Episode 117. presentation (1)

The skies and forests swallowed by Kegar’s storms were enveloped in warm moisture, mixing the scent of grass with the night air.

It was a night where everything seemed to be leaning gently thanks to the moonlight that only illuminated the darkness to the extent that it was difficult to measure the distance.

After observing the backs of the wardens mixed in the milky galaxy, I turned my steps toward the hotel.

“Meriel, doesn’t the air seem clearer than yesterday? Is it because of Mina’s unique magic?”

“Is that right? Since the barrier collapsed, the mana around here is moving vigorously.”

“… It’s not my fault, was it real?”

At Meriel’s words, I felt the power of my own magic once again and looked around.

Fireflies, which I had never seen before, drew arcs between the branches of trees, and insects sang without paying attention to the whistle-like cries of the night.

As I passed the flower buds that stood where the Dipels had scratched, I hinted at Meriel, who was holding the handle of the school bag tightly in her hand.

“How is your life these days?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“It’s not a big deal, it seems like you’ve been through a lot since coming here.”

“What is there to be sorry about? In the first place, I signed a contract with the goddess on the condition of protecting the uncle’s life. Considering the conditions for other spirits to become guardian spirits, this is not even hard work.”

“Still, if it’s too frustrating to be stuck next to me, talk to me anytime. I will find a solution.”

“If it wasn’t for me, I would have died more than ten times.”

“… It doesn’t.”

“It’s good to be interested in the people around you, but there’s no need to worry unnecessarily.”

Her steps along the moonlight were light.

“Mister, it’s kind of fun to watch from the sidelines. A beginner professor who didn’t even know a single basic magic… . Now, there are more students following you, and you are being checked by the dragon and the Japanese princess, right? I wonder how things will go in the future… . I like it.”

“To make sure there are no suspicious people around, to be on edge all day… . Are not you tired?”

“not really. I don’t have a body, so I don’t think I feel that kind of fatigue.”

“Then I’m glad… .”

At school, Elma came every night to listen to the tinkling noises, so there weren’t many opportunities to talk calmly with Meriel.

So now that I am away from Elma, I wanted to hear her thoughts on lending me her strength without saying anything… .

If it was a needless worry, it was fortunately.

“anyway! I’m satisfied with my life right now, so don’t worry too much. I get to know new things because I live next to you, and I don’t get bored because there are things I want to know one by one.”

“… What?”

She stopped for a moment and looked up into my eyes.

“We still have a long way to go before we find out about your identity.”

“… .”

“The future information that Elma and the uncle know, who broke the principle of non-interference and only appeared to the uncle.”

“… that’s.”

“I’m thinking about how I can do that… . You still don’t intend to tell me exactly, do you?”

“… If you stay together, you will slowly find out.”

“okay. Looking forward to it.”

“Other than that, is there anything else you want while living as a Commander?”

“Well. This is just my personal wish, so it’s okay to spill it.”

Meriel’s eyes turned slightly cold as she looked away from me to the floor.

“You know that when a human dies unjustly, they become ghosts and roam the world, right? I was one of them.”

“right.”

“Usually the priests or the Rang tribe visit the souls who are suffering like that, pay tribute to them, and make them close their eyes… ? But, while I’ve been living in Kiruna for such a long time as an underground spirit, not a single priest came to visit me.”

“… .”

“It’s my guess, but it seems that the imperial family issued an order as an extension of the punishment. Those who were annihilated against the will of the emperor cannot be left to rest in peace even after they die.”

In the original story, Meriel was only subdued by Yuri, but was unable to attain Buddhahood at the hands of the priests.

This meant that besides her, other members of the Stella family who had been executed would be wandering around the world as ghosts.

“Now, I… . It means that he is the only spirit in the Stella family who has escaped from a ghostly state.”

Ina had said that there are very few spirits who are fully conscious enough to communicate with each other.

Even the spirits who roam the world in order to wash away the spirits and become guardian spirits are struggling as long as they rise up in excitement.

This is because it is close to impossible for the ghosts without the help of the priest or the Rang to overcome their emotions and regain consciousness on their own.

After hearing that, I asked Meriel.

“Then, do you want to find the ghosts of the Stella family wandering around the world and help them become Buddhas?”

“no.”

“… ?”

“We need to address the underlying problem.”

Meriel shook her head, saying that it would be difficult to find each of them scattered all over the world even if I devoted my whole life to it.

“The emperor, Zer-nim, is a decent person. There is no way that the current emperor, who is famous for being a sage, will forbid the theological students to rest the Stella family.”

“But, even then, no theological students came to visit you… . Wait a minute, then maybe-“

“The only person in the imperial palace who will continue to do such a thing is Seril. Clearly, that woman is preventing the rest of the Stella family without the Emperor’s knowledge.”

Meriel glared at the road Cheryl rode through.

“If you help the uncle, the day will come when that woman will be judged.”

“… .”

“When Seryl is relieved that she completely covered up what she did to the Stella family… . I will drive in the wedge.”

Following Meriel’s voice saying that she must see it, the air around her became chilly.

When I started coughing at the momentary cool temperature, Meriel, who regained her strength as if she hadn’t done it before, hurriedly entered the room and began stroking me, taking a shorter stride than usual, to take a rest.

“… I will definitely make Seryl apologize to you.”

“Okay, let’s go in now! I will catch a cold.”

* * *

“I don’t have much time, Rane.”

It was well past midnight, but the lights were on in Kegar’s private room.

Instead of a solid color shirt reminiscent of a prison uniform, he forcibly tucked a neat blouse into Lane, and he spoke again to her frowning.

“Right now, the day after tomorrow, there will be an announcement about your existence.”

“Then, I can just announce it, why do I have to wear such uncomfortable clothes-.”

Saying that her throat was tight, she loosened her collar, and Kegar raised Rahne from sitting on the floor with her skirt on.

“The reason I introduce you to the people gathered at this presentation is to poor Diepelen, who was born without being able to communicate with God… . It is to inform the world of the sins that vampires have committed. That is, lie-”

“Is it true?”

“… If you’re going to elicit sympathy from humans, you need some lies.”

In order for the announcement using Rane to be effective, it had to be confirmed that Rane is an entity that does not harm humans.

The reason humans don’t criticize vampires for hunting Dipel is because Dipel also harms humans.

If she looked just like the other Dippels in front of the pulpit, the observers wouldn’t even pay attention to what happened to her in the basement of Esca Castle.

“You have to show within two days that you are different from the other Dippels. In other words, even if you don’t like it, you have no choice but to act like a gentle sheep.”

“Eh… . But, Dad. It’s strange. Just because I’m pretending to be human, suddenly the world cares about what I’ve been through?”

“I can be sure of that.”

Because humans, like Rane, were not born religious.

It was clear that humans who suppressed their nature through socialization instead of faith would identify themselves with Rane, who could control their vampirism if a little atmosphere was created.

Observers will be outraged that Esca has the right to turn a girl’s life into hell.

“I see. humans are amazing Selfish, but far-fetched.”

Kegar straightened the clothes of Rane, who was mouthing openly.

“If we can get the humans to side with us, Esca Castle will fall within a year.”

If this presentation is successful, humans who have doubts about whether they should continue to establish diplomatic ties with vampires who have failed to manage Dipel will surely return to Esca Castle.

“Your existence is the stain of God, so the faith of vampires will be even paler than now when Dipel is exploding. Currently, Esca Castle cannot afford to endure such chaos.”

“I see… !”

“Do you understand now why I am entrusting you with this task?”

“yes! Then I just have to wear these uncomfortable clothes and sit still in front of people?”

“no.”

He put the paper and quill on the desk where Rahne was sitting.

“Write down here what happened to you by the vampires. I write the script.”

“script… ? Do I have to memorize something like that?”

“It would be much more appealing if you gave humans a voice yourself. Because you have to seem like a person with whom you can communicate and exchange emotions. Oh, again.”

“Are there any more!?”

“Drink only animal blood until the presentation is over.”

“Wow, that doesn’t taste good!”

“Among the observers, someone who asks what kind of blood you drink will surely come out. At that time, I plan to make you drink the blood of the beast, but if you frown like now, all plans will go to waste.”

“Ugh… . Then you shouldn’t drool in front of humans.”

“of course.”

After placing the pencil in Rahne’s hand, who said he was holding a quill for the first time, he sat down on a chair and pressed his temples.

‘It really hurts. I don’t know if I’ve prepared in advance… .’

It was partly because Rane’s wildness was stronger than he thought, but it was even more difficult because this announcement was not in his plan in the first place.

“… Rane, there is something you should know.”

He spoke to her, who was writing a crooked statement, twisting a few strands of her hair.

“Ceril will come to visit tomorrow. He said he wanted to see you in person.”

“okay. You mean to be quiet?”

“Yes, and… . Never ask questions about the body. It can be difficult to protect you.”

“Is that enough? How are you… .”

“Nothing. In front of Cheryl, you just need to be still. If you’re asking a question, just give a short answer.”

“yea, I got it.”

After wiping the cold sweat from her palms, Rane focused on writing again.

Finally, Kegar confirmed the presentation schedule again.

‘On the first day of the opening of the nest, there will be a banquet for observers and scholars on the second floor of the hotel. On the second day, the results are announced. On the 3rd day, the results of the screening will be announced, and an academic exchange ceremony with Caldera will be held right away… .’

Caldera watches professors’ presentations through Familiar, and calls the professors they will invite to their nest the next day.

At the presentation held at the first tower, the professor who was chosen by him is praised for being recognized by the dragon.

‘If Caldera hadn’t lost his objectivity, the research results that would arouse his intellectual interest the most in this presentation… . The theory of mana reduction, especially Rane’s blood.’

Caldera’s choice will make the value of Rane shine even brighter to humans.

‘… Caldera, I’ll see how it comes out.’