Shini Yasui Kōshaku Reijō to Nana-ri no Kikōshi

Chapter 51: Auguste Ignitia’s Diary

First day of April, 1877

Finally, one of my dragons hatched.

There are no signs that the other two eggs will hatch, and I heard the adults saying that it is an evil omen.

I want to run away from here and hide in the secret room.

By the way, is there really an angel?

(They were written in very small characters at the bottom of the page)

On a certain day in May, 1877

I asked about angels.

The being called ‘angel’ seems cannot be an angel if their true identity is exposed.

I asked for the reason, but it seems that person also didn’t know about it.

So it seems that you should pretend not to notice an angel even if you knew that they are an angel.

In that case, it can’t be helped but to go along with it and pretend.

I wish there was someone who would feign ignorance about my own true identity.

On a certain day in January, 1878

Does a dragon knight who cannot ride a dragon and fly in the sky has a reason to exist?

Then ‘I wonder if an angel that cannot fulfill your wish has any reason to exist’, that person replied.

Isn’t it cowardly to reply a question with a question?

Recently, I always find myself in the cathedral whenever I have bad things happened to me.

On a certain day of June, 1880

I found a small light.

She is a small alchemist who came from the west.

When I tried to tell that person, she said that this is love.

But, why does it feel kind of inappropriate to express this feeling in a single word?

I wish that the star who came from a distant place can become mine now.

(A strikethrough line has been drawn from the top of the description)

☆

Auguste was leaning against a pillar of the cathedral and stood there.

He relied on the few lights that were shining in the dimly lit room and flipped through the pages of the diary in his hand.

Auguste felt a strange gap in his memory after a series of big uproots that took place on the day of the tournament.

He felt a faint discomfort and a deep sense of loss.

Looking for an answer for his unreasonable loneliness that he believed as only his imagination, he reread his diary after reaching a conviction.

“Angels……huh……”

In the diary, there were written discussion about angels, events that took place behind the history, advices on how to connect with the dragons, etc. that he exchanged with a mysterious person.

The name and identity of that person was completely written in an ambiguous manner.

However, when he first read the descriptions such as the history interpretation that felt as if the person had witnessed the events, knowledge of theology, and the events of hundreds of years ago, it felt as if the person was a real angel.

It was absurd.

It would have been more realistic to think that Auguste had an imaginary friend who he created to survive his own difficult circumstances.

But, he couldn’t think that it was just an imaginary friend.

Auguste felt an apparent difference in personality between himself and the person who he wrote about in the diary.

That person sometimes felt like an older sister, sometimes like a teacher, and other times felt like a friend.

She knew things that Auguste didn’t know, and she also took actions that Auguste couldn’t predict.

Surely, there used to be an angel here.

But there was no one here anymore.

A sense of nostalgia and loneliness got stuck in his chest.

Auguste closed the diary, he thought of his friend who he couldn’t remember any longer, and was about to run away towards the empty sky.

“Mrreow~”

A cry of a cat echoed and broke the gloomy atmosphere.

Before he knew it, there was a golden cat near Auguste’s feet.

“Huh? What are you doing alone in a place like this, are you lost?”

Auguste held his hands on both sides of the cat and hugged her.

Whether it was due to exhaustion or because the cat was longer than he expected, Auguste’s face unintentionally broke into a smile.

“You, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere.

Do that person own a cat?”

“Meow?”

The cat narrowed her eyes in a carefree way as she was being held.

She was a charming cat that wasn’t afraid of people.

When he looked carefully, a leather collar was wrapped around her neck.

In front of Auguste, the charms in the shape of a star and a wave that were attached on her collar were swaying.

“Aah, indeed……I thought that I had seen you somewhere before.”

“Mrreow~”

Escaping from his arms like a magic trick, the cat landed on the floor soundlessly.

Auguste looked back on the direction the cat was running towards.

“Greetings, Auguste-sama.”

A girl stood under the bright light falling from the stained glass.

It was the daughter of Duke of Aurelia, Erica.

The light reflected on her golden hair created an angel’s halo.

She had silky white skin as if transparent that wasn’t burned by the sun.

When her eyes met with Auguste’s, Erica smiled faintly.

Her green eyes that were of a shade like shallow waters gave a cold impression even though they were beautiful.

She was wearing a deep ultramarine dress like the night sky which covered her neck tightly.

Her modest appearance that had an austere atmosphere like a nun was in harmony with this place that was called a sanctuary.

“Good afternoon, Erica.”

“You have been keeping my cat company. Thank you very much.”

“It’s because I relatively like cats.

They don’t care about being held, and we don’t know what they are thinking.”

“Ah, I understand that.”

The cat avoided and escaped the hands of Erica which were stretched out as she nodded.

Auguste and Erica smiled bitterly at each other.

Erica was somewhat like a cat, Auguste thought so.

Although she was the one who came close suddenly, if he tried to catch her she would escape as much as possible.

Her wariness was high, and even if at first glance she seemed to be frank, she would never open her heart.

She would never reveal her hand, even when she had the eyes that seemed to see through other people’s heart.

Even though she was surrounded by a lot of people, she seemed to be cut off from those around her.

A mysterious girl who was capricious, unduly distant, aloof, and held some secrets.

For Auguste who refused to live with others, her sense of distance was preferable.

“By the way, where is the golem that is in charge of holding your baggage?”

“I think he will come soon. Because there are his favorite mural paintings over there.”

“How extraordinary, it is a golem with artistic sense huh.”

“Ah……, of course, I just set it to look as if there is a will.”

“Erica is meticulous.”

Despite being a young girl of eight years old, Erica was an excellent alchemist.

Auguste had seen a few golems before, but he had never seen an elaborate one like the golem she had made.

The golem made of star steel that was named ‘Tirnanog’ was moving as if it was alive.

As they were talking about it, Tirnanog emerged with a large leather bag.

There were many magic tools such as wands packed in the bag.

When she noticed the footsteps of Tirnanog, Goldberry who was sleeping by the sculpture near the skylight woke up.

When Goldberry landed on the shoulder of Tirnanog, Tirnanog trembled as if it was frightened.

Auguste seized the back of Goldberry who was jumping around.

“Goldberry, please behave like a lady.”

“Kyu!”

When Goldberry nodded, she landed a few steps away from Tirnanog.

As she walked slowly in front of Tirnanog, she bowed with her wings spread quietly.

Tirnanog also observed her for a few seconds and then lowered its head as if in response.

“Every time I see it, Erica’s golem is clever.”

“Ahaha……the current technology sure is wonderful.”

“Now that we all present, shall we leave?

……Uh, the best place has gone.

If there is a place where Erica wants to go, I will take you there.”

“Yes, please.”

The Island of Messenger where the Advent Festival ended had a somewhat lonely atmosphere.

Auguste liked the unique loneliness after the festival.

I hope Erica likes it too, Auguste walked while thinking such a thing.

He heard something falling behind him.

When Auguste looked back, his eyes met with the cat who was there before he knew it.

In front of the cat, Auguste’s diary had fallen down with the opened pages facing down.

“Meow?”

“Aah, it fell out of my pocket, huh.

I’m sorry. Are you surprised?”

Auguste picked up the diary and casually ran his eyes on the opened page.

He gazed at the page that was supposed to be a blank sheet and stopped moving for a while.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, never mind. Let’s go.”

Auguste put the diary in his pocket and urged Erica.

Only the cat knew that the grief of loss had disappeared from that expression.

☆

The day after the Advent Festival, 1880

Erica and I went around the city.

I can hardly wait for the day when I can see her again.

Apparently, the meddling angel has hidden her figure, but she seems to be still watching the people.

(A description was written on the next page with a handwriting of another person other than Auguste)

You can already fly alone.

Someday, I’m sure your hands will reach the star.