Chapter 42
A land of abundance throughout all four seasons, Igrail.
This blessed land, wrapped in the wings of a dragon, was greeted by gentle, warm winds even as April arrived.
Today, too, the sky was clear and cloudless.
The sunlight pouring down was warm enough to be perfect for an afternoon nap, and just as pleasant for a stroll.
On such a fine day, Aquila was wandering around in search of Ershan and Mei.
‘If they are not in their room, then where on earth are they…?’
Walking along the wide corridor, Aquila took in the long stretch of scenery beyond the windows.
He had heard that during the first few days while Aquila was unconscious, the twins had shut themselves inside their room and refused to come out.
They still ate regularly, but their portions had decreased, and they barely exchanged a single word when others were around.
Then, starting on the fifth day after the Temple Knights departed, they began leaving their room and wandering around aimlessly.
There did not seem to be any particular destination.
Whenever someone nearby spotted the twins, however, they would immediately leave and move elsewhere.
‘Everyone who stayed by the twins’ side must have been Celsia’s close aides. With nowhere to place their hearts, are they simply wandering?’
Aquila paused and looked out over the expansive garden.
The areas that had melted black under the mud scattered by the Corrupted Shadow of Ecstatic Delight had been cleaned up as though nothing had ever happened.
Even so, the greenhouse that had once been faintly visible in the distance was nowhere to be seen, and the surrounding trees, having been snapped apart, left the area sparsely empty.
“Shall we ask the servants as well? It is so vast that we might not find them on our own.”
The Reschenhardt Estate and its gardens were far too large to take in at a glance.
Aquila considered it, then shook his head.
“I doubt they would follow willingly. Let us at least ask if anyone has seen them—when and where.”
They resumed walking.
***
“Lord Ershan and Lady Lemei? They were here until just a little while ago. They left a few minutes ago.”
The twins’ whereabouts came from an unexpected source.
It was Chelsey, her purple hair tied tightly up, dressed not in pure white robes but in comfortable clothing.
She was staying in Igrail together with Heinen, following Ianpel’s orders.
‘They left all the important people behind. Is this their way of keeping a close watch?’
Chelsey appeared to be helping with the garden, pulling weeds near the bushes.
Seeing how natural and familiar she looked, Aquila was momentarily at a loss for words.
It was because it was a sight he had never once seen across all previous cycles, nor one he had ever imagined seeing.
“Did the gardener put you to work? You are a guest—why would you be doing this…?”
“No. I felt bad simply staying here without doing anything. I only asked if there was something I could help with.”
“You could just rest comfortably! You have not been up for long since you were injured!”
“I am fully healed. Yujelia treated me very thoroughly.”
Chelsey smiled gently, as refreshing as the breeze of Igrail itself.
Her affection for Yujelia was plainly visible on her face.
‘So she can make that kind of expression.’
Yet to Aquila, it was an unfamiliar one.
The person who had stood beside Saint Ianpel like a doll, her expression never changing.
She had been his hands and feet, his mouth and ears.
She carried out anything she was ordered to do.
Even when Ianpel, calculating his own benefit, chose to support the opposite side rather than Aquila’s, and even when he decided not to dispatch the Temple Knights to save people, she never raised an objection.
No emotion had ever surfaced on her face; she had simply remained silent.
Because of that, Aquila had never paid her much attention.
An accessory attached to Saint Ianpel, a key figure of the main scenario.
That was all she had been to him.
“Are you feeling all right, Aquila Reschenhardt? I heard from Yujelia yesterday, but you were bedridden for quite some time.”
“…Yes. Thanks to Lady Yujelia’s meticulous treatment, I am fine. Almost excessively refreshed, in fact.”
“That is a relief. She was terribly worried…”
Chelsey smiled once more.
Then she quietly studied Aquila’s face before straightening her posture.
“Previously, the circumstances made it difficult to properly greet you. Thank you sincerely for saving Yujelia at the Grand Temple of Portplum.”
Chelsey suddenly bowed her head.
It was her belated expression of gratitude for rescuing Yujelia when she had nearly been abducted at the Grand Temple of Portplum.
Once the incident had concluded, Aquila had collapsed, and upon waking, he had rushed straight to Igrail without pause, leaving no opportunity for such words.
“No, there is no need for thanks. I merely did what was necessary. I did not do much myself.”
“That is not true. You found Yujelia. If you had been even a little late then—or if it had gone unnoticed…”
As she recalled the moment, Chelsey’s face darkened.
Clenching her hands tightly, she bowed deeply once more.
“To think that he would not be satisfied with the children of the orphanage and would do something like that to her as well…”
Chelsey trailed off incoherently, then shook her head, her expression hardening.
“No, that is not it. I knew long ago that he had no affection left. I was simply careless.”
Deep anger settled over her face.
“I heard that you testified to Martio’s crimes, Priest Chelsey.”
“Yes. He committed unforgivable acts. I have always believed that if someone had to do it, it should be me.”
“Thanks to that, we were able to bring things to a close more quickly. I should be the one thanking you.”
“…No. I was always waiting for an opportunity to drag that man into the light. I only wish it had been sooner.”
Chelsey’s face was still filled with loathing and contempt toward Martio.
It resembled the expression Yujelia had worn, yet it was subtly different.
“I heard that he will be executed. Even at the earliest, it will take about a month.”
“…You seem to know the inner workings of the temple very well.”
Chelsey looked at Aquila with curious eyes, then nodded.
“When this matter is over and we return, I intend to join the escort transporting him to Saintroia. If that is not permitted, I will take leave.”
“So you plan to witness it yourself.”
“Yes. I do not know if this is the right thing to do. But…”
As she spoke, Chelsey turned her gaze far away.
Likely in the direction where Portplum lay.
“Unless I confirm it with my own eyes, I feel as though he might come back to life again. So I intend to see it through to the very end, if at all possible.”
The gentle wind brushed through her purple hair, yet her eyes remained cold.
“He was the one who took in Lady Yujelia, and you as well… Do you still resent him?”
It was Shen who broke the heavy atmosphere with his voice.
It was a careful question, though whether it was a good one was uncertain.
Even so, he did not seem inclined to withdraw his words or avert his gaze.
Chelsey turned toward Shen and answered clearly.
“No. All that remains is anger. That stage has long since passed. Long, long ago…”
That was the difference between Chelsey and Yujelia.
From beginning to end, there was no confusion on her face—only unmistakable anger.
DING!
【Opening information on the keyword ‘Chelsey’!】
【Chelsey — Priest of the Sun, the saint’s confidant, expressionless executor, one blinded by vengeance.
Record prior to the 30th cycle: A Priest of the Sun who stood by Saint Ianpel’s side in order to expose Martio, but after missing her chance and losing her most beloved younger sibling, she fell into despair. With no will to live, she followed only the saint’s words.】
‘…This is the first time this window has appeared.’
Aquila unconsciously widened his eyes.
Across all cycles, this was the first time Chelsey’s keyword information had appeared.
Was it because he had heard her true feelings for the first time?
Looking at Chelsey with renewed eyes, he reread the text in the information window.
‘If it is her most beloved younger sibling…’
Chelsey closed her eyes for a long moment before opening them again and turning away, finally erasing her expression.
Just then, her face suddenly brightened, and she waved her arms energetically toward somewhere behind them.
“Yujelia!”
“Sister! Ah—Sir Aquila and Sir Shen too! You are all here.”
Yujelia came running toward them, her brown hair tied tightly up.
“But what are you doing here?”
“Mm. I was giving the thanks I could not offer before. About what happened at the temple.”
“Ah! My sister talked endlessly about wanting to thank you… Did you have a good conversation?”
Aquila dismissed the window and nodded.
“Yes. It felt distant now, which made it feel all the more strange.”
“Right? I had almost forgotten too. It is odd, is it not? When I think about it, it still makes my heart race, but looking back, it feels so far away. So many other things happened afterward.”
Yujelia smiled.
“Of course, it is not completely over yet. Still… it has passed.”
There was much contained in her voice, yet none of the sadness she once carried.
Seeing how lighter Yujelia looked than before, Chelsey smiled as well.
She had watched her sister’s face grow darker throughout their time at the temple.
That was why she was grateful to the people before her.
As though washing away her earlier anger, Chelsey bowed once more.
“Thank you for saving Tinia.”
“…Tinia?”
“Oh, sister!”
Yujelia looked flustered.
“Um—Tinia was my original name before I entered the orphanage. I received a new name when I was baptized as a priest.”
Then she laughed awkwardly.
At Yujelia’s unreserved tone, Aquila waited for the familiar window to appear.
And then—
DING!
【Opening information on the keyword ‘Yujelia (Tinia)’!】
【Yujelia (Tinia) — Priest of the Sun, devoted pilgrim, one consumed by the path of despair, bearer of the potential to become a saint.
Record prior to the 30th cycle: Originally born in the slums, she became a Priest of the Sun after being taken in by the Temple of the Sun and resolved to live for the god. Unable to resolve the Curse of Deadly Poison of House Reschenhardt, she was dismissed after being held accountable.
Special note: Even after her dismissal, she continued striving to walk the path of a priest, but was murdered by a band of thieves sent by Martio.】
As expected, the window appeared, and Aquila wore a subtle expression.
‘…As expected, when Aquila Reschenhardt is dead, Yujelia’s ending changes as well.’
All stories were connected, triggering chain reactions.
Over many cycles, Aquila had faced various endings and changed many things.
Repeated enough times, even emotions wore down.
In that sense, he had grown indifferent.
Still, whenever a choice changed, someone survived with a certain probability.
Each time, he was seized by a strange, unfamiliar feeling.
Why did every story have such definitive outcomes?
“Tinia! It is a lovely name. Do you agree, Young Master?”
“…Yes. It is.”
“You really do have a soul, Young Lord.”
Yujelia let out a light laugh.
Her face was bright, and Chelsey, smiling along with her, was the same.
Though they shared not a single similar feature, the two looked like sisters as they exchanged warm smiles.
Quietly closing the window, Aquila finally lifted his head.
“By the way, is it all right for you to be wandering around? What brings you here?”
“Ah. We are actually looking for someone. Have you happened to see the twins—children with red hair like mine…?”
“Lord Ershan and Lady Mei? They are over by those bushes. Weren’t you talking with them together?”
The moment Yujelia tilted her head, eyes wide—
Rustle!
The twins, who had been hiding some distance behind them, suddenly burst out.
And then they immediately took off running.
“It was supposed to be a secret…”
Chelsey murmured, covering her mouth.