Gremory turned into a cat and buried her face in Chession's arms. Chession hugged and stroked her as he climbed the stairs and out of the basement.
"It's okay, Mori. There will only be bright days now."
"...It's dark."
"If you look up, it will be bright. Do you breathe well?"
Gremory replaced the answer with a helpless wagging of her drooping tail. Chession looked at her sadly and stroked her back.
When she finally came up to the ground, bright sunlight was shining through the window.
"Mori, look over there."
At Chession's words. Gremory slowly raised her head and looked out the window. Her eyes, which had been stiff, grew bigger and bigger.
"Are there any monsters?"
All the monsters that lived near Forquint Castle have been purified. The trees, which were black and grotesquely twisted, have also regained their original freshness. The bright sunlight was shining on it.
Chirping, she heard the birdsong peacefully. Gremory's body, which had been crouching a lot, gradually relaxed.
Chession kissed Gremory's small back of the head lightly
"Mori. It will be difficult to destroy the remaining fragments of the original soul, but please do your best. Once you are free from the demon god, let's go see the beautiful scenery and live freely. Yes?"
"... Yes."
***
The return of Grand Duke Ethel.
Gremory and Isolene drank daytime wine in the garden. Isolene poured whiskey into the glass and looked at Gremory's pale face. She looked full of water like an old man who had been hit by all the storms of the world.
"So that happened 200 years ago? You were a twin sister to the demon god, right?"
"Ha... Why is this so tasteless? I feel like I'm going to throw up. Do humans feel sweet when they drink alcohol when they are upset?"
"You said you were going to vomit, and you already drank two bottles. Just drink what is in that glass and stop drinking. Now, let's eat some snacks."
Isolene dipped the apple with a fork and put it in Gremory's mouth. Gremory grumbled as she took the apple. Isolene felt sorry for Gremory, but on the other hand, she felt tired of it.
'How long do you have to appease me? It's a bit annoying. There are many things to do.'
When she comes back, she'll be a little saggy, and she'll be a maid soon. She was annoyed by the witch who openly played and ate.
Gremory buried her face in her hands and sighed. She got drunk and began to lament.
"How can a person's life be so miserable? You died after suffering that hardship, and you even reincarnated as a sacrifice?"
"Yes, your life is very difficult. Still, if you destroy the Demon God's Soul Fragment, everyone will be comfortable, right? Just hold on a little longer and cheer up."
"Serietti, she also wants me to destroy the Soul Fragment quickly, right?"
"That's right. Only then will she be free from pain."
Gremory gulped down the whiskey in the glass and got drunk.
"Honestly, I don't like Princess Iberia. Why should I act according to her words and correct what the Imperial family has done? I'm an obvious victim, but do I have to take care of it?"
"Yes, yes. You might hate it."
"I don't like it. I'm annoyed. I want the imperial family to destroy the fragments of the original soul on their own. I don't know why I have to take the initiative."
Isolene was bothered by Gremory's unbelievable whining. Just as she was thinking of an excuse to get up, Gremory looked up and smiled comfortably.
"It's better to say it so coolly. Thank you for listening."
"Of course, I have to listen. Because we are friends."
"Yes, my friend. You are my precious friend. I'm so glad I have you."
"What did you say all of a sudden... I'm cringing."
Isolene was speechless. The strange hostility she had just felt was in her mind. Where there was hostility, guilt grew.
'I'm crazy. Why did I hate the girl who told me that I was a precious friend so much?'
Past memories with Gremory crossed her mind. The days when they enjoyed tea parties, exchanged gifts, and laughed together while defeating Catherine.
"...Mori, I'll take care of your work for the time being. You should rest and calm down."
"No, uh. You have a lot of work to do, right? Go with me... Woowook."
Gremory, who had stumbled to his feet. It was because of the belated drunkenness. Isolene quickly supported her.
"What's going on! Just go into the room and wake up!"
"No. You're busy when you work alone. I'll help you, too."
"Oh, I'm annoyed! What are you going to do with that?"
Then, there was something that stood out to Gremory.
"It's a black goat!"
A black goat that she didn't know where it appeared was walking around the garden. Gremory shook off Isolene and charged at the black goat.
And Iberia, who had brought the black goats as gifts, got out of the carriage. She greeted Gremory as she approached her.
"Welcome, Mori. I didn't have to come out to greet you like this."
"..."
"I succeeded in destroying the first Soul Fragment. Now that the Demon God's power has weakened, the Demon God will not have to be harsh for the time being. And... Oh my God, be careful!"
Gremory, who was stumbling closer, shook her foot. Iberia quickly grabbed her. At that moment, Iberia frowned at the smell of alcohol wafting through Gremory.
"Have you ever had a daytime drink?"
"..."
Gremory raised his head and stared at Iberia's face. Gremory's eyes, which had been released from drunkenness, gradually returned to focus.
"...Mori?"
At that time, Iberia felt ominous and muttered softly.
"Whoa!"
Gremory had an accident with Iberia's dress.
The hall was silent. Anna, who was bringing snacks, witnessed the scene and dropped the plate on the floor.
Either way, Gremory leaned on Iberia and stretched out her sale.
***
Iberia borrowed Gremory's dress and changed her clothes. While Gremory fell asleep scratching her stomach as she shook her stomach, Chession faced Iberia in the drawing room.
"I'll apologize instead of Mori. Mori is weak in mind and body these days."
Chession poured tea into the cup of Iberia. Iberia smiled and picked up the tea.
"It's okay. I think it's revenge for Amelia, who was angry with the imperial family."
"Are you okay? You woke up early to be punished and collapsed."
"Maybe it's because I'm a first-time offender, so I think I looked at the sky. It's a bit tiring, but it's bearable."
"I think there's a reason why you ran to the Grand Duke's Territory with a tired body. Do you have anything to say urgently?"
"Yes, there are two things. First of all, the world is in an uproar because the land of death has been purified. I'm going to think I'm a blessing from heaven, so maybe other pretends not to know."
Chession agreed. If the reason for the purification of the land of the dead was revealed to the Empire as it was, the world would be in chaos. What would be good if we talked about the atrocities committed by the imperial family, black magic, and the existence of demons 200 years ago?
"Yes. What is the second matter?"
"Are you raising the first Emperor's magical companion creature that I gave you?"
"Are you talking about 'ham'? I thought it would show me some unusual memories, but it was the first Emperor's companion creature. He's turned gray now and can't move. It only shines when he shows his memories."
"It's because he's older. It's over 200 years old, so it's been around for a long time for a magical creature. Soon it will shine again and move."
"Does that mean that when Ham shines again, he will know the location of the second Soul Fragment?"
Iberia replaced the answer with a silent smile. If she makes fun of her mouth again, she doesn't think it will end with her losing consciousness this time.
"I've told you everything you need, so I'll just go."
"How long have you been here? Why don't you take a day off?"
"If the imperial family is a guest, the servants will feel uncomfortable."
Iberia resolutely got back into the carriage and returned to the imperial palace. Her face was dark the whole time she was leaving. It wasn't very pleasant to drive someone to an ordeal..
However, that's not all; she also had a significant problem. After being punished and fainting, her foresight became very weak. Instead of looking at the future, she forgot all the future she originally knew.
'I'm in trouble. I think I clearly saw a future where something ominous would happen to me, but I can't remember what it was.'
Because of this, she had no choice but to leave as if she were running away from Grand Duke Ethel. She was afraid that because of her, Grand Duke Ethel would be involved in something ominous.
'And I think there was a story that I had to tell him about the second piece of the fragment soul, but I can't remember. Even if I try to think about it, I feel like my head is going to break.'
While Iberia was experiencing a terrible headache and trying to remember, the sun was setting.
The carriage arrived at the imperial palace quickly and safely. It was thanks to the hane maple that the imperial wizard had hung on the carriage.
Iberia got out of the carriage, supported by an escort knight.
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