Modified Nun Habit Corps Commander Lianna (2)
I began preparing to leave for Serda, where my master was. Since I was still a patient, Liam—who had appointed herself my attendant—packed everything I would need for the journey.
"I told them to bring everything."
Of course, Liam hadn't moved a muscle herself. When you had a mentally linked corps of subordinates at your disposal, there was hardly any reason to go to the trouble of walking around in person.
"I did good, right?"
I almost told her she had, then thought better of it. From now on, I needed to cut back on the praise. Keep giving her everything she wanted and she'd get insufferably full of herself. Let my guard down thinking it was only a compliment, no harm done, and she'd slip right back into being a delinquent before I knew it.
I'd already failed once. This time, I had no intention of letting her run wild the way she used to. The minimum goal was dignity befitting a former Hero. I'd even drawn up a plan to raise her more nobly than the Liam of the other world. I was dead set on proving there was a better method than Eluke's that thing.
And so I scolded her harshly on purpose.
"What are you, a child? Cut it out. And stop grinning like an idiot."
"Okay..."
That made her look a little dejected. She lowered her eyes and pressed her lips tightly shut. Just when I thought she might settle down, her face lit up again.
"You're taking me to Serda too, right?"
"Why would I?"
"I'm your attendant."
Naturally, I had originally planned to go with Eluke. I needed a companion who wouldn't cause trouble or run off. But when I went to tell her the truth, Liam's blue eyes shone so brightly. She was clearly looking forward to traveling with me.
In the old days I would have shut her down without a second thought. Now I hesitated. It wasn't simply because she looked like me. The steadfast will she showed in trying to change kept tapping at my heart, little by little. It hurt, the way a pressed bruise hurts. It kept calling up the old me—the one who never even tried to change—and that made me hesitate to decide.
"She's so excited. Why not grant her wish just this once?"
A helpful voice chimed in at just the right moment. Sun-bask offered a timely suggestion. In situations like this, the only advisor I could really trust was our reliable holy relic.
"You're the only one I can count on."
"Right?"
What would have happened if I hadn't grabbed Sun-bask when I fled the Sun Court? Thinking about it now, I probably would have died before I ever reached my master. It had blocked the attacks of every monster we'd run into along the way. It had been dormant at the time, of course, but that unique defensive power had been an enormous help.
A fresh wave of gratitude welled up, and I gently stroked Sun-bask's sleeve.
"Thank you. For everything."
"Huh? What did you just say...?"
But Sun-bask reacted strangely. By the time I realized my words could be taken the wrong way, it was already too late.
"Does that mean you don't need me anymore? After I took such good care of you all this time, how could you?! Don't tell me you're handing me over to this generation's Saintess? You can't! Do you have any idea how much I love you, Lady Clitia...? Please don't throw me away!"
A torrent of chatter I hadn't heard in quite some time. I broke into a cold sweat explaining that I hadn't meant it like that, and only then managed to calm her down.
"Was that Sun-bask making a fuss?"
Eluke asked, just as I was catching my breath. Her eyes held a look that said she couldn't quite make sense of it.
"She's always been a chatterbox."
"Pardon?"
Eluke seemed faintly surprised, then shook her head.
"The Sun-bask of our world had a quiet personality."
This time I was the one who was surprised. Sun-bask and quiet. Those two words did not belong in the same sentence.
"How did she usually talk?"
"She spoke softly, in an elegant manner."
The complete opposite. Why would there be a difference like that? When I asked Sun-bask directly, she suddenly clammed up. A suspicious silence. I considered pressing further, then realized Liam's eyes were still shining at me, bright as lanterns.
"Clitia, please let me come with you."
I searched for a reason to refuse. There wasn't one. And so, in the end, I nodded.
"Thank you!"
Liam beamed. It was a pure smile, nothing like the sly one from when he had been a man. Maybe it was my imagination, or maybe it was the face—but after changing, she seemed a little younger. She had always had a childish streak, but this was different. If she used to be a bratty little punk, now she was like a clueless little sister.
"This is no time to just stand around."
Still glowing, Liam sprang to her feet and brought both hands to her head. Then she whispered, perfectly solemn:
"Modified Nun Habit Corps, assemble."
...At least she herself looked serious.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to pick out a few of the ones in the best condition. It'll be convenient to bring them along as porters."
There was no real need for that. Liam was out of the room before I could stop her.
"What's with her, seriously."
A hollow laugh escaped me. Her enthusiasm was way over the top.
"Was your Liam like that at the start of that thing too?"
No answer. Wondering why, I looked over at Eluke and found her sunk deep in thought.
"Eluke?"
"Ah, yes. What did you just say?"
"..."
Leave her alone and she kept hiding things, never quite letting them show. It was about time I dragged whatever she was concealing into the light. For the moment, though, I decided to let it pass. Once I had gathered firmer circumstances and evidence to put in front of her, she wouldn't be able to talk her way out of it.
"So when will you be departing?"
"Around tomorrow."
"Please have a safe journey. While you're there, try asking Eurys to treat your arm as well."
If it was my master, they might well know a way to treat it. There were any number of things I needed to talk about.
"You've got something to do while I'm gone, too."
"What is it?"
"Make up with your husband."
Eluke's expression hardened at once. She shook her head in refusal, but I wasn't about to back down.
"Just go talk to him, at least. You wanted to anyway, deep down."
From everything I had seen, neither of them truly wanted the other at a distance. Far from hostile—I had caught them sneaking glances at each other more than once. They clearly wanted to reconcile, but pride kept making them hesitate. Leaving it alone was too frustrating to bear.
"If nothing's changed by the time I get back, I'm going to be mad."
"..."
Eluke lowered her gaze without a word. Then she spoke, quietly.
"Clitia, I am not someone worthy of your kindness."
The remark was so sudden I could only blink at her.
"What are you talking about?"
"I have wanted to tell you this for some time."
Why was she doing this all of a sudden? I blinked at her for a moment, then stood.
"Clitia? Do you not understand what I mean?"
"I understand."
No matter how gravely she put it, I didn't care in the slightest.
"If you want to betray me, go ahead. I'm already a lost cause, so at least you should be happy."
"..."
I went to the window and opened it with my left arm. A stretch of the village, washed in pink light, filled my view.
The Clitia Volunteer Corps. A band of vampires who had appropriated my name without asking and begun a new life. I had resented it at first. Now I couldn't have been more glad. Laughter never stopped, and the atmosphere was bright. Prayer rose from every corner, and constructive meetings convened for the village's future. I could no longer even picture the ruins of before.
The vitality of a life that had at last arrived in one piece. The result of every heart gathering as one around the name Clitia. One person being a little unhappy had made the many happy. Because of me, hope had sprung up fresh and green. As a nun of the Sun, as the Saintess of the Hero's party—where could I find anything better than this?
If the village could grow even further from here, I was prepared to gladly accept even that ridiculous nickname, Guardian Saintess. The Clitia Volunteer Corps had a brilliant future ahead. As for me, I lived with my eyes fixed on nothing but the Goddess and defeat—and yet I was content enough.
Even a half-lived life still gets its share of sunlight.
"But if you're going to betray me, at least give me a heads-up. I need time to prepare myself."
Eluke did not say that she understood. She only repeated an apology that seemed to hold more meanings than one. On and on, endlessly, until her voice grew so hoarse it would barely come out.
The next morning, I came out to the edge of the village alone. After a short wait, Liam walked up.
"I'm a little late, aren't I? Sorry."
She was wearing bold, revealing, ornate armor—a look that put far more weight on decoration than defense, unlike before. She had thrown herself into dressing up, on the grounds that she had to make Clitia look pretty.
"I was late getting the supplies together."
Liam pointed with complete confidence at the subordinates standing to either side of her. Two corpses with their faces hidden by robe hoods, heavy bags slung across their backs.
"Why did you bring so much? All I need is a robe."
I was, in fact, wearing nothing but a robe. This wasn't a long journey to begin with. My body alone would have been enough.
"We have to prepare for the unexpected. You never know what might happen."
I never thought I would hear those words come out of Liam's mouth. Compared to the days when she had always been soaked in a hangover before setting out, the change was so stark I was as glad as I was amazed.
"Liam, you really did well."
This was praise I ought to offer first, of my own accord. The change was that moving.
"When we're outside, call me Lianna."
She didn't even grin that dopey grin—just stated her wish calmly, exactly as I had pointed out yesterday. A dignified growth that had taken place in a single day. Wasn't this the whole joy of raising a child?
"I named the subordinates too. The left one is Cli, and the right one is Tia."
"...Tia's fine, but rename the left one. It sounds weird."
"Does it?"
She didn't seem to understand. Don't tell me I was the only one whose mind had gone somewhere filthy. I grew embarrassed for no reason and walked over to the spirit that would be carrying us.
"Your ride really is the best."
"Obviously."
Mander the earth spirit—the mole—shook its body of sand, secretly pleased.
"Lady Saintess, don't push yourself."
Wiphilud, who had come out with us, gave me a worried look.
"You've said that before, you know."
"I have."
"Please don't get hurt. If the Saintess is in pain, the villagers will be sad."
Having learned the emotion of sadness by now, Wiphilud's eyes were slightly wet.
"Are you crying?"
"You ended up like that trying to protect us."
"They only invaded because of me."
"It was still amazing. This is what they call 'the sublime,' right?"
I had a feeling Wiphilud was going to wildly exaggerate my exploits. I would have accepted it if it didn't go too far, but judging by the tone, it was definitely going to cross the line.
"Just stay on this side of the line. Don't start calling me a god."
"I will."
The answer was fine, but I was a little uneasy. Wiphilud was the most unpredictable member of the current Hero's party.
"We're off."
"Wait."
I was about to climb onto the mole when Wiphilud stopped me.
"What is it?"
"Your soul's gotten a little clearer. That's strange."
"Clearer? So it used to be completely murky?"
"Ah."
Wiphilud clamped a hand over their mouth. Far too late, of course.
"Please pretend you didn't hear that."
"No."
How was I supposed to just let that go after already hearing it?
"We'll talk about it later. Separately."
"Okay..."
I left the droopy-eared Wiphilud behind and climbed onto the mole. Liam and the two corpse subordinates climbed up as well.
"We're heading out."
The mole needed no warming up. It set off across the wasteland at once. Wind whipped my hair in time with the speed. True to a blighted stretch of land, the air was anything but refreshing, leaving me with nothing but a clammy, unpleasant feeling—but it helped scrape away the stray thoughts that had piled up.
With a bit of space cleared in my head, I sank into speculation for a while. What did a cloudy soul mean? The only cause I could think of was black magic. But I had no memory of any dark mage pulling anything strange on me. If it had happened without my knowing, Sun-bask should have noticed. Which led to a thoroughly unpleasant conclusion.
The blank stretch of memory between being attacked by the Demon King and opening my eyes again. The answer was there.
"Don't dig too deep."
A thin woman's voice spoke up right beside me. I turned and found Liam wearing a blank expression. I wasn't startled. I knew exactly who it was.
"Remiraen?"
"That's right. How do you like this voice? I changed it for a change of pace. Not bad, is it?"
Remiraen used Liam's mouth to chatter about trivial nonsense. I listened in silence for a while. I wanted to shut him up right then and there, but I had to endure it. That prattling Lich was researching a way to lift the curse on Eluke. In other words, Remiraen held the upper hand.
"Ah, have I been talking only about myself? I'm sorry."
"Forget it. Just tell me why you're here."
"Liam asked me for a favor, but I need your permission first."
I already didn't want to allow it. Still, I decided to hear him out.
"Go on."
"She says she wants a man's genitals attached."
"No."
Just as I'd expected.
"Good. I wasn't keen on it either."
At least this was a Lich with some common sense. Relieved, I moved on to what I actually wanted to ask.
"What did you mean, don't dig too deep?"
"Exactly what I said. Oh, I don't know what happened that day either. I'm only telling you because it's dangerous."
I studied the face for intent, but all I got was Liam's vacant expression.
"You don't believe me?"
"How am I supposed to trust a Public Enemy?"
"You're a Public Enemy too."
When he put it like that, I had no comeback. If you went by the infamy piled up over the last few years, mine was worse.
"I'll trust you. For now."
I decided to follow Remiraen's words for the time being. If he was telling me to be careful, there was no reason to insist on finding out.
"A wise choice. Safety first, after all."
After that we fell into silence. An awkward atmosphere. Only the sound of the mole kicking up sand as it traveled lingered in my ears.
"Aren't you leaving?"
"I have something else to say."
Remiraen studied me carefully through Liam's blue eyes, then dropped the words without ceremony.
"...What?"
Before I could even ask what he meant, Remiraen's presence vanished. Then Liam was back, grinning like an idiot.
"What were you talking about with Remiraen?"
"You don't need to know."
I pushed the clinging Liam away and closed my eyes for a moment. A sudden turmoil had set my head throbbing like it would split.