Chapter 83

“I think you need to talk to the Holy Office first.”

After a long silence, Priest Alex finally spoke up. Lilian elegantly set down her teacup with such precision that not even a clink could be heard. It was a perfect display of etiquette. The Holy Office—it was the place where the Church’s top brass handled affairs, located in the capital of the Empire. It’d be reasonable to assume that all matters requiring the Church’s intervention were dealt with there.

The Emperor and four cardinals were almost always present, and it was rare for a report to reach the Holy Office unless it was of significant importance. Given that, Alex was suggesting that this situation warranted such attention from the Holy Office.

After all, the heroine chosen to wield the Sacred Sword had already been announced. At this point, trying to transform me into a hero selected by the Sacred Sword would likely tarnish the Church’s reputation. Lilian, who had been quietly smiling while placing her teacup down, spoke softly.

“Does that mean we need to go to the capital?”

“Yes. They probably won’t act unless they feel the situation is serious.”

The Emperor and the four cardinals were also notorious for being slow to act. For instance, when the Kingdom of Parenta—boasting the second-greatest national power—invited one of the cardinals for their coronation, they were turned down. The Kingdom went absolutely ballistic upon hearing that. At that time, the Empire and Parenta were at odds.

Of course, while the Empire officially expressed regret over the incident, the Holy Office’s inactivity continued. This sort of matter wasn’t enough to get a cardinal to move, so Lilian and I had no choice but to head to the capital. Lilian, who had been silent for a moment, let out a small sigh and stood up.

“Alright then, Catherine. Let’s go.”

“Sure.”

What could she be thinking? I couldn’t fathom Lilian’s thoughts. After all, she had just revealed her hidden magical power, and now she was acting so rudely towards Alex, who was practically a future cardinal. What on earth was going on in her mind? Inside the carriage, as I stared out the window at the passing scenery, Lilian’s face was void of any emotion. It felt oddly noble, almost as if I was looking at the old Young Lady.

Now that I think about it, Lilian recently resembled the Young Lady quite a bit. From her tiny habits to her gait and even her breathing, everything mirrored the old Young Lady. Sometimes, I would confuse the two of them.

Of course, unlike the cynical Young Lady, Lilian had her own warmth. Though I had never seen how she treated the other maids, from what I could gather, that seemed to be the case.

Strangely enough, it was notable. Sure, I was always close to the Young Lady, but I wasn’t the only one aiding her. Given the status of the Marquis of Portus, it was normal for her to have several maids attending to her. Yet, Lilian was well aware of this custom yet insisted on having only me serve her.

Unlike the Young Lady, Lilian wasn’t demanding, so serving her wasn’t too difficult. Still, it felt odd, like she wanted to keep it just between us two. And anytime… how should I put it? Occasionally, Lilian would look at me with an intensity I hadn’t seen when she was with the Young Lady, and it sent chills down my spine.

“Catherine, what are you thinking about?”

Just like now. She was smiling sweetly, but there was something lurking in her eyes that felt predatory. There was a smile on her lips, but I couldn’t tell if it was genuine or just for show. If anyone knew, it would be solely Lilian.

“I was just thinking that I didn’t know what was on your mind.”

“Really?”

As the carriage rocked, Lilian subtly leaned closer to whisper in my ear. Her breath sent a shiver down my spine. Why was she doing this all of a sudden? I couldn’t help but wonder, but I didn’t pull away. Avoiding Lilian was never really an option for me.

“I was thinking about you, Catherine.”

In a soft voice that seemed thunderous given the proximity, she admitted it. My thoughts? I turned to look at her, and her face came even closer. Caught off guard, I leaned back a bit and tried to compose myself.

“You mean my thoughts?”

“You could just stay put. Well, I was thinking about what would happen if you became a hero.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Why, are you disappointed?”

Lilian’s smile this time seemed genuinely cheerful. This girl, had she always been like this? I set aside the growing curiosity in my mind and shook my head.

“No, not at all.”

“Hmm, alright.”

“By the way, why did you reveal my magical power?”

“What do you think will happen if we can’t drive the Demon King out of this world?”

Answering a question with another question, I frowned slightly and pondered the implications of her words. If we couldn’t drive out the Demon King… all the books I read showed tales of successfully defeating the Demon King, so I had never encountered the opposite. Yet, thinking logically…

“Doesn’t that mean humanity would perish?”

Not every human would die, of course. But we’d likely end up as slaves to the demons, killing each other or being killed for fun. It was a horrifying thought. Lilian nodded thoughtfully at my response.

“Yep. So we can’t afford to have a fake hero.”

“Isn’t it possible that he might actually be the real hero?”

“Ha, no way.”

Lilian’s confidence made me tilt my head in confusion. I couldn’t tell what she knew. Now that I think of it, she seemed to be well-informed about this world, particularly the Apatem Academy. Could it be that this world has an “original” story?

Suddenly, that thought sent chills down my spine. If so, it meant Lilian likely knew the ending of this world. I felt like I needed to have an earnest conversation with her. Until now, I had been keeping it hidden, but perhaps it was time to reveal that I came from Earth as well, sharing what knowledge I had.

I had been trying to conceal it as much as possible, but with the Demon King resurrected, hiding the fact that I was reincarnated would be pointless. The fate of humanity was at stake. Was my insignificant secret really that important? Just as I was about to voice this, the carriage came to a halt.

“We’ve arrived.”

“I see.”

It seemed honest dialogue would have to wait. Stepping out of the carriage, I took Lilian’s hand and helped her down. Her elegant steps carried her toward the mansion.

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“…Catherine?”

“Yes.”

The Marquis of Portus blinked in disbelief. It was somewhat amusing to watch his reaction, but Lilian nodded seriously in response. Reporting that her beloved maid had awakened her magical power, she handed a dagger to Catherine, who stood quietly with her head bowed.

“Here.”

“Yes.”

With no explanation, Catherine accepted the dagger and unleashed her magical power. A blue aura flickered and shimmered like flames. The sight left the Marquis of Portus speechless. Even the guards standing nearby couldn’t hide their shock.

Such phenomena were rare in this world. The ability to manifest and shape magical power was unheard of in a world devoid of magic and sacred power. For people from Earth, witnessing someone suddenly unleashing fire-like magic would surely leave them stunned. It was comically delightful to think about.

Catherine returned the dagger to Lilian and quietly bowed her head again. After staring blankly at the scene for a long time, the Marquis of Portus finally regained his composure and spoke slowly.

“So, you’re planning to go to the Holy Office?”

“Yes.”

“And what’s got you so determined? If you send Catherine there, you’ll be apart for a while. Can she handle academy life by herself?”

It was Lilian who brought Catherine, a mere servant, to Apatem Academy where attendants are usually prohibited. The Marquis of Portus seemed perplexed by Lilian’s decision to now separate from Catherine. Lilian couldn’t help but understand his confusion. In truth, she didn’t want to be apart either, but with the world on the verge of collapse, it was unavoidable.

The defeat in war depicted in those countless bad endings was horrifically dreadful. Remembering those outcomes, Lilian steeled her resolve and opened her mouth to answer the Marquis’s question.

“I have to do what I can. I can’t let my own desires rob Catherine of what she rightfully deserves.”

“…I see.”

Seeing Lilian receiving the Marquis’s approving nod made her stifle a laugh inwardly. Apparently, her answer perfectly aligned with the Marquis’s ideals of noble obligation.

“Alright. Go ahead. But this time, make sure you’re properly guarded.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Lilian nodded obediently, a bright smile spreading across her face. It was a smile that indicated everything was going according to her plans.

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