Chapter 28: Finally Left! (Patreon)

Heavens! What sins had he committed in a past life to deserve this?!

"Ge... Geuse... Teacher..."

Under Pandora's gaze, he finally forced the words out.

The instant he said the word, Regulus felt something inside him shatter...

"Mm." Though it felt a little strange, Geuse — who had teaching experience — showed no sign that anything was amiss.

"Could I trouble you for a clean sheet of paper and a pen?" Pandora asked, watching the strange bird that had inexplicably collapsed against a nearby statue.

"Of course! Happy to help, Lady Pandora!"

In an instant, the bird shot into the air.

After it flew off...

"Mm..." Pandora looked at Geuse. "Well then — for the second matter, I'll need to ask a favor of you."

"Lady Pandora, are you really not coming back?"

At the estate gate, bright as a white night, Geuse asked, his expression a little complicated, watching the girl before him — a scroll of paper and a letter in her left hand, a lantern held in her right.

Pandora only shook her head.

"No, I still have business to attend to. We'll talk again if there's a chance."

Having declared the lofty ambition of founding "a nation belonging to the Witch Cult," she now had to actually work toward it.

First of all — naturally, that meant traveling the world to scout things out! (Definitely not for sightseeing.)

At the thought, she tightened her grip on the letter in her hand.

"All right... then, Lady Pandora, safe travels." Hearing this, Geuse could only nod.

"Lady... Pandora... take care..."

At that moment, a furious scream tore through Regulus's mind.

[She's not out persecuting people — that alone should count as a blessing from heaven! And she's still worried about what others might do to her?!]

"Mm."

Satisfied with how Regulus had addressed her, she nodded.

After all, she'd just finished settling the matter of his "teacher."

"Well, I'll be off now. I'll send word to the two of you if anything comes up."

As for how she'd send word —

— Welcome to the Great Elior Forest.

As for what to do about Emilia —

— sneak in under cover of night and catch her by surprise.

Mm. A brilliant plan!

"Yes." Geuse bowed in response. "Safe travels."

"Ah... safe travels..." came Regulus's words too, sounding half dead.

"Now, now, Archbishop Regulus, we'll meet again, so there's no need to be so sentimental."

"I..."

Where was he being sentimental?! Where had she even gotten that idea? None of this made any sense...

With that, Pandora said nothing more and turned to leave.

Not long after...

"Archbishop Romanée-Conti..." The strange bird flew out from within the estate. "Where's Lady Pandora?"

A delicate little pouch dangled from its talons.

"Lady Pandora just left. Is something wrong?" Geuse asked, puzzled, watching the bird circle anxiously overhead.

"This..." The bird said nothing more, simply handing the pouch over to Geuse.

"Hmm..." The pouch felt heavy, and the slightest shake set off the clink of metal inside. "Seems like you thought this through carefully. We can still catch up to her now."

After all, she'd only left a few minutes ago.

"Mm-hm..." The bird nodded at that, about to flap its wings. "Shall I prepare rooms for the two of you, my lords?"

After all, the meeting was over, yet Geuse and Regulus were still here...

"No..."

"Yes! Get them ready at once!"

Not only did the two of them answer differently — their moods were worlds apart, too.

Geuse replied politely and evenly, while Regulus looked as though he'd glimpsed "hope of survival"...

"Well then..." At that, the bird landed and scratched its head, unsure how to respond. But just then, it spotted a girl with long platinum hair. "Lady Pandora!"

The moment those words left its beak, the broad smile on Regulus's face froze solid.

"Lady Pandora?" Geuse asked, puzzled, watching Pandora walk back with a smile. "Is there something more you need of your subordinate?"

"No." Pandora shook her head. "I just wanted to ask..."

She paused, then, with everyone watching, her expression turned serious as she beckoned Geuse over.

Geuse blinked in surprise, then walked over to her side, puzzled.

Pandora pointed at a spot on the map spread open in her hands, then looked at Geuse with a bewildered expression.

Geuse nodded and pointed in a direction.

"Lady Pandora, this was prepared for you by that... gentleman."

Since the bird's voice sounded male, Geuse had taken to calling it "gentleman."

"This..." The moment it was in her hands, Pandora knew exactly what was inside the pouch. "Thank you."

She said it with a smile, looking at the bird standing on the ground.

"Lady Pandora..."

The bird only let out a soft gasp before collapsing to the ground, motionless.

"Is he... all right?" She now had reason to suspect Capella had done more to this man than simply turn him into a bird...

"Don't worry, Lady Pandora." Geuse waved a hand.

"Lady Pandora..." By the time the bird came to again...

"This time, Lady Pandora really has left." Geuse's reply came with a hint of amusement.

"Archbishop Romanée-Conti?" Seeing who stood before it, the bird slowly climbed to its feet. "I'll prepare rooms for you both right away."

"No need." This time, before Regulus could get a word out, Geuse cut him off and settled the matter first.

"You elf..." Regulus blurted out at that.

"Per Lady Pandora's instructions..." Geuse simply raised a hand to cut him off. "I am now your teacher..."

"..."

At the thought of Pandora's terrifying Authority, Regulus shrank back.

"Damn it! What are my wives supposed to do?! Without me — without an environment of 'love,' that is — they'll never survive!"

Geuse, though, showed not the slightest intention of paying him any mind.

"Archbishop Romanée-Conti." Just then, the guards who'd been stationed at the gate came out from the estate, Geuse's subordinates trailing behind them.

"Sorry, Archbishop — we dozed off without meaning to..."

Each of them spoke up, sheepish, one after another.

Geuse shook his head.

"It's nothing. We should be heading back now."