was hard to believe it was conveyed through a projection.
- You are being so clingy.
"Teacher..."
Sonia's lips finally parted. The faint blush coloring her cheeks was a bonus.
"Everything is proceeding exactly as Teacher said it would."
Libertas's lips curved into a thin smile.
Her black hair was tinted a bluish-gray, faintly catching the early evening light.
- You are doing well. My Sonia.
The hand that had cupped her cheek slowly traveled down her neck to her shoulder.
Sonia stood there as if nailed to the spot.
Being able to feel the touch of a projection with no physical substance was not strange in itself. It was because Libertas had created a special bond of fate so that only Sonia could see and feel it.
But the genuine sensation felt in that touch was more than enough to unsettle Sonia's heart.
- Rieselotte has agreed to cooperate, hasn't she?
Feeling her teacher's hand brush through her hair, the disciple nodded.
"Yes, Teacher. The Queen is already preparing the distribution. Since the achievements at Tremilite spread, the nobles who opposed the Queen's decision have also quieted down."
A small sense of anticipation rose on her slightly flushed face.
Achieving results was to be expected; what mattered was how they were received.
"Sir Jarax will establish a defensive line on the coast, and Sister Maria is working to expand her influence among the nobility. Remy will soon take charge of training the Uland army."
Libertas quietly listened to her words while caressing Sonia's cheek.
At the same time, she drew closer to Sonia.
- As expected of my disciple.
Her hand came to rest on Sonia's shoulder.
- I knew you would make this plan succeed.
Sonia's heart began to beat faster.
She had always craved her teacher's praise.
For Sonia, it was more precious than any reward in the world.
But now, it was more than that.
The contract mark blazed, seeming to heat her skin.
Her breath quickened, and her cheeks burned like fire.
- Sonia.
Libertas's hands cupped Sonia's face.
Purple eyes looked directly into her blue ones.
- You know, don't you? You are not simply a disciple to me.
Libertas's delicate fingers caressed Sonia's cheeks.
"Teacher..."
Sonia's voice trembled with tension.
Whether someone might come here, or someone might see them—
Such worries arose, but...
Her every sense had already been captured by Libertas.
By the one to whom she had long since given her heart.
- I wish for you to stay by my side forever.
Libertas's face drew closer.
A warm breath caressed Sonia's throat.
Her own lips, quivering faintly.
And then...
"I... feel the same way."
A confession, small as a whisper.
Time stopped.
Their lips met.
A soft, warm, deep kiss.
Sonia's whole body shuddered.
The mana flowing from the contract mark seemed to heat her entire body once more.
'This is a projection?'
An unbelievably vivid sensation enveloped Sonia.
When their lips parted, Sonia's eyes were already wet.
- You are opening a new world. A world no one could ever imagine.
Sonia nodded without a word.
For she was one who was ready to do anything for her teacher.
- Complete your mission and return. I will be waiting.
Libertas's hands slowly began to turn transparent.
Her form grew increasingly blurred, and Sonia was left standing alone on the terrace where only the blue moonlight remained.
But Sonia was not alone.
The mark engraved by the contract still beat like a heart, and the warmth of Libertas still lingered on her lips.
"Yes, Teacher."
Sonia placed her hand on her lips.
The resolve in her gaze had grown even more solid.
- 2 -
"Something's changed about you."
The moment Sonia returned to the council chamber, those were Artemis's words.
Her pitch-black eyes immediately saw through the change in her old 'friend'.
Maria, too, seemed to have read something in Sonia's expression.
"Master came, I see."
"The great Master came...?"
At Artemis's intuition, Jarax asked in a surprised voice.
But Sonia merely smiled faintly, and after nodding, said nothing.
For no explanation was necessary.
"Now, shall we endure this tedious council a bit longer."
Artemis spoke in a dry voice.
But a faint hint of laughter lingered in her eyes.
The fact that their master had remained in the same space was, in itself, a source of strength to them.
- 3 -
The council ended, and a week passed quickly.
The port of Tremilite had taken on a completely different atmosphere from before.
"Haul it up there!"
"Going!"
At the harbor, workers were repairing the broken docks and walls, and in the market streets, fruit and wares were laid out on stalls for the first time in a long while.
The city was still old, but now the faces of the people moving within it held hope and passion.
"Once more! Stronger!!"
Jarax's powerful voice echoed across the training ground.
Under his command, Uland's soldiers and monster mercenaries were training together, forming shield formations and charging.
On the other side, Artemis was training the archers.
Sonia watched them dripping with sweat from one side of the training ground.
"Much faster than I thought."
Hearing Maria's words, Sonia nodded.
"Moving hearts is always a matter of results."
Three days ago, Astaroth's pirate band had attacked Tremilite once more.
A larger scale than before.
But this time, they too were far more prepared.
Libertas's army and Echidna's mercenary corps had defeated the enemy without a single casualty.
When Sonia's curse-laced cold air had draped over the battlefield, the Uland soldiers had witnessed the might of magic before their very eyes.
At first, they had felt terror, but soon realized it was directed only at the enemy.
After that, a strange camaraderie had blossomed between the monster mercenaries and the Uland soldiers, and gazes of fear and awe toward Sonia had spread in all directions.
"It's fortunate the people here have quite open minds."
At Sonia's words, Maria gave a bitter smile.
"In the face of death, anyone has no choice but to open up."
"There are plenty who close their hearts instead, though."
"We're the ones who made it possible, after all. And now we're even providing them with a way to feed their people..."
"Teacher is doing it. Not me."
"Yeah, yeah."
Sonia and Maria moved away from the harbor and walked into the city.
The streets held a vitality different from a month ago.
Their gazes turned toward the people gathered at one corner of the market.
"That's it?"
"Yes. The asphodel distribution. The first cargo arrived through Rogneld Port."
It was only a week after the contract had been concluded.
It was remarkably fast, considering it had passed through five nations: Kiza, Hysen, Orbis, Aririt, Norn, and Uland.
In reality, it was something Libertas had prepared and dispatched in advance the moment Sonia had departed for this place, and it had arrived today.
People were receiving armfuls of the black, fruit-like things they had never seen before.
Peasants covered in dust, fishermen blackened by the wind, even the urban poor in shabby clothes.
Suspicion and expectation crossed their faces.
"Those people don't know what that is, do they?"
"That's not what matters."
Sonia's eyes shone gently.
"In any case, we have fully explained what kind of food it is and how to cook it. Starting tomorrow, we also plan to hold demonstrations in the squares in front of the inner castles of each city."
Before those words had even finished, an old woman approached Sonia, hugging an armful of the black stalks.
"Lady Sonia, can this really be eaten? They're giving away so much—is it truly from the state?"
Sonia gave a warm smile. A sincere smile.
"Yes, Elder. It is a 'fruit' brought in at a very low price. It has no seeds, but a kind-hearted noble has sent it to Uland as aid."
Tears welled in the old woman's eyes.
"Oh my... thank you... truly, thank you..."
Sonia placed a hand on the old woman's shoulder to soothe her.
"Please eat well, and if it is not enough, contact the lord's castle at any time. It will be brought in regularly."
"Yes. I understand...! Lady Sonia. Please stay healthy. For you to even take care of food like this..."
At Sonia's words, the old woman bowed her head and slowly left.
Maria watched the scene, smiling silently.
"Everything is going well."
At Sonia's words, Maria nodded.
All of Uland was changing.
According to Libertas's plan, slowly.
- 4 -
A few days later, a great crowd gathered in the square in front of the royal palace of Ulfsaehir.
"A new food other than wheat has appeared?"
"Yeah. And it's much cheaper, they say."
"Her Highness has come out!"
- Waaaaah - !!!
The murmuring crowd erupted into cheers the moment Queen Rieselotte appeared.
It was a bittersweet truth, but it was the loudest cheer aside from when Queen Rieselotte had ascended the throne.
"From today, a new food will be provided across all of Uland!"
The Queen shouted in a powerful voice from atop the dais, looking around at the hopeful eyes of the people.
Her heart swelled.
She was giving them hope.
Though it was power borrowed from another, spreading it was ultimately her own part to play.
"Everyone! The heroes from the Duchy of Aririt have brought us this new gift. With this, we will be able to have a better future!"
Cheers and applause continued among the crowd.
Behind the Queen stood Sonia and the officers of Echidna's mercenary corps.
A massive cauldron was set up in the center of the square.
Around that cauldron, royal chefs were demonstrating dishes made with black asphodel.
They did not know that the ingredient came from asphodel, Kiza's chrysanthemum. There was no easy 'flower' with which to identify it.
But they had already been sufficiently taught the recipes.
Black rice cakes, soup, fried starch, steamed dishes, and more.
As various cooking methods were introduced, people's eyes shone.
Servants from the royal household began distributing the prepared food, and people cautiously began to taste it.
"I've never tasted anything like this..."
"It's good. A little spicier, sweeter, and saltier than what I'm used to?"
"Ooh..."
Exclamations burst out from all around.
Meanwhile, a few nobles standing on the palace balcony looked down at this scene with dissatisfied expressions.
"For that heretical crop to enter our kingdom..."
"Does Her Majesty even know what that black symbol represents?"
"Those who eat that cannot be of sound mind."
"This is maddening. Look at that ignorance. How can they just eat it without knowing what effect it might have?"
The nobles' complaints continued regardless of faction.
But Rieselotte completely ignored their discontent.
If the people of the kingdom could fill their stomachs, that was enough. For the loyalty of a people whose once-starving bellies were now filled was already directed at their Queen.
- 5 -
Two days later, Sonia had another private audience with Queen Rieselotte at the royal palace.
This time it was a formal audience with an official pretext, but the absence of anyone around was the same as last time.
"The distribution is proceeding smoothly, Your Highness. Already more than half of the entire city has received our crop, and we are expanding the supply to rural areas as well."
At Sonia's report, Rieselotte nodded with satisfaction.
"How is the coastal defense proceeding?"
Sonia spread out a map and showed the markings on it.
"We are expanding the defensive line to the north and south, centered on Tremilite. Should Astaroth attack, we will now respond simultaneously from two strongholds, conducting both defense and interception."
The Queen examined the map and nodded.
And then, she carefully asked.
"... How long will you remain here?"
Sonia paused in formal silence, then answered.
"Until the day my mission ends, Your Highness. Then I shall return to my teacher's side."
A subtle expression flickered across the Queen's face.
It was not merely an official sentiment.
Rieselotte wordlessly gazed at the city beyond the window.
She could see the sight of Ulfsaehir, now more lively than before.
"Please convey my gratitude to your teacher. Uland will not forget this grace."
Sonia bowed politely.
"I shall convey Your Highness's words."
Looking at the back of Sonia's bowed head, Rieselotte swallowed a sigh.
She repeated to herself that she had simply been mistaken, having accepted a helping hand from another in a difficult situation.
Sonia left the palace and headed back to Tremilite.
Through the window of the carriage, she looked up at the sky.
Countless stars shone in the night sky.
Her hand naturally brushed over the contract mark.
"I will see you again soon, Teacher."
Under the starlight, Sonia gazed at the night sky, clutching her silver-tinted hair.
Determination and love shone on her face.
Everything she had was dedicated to Libertas.
That fact was, to Sonia, the greatest honor and joy.