Chapter 26
After hearing the circumstances, Sharly grumbled but allowed Gremory into the forest. The vengeful spirit’s remains were purified in the sacred lake, and with a peaceful bow, the spirit vanished.
Sharly summoned a black dog to act as a translator for their conversation.
Woof. Woof woof.
“You’re saying that since I used the lake once, I owe the Emerald Forest a favor now? How stingy.”
Ruff.
“You’re asking why a witch like me suddenly helped a vengeful spirit? Well…”
If she said it was because she had imagined a scenario where Isollen, Anna, or Cheshion were captured, tortured, and killed by witches—turning into vengeful spirits because of her—it would make her sound overly sentimental.
“…Just felt like it.”
Gremory turned sharply and left the forest. She returned to the Loreth mansion and shook Allen awake, curled up in his bed.
“Hey, wake up.”
“Ugh… Who are—AHHHHH!”
Regaining his senses, Allen screamed and flailed. Gremory frowned at the noise and yanked his collar.
“Stop screaming and answer me. Do you have anywhere else to go?”
“P-please spare me! I think I was possessed by a vengeful spirit!”
“Ugh, shut up. I already exorcised it. Just answer the question. Got a place to stay?”
“Huh? Y-yes. I have relatives nearby… Ugh.”
Allen wobbled as he tried to get out of bed. Without thinking, Gremory steadied him.
“So troublesome. Can’t you walk on your own?”
“My legs feel weak…”
“I’ll take you outside. After that, you’re on your own.”
“T-thank you for saving me!”
“You’re awfully cheerful for someone whose family was massacred and who personally buried his lover’s corpse. Just happy to be alive, huh? I can guess what kind of mess your family was.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m not helping you for your sake. Your lover already punished you enough, so I’m just letting you go. Live the rest of your life repenting.”
Allen’s expression instantly darkened. Ignoring his glare, Gremory dragged him outside.
As Allen staggered away, the crowd gathered in front of the mansion swarmed him.
“Allen! Are you alright? Finally back to your senses?”
“What on earth happened?”
Gremory left Allen to them and walked away. She could feel his uneasy gaze clinging to her back.
“…I was possessed by a vengeful spirit. That woman saved me.”
“What? A vengeful spirit? Allen, are you sure you’re not still out of it? Those don’t exist!”
The crowd buzzed with debate—was it really a vengeful spirit or not? Meanwhile, another rumor began spreading.
“Wait, wasn’t that woman who brought Allen out Lady Mori from the convent?”
“Oh, right! I saw her during the mine incident too!”
“Lady Mori can subdue monsters, brew medicine, and even exorcise spirits? She’s incredible!”
Gremory’s ears twitched from afar.
‘At least I won’t have to worry about Isollen scolding me when I get back.’
She could just say she was exorcising a vengeful spirit instead of slacking off. And with this many witnesses, no one could doubt her.
The sun was setting. With a bitter heart, Gremory returned to the Grand Duke’s residence.
And was thoroughly scolded by Isollen, who had been waiting for her.
Gremory became famous as a spirit exorcist. Rumors of her extraordinary abilities spread so widely that she was practically treated as a mythical figure.
“She must be a saintess!”
“Nonsense! I heard she’s some kind of alchemist!”
“No, no, she’s a mage!”
“I heard she’s a saintess, mage, alchemist, and exorcist!”
“Hah! As if someone like that exists!”
And indeed, no human could do all that.
But a witch could.
In the sunlit garden, Anna giggled as she relayed gossip from the market. Gremory chewed on dried wyvern jerky, staring at the distant mountains. She was contemplating when to leave and what to say to the household.
“Everyone’s talking about you, Lady Mori! But could you tell us about the vengeful spirit?”
“No.”
“Aw, why not? At least give us a hint!”
“Anna.”
“Yes?”
“I think I like you a lot.”
“W-wha—? Out of nowhere?”
As Anna flustered, Gremory pondered.
‘I said it, but is “liking” someone really what I think it is?’
That warm, fuzzy feeling when she saw something pretty, accomplished something, chatted meaninglessly with Anna, or ate something delicious.
‘Is this cozy, blanket-like feeling what they call “liking” someone?’
She glanced at Iris, who smiled and nodded approvingly.
Isollen, bringing over a teapot, burst into laughter.
“What’s this, a love confession? Say you like me too!”
“I like you too.”
“Wait, seriously? Why so solemn?”
Gremory finished her jerky with a sullen expression and trudged off.
“What’s up with her?”
“No idea.”
Confused, Anna and Isollen shrugged and continued their tea party.
Once she was far enough away, Iris spoke up.
—What’s with the sudden confessions? And that gloomy face?
“Ever since exorcising that spirit yesterday, I’ve realized something… but I don’t know what this feeling is.”
—Try putting it into words. I’ll listen.
“Sitting together, eating, laughing like that… It never used to mean anything, but now it feels different.”
Like when she used to play with Renia.
—Ah, you’ve grown attached.
“Attached?”
—To me, you seem like a deeply affectionate person—no, witch. That’s why you keep meddling in others’ problems to help. You just don’t realize it yourself.
“What’s ‘affection’?”
—It’s when someone makes you feel at ease. You enjoy their company, want to share fun stories with them… that kind of feeling.
Instantly, Gremory thought of the demon world. It was the opposite of this place—uncomfortable, hateful, full of people who said terrible things to her.
……But here?
It was unsettlingly comfortable. So much so that she feared losing this peace.
—Congratulations, Mori. You’ve found something precious.
As Iris grinned, Gremory made up her mind.
She would leave. Now.
Yes, she had grown attached. The people of the Grand Duke’s residence had become precious to her. And that was exactly why she couldn’t stay—not when she could be discovered by witches at any moment. She couldn’t drag them into her mess.
Gremory immediately packed her belongings and stormed into Cheshion’s office.
Bam bam.
“Uh, Mori, I’m in he—”
“I liked you.”
“Wha—? Wait, Mori!”
Cheshion’s face turned beet red as he reached for her, but the door had already slammed shut.
Iris’s shocked scream echoed for a very long time.
Cheshion’s heart pounded. “I liked you” looped in his mind a million times.
‘Why would she say that out of nowhere?!’
Just as he was calming his racing heart, Anna burst in.
“Your Grace!”
“What now?”
“Lady Mori is acting strange!”
“I noticed. Did she tell you she liked you too?”
“Yes! But more importantly…! I went to clean her room and saw something shocking!”
“What?”
“I think she’s planning to leave the residence! She packed her things!”
“What?!”
Shocked, Cheshion rushed to Gremory’s room. There, her favorite blanket was neatly folded and tied with a string, her pillow tucked inside.
“Lady Mori never folds her own blankets! Yet she folded and tied her favorite one! She’s definitely running away!”
“T-this is her idea of packing? It’s too minimal!”
“She must’ve only taken what’s precious to her. Have you ever seen her treasure anything besides this blanket?”
“Her pillow… ……Wait, no way!”
・。.・°✧・°・。.・
