Chapter 486 – The Heart’s Vessel and the Cat’s Trick

000

Returning to the shrine, the first place Quon and Tokoyo headed to was the gymnasium where they practiced their dance until earlier.

——No, it was a large bath in a temple large enough for two people to enter together.

The water is always heated, and since no one comes in during this time, there is no one except for Tokoyo, the great priestess, who can use the facilities in the temple as she pleases, and Kuon, who has entered the water with her .

Quon looked at Tokoyo with half of her face her submerged in the water, not sure why she didn’t continue training right away.

Indeed, as soon as Tokoyo entered her bathtub, she remained still with her head submerged in the water.

Is it thinking about something, or is it a new kind of practice?

However, if that time passes 10 seconds – 20 seconds and 1 minute passes –

“To, Tokoyo-sama? No matter how long you’re here, isn’t it-“

Tokoyo is sitting quietly and unmoving in a situation where it is not strange that he suddenly runs out of breath and jumps out.

And after 1 minute and 30 seconds, Quon gets up and approaches Tokoyo.

“Tokoyo-sama!? You didn’t fall into the water!?”

It’s a strange story to fall into the water while sitting, but did you pass out while submerged in the water because you didn’t know yourself to breathe too much?

Wouldn’t it be such a dangerous situation, if her quon her took her arm her to pull her up-

Bang! Doing so, Tokoyo’s arm her moved and grabbed her Kuon’s arm her.

“Eh…”

Kuon’s face goes pale for a moment at the slightly horror-like sight, but then slowly Tokoyo’s head rises from the water, and the same emerald-colored hair as Kuon’s is soaked in water and floats on the water.

“Pu… Ha…”

And. Tokoyo let out a breath he had been holding in, shook his head with his eyes half open, wiped the water from his eyes her, and raised the corners of his mouth her.

“Okay.”

“What, what?”

From the suspicious smile on her face her, she felt something uneasy, but she politely asked back.

“She was a kuon, why could n’t she sing normally… And. Why, even if she did n’t dance, she was able to sing the age.”

“Ah, that thing from earlier was a nature spirit.”

On the way back to the temple after parting with Cleon, Tokoyo, who said nothing except ‘Let’s go to the bath’, continued to think deeply about something.

Seeing that look so serious, Quon didn’t ask anything and she came all the way here.

At last, her eyes widen at the words of Tokoyo, who shows her the way she normally is.

“Yes! Nature Spirit. That’s the first Nature Spirit I’ve ever seen. Speaking of which, it wasn’t a ‘Divine Tree’ Nature Spirit. Where did it come from? Maybe, it was always by Quon’s side.”

“Always… By my side?”

Even though she nodded as she barely followed Tokoyo’s quick words, Kuon tilted her head at her last words to her.

“Yes. The nature spirits of the divine tree appear before us only through divine dance. There are so many nature spirits dwelling in the divine tree, so I have to turn the shrine maiden into a vessel… But, Quon. You are different. You are you. I can’t empty myself.”

“…Why?”

Obviously, the root must be the same shrine maiden.

Thanks to her mother’s teachings her, it did n’t take long for her to understand what Tokoyo had told her.

But, Quon and Tokoyo- No, if it’s different from these shrine maidens-

“That’s right. No matter what, your most precious thing remains deep in your heart.”

“—The most important thing.”

After Tokoyo said that, she got up from her seat and brought her index finger to Quon’s chest her—more precisely, the upper part of the pit of the stomach her—and pressed it firmly.

When her fingers her, warmed by her bathtub, touch it, Quon flinches at her a little, but Tokoyo does n’t mind and talks.

“Yeah. For example- like the heart towards the person you love.”

“——!”

At the words of Tokoyo talking about her single single her laughing, Quon makes her blush.

“Ah, that’s true. It was a blind spot. Do you know? Us shrine maidens cannot engage in romance until they reach adulthood. To love and cherish someone is to not be able to empty oneself. Why is it that the young shrine maiden Is it to cut them off from society, or to cover them with masks and let them grow? It’s all in order to maintain the shrine maidens as ‘vessels’.”

Tokoyo crossed her arms as if she finally understood, and nodded her head as she spoke.

Up until now, I thought it was a tradition that had been passed on because it was ‘such a teaching’.

Even Tokoyo, the head priestess, has thought so since she inherited it.

“However, the most intense piece of heart that remains inside is an intense flame that can’t be erased no matter what. The wish to protect that person is pure, clean, and gives pure power.”

Quon exerted its power when her head was full of thoughts of wanting to protect her and Cleon her.

“And Kuon’s child age, which was called by that heart, is obviously moving only with the desire to protect someone important to her.

“…”

As he listened to Tokoyo’s story of her, a little bit of shame kept coming up in Quon’s head of her along with understanding.

In other words… Since he is thinking about Cleon 24 hours a day, isn’t it impossible to call the Spirit of Nature normally?

And that Tokoyo knows that too.

“Ugh…”

When Quon, who was getting a little fed up with herself, covered her face her with her hands and blushed, Tokoyo smiled haha ​​and put her hand her on her shoulder her.

“However, you will have to train yourself to use that power at the right time. When that becomes possible, nature spirits will be able to communicate with other nature spirits, albeit indirectly.”

In other words, what Tokoyo is saying is this.

Shamans who can summon the spirit of nature through general divine dance create a connecting passage in the order of Divine Tree-Nature Spirit-shaman.

However, in the case of Quon, it is impossible to call the Spirit of Nature in that way, so the Divine Tree – (of the Divine Tree) Spirit of Nature – (of Quon) Spirit of Nature – Quon.

In this way, it was to go through one more step.

“But, this isn’t the first time I’ve thought of wanting to save Cleon. Why didn’t he show up until now?”

“Isn’t that because Quon started recognizing the concept of ‘Nature Spirit’? Even if the fire in his heart burns in a situation where he doesn’t even know its existence, in what form or to whom he should turn, it is given direction.”

At her words her, Quon understands that she is indeed plausible and nods her head.

And then, just like Cleon did earlier, clenching his fists tightly and making a lively expression as if he was overflowing with enthusiasm-

Tokoyo thinks while smiling softly.

‘However. Quon. That’s awesome … To be able to dye one’s heart in the color of a person means that the heart is truly sincere.’

And if you think that one day, a person like that might appear to you too.

With the worry that he would be out of business, he had a pleasant anticipation.

001

Herti and Cleon leave their master’s sword to the blacksmith Datta and go outside.

As this and that happened, I could already see the sun starting to set over there.

“Whew… Today was a very rewarding day.”

Herti also covered her mouth with a smile, probably feeling the change in temperature felt as the sun went down.

“Are all the places I need to look around money?”

“I’ve left a little bit- but it’s not like I have to go today. The rest, I’ll go around with Calia tomorrow.”

“There is still time, but… “

Even as her Cleon her, she tried to help her as much as possible because she felt sorry for Hertie, who was caught in danger by her nobleman’s attack that aimed at her, but Hertie shook her head.

“Thank you for your consideration, but it’s really okay. Cleon-sama and his colleagues will be waiting for you at the mansion… But today was really fun. It was like a date.”

Herti smiled as he cupped his cheek her with one hand.

“Meow.”

“Oh, they say Bahamut was fun too.”

“…I see. If that’s the case, I’m glad I got to know good people thanks to Hertie.”

Lionel, Herti’s godfather, and Data, the blacksmith.

It was a bond that both of them were able to obtain thanks to Hertie.

For a while, the two of them were surrounded by tickling silence as they walked along the streets of Asteris, where it was getting dark.

Even Hertie, who had said that she was here for today, she was walking right next to Cleon with her face blushing, as if it was a bit regretful to part like this.

And- for a moment. After mumbling something, he seemed to have made up his mind of her. Turning her head towards Cleon-

“Cleon b…”

“Cleon-sama? Herti-sama?”

As if blocking her voice her, Calia’s voice was heard.

When the two of them turned their heads at the same time, there really was Calia, dressed in a slightly different light suit than usual, with her hat on, staring blankly at the two of them.

“Why do you two…”

“Ka-Calia! Is it time to finish work already?”

Herti fanned her hand over her blushing face her, a little embarrassed.

“Yes, today the royal palace allowed me to leave work a little early to prepare for the festival… But for the two of you…”

Calia ponders for a moment, then she nods her head as if she understands.

“Oh, sorry. I seem to have interrupted you.”

When she quickly realizes something and turns around, Herti speaks in bewilderment.

“Bahamut! Catch Calia!”

“Yao!”

As if taming her wild beast, if you commanded him, Bahamut would run like a shot and grab the hem of Calia’s clothes her as she was drifting away.

Then, Calia looked at Bahamut at her own feet for a bit, then she carefully lifted her bastard and returned to Herti’s side of her.

“Herti-sama… It’s a little bit of a tryst with a man who has three owners…”

“It’s not like that! It’s just that I asked Cleon-sama for help.”

“For things like that, it seems like it was a good atmosphere until just now…”

Calia spoke to Hertie carefully in her grown-up manner, and Hertie’s face her grew more and more red.

“Wait Calia. It’s just as she said. I only went out with her because she asked me to help her with her work.”

When Cleon said that to help Hertie, Calia looked at Cleon with her eyes narrowed.

From her gaze to her, I could feel that it was ‘this ignorant person…’.

Herti put on a slightly sullen expression as her blushing face her returned to normal.

“…I can’t help it. For now, let’s do it like that. Then, are you going to die from now on?”

“Yes. I didn’t go to all the places I planned for today, but I finished checking mainly the important shops. Tomorrow Calia has no work at the palace, so she can go with me.”

When Herti nods her head in response, Calia responds by tilting her head as if a little unexpected.

“Huh. Are you okay with me? If Cleon-sama has time, I’d rather go with Cleon-sama…”

“Really, Calia!”

“Whoops. I’m sorry, Mr. Herti.”

Watching her talk as if she enjoyed teasing her boss her, Cleon smiled bitterly at her.

“…Ha. Then, we’ll go back to the shop. Cleon? If you head to your father’s store by now, it’ll be turned into a bar. You seem to be nervous, so why don’t you go?”

When she sighs and says that to her Cleon her, Cleon also looks at her for a moment and then nods her head.

It was because, from Cleon’s point of view, she seemed to have something of her own that she wanted to talk about with Calia.

“Ah. I see. Then, if there’s anything else you’d like me to help with, let me know.”

After that, when she looked at the back of Hertie who was walking away with Calia-

“Meow.”

She hears a cat at her own feet once again.

“…Bahamut? Are you not going?”

“Meow!”

A guy with sparkling eyes as if he said ‘yes’ to Cleon’s words.

“…Ah. Is that so?”

And, Cleon nodded her head as if he finally understood the reason.

“You. You’re going to get another snack from Mr. Lionel.”

“Meow.”

Cleon scratches her head after staring at Bahamut for a moment as he talks while making eye contact with her as if he’s not sure what he’s talking about.

“This guy is really smart.”

“Isn’t it a homunculus?”

At Schrödinger’s words, Cleon couldn’t believe it. She said, laughing, and she put Bahamut in front.

“Let’s go. To Mr. Lionel’s store.”

Following her cat’s tail her, Cleon went back the way she had come to visit his shop her.

002

As Herti said, after the sun went down, the place that was a quiet cafe had changed class to a bar.

After confirming that there were people inside, enough to tell from the outside, he watched Bahamut press hard to open the door with his front paws, and then opened the door from his side.

When I hear the ringing sound of bells that I heard earlier, Lionel, who was wiping a glass at the counter, turns his head toward the entrance and speaks.

“Come on oh- what is it? That young man from before. Was it Cleon…?”

“Yes. I want to see the appearance of the restaurant in the evening.”

“Huh.”

At Cleon’s words, Lionel shrugged his shoulders and turned his gaze to the back of the store.

Then, there were already quite a few people there, who had their glasses lined up and wanted to end the day with snacks.

“Certainly, the atmosphere is different from daytime.”

“Well. There are a lot of people especially today. Apparently, rumors about part-time students have spread.”

“Come to think of it. There was such a story.”

At the words of Cleon, who seemed to have remembered it only then, Lionel smiled and said.

“What? Didn’t she come to see her?”

“No. Herti seems to have something to say to Calia. I was originally going to go back, but…”

Saying so, Cleon lifts up the Bahamut at his feet her and shows it.

“This guy was playing tricks.”

“Oops. You must have fallen too.”

Lionel’s expression immediately relaxed, and he accepted Bahamut.

“Herti gets mad if you keep giving him treats…But then he’ll have to give you treats himself, right? Bahamut.”

“Nya~”

When the voice full of charm resounds, Cleon looks at Bahamut with a slightly complex and subtle expression.

“Somehow, it seems that only Lionel’s cry is different…”

“It’s not a whim. This guy is actually smart.”

Cleon nodded his head at those words.

Bahamut was certainly intelligent enough to be considered excessive compared to other cats.

It was to the point where I was ready to accept it as ‘as expected’ no matter what people said.

However, I was also concerned about the long-lived part.

“…Lionel. Bahamut has been around since Hertie was born-“

“Lionel! So, where is the new part-time job!? Surely I’m not lying!?”

The moment Cleon was about to ask him about Bahamut, a drunken voice came from the guest’s side.

His expression his wrinkled a little at being buried in his own question, but he could n’t get angry, so Cleon quietly kept his mouth shut.

“Wait. It takes some time to change into uniforms. It’s your fault for coming as soon as you opened the door.”

“What is it? A uniform? Is that what Herti-nim used to wear?”

The man crosses his arms as if missing him, closes his eyes and nods his head.

“At that time, Herti was cute differently than now… How hard the little one worked… Back then, I never dreamed that she was the daughter of the head of the Dark Dragon Company.”

“Hey. Are you saying that Hertie isn’t cute right now?”

Lionel asks in a thick voice, as if threatening, rather than taking an attitude toward a guest.

“Ah, no! Of course it’s not like that. Now, rather than being cute, I should say it’s bewitching… Because you’ve become the sexy type.”

“Are you looking at Herti with those eyes?”

“What can I say!”

Watching Lionel unfold her daughter’s idiot powers her in her absence her, Cleon smiled bitterly at her.

If you wait for the conversation between the guests and Lionel to end-

Courage! With a sound, the door behind the counter opened, and a girl wearing an oriental-style costume jumped out.

“Sorry…! It took me a long time to tie the strings. I’ll start working right away…!”

“Take it slow. I’m not from the East, so the clothes might be uncomfortable.”

“Thank you…! It’s okay!”

Saying that, the girl bowed her head and passed by the counter where Cleon was sitting.

With her beautiful silver hair shining, she bowed her head in succession as she made her way to her guests.

Suddenly. Stopping her feet and stepping back as if rewinding time, she returns to the side of the counter and looks towards Cleon and Lionel.

“…Why is that?”

Lionel tilted her head as if the girl’s behavior was strange.

The girl’s expression changed in the order of doubt- then confidence, then surprise-

Soon, her mouth her was gagging.

And- in her mouth her, I could see some sharp fangs.

Cleon, too, saw it and had no choice but to get up from her seat with a rattle.

The two of them looked at each other with surprised faces…

“”Why are you here…!?””

They spit out exactly the same lines and called each other by name.

“Cleon…!”

“Illenu!?”