WOSE Chapter 20

"What?"

What sudden nonsense was this? Moreover, though phrased as a suggestion, it was a firm tone practically indistinguishable from an order.

Iyu objected dubiously.

"Tamia's sleeping."

"Then I'll bring it to you."

'What is this? It's not like a monster appeared on the first floor.'

If that were the case, she would have noticed from screams and the sound of things breaking.

But from below came only the noisy conversation of those who'd risen early, the clatter of dishes, and the sound of hurried footsteps.

"Why?"

"..."

Odynne didn't even tell her the reason.

He just clutched the small emblem at his neck and muttered something like a brief, inaudible prayer.

Eventually, Iyu's face crumpled and she brushed past him. She was about to ignore him and go down when a familiar voice drifting up from below stopped her feet.

A smooth mid-range voice. Kalix.

Iyu's fingertips trembled slightly. That she was more shaken than usual was likely due to the persistent nightmare.

'No monster, but there's something as bad as one.'

Iyu fell into brief contemplation.

Following Odynne's unreasonable demand felt unpleasant, but facing Kalix first thing in the morning seemed more disagreeable.

"Then, I will."

Eventually Iyu turned back toward the room and climbed the stairs again.

Even when she reached the top of the stairs, he simply stood there in a daze.

'This is really strange.'

Now she felt curious rather than upset. There was no way that man could have realized she actually avoided Kalix.

What reason could make him so insistent on sending her back to her room?

Unfortunately or fortunately, her curiosity was resolved as soon as she returned to the room.

Tamia, who had just woken up, opened her flickering eyes wide and urgently held up her notebook.

[Iyu, you didn't go outside like that, did you?]

"Yeah, why?"

Iyu nodded nonchalantly.

She was still in yesterday's clothes she'd slept in, but it wasn't sleepwear, much less a negligee that showed all her skin. Just an ordinary dress, or so it should have been...

Iyu naturally lowered her head. And discovered it. The outfit that had changed dramatically—and scandalously—overnight.

She repeatedly confirmed her own cleavage, exposed by three undone buttons, with disbelieving eyes.

It was a daring state that would only be tolerated by a dancer on stage or perhaps a theater actor.

"Ah..."

After the devastating realization, Iyu quietly raised her head and flopped face-down onto the bed.

It seemed this time she'd have to be the one avoiding Odynne.

After squirming on the pillow for a while unable to lift her face, Iyu jerked upright at the sound of knocking.

"Iyu."

A low voice came from outside the door.

'Wh-what do I do?'

She hadn't even changed clothes yet, and she hadn't decided what face to show him.

As she frantically buttoned her dress wrong while running around the room, he called her again.

"Iyu? I've brought your meal..."

"I, I don't need it! I mean, thank you for bringing it, but Tamia's up too so we'll just go down to eat."

"..."

After a brief silence, footsteps moved away.

Iyu, who'd been wandering around the room, finally stopped still. It wasn't proper behavior toward someone who'd shown her kindness, but...

Yes. He might not want to face her after she'd shown such a shameful state. No, he was celestial, not human—a noble holy knight at that. Even if she danced naked, he'd surely feel nothing.

Having finished rationalizing, Iyu could finally shake off her agitation.

Tamia, who'd been watching her master's bizarre behavior from a distance, held out her notebook as if she'd been waiting.

[You need to change clothes before going to eat.]

"...Right."

Iyu agreed weakly.

Whether they had some device for drying fabric, the clothes she'd sent for washing last night had returned fluffy as new. She put on the shortest tunic among them and wore comfortable leather pants underneath.

With Tamia's help, she properly combed her hair and checked her state several times before leaving the room.

Tamia, perhaps pleased about eating, hopped down the stairs with a rhythmic bounce instead of humming.

Iyu trudged after her while staying alert. Even with all her rationalizing, she still didn't want to face Odynne.

But upon reaching the dining room, she realized there was no chance of encountering him there.

Iyu sat down weakly and stirred her spoon even more weakly. The potato soup and pie looked quite appetizing, but her appetite had already vanished completely.

Above all, word about the 'Savior's' whereabouts had spread overnight, and guests and staff alike were sending stinging glances her way.

Eventually she set down her barely-used utensils.

Belgia, who'd been pouring raspberry juice into Tamia's cup, asked worriedly.

"Doesn't the food suit you? Shall I bring you a different menu?"

"It's fine."

Surprisingly, even after learning that she was not merely a knight or attendant but that very 'Savior,' Belgia maintained her consistently kind attitude.

Even if that consideration had reasons, it was acceptable.

It was better than their stares like prodding an overturned frog with a stick.

However, not long after, even her small comfort vanished completely.

Because Darun came directly to the dining room to fetch her, as he'd announced yesterday.

As the man with even more disheveled red hair entered the dining room, Belgia retreated unnaturally like a broken toy.

The guilty man greeted Belgia and other familiar faces kindly, then approached Iyu's table.

"Did you sleep well?"

Should she honestly say it had been fine but just became very uncomfortable?

Sometimes silence is needed more than truth, so Iyu smiled wordlessly instead of answering.

"You're earlier than I expected."

"Ah, that's..."

Just then, commotion arose from the direction of the stairs. Someone must have announced Darun's arrival—the knights who'd finished arming themselves and Kalix were descending to the first floor.

And behind them appeared Odynne as well. Meeting the platinum-haired man brought the forgotten shame creeping back.

But.

"Everyone's gathered. Let's go to the mansion. Mother is waiting."

The last words snapped her back to attention like cold water.

'It wasn't just a meaningless dream.'

She could guess without much thought why Kelgrida was sending her son to fetch her this early.

The reason and purpose of the pilgrimage. To discuss matters related to the 'darkness.'

"Alright."

Iyu ended her meal without regret and followed Darun out of the inn.

Though she was walking on her own two feet, she somehow felt like a dog on a leash.

No—enduring the stares pouring down with each step, even if not a leashed puppy, she felt at least like a beast caged in a zoo.

Iyu deliberately ignored the eyes glistening with expectation and suspicion.

After enduring that considerably long ordeal, they finally arrived at their destination.

Kelgrida's mansion was located at the highest point in the village, excluding the cliff houses.

Iyu stepped inside the mansion, unchanged from memory. The bright red rug at the entrance, the weapons decorating various places throughout the house—all identical.

The sculpture at the entrance, the shield boasting graceful curves, even the thin blade with its prominent wave pattern.

As she stared blankly at things that blurred the boundary between nightmare and reality, admiration burst out from behind her.

The knights were examining the weapons like excited children, especially the swords. Even Kalix seemed somewhat surprised.

"Are these all your work?"

"Everything at the entrance is, yes."

"The craftsmanship is exceptional."

"Compared to Mother, I'm still quite lacking. It's embarrassing."

Darun scratched the back of his head, bashful at the praise.

They said he'd inherited Kelgrida's talent and his skill was great enough to be a worthy successor—Belgia's enthusiastic explanation hadn't been wrong.

"Sh-shall we go to the drawing room?"

He smiled awkwardly and led the guests toward the drawing room. However, despite his haste, only refreshments and servants greeted them in the drawing room.

"Mother isn't here. She must have been called away by the council members again. I'll go bring her. Please wait just a moment!"

Darun, more flustered than anyone at the invitation without a host, left the room himself, leaving the servants behind.

They waited for Kelgrida for quite some time.

The knights were absorbed in examining the weapons displayed in the drawing room.

Kalix the swordsman was no different. Confirming that he was scrutinizing one of the displayed swords, Iyu quietly stood up. Then she slipped out of the room.

Not to tour the mansion interior she already knew so well.

'It should be somewhere around here.'

Searching for 'something,' Iyu crossed through the deserted gallery.

How much farther did she walk, stepping on light beams entering in square shapes like tiles of different colors?

She found a passage cast in shadow.

'Found it!'