「「「We are off」」」
I leave the house together with Father and onii-chan.
「Take care. Be careful. Ah, Agus, Rina」
Called by Mother, I turn around and see her looking at us with a slightly stern expression.
「It is fine to stop on the way, but do not be late」
「「Yes」」
Yesterday, after school ended, I played with my friends. I forgot the time and when I became later than usual, Mother was worried in front of the house.
「Let us be careful」
「Yes」
When I nod looking at onii-chan, onii-chan and I head to school together with Father. Although Father only goes part of the way because he is heading to repair the church, I am happy with this time.
『Rina, they are here today too』
Glancing at Yuu, I turn my gaze to where he is looking.
「Good morning」
Fogas sees us and bows his head.
「「「Good morning」」」
A week has passed since all the problems were resolved. Onii-chan and I have watchers assigned to us.
According to what Bishop Arteto told our parents, those who received curses may suffer from aftereffects.
Since there are still few cases, it seems they do not know under what circumstances aftereffects appear.
Therefore, three of Bishop Arteto’s guard knights will watch over onii-chan and me so that they can deal with it immediately if aftereffects appear.
For some reason, Yuu muttered 「Suspicious」 when he heard that story. And although he secretly followed Bishop Arteto and listened to the conversation, he said he did not understand the hidden circumstances. I did not really understand what was suspicious about him even after hearing the explanation. Because even if he says, 「Guys with good personalities definitely have a hidden side」, I cannot accept it.
「It is Fogas-san today. Please take care of us」
At onii-chan’s question, he smiles and nods.
「The two of them went to check on the church」
「Huh? I thought they reported the progress yesterday as well」
Father looks at Fogas with curiosity.
「It is not the repair of the church building, but the repair of glass-related items such as stained glass. Since there was a report that repairing some of the stained glass is impossible, we went to hear the details」
It seems the former priest destroyed not only the church but also the stained glass. When I heard that story, I felt a little sad. Because the stained glass in Rina’s memories was very beautiful.
「Ah, he said that some parts were broken so badly they could be repaired, while others were beyond help」
「Is that so? This village’s church is very old and reportedly has many valuable items, so I wanted to fix them if possible」
Nodding at Fogas, who speaks with regret, Father also nods.
「Agus, Rina. Study hard at school」
「「Yes」」
When we come to the place where we part with Father, we wave and see him off.
「Let us go」
Urged by Fogas, we head toward the school.
「Fogas-san. Is it not difficult every day?」
Fogas smiles looking at me.
「It is easier than being pushed around as Bishop Arteto’s guard. He checks everything with his own eyes, so it is difficult for those protecting him. Schedule changes are common, after all」
Looking at Fogas, who speaks with a slightly tired expression, onii-chan and I look at each other and laugh.
「「Good morning」」
「「Eh?」」
In front of the school, there are figures of friends who should have gone to the neighboring village, and onii-chan and I stop in our tracks.
「Carius? Taguas? Eh? Why?」
Onii-chan runs over to the two of them.
「From today, we will be attending the same school again. Nice to see you」
At Carius’s explanation, onii-chan widens his eyes.
「Is it really okay now? That…」
Laughing at onii-chan, who hesitates to speak, Carius says:
「My father was caught. Um, I think he requested a group of criminals in this village to kill my mother. That was discovered, and my father was caught. But it seems my father was also skillfully led on by his affair partner」
「It is because he had an affair even though he had a mother. If he had not done such things, he would not have become a criminal…」
When Taguas speaks with disgust, Carius nods with a sad smile.
「That is right. Father brought it upon himself. It seems his affair partner had a lover, and the two of them were after the title deed to the mountain that Mother owned」
Hearing Carius’s explanation, onii-chan sighs.
「It is quite complicated. Were that affair partner and her lover also caught?」
「Yes. Since we received word that everyone was safely caught, we decided to return to Lanca Village」
「I see. I am happy that we will be together from now on. Is your house the one you lived in before?」
At onii-chan’s question, the two shake their heads with disgust.
「We definitely do not want to live there」
Taguas says with disgust, and Carius nods in agreement.
Certainly, they probably do not want to live in the house where their father and his affair partner lived. Even if there were precious memories with their mother.
「We returned to Lanca Village yesterday, but we are staying at an inn for now. My aunt said she would look for a house within a few days, but we do not know what will happen yet」
「Aunt?」
「Yes. Mother’s friend. She is a very powerful person」
From their expressions, I can tell they have a good relationship with the woman who helped them. Did onii-chan notice too? He smiles happily.
「It is about time to enter the school. Is it not time for the morning assembly?」
Hearing Fogas’s words, we all look at the clock on the school building.
「Whoa. Time!」
When onii-chan takes my hand, he looks toward Carius and the others.
「Let us hurry. Rina, let us go too」
「Yes. Fogas-san, thank you」
After thanking him, I run to the school building with onii-chan. Carius and Taguas looked at Fogas with slight curiosity, but when called by onii-chan, they hurriedly started running.
-0-
— Fogas’s POV —
I watch the children run off in a panic with a smile. And when their figures disappear from sight, I start walking toward the church.
It was on the night the problem was resolved that Bishop Arteto called me and asked if I had noticed anything about Agus-dono and Rina-dono. At first, I did not understand what he was asking and answered, 「Nothing in particular」, but perhaps unsatisfied with that answer, he asked for more details about Rina-dono.
He asked if she seemed burdened by anything, or if her words contained any roughness.
That was when I realized. Among those who received curses, there are rare cases where effects appear. Becoming anxious, I asked Bishop Arteto if Rina-dono was showing any effects, but he shook his head.
However, it seems Bishop Arteto felt something unsettling or unpleasant from Rina-dono. But when he spoke with her directly, he did not seem to feel those things. Therefore, he asked me, who was closest to her, to check on her condition.
Since it was decided that we would watch over the two of them, I began to observe Rina-dono carefully. If effects were appearing, I wanted to cure them as soon as possible.
That was when I noticed. Certainly, there are times when I feel something from her. But rather than from Rina-dono herself… I felt it near her, so I tilted my head.
Also, her gaze concerns me. For some reason, she frequently, or rather often, stares into empty air. Even when I follow her gaze, there is nothing particularly notable. But her gaze is definitely looking at the empty air where nothing should be.
While watching over such actions of Rina-dono, there was a time when she smiled toward the air. At that moment, I remembered a certain existence. I thought, 「No way」. But if Rina-dono is seeing spirits…
「It is a difficult problem」
Although various things are said in society, those related to the Church believe in spirits. Because although only one person has been publicly announced, there have been multiple people who claimed to have seen spirits. However, about half of them do not admit that they are spirits.
「It is not content that can be conveyed by letter, so I will need to return to the Royal Capital once」
The church under repair comes into view. Even if I were to report it, I cannot leave here until the church repairs are finished.
「Well, I suppose I will leisurely watch over the two of them」
If it is not the influence of the curse, but spirits, then it is fine to be at ease. The only worry is the unsettling and unpleasant things that Bishop Arteto said he felt. Can such things be felt from spirits?
Leave a Reply