“Well then. Let me introduce myself. My name is Rosette Craven. As you can see, I’m a lovely, beautiful girl. But don’t underestimate me, okay? I work diligently, despite appearances. I’m a part-time lecturer at the Valmiris Royal Magic Academy, an advisor to the Valmiris Kingdom Magic Brigade, and provide Technical Guidance to the True Holy Order. Oh, I’m juggling three jobs. When I think about it, I’m far too diligent, aren’t I?”
She muttered, as if impressed with herself.
Rosette Craven.
That name… I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before… no, did I see it in a book?
From the battle just now, I could tell that Rosette was no ordinary person. It’s not surprising that she holds three positions.
But it’s not just that, she felt like someone more historically significant…
“I remember. I read about her in a history of magic book. Rosette Craven. The founder and first headmaster of the Valmiris Royal Magic Academy. The first commander of the Royal Magic Corps. Both of those were over a hundred years ago, though…”
And that’s not all.
Rosette Craven has written many magic books.
When I was studying magic at the Royal Capital’s library, Rosette’s books were the most helpful.
I was grateful for them, but I never imagined that the author would be in the form of such a young child.
“Hmm. I’ve stepped back from the front lines. If the founder keeps pushing forward, new talents won’t blossom. Although, even when new talents bloom, they all wither away faster than I do. It’s a little lonely.”
Has Rosette been in this form for over a hundred years, raising and seeing off her successors?
But she shouldn’t be a Saintess. Is it possible to spend so many years in an ageless state?
If that’s the case—
“What Rosette-san is saying is true. Because she’s looked like this ever since I first met her, decades ago.”
“If the first Saintess says so, I have no choice but to believe it…”
“How nostalgic. Has it already been about seventy years since then?”
“Yeah. About that much.”
“Back then, Mizuha was consumed by a Curse, and was about to stop functioning. Until then, the Saintess’s developer had been performing maintenance and removing the Curse, barely keeping her going. However, that was just a temporary measure, and the Curse was gradually and steadily accumulating in Mizuha. Then, the developer died, and Mizuha could no longer receive even that temporary treatment.”
“That’s when Rosette-san helped me,”
Mizuha said, looking at me.
“Hmm. The Saintess’s developer was one of my disciples. I couldn’t just ignore my disciple’s mess. I was examining Mizuha as much as time allowed. Well, even then, we reached our limit, and Mizuha had to quit being the Saintess. I couldn’t do anything about it, I’m sorry.”
Rosette’s tone was nonchalant, but her apology was sincere.
“Ah, don’t apologize! I’ve said it before, but if it weren’t for Rosette-san, I would have been finished seventy years ago. The fact that I’m alive now is all thanks to Rosette-san. Thank you so much.”
“Hmm… Mizuha’s smile is unfair. When I’m thanked with that smile, I can’t help but want to do something for her. You charmer.”
Rosette narrowed her eyes and muttered, her cheeks slightly flushed.
I see. Mizuha’s smile works on others besides me.
But I’m glad Rosette is a woman. If Mizuha had smiled at another man, and he had blushed because of it, I would have unreasonably lashed out.
“So? This boy completely purged the Curse of the first Saintess, which even I and my disciple couldn’t do anything about, despite pouring our hearts into it? It’s hard to believe, but there’s certainly no trace of the Curse on Mizuha. Who are you? I came to this village because I heard there were people who had exorcised the Curse from that castle. The two who purified the Curse that even I could only seal, and took over the castle. It’s a national security risk to leave people with that level of skill unchecked… no, the peace of the world might be threatened, wouldn’t it?”
Mizuha and I have no intention of threatening the peace.
But it’s true that if a problem that had been left for two hundred and fifty years was suddenly solved, it’s only natural to investigate who accomplished it.
“Upon investigation, the adventurers who purified the castle are apparently called Mizuha and Akito. This village is the birthplace of Saint Mizuha. And Mizuha said she would return to her hometown when we parted. In other words, one half of the duo who purified the castle is the Mizuha I know. Then, who is this other Akito? I’ve watched over Mizuha for seventy years. It seems that Mizuha has chosen some unknown person as her partner. I couldn’t help but be curious. So, while observing the castle, I saw Mizuha and you acting separately, and I took this opportunity to pull you into the pseudo-world and engage in a dialogue.”
“Dialogue? That was a dialogue?”
“There are things that can’t be understood with words alone. Thanks to that battle, I know that you are a capable person worthy of standing next to the Saintess. And that you care deeply for Mizuha from the bottom of your heart.”
“…”
Of course, I care deeply for Mizuha. I’m openly showing it to her. We’re mutually in love. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.
But that’s just between the two of us, and when it’s pointed out by someone else like this, it’s, how should I say it, incredibly embarrassing.