Veronicas Eccentric Wisdom
The master of Ahin and Jina. I had heard of that name long ago.
A member of the church, an outstanding holy knight. A person of influence powerful enough that the church’s leaders had to actively monitor her.
She was a strange human who had shoved her disciple off a cliff because she hid her smoking, yet her care for her disciples was undeniably real.
That was exactly why Ahin found her someone he desperately wanted to avoid.
The exaggerated gestures and dramatic mannerisms Ahin used when telling the story of his master were all intentional.
They were a cover to hide the genuine worry buried beneath them.
Er, who had seen through that act, had wanted to meet Ahin’s master at least once.
It would be a chance to learn about the side of Ahin she still didn’t know.
Er had been looking forward to listening to the old woman’s tale with a cup of warm tea, but…
“…Excuse me, how old are you?”
“Why, do I look young? Sorry, if that’s what you mean, I’ve simply lived a long time.”
“…That’s not it.”
At the window of the neatly arranged living room, a young woman sat with a cigarette in her mouth, lips pressed tightly shut.
Er watched her in silence. Beside her, a black-haired woman stood at rigid attention.
“Jina, don’t be so stiff. Just relax.”
Jina’s posture was so stiff it looked painful. She flinched when her master’s words reached her, shoulders jerking.
Called by her familiar name, Jina felt no unease even in her master’s flat tone. She shot her bright blue eyes wide open and answered.
“I—I’m sorry, Master.”
“Just relax, or shall I make it uncomfortable?”
“Ah, no!”
Startled, Jina scrambled over and sat next to Ahin.
Kneeling with perfect posture, the stance was far from comfortable, yet her master nodded as if it were enough and continued.
“Then let’s talk. About what that fool Ahin has been doing here.”
“Um, well, the reason Ahin left the temple—”
“Ah, not that.”
“…?”
Confused, Jina blinked at her master.
“The idiot ran away from an unfamiliar place surrounded by three women. What was he doing?”
“…Ah.”
A sigh escaped Jina as Veronica’s gaze shifted away from her and swept the surroundings.
From a short distance away, the two women watching the priest conversation spoke with strained voices.
“Veronica-sama… did you say?”
“Yes.”
“Does that mean the Veronica I know is you?”
Holy Knight Veronica.
Er had no reason to be unfamiliar with the name.
Among the church’s holy knights who kept many secrets, she was the most famous.
She had slain a thousand demons and, when alone, brought down a death knight. A legend of martial prowess.
Meeting the legendary holy knight in person didn’t stir any excitement.
It only brought discomfort and awkwardness. Er spoke of the disappointment.
“…You look far too young compared to the stories.”
“Haha, I’ve heard that many times. Even I am… a member of my race.”
While saying so, Veronica flicked her own protruding ear with her finger.
Beside her, Haru, who had been staring at that ear, muttered in a dazed voice.
“An elf…”
“Oh, there are still humans who know the name?”
“The name, sure, everyone knows it. The existence, though, is harder to confirm.”
The race that lived far longer lives than humans, blessed by the gods.
Its members were all said to possess beauty beyond compare and to wield mana like a limb.
Yet their numbers were tiny, and to survive they had to hide themselves, so ordinary people rarely met one in a lifetime.
Veronica laughed lightly at Er’s face.
“You don’t seem surprised, though. It’s as if you’ve seen an elf before.”
“…That can’t be. Must be a mistake.”
“Hoho, sorry. My eyes get dim as I age.”
With that, Veronica plucked the cigarette from her lips and tucked it away.
“Miss, you’re the swordswoman, and the one beside you is the mage, yes? Both quite skilled for your age.”
“…How did you know that?”
“When you’ve lived as long as I have, you just know.”
Smirking, Veronica observed Haru’s slow reply.
“Our mana flows inside our bodies, visible to the eye.”
“Oh ho, you really do know a lot, Miss Mage. Of course, as a mage.”
Unlike Veronica, Haru answered in her usual flat tone.
“…I know. Are you an outcast?”
“No reason to be. My job is to smash the heads of heretics and kill black magicians. No reason to reject mages who have gathered their mana cleanly, like you.”
“Master is not like those old church elders! You can’t treat us the same as those fossils—”
“Jina, hold your tongue. It’s the Cardinal’s orders.”
“…Yes, Master.”
Er was startled when Jina immediately fell silent at a single word from Veronica. She almost spoke, then changed her mind and continued.
“I heard you were coming. Did you come to take Ahin away?”
“…If so?”
“Think carefully.”
Veronica’s soft purple eyes sparkled with interest at Er’s words.
How long had it been since someone dared to question her decision?
Since the cheeky disciple wandering in her dreams, she had thought no one would.
Delighted to meet a spirited young person, Veronica curled the corner of her mouth.
“Do you have a reason?”
“Ahin is needed by me.”
Veronica understood the situation in that short exchange. She shook her head and looked down at the disciple sprawled on the floor.
“Hoho… you fool. After I told you to be careful.”
“It couldn’t be helped. If Ahin doesn’t show his power, both of us would have died.”
“That answer is not what I wanted.”
Standing up, Veronica spoke in her sorrowful, glowing purple eyes.
“This child’s power was given by the gods. It must be used until the day it is supposed to be. No one should discover it. You would have realized it is not for personal greed?”
“Master, that’s—”
“Jina, be quiet.”
Veronica covered Jina’s mouth and turned to Er.
“Despite having such power, this child ran away from the temple on a whim and left traces everywhere. Is the reason I can’t take him because of one person’s need? Do you think that makes sense?”
“It doesn’t. But I still have to take him.”
“Confident, aren’t you? Why?”
Even though her answer was arrogant, Veronica didn’t get angry. She had simply seen the will in Er’s emerald-green eyes and overlooked it, thinking it was youthful spirit.
But the moment she noticed the silver cross necklace around Er’s neck, Veronica’s head froze.
“…That, don’t tell me—”
“Yes, Ahin gave it to me.”
“…Jina, fetch a bucket of cold water.”
“Master, is something wrong?”
Veronica’s face looked as if she was holding back a laugh.
“The idiot needs to be woken up.”
“You don’t have to. I know what it means for a priest to give the Rosario to someone else.”
Even if I become a soul, even if I give my life, I will protect you.
Veronica had no reason not to understand. She whispered for the first time, losing her composure.
“What kind of mischief has this idiot been up to…”
“I can promise you there will be no worries about Master Veronica. I will never betray Ahin.”
Veronica stared silently at Er.
Her heart screamed to shout something at her disciple’s choice, but she couldn’t.
Ahin had once received a Rosario from someone. Now he had given his own to another. What did that mean?
Perhaps he was finally starting to rise again.
Or maybe he had another reason.
Veronica’s head grew complicated with too many thoughts.
When that happened, she always chose the fastest, surest method.
“Jina, water.”
“…Really?”
“Water always has the answer.”
After seeing that her persuasion wouldn’t work, Jina lifted the bucket.
“I’ll do it,” Haru said, and the bucket filled with clear water at the same time.
Confused why this was happening, Jina looked at Haru.
“Observing must not be interrupted.”
“…Hey.”
“Interrupting.”
Jina, who had been debating whether to hit the ridiculous little blue-haired girl, finally sighed heavily and handed over the bucket.
But bringing the water and pouring it on Ahin were different things.
After long thought, Jina decided to pour a handful of water directly onto Ahin’s forehead herself.
Slap!
The water hit his forehead with a light sound a few times.
Only after the strange wetness spread across Ahin’s face and nearby did he wake, cursing.
“Ugh, damn it, why is it so wet…”
“Oh ho, you’ve got spirit, Ahin.”
“…Huh?”
He thought he heard a voice he shouldn’t.
That thought lasted only a moment.
The sun from the window cleared his eyes, and right after, he saw someone sitting there.
Silvery hair neatly arranged, mysterious purple eyes.
Ahin stared at the tall beauty who looked perfectly suited and muttered.
“…What, is this a dream?”
Thud!
“Kyaaaah!”
With a sound like a slap, Ahin’s head snapped back.
A single pebble the size of a finger sailed gracefully over his head.
“Now that you’re conscious, right?”
Veronica smirked as she hit her disciple’s forehead with a stone.
“Then let’s talk about what you did.”
Only after seeing her smiling face and voice did Ahin remember the past and shout in panic.
“You’re crazy!! Why are you here?!”
“Ah, from there?”
“You said it would take time!! You weren’t free yet, were you?!”
“I borrowed a carriage from a kind believer on the way. It was faster than I thought.”
Pulling a cigarette from her pocket, Veronica lit it lazily.
She exhaled smoke out the window and looked at Ahin’s dripping face.
“Let’s leave the trivial talk for later. There’s something I want to ask.”
“Asking questions right after I get here—”
“Your Rosario.”
Veronica cut off Ahin’s words with a firm voice.
“Where is the one that young lady has?”
“…I gave it to her.”
“You wouldn’t not know what that means. Was that decision well thought out?”
Eyes narrowed at Veronica’s words, Ahin answered.
“I’m different from you.”
“…How?”
“I will never let it go.”
Veronica noticed the gold in Ahin’s eyes shining with sorrow and pulled the cigarette harder.
The wound left by that child was still there.
Perhaps it would become a scar that would never disappear.
She felt bitter that it was her sin and had given that painful experience to her disciples.
“…You’ll be fine. Believe it.”
“You don’t need my approval.”
“I do.”
“I don’t need it—”
“If you don’t accept my approval, I’ll drag you to the Inquisition right now.”
“…!”
Ahin, who had been silent, whipped his head around at her rough words.
Veronica smiled faintly and asked the woman standing behind him.
“What’s your name, Miss?”
“…Er.”
“Er, huh? Er… Er?”
“…Yes.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes slightly at the name.
“…So, Er, please take care of this fool. His personality is a bit dirty, but he’s not a bad person.”
“That means—”
“If I were taking you, I wouldn’t need to ask.”
Smirking, Veronica’s face carried a dangerous power.
Even the same-sex Er unconsciously swallowed hard.
If it were Ahin…
“…So, did you bring all this heavy luggage here just to tell me that story?”
“You cheapskate. I told you many times to speak more nicely.”
“I can’t help my birth.”
Ahin’s expression stayed flat, no trace of shaking.
Er’s eyes widened in surprise at the unusual calm from Ahin.
At that moment,
“Then Jina and that young lady are your companions?”
“…Yes.”
“A swordswoman and a mage, a warrior… surprisingly fitting.”
“What are you getting at?”
Veronica asked the blunt disciple.
“Won’t you work with me?”
“…Work?”
“Yes, an extremely, extremely, extremely important job.”
Veronica flicked her cigarette ash.
“We have to catch a black magician.”
