Published: August 3, 2025
"I-I cannot promise that!"
Darmel tightly closed his eyes and said clearly as if squeezing out pain. He knelt on the spot, crossing his hands over his chest.
"I'm a knight, so if ordered by my superiors, I cannot remain silent. Therefore... please allow me to close my eyes."
If he remains unaware, he cannot report. So he wants to continue not knowing as before. I nodded in agreement with Darmel's bitter decision.
"Then, never leave this workshop. I pray that your curiosity does not lead to ruin."
"Yes, ma'am."
I left Darmel and several gray priests in the workshop. Lutz and Gil took blades and baskets to cut the trombe, and went outside with the gray priests and children. I also went outside with everyone and moved toward the girls' dormitory.
"Someone, please call Vilma, Delia, and Dirk from the girls' dorm."
"Yes!"
"I'll go!"
Several children ran tangled together into the girls' dorm. Soon, Vilma holding Dirk and Delia came out. Delia's face looked a bit tense.
"It's been a while, Delia. I'm glad you look well."
"Thank you for your concern. Both Dirk and I are fine."
Delia relaxed with a relieved smile.
"Delia, Dirk is a self-eater. Because he has mana, he was targeted not by the toad, but by the count and the head priest. Since the count is still alive, Dirk's master remains the count."
Delia's face changed color.
Count Toad has been kept alive to find various other crimes and to negotiate trade with the count's domain. I can't imagine the lord, who mainly considers political deals, agreeing to cancel the self-eater contract. As long as the count lives, the contract with Dirk will not be broken.
"Also, Dirk has not yet been given a magic tool to release the mana accumulating inside his body. Let's reduce it a little to prevent too much mana buildup. Please give Dirk this red fruit."
"Yes."
Gil handed the Tau Fruit to Delia, who gave it to Dirk. Dirk's mana, which had been completely taken by the head priest in spring, doesn't seem to have increased much. The seed started to bulge out, then the fruit's growth almost stopped.
"This is fine. Dirk can return now."
"Thank you."
Delia patted Dirk's head with relief. Just one season passed, and Dirk grew considerably. Kamil must have grown too. I narrowed my eyes nostalgically.
"Ah, Vilma. I have a favor. I want you to draw the high priest's portrait..."
"I'm sorry, but I cannot do that. I don't know the high priest's face."
"Huh?"
Vilma, who has trauma with the azure priests, tried to avoid seeing them during her orphanage visit and apparently never got a good look at the high priest's face.
I didn't expect Vilma not to know the high priest's face, but thinking about it, it made sense. While understanding this, I paled.
"I-I will invite the high priest to my room, so then..."
"It's still impossible to go to the noble district. I'm sorry."
It would be difficult for Vilma to go to the noble district, known as the azure priests' stronghold. However, I don't think any azure priest would approach the head priest's attendant.
"Vilma, even if I escort you to prevent anyone from approaching, is it impossible?"
"...I'm sorry. Lady Rosemine, could you entrust the sketch to Rosina? I think she can do it based on Rosina's drawing."
Vilma said apologetically, offering help, and my face lit up. The artistic shrine maiden's skills are amazing.
"I'll ask Rosina!"
Vilma chuckled as she took Dirk and Delia back to the orphanage.
"Is everyone ready?"
"Yes!"
I held a blade, watching everyone preparing for the trombe harvest. It seemed they were ready. Lutz nodded subtly, so I took the partially grown Tau Fruit, nurtured with Dirk's mana, from Gil.
I could feel the mana inside me being drawn out and flowing away.
I stared intently at the Tau Fruit, whose seeds kept increasing. As the seeds bulged more and more, the skin hardened, and once full of seeds, it began to warm.
"Let's go!"
I threw it properly onto the earth. The moment the seeds scattered, a gray priest lifted me up and moved me to the back.
Watching everyone's efforts from behind, I noticed they were more skillful than last year, with no wasted movements.