“Lady Iris, you’ve come.”
As Iris appeared before her, the blonde woman bowed slightly.
“Tch… Troublesome brat. What do you want with me?”
Displeasure was written all over Iris’s delicate little face. She wasn’t particularly surprised by the blonde woman’s appearance; she knew this person would seek her out again.
Since she chose to find her at this hour, she clearly had something to say and wanted to avoid Yuri. It wasn’t convenient to speak earlier today when Yuri was around, so she chose this moment to come over.
“If you have something to say, say it quickly. My patience is limited.”
“Lady Iris, you’ve changed.”
“Huh? If you ran over here just to tell me that, I don’t have time for this mindless chatter.”
Iris turned to leave. She really couldn’t stand it. The very first thing out of the woman’s mouth was that she had changed. What did it matter to that woman whether she had changed or not? Besides, how much did she even know about her?
Just because she inherited some memories, she really thought she understood her?
“Lady Iris, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Speak. It depends on my mood.”
For the sake of their past cooperation, she would listen to what the woman wanted. After all, she was currently just a remnant soul trapped in Yuri’s body and couldn’t move freely. She couldn’t understand what could possibly require a favor from her.
“Lady Iris, could you please agree? Regardless of what Miss Yuri encounters or what happens next, please do not interfere.”
“Huh?”
She had come all this way specifically for Yuri’s sake, but she wanted her to stop helping Yuri?
Was there some kind of misunderstanding? She wasn’t helping Yuri at all.
Yuri was like this, and this blonde woman was the same. Why did they both think she would just jump in to help whenever she felt like it? She wasn’t some kind of easygoing pushover.
If they wanted her help for no reason, not a chance.
“You don’t even need to ask. I won’t help her.”
“Can you guarantee that?”
“I have to give you a guarantee?”
Iris’s hair practically stood on end. In the past, no one would have dared to speak to her like that, let alone demand a guarantee. If she weren’t just a remnant soul unable to do anything to the blonde woman, she would have certainly made her regret such insolence.
“If Miss Yuri truly encounters a danger she cannot handle, you would still subconsciously help her, wouldn’t you?”
“What are you talking about? Whatever danger Yuri-chan runs into has nothing to do with me. It would be best for me if she died.”
Looking at Iris’s slightly puffed-up face, the blonde woman sighed softly.
“In this regard, you are just as you were in the past. You still say things you don’t mean.”
“Huh? When have I ever said anything I didn’t mean? And besides, what do you even know? You’ve only inherited a few memories.”
“You are quite right,” the blonde woman bowed slightly. “While inheriting the position of Fire Seeker, I did indeed inherit the memories of others from the past. That is how I know about you, Lady Iris.”
“As long as you know.”
The Fire Seeker bowed again. “If you are still the same as you were in the past, you might lose her again.”
“You… What do you know!”
At that moment, Iris looked as if she had been poked in a sore spot. Her expression instantly darkened, and a chill flashed through her eyes.
“Though I was not there personally, I know everything that happened then. I still remember that time…”
“Shut up!”
“Very well, Lady Iris.”
“Tch…” The gloom on Iris’s face did not dissipate. She stared at the Fire Seeker. “It’s not your place to teach me how to handle things. And stop bringing up the past. I said I won’t help, so I won’t help.”
“Haven’t you helped her plenty already?”
“I only did that because—!”
As if her lies had been exposed, Iris was about to defend herself when the Fire Seeker interrupted her again.
“Actually, you felt it too, didn’t you, Lady Iris? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have made that choice.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I see.” Looking at the confusion in Iris’s eyes, the Fire Seeker shook her head. “I see. Then please forget what I just said.”
“Tch, how mysterious.”
“However, I still hope you can avoid interfering in the events to come. Just continue to watch and let things proceed along their established path. From the moment Miss Yuri entered Ironanvil City, everything that will happen here was already predestined. Even if she wants to flee and jump off the track, all the entanglements will ensnare her before she can escape. Everything happening here is her destiny. If she can truly resolve everything here, then perhaps she really is the person we have been searching for. If not, then unfortunately, we will have to continue our search.”
“It’s been so many years, and every single one of you is a stubborn mule who refuses to give up.”
Listening to the Fire Seeker’s long speech, Iris clicked her tongue.
“Wasn’t Lady Iris the same kind of stubborn mule back then? Otherwise, why would you have chosen to cooperate with us?”
“If I had to do it over, I definitely wouldn’t have chosen to work with you. Really, searching for someone for so long… Even if you find them, so what? Didn’t you say the last one you found was the chosen one? They’re gone now too.”
Speaking of that person, a sudden palpitation throbbed in Iris’s heart. Even though her memories were blurry and she couldn’t clearly remember who that person was, why did a pang of heartache still strike her when she thought of them?
‘It’s such an unpleasant feeling.’
So annoying.
Iris’s facial expressions were all caught by the Fire Seeker. Although she hadn’t experienced it herself, she had inherited those memories and knew exactly what had happened.
Not long after that, Iris had also met with an accident and perished. Since then, the Holy Fire Church had never recovered.
However, the remaining members still refused to give up. They chose to persist, even if they hadn’t seen a glimmer of hope for so many years, and even if this might be a dead end. They would still continue.
All for the sake of saving this gradually decaying world.
“Many things happened while you were gone. The reputation of the Holy Fire Church has worsened further, and our situation is even more dire than before.”
“As expected. With what you lot are planning to do, it would be weird if you weren’t ostracized.”
“Additionally, after your awakening, you should have realized the existence of the barriers while following Miss Yuri.”
Barriers… Iris had heard Yuri mention that word several times, especially during her conversation with Clayton today. Looking at their situation then, it seemed like the destruction of that thing was quite serious.
“And then?”
“100 years ago, a Grand Mage from the royal capital of Roderick researched a barrier that could effectively block the invasion of the Abyss. This barrier quickly became popular across the entire world.”
“Doesn’t that sound like a good thing?”
The Fire Seeker nodded slightly. “It was indeed so in the beginning. However, the Abyss evolved accordingly and found a way to rot things from the inside. My purpose in coming to Ironanvil City this time is also to resolve the trouble within the city. Furthermore, the emergence of the barriers has, in turn, made those people even more emboldened. They believe that as long as the barriers block the Abyss and can be maintained, they can continue to sleep soundly.”
“Sounds like your goal is even harder to achieve now. After all, it was already difficult to convince people, and now this thing has popped up.” Iris spread her hands helplessly. “If you ask me, you should have given up long ago. The world is already this rotten; what’s the point in saving it?”
Even though Iris had put it that way, the Fire Seeker’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
“Even so, our goal will not change.”
“Yes, yes, I know you stubborn mules won’t give up. Each one is more stubborn than the last. It’s been so many years, and you’re still like this. In my opinion, you shouldn’t call yourselves the Holy Fire Church. Since all the world’s stubborn mules are gathered here, why don’t you change the name to the Church of Stubborn Mules?”
“That could be considered.”
“You really have no sense of humor.”
How boring. She couldn’t even take a little joke.
“So, besides telling me not to help Yuri-chan while waiting for me in the middle of the night, is there anything else? If not, I’m leaving.”
“Lady Iris,” the Fire Seeker called out to her once more before Iris could turn away. “We have found a portion of your remains.”
“What did you say?!”
***
After parting with the Fire Seeker, Iris returned to the inn. She sat quietly by the bed, looking at Yuri’s sleeping face, which was still pinched in a frown.
‘Still having nightmares.’
She leaned down slightly, her fingertips gently brushing across Yuri’s cheek.
“Just so we’re clear, that woman stopped me, and she used information about my remains as a trade. So, you’re on your own for what comes next.”