Chapter 20: Warmth
In a certain diner, an exceptionally beautiful Elf Woman bowed her head to the couple running the establishment. However, her earnestness was met with indifference, as they shooed her away without a second thought.
Undeterred, the Elf Woman continued to frequent the diner. Despite being turned away time and again, she refused to give up. With persistent negotiation, she finally managed to convince them to allow her to come in as a customer.
Though she found opportunities to visit the diner, breaking through the couple’s defenses proved difficult, and she had yet to find a chance to speak with the Red-haired Girl.
It was then that the couple, who had been acting as guardians for the girl, made a grievous mistake, and the opportunity to speak with her finally presented itself, as relayed by one of her subordinates. She instructed her subordinate to keep a close watch on the girl.
The girl then visited the Guild, and by chance, this became the perfect opportunity for the Elf Woman to approach her.
“Do I seem like a capable adult?” she wondered. “What if she turns me down? What will I do if that happens?” The Elf Woman’s anxiety was so intense that it left her mouth dry.
Finally, she gathered her courage and spoke to the girl. The Elf Woman’s invitation prompted the girl to ask, “Why me…?”
The unspoken question lingered in the air, and the Elf Woman could easily sense what the girl wanted to say. It reflected the life the girl had lived thus far—one devoid of love, where her self-esteem had never been nurtured, leaving her unable to believe in herself. Realizing this, the words she had prepared to say scattered and vanished.
Still, she managed to respond, “It’s because you have the potential to become someone great in the future.” Indeed, that was one reason. However, at that moment, the Elf Woman felt a strong conviction that she could not leave the Red-haired Girl alone.
Thus began their life together, a journey of two. Life was not always smooth sailing. The political dealings that arose from taking the girl in were cumbersome, and it often imposed inconveniences on the girl.
Moreover, the girl, who had been ridiculed as a Basic Magic user, faced hardships that the Elf Woman felt powerless to alleviate. It was a bitter feeling of helplessness.
As the girl began spending more time with the Holy Knight Boy, the Elf Woman felt an unexpected loneliness at the reduction of their shared moments.
When the girl’s talents blossomed before her eyes, it took all her strength to hold back tears, determined not to lose her dignity.
Yet, their life together was not solely filled with struggles. Indeed, living with the girl was a joy. Every moment spent with her was irreplaceable. Not just the happiness, but also the hardships, confusion, and loneliness—all of it was precious to the Elf Woman.
And so, on that day, the Elf Woman made a momentous decision and conveyed her feelings to the girl.
“Should your feelings remain unchanged, then take on the name ‘En Dynast.'”
Ah, why was it that I—
The Elf Woman, thinking of the girl who had not returned, penned a letter and tossed it onto the desk.
As she realized the girl would not come back, she buried her face in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks, mourning the broken promise made that day.
What was I doing at that time…?
That day, the despondent woman heard of the girl’s reckless actions. She resolved that the sins committed by the girl were her own and vowed to atone for them with her own life.
Ah,
She burned the letter to her parents, knowing she would never see them again, engulfed in the Azure Flame.
“Pul-san—”
When I came to my senses, I found myself calling her name. The warmth that radiated from the palm of my hand, the undeniable presence of her there, made me cling to her, seeking forgiveness, using that warmth as a beacon to guide me toward her.
The borrowing of Mana through the Mana Circuit (Pass) was uneven, or perhaps there was a significant disparity in their Mana Capacities. Regardless, aside from the Mana required to operate the Demon Sword Nidhogg, Pulmy’s Mana had plummeted to dangerous levels.
The Holy Knight, sensing this, raised his voice.
“Stop the supply from Pul-san’s Mana Circuit (Pass) for now! I can take on the excess! My Mana still has plenty to spare!”
Returning to herself, Angelica complied with his command.
And then—his Mana surged into me with even greater force. It was not just Mana that flowed into me.
I wanted to look away. Yet, I knew I had to face it.
No matter how terrible the truth was, no matter how it confronted me with my own sins and laid them bare, I had a duty—to know it all, to understand everything that was happening to me now.
It was a memory of the boy’s encounters, farewells, and solitude.
The boy who met the Red-haired Girl was once drowning in loneliness. Despite his own dire circumstances, he extended a hand to her.