Giving meaning (8)
The next morning. The facts about the circumstances of Abbot Austin’s death were officially announced among the monks.
Natural death due to aging. He overexerted himself for several days in preparation for the prayer meeting, and even jumped around on the roof of the monastery in the middle of the night, causing excessive blood flow and sudden death from a heart attack.
In reality, the circumstances of the murder were clear, but that was how it was made public.
Considering Abbot Austin’s age, even if his death was sudden, it was possible to make the excuse that it was a natural death. Even among ordinary religious women, she did not seem particularly suspicious.
The tragic news of Abbot Austin’s death filled the monastery with sadness and disappointment.
It was not difficult to silence those who knew that it was a murder.
Auxiliary Bishop Melinir, who knew the whole truth, naturally did not want to make a big deal out of it.
The Princess of Persica also has no reason to refuse if she can end the matter with a natural death.
I personally persuaded Saint Clarice. Saint Clarisse did not object, as the dead Abbot Austin would also have wanted things to end this way.
Since the three parties leading the case all agreed, the rest proceeded smoothly.
VIP visitors who knew the circumstances of the murder also agreed not to make the murder public, as it would not be good for them to be aroused by suspicion.
If the incident escalates, there is a high possibility that those who were at the scene of the incident will become more involved than necessary.
Everyone nodded at the words of Saint Clarice and Princess Persica that the investigation would be carried out quietly behind the scenes… .
In that way, the truth about the demihumans was buried in history.
The next morning.
I heard that the work was somewhat completed and a memorial table for Abbot Austin had been prepared at the entrance to the monastery.
The daily life at the monastery begins early in the morning. I was tired from being interrogated and giving testimony all night, but I couldn’t just stay in my room when all the other nuns went to pay their respects to Abbot Austin.
When I open my eyes to the sound of waves coming from outside the window, fatigue comes from my entire body.
Today I have to go back to Sylvania Academy, so I have to ride the carriage all day, and I’m already worried because I’m not feeling well. Still, there wasn’t long enough time to participate in Abbot Austin’s memorial procession. If you’re going to wake up, you need to wake up now.
Anyway, is it really possible to feel such a heavy weight in your body?
Compared to camp life, it wouldn’t be that hard to do, but why is my body so heavy?
Feeling uncomfortable, I pulled up the blanket and found Lucy sleeping with her head on my chest.
“… ”
The witch’s hat, which was never removed from her body anytime, anywhere, was kept next to her pillow. Now that I think about it, was she foreshadowing this?
I remember bringing him in yesterday because he was noticeably depressed and it was hard to leave him alone.
I don’t think telling him in detail that he’s okay or that he’s okay will be of much comfort, so all I can do is just be by his side.
When a person is really having a hard time or worries, having someone next to them like a wall is the most meaningful.
“Hey, Lucy.”
Still, it has to happen now.
When I quietly called her name and woke her up a few times, her closed eyelids flew up. Lucy’s characteristic blank, restless blue eyes faced me, and suddenly she pressed the area around my solar plexus and raised her upper body.
It seems he didn’t even know when he fell asleep. She sniffled and wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, slightly dilated her pupils, and spoke in a more excited voice than usual.
“I didn’t know you were asleep.”
“Yesterday must have been difficult in many ways, so I understand… ”
Was it a mistake to bring up the story yesterday?
Lucy was speechless, perhaps because she felt a belated sense of shame at the memory of her shoulders being wrapped around me and shedding large tears.
“… There is no need to be so embarrassed. “Sometimes that happens in life.”
The way he was standing there unable to say anything seemed like he had had a big accident last night. As I said over and over again, Lucy Mayril was just tired from crying and fell asleep.
It may have been shameful for him that that place was in my arms, but that didn’t mean I was in a position to offer any comfort.
Lucy belatedly wiped her eyelids with her sleeve and tried to maintain a poker face as if nothing had happened. However, it didn’t seem to work out as well as expected.
Should I say that the sight of people lowering their gaze here and there is refreshing in its own way. Anyway, considering her usual appearance of contemplating everything in the world like a hermit, it was a very unusual occurrence.
“anyway… I have to get up soon. I’m going back to Sylvania today, so I have to get ready… Above all, I have to go to that old lady’s memorial service. She’s probably already started by now. “Because morning starts very early at the monastery.”
When I look out the window, the morning fog remains. The fog would have disappeared once we got ready and went out, but the sun had not yet risen properly.
“I have to finish the work.”
When Abbot Austin’s name came up, Lucy wondered if she felt something of her own… I nodded my head quietly. She seemed so obedient that it was unusual for someone like her.
After this, it was all smooth sailing. With Lucy following me while holding my sleeve tightly, I went to the washroom on the first floor and wet my face with cold water.
After finishing the brief sesshin, I came up and put on a coat, leather pants, and a wizard’s robe. Then, he roughly put it on and touched Lucy’s school uniform, which was disheveled here and there. There was no way to make it neat as the sleeves of my clothes were still hanging around.
Afterwards, Lucy sat on my lap and asked what she wanted, and she asked me to tie her hair. I brushed Lucy’s gray hair with the comb the nun had prepared, and then tied her hair at the appropriate point with a hair tie.
He also pinned the fluttering tie and fastened the shirt with the wrong buttons neatly again.
The series of processes seemed so natural that the nuns passing by looked at them with puzzled eyes… Actually, since I saw it today and won’t see it anymore, I didn’t really need to worry about it.
After that, he led Lucy down to the first floor of the monastery, holding on tightly to the sleeves of his clothes.
Lucy was still walking limply, like a fluttering paper doll, probably because she was weak in the morning. Still, when he saw the scene unfolding at the front gate of the monastery in the early morning, he seemed to feel strangely strong and pursed his lips.
A large pile of wreaths along with Austin’s portrait. The morning sun rising from the eastern sky. The sound of crashing waves.
The sight of the nuns solemnly praying made it seem as if time had stopped…
Lucy and I just watched the scene for a while.
*
“Thank you for taking such good care of Eilen. I am resting well in my room now. “We will take action on our part before night falls.”
The girl, Eilen, whom Lucy had captured and taken with her, was handed over to Auxiliary Bishop Melinir.
After Abbot Austin’s death, the authority to manage the monastery was transferred to her, the de facto vice-chancellor of the area.
Additionally, there are only a few people inside the monastery who know the truth about the demi-humans. Since she was the most senior among them, there was no one better than her to entrust Eilen to.
After the main prayer of the memorial service was over, it was time for each person to sit down and freely pray for Abbot Austin. Although no one said anything as they slowly left, many nuns were quietly sitting and praying in front of the abbot’s portrait.
Auxiliary Bishop Melinir, who had finished his basic duties, took advantage of that moment to speak to me. He had been looking at me from a while ago, who was leaning against the stone wall at the back of the memorial service.
“You seem very heartbroken… “I did it accidentally when I was drunk on the full moon, so my fellow demi-humans will understand.”
Melinir, who was speaking slowly and with a lower voice, was already wearing his abbot’s clothes.
News had arrived early in the morning from the prosperous Eldain. As soon as Holy Emperor Eldain heard the report about Abbot Austin’s death last night, he immediately sent his condolences.
He then immediately granted her the position of abbot and instructed her to end the situation well.
“The other demi-human children all understand it well. When you’re drunk with that blood, your fingernails go out in the wrong places… “It could happen to not only Eilen, but also to them at any time.”
“… At least that child won’t be harmed for attacking Abbot Austin.”
“yes. Everyone will understand. but… “Whether or not you can forgive yourself is a completely different story.”
When I found Eilen, she was burying her face in her knees and wiping away her tears with bloody hands.
Isn’t this too much of a heartache for a girl who hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet? I’ve thought about it, but it would be foolish to take any more responsibility than this.
It’s something she has to overcome on her own. It was enough to send cheers to her heart.
“Would you like to say a prayer? “Now you can offer flowers even if you are not from the monastery.”
“huh.”
Before I could answer anything, Lucy nodded first.
Auxiliary Bishop Melinir trembled and looked at Lucy. Then he closed his eyes and answered by slightly nodding his head.
Lucy, like me, does not have faith in anything like God.
Rather, she is a girl who has a record of using magic against evil spirits. Nevertheless, perhaps it is a courtesy to Austin who left… She offered her wreath of pure white roses and placed her hands together in her prayers.
It looked completely different from when he was lying down and taking a nap.
Only then did the girl named Lucy become a girl who could be serious when she got serious.
“Are you leaving for Sylvania today?”
“yes. Later at night, when the tide is low, the carriage is scheduled to arrive. “I will remain at the memorial service until nightfall.”
“It’s okay to take some rest. “Everyone who wants to offer flowers has already done so, and in fact, there are not many procedures left.”
“it’s okay. “I will keep my position.”
The memorial service held near the main gate of the monastery was crowded with monks even as time passed.
It was gloomy to stand among mourning nuns all day, but I didn’t particularly mind.
Lucy hates crowded places like this. However, she didn’t say anything that she didn’t like and she sat next to me the whole time.
Occasionally, when a nun I knew passed by, I would give them words of comfort, and we would also spend time talking about Austin while he was still alive.
As the procession of nuns passed by, this time a procession of outside visitors came.
Since most of them were people who knew about the circumstances of Austin’s murder, their expressions were sour. Still, I paid tribute to her noble life and left.
Actually, there was no need to make such a strange and guilty face. This is probably the situation Austin wanted the most during his lifetime.
I didn’t see it directly, but I could feel it. She would have passed away smiling brighter than anyone else.
I sat quietly and sent the distinguished guests off. Next, Saint Clarice came in person and laid flowers.
When one passes away, it is considered the highest honor to personally receive a memorial from Saint Clarice, the spiritual leader of the Telos Church.
Abbot Austin was considered a person who deserved such honorable tribute no matter what anyone said.
This was followed by a wreath offering from the Princess of Persica. She approached with her serious posture and laid a wreath at her memorial table with her complex face.
The princess and the saint.
A girl who was born with the noblest bloodline in this world, and a girl who received the greatest blessings from the gods of the afterlife.
Abbot Austin passed away, mourned by both people at the same time.
It may be difficult to summarize his 109 years of life in one line, but it can be said that it was truly an eventful life.
*
“They say a wagon from Sylvania has arrived on the coast. She said that the saintess has also finished preparing to go out, so she can slowly go out to the front door. As the acting head of the diocese, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for staying with me until the end. Ed Rosstaylor Prince.”
“… ”
“We, at Cleric Monastery, will not forget the work of the Rosstaylor family, who lent us their strength without hesitation so that we could get through this incident without any problems.”
Auxiliary Bishop Melinir bowed his head and expressed his gratitude to me.
From my perspective, it was more than necessary to thank her, so I waved my hand and told her it was okay.
Even after the nuns left for work and the VIPs left the place one by one, Lucy and I stayed in our seats.
Eventually, when it was time to clean up the memorial service, Lucy used her magic to clean up the place neatly, and I also volunteered my help for various tasks that required strength.
As a result, all schedules were completed neatly by the time the sun set. Now all that was left was to clean up the memorial table, which had a portrait of Austin smiling brightly and a lot of floral tributes.
A long time had already passed and it was low tide. She was so dazed that she didn’t even notice the day passing by.
“… !”
Suddenly, Lucy raised her eyes and looked around. Did you feel something strange?
As I have said many times, in a monastery, the night is as early as the morning.
By the time the moon is high in the sky, more than half of the nuns have already gone to bed.
In addition, there are very few nuns who come down to the monastery’s main gate leading to the coastline. This is because if you come out to a place like this at this time, you won’t be able to make it to bedtime.
Thanks to this, the area near the memorial stand was completely quiet. The middle door leading to the outer wall was also closed, leaving no room for other people to enter.
The memorial space between the outer wall and the inner door of the monastery. Although he is isolated behind bars… There were some nuns who climbed the outer wall. Lucy had noticed the nuns’ pretense of popularity.
Fifteen girls jumped over the iron bars and walls and settled down. It’s strange that they all have animal ears and tails, but they don’t seem to be particularly intoxicated by Manwol’s madness.
Occasionally it would make a growling noise, but it was not an act of aggression.
The power flowing in the blood of the demi-humans sometimes made them lose their reason, but more than that, the miserable feeling was what kept them rational.
The reason is… It is the death of a benefactor.
The demi-human children hid around the area all day, waiting for midnight to disappear.
The girls all gathered in front of the memorial stand. All of the memorial facilities had already been removed, and only a simple memorial stand remained.
But the girls don’t care and gather together to pray. They were the last mourners at this memorial meeting.
Some sit on a nearby rock, while others sit on the dirt ground and quietly droop their tails as they pray.
At the front, sitting Eilen, who still had tears in her eyes.
Is the girl praying in the moonlight with her blond hair hanging down on the floor and wearing a mud-covered monastic habit…
Even though it was mixed with animal blood… He had the appearance of a faithful servant to God.
“If you’re late, you’ll be in trouble.”
“… All right.”
Now that the water had completely receded, we were able to slowly head towards the shore. With the girls praying in the moonlight behind me, it was time for me to go my own way.
If I don’t leave at the right time, I will have to stay at this monastery until tomorrow.
It’s not a big deal, but I still want to go back to the academy and focus on my studies. This is because I did not want to fall further behind in my class schedule no matter how hard I tried.
Auxiliary Bishop Melinir must have noticed my expression and smiled with his eyes closed.
“Slowly, we have to return to our daily lives. everyone.”
After the person who is leaving leaves, daily life returns again. As if that person never existed from the beginning.
The clock hands tick forward, the sun rises and sets, and before you know it, the moon is high in the sky. Then, one day, life suddenly comes to an end, like a blackout.
Some people may feel futility in such a flow of life and define it as meaningless.
Some people know how to find and give meaning even in such a monotonous and repetitive life.
The sun rises even at Cleric Monastery, where Austin is not present. Even if the dead are silent, the lives of the living must continue.
Anyway, we survived.
Because you have to live.
*
“That’s roughly what happened.”
“Ugh, you must have really had a hard time.”
“I haven’t had any trouble whatsoever. Because I spent most of the time sitting still. by the way… It’s really surprising… ”
When I returned from the monastery to the camp, I was so shocked that I almost fainted.
Even before we left the camp, work on expanding the cabin had been ongoing, and when we returned, the exterior work was almost complete.
Of course, the process of trimming and processing the logs used as materials is the most labor-intensive… The construction work itself is not that difficult if you borrow the power of the spirits.
However, no matter how much it was, I never thought that Jenica would be able to finish everything in the ten or so days that I stayed at the monastery.
thinking about it… Yenika’s own hut was built in five days by the spirits’ forced march.
Tarkan’s leadership… … Should we call it leadership? … .. Anyway, thanks to Tarkan’s leadership, the movements of the spirits became more orderly and boasted an efficiency that was beyond the scope of common sense.
Of course, it has to go beyond the scope of common sense… Because Tarkan’s way of thinking is outside the scope of common sense.
When I looked at the panoramic view of the camp using spirit sensitivity, I saw exhausted lower-level spirits strewn about like corpses.
Mug, who was heading to Cleric’s Monastery with me, looked at the lower spirits scattered around with complicated eyes.
There was a picture of myself just a few years ago. Now that his status has risen to that of a mid-level spirit, he may not have suffered as much, but Mug wouldn’t have been safe if he had been left behind in this camp.
[I feel really fortunate to have signed a contract with Master Ed. Let’s go on forever… I will be loyal to this fire candle mug for the rest of my life… .!!! ]
It seems like he feels a lot.
“This… It’s really all built… ?”
The cabin, fully realized according to the plan laid out in advance, had arrived before my eyes.
A zelkova tree spreading its large branches next to the camp. Using the trunk as the axis, a large first-story hut was built, and a large auxiliary pillar was also installed on the second floor to support the high part of the trunk.
The neat and perfect results made me even forget the reason for training in woodworking. This was a quality that I could never have made on my own. The neatly hung windows on each floor and the neatly stacked logs were also impressive areas.
The part where the support beam connects appears to have been purchased and driven into an iron bar, and there are traces of the parts that stick out as if they were all shaved off. It’s truly amazing that they’ve made it this far with spirits who aren’t good at detailed work.
“Ehehe~.”
Yenica smiled and made a V sign with her hand, but suddenly lowered her head as if embarrassed.
“actually… I tried to just lay out the basics of about half of it, but Tarkan took the lead and finished the whole thing while I was attending bachelor’s classes… ”
“… “Are the other spirits okay?”
“In the first place, the construction itself must have been carried out into the night without my knowledge… I also do extra work while I’m out of class… I guess he hid it because he was afraid I would say something… I realized it too late and scolded Tarkan… ”
Yenika was fiddling with the tips of her fingers and pouting. It was clearly excessive loyalty from the spirits.
Anyway, it’s good to receive all the love from the spirits, but if she’s rolling around like that until she’s exhausted, it’s not very good for Yenika herself.
In the meantime, I could see Tarkan looking at the cabin and smiling with satisfaction. She probably does.
“Uh, anyway, I just have to do my best to take care of the spirits after their death! Shouldn’t Ed just be happy?! Wow! Wow!”
“Just because you shout three cheers doesn’t mean the situation will change drastically… “Anyway, it’s a happy thing for me.”
I looked up at the cabin, which had grown even larger.
I then turned my attention to the wooden shelter built in one corner of the camp. It was the first shelter I made, and the place where I fell asleep amidst the cold night wind and bugs on the first day.
After seeing the overwhelming difference in size, a strange feeling arose and I pressed my forehead.
indeed… Is this a wave of emotion?
“It’s still empty inside. “I’m not sure about the furniture arrangement, so I think Ed will have to do it himself!”
“… okay.”
I’ll take care of arranging the furniture 100 times on my own. Rather, you can do it with a genuine smile.
The second floor will be used as a library and magic engineering workshop, and the first floor will be used as a living space… All sensitive and delicate equipment will be moved up to the second floor.
It was around this time that I was thinking about my moving plan and happily thinking about how to arrange the furniture.
“By the way, Ed, you have to go to class again tomorrow… ?”
“huh? yes.”
“then… “I’ve just arrived at the bachelor’s degree, so I don’t know the news.”
Yenika placed the pot for preparing the meal on the bonfire and rolled up her sleeves.
“I’m talking about Ed’s younger sister, Tanya… I heard they’re holding a new student meeting this time… I think Ed is thinking of calling that too. “It’s kind of like convening a meeting.”
It is the president’s natural authority to call a meeting among students.
However, Yenika speaks while tilting her head as if she is concerned.
“But the reason for the meeting is also a bit strange… There were a lot of rumors going around because the only members called were children from famous, prestigious families. ”
“… “What rumor?”
“The student council president… They are trying to form an independent force that can exert influence not only within Sylvania but also externally… .”
At those words, I couldn’t help but tilt my head unconsciously.
One thing is certain… I had the feeling that Tanya was drawing a blueprint for something.
This… I felt like I had to go and ask in person.
