Chapter 87
"Is this enough?"
A promise to sometimes wear comfortable clothes.
Since the other person had urged so actively, there was no reason to back out at this point.
I immediately tried on different attire.
"It's a bit... awkward."
I was wearing light short-sleeved pajamas.
The thin fabric fluttered.
Both arms were clearly visible through it.
As the short sleeves couldn't fully cover my body, I was exposing numerous scars.
Cool air touched the skin that had been stuffy until just before.
As I stiffened from the unfamiliar feeling, a voice approving the outfit was heard.
"It looks good."
It was Irene.
The girl standing beside me looked me over briefly, then soon nodded with a faint smile.
She had a strangely pleased expression.
I threw a question with an awkward smile.
"Isn't it a bit strange? It's been so long since I've worn clothes like this."
"It suits you well."
"That's a relief."
I answered like that while fiddling with the collar.
After always insisting on tightly fitted custom suits, wearing such loose clothes felt very strange.
Actually wearing comfortable clothes made me feel rather uncomfortable.
'They'd be surprised if they saw me.'
It was a thought about the members.
Though there were quite a few people who knew about the scars from spending time together, I had never shown such a relaxed appearance.
Rather, I had maintained an impeccable atmosphere continuously.
As I had to reign as the mental pillar and only savior for them.
Even Neria, who had stayed by my side the longest, was the same.
'It reminds me of the old days.'
To be sentimental over just one outfit.
I seemed to be getting old too.
After shaking off unnecessary thoughts, I threw a question to the watching fox.
It was words to refresh my mind.
"By the way, I didn't know there were clothes like this in the closet. I'm sure there were only several formal suits..."
"I brought in a few sets."
"Hmm?"
"I got them when I went to the shopping street last time. They're not that expensive, so if you don't like them you can throw them away and buy new ones."
"This is fine. Since it's clothes Miss Irene chose personally."
"...I didn't mean to show off like that."
"I'll cherish it preciously for life."
"Stop it."
The fox retorting coldly.
But her body was honest.
Her crimson tail swaying happily.
Her folded fox ears seemed to have regained energy, standing up perkily on her head.
A faint laugh burst out at the easy-to-understand reaction.
"Pfft."
"Why are you suddenly laughing?"
"It's nothing."
"You're so bland."
"I think I'm quite a sour person myself."
"...You know you're really not funny, right?"
While exchanging light small talk.
The darkened outside scenery could be seen through the window.
"It's gotten late. Shall we go to sleep soon?"
"Okay. Let's do that."
We briefly concluded our conversation.
A night of sleeping for the busy tomorrow.
The two people turned their steps to their respective rooms.
***
No.
That's what I thought.
"Good night."
A voice whispering quietly.
A lukewarm breath was felt beside me.
When I turned my head towards it, I saw the fox lying next to me under the blanket.
She was occupying part of the bed.
"......"
Is it going to be like this today too?
Since the school trip.
Irene had been falling asleep in my room instead of her own.
And always lying on the same bed.
Rustle-.
Following her tossing movement, a lukewarm body temperature burrowed into my arms.
The girl was pressing her body close.
As we were both in thin pajamas, the sensation felt through the fabric was even clearer.
Her soft skin clung as if embracing the scars.
Especially because our chests were touching.
Heavy flesh was pressed against my chest.
The blatant shape was squished following the hugging force, and only the softly pressing sensation was transmitted as it was.
Our breaths that couldn't be swallowed mixed between the warmth.
'It's close.'
Is this thought too obvious at this point?
I laughed it off indifferently.
Being embraced like this made me feel like a pillow.
Putting the strange impression behind me, I quietly asked the fox who hadn't fallen asleep yet.
It was words expressing doubt.
"Miss Irene."
"Yes."
"Why are you sleeping here when you have a perfectly fine bed?"
"It's comfortable."
"That's clear."
"Is it uncomfortable because I'm here?"
"Not particularly. But I was thinking it might be better to sleep in your own room. There's only one bed in my room after all."
"......"
Irene quietly closed her mouth.
A moment of silence continued.
The blunt atmosphere gradually crumbled.
As the ears on top of her head drooped powerlessly, her delicate fingers interlocked as if binding me.
The girl murmured faintly as if sinking into water.
"...Just, let me stay beside you."
Eyes looking up intently.
Her transparent pupils held only my figure.
Since she came out with such a pitiful reaction every time, it felt wrong to push her away harshly.
In the end, I let it slide this time too.
I patted the girl's back with a calm gesture.
"Alright."
"Thank you."
"It's not really a problem anyway. Don't worry about it and go to sleep."
"Okay... I will."
The fox finally closing her open eyelids.
I held the girl's body for a while until her faint breaths subsided.
Our body temperatures mixed as if melting.
Leaning on each other, time headed towards dawn.
***
Time pointing to dawn before we knew it.
Outside the window, only darkness holding faint moonlight and starlight filled the scenery.
It was a perfect night without even a trace of sunset remaining.
Snore snore-.
The fox exhaling light sleeping sounds.
The snake looked at the sleeping girl briefly, then averted his gaze and raised his lying body.
His quiet steps left the bed just like that.
"......"
The liar was awake alone.
He sat lightly on the sofa.
As he had excessively consumed power over the past few days, he seemed to be trying to recover output when a slight gap arose.
The snake moved his lips while bringing up a blue window.
"I confess to myself. I have never told a lie even once in my life."
Chewing over a stream of deception as always.
Before long, a notification rang from the previously quiet status window.
-Ding!
[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]
[Current remaining output: 24.3%]
The boy continued accumulating.
His plainly stretching voice didn't contain any emotion.
He only recited sentences with cold eyes.
"I ate stew for lunch today."
-Ding!
[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]
[Current remaining output: 24.8%]
"I am outdoors right now."
-Ding!
[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]
[Current remaining output: 25.2%]
"I hate games."
-Ding!
[A small amount of lies has been recovered.]
[Current remaining output: 25.7%]
"I am not human."
-Ding!
[Lies...]
A continuous series of lies for a while.
Until morning came like that.
The snake spent the night repeating numerous pretenses.
***
The next day.
I stopped by Astro headquarters.
It was to hear a report on the attack incident from a few days ago.
As there was news that the main witness had regained consciousness, I immediately moved my steps to meet her.
I didn't take a carriage this time.
Instead, Lena came directly to pick me up.
"Shall we go?"
The black-haired woman holding out her hand in front of the rippling portal.
Thanks to that, I was able to arrive without delay.
After roughly hearing the situation from the Vice Commander, I had a meeting with the witness waiting in the hospital room.
She was a woman with long white hair.
"Miss Medro."
Medro Gardnier.
The Vicar General of the church, and the person in charge who oversaw the attacked Liszt branch.
She was also a person cooperating with our side.
I greeted her lightly and sat facing her.
"I was worried... but I'm glad you seem to have recovered well."
"It's thanks to the grace bestowed by the Commander."
I had been concerned because her energy was withering, but fortunately she seemed to have recovered over the past few days.
The woman conveyed her gratitude politely.
It was a generous movement characteristic of church people.
"I heard you showed a miracle once again. Thanks to your devotion, numerous lambs received salvation of life. I convey endless words of gratitude for this."
"A miracle... It was just a trivial trick. Please don't mind it."
"I prolonged my shallow life through a precious connection, so wouldn't this also be heaven's will? Surely the Commander must be a saint chosen by God."
"The members beside me are listening. It's embarrassing, so let's stop here."
"As you wish."
Miracle, salvation, saint... Passing over the embarrassing praise, I straightened the conversation according to the original purpose.
I began asking about the circumstances at the time of the attack.
Of course, as it was a suddenly occurring event, I couldn't obtain such detailed information.
I was satisfied with just grasping a faint silhouette.
"I'm not sure if it will be of any help... but I saw a huge shadow in the darkness."
"A huge shadow...?"
"It was a wicked power. I don't know how much blood was offered, but just encountering it felt like my faith was being tested."
"If even Miss Medro as Vicar General felt that way, it must have been practically a calamity in reality."
"It was truly an ordeal."
"Hmm."
This was quite a good harvest.
A huge shadow.
As someone who knew the original work, I had a rough guess.
Like the Conductor, this one also seemed to have its appearance time slightly advanced compared to the original, but it was fortunate to notice it right away like this.
I could prepare more concretely for the crisis to come.
"I'll end the investigation here. It was very helpful."
"I'm glad it was helpful."
"You can stay here for a while. There's a high possibility the heretics are still watching."
"I'm grateful for your grace. What about the other surviving brothers and sisters..."
"We intend to protect them as well. In return, I'd like the priests to help a bit with our work."
"If that's the call, gladly."
"Huhu."
I gained usable forces through this incident.
Originally, Liszt was a gathering of clergy to protect one region.
As such, capable and substantial talents were gathered.
From the position of having to chase Baobab in the future, the joining of such veterans was very welcome news.
I stood up from my seat with satisfaction.
'With this... is one task finished?'
It seemed like a good conclusion.
I stepped outside the hospital room and headed to where my next task was.
It was none other than the playroom where the children were gathered.