Chapter 297

A few days passed like that.





All Encia did during those few days was send a letter somewhere. The rest of the time, she just lazed around at home and only talked to me.





She wasn’t this lazy before I went to sleep… How did it come to this? It seems like she’s completely fallen apart…





“Today too, you’re just going to sit around doing nothing but reading books?”



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“Yeah. There’s nothing else to do.”





“Don’t you have things to do as a mage? Like making it rain or having scholarly exchanges with other mages?”





“I dumped all that troublesome stuff on Cecil. That kid is now capable of handling it alone as a mage.”





This isn’t good… What am I supposed to do about this guy…?





But how? Can my words really change her mind?





After all, I’ve lost my persuasiveness by sleeping for several decades!





Ugh… What a troublesome girl, seriously.





“But if there’s work to be done, you’ll definitely handle it, so don’t worry. I’m not just loafing around.”





Watching Encia confidently puff out her chest, I sighed quietly to myself. Yeah, what can you do? You’ve got plenty of money, ability, connections, and you’ve raised your disciples well. When you can live comfortably without doing anything, why become a slave to work?





Besides, the tasks I still need to do… I’ve already finished compiling my teachings into books. Hmm…





Really, it seems like Encia has no problems living without doing anything these days.





“…Hmph…”





Hot! For a moment, I envied Encia! I actually envied her for being able to do nothing and just play around!





No, that’s wrong. Someone else might be able to, but I can’t.





Even though I’ve handed most of my duties over to others—whether it’s the Goddess of Life’s responsibilities, matters of the Underworld and Paradise, or tasks at the Divine Hall—I still can’t completely ignore them. I at least need to keep an eye on what’s happening. And if any problems arise, I must take action.





Isn’t that my responsibility since I brought life into this world?





The others, like Asherit, complain that I worry too much, but what can I do? This is me.





Even while grumbling about wanting to sleep, rest, or play, I can’t turn off my concerns for the duties I’ve handed over, and I keep creating new tasks to hold onto.





Honestly, what do I even want to do? Do I want to play? Or not? I don’t know. Really.





“Well, if you’re happy with it, then it’s fine, I guess.”





At my words, Encia smiled slightly and began focusing on the book in her hands again.





Ugh. What am I supposed to do with this girl? She’s long past marriageable age.





“Do you have any interest in men?”





“Men?”





“Yes. Like, thoughts about starting a family or raising children. Don’t you have such ideas?”





“Hmm… Not particularly. I’ve raised disciples instead of children, and as for a family… I gave up because I couldn’t find anyone suitable for me.”





“Not suitable?”





Encia closed the book she was reading and said,





“Well, I’ve had marriage proposals before, but I turned them all down. Unless they can at least understand me somewhat, I wouldn’t feel any attraction to them, right?”





Hmm… Hmm… That makes sense.





Encia isn’t an ordinary young lady; she’s one of the top-ranked mages among Procyon’s mages. Conversations with ordinary people probably wouldn’t resonate with her.





And if we’re talking about someone who could understand her, they’d likely be some old geezer.





In the end, there probably wasn’t anyone appropriate, which is why she ended up becoming this old spinster mage.





“You seem to be thinking something rude.”





“No? Not particularly?”





In an era where people typically marry in their mid-teens, Encia, who is in her 30s, would be considered an incredibly old spinster. Yep.





Let’s drop this topic. It’ll just end up digging into Encia’s wounds.





“Listen, I’m just not interested in marriage! If I had wanted to, I could’ve chosen whoever I wanted!”





“Yeah. If that’s how you think, then that’s how it is. Inside you, anyway.”





Well, even saying that… In reality, Encia’s words are probably true. A mage with Encia’s level of skill would be seen by others as a treasure worth tying themselves to by any means necessary.





Still, the biggest reason is probably that Encia herself lacks interest.





— — — — — — — — — —





Time passed like that. A few months later.





“Master! We have a guest!”





Cecil’s voice reached Encia, who was holed up in her room.





“Guest?”





“Yes. They came after receiving your letter. He’s a young man.”





“Ah. He’s finally here.”





Hmm… So he’s finally arrived.





But a young man? Young? Him?





“Please show him to the living room. I’ll be there shortly.”



"Yes!"




“Tia, at least mentally prepare yourself.”





“Do I even need to do that?”





“Hmm… You’re right.”





After saying that, Encia picked up a robe that was carelessly hanging nearby, threw it over herself, and headed downstairs.





And then…





“It’s been a while, Luke.”





The guest waiting in the living room was, as expected, Arthur.





Arthur, looking exactly as he did in his youth, was wearing armor made of strange material.





Though Dainslayf wasn’t at his waist, Arthur instead carried a plain-looking longsword. Aside from the unusual material of the armor, he looked like an ordinary knight.





“Hmm. I came as soon as I received the letter. So, what’s this urgent matter?”





“Please sit first. Cecil, bring some tea.”



"Yes."




After Cecil left the living room, Encia leaned back on the sofa and spoke.





“Tia has awakened.”





“Hmm? Is that true?!”





“Yes, but much sooner than expected.”





Sooner than expected… Well, I thought she’d be asleep for several decades.





I told Sia the same thing.





“So, can she talk now?”





“Yes. She’s listening now. Unfortunately, she can’t speak directly though.”





If she came down personally from the Divine Hall, we could face each other and talk directly…





But seeing Arthur’s face directly… It’s a bit embarrassing!





How could I face him after parting ways like that and meeting again now?!





Honestly, even talking now feels like tacking on awkward footnotes to a story that was already neatly concluded!





“That’s… So she hears my words?”





“Yes, isn’t that right? Tia?”





“Yep. I’m listening.”





“She says she’s listening.”





With those words, Arthur’s expression changed.





A complex look filled with various emotions—longing, sadness, joy, affection—all mixed together.





It was a strange expression that seemed both like smiling and crying. With that peculiar look, Arthur spoke:





“Gaia… No, is that you there…?”





Even Arthur’s voice carried those emotions.





I should just be forgotten. Yet, why has he continued to yearn for me all this time?





Truly, such a sentimental child.





“Tia, you should respond.”





“Aah, yeah… Cough. Long time no see, Arthur.”





“Long time no see, Arthur,” she said. “Ah! From now on, I’ll just relay Tia’s words. Pretend it’s the two of you talking. If you have questions, I’ll ask them after your conversation ends.”





At Encia’s words, Arthur nodded and said:





“All this time… Many things have happened. After bidding farewell to you, I regretted it endlessly. If only I had expressed my feelings earlier. If only I hadn’t let the Empire get in the way and paid more attention to you… None of this regret would have happened.”





“It wasn’t your fault. If anything, it was mine for not mentioning that my divine body’s lifespan was nearing its end.”





“No. Even though I regained the throne, it was my fault for not paying attention to you, Master.”





“Emperor…?”





“Siya, I’ll explain later.”





After muttering that to the momentarily confused Encia, I continued:





“Rather, it was my mistake for not telling you and Viola that my time was running out.”





“No, it was my fault.”





“No, it was mine.”





“It was my fault, I tell you.”





“This is my fault.”





As this exchange went back and forth a few times, Encia exploded:





“Argh, why are you guys dragging this out by blaming yourselves?! Just call it half-and-half and move on already! The story isn’t progressing!!”





With a loud shriek, Encia’s yell stopped Arthur and me from continuing our endless descent into self-blame.





“I have a mountain of questions piling up, but I’ll ask them after you’re done! After! So hurry up and finish your conversation already!!”





“Ah, sorry about that.”





“M-Morry, Siya.”





“Alright! Resume the conversation! No blaming yourself allowed!!”





And so, with Encia’s shout, Arthur and I resumed our conversation.