Chapter 11: Diligent Yet Helpless Morning (Patreon)

"Archbishop Regulus will be coming again tomorrow, won't he?" Seeing the confused looks on their faces, Pandora smiled and explained.

At that, Fortuna's eyes went wide.

"So you already knew I'd come find you, and ask this of you?"

Honestly, when she thought about that white-haired man coming again, she'd felt a flicker of relief that Pandora hadn't left.

If Pandora had gone, their settlement might have ended up flattened in an instant…

"Mm, that's right." Fortuna's dawning realization was deeply satisfying to Pandora. "But that's only because I'm a superior who cares about her subordinates — not because I wanted to earn your trust."

After all, she'd felt a pang of real sorrow reading the novel's account of Fortuna and Geuse — and now that she had the chance to change things, of course she would.

"What kind of answer is that…" To think she'd never even meant to earn her trust in the first place…

"Besides, isn't that Regulus your subordinate too…" As she said it, Fortuna trailed off on her own.

The moment she compared Regulus to Geuse, the difference became obvious.

What kind of subordinate calls their superior a "stinking woman" to her face, or "kills" their superior's own men…

"All right, don't overthink it. Since the reason you came here was already accomplished before you even arrived, please go be with Geuse now." At this, Pandora shook her head. "Miss Fortuna wouldn't want to leave him alone in an empty room, would she?"

"Ugh…" At that, Fortuna only sighed. "Are you really a witch?"

"Yes. The Witch of Vainglory." Pandora nodded, unusually serious.

"Fine, fine, Lady Witch…" As if teasing her, Fortuna rose to her feet, then turned to Emilia with an almost pleading look. "Lia, I'll leave you in her care tonight…"

She said it with another sigh.

"Mm."

It was just looking after a little girl — what could possibly go wrong?

— A few hours later

"All right, the mini spirits need to rest too…"

"But just a little longer, okay?"

Watching Emilia play with the mini spirits without pause, Pandora took back the thought she'd had just a moment ago.

Kids, huh — she really wasn't cut out for this…

"Well, I'm going to sleep first." Pandora knew Emilia had already napped that afternoon, sleeping clear through until dinner, so she didn't press the matter further.

"Mm-hm, good night, Sister Pandora." Emilia nodded, then went back to chatting with the mini spirits.

Strange — why did it feel like something kept wrapping itself around her?

"Uh…" By the faint morning light seeping in from outside, Pandora finally made out the situation.

[An octopus…] She'd been latched onto by an octopus…

"Mr. Micro Spirit… so nice-smelling…" Emilia, arms wrapped around Pandora, muttered sleep-talk under her breath.

"Since when did I turn into a mini spirit…" It left her not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Still, she noticed something — even held in a girl's arms like this, she felt nothing but calm and ease, no other emotion stirring.

[Probably because Emilia was still just a child at this point.]

The thought crossed her mind unbidden, but…

As someone who proudly flew the banner of "l0l!s are supreme," she had actually… what a failure!

"Mm…" Seemingly woken by Pandora's words, Emilia blinked her eyes open groggily. "Morning, Sister Pandora…"

As she said it, she suddenly sensed something was off.

"Sorry… sorry…"

Pulling her "claws" back, Emilia hurried to apologize.

"It's fine." Pandora just shook her head. "Go back to sleep a while longer."

"Okay — but what about you, Sister?"

"I think I'll go for a walk."

"I want to come too! I want to come too!"

In an instant, the still-drowsy Emilia bolted upright.

"I'm sorry, but you can't go outside until I've gotten permission for you."

"Wh... why?"

"Because that scary big brother from yesterday could show up again anytime today."

"Uh… okay, I understand…"

Just thinking about yesterday's white-haired "violence maniac" made Emilia shiver.

[Creak]

Opening the door, Pandora looked at the birds singing in the green trees outside and broke into a satisfied smile.

[This place… is basically paradise!]

No worrying about whether there'd be enough to eat, no puzzling over what tomorrow's exam might cover.

Oh no, oh no, she was getting lazy… what was she going to do…

"Hey…" Before closing the door, Pandora looked back at Emilia sitting on the bed. "Until I get back, how about Mr. Micro Spirit keeps you company?"

As she spoke, colorful points of light swirled around her fingertips.

"Mm-hm!" Watching the glittering lights, Emilia nodded vigorously. "Thank you, Sister!"

[Creak]

Stepping out and closing the door behind her, Pandora realized — quite a lot of people were already up.

Were they all out hanging laundry?

"Ha~ Lady Pandora, good morning…" Just as she was looking around, puzzling it over, a voice sounded beside her.

"Good morning, Roche." Pandora waved back in reply.

"What is it?" Seeing that Roche kept staring at her, Pandora felt a bit puzzled.

"Uh…" Roche snapped back to herself at the question, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes in embarrassment. "It's nothing…"

Should she tell Pandora she'd been staring at her, lost in thought? That would be way too embarrassing!

"What are you looking at, Lady Pandora?" Feeling Pandora's gaze on her, Roche hurried to change the subject.

"Is it like this every morning?" Not quite understanding what was going on with Roche, Pandora let it drop and instead pointed at the scene not far off.

"No, it's only like this when Lord Geuse and the others bring supplies." Roche nodded. "Other times, people get up a bit later."

"I see…"

So that meant yesterday, since Geuse had brought books and clothes, the elves had washed them and were now out hanging them to dry…

"This should really have been finished yesterday…" Roche spoke up again. "But yesterday was Lady Fortuna and Lord Geuse's…"

"Mm…"

So it had been delayed because of the "wedding celebration"…