MPBAGS Chapter 49

Today, Daisy had come to visit the orphanage where she had been indebted for several years. After fleeing the temple as if escaping, she had rented a room at a cheap inn to stay. With nothing to do but eat and sleep, her money was rapidly disappearing.

While calculating her remaining funds, she noticed there was more left than usual and realized she hadn't visited the orphanage recently.

'It's about time I stopped by.'

Daisy would set aside part of her earnings to donate to the orphanage each time, as a way to repay the director's kindness. Sometimes she would also bring bread and fruit for the children to eat.

She had visited once before entering the monastery. For some reason, she particularly missed her younger siblings today. With these thoughts, Daisy bought an armful of gifts and headed to the orphanage.

Perhaps because it had been so long since her last visit, the orphanage looked strangely unfamiliar. It seemed unusually devoid of any signs of life. Though puzzled, Daisy entered without hesitation.

There was no one inside the orphanage. She had no choice but to call out for the children and the director while opening doors one by one.

Had they all gone on a trip together? Then, the moment she opened the door to the director's office, she saw a very familiar symbol that shouldn't have been there.

The same drawing that the thing wearing the young lady's mask had made, identical to what Daisy had summoned, was drawn there in blood.

'Why is that here?'

Daisy couldn't face reality for a moment. Why was that drawing in the orphanage, and why was there no one inside? Some ominous imagination wrapped around her entire body. Her hair stood on end and her throat constricted.

Her legs gave out, and she crawled forward on her knees. What was drawn on the floor was indeed a summoning circle for calling demons. And that viscous color was clearly etched in Daisy's mind. A fishy smell lingered in the air.

'What is this...?'

At this point, it seemed like that drawing was chasing after Daisy.

What had happened to the director? What about the orphanage children? The image of them running toward her innocently, calling her name, was still vivid. Surely they hadn't become sacrifices for this occult circle...

Daisy searched through the orphanage thoroughly just in case, but there were no signs of life, not even corpses. Only the drawing made with blood remained.

Daisy sat there for a long while before leaving the orphanage on trembling legs. She couldn't stay there any longer and fled. Right now, she desperately wanted to see living people.

Walking half out of her mind, a carriage suddenly passed right in front of Daisy's nose. A wheel as big as Daisy's body rolled right in front of her, and she was so startled that she collapsed.

"You crazy bastard! Are you insane and want to die?"

The coachman shouted at the top of his lungs without even stopping the carriage. He didn't know what important person might be riding inside, but most carriages, once they started running, didn't know how to stop so as not to upset their distinguished passengers.

Even while hearing the sharp curses, Daisy's head was numb and she sat quietly. A passerby who saw this helped Daisy to her feet.

"Good grief. I don't know who's the crazy one here. Are you alright, miss?"

Not only that, but he also brushed the dirt off Daisy's clothes. Daisy bowed her head repeatedly, saying "Thank you, thank you" to his kindness.

"Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Then you should hurry home and rest..."

The passerby patted Daisy's shoulder consolingly before continuing on his way.

Daisy mulled over his words and buried her face in her hands. It felt like tears would pour out again. Go home? Where? If there was nowhere to return to, where should she go?

'Director... Children...'

"I should go to the guards..."

No. That won't work. No bodies had appeared, people had just disappeared. What would she accomplish by calling the guards? Besides, with that occult circle appearing, it couldn't be solved through ordinary means.

Right now, she needs to find someone else. Someone who could resolve this situation immediately, as Daisy hoped...

Daisy hailed a carriage.

"To the Rohanson estate, please."

"If you need help, call me again. Next time I'll charge the proper price."

"If you have a wish you want from me, come find me. I'll grant it."

She recalled the words of that demon and Evangeline. The words saying to come if she needed help. Was it true? Could she receive help if she went?

Common sense told her she should go to the temple, not to Evangeline. But was the Great Temple a place Daisy could enter just because she wanted to? Last time, it had taken three days just to gain entry to the Great Temple. That would be too late.

Besides, even if she went, Father Berga would probably still be under investigation by the temple knights. That would only delay finding the orphanage people further.

On the other hand, if it was Evangeline... she would surely know about that occult circle.

"That'll be 5 copper."

Daisy tried to reach for her purse to pay. However, no matter how much she searched through her clothes, she couldn't find her money pouch. Where, where had she dropped it? Then she remembered the passerby who had helped her when she almost got hit by the carriage. He must have stolen it then.

"If you don't have money, get out."

"I'm in a hurry right now. Please, I'll pay you later."

"Listen here, young one. Do you think I've been fooled by such schemes just once or twice? People like you get out saying you'll bring money and then run away. I've been deceived several times, so I can't allow it. Sorry, but find another carriage."

Daisy had no choice but to get out of the carriage.

And she had no choice but to start walking. One step, one step, Daisy's slow steps gradually quickened and now became a run.

If she went to the Rohanson estate, there would be a way.

Daisy ran. When her lungs felt like they would burst, she walked briefly. When her calves cramped and her feet became heavy, she ran for a long time before finally arriving at the Rohanson estate.

"What business brings you here?"

A gatekeeper blocked Daisy's way. Was this someone newly hired after Daisy had quit? It was an unfamiliar face. If it had been someone she knew, it would have been easier to ask to be let in.

Daisy pondered how to speak, then finally brought up that name.

"Evangeline... I've come to see Lady Evangeline."

That day, for the first time, Daisy acknowledged that the thing that had stolen the dead young lady's body was known to the world as 'Lady Evangeline.' And Daisy also addressed it as such.

It felt like killing a person who had already died once more.

"The young lady is currently out."

Of all times, now? When she had said to come if she had a wish! Daisy hung her head.

The guard was flustered and tried to help Daisy up.

"Please tell me where she went. I absolutely must see her."

"How would I know that? The carriage left long ago."

Daisy felt all the strength drain from her body. She had believed that something would be resolved if she came to the Rohanson estate. Why had she thought that?

"Rather than standing here uncomfortably, why don't you come back after the young lady returns?"

The guard, seeming uncomfortable, asked Daisy to leave.

"Should I call a carriage for you?"

"No, no, it's fine."

She didn't have money for a carriage either. Daisy struggled to her feet with her swaying body. She had originally thought it would be better to go to the temple rather than here. First, she should find those knights she had seen before.

First, she would go to her lodgings to get money and change into her nun's habit. That would make it much easier to enter the temple.

Daisy left the Rohanson estate behind and headed toward the inn. Her legs ached from running all the way to the Rohanson estate. Somehow, her anxious feelings had now disappeared.

Meanwhile, drops began to appear on the ground. Daisy looked up at the sky. Dark clouds had gathered at some point, and raindrops were falling. The rain that fell on her eyes mixed with tears and flowed down her cheeks.

"It's raining, let's hurry!"

"Oof...!"

"Sorry...!"

Children running to escape the rain bumped into Daisy. It was just a collision with a child, but perhaps because she had no strength in her legs, she fell over. The child apologized, worried that Daisy might be angry, and ran off.

Daisy had neither the strength to get angry nor the energy to get up again, so she continued to sit there. Sitting like this reminded her of almost getting hit by the carriage earlier. She should have been hit then...

As Daisy hung her head low, a shadow appeared right in front of her, covering her.

Come to think of it, this was an area where shops were gathered, so she would be obstructing traffic.

"Sorry, I'll move."

"Daisy."

At the familiar voice, Daisy quickly looked up. The owner of the shadow was a snow-white person, the complete opposite of the darkness she had created. And this was the person Daisy had been desperately searching for just moments ago.

"Lady... Evangeline."

Perhaps because she had said it once, calling the being before her 'Evangeline' was no longer difficult. Even though she still felt fear and resentment, she found it amusing that she somehow felt relieved.

The whole world seemed quiet, as if all the rain had been swallowed up. She thought the rain had stopped, but it was just an umbrella. Because of the umbrella tilted toward Daisy, Evangeline's back was getting soaked.

"How... how did you get here...?"

"I was looking for you."

Really, you appeared because you were looking for me? Like magic?

The thing that had turned inside out the shell of Lady Evangeline smiled benevolently. That smile closely resembled the laughter of Lady Evangeline, whom Daisy had once cared for.

"I have a favor to ask. You said you would grant wishes."

Daisy gripped Evangeline's dress tightly. As if it were the only lifeline given to her, she was desperate.

"Yes. But there will be a price."

You know what I want, don't you? Evangeline asked.

A price... Daisy knew very well what that meant. When Daisy had summoned the demon, the demon had definitely called Father Berga a sacrifice. Along with the words that next time, it would charge the proper price.

"I'll... I'll give myself."

Even though Daisy might not be as pure as the demon wanted, having already killed someone, all Daisy could offer was herself.

"So please, help me."

"Alright, fine. I'll grant it."

Evangeline extended her hand to Daisy. Even though Daisy knew well that she shouldn't take that hand, she grasped it. A cold, snake-like sensation wrapped around her arm, crawled up, and constricted her throat. Daisy had stuck her face right into the snake's maw. But how amusing that the inside of the snake was so warm.