"You resemble someone I know very much, you know?"The gentle atmosphere around Israfil, who had been treating people so kindly, changed in an instant. Simon felt a chill down his spine, and Lete's eyes widened like a rabbit's, clearly flustered.Simon calmly fell into thought.'Someone I resemble? Could she know my parents?'It didn't seem like a casual remark, 'You resemble someone.' Her voice and expression were extremely solemn.It was a process of confirming a conclusion she had already reached. Trying to change the subject or obscure the point with rhetoric would clearly backfire.'I have a feeling I need to answer this extremely well.'She seemed like a good person, but she was a Holy Maiden of Efnel. The greatest enemy of the Dark Alliance. He could never let his guard down.Simon, pondering what to do,"I don't know who you say I resemble."Decided to stick his head into the lion's open mouth."But what the Holy Maiden is currently expecting is probably correct."Simon said, observing her expression intently.First, he needed to know if the person she thought he resembled was someone negative or positive."......."Her trembling pupils showed hesitation. Her lips parted slightly. Her voice was slightly slurred, as if her thoughts had frozen.She was confused about what to do. Fortunately, this wasn't a negative gesture. It meant that her proper course of action and her true feelings were clashing.'That's it. I must never speak first.'Simon waited patiently, his lips pressed into a straight line. And finally, her mouth opened."I see."She turned her gaze to Lete. Her eyes held a slight reproach, and Lete flinched, saying,"Lady Israfil! I...!""Stay still, Lete. No wonder. You refused my offer to visit during the break and said you were going somewhere far away."Her gaze returned to Simon."I'll ask again, Acolyte Ska. Are you Anna's son?"Israfil's reasoning must have been logical. Simon bowed his head."Yes. I came here to save my sick mother."Wham!Simon couldn't believe his eyes. Israfil had approached and suddenly embraced him.Simon's body stiffened at the sudden situation."Ahhh."Israfil released her arms and examined Simon's face with moved eyes."Smile.""Pardon?""Smile. Quickly."Her voice sounded impatient. Simon hesitated, then forced the best smile he could manage."Ahhh."Deep emotion filled her jet-black pupils."Your smiling face is exactly like Sister Anna's."Israfil said, then hugged Simon tightly again.Strangely, at her words that he resembled Anna, Simon felt the wall of caution he had built up crumble like grains of sand."Excuse me, but what is your relationship with my mother?""Well."Israfil, who had closed her eyes again to hide her jet-black pupils, smiled gently and pulled away from Simon."You could define it as a sisterly relationship, though not by blood.""Ah."Simon smiled back."Then Lady Israfil is my aunt.""!"At his words, Israfil shot several meters into the air before descending. "Again! Say it again!""A-Aunt?""Hahahaha!"And Lete, who had been watching this scene from a little distance, wore a dumbfounded expression.'I've never seen Lady Israfil so excited. What is this?'There was a reason Lete had kept Simon's story a secret from her.If she had asked Israfil for help to assist Anna and Simon, not only Lete but also Israfil would have sinned against the Goddess. One person sinning was enough.And above all, Israfil usually didn't express any opinions about Anna.In the Divine Federation, Anna was a traitor who had consorted with a Necromancer, abandoned her sacred duties as a Holy Maiden, and betrayed her homeland. It would have been rude for Israfil, a Holy Maiden, to even ask what she thought of Anna.Israfil opened her mouth."I was very worried too. Recently, relations between the Divine Federation and the Dark Alliance have deteriorated severely, and all logistics were strictly controlled. I was concerned whether the medicine supplied annually would properly reach Sister Anna."Her gaze turned to Lete."Acolyte Ska. My nephew crossed the border to get medicine, and Lete was guiding him. Can I think of it that way?""Ah, no! I already delivered the medicine to Teacher Anna! Now there's another problem...!"Lete explained the whole situation. Israfil listened seriously and nodded."The Essence of the Saint to Sister Anna... I see. So that's why."Israfil put her hands on her hips."You were going to the Tree of Life to get the 'White Leaf,' the most important ingredient for the surgery? That's too reckless. How were you planning to get it?"As Simon and Lete exchanged uneasy glances, Israfil raised her voice."Don't be shy, tell me!"Suddenly, it felt like they were being scolded. Lete stammered in embarrassment, so Simon spoke instead."We were going to find the Tree of Life and negotiate with its guardians."Simon pulled out ancient empire coins from his pocket."If the negotiation failed, we even considered stealing it. I apologize."Israfil shook her head repeatedly."Even with youthful exuberance, there's a limit! The mountain where the Tree of Life is located is swarming with Class 6 and 7 monsters! You two students were going to break through there?"At that, Lete interjected indignantly."You know my skill! I could have...!""Lete, be quiet. When you return to Efnel after the break, you'll have a month of fasting."Lete hung her head with a gloomy expression.Three months of self-imposed fasting, plus another month of fasting by the Holy Maiden's command. She felt like she might have to eat bland gruel for the entire semester.Israfil turned her gaze to Simon."Of course, if that Necromancer, my brother-in-law, had prepared something..."Simon flinched."As an adult, I cannot allow children to go to such a dangerous place.""Lady Israfil! We must...!""I'll get it for you.""Pardon?"Simon made a surprised sound, and Israfil smiled gently."I am a demigod in this Divine Federation. There's nothing impossible for my power here. I will definitely get it."It was a statement brimming with trust. As she said, if a Holy Maiden personally stepped forward, what could be impossible in this land?A moved Simon quickly bowed his head."Thank you very much! Lady Israfil!"At his words, Israfil smiled again."There's a villa I bought nearby. Let's go there."Israfil moved her finger, and the bodies of the three were covered in water droplets.***The villa Israfil brought them to was a secluded wooden house overlooking the sea.Simon and Lete stayed there for two days. Perhaps due to accumulated fatigue from their travels and battles, they spent most of their time sleeping.He certainly felt that if they had gone to the Tree of Life in that physical condition, it would have been difficult.And two days later, Israfil returned."I told you I'd get it, didn't I?"She opened the box, revealing a white leaf resting on a red cushion.Surprisingly, a faint divine aura emanated from the leaf, and its unique pattern perfectly matched Richard's description.Simon's arm trembled.'To think I'd get this so easily!'Israfil opened the box and looked at Simon with expectant eyes. Soon, Simon smiled brightly and said,"Thank you so much, Aunt!"Israfil merely curved her lips into a long smile, but Lete knew it was a scream of immense joy and chuckled.The three ate dinner together and talked."By the way, Lady Israfil.""Yes, speak.""You said you and my mother have a sisterly relationship, not by blood? I'm curious about your relationship with her.""Ah, I haven't explained that, have I?"Strictly speaking, she wasn't Simon's real aunt.Israfil said that she was originally Anna's handmaiden during her time as a Holy Maiden. Anna had taken in Israfil, who, like the orphan Lete, had nowhere to go.Anna noticed Israfil's talent. When Anna rose to become a Holy Maiden, she gave Israfil the vacant position of the eldest daughter of the Cross family. And when Anna entered Efnel, she personally asked the Pope to allow Israfil, who was merely a handmaiden, to study at Efnel.The two, who had been in a master-servant relationship, spent their school days as inseparable friends and graduated with excellent grades.-Someday, you will follow in my footsteps, Israfil.When Anna, who was a star among stars at the time, said that, Israfil tilted her head. She had also graduated as the second-best, following Anna, but she couldn't compare to Anna's talent.She didn't understand those words back then.One day, Anna was caught up in a major incident and disappeared. And rumors spread that she had married a Necromancer and abandoned her Holy Maiden duties.Efnel announced that Anna had died a martyr in battle, fearing that the dignity of divine authority and the prestige of the Holy Maidens might fall. And the Essence of Miracles, after passing through many Holy Maiden candidates, came to Israfil.And so, it came to this day.'I'm curious.'Simon rested his chin on his hand, listening to Israfil's reminiscences.'What was my mother like during her time as a Holy Maiden?'Whenever Simon was in danger, people who had been helped by Anna, such as Lete and Israfil, kept appearing and lending a hand.Even though they were now considered enemies, they still hadn't forgotten Anna."It's funny for me, a Holy Maiden, to say this."Israfil said, holding her fork."From now on, never mention Anna's name or reveal your identity to anyone in the Divine Federation first. That was a truly dangerous act."Her point was valid.Israfil was an anomaly in the Divine Federation, and among Priests, there were far more extreme fanatics like Chief Inquisitor Rate.If Anna, the traitor's name, came up, they would gnash their teeth and try to kill him."It was fortunate that Lete and I are entangled in a somewhat private relationship, but you are a Necromancer. When you meet Priests, always be wary and be prepared to fight and defeat them. I'm telling you this for your own good."She was telling him to be aware of his identity as a Necromancer and to clearly distinguish between friend and foe from now on.If they had met on the battlefield instead of through Lete's acquaintance, Simon might have been killed by Israfil.Of course, there's no law saying such a thing won't happen in the future.Simon nodded seriously."I will keep that in mind. Still, the fact that there are people like you two gives me hope.""Hahahaha! My nephew speaks so beautifully."'......Ah, what is this?'Because Israfil was doting on Simon so much, Lete felt somewhat left out.'Hmm, is this how that guy felt when Teacher Anna and I were playing around?'"If you don't eat this omelet, I'll eat it.""Ah! I'll eat it!"Israfil, who had been watching the two bicker with a smile, opened her mouth."So, are you returning to the Dark Alliance tomorrow?""Yes."Simon nodded."Now that I've got the item, I want to go back quickly and treat my mother.""Yes. Sister Anna's health is the top priority. I wish I could prepare a long-distance teleportation magic circle for you, but...""No, no, I can't impose any more. I'll take the Divine Train back."Simon knew that Israfil had to go to Sky Island early tomorrow morning. Israfil looked at Lete and said,"Guide them well until the very end, Lete.""Yes, yes. I got it."She replied with a pout. Israfil smiled quietly and stood up."Shall we all go to bed now?""Yes!"***After parting ways with Israfil, the two returned to the city with the station and boarded the Divine Train.It wasn't difficult. All they had to do was go back the way they came.However."Third class!"Lete wailed.The return train had no reservations, so all seats in first and second class were full.Lete could have used her Efnel uniform to kick people out of first class and take their seats, but neither of them wanted to do that.In the end, they decided to use third class for the return journey."Oh, looks like new people.""Welcome~"Simon greeted them warmly. Lete just nodded her head with a sullen expression and climbed onto her bunk bed.There were Inquisitors on this train too, and they conducted strict interrogations due to the recent train hijacking incident, but Simon was already thoroughly trained by Metin's interrogation.He passed easily without arousing any suspicion."Whoa."Simon climbed onto the bunk bed and took out some paper.-To Dick.-To Mei-rin.-To Kamibarez.He planned to write a letter to each of his group members and send them when he returned home.'Kizen's new semester is approaching.'Simon picked up his quill with an excited heart.
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