Volume 10 Chapter 27 Chilly Squishy Med
What was in front of me was something with a plump, pale pink body, round eyes, and a chubby face.
From that round face, something like ears was sticking out.
Oh, and there was a tail too.
It looked a bit like a lizard, but it was rounder than a lizard and had a shape that was hard to describe.
"...I get birds, cats, and rabbits, but what on earth is this?"
Mr. Lucian said, looking puzzled.
I picked up the little one──probably Med.
It was about the size that fit in one hand, squishy and chilly.
It felt really nice to touch because it was so cold.
"This is a cave salamander."
Sir Ciel said, gazing at Med in my arms with interest.
"A cave salamander?"
I tilted my head at the unfamiliar term.
Eir-Eir and the others were pushing their way into my arms, poking at Med.
It wobbled and jiggled.
Like jelly.
"It's a cave salamander. Technically, it might be a bit different, but the shape is similar. It's a species that only lives deep in the caves west of Bernard Kingdom, and they live in groups, preferring clean water. They're harmless."
"Lots of these little guys live deep in the caves..."
I imagined Med in a beautiful underground lake deep in the caves.
eah. Cute. Like tapioca.
"Shiratama Anmitsu!"
"Proper Shiratama Anmitsu...!"
"Good for you, Lydia. You were so desperate."
"Happy for you, princess. But honestly, I think she'd be cute even as shiratama, orange, or strawberries."
Sir Roxas peered into Med, while Sir Rail poked at it, saying this.
"Yes! Hehe, yay. Shiratama Anmitsu. So cute!"
As I was getting excited, Eir-Eir and the others in my arms were staring at me intently, so I hurriedly added, "Of course, everyone is cute!" Everyone is cute.
Fluffy and soft and adorable.
But since this chilly, jiggly little one was my first, I just wanted to keep petting it.
"Pumpkin pudding!"
"Tarte Tartin."
"Fried horse mackerel."
"Shiratama Anmitsu."
They jumped off my hand and lined up in a row, flapping their bodies as if trying to convey something.
Mer-Mer also hopped down from Sir Ciel's shoulder, spun around in front of everyone, and let out a cute "kyu."
"...They're saying they want to take you."
"Take me?"
"To the Witch. They're saying they want to take you."
Mr. Lucian crossed his arms and said thoughtfully.
"...It seems Meruru wants to go to the place where you found them. Where did you pick up Meruru, Ciel?"
"Holy Land, Hailshtrul."
Sir Ciel replied.
Holy Land Hailshtrul. That's the final destination of the priests' pilgrimage.
It's said to be the place where Goddess Alexandria descended.
"That's where──Alexandria returned to the white moon. Leaving behind an apology."
Dad told me that.
He must be talking about the monument that Sir Ciel saw.
"Well, in the Rest Priest Family... the priests of the Temple also believe that if they make a pilgrimage to Hailshtrul and pray at the monument, the Tears of the Rose will end. But is that not true?"
"Ah. That's more like a superstition created to strengthen the priests' power. I won't say praying is bad, but it won't end the Tears of the Rose. Not until we defeat or save the imprisoned Sylphina."
"...The royal family and the priest family both created such lies to protect themselves. ...Even though many people are losing their lives due to the monster attacks from the Tears of the Rose."
Sir Stefan looked down.
I think that's certainly not a good thing, but what has happened until now has led to the present.
Without the past, I wouldn't be here now.
So──.
"Sir Stefan, the royal family and the priesthood weren't great, but... let's end this. I want to help Sylphina. Because Sylphina has been suffering for so long."
"Lydia. Yeah... thanks."
"The reason I clung to life, and Theobart clung to life, was to protect this country from Sylphina. And to save Sylphina. Theobart passed away without ever holding my child in his arms, but he told me in the end..."
I wonder if God Theobart had regrets.
I can't understand that feeling.
Hurting Sylphina, taking her child and calling it a monster, and imprisoning the witch Sylphina on the red moon.
"He wanted to apologize to Sylphina if he could meet her someday. He thought he should be the one to be punished."
That's probably something he can't do anymore.
Did God Theobart look up at the red moon where Sylphina is imprisoned? Floating in the sky every day──surely, at first, he loved her.
"Let's go...!"
I clenched my hands and said it firmly.
"Ms. Lydia. We can easily teleport to Holy Land Hailshtrul using teleportation magic. So, let's take our time to prepare. We don't need to go right away."
Sir Ciel said in a calm voice.
I remembered that it was already late at night.
Plus, I was still in my party dress.
I don't know how to save Sylphina, but the only thing I can do is cook, so I think I should definitely feed her something.
But then again, I realized I don't know what Sylphina's favorite food is.
"Yeah, I understand. ...And since we're going to a dangerous place, I shouldn't have said 'let's go' so lightly..."
"Princess, I'm going with you. Of course, right? Everyone else is too, right?"
Sir Rail said it as casually as if he were going shopping tomorrow, and everyone nodded easily.
I smiled and bowed my head, saying, "Thank you."
I wasn't sure if I could do it alone. But thinking that everyone was there for me made me feel really supported.
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