Ai’er didn’t know how to explain this to Elena.
But her mind was a mess, and she knew all too well that loose lips sink ships.
Ai’er understood that Elena must be thinking about many things she didn’t know.
At least from what Ai’er knew, Elena had to reclaim the Duchy, reshape the image of the Witch in the eyes of the people, face the Monster Tide and Leviathan…
If she could, she had so much she wanted to confess to this girl.
Confess her plans, confess everything she knew, even confess the existence of the System…
But—
Would adding unnecessary information to an already chaotic situation truly benefit Elena?
What did Elena need, what would help Elena… Before confessing everything, these were things she had to weigh and consider.
Ai’er didn’t want to become a burden to the one she loved.
So she couldn’t even confess her own feelings to the girl at this moment.
“I’m not going. We’ll head straight back this afternoon—back to the Duchy.”
…Huh?
It seemed she hadn’t expected Elena to decide that way.
When Ai’er looked up, Elena had gently placed her hand on Ai’er’s head and started stroking it again.
“Ai’er, are you thinking about what Christina said? Like that matter with the doctor. Now that I think about it, I really should have been honest with you back then. Actually, a year ago, I already knew you weren’t human—I knew your true identity…”
‘Ah ∑(OAOï¼›)??’
‘C-Could it be that the doctor was telling the truth?!’
‘Was she really not human, but rather a white-haired Vampire Clan member from those OO novels who gets bullied by protagonists every day QAQ??’
‘Well, that would be fine… I’d let Elena bully me anyway, so bullying is bullying… It’s no big deal QAQ…’
‘…Sigh. Alright, Ai’er. Let’s get down to business.’
After telling herself that in her heart, Ai’er let go of the hand holding Elena’s.
The silver-haired girl gently patted her own cheeks, then lifted her gaze again to meet Elena’s dark-blue eyes.
“Elena, I know… you were planning to go to the Holy Church earlier. I know you’re amazing, and I know you want to reclaim the Duchy, deal with the Monster Tide and Leviathan… But Elena, I don’t want you to face these alone. When Tina said those things earlier, I really did hope you wouldn’t go to the Holy Church—there were too many uncertainties… But if the Holy Church can actually provide something that helps you, I… I have a request—Elena, let me go to the Holy Church in your place.”
After Ai’er finished, Elena was stunned.
What was Ai’er saying?
At that moment, Elena’s hand, which had been stroking Ai’er, stopped.
“Ai’er, you…”
“I know—when we were at the Student Council the day before yesterday, I heard everyone chatting that it’s extremely common for Empire nobles to send their servants to attend in their place. I have a feeling you don’t really like the Holy Church, Elena. But it seems there’s some reason you need to go there. Since that’s the case, then let me go in your place.”
Elena looked back into the silver-haired girl’s eyes—those light-golden irises.
Ai’er was serious. If she agreed, this girl would definitely do it.
And not just this time—even after returning to the Duchy, as long as she needed her, this girl would stand by her side.
If only she gave the order to this silver-haired girl…
“But Ai’er, do you know? This isn’t the future I want.”
Elena didn’t say these words directly to Ai’er. She just smiled at Ai’er and resumed tousling the girl’s silver hair.
If Ai’er could always stay by her side, she would be more than happy.
But it couldn’t happen.
Ever since the girl had found her in the blizzard a year ago, Elena had learned one truth: If she wanted to be with this silver-haired girl for the long term, she had to pave the way forward herself.
So until then, she would temporarily hide her feelings.
Just one year.
If she could just give herself another year, she could definitely handle everything.
Whether it was the Duchy, Leviathan, or the Monster Tide—she would handle it all and pave the road toward a future where she could be with Ai’er.
“Ai’er, about this… I originally wanted to go to the Holy Church to tell them that Sirius might be involved with the Black God Church, so they could deal with Sirius. But letting a third party like the Holy Church meddle in the internal affairs of the Duchy would only create more uncertainty. You just saw it, didn’t you, Ai’er? I think even without outside help, I have enough power to pursue everything I want. So Ai’er, you don’t have to—”
“M-Miss Elena!! Miss Elena!!”
At this anxious call, both Ai’er and Elena turned their gazes toward the figure rushing toward them.
Coming around the street corner was a somewhat petite maid.
The maid clutched a letter, her dark-blue eyes nearly overflowing with panic.
“Fina?”
“Miss Elena! The Monster Tide!! A letter from the Duchy says the Monster Tide has come early!!”
…
Christina, sitting in the carriage, yawned.
“No need to wait. Miss Elena won’t be coming.”
Tina said, flashing a smile at the bishop sitting across from her.
As if she had known this outcome all along.
“Your Holiness the Saintess, since the agreed time is a thirty-minute window starting at one o’clock, we should at least wait until the last minute.”
“Fine, let’s wait a little longer then~ It’s just that I really think this waiting is pointless now. Yawn (__)(-.-)(~O~)…(-.-)~”
Watching the Saintess who showed no interest in this matter, the bishop maintained his smile but furrowed his brow slightly.
He knew there were some “problem children” among the Saints and Saintesses, but he hadn’t expected it to be like this.
This was a mission personally assigned by the Archbishop, and as one who had directly received the blessing of the White God, why was this Saintess so indifferent to this task?
Could someone like this be called a “Saintess”? Then he, who was so devout to the White God, could surely become a Saint as well—
“That won’t work, Bishop. Setting aside the impurity of your mana, you can only use one type of magic, right? In my eyes, your color is like old, faded paint~ The White God would never give His blessing to such defective goods~”
“You!”
“Bishop, I really don’t want to waste any more time waiting here. You can tell the Archbishop whatever you want later, but I’ll be leaving now~”
Completely ignoring the bishop’s protests and insults from the carriage, Tina jumped off the vehicle, refused her attendants, and walked into the crowd—
And the next second after melting into the crowd, she disappeared.
At the same time, in a dark alley on a street corner, a figure cloaked in black appeared.
A few strands of brown hair peeked out from under the pitch-black hood, and the part the hood couldn’t hide was the person’s smiling lips.
And in that smile was a signature hint of playfulness.
“How is it going?”
“Reporting to Apostle, the first phase of the experiment has begun.”
Hearing the report from another black-cloaked figure who emerged from the darkness, the brown-haired figure stretched their smile even wider, looking almost eerie.
“Have the substitute stay at the Magic Academy as much as possible this afternoon. If the Holy Church summons, then notify me. Now then~ Let us meet again in the Duchy, Miss Ai’er. At that time, allow me, Christina, to address you as—the Sole Agent of the Black God.”
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