Gremory looked around at the Ham that had hardened.
"What? Are you dead?"
Severian glanced at Ham and shook his head.
"It's dead. I think his lifespan has come to an end. He must have shown signs before he died, didn't you know?"
"It used to turn gray a lot. But you know more than you see? Isn't it about the lifespan of magical creatures?"
"Since then, the power of the Imperial Family that I have is intelligence. I know a lot, and my head is quite spinning."
"I don't think so."
"I haven't awakened yet, so I can look like that, but I think about it as I please. And the story of the first Emperor you talked about, I also saw it when I was a child... What are you doing? Are you going to eat it?"
"Just to bite. Because it looks good."
Gremory tried to bite the dead Ham with her fangs, but Chession snatched it away.
"If you're hungry, let's go home and eat something delicious. Anyway. Your Highness, how do you know the story of the First Emperor?"
"When I was twelve years old, I saw it in the imperial palace's forbidden books. Its existence is a top secret, even from the imperial family. I picked up something like a ghost story somewhere, so I went in just once without the Emperor's knowledge."
"What was there?"
"There are black magic materials left by the First Emperor. It seems that the Imperial Family tried to get rid of them, but they were too strong to destroy them, so they collected them there."
Chession thought seriously for a moment and then spoke.
"Can you go back in there?"
"What? Why am I there? I'm scared of getting dirty there! It's dangerous because of black magic!"
"There may be information about the last vengeful soul fragment of the Demon God."
Severian snorted and crossed his arms.
"Hey, you take care of your affairs. Don't put me in."
"If you can 'Intellect', you must know that this is not just our job. It was a mistake committed by the imperial family, so it should be repaired by the imperial family."
"Oh, really."
"The witches will continue to move. Next time, they can pounce on us more viciously. Then the existence of witches may be revealed to the world. Then Your Highness will be in danger as well."
"I know! I know, but I don't want to get involved! And I can't go back into the forbidden book storage room. There is a passage like a vent, but it is so small that even a child can barely enter and exit."
Chession's gaze naturally turned to Gremory.
"Mori, how about you turning into a cat and going in?"
Severian immediately objected.
"If she goes in, there's nothing she can do. All the materials there were written in ancient characters. Gremory, don't you know some ancient characters?"
"I don't know. Just go in."
"It's because you can't go in! My body is so big, how can I re-enter the passage I went in and out of when I was twelve?"
"Think of a way for yourself. Or ask the mages you bought to cast a spell to reduce your body size. We're busy dealing with the falsely accused barbarians."
"That's funny. It's not even a job for the two of you to deal with barbarians. Let's be honest. It's just to play and eat, right?"
Gremory turned into a cat and yawned. Then he leaned on Chession's leg and slept.
"Let me rest. I've been working hard and nervously since yesterday, and I'm tired."
"I've been nervous since dawn yesterday too, because of your news...!"
"Shut up."
"..."
Silence flowed. Chession covered the cat's adorable body with a handkerchief.
"I think you must be very tired. Let's talk about the rest of the story when we arrive at the Grand Duke of Ethel."
"Ha, yes. But I have a request."
"What is it?"
"Can I stay at your house for the time being? That... In the sacred relic."
Severian looked at the distant mountains and mumbled. Chession understood his intentions and sneered.
"Are you afraid that the witches will attack the imperial palace?"
"It's not like that. They care about the eyes of the nobles. Shouldn't it look like we're discussing dealing with barbarians for the time being?"
"Well, Iberia has also been attacked, so you must be worried. For the time being, please stay comfortable in the safe Grand Duke Residence without worrying about witches."
"Because it's not like that."
Gremory, who was asleep, tossed and turned, and Severian kept his mouth shut.
In silence, the carriage moved forward.
When they arrived at the Grand Duchess of Ethel, it was late afternoon. Chession picked up Gremory, who had been transformed by the relic shield, and took her to her bedroom.
The servants of the Grand Duke's residence welcomed them back safely. Very quietly so that the exhausted and asleep lady would not wake up.
***
Severian, who wanted a safe place, flinched when he learned the truth.
"What? There are dozens of ghosts in your mansion?"
"It's called 'Marie'. They were also human. Please correct 'it' with 'name'."
"Besides, what? Is Iris the one you used to wrap around so much here?"
"Yes, I'm glaring at Your Highness right now."
Grand Duchy Ethel, who thought it was peaceful, turned out to be a ghost lair. Severian's hands on the armrests of the sofa were soaked with cold sweat.
"Why is she staring at me?"
"Our Iris has a supernatural ability. Find out if others have unclean intentions. Iris said, Your Highness is dark?"
"What do you mean? How clear my heart is!"
"It was a joke. I think you were too nervous because of the ghosts, so I made a joke."
"Hah! Was I nervous? That's ridiculous. What's so scary about those ghosts?"
"They're ghosts. All the ghosts around me are listening. If you continue to make disrespectful remarks about ghosts, you may be crushed by scissors tonight."
"...Anyway, I wasn't afraid of the ghosts."
Severian's hands were shaking with dignity. Alice, who came to serve the tea, laughed.
"Oh ho, be cute! Your face is my favorite, but it's even cuter that you even give me such a frightened expression!"
"What, this rude woman?"
"A witch. Please call me Alice."
Alice stretched out her long index finger and poked Severian's shoulder. The frightened Severian ran away.
"What, Chession! How many witches do you have... No, how many minutes are you taking with you?"
"Mori and Alice are everything. Alice is Seara's nanny. She also works as a maid."
"It's not enough to raise ghosts and have witches as lovers, so why don't you even make them maids? You're really a great madman in many ways."
"Please refrain from such harsh expressions here. I'm fine, but the ghosts listening to me are very annoying. Ghosts tend to follow me a lot."
"...You're really a great and wonderful guy in many ways."
Alice, who enjoyed Severian's reaction, smiled and left. Then Chession looked into the air and commanded.
"You guys should go out now. His Highness the Crown Prince is very uncomfortable."
"..."
Severian became more uncomfortable.
Either way, Chession finally got to the point.
"I need to bring Iberia to the Grand Duke."
"What? Why do you dare to be an unconscious child?"
"There is a fresh green forest in the Grand Duke's Territory, right? If Iberia hasn't awakened from being attacked by witches, she can get help from the Lake of Purification."
"Lake of purification? That's in the verdant forest. Humans can't enter, can they?"
"I can go in. I'm a bit close to the leader of the blue wolf."
"...After witches and ghosts, are you also close to monsters?"
"Anyway, please convey your message to the imperial family. So that I can bring Iberia to the Grand Duke's residence. It would be better for His Highness the Crown Prince to speak to them than for me, who was expelled from the Imperial family."
"Yes, so give me some paper and a pen."
Chession looked at Alice, who was snooping outside the door. Giggling as she looked at Severian, she brought paper and pen as she noticed.
Sevian took them with trepidation and wrote a letter to the Emperor. Roughly speaking, the power of the Lake of Purification can cure Iberia.
Then he took out a golden matchbox from his pocket. It was a magic tool used only by the imperial family to quickly send letters. When the letter is burned, it is delivered to the recipient.
After Sevirian took out a match, it caught fire and burned the letter. After a while, the Emperor's reply crept in front of Severian's eyes. It was said that he would send Iberia immediately.
***
Late evening. A carriage carrying Iberia arrived at the Grand Duke.
Chession entered the verdant forest alone, carrying Iberia on his back. If he takes a lot of strangers, the blue wolves won't like it.
Soon after, Charlie, who felt his presence, ran out. Chession bowed lightly and greeted.
"It's been a long time, Charlie. Sorry, but can I use the Lake of Purification just one more time? I have urgent business."
Crumble...
Charlie growled as if he were sighing and slammed his dry face with his front paw.
"What kind of public restroom is this? You come to me whenever you have an urgent errand."
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