Chapter 106 – The Descent of the Virgin (4)

From the time I was in the brigade, Rochear was the most important target.
Because you never know when the tip of the spear aimed at the center of Helzeb might change direction.
Therefore, information about them has already been available for a long time.

Caroline knew very well how poor and foolish Adela Sylvester was.
A naive and foolish person is the easiest person to exploit for interrogation.
Caroline, who set out to find Adela, ran into difficulties from her first steps.

“Adela? “It’s lunch time now, so I guess he’ll be at the cafeteria?”
“No, I checked and couldn’t see it.”
“Umm… Then, would you like to go to a place with an ant cave nearby? “It looks like a flower bed behind a brick-built school building or in the corner of a playground.”
“Ant… “Oysters?”

A first-year student named Kal stopped swinging his sword and nodded hesitantly, wiping sweat from his forehead.

“Yes. “Sometimes when I’m bored, I go kill ants.”
“Uh, um, I’m sorry…”
“I know what the saintess is thinking, but I think it would be easier for her not to even think about it.”

Her wary tone refused to pursue further, so Caroline just nodded and backed off.
Afterwards she searched for anthills until lunchtime was over, but she could not find Adela.

Afternoon when regular classes are over.
The next person I met was Grenouille, a middle-aged man who was tending flowers in the garden in front of the Bayou Pavilion.
As soon as he heard Adela’s name, he became enraged and pointed to her mangled balsam tree.

“Probably won’t come for a while! “This place was recently robbed!”
“You’re robbing me… ?”
“Yes, saint! Because of that student, the garden I had been growing was a complete mess! Recently, that tree that I have been guarding every day ended up… Hehe!”

In September, the branches of trees that should have been in full bloom with pink petals were filled with dry, twisted leaves.
Caroline’s expression, which was smiling as if she was trying to control her expression and dye her fingernails, hardened like a rock at his words.

“Well, seeing as they only touched that one tree, it looks like they thought they couldn’t eat it and left it there.”
“…”

It was confusing.
So much so that she thought that maybe the person she needed to investigate wasn’t Lewis.

Finally, the next day, Caroline was able to meet Adela.
It was Sunday, a morning when a cool breeze began to blow.
With the advice of first-graders who knew her, she piled four of her canteen bread onto an outdoor table set up on the grounds of her academy.
Like an offering to a god.
Then, a few hours later, a noise was felt in the nearby grass.

Sussssseu.

When Adela approached from somewhere and tried to reach for her bread, Caroline smiled kindly and spoke to her.

Okay. A saint, like a saint.
Nimiral Just as the world wants me to be.

“Miss Adela? “Is it okay for a moment?”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Caroline Magdalena. She saw it the other day when she came to the store to buy a Rubik’s Cube…”
“Ah… ! “You’re the one who broke my ice duck!”

Adela’s eyes became somewhat sharp as she put the bread in her mouth.
Caught off guard, Caroline first apologized for it and asked about her Lewis.

“Hmm… “Are you a teacher?”
“Yes. “She heard that Miss Adela knows Louis best.”
“What are you curious about?”
“Everything.” She’s all about him.”

The bell in the bell tower rang ten times.
Mass must be in full swing at the Temple of Light right now.
However, even in front of the saint who was said to be carrying out God’s will on this happy day, Adela was pondering something.

As expected, you have no intention of opening your mouth easily.
Caroline’s mind went cold.
Her eyes narrowed sharply and at the same time, her calloused hands gently rested on her head.

〈White Magic Island: White Hypnosis ⌜Hypnosis⌟〉

Some of the sacred magic favored by the brigade specializes in interfering with the opponent’s mind.
On a similar principle to purification, which protects against contamination from demonic energy, it enhances the pleasure nerves in the head and makes it spit out the desired information.
Just as Caroline was about to tell her to spill everything she knew about Lewis, Adela’s mouth opened first.

“Then I’ll let you know.”
“Uh?”

The eyes, sparkling as if they were carved from sapphire, were as clear and clean as they were before the spell was cast.

‘Did I fail? But after she became a saint, she became better at using holy magic, right?

Caroline was embarrassed, but she quickly smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Please tell me.”
“But you know…”
“Yes?”

Lastly, Adela’s attitude as if she was confirming something.
Caroline realized that one of her hands was hiding something behind her back.

“If… “Are you interested in me, teacher?”

***

It was definitely Sunday, a morning when a cool breeze began to blow.
However, Caroline arrived at the temple around 4 am the next day.

She crossed herself and swore that she had absolutely no interest in Louise, and had to listen to Adela’s story for seventeen hours.
Most of it was meaningless boasting.

촤 — ——

Standing in front of her sink with her inorganic eyes, she tore her towel into thin pieces without saying a word.
She put it in her ear and when she pulled it out, a little of her blood came out at the end.

“Fuck…”

Did they put a horse harness on her snout?
Her excited praise for Lewis continued for more than half a day.
After taking a shower and changing into loose clothes, Caroline went back into the empty confessional.
A moment later, Michelan’s voice was heard across from her.

“So, did you find out anything?”
“Ha, that’s it…”

Caroline related what she had heard about Lewis, which she thought was suspicious.
However, Adela’s story was told from a very narrow perspective, based on her standards.
He didn’t like her, especially when she broke her own ice duck, so he intentionally left out some very important information about her.
Therefore, it was inevitable that Michelan’s reaction would be shaken after hearing her story.

“Therefore… According to what you said, the store owner already has a legitimate lover, but she keeps attracting women around her? There is even a princess among them, and other noble ladies are also showing interest behind the scenes… She was also good-looking, and her skills were so great that she even got into a fight with Bingseol and developed an unusual relationship… Ha, senior.”
“I know. “I know everything, so just shut up.”
“No, I have to tell you. “Is your job, senior, to investigate the princess’s surroundings, or is it to delve into the love history of a vain womanizer who is bewitched by women?”
‘Then what can I do when that’s all I’ve heard all day?’

A thousand dollars broke inside her, but she couldn’t bear to refute Michelan’s words.
The more I dug, the more I found out about Louise that, like the Pied Piper, she had more women wherever she went.
At this rate, it was no exaggeration to say that he was flirting with every noble lady he encountered while passing by.

The same is true if you listen to the testimony of a jewelry store clerk or the words of a security guard.
Rumor has it that he has a close relationship with the chairman who brought him to the podium last time…

“It’s okay, so don’t put too much pressure on it from the beginning. “I’m just being suspicious for no reason.”

As he spoke, this time a thick book appeared through the gap.
Caroline took it and frowned.

“It’s an interpretation of an archaic language.”
“You learned it at the brigade’s training facility, right? “It’s essential if you want to read the ciphers of warlocks or old texts about the Bible.”
“It was like that. But why is this?”
“I don’t know how much I will remember now, but I will memorize it again. “There will soon be an exam to select those who are fluent in archaic and rune languages ​​from across the grade.”

He insisted that he must fall within the cutoff line.

“By the way, senior.”
“Why again?”

Caroline was about to get up and leave her confessional, but when she heard her former colleague’s voice calling her again, she nervously asked,

“Have you received any revelation from the goddess?”
“…”
“If you see even a small sign, you must report it.”
“… “There is nothing like that.”

Bang!

***

“The saint asked about me and left?”
“Yes!”
“So did she tell you anything else she knew?”
“No? “He broke my duck and passed on to me without the important information!”

I am very moved.
It was because Adela had finally grown up.
How many people’s blood and sweat were shed to transform her dry mind, which was filled with nothing but loose sand, into a river of knowledge.
I felt like Esther and I were being rewarded for our efforts, even if just a little.

“Okay, good job.”
“Hehe, I’m smart, right?”
“Smart. Very genius. “Would you like some more bread?”
“Yes!”

Adela is taking care of the leftover bread she sold with a big smile on her face.
On the other hand, Liv’s expression has been dark recently.

“Baron?”
“Yes!?”
“What’s going on?”
“Ah yes. It’s nothing.”

But as if it was nothing, she subtly pulled my forearm toward her.

“Hey boss. “Now that the weather has become much cooler, wouldn’t it be okay to stop selling ice cream?”

Oh, that’s right.
It seems like I’ve been feeling a little jealous lately because I’ve been especially close to Adela.
Unlike Adela, who stayed at the snack bar all day and night, ignoring her studies, Liv seemed to be quite busy.
Come to think of it, I should give you a ring too…

Daughter~.

Just as I was deciding between cool Adela and soft Liv, the door opened and a familiar customer came in.
It was Erzsebet, who still had a tired look under her eyes.
As if she hadn’t come to buy anything, she came straight to the counter and looked at Adela and Liv on either side.

I took a quick look and pushed the two people backwards.
Hergé Bett lowered her voice and spoke to me.

“Lewis, you promised to help me last time.”
“Yes, I did.”
“I have a test in a week. “Language skills in runes and archaic languages ​​are evaluated, and students who rank in the top 30 can receive training in a city in the south called Skandal.”

She continued her words by saying that it was similar to the magic training that was held at the Magic Tower.

“If I pass, can I hire you as an escort for a while?”
“I’m sure there are already many trustworthy knights around you, princess.”
“Lord Everett, who returned to Hooksclaw, wrote a letter. “It said something about you.”

It seems that the aftermath of her sparring with her the other day was unintentionally conveyed.
There was something to be said about runes, archaic words, and Skandal.
The place where the Great Library of Uzet is located, with only traces left now.
There’s only one reason to hire me to go there.

“The saint came too?”
“There will be a test. In fact, her purpose is not to escort her, but to watch over her. “I don’t want the monarch’s saintess to see the kingdom’s imperial legacy, but since she has already enrolled, I can’t discriminate against the academy’s students.”

Even though I was almost whispering, gasp! A voice came from behind me.
The flushed expressions of Liv and the shocked expressions of Adela contrasted sharply in the mirror on the wall.
I clicked my tongue, walked a little further away, and asked what was bothering me.
Since I heard from Adela that Caroline asked about me, it might be dangerous to empty out her stall.

“What if she doesn’t pass? “Isn’t there a need for me to go to her?”
“Then it’s okay if you don’t follow me…”

Erzébet hesitated for something and gently tapped the beak of Pyi, who was sitting on his shoulder.
Then her Pii spread her wings, blocking out the sounds around her.
As if that wasn’t enough to reassure her, she took a small step forward and whispered quietly in my ear.
I couldn’t see her face, but she sounded a bit sullen, asking if she wasn’t going to come anyway.

“Are you not interested in titles?”