Chapter 87
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Mirror (2)
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"Kallia, that's enough. Take a seat."
Clemence spoke to Kallia, whose face had turned so red it looked ready to burst, but Kallia glanced swiftly at me and Wedin.
She clearly couldn't stand up until she'd heard our responses.
"It's fine. I forgive you."
"M-Me too."
Wedin and I forgave her at the fastest possible speed.
We fully understood that she'd only been blindly following the duchess's orders.
And we'd never received such a sincere apology—not even from the duchess herself.
"Lord Liberic, Lord Wedin. Thank you."
Kallia gave a faint smile, bowed her head, and finally rose from the carriage floor to return to her seat.
Clemence let out a long sigh of relief.
"Miss, your face is so flushed. Are you too warm? Shall I open the window?"
"...Yeah, please."
Unaware or perhaps oblivious to Clemence's concern, Kallia opened the carriage window, letting in the cool evening breeze and the street noise from outside.
"By the way, Wedin, didn't you just call Kallia 'Leah' earlier?"
Shuren suddenly asked, and this time Wedin's face flushed a bit.
"Yes, I heard it too. My name isn't 'Leah,' but maybe you mistook me for someone else?"
Even Kallia chimed in, prompting Wedin to scratch his chin awkwardly, his face red.
"My mind blanked on her name for a second. All I could think of was the protagonist from that book I read before."
"Ah! 'Shadow Maid Leah'! I know it too. It was fun."
Clemence lit up with delight. She tilted her head toward the puzzled Kallia and explained.
"Now that you mention it, she does look similar, Kallia. The personality too, and she's incredibly strong."
"Is that so?"
"They probably have it at bookstores here too. I'll get it for you later. You have to read it."
Kallia nodded with a smile.
"But how are you so strong, Miss Kallia...?"
Wedin trailed off awkwardly. Kallia regarded him with a gentle gaze.
"You can speak casually to me, Lord Wedin. And my skills aren't that impressive."
"Can't you use holy magic too?"
Wedin was surely referring to the technique he called the "holy mage's secret art."
"Just very basic holy magic and a few specific techniques. They taught it to us at the cathedral orphanage in Amadelia as part of survival training."
"Amadelia?"
"Cathedral orphanage?"
Wedin and I asked almost in unison. Kallia nodded calmly.
"In Etna and my hometown, the Church of Goddess Amadelia gathers poor children, provides them shelter and food, and teaches them skills needed to survive. That's the cathedral orphanage."
"I see. I've heard of the Church of Amadelia a few times, but I didn't know they had facilities like that."
Clemence looked surprised too, as if this was her first time hearing about Kallia's past.
"The Church of Amadelia doesn't have much influence in the Kingdom of Lesion, so it's natural you wouldn't know. But in the former empire territories, you see their people everywhere."
"Really? Bro?"
I turned to Shuren for confirmation. He'd been on knight errands, so he might know.
Shuren scratched his hair with a "well..."
"It's not a great place for traveling, so I didn't go around much. But head a bit west, and yeah, you see a lot of church folks."
As Shuren finished speaking, a burst of loud music suddenly drifted in from outside. Thanks to the open window.
We all stopped talking and peered out.
In the square street, a man with a strange instrument was playing boisterously in front of a large carriage.
The fast, upbeat tune was so lively it made passersby turn their heads.
The huge carriage was draped in colorful tents, adorned with glittering decorations dangling everywhere. It was flashy enough to catch the eye from afar.
Atop the carriage, ornate letters spelled out words I could barely make out by squinting.
"Magos... Traveling Troupe."
It looked like they were drawing a crowd for an upcoming performance.
The ornate sign listed the schedule, venue, and prices.
"I know that one. They've been singing and making noise near the branch for days."
Wedin said with a frown. Come to think of it, I'd seen them a few times while passing by.
"They said Prius folks get discounts if they come watch. Singing and dancing are basic, but they do sword dances and magic shows too."
Shuren seemed very interested.
"Wanna go check it out?"
I asked, partially closing the window. The music was too loud to keep listening.
"Eh, maybe later. If I have time? But lately, they've told us not to wander around since we're getting attention everywhere."
"It is pretty flashy..."
I readjusted my posture, sinking back into the chair.
Elgrace's streets looked peaceful at a glance, but cleanup from fires and riots was still underway in various spots.
The city was just too vast for it to be obvious.
"Not interested in the show, Lib?"
Clemence asked with sparkling eyes. Thinking back, she did like stuff like this.
"Dunno if I'll have time. And they said not to wander."
I replied with a wry smile.
I wanted to sightsee Elgrace since it was a rare visit, but something else weighed on my mind more.
Clemence started persuading Wedin and Kallia to go see the Magos performance.
I gazed at the approaching palace, recalling this morning's events.
"Come down to the branch's basement level one after breakfast," my father had said, knocking on my door late last night.
Since arriving in Elgrace, both he and I had been dragged around everywhere, too busy for a proper talk.
So my heart fluttered anew as I descended the stairs to the basement that morning.
The Prius Elgrace branch consisted of a five-story main building, annexes, warehouses, a banquet hall, and other facilities, plus a vast garden with dense trees and two training grounds.
From the central main building, you could oversee everything, but since no one had guided me to the basement, it took a while to find the stairs.
At the end of a secluded corridor in the main building, I found the stairs leading down to a hallway with a different atmosphere.
The first to greet me there was, unexpectedly, Ash.
"Ash, what are you doing down here?"
Ash wagged his tail as if waiting for me and trotted closer. I happily stroked his fur.
'I was asked to guide you.'
"Guide me...?"
Without further explanation, Ash turned and led the way.
I followed in bewilderment.
The basement corridor was narrow, with plain gray walls and a black stone floor.
A few doors appeared, but Ash passed them by.
Two right turns, a left, crossing a diagonal hall—and I realized I'd never find my way back to the stairs alone.
"I-Is this a maze?"
I asked amid the dizziness and confusion. Ash nodded calmly.
'First-timers always get lost and end up back where they started. That's why you need a guide.'
"Because it's the seal vault?"
'Yes. With the token, you can come alone next time.'
Even the path to the seal vault was like a barrier. Impressed, I stopped looking back and followed Ash.
Soon, a wide corridor appeared.
"Whoa."
An exclamation escaped me.
Dozens of identical doors lined both sides. All firmly shut, silently awaiting someone to open them.
'Follow.'
Ash advanced without hesitation.
He passed many doors without a glance or pause, clearly knowing which one was right.
"What happens if you open the wrong door here?"
'You end up back on the first floor.'
"Amazing..."
I'd been scanning with visible mana since earlier, but even my mana-flow reading eyes couldn't distinguish the correct door.
If magic was at work, I should be able to tell by the flow.
'Here.'
Ash stopped at a door identical to the others.
I took a deep breath, gripped the handle, and opened it.
A spacious room with a completely different structure from outside appeared—a sort of lounge.
A few knights in white uniforms sat on sofas chatting; another brewed tea at a small table, back turned.
A beige carpet covered the floor, warm lights hung everywhere.
No windows, but fresh air flowed from somewhere.
As I stood stunned by the unexpected sight, Ash slipped through the door crack and kicked it shut noisily with his hind paw.
"Ah, Lib. You're here."
My father's voice came from the right.
Turning, I saw him and the Silver Guard Knight drinking tea in a corner.
Father had unwrapped the fixings on his injured left arm but still had bandages; his movements were more natural now.
They set down their tea and approached me.
The Silver Guard Knight looked down at me with calm, deep blue eyes.
"Welcome to the Silver Moon Knights of the Elgrace branch, Liberic."
"This is... the Silver Moon Knights."
"And the seal vault."
Father added.
The seal vault. The moment to face it directly had come. A fresh wave of emotion hit me.
"First, let me explain about the Silver Moon Knights."
I looked at the Silver Guard Knight.
"As you know, this is a classified facility. Without the token, not even Silver Moon Knights can reach it. Bringing outsiders unaffiliated with the knights is forbidden."
Father, arms crossed nearby, shrugged.
"I technically don't qualify to enter... but it's about you."
A place even a Blue Guard Knight like Father couldn't enter. Yet he'd come to check if I could handle the role.
My heart pounded for no reason.
"The Silver Moon Knights' main duty is guarding the seal vault, but in truth, the mages handle the actual protection. You've heard from Claus Sage."
The Silver Guard Knight looked at me expectantly. I nodded.
"Yes, at least two mages guard and manage the seal vault."
I recalled Claus's lecture.
He'd lamented how it used to be five or more, but numbers dwindled to two.
"I lead the Silver Moon Knights as Silver Guard Knight, but internal seal vault matters are the barrier master's responsibility. Magical security inside is theirs alone. Understood?"
"...Yes, I understand."
I replied heavily, shoulders tense.
The barrier master's responsibility. Words from Claus now felt profoundly weighty.
"Whoa, don't lay it on so thick. The kid'll run off."
A flippant voice came from behind, instantly relaxing my tension.
A hunched middle-aged man approached us, his shoes clicking staccato on the floor.