101 – Operati Annulus(1)

* * * *

“Did you say Selina’s appearance was very unpleasant?”

“yes.”

At times like this, I don’t know if he’s stubborn or if he has strong faith in his abilities.

When only Lily and Selina didn’t show up at the meeting to meet an hour later, he went looking for Selina in the middle of nowhere because he had a vague feeling about Selina he didn’t know.

“I’m glad Grace showed up on time. If it wasn’t for that, I might have been indebted to the priest by now.”

The story I heard from Lily was more spectacle.

After coaxing Lily into lying about finding Leafre and Bianca, he suddenly launched an ambush in a remote place out of the eyes of the elves.

Because of allowing the first attack, Lily, who was still in the defense class after that, ended up being additionally affected by Selina’s magic, and the clothes that became rags were said to be torn like the skin at that time.

“By the time I arrived, he was already… to the point where he had pieces of flesh falling off his body.”

After hearing Grace’s story, I turned my head to Lily.

It was only then that he noticed that little of the uniform was left on the part of Lily’s back that had been hidden by her coat.

fast. up

I couldn’t grind my teeth, so I chewed my mouth.

The smell of fishy iron rises up the throat and into the nasal cavity without filtering.

It was because he remembered that the color of Opépati Anulus had changed over and over again.

Bright white at first.

Even at this time, it was the story that Selina had been able to prevent the act of ambush by Lily.

And soon after, a slightly faded white.

Lily was able to stop the situation where she had to fight alone.

Another thin white.

I was able to stop Lily’s flesh from falling off.

And when the only danger left to Lily was a mortal wound, Operati Anulus ceased to function.

… In the case of a fatal injury, it would not have been necessary to inform that.

I asked Grace, who could be said to be the most responsible for this case.

Without her, the worst could have happened.

“So, did you wake up as a saint while trying to save the princess?”

“…You really know everything. Yes, I prayed to the Goddess with a single mind to save Her Highness, and I was chosen as a saint unwillingly.”

Then, in a low voice, overflowing with emotion. he adds.

“To overflowing with minutes.”

He put his hand on Grace’s shoulder and said.

“If it wasn’t for you, I would have been in serious trouble. Thank you for protecting the princess instead of me.”

“I just did my best to do what I had to do.”

Grace, who knew her fate, figured out the danger in advance and saved Lily, but still behaved humbly.

I asked her with an old woman’s heart.

“I’m asking since you’ve become a saint, Grace. You really don’t have someone in your heart… right?”

Then, Lily and Grace look at my chest at the same time.

I don’t know what I checked, but both of their round eyes quickly calmed down.

“Yes, like I said before, I haven’t experienced love yet.”

“That’s very fortunate.”

“…I’m going to ask you because you continue to say things that can cause misunderstandings, but why do you care so much about my romance? You don’t even have me in mind.”

should i tell you this

The worry was surprisingly short.

She is the one who saved Lily’s life instead of mine. And now that I realized that he was a really trustworthy colleague.

“You, now that you’ve become a saint, shouldn’t you know. ‘Virgin’s Prayer’”

“…! That, how…”

“There is a way to know everything. Even if you happen to fall in love with someone, don’t use it. This is my heartfelt advice.”

“It’s good to believe what Berry says. If you say that, I don’t know what it is, but it’s best for you not to use it.”

Lily, who had been watching the situation quietly, helped me.

I was worried because I knew what only Grace knew. It must be because there is something to guess about.

“For now, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“okay.”

Leaving behind Grace who nodded lightly, I grabbed Lily’s hand who was just staring at me.

Soft and warm skin like white jade, as usual, not feeling a single scratch.

Surely, this hand must have been cut countless times by Selina’s attack. Looking at the numerous scars on her clothes, who would not have expected it?

“Berry?”

“I’m sorry. Princess.”

“What do you mean? Raise your head because I’m fine.”

“I should have protected you… but it’s stupid that you weren’t there when you really needed it, and it makes me resent you.”

“Berry.”

Lily’s hands touched my cheeks.

Lily’s delicate hands lift my lowered head.

When our eyes met each other, my face in Lily’s eyes was spectacle.

Guilt, bitterness, anger, helplessness.

All the emotions come together and make a face that is difficult to describe.

“I’m really fine, and no one knew that Selina was the one who drank. No, you wouldn’t even know.”

I couldn’t tell what was going to happen after that.

It must have been completely unexpected for you, who accepted the information that she was a good person as fact.

“Thank you for trying to protect me. But I’m no longer a child who needs only your protection.”

“But I…!”

Lily’s thumb blocked my lips.

As it is, he gently caresses my lips.

“I know how you feel. I don’t know how. But… isn’t that what I want to hear?”

“Maybe I was of your help this time?”

The heart-breaking smile I saw on the festival day in the Imperial Village.

To that question and expression, I had no choice but to answer.

“Yeah… it really, really helped. Thank you.”

It’s okay to complain or whine about being scared or sick, but with that mindset that cares about me so much that I don’t want to blame myself.

I couldn’t help but smile in response.

“Then I’m glad. Now… I don’t like receiving love.”

He raised his hand that had been stroking my cheek, and this time started stroking my hair.

very kind and affectionate.

That moment when I gave my hair to Lily’s touch for a while.

“Kuhm keuhum!”

“”ah.””

“I’m sorry you’re busy, but Irene-sama is here. On the other side, Anna-sama too.”

When I turned my head in the direction Grace pointed, I saw Irene approaching her with a blushing face.

And Evangeline, who is carrying Irene.

“…! Berry-sama!!”

As soon as she found me, Evangeline jumped out of Irene’s arms and ran toddling.

Unlike Irene, Evangeline cannot be said to have excellent physical abilities.

So there is no way for this little girl to know what the situation and atmosphere were like just before.

“This, the child…?”

Grace, who was following Evangeline with her gaze, asked me.

Evangeline, who was about to say something while holding my sleeve, follows me and looks at Grace.

“Oh, this is him. Heir of the elves, Evangeline-sama.”

“…it’s not surprising anymore.”

“Berry-sama…! Mo, are you feeling well?!”

“Of course. Thanks to Evangeline-sama’s protection, I’m fine.”

He gave me such a kind smile.

Then I felt a strange air.

I felt something strange and looked around. Anna and the others who had arrived before I knew it were also looking at me.

To be precise.

Anna, Bianca, Leafre, Irene, Grace. All of these people are looking at me in awe.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Berry make that kind of expression to someone other than Her Highness.”

Anna said as if in admiration.

“…Eh, Evangeline-sama?”

Leafre staggers, clutching his head in shock.

In other words, that was the reason everyone except Lily looked surprised.

“Why can’t I be nice to other people?”

“Don’t you think that the tone you have already spoken is contrary to what you have said?”

As always, when I sighed and tried to explain my own reasons to Grace, who was trying to slay me, Evangeline pointed her finger at Grace and shouted.

“What are you doing to Berry-sama!!”

“Yes Yes?!”

“Mrs. Berry freed the children who were captured by bad people and devoted herself to protecting me. Who are you to say such a thing to Berry!”

“Yes? No, that’s…”

Grace panics and starts to back away.

The scolding of a very innocent and young being.

Grace began to panic, not knowing what to do in a situation she was experiencing for the first time in her life.

It is not a good idea to persuade Evangeline by listing the things I have done so far.

Grace knows that too.

But I am good and kind… Despite the proposition, Grace would have no choice but to shake her head.

There are things I have seen and heard.

It can’t hurt the child, and that’s why the picture is strange to pick up what he said… It was driven into an outflow.

“What is the reason you act like that to those who receive the protection of the World Tree! Tell me!”

The voice of a young child.

However, one thing was overlooked: there was something special about this child.

Wiridia’s nature, feeling Evangeline’s anger, begins to move in sympathy with her emotions.

The trees raise their branches toward Grace with an unnatural movement,

Numerous animals and plants turn their heads toward Grace.

Even if she was a saint blessed by God, this was Wirydia, the realm of the World Tree.

Because of our intervention, Evangeline was the absolute person in this place where the World Tree was still in good health.

“I’m sorry… I’m short of knowledge… I think I made a mistake.”

Of course, if it went to a real logic showdown, Grace would win.

I’m not as nice and kind as Evangeline thinks.

However, Grace had her own weakness.

A weakness that the pure heart of a child can never be trampled upon.

“Okay! I’ll forgive you!”

‘no… What are you?’

Evangeline, who may or may not know my bewildered expression, approaches me again with a bright smile and starts jumping up and down.

“Berry-sama! Did I do well?!”

A look that seems to want praise.

There is no way that Lily doesn’t know because it’s the expression that sometimes Lily shows.

“Yes, you did very well, Mr. Evangeline.”

Still, it wasn’t that Grace didn’t feel happy when she couldn’t say anything, so she smiled and stroked her hair.

“Ehehe. Oh, and call me Evangeline. Just Evangeline.”

lines seen in the original.

However, it was true that I felt strange that the target was me, not Ian, but it was overturned.

I nodded because I couldn’t hurt Evangeline.

“Yes, okay. Evangeline.”

“Evangeline-sama, do you remember me?”

“Ah, of course, Her Highness, Princess Liliciana! You promised to have tea together!”

Like me, Evangeline answers Lily with a bright smile.

Like a child’s unique characteristic, the front teeth sticking out, it had a cute taste.

“It’s an honor to remember you. Someday, drink tea with Berry. You know?”

“Oh, yes! That, and…”

“…?”

“Even Her Highness, if you don’t mind, please call me Evangeline… Isn’t it strange if only Berry-nim calls me that?”

Knowing the relationship between me and Lily, Evangeline was considerate in her own way.

Lily seemed to know that too, and said while carefully stroking Evangeline.

“Then, would Evangeline call me Lily? Everyone I’m close with calls me that.”

“…Yes! Lily…sama!”

And then, Lily meets my gaze quietly. It looks cool and smiles at me.

Maybe you’re thinking the same thing as me.

‘Suddenly, an elf daughter was born.’

* * * *

After a while, the place where all the party members gathered. Grace asked me.

“We also heard roughly the story of fighting Selina… that Ian-nim was kidnapped there. Do you have any plans for what to do next?”

“I do have a plan. I do, but…”

eyes focused on me.

Fortunately, the knights of the Justia family went to completely stop the invasion of Wiridia, which had subsided, so there was not much pressure.

“If possible, I’d like to go get Selina right away. It’s not good to leave Ian kidnapped for long.”

“…How do you plan to organize your staff?”

“By the method of elimination, I’ll only talk about the people who need to remain. First, Refre and Bianca.”

“”we?””

“Yes, you guys are too injured. Rather, it would be better to stay in Wiridia while protecting Evangeline here.”

If it was Bianca as usual, she would have fired at me, but she just kept her mouth shut and was silent.

In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that her body, along with Leafre, was a mess.

I turned my head and looked at Anna.

“And Anna.”

“yes…!”

“Since you’re a non-combatant, go back to the academy. As an alchemist, it’s enough for you to make the medicine. If you’re taken hostage for no reason, you’ll get in the way.”

“All right….”

It’s cold, but it’s an unavoidable measure.

“Other than that, all the people I didn’t name. I want you to participate in the battle. Including all the knights of the Empire and the Justia family.”

If my guess is right, maybe this… It might be our last battle.