Chapter 6 (1/2)

The endlessly wide starry sky wrapped around this world equally

Were her friends and parents – people she could no longer see – staring up at the saht sky, alone She liked the unique sht moisture that was ia for so co water nearby because the gentle sound of water running passed through her ears faintly and she concentrated on it –Even though the afternoon was just as quiet, when it becaed and she noticed various things that she hadn’t noticed under the sun

(How long can I remain here like this?)

Leaning against the balcony, Yuna did nothing but continue to look at the scenery When she thought about how this scenery would be so she wouldn’t be able to look at soon, it became all the more harder for her to avert her eyes By nature, she had a personality where it wasn’t a pain to stand still in once place for a long tiht too, she looked up at the stars andtime

(–I want to meet them, my mom and dad)

She understood it intellectually; her fore injury in her parents’ hearts Even if she intruded on the an unacquainted girl Just about everything of her appearance was different froave her Her hair, her eyes, and even her hands and feet If she called out “mom” in a voice they haven’t heard, she is sure that she would frighten her kind hter” then she could see her father, as good hu her not to joke around

(But even so, I want to see theain)

It was a completely selfish wish But, most of all, it was an innocent selfish wish

And it was a selfish wish that would absolutely never be granted, Yuna pursed her lips tightly

(–I can’t blah, huh I should sleep soon Before I catch a cold)

The night as slightly cool to her skin Although it was pleasant, it still wasn’t good to expose her body to it like this for a long period of tihts with painful reluctance, Yuna quietly pulled her body away froaze to her room, its tasteless atmosphere induced an inevitable sense of loneliness

Breathing out a single breath, Yuna sank into bed

(Like I thought, I’ like a noble)

S wryly at how the core of her heart still had the nature of a commoner, Yuna closed her eyes

Theof the next day, Yuna washed her face like usual and let herin front of the full-length mirror, she checked to ht, she muttered in her mouth

Last night she had gotten lost in thought The various things she had tried not to think about during the day had flowed copiously and then, like a fountain, gushed out one after another to s Yuna In that moment, she felt like she hadn’t been the “saint” or “Celiastina”, but she also wasn’t the past “Yuna” either

At tiht here and now, just as she? Where was she heading? Was sheforward, or had she not even moved a step? Each ti but think of the future

The light of day was kind to Yuna Under the bright sunlight, she could be released fro conflicts She was able to think innocently on how she would try her best today as well

(Yes, today I’ll go and ask Linus)

Her reflection in the full-length ht knock sounded When she opened the door, Linus stood there relaxed and with good ti

“Good ”

“Morning, Linus”

Linus gave a single yawn and she felt like the color of his face wasn’t well, but maybe he’s been busy ork

“Nothing has changed for you, right, Celia?”

Occasionally, Linus would come to check in on Yuna It depended on his whi was just in tiave him a sweet smile

“Linus, since you’re here, come in Let me pour you some tea”

“…… what’s with that smile?”

Linus entered the roo suspicious

“I don’t want tea, thank you You have so you want from me, don’t you?”

As expected of Linus, he could see right through to Yuna’s thoughts

“…… Mhm, um, I have a request”

“What is it?”

“I– still want to meet directly with the people ere hurt by the Holy Jail No matter what”

“…… Oh dear”

Fuu, he gave a deep sigh

“You’re still going to ask that?”

Linus showed a wry s an unreasonable child But Yuna did not withdraw

“I stayed inthat time, I had the chance to talk to a lot of people I listened to those various opinions fros on ravate the victims if they see me But if I just avoid the forward at all I want to face a lot hts, but I’d like you to forgive me for that”

“Hmmm……”

In spite of her desperate appeal, Linus didn’t look like he had any intentions of consenting Please, she clasped both hands, and looked up at that hard-to-please face However, it looked like the dah to touch Linus’ heart

“You kno about you try spending your time a little more smartly?”

“Eh, what do you mean?”

“Why is it that you feel like youdirectly before you can settle down? It’s so overwhel that if it were me I would be in a cold sweat”

“How could you say that!”

“If possible, I’d like you to behappening to you makes me shudder I’m worried for you”

“Really? Isn’t it just because you’ll have to take care of s?”

“How could you say that!”

Linus purposefully imitated Yuna’s tone, and pursed his lips

“…… that’s creepy, Linus”

“Anyway, you don’t know the feelings of a parent yet A parent loves how single-minded and passionate their child can be, but at the same time they’re scared”

“I htforward of a person If I hadn’t been placed in this situation then I don’t know if I would be able to do the saht now, I think I want to try living honestly and straight”

She only had a little life left That preciousness urges her on and drives her body h up to now

“–Hu to say it like that then I won’t oppose you any longer”

“Really–“

“However I cannot allow you to uard with you”

“My bodyguard?”

“Yep, you ”

“Could it be Aeneas……?”

No, Linus denied it shortly

“But, well, that also see in its oay”

“Interesting?”

“Yes, interesting”

With a mysterious smile, Linus closed his mouth on that note That smile looked like it contained all the secrets in the world– Yuna looked up at the heavens upon feeling that

The training ground near the purification rooms was normally a quiet place

It wasn’t very wide and there were no special facilities, but the number of people that came by this place was extre by the corridor that the saint frequently walks through, the knights the In fact, the only people who used this training ground was Ashut, the leader of the Order of Holy Knights, and Siegcrest, the vice-captain

Even now, Asyut was the only person in the unpopulated corridor as he walked towards the training ground

However it wasn’t to practice his swordsmanshi+p It was to have a secret bout with a certain person

When he opened the door to the siround, there was already a person in there It was Aeneas

He stood upright with a terribly nervous expression, but he didn’tAsyut’s appearance, he gave a quick bow and then returned to his previous stance

“You are Aeneas Noah Delray, right?”

Asyut confirmed the other’s name in a sharp voice He did not codoht His intentions were to let his opponent know this implicitly

Aeneas, as facing hiht expression that did not slacken for even one ave a short affirmation

–It was an expression that indicated that he see on Looks like he was an intelligent man

Asyut evaluated this youngface-to-face for the first ti, he didn’t show a frightened or confused face, and instead quietly returned Asyut’s gaze A e measures wouldn’t have been able to do this

“I apologize for calling you out here while you were busy Let us finish this matter quickly”

Only saying that, Asyut drew out his long sword fro motion

“I want to know your ability You are going to be my opponent”

Taken aback, Aeneas also dropped his hand to his oord After seeing that, Asyut leapt towards the other’s chest without an indication

He gave Aeneas eit down Aeneas, as in the act of drawing his sword, stopped the blow firmly But his torso was inadequately defended If Asyut pulled back his sword and swung it sideways then he would certainly cut his opponent in two He decided that in an instant, but took it upon himself to retreat one step back His objective wasn’t to kill his opponent

In the slight pause, Aeneas’ face twisted and beca “Why did you back off?” Aeneas himself understood that in the opportunity just now, this match could have been settled already

(If he can conclude that from that moment then he’s not a man who cannot use a sword)

This ti back like he did before, Asyut rushed towards Aeneas instantly and swung his sword upwards But Aeneas also stopped this sith nice tiilely like that to maintain distance

However, Asyut did not wait He stepped towards Aeneas even ed with his sharp sword Aeneas, who hadn’t adjusted his stance, had to tilt his body in an unnatural state and raise his left leg–

(You can’t avoid this!)

Is what Asyut thought He could already see underneath his eyelids just how his oould pierce Aeneas

But

–Asyut’s blade sliced through the air

In that moment

Asyut felt a flash in his head, and moved his sword intuitively at the same time he turned around

The screeching noise of a blade striking another blade split the air

It was Aeneas’ blow Not only did he evade an attack from that posture but, in an instant, went around to Asyut’s blind spot to counterattack

(This guy……)

Further down He saw Asyut holding his sword in one hand as a chance and was going to face down his opposition with all his strength in a duel with their swords locked like this But Asyut had no intention of co in this stance He intentionally pulled back the hand holding his sword, but his body was alreadyto Aeneas’ side Aeneas immediately followed Asyut with his eyes, but his body couldn’t catch up

(Too slow)

In hisvoice He had that much luxury

And then Asyut aimed accurately at Aeneas’ hand With a sharp sound, Aeneas’ blade went flying

“–!”

Aeneas glanced at his hand, where his sent flying from, but then immediately looked back at Asyut His eyes were steady In the distance, there was the dry sound of his sword turound but he didn’t look over there at all

(He doesn’t seem discomposed)

In a state where both of his hands were virtually empty, his concentration wasn’t interrupted at all Because this was a bout, Aeneas understood that a conclusion had been reached But if they had been trying to kill each other, then he would have never given up

(But)

Even so, this was just a bout to the very end

(If this had been a deathhis sword flying)

Asyut placed his sword into its sheath In that second, the air that had been stretched relaxed somewhat

“I was completely defeated”

Aeneas muttered in frustration It was likely that, froainst Asyut But, at the saht that they wouldn’t reach a settlement so quickly He understood completely the insufficiency of his own ability but still frustrating things were frustrating Asyut thought that, like Siegcrest said, Aeneas seele-minded man

“You still have a ways to go”

“…… Yes, sir”

Aeneas clenched his fist Was he unable to endure his own disappointing self? Or was he preparing hi to say now Perhaps it ht have been a bit of both

“Do you knohy I called you out here and suddenly faced you with a sword?”

“I think I know”

“I see Then, you ht?”

“…… Yes”

Aeneas raised his lowered face and looked straight at Asyut

“I a and state that I would like to serve as Lady Celiastina’s bodyguard with this level of swordsmanshi+p”

Asyut nodded Yes, he wanted to say these words to Aeneas If he was unable to actively wipe the slate clean on the uards then he had no step other than to have Aeneas withdraw froht possibly consent to Aeneas, as not to blame, for his withdrawal

However, even though Asyut heard the words he had is drift far away from “satisfication”

Maybe it hadn’t been good to cross swords? Even though it was a short tih his sword Was it okay for him to break Aeneas’ will in this way? Even if it was for the sake of his faainst what he hihts were raised at this point in time

“However, Lord Asyut”

Aeneas still opened his ht in theiven up Knowing that, Asyut was secretly relieved

“I did not put out my request because I was confident in my oordsmanshi+p It was because I want to protect Lady Celiastina with these hands Just this emotion”

“Why do you feel that?”

“……”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? It doesn’t ht to you? What was given was just a heart of hatred and despair”

It was truly nothing but strange He wanted to protect Celiastina with a sword in hand? Wasn’t Celiastina the one who he should be pointing that sword at? At the very least, Asyut himself was unable to hold a sword in front of that dreadful woman– or he would commit a mistake that he could not commit

Looking back at him, Asyut could not see any clouds in Aeneas’ eyes He was an idioticswords But what he didn’t understand hy this kind of man trusted “that” saint

“…… I myself don’t understand it very well”

Aeneas opened his mouth in wonderment

“But ere in the Holy Jail, together in that extreme situation, I felt like I was able to touch a deep part of Lady Celiastina, a part of her that was not a lie It wasn’t like anything special happened in that place Even I don’t really understand It’s just, in that reatly by that person To the point where all my hatred and resentment up to then was erased”

Were those even things that could disappear? Out of character, Asyut was driven with the urge to refute Aeneas in a raised voice The thing called hate couldn’t be so easily purified It built a nest in the darkest parts of a heart, and ate at a person And that hy he was suffering, right? To this extent

“Even now these feelings of mine confuse me But that is exactly why I want to be by her side s about Lady Celiastina”

Aeneas lowered his head deeply

“Lord Asyut, please, I ask of you to allow uard I will train every day, and devote th”

“But”

“About this, no rets”

“Wait Lady Celiastina is dangerous Certainly, she ht now but you cannot think of that as her true nature One day, again, a day will come when she will betray you”

“Even then I do not want to turnbetrayal in the future”

–He couldn’t overturn this s

Asyut realized

He was scandalized at Aeneas’ recklessness and genuineness But at the sa

–And

“……”

“Lord Asyut?”

“Ah, it’s nothing”

Asyut his in the doubts that were born inside of him

(“I want to know more about Lady Celiastina”, huh)

He could not forget the agony of that moment Even now, hatred smouldered inside of his chest So as to not show that on the outside, he tried to the best of his ability not to be close to the saint But what about now? Little by little, he was unable to avert his eyes from her Inadvertently, there was a part of him that was curious about her

(The only thing she did was release everyone from the Holy Jail, no?)

Did that one single action change his evaluation of Celiastina inside of hi more than a whim

(–No)

That wasn’t it He knew Everything started on that night Since he caught her eyes below that cliff

In thatdecisively

Asyut gave his head a s to face Celiastina He wasn’t going to think deeply on the saint’s words If he didn’t do that, then sooner or later the carpet would be pulled from under him If he collapsed this tiain– like that time

Before he knew it, his mouth had become parched and dry, and Asyut sed hard

That noise resounded violently in his ears

Yuna aiting until it becao and visit the victi to Linus, that o towards an infirmary that was dedicated to the Holy Jail victims

Linus warned her about going alone and so she aiting in her roouard to coh her roo

“Yo, looks like I made you wait, Celia”

Yuna, who had been adjusting her bed sheetsan unannounced voice that came from her door which had been opened suddenly without a knock

“Sieg!”

Just like the tie ainst the entrance to her room

“Did so happen?”

“Did soo to the victiuard”

“You, Sieg?”

She was sure that Siegcrest was the vice-captain of the Order of Holy Knights, right?

“I’ your bodyguard It was pushed onto h-handed fellow, that one”

“I-I don’t knohat to say, um…… sorry”

“Well, it’s okay since it’s just for a limited time In the end, it looks like Aeneas will be your official bodyguard”

He didn’t see it in a niceto be her bodyguard, huh Yuna felt happy yet apologetic; it was a co

“It’d be great if that Neisan dude doesn’t suggest to wanting to be your bodyguard too”

“Couldn’t you have refused, Sieg?”

“Even if I wanted to refuse, I can’t Because it’s an order froo through with so once he decides on it That’s why even I was surprised about the Aeneas thing though”

“The Aeneas thing?”

“Everyone was opposed to Aeneas serving as a bodyguard Asyut was the saone to persuade Aeneas by force but, so happened, and conversely he ca from him…… nah, there’s no way you could have, huh”

Unfortunately, she didn’t hear about anything There was no way Asyut would approach her to talk about anything that wasn’t necessary

“Never ed your clothes quite a bit, haven’t you?”

Siegcrest looked Yuna up and doith interest Right now Yuna earing casual pants underneath her knee-length dress Her long hair was also gathered si easy-to-move-in sandals on her feet

“I thought it’d be hard toclothes”

“Hey nohat are you going to do there? You’re not going to a duel like a certain soht?”

Yuna suously and left her room

As she walked down the long hallway, she noticed – despite not wanting to – that the greetings from the servants who passed her were evenin casual clothes waseveryone extre to happen this time, or whether a disaster would befall thehts like she was picking them up It was painful for Yuna to see everyone’s stiff faces due to nervousness, to the extent where she unconsciously looked down But this deep trench couldn’t be filled so easily

“What’re you going to do when you meet the victims?”

Siegcrest, who had kept quiet and walked half a step behind, suddenly asked a question

“…… Good point”

Yuna, who had been looking down the hallway, raised her head and let her gaze wander aih the empty air

“Do you think it’s better for o and see them?”

“Well, it’s complicated”

“I think so too But, in spite of that, I want to help out and be of so the sheets, or so like that”

“You’re just going there for a bit and then helping out for a bit There’s not ht?”

“That’s right If possible, I was thinking of going there every day though”

Beside her, Siegcrest suddenly stopped

“Wait, wait Hey, hold on”

“I’ More than that, I want to do so for those ere hurt”

“No, I’ about that E-Every day?”

“Yes”

“U there every day then that o there every day”

“Now that you ht Thank you in advance”

Yuna bowed her head courteously