『The event has disappeared!』
《Playing at night with Monica》
《Time: Night》
I expected it, but it still hurts.
Even if I wished I hadn’t experienced something like this, there’s nothing I can do.
There’s no such route.
If I were to recklessly kidnap Monica, I, Murmur, have no idea what kind of chaos would ensue.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“I was thinking that Murmur is cowardly.”
“Huh? What are you talking about? Murmur is a very kind person, right?”
Citrine grabbed my hand and shook it.
This cute girl came to my room today as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Come on, don’t think strange thoughts and let’s worry about how to play with Monica today.”
“There’s no need for that, Citrine. Starting today, Monica can’t play with us.”
“Huh? Why is that?”
I pointed to Capella in the distance.
The Silver Tower, which usually looks beautiful, seems hateful for no reason today.
“Monica has to go to Count Orion’s Duchy in three days. So there are many nuns in the tower right now.”
“Oh my… In that case, she won’t be able to play with us day or night.”
As expected, Citrine understands even without a detailed explanation.
“The fools of the Holy Nation have no intention of leaving Monica alone. Hmph, it’s obvious since they didn’t let her play during the festival either.”
Citrine has stopped calling Monica ‘Saintess’ and now calls her by her name.
Nicasia also started by calling her ‘Princess’ but now calls her Nicasia.
I guess it’s this girl’s habit to call those she feels close to by their names.
“Sigh… I thought it would be nice to swim together at Hedone Lake.”
“Can’t you do it alone with Murmur?”
“Th-that’s! Of course, spending sweet and intimate time with Murmur is the happiest thing!”
Citrine, startled, grabbed my hand and shook it.
“But…! But! Didn’t you hear, Murmur?! Monica doesn’t even know what a swimsuit is!”
“Citrine, do you want to help Monica like that?”
“…Monica is a girl who has never experienced happiness that can be bought with a single coin.
Monica looked at me.
“That’s absolutely unacceptable! It’s something that shouldn’t exist!”
As expected, Citrine is kind.
“Th-that’s… Hmph! It’s not like I’m helping her! It’s an investment in the Saintess, the treasure of the Holy Nation.”
“You can just say you feel sorry for her and want to take care of her.”
“Grrr! That’s not it!”
Citrine, jumping around, was adorable.
Alright, guessing something and hearing it directly like this definitely feels different.
“Th-this investment will definitely yield a hundredfold return!”
Citrine will surely be able to receive that.
Because I know that future.
“Then Citrine, do you want to have a serious talk with Murmur?”
“Of course.”
“What do you think about Monica, Citrine?”
Citrine twirled her red hair around her finger.
“Monica is the Saintess of the Holy Nation. She lives in a tower built in Capella, not in a dormitory.”
“And? Murmur wants to know what you feel.”
“…At first, I thought Monica was a really unlucky girl.”
What? This is the first time I’m hearing this.
“Why did you think that?”
“W-well, isn’t it obvious? Monica has no friends at the Academy. She doesn’t even have anyone she calls a close friend.”
Citrine blushed, seemingly embarrassed by her misunderstanding.
“So you thought the treasure of the Holy Nation, Monica, deliberately kept her distance?”
“Yes, and well, I thought it was natural. Just by standing still, the ‘entire nation’ respects and serves the Saintess.”
Citrine let out a long sigh.
“But the Monica I’ve met these past few days is not at all, absolutely not that kind of girl.”
“She wanted to make friends but couldn’t.”
“That was the secret hidden within her! And! Sh-she’s never even eaten meat or drunk orange juice! She doesn’t even know what ice cream tastes like?!”
I nodded.
“…She’s been living in an environment that’s just as harsh as Murmur’s.”
“Murmur is fine.”
“Murmur is… Anyway! We’ll talk about that later.”
No, really, I’m living a very satisfying life…
“So I thought she was being abused.”
“But Sister Anna isn’t that kind of person, right?”
“Yes, Sister Anna is just… really, she was just taught that way.”
Citrine fidgeted with her feet.
“I think the Holy Nation’s cardinals ordered it.”
“Citrine is quite smart, huh?”
“W-well, isn’t that common sense? The nuns who treat the Saintess like a treasure… wouldn’t abuse her on their own.”
That’s true.
“Some doctrine or… various reasons clearly dictated that Monica only be given clean water, specific clothes, and uncontaminated food.”
“Then why don’t Sister Anna or the other adults believe Monica when she says she can see the future?”
“Adults usually don’t believe children’s stories. And…”
Citrine sighed.
“I didn’t believe it at first either. The Saintess of Maturity can only see the future after undergoing a rite of passage. It’s common sense that’s been passed down for over a thousand years, right?”
“But Citrine believes now, right?”
“Yes, Monica has the eyes to see the future.”
That’s enough.
Citrine will be on my side no matter what crazy story I tell from now on.
“Citrine, if you can help Monica’s situation, will you help Murmur?”
“Yes!! That’s such an obvious question!”
“It could be really dangerous and scary, but will you still help Murmur?”
I held out my hand.
I can do it alone, but to achieve ‘perfect success,’ I need Citrine’s help.
“Of course, I can help. I’ve always intended to follow Murmur wherever you go!”
“Then Murmur will tell you the plan.”
I brought my mouth to Citrine’s ear and whispered.
How we will help Monica.
Everything we need to do from now on, I explained in detail.
“… …Murmur?”
“How is it? Murmur’s perfect plan, right?”
“W-well, wouldn’t it be better to talk to the adults instead of doing it this way…?”
Well, that’s impossible, so that’s why we’re doing it this way.
Of course, Citrine couldn’t immediately accept my outrageous plan.
* * *
“Fufu, as expected, we can dress you up more beautifully than that fool Anna, right?”
“Mmm~ You look so elegant and beautiful! Saintess Monica!”
“Bishop Orion will surely love it too!”
The nuns clinging to Monica were clapping their hands with bright smiles.
Their hearts were sincere in trying to make the Saintess, the treasure of the Holy Nation, look even a little more beautiful.
But their methods were always wrong.
“After all, the Saintess should always exude elegance and nobility.”
Paladin Irene smiled happily as she looked at Monica reflected in the full-length mirror.
“Sister Irene, the carriage seems to be ready.”
“We should leave soon, or it might get a bit tight.”
“Anna, that fool is strong, so she even loaded the heavy boxes onto the carriage, right?”
Today was the day Monica was to meet the bishop of ‘Count Orion’s Duchy.’
It was a routine schedule, not a major event.
But Monica’s face had been pale since morning.
“Sister Irene.”
“Ah, what is it?”
Irene smiled and approached Monica.
Monica held her hand a little pitifully.
“I… don’t want to go to Count Orion’s Duchy today.”
It’s a meaningless struggle.
Knowing that, Monica still did her best to speak.
“Oh dear… Saintess, you said the same thing to me earlier.”
“Huh? You too? She said the same thing to me.”
“Really? She said it to me too.”
Listening to the sisters’ murmurs, Irene kissed the back of Monica’s hand.
“Saintess Monica, it seems you’re suffering because of Sister Anna’s foolish actions.”
“That’s not it.”
“There’s a small plague going around Count Orion’s Duchy right now. There are even rumors that demons are behind it.”
Monica nodded.
“I know.”
“It’s an opportunity to be a beacon of hope for the suffering lambs.”
“R-right. And Count Orion’s Duchy is actually quite close, right?”
“We’ll buy you some delicious apples and grapes later! …That’s okay, right?”
“Saintess~ Let’s do our best!”
Monica looked at the brightly smiling nuns with eyes devoid of any expectation.
“I can see the future.”
“Saintess, you shouldn’t joke like that.”
“Irene will be badly hurt.”
“The road to Count Orion’s Duchy is very safe.”
Monica looked at the nuns around her with eyes devoid of expectation.
“Susan will cry bitterly. Annette will fall to the ground and pray.”
“Ah, oh dear…”
“Saintess, please don’t say such ominous things.”
“Mmm, Susan, last time you… Ouch! Why did you hit me?!”
The nuns joked and laughed.
They never believe Monica’s prophecies.
No matter how accurately she tells them, they think it’s a joke.
Because Monica’s prophecies defy common sense.
Because such miracles haven’t happened in over a thousand years.
“It must be unsettling to suddenly leave the tower and go to Count Orion’s Duchy.”
“That’s not it…”
“Don’t worry. Even if we encounter bandits or vicious demons, we’ll protect you, Saintess.”
“That’s right! We’re quite strong.”
“Fufu, Paladin Irene is famous, you know.”
“If you’re scared, we’ll definitely hug you.”
Monica resigned herself again to the nuns’ gentle tone, as if soothing a child.
“I won’t get hurt.”
Monica saw it with her own eyes.
No matter what happens, she won’t get hurt.
She won’t die.
She’ll survive, so healthy it feels like a curse from God.
“I’m happy to go to Count Orion’s Duchy with everyone.”
Monica smiled brightly, stood up, and hugged Irene.
The warm body temperature, the healthy voice, the scent mixed with sweat… she wanted to remember everything.
Then she hugged Annette, Susan, Leah, and Sophia in turn.
Though their methods were wrong, they meant no harm.
“I’m really, really happy.”
Because she knew that feeling their warmth would be the last time.
Monica tightly closed her golden, shining eyes.
* * *
“A-are you okay?”
Citrine took out a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Sister Anna.
“I’m fine. It hurts more that no one believes our words than the fact that I’m in pain.”
“But resorting to violence is unacceptable!”
“Well… I understand. A foolish, stupid nun who only fed the Saintess rice, whining about not wanting to go to a duchy where a plague is starting.”
Anna wiped her running nose and swollen cheek with the handkerchief.
The poor woman, who had been slapped twice a week, looked truly pitiful.
“Murmur will heal you.”
“Huh? Oh? There’s no need…”
I forced her to sit down and healed her face with my hands.
“…To think I’d be healed by a demon… Thank you.”
Anna gave me a slight smile.
“Citrine, Murmur told you, right? No adult will believe our story.”
“Ugh…! But Sister Anna believed us.”
“Ahaha… Sorry. Only the weakest and least helpful one believed you.”
That’s a lie.
“Murmur believes Sister Anna will help.”
“I absolutely can’t… is what I’d like to say.”
Anna looked at me and Citrine.
“You even showed me astral magic, showing that a great misfortune is coming…”
“Did Sister Anna say that? Monica also said she doesn’t want to go to Count Orion’s Duchy.”
“And… I can tell. The Saintess’s expression and behavior were completely different from usual.”
I grabbed Anna’s skirt and pulled it.
“Sister Anna, Murmur will help.”
“Th-that… I think it’s best if such misfortune doesn’t happen at all…”
Anna gave a bitter smile.
“Starting with Paladin Irene… no one will believe me and Saintess Monica.”
“Is it because you’re afraid of a village where a plague is starting?”
“Actually, yes, there are fools who make excuses not to go.”
Finally, Sister Anna looked at the large wooden box we brought.
“Dear God… how did I end up helping the descendant of Nectar?”
“Murmur is not a bad demon.”
“Sister Anna knows what Murmur’s intentions are.”
Anna smiled faintly.
Her eyes sparkled like starlight at that moment.
“It’s to save Monica.”
“Don’t you need to consult the holy books?”
Citrine and I held out our hands.
“Th-the Inquisition would call this blasphemy and interrogate me if they heard this.”
Anna said, taking our hands.
“But I’m not afraid. This is just practicing what’s written in the holy books. And…”
Anna turned her head to look up at the Silver Tower where Monica was sleeping.
By now, she must have realized whether her actions were true protection or just another form of restraint.
“I can’t bear to make the Saintess I truly serve cry anymore.”
Anna looked at the box we prepared.
Her hands trembled.
“There’s no reason to hesitate now.”
She took a deep breath.
Anna, who had always worshipped Monica in the wrong way.
She finally got her chance.
How long had Monica been making prophecies with a resigned expression?
“Dear God… please bless this choice!”
Anna finally opened the lid of the box with trembling hands.
“Th-then! Please get in!! Future Hero! And Citrine, who will become the bride!”
『A new event has been confirmed!』
《Destroying Saintess Monica’s Prophecy》
Fate can be changed.
If you’re the hero who will save the world, of course you can do it, right?
