Chapter 1: Do You Admit Your Guilt? I Admit You’re a Fool!
At dawn, before the temple bells could ring, five figures began to move.
“Have you packed everything?”
At Seraphina’s question, Chloe, with her distinctive white fur and neat bob cut, perked up her cat ears.
The lightly dressed young woman moved without a sound.
“Yes! I’ve only packed the essentials. But…”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Rouncour’s room.
The elegantly dressed elf with the flowing green hair was bustling about his room.
“This is a 300-year-old harp… This is a 450-year-old magical instrument…” Rouncour muttered.
“Ah, this legend written on parchment…”
“Ah, now the true epics…”
“Noisy.”
Gaignun opened Rouncour’s door.
“Ah! Just a moment! This vision scroll of the ancient elves…”
Gaignun expressionlessly picked up Rouncour’s bag.
He then took out the harp and tossed it to the elf.
“Take this only.”
“No! This is my soul’s…”
Rouncour’s scream was heard.
“By the way,” Chloe twitched her ears.
“Breakfast…”
“Here.” Seraphina handed over a small pouch.
“I prepared it earlier.”
“Indeed, Holy Maiden!”
Chloe’s white tail wagged with joy.
Beatrice stood at the entrance of the temple, gazing at the eastern sky.
Her silver armor shimmered in the dawn light, her long golden hair fluttered in the wind.
Standing silently beside her was Gaignun with his short brown hair.
Dew formed on his lightweight armor.
In the distance, the vague silhouette of the Shia Kalt Mountain Range was visible.
The eternal snow sparkling in the morning sunlight seemed mysterious, but it was distant.
“Beatrice.”
Seraphina approached. In her pure white nun’s habit, her pink hair danced in the morning breeze.
“Last prayers to Lord Mikel…”
“I understand.”
The two sank to their knees before the altar.
“Prayers are done here.” Beatrice stood up.
“Hurry, we’re worried about Giowen.”
The light from the morning sun shining through the stained glass created multicolored patterns.
The city was just beginning to awaken.
Merchants looking for the morning market spotted the group and began to murmur.
“That’s the Holy Maiden and the Silver Knight…”
“The Shia Kalt? That’s the snow mountain no one dares to cross…”
“Since the last caravan disappeared ten years ago…”
“Hurry.” Chloe folded her ears.
“Before too many people gather…”
“This path…” Rouncour held his harp.
“Two hundred years ago, the great bard Delphinius…”
“Noisy.”
“But Master Gaignun! This noble story…”
Gaignun’s cold gaze silenced Rouncour.
“Ahh…” Chloe giggled.
“I understand now. Whenever Master Gaignun says ‘noisy,’ everyone quiets down within three seconds, and when Beatrice calls someone’s name, it takes five seconds…”
“Chloe.”
Beatrice turned her head.
“Yes…”
Chloe’s ears flattened.
Cutting through the morning air, the group stepped forward,
as they left the capital of the Heschet Empire, bathed in the morning sunlight.
…
…
…
“It’s already been a week.”
Chloe spoke as the group rested.
It had been non-stop travel from the Heschet Empire to the border of the Kingdom of Genesis.
“I’m curious. Miss Beatrice and the Holy Maiden, how did you two first meet? I joined three years ago, so I don’t know much.”
Gaignun’s eyes slightly tilted upward, and Rouncour paused tuning his harp, showing interest.
Even these two, who had spent a long time with Beatrice, didn’t know this story.
Seraphina glanced briefly at Beatrice before beginning.
“During the Heschet Empire’s knighthood training. Beatrice, though from a baron’s family, started with cleaning the barracks just like the other trainees. I was a commoner, but we both diligently underwent the training.”
“So, did you become closer?”
“Yes. Beatrice was my only friend with whom I could comfortably converse. However… I suddenly received Lord Mikel’s blessing, and without preparation, I became the Holy Maiden and had to leave.”
Beatrice rose from her spot.
“It’s fine. We’re like this now because of that.”
“So, Miss Beatrice left the knighthood…”
Chloe asked.
“Training got boring. So I went out and became an adventurer. That’s when I found the Holy Sword.”
“Ah! This is the story of destiny…”
“Noisy.” Gaignun casually said while spreading the map.
“We need to cross the Snowstorm Ridge next.”
“The place where ice golems appear most frequently?” Rouncour stroked his harp.
“At that moment, a monster’s cry resounded through the forest.
Gaignun’s spear moved first.
He pierced the monster above the tree in a flash.
Rouncour’s harp softly played, lightening the group’s movements.
Chloe disappeared into the shadows and suddenly appeared behind another monster.
“Haa!”
Beatrice’s Silver Sword flashed.
A monster’s arm flew off.
The last one was cleanly dealt with by Gaignun’s spear.
“Ah! This magnificent victory deserves a…”
“Noisy.”
Rouncour shut his mouth, but his fingers continued to gently pluck the harp strings.
When Gaignun’s sharp gaze met his, he finally ceased.
“Ah! There goes D’blanc…”
At Chloe’s words, everyone turned their heads.
Far away, the first city of the Kingdom of Genesis, D’blanc, came into view.
“Finally…” Rouncour’s voice brimmed with excitement.
“The great city of D’blanc! Now our…”
“Rouncour.” Beatrice and Gaignun spoke simultaneously.
“Go in quietly. Without commotion.”
As they approached the city gates, the guards spotted them.
At first, they seemed like ordinary adventurers, but when Beatrice’s silver armor and holy sword sparkled in the sunlight, the guards’ expressions changed instantly.
“Is that… the Silver Knight!?”
“And the Holy Maiden…”
The crowd gathered quickly.
“What brings you here…”“To Shia Kalt…?”“It is the revelation of Lord Mikel…”
Seraphina responded with a warm smile.
“Yes, we are on our way to Shia Kalt by Lord Mikel’s revelation.”
Further explanations were unnecessary.
“This way.” The guildmaster of D’blanc appeared and led the group.
He personally paved the way to the inn known as ‘The Rest of Moonlight.’
“The Holy Maiden, the Silver Knight…” The innkeeper deeply bowed.
“The finest suite is prepared for you. It’s on the house.”
Gaignun gave a blank look at Beatrice.
His gaze seemed to say “Of course.”
Even as they were led to their rooms, the inn’s patrons followed them with curious eyes.
But all averted their gaze under Gaignun’s cold stare.
“Now.” Beatrice spread out the map.
“Let’s plan tomorrow’s route. To the Snowstorm Ridge…”
“Oh! The Snowstorm Ridge!” Rouncour sprang up.
“The perilous mountain range where our new epic awaits! Truly…”
“Rouncour!”
Everyone cried out at the same time.
Seraphina couldn’t hide her smile.
After five years had passed, they were still the same.
*
“Riko, what do you think about naming this child?”
“Huh? Name?”
Indeed.
This child I’ll raise needs a name, right?
Hmm…
Based on this one’s characteristics…
“Hotpack, what do you think?”
“Hotpack…? What does it mean?”
“A source of warmth!”
The sound is cute, and it fits perfectly!Could anything be more perfect than this?
“Hmm… It feels good, but isn’t it a little difficult to pronounce?”
“Huh? Is it?”
Is it a foreign word hard for people in this world to pronounce?Still, isn’t this just English?Umm…
“Master, how did you name me?”
“Oh, it was Lycoris. It came to me as soon as I saw you.”
Ah…I thought of ‘Hotpack’…
“Ah, I usually call you Riko, but your full name is Lycoris.”
When Master said it with a radiant smile,
Uh…Heart, calm down!No, don’t say there’s nothing!I definitely felt something!
I knew my full name through the status window, but hearing it directly from Master feels strangely pleasant.Should I give it a nickname-friendly name as well?Hmm…
…
“Cecilia, how’s that? As a nickname, Celia or Lia?”
“Ah, that’s really pretty. It’s like the name of a flower.”
“Yes! I imagined the prettiest flower while naming it. A flower that’s fresh and warm!”
Master’s gaze became warm.Great!
“Isn’t this one already shining like Ruby?”“It’s my daughter, so it has to be a radiant and beautiful name!”
The red glow rippling inside the cocoon makes me feel quite proud.
“Huh? Is it a girl then?”
“Ehhh?”
Isn’t it a girl?Am I thinking that because of the faint memories I have of being a man and wanting a daughter?Isn’t it natural to wish to become a daughter-loving dad?
“Did Master know I was a girl?”
“Yes. It’s obvious to anyone.”
“Eh!? Is it!? Even though I’m a flower!?”
“How…?”
Master’s eyes twinkled as they slightly extended their hand.The delicate hand moved toward my weakness…
“Wheeee!”
“Look.”
Master spoke with a small smile.
Uh…Master surely named me before doing that rubbing… right?Ah, never mind.Is this one a boy then?
“Is it more like a boy then?”
“Hmm… Not really. I have no idea.”
Phew…Then just make her my daughter!
“Then let’s just go with Cecilia!”
“Ho ho… Okay, let’s do that.”
With great spirit, I named my daughter (?) ‘Cecilia’ and gazed at the cocoon.
『 ☆☆ 【Cecilia】 Blaze Chrysalis LV10 』
“Ooon!”
The status window updated quickly.Now that I’ve named her, I already feel affection welling up.
“Just grow up warmly.”
