I Became a Childhood Friend With the Villainous Saintess - Chapter 157



157 – The Dirty Cabin (2)

The red wine gave off a fragrant aroma.

Wine clinking in a spinning glass.

Sirien smiled at the wafting scent and took a sip of the alcohol.

Across from me, Edwin was drinking wine in a similar manner, and there was a glass of wine in front of me as well.

If possible, I would be careful not to give Sirien alcohol… … but at a time like this, a glass of wine would be okay.

Moreover, there were no such things as symbols in the sanctuary.

The wine we brought was quite a welcome sight for Edwin.

Sirien has a sweet side, so I can only be happy.

A smiling mouth asked a question.

“How is the wine of this era? Is it better than the ancient one?”

“It’s much better. It seems that times are advancing.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I brought it because I thought it was precious.”

Edwin smiled faintly.

It occurred to me that someone who seemed so cold could have such an expression on their face.

As it’s time to leave, I might be feeling sentimental.

Us or Edwin.

His time has stopped here, but our time continues to flow.

If there was any information you needed, Sirien had already obtained it while I was asleep due to my encounter with Hybras.

I can’t stay in this sanctuary forever, so it’s time to leave.

Originally, our plan did not include something like ‘I’ll be lying around in the prayer room for three days.’

“How much longer does this sanctuary last?”

“Well, maybe… … I think there’s two or three months left at most. Maybe even less.”

“That quickly?”

“That guy has even received a divine appointment. Hybras has intervened further in the world, and if there was any remaining role for this sanctuary, that has already been fulfilled. There is really no reason to remain any longer.”

Edwin said, as if relieved.

Certainly, since I encountered Hybras, the size of this sanctuary had shrunk noticeably.

It will probably be difficult to come back here after we leave.

Even if I came back, there was a high chance that this place would just be a ruin.

That’s a bit of a shame.

No matter what, it’s a place I’ve grown attached to.

“Then, will this be the last time I see Sir Edwin?”

“Yes. Finally, I will rest again. It would be best if we never meet again. If Hebras calls me again, it would mean that something bad has happened to the church.”

“I see. Well then, shall we say goodbye with a happy heart?”

Sirien was the first to raise her glass.

I followed her lead with a glass, and Edwin followed suit.

Soon the wine began to slosh with a “squelch” sound.

“Thank you for everything. I was a bit twitchy, but it’s not because I don’t like it. I was just a little embarrassed.”

“I know. If you were a worthless guy, I wouldn’t have faced the sword either. It would be a stretch to say that I taught you swordsmanship. Your sword and mine are so different.”

“Okay. It’s a shame. Why are you saying that? I learned what I learned. I’m not that shameless, Master.”

“Huh. I didn’t think you’d say that. … … Thank you.”

The alcohol tasted sweet today.

Is it because it is such a good drink that even a beginner like me can feel it?

Or maybe it’s because the afterlife isn’t such a bad thing.

Then, a thought suddenly occurred to me and I chuckled.

From noble mtl dot com

Come to think of it, this was the first time something like this had happened.

For us, parting was like a wound that would never heal.

Because no one in the past has ever met their end in peace.

The deaths of Therion and Henna will be unforgettable for the rest of our lives, and the only thing that remains is the Archduchess’s departure, embracing Sirien’s sorrow.

Edwin said.

“I am glad that you can leave with a happy heart. I wish you both a blessed journey.”

* * *

The day after parting ways with Edwin.

We left the sanctuary early in the morning and headed straight to our next destination.

There was one more place I absolutely had to stop by.

I went back on the path that was difficult to follow while avoiding pursuers, a journey marred by fights with monsters.

When I arrived at the place, a sight that I could not forget even in my dreams unfolded once again.

It was a very old and shabby cabin.

That place, which could only be described in that way, appeared before our eyes again.

“Ha… … . Nothing has changed here.”

“I guess no one really looked for it. It was left there when we hurriedly fled.”

Around the cabin, a wide, round snowfield spread out like that back then.

It was the place where our last memories were buried.

Therion and I built up our stamina by circling this snowy field, and we heated up our sparring in the open space near the well.

He was scolded by Henna for making her precious clothes covered in mud because of the long string.

Besides that, I had drawn water from the well with Sirien, and the four of us had gathered in the attic above and slept together.

The pile of ash visible in the middle of the snowfield was a trace of where Therion and Henna had been sent.

Sirien placed her trembling hands on the ashes.

Then he let out a sigh of relief.

“… … Thank goodness. I don’t feel any soul here. I guess they’ve already left.”

“You weren’t a very foolish person, were you? Hena… … You must have taken good care of her. Come to think of it, I think you must have scolded Hena back then. That kind of thing must have been uncommon.”

“That’s right. I’m sure you heard something from Oppa. He wasn’t mean to Hannah, so he probably calmed down quickly.”

It was a sight that easily came to mind even without seeing it.

Therion gets angry, saying that he did something he wasn’t told to do. And Henna bows her head, saying she’s sorry.

After muttering something for a while, Therion would eventually take Henna’s hand first.

Even though he looked like a bad guy, he sometimes showed a dignified side.

Even at the last moment, he was mortally wounded, but he still managed to protect us all.

I patted Sirien on the shoulder.

“That’s good. I was secretly concerned about that too.”

“Yeah. I was worried that you might still be cold in a place like this. Everyone has already left. You must be sleeping somewhere comfortable and warm.”

There were no souls left in front of the crematorium, but we still laid flowers there.

A ritual for those of us who remain. Or a tribute to the bodies of the two who have departed.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, since you won’t see any flowers in this cabin.

There was a lot to convey besides flowers.

Perhaps it was the first day that Count Roxen’s promise was broken.

The day when Therion couldn’t bear his broken heart and punched me, and got scolded by Sirien.

There was a time when we talked about the food we wanted to eat in a calm atmosphere.

– Henna, is there anything else you want to eat? You like a lot of things too. Why, last time I was secretly eating the leftover cookies… … .

– Oh, my lord!

– Ahem. Anyway, is there anything you want to eat? Let’s eat together when we get out of here.

– Hmm, well, then I guess I’ll have honey milk and cookies.

A simple wish that Henna had.

A white cloth was laid out in front of the dressing table, and cookies were placed on it along with Therion’s favorite snacks.

I wish we could eat together.

It would have been better if this pile of ashes had remained the remains of a campfire rather than a funeral, and it would have been even better if Therion’s promise had been kept.

I don’t need to grant wishes, so if the four of you could come here together, it would be a great gift to me.

Sirien, who was pouring milk into an empty glass, suddenly spoke.

“The cookies Henna made were really delicious too.”

“You liked anything sweet.”

“I didn’t like anything. I just like delicious things, whether I was a kid or a senior.”

“Was that so… …?”

I gave a sword to Therion.

This was the sword I had been using. The sword that Therion used was already broken and unusable, so I had to replace it with an expensive and good one to repay what I borrowed.

And no matter what, I was a knight.

The greatest tribute I can pay is the offering of my sword.

If it weren’t for Therion, neither I nor Sirien would be here.

My brother deserved this much treatment from me.

I placed the cleaned sword neatly in place of the tombstone and covered it with the divine power I possessed.

“I want to spar with my brother just one more time. He’s the only one who would roll in the mud with me.”

“… … Is that really what you want to do?”

“I don’t want to do it to the point where I’ll get scolded by Henna again.”

“Phew.”

If Therion were alive, he would be a great help to me.

He had talent and passion. A brother like that would have definitely become an excellent knight.

You could have trusted me with your back at any time.

Well, anyway, I was able to stand proudly in front of Therion.

– Even you can’t overcome every crisis. But I believe that at least one of us can protect you.

– If that happens, Sirien will definitely come first. I promise.

– Promise me you will protect Sirien no matter what.

– Okay, I promise.

“Brother. I still keep the promise I made back then.”