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Translator: FusionX

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“Robert.”

After Theresa died, I tried to live as if nothing had happened.

In fact, nothing would change much.

It was a relationship that only I remembered, something only I knew.

If I suddenly changed, it would rather be more awkward.

It was true that it was complicated.

It was also true that I tried to escape from such thoughts.

I had already experienced many times that it was not good to be swayed by such things.

It was just that Theresa died.

Just that someone I loved in the past died.

Someone who could no longer hold any meaning to me had just died.

…By my hand.

“Robert?”

I didn’t know how many times she had called me, but when I raised my head, Adriana was staring at me.

This kind of thing had been happening often these days.

Me spacing out alone and getting caught by Adriana.

It was not something I really wanted to show when we were together, but things didn’t always go as people wanted.

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking about something else for a moment.”

“We have to move from here tomorrow. Do you remember what I said I wanted to do for you last time?”

“Are you talking about implanting holy power?”

Saying she would implant holy power was not a light matter.

Although we had a quite close relationship as friends, having holy power implanted in a human body meant being connected to that person.

What would happen if mental communion occurred?

I had been thinking about it since Theresa recalled memories of my previous rounds, but this round was indeed unusual.

I didn’t mind if someone knew about my memories, but I was just curious about how they would view me through those memories.

I didn’t want sympathy, nor did I want to receive a pathetic gaze.

But it wasn’t that there was no benefit for me either.

If I received holy power and operated mana in a different way, or if the absolute amount increased… honestly, it would be a hard offer to refuse.

“I think I need to think a bit more carefully. Can’t we do it on the way back?”

So it was better to postpone it.

As I answered with a small smile, Adriana nodded as if she had no choice.

It had already been a week since we stayed at the Temple of the Moon.

Now that we had to move our base and head deeper into the south, we wouldn’t have as much leisure as today.

“That’s true. We’ll be stopping by the temple on the way back anyway.”

“Then I think it’s better to get up now. Don’t we have to go see Cardinal Verod?”

“…Ah, is it already that time?”

As we were heading deeper, the risk Adriana would be exposed to was also considerable.

Of course, there were the paladins and Verod who arrived later, and me.

Wasn’t protecting Adriana the top priority of this group?

No matter how many times we were careful, it wasn’t enough.

As I reached out my hand, Adriana, who felt the movement, carefully grasped it.

Now it seemed okay to have this level of contact.

At first, she would blush just by touching, so it was more embarrassing for me in many ways.

But when walking, she preferred to hug my arm rather than hold my hand.

The gazes of the paladins had also improved compared to before, so now we only occasionally encountered the strange gazes of the priests looking at us.

“I feel much more refreshed while staying here. I feel like my body has become lighter too.”

“Isn’t it natural to be influenced? This is the Temple of the Moon.”

If asked if I was also unaffected by such influence, I could firmly answer no.

I didn’t know what relationship the Moonstone had with this temple.

It was uncertain whether the power of a mere artifact would continue even after being used, but I definitely felt something here.

I think that was the reason Theresa regained her memories.

If this power had no range, wouldn’t it have also affected Adele?

Suddenly thinking of Adele, I became curious about how she was doing.

How she was doing, what reaction she would have after reading my letter.

Given her personality, she would try to get an answer from me right away, but I still couldn’t tell if she would come all the way to the south.

Since the new year had just passed, there must have been various administrative issues piled up, so would she really come from the north, across the central region, to the south?

Still, I thought it would be a bit welcome if she came.

There were things to check, and I also felt a bit more at ease when I saw Adele.

She wouldn’t have to go to the imperial palace while she was with me, right?

I was thinking it would be better for her to come.

I didn’t know how long we walked, but after walking for a while with Adriana, we eventually reached the conference room where the high priests and Verod were.

I didn’t need to go inside, so I tried to send Adriana off, and soon the door swung open and Verod appeared.

“I came out because I felt a presence, but as expected, you were together.”

“I’ll be going now then. So-”

“No. I think it’s better to listen to the story together today. It’s about the deep south anyway, and above all… it’s related to you.”

His attitude was quite different from before, but his intention for me to attend the meeting was clearly conveyed.

What on earth were they trying to talk about?

As I entered with a slight puzzlement, I felt everyone inside looking at me.

If there was one thing I realized at that moment, it was that today’s topic was probably about me rather than the south.

“…Did some problem arise?”

When I asked in that serious atmosphere, a priest sighed and shook his head.

Judging by his slightly hesitant attitude, it didn’t seem like I had done anything wrong.

It was probably just a bit of a dilemma.

But what this stiff atmosphere was about, the question was resolved by Verod’s words.

“I heard you know the Grand Duchess who protects the North.”

“That’s right.”

I tilted my head for a moment at the mention of the Grand Duchess, but realizing it was about Adele, I quietly answered.

I wondered why Adele was suddenly brought up.

However, that question was starting to change into a thought of “could it be” in my mind.

Even that, combined with Verod’s following words, was gradually becoming a certainty.

“Are you perhaps in a close relationship? For example, like how you’re friends with the saint.”

“Calling us friends would be an exaggeration, but I don’t think we’re distant either.”

“Not a close relationship. That’s what you seem to be saying. Then I think an explanation is needed for this letter.”

I quietly looked at the letter Verod held out.

The handwriting seemed scribbled, but I soon realized it was written by Adele.

This was her habit of writing carelessly.

Seeing the contents written inside, a hollow laugh escaped my mouth.

I’m coming to see Robert.

The rest of you can leave first, but leave Robert behind.

The letter with the Grand Duchess’s seal was neatly stamped.

Seeing that, I unknowingly let out a sigh and slowly wiped my face with my dry hand.

I didn’t dislike her straightforward personality.

Rather, I liked that aspect of her and kept her close.

However, it was true that her personality made things difficult for me.

As Verod’s eyes, still attached to Adriana, became even sharper, the mana he emitted became so chilly that it wouldn’t be strange if it froze.

It was natural.

If a letter was sent like this, it was enough to be misunderstood.

I couldn’t think of how to explain this, so I smiled bitterly as I looked at Adriana, who was curious about the contents of the letter.

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“Robert is not an object.”

Adriana, who heard the contents of the letter, muttered like that as if she was angry.

If you heard Adriana’s words for the first time, you might think that way.

She probably didn’t say this to treat me like an object, but to others, it was a letter that could sufficiently make them think she viewed me quite insignificantly.

Unlike her usual self, Adriana, who was fuming and gripping my arm even tighter, looked at Verod.

“When did you say the Grand Duchess would arrive?”

“She said she would probably arrive at night, so I think she can join us before we depart.”

“…How does she think of you? I thought we were in the same situation before, but I guess not.”

I didn’t know what she meant by “same situation,” but it seemed her opinion of Adele had turned negative.

She didn’t like her very much in the first place.

Since Adriana was strangely uncomfortable with Adele, I also had a negative view of Adele and Adriana meeting.

In fact, their personalities were almost opposite.

If Adele was rough and cold, Adriana could be said to be gentle and idealistic.

If such incompatible women met, and if I was caught between them.

Well, I didn’t think it would be a pretty sight.

“Since she said she would meet Robert, Robert will have to go greet her, right?”

“Still, she said she’s coming to see me, so I have to go, don’t I? It’s not polite not to.”

It was not just anyone, but the Grand Duchess.

No matter how much the church focused on the religious aspect rather than status, they couldn’t ignore Adele’s status as the Grand Duchess.

And since she was someone who didn’t kneel to Verod in terms of military power, it would be very reassuring for the church if she joined them.

However, what made them uncomfortable was Adele’s usual attitude.

She was such a free-spirited woman that even the imperial family couldn’t properly control her, so how much more so for the church?

I needed to clearly tell them about this part.

“Even if the Grand Duchess comes, you can just act as usual. As written in the letter, she’s probably coming because she’s interested in me.”

“…That’s the problem, it’s not certain. It would be a bit better if the saint was here.”

They still looked anxious, but they seemed to find some comfort in the fact that the saint was here.

No matter how much it was Adele, she would be respectful to the saint.

If we considered the probability of her acting arbitrarily in this situation, it would be very low.

When Adele moved like that, she would have her own reasons to move that way.

And if necessary, I could step in and say something.

In the past, when it seemed like Adele would cause problems, I stepped in and stopped her.

Since I was used to such things, even if she joined, there wouldn’t be any unexpected situations.

After sufficiently conveying that stance to the priests and paladins, the time had already approached the night when Adele was said to arrive.

It was time to slowly go out and greet her since she said she would meet me.

As I tried to go out, Adriana grabbed my arm again and asked if it would be better to go together.

“It would be better if I go with you. It makes me feel at ease.”

“She won’t do anything to me. Will you be okay?”

“Let’s go together. Thinking of you as an object is one thing, but I think it’s better for me to say something.”

I didn’t know what difference it would make if Adriana said something, but it seemed better than going alone, so I readily accepted.

Verod’s gaze was unusual, but I didn’t pay attention.

I was just a little excited by the fact that Adele was coming soon.

Because if she was coming all the way here herself, it meant she was going to say what she thought after reading the letter I had left.

If not, she might have recalled memories of the previous round.

I left the meeting room with Adriana and walked along the only path that led to this Temple of the Moon.

Although it was a bit embarrassing to have her tightly holding my arm, I didn’t say much since it was her way of thinking of me.

Still, the more we walked like this, the clearer the presence I felt from far away became.

The sound of a wolf stepping on the dirt, the breathing of a woman riding while holding the reins.

It was more distinct to me than ever before.

“I think we’ll meet soon.”

“R-really?”

The time it would take to get there would be but a moment.

Hearing my words, Adriana hugged my arm with a determined expression.

Clinging close enough to be unnecessary for simply walking, she stopped her steps at the sound that had now grown loud enough for ordinary people to hear.

Like that, I looked into the darkness.

I faced the white wolf that appeared, cutting through that darkness, and the woman holding the reins on top of it.

Her pale blue eyes were still the same as the moonlight, so when our eyes met, a laugh unknowingly escaped.

It seemed to be the same for Adele.

Adele quietly smiled at me.

“It’s been a while, Robert.”

Unlike before, her voice was just gentle, so it was clear that there had been some change in her.

Probably for the better.

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