Ah, oh... I have something to ask you. But calling me "teacher"...
Can't you just stop it?
I'm really embarrassed. We've both grown up, but you still cling to that title from the past.
"Just Eirin is enough."
"But if I call you that..."
Lucilion looked at me and pursed his lips with a meaningful expression.
"I don't think I can handle it, do you mind?"
"Handle? What are you handling?"
Well.
The smiling voice made my body stop. The way he spoke was friendly, and his voice was kind, but I felt a little shiver down my spine.
"If you're my teacher, nothing will change, and you can stay that way."
...
"My "teacher" is someone I must serve, so nothing bad happens to them."
As I couldn't immediately understand Lucilion's words, my eyebrows naturally furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"I was wondering if I could really call my teacher, Eirin."
...Isn't there anything you can't do? You've been acting a little strange lately.
When I furrowed my brow, Lucilion smiled softly and leaned in, lightly holding my hand.
His body was right in front of me, sitting on the couch.
"Eirin."
Lucilion softly opened his mouth. A name whispered in my ear, close to me, somehow gave me a creepy feeling.
"Eirin."
...Why...?
Lucilion, who was right in front of me, seemed quite tired.
The area under his eyes was a little puffy, and there were slight wrinkles around his eyes, as if he were tired.
"I missed you."
Lucilion tilted his upper body a little more and lightly rubbed his forehead against my shoulder as he sat down.
"I missed you too."
Really?
He seemed satisfied with my response and asked. I nodded, and he reached out to me. He joined our hands and interlocked our fingers.
"Eirin."
...Why...?
"I'll call you Eirin."
Lucilion's words suddenly became shorter. While I was embarrassed by the discomfort, he approached me.
He put his lips near my neck. Although he didn't touch the skin directly, his breath felt very hot.
"It means I won't hide this desire."
Luci...lion...?
What is this again?
When I looked at Lucilion with a completely pale face, Lucilion finally retreated neatly as if he had never done anything like that before.
Our lips hadn't even touched, but the warmth of his breath still lingered on my neck.
"You..."
"Eirin."
...
"You gave permission. Didn't you?"
Lucilion smiled and then sat on the couch in front of me as if nothing had happened.
So, what brought you here?
Oh? That...
What just happened a moment ago?
Feeling embarrassed, I pressed my neck and furrowed my brow.
Still, I felt like what had just happened wasn't real, so I shook my head as hard as I could.
In front of me, Lucilion acted normally as if nothing had happened.
"Oh, that's..."
"Yes."
He replied kindly, with the same friendly expression as always.
"I need something called the Verdant Mirror... I was wondering if you know about it."
"Verdant Mirror?"
Lucilion slightly furrowed his brow. He seemed to think for a moment and then shook his head.
"I've never heard of it. Where did you hear about it?"
"When I asked Uncle Chronos about it, he said it's a sacred relic passed down from generation to generation..."
Oh, I haven't received anything.
"Uncle said you didn't because you didn't officially become a high priest."
"The former high priest is probably already dead, so there's no place to find him."
He casually said what I couldn't tell him.
Still, I thought he might feel uncomfortable because someone he knew had passed away.
"Why?"
Lucilion looked at me and smiled.
"I thought you didn't know that the high priest was dead."
"Of course, I've known he's been dead for a long time. There were even requests for memorial services."
Oh, he had been the high priest, so I suppose he could have contacted him for that kind of courtesy.
"Of course, I declined."
"Oh?"
"How can I, in good conscience, pay respects to him when he indulged in luxury and pleasure with the money you gave him?"
I scratched my cheek as I looked at Lucilion's shrugged face.
"I gave him money."
"Of course."
"If you're paid for it, you should do it properly."
As I muttered softly in regret, Lucilion chuckled.
"Anyone who did that wouldn't have accepted money in the first place."
"What?"
"It's nothing. I think I should look for the Verdant Mirror."
Lucilion smiled and said as if nothing had happened.
"Can I go to the prayer room today and check it, then come to see you tomorrow?"
"Yes, that's fine... Aren't you busy? I heard you were gathering believers."
"It's been resolved to some extent. I think we'll have to wait for the rest to spread and gather naturally."
Lucilion replied with a smile.
I don't know if that's a white lie for my sake or if it's genuine. But I was a little afraid to ask.
"Thank you, then... I'll accept your kind cooperation."
As I slowly got up from my seat, Lucilion also stood up with me.
"If you're so scared, what should I do?"
"I'm not scared."
"The way you tremble makes you look like a rabbit about to be eaten."
I blinked at Lucilion's blunt words, and he chuckled softly.
"It's okay, I won't do anything until you give me permission."
"If I give you permission, what will you do?"
"At that moment... because I got permission."
Lucilion's expression became brighter. It couldn't be more beautiful than this.
If an angel descended from heaven, they would definitely have that expression on their face.
"Do you like me?"
"Didn't you know?"
"What?"
"I don't take risky ventures like recruiting 100,000 followers for someone I don't like."
"That's between friends..."
Lucilion smiled slightly and shrugged at my words.
"I consider Enosh a friend too, but I wouldn't do for him what I did for you."
"...Since when?"
"The day my teacher saved me for the first time."
Lucilion leaned in and brought his face close to mine.
"From that day on, I was already yours. I told you, you're my teacher."
How would I know that's what that title meant?
"I have no intention of pressuring you, but... I think there was someone who waited for me while I was away."
The corners of Lucilion's eyes were rounded.
"I didn't feel well."
"Who waited...? Oh."
Are you talking about what happened with Richard? But that happened yesterday. How does Lucilion know about it?
"I'm sorry if I caused you trouble."
Lucilion obediently delivered an apology.
"Eirin."
"Yes...?"
"If I confess, will you reject me so coldly?"
In the face of Lucilion's direct words, my mind went blank for a moment. When I pursed my lips, Lucilion smiled slightly.
"I put Eirin in trouble."
That's right because I can't say anything when I hear something like that head-on.
"I'll take you there."
"Oh? No, it's fine..."
"Because I want to. Why not?"
The corners of his eyes were drooping, and his voice, murmuring like a dejected puppy, even contained sadness.
I was speechless, so I slowly shook my head.
"No, it's okay. Come with me."
When I reached out my hand, Lucilion quickly took it. He left the room with a smile on his face, as if he had never seen such a gloomy expression.
"Eirin."
"Yes?"
"You can believe what I say."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"I am under God's protection, so the power of the Star Guardian won't work on me."
My eyes widened at Lucilion's words.
"So, you can honestly believe what I say."
"...Why are you suddenly mentioning that?"
"Eirin..."
Lucilion looked at me and cautiously opened his mouth.
"I'm afraid you can't trust people."
"..."
"I was a little worried about that."
Do they even know that I doubt for a long time when I hear someone's words?
I've never mentioned it to anyone. I've never let anyone know.
But there was underlying anxiety.
If you suddenly become kind like the family from that world and then say it was all a lie...
If I hear those words from my family now, I swear I won't be able to bear it and I'll collapse.
In my life, despair has never been far away.
Despair has always been close to me.
And I have a Star Guardian who is always looking for that moment.
"Eirin."
"Yes."
"You're the only one authorized to use me. So don't worry."
Lucilion, holding my hand tightly, pursed his lips.
"I will remove everything that stands in your way."
The voice he added was very firm, so I nodded without even realizing it.
The way back with Lucilion was very calm and silent, but I felt anxious.
