13 – The Tenebris Cul (1/2)

After parting with Will, Arti headed towards the far end of the Academy of Heroes’ main building.

Her walking pace was considerably quicker than when she was with Will.

Will is still young, that’s why Arti kept a slow pace for him to keep up.

Arti stopped before the front door at the far end of the main building. The door automatically opened.

The person inside was already aware of Arti’s arrival.

Arti entered, walked forward ten steps and stood firm.

「Master, I have returned」

「Well done. So, how was Will Wolms?」

「His behaviour does not seem like that of an eight year old. His intelligence and courage is

also high」

「I see. Hmmm…, so it’s true…」

Arti’s master, the Sword Saint Xenovia Edel Barling, stood up from her chair with a serious look.

Xenovia was Edelfuss’ disciple in Will’s past life, who is also now a member of the Council of Sages.

Xenovia slowly started to walk around the room. It’s a force of habit while she is thinking.

Xenovia is a long-lived elf even among the human race. Though she is one hundred twenty years old, she looks like she hasn’t aged a day.

She looks like a beautiful maiden just like she did a hundred years ago.

Arti spoke out to Xenovia who was thinking silently.

「However, the only guardian deity of Will Wolms is the Human God」

「…Is what you’re saying true?」

「Yes」

Xenovia was surprised by this fact and stopped walking. She opened her eyes and looked up to the sky.

「So, he isn’t the one?」

「The one?」

「… No, nothing. It is a personal matter」

「Yes」

Xenovia started thinking and walked around again.

Arti silently watched her master roam around the room.

「… Arti, did anything strange happen?」

「……」

Arti pondered for a while.

What was her master actually asking about?

Arti seriously considered if there was a deeper meaning to her master’s question.

Xenovia sighed while looking at Arti.

「I am not trying to test you right now, Arti」

「Yes」

「I just want to know if there was anything strange when you were with him, no matter how small it might have been」

「…there was an instance where I was asked if there were any cases of consciousness being blown to someplace else while using the love measuring device」

Xenovia stiffened for a moment.

「…… Oh? Hmm? I wonder what that means…」

Arti waited silently.

Because she judged that it was her master’s self-question.

「I will have to check it with Milt」

Milt the small sage, Milt Edel Valiras is the beloved child of the Genie.

A direct disciple of Edelfuss, also one of the members of Council of Sages, and is the creator of the love measuring device.

「Shall I act as a messenger to Sage Milt?」,asked Arti.

「There is no need for that」

「Yes」

After a while, Xenovia smiled at Arti.

Arti concluded that her master must have come up with an idea.

「Arti, what was your impression of Will Wolms?」

The question has changed from “How was Will Wolms?” to “What did you think of Will Wolms?”

In other words, a subjective opinion was required.

Her master was seeking for her subjective impression.

So, Arti chose her next words carefully.

She always tended to search for the true meaning in her master’s words.

「…He was very…, Will Wolms was a very kind person」

「Hmm? Anything else?」

Xenovia stopped in front of Arti, with interest blooming on her face.

「He is a hardworking, full of love for his sister, calm, intelligent and honest person」

「Well, well. Arti seems to have a good impression on Will」

「… perhaps so」

Xenovia started walking again, around Arti this time.

「Arti, his guardian deity is only the Human God but…」

「Yes」

「What do you think of Will’s talent?」