Chapter 85.1
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Chapter 85: I Know My Limits [1]
“What is it that you wish to tell me?”
“I…”
Naya raised her head to look at Linnevia again.
Thousands of words stuck in her throat.
Now, in this moment, she found herself unable to say anything at all.
However, looking at Linnevia’s gentle smile, Naya seemed to glimpse the Linnevia from before—the girl with pink hair. Memories of their time fighting side by side six years ago were vivid.
“Do you still remember Leo?”
A faint light flickered in Linnevia’s eyes.
“Ah, you know him as well?”
Yes, just three days ago, he was killed by my wife.
“Yes, he was my friend. Recently, he went to subdue the Dragon King, but there’s been no news since.”
“He has fallen in battle. Not long ago, his comrades came to pray for him here.”
“I see… so it really happened. People always said it was dangerous to fight the Dragon King, and in the end, Leo failed this time. He once told me about you, saying that if anything ever happened to him, I should come and meet you on his behalf.”
Linnevia’s expression remained calm from the beginning to the ending.
Had she already mourned Leo’s death, or did Leo not hold much importance in her heart at all?
“As long as someone remembers him in this world, his life continues in some way. You seem to have much more to say. Let’s sit down in the consultation room and talk slowly.”
“Alright.”
Naya followed Linnevia to the consultation room. They sat across from each other, with a large window behind Linivea letting in plenty of light. Potted flowers bloomed by the window, casting a serene atmosphere.
Naya found herself unconsciously relaxing.
“Your Holiness, I was once a Hero too. I fought alongside Leo for some time, but then…”
Naya lowered her head and touched her stomach.
“Later, I had my own child, so I stopped adventuring. But the times I fought beside him, I still remember. He often talked about you.”
Based on what Leo had told her, it seemed Leo hadn’t visited Linnevia for quite some time.
Otherwise, why would Leo have told her that Linnevia was still a nun?
Now, Linnevia had already become a Saintess, clearly indicating that Leo’s information was outdated.
Thus, Naya felt at ease making up stories to fill this gap.
“What did Leo say about me?”
“He said you were a beautiful and kind-hearted nun. He told me that just thinking of you gave him the strength to keep pursuing his goals. Your Holiness, this may be a bit forward, but when he spoke of you, his eyes lit up. It seemed as though the two of you shared a deeply intriguing past.”
Using formal titles feels so awkward.
Once, they had been the closest of friends, yet now they spoke to each other from behind masks.
“Yes, four years ago, we were still inseparable comrades. But later, due to differing beliefs, we parted ways.”
“Then, Your Holiness, what were your feelings for him?”
Linnevia pursed her lips and gave an elegant, though slightly awkward, smile, politely refusing to answer Naya’s question.
“Dear guest, your question seems to have crossed a boundary.”
“My apologies… I just care so much about him. When I think that this may be his eternal regret, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion.”
Naya held her chest, her eyes reflecting an apologetic light.
“Regret. Yes, everyone has regrets. Life is woven from countless small and large regrets. But when we learn to let go and look toward the future, we can seize more happiness ahead to make up for the regrets of the past. So, there’s no need to linger in sorrow.”
Hearing Linnevia’s words, a faint smile appeared in Naya’s purple eyes.
How wonderful.
Linnevia becoming a Saintess wasn’t without reason after all.
It was clear that, for Linnevia, their shared past had truly become a thing of the past.
Knowing that Linnevia now lived freely and with a clear conscience was enough to satisfy Naya.
Whatever had happened between Leo and Linnevia afterward, or whatever wrongs Leo may have done to Linnevia, Naya had no desire to investigate further. If Linnevia had moved on, why should she dig deeper?
“You’re right.”
Naya clasped her hands together and closed her eyes.
“Your Holiness, please allow me to observe a moment of silence for Leo.”
She silently counted to thirty.
When she opened her eyes again, the silence had passed, smoothly moving them away from the topic of Leo.
“I actually… have a small worry.”
“Please, share.”
“Well… I’m currently expecting my second child, but the situation seems unfavorable. My partner has taken me everywhere seeking medical help, hoping the child can grow safely. Along the way, my heart has been filled with anxiety.”
“What’s the situation with the child? Is there anything I can do to help?”
“It’s a matter of insufficient nutrition. It’s no trouble to ask for your help, though. I mainly wanted to confide in you. We’ve already found a treatment, and we happened to pass through here, so I thought I’d visit you and fulfill Leo’s last wish.”
“Then, I wish you all the best.”
“Thank you, Your Holiness. I have nothing more to share. With your blessing, I’m sure my children will grow strong and come into this world safely.”
Linnevia nodded and smiled.
“Please wait a moment.”
She stood up, walked over to a cabinet, and took out a white jade pendant, offering it to Naya.
“Take this with you. May it keep you and your child safe.”
“This… that’s not necessary, Your Holiness. Receiving your blessing is already more than enough.”
“You came all this way, how could you leave empty-handed? Please, take it. The birth of new life is sacred and should receive the protection of the divine. This jade pendant contains my healing magic. If one day you face danger, it will help you through it.”
Linnevia gently placed the pendant in Naya’s hands, her eyes filled with deep concern.
It was as if Linnevia herself were the true mother of Naya’s unborn child.
[System, can you analyze this for me?]
[The jade contains a small amount of Earth Vein energy. Based on its structure, it does indeed carry healing magic.”
“Hmm… alright then.”
Naya smiled softly as she accepted the pendant.
“Thank you so much, Your Holiness. I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time, and now for accepting such a precious gift.”
“If you ever have any doubts or concerns, you’re welcome to consult me again.”
“Thank you. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Goodbye.”
Naya left the chapel with Linnevia’s jade pendant.
Outside, Iris and Illya were waiting, bored out of their minds.
“Ding, side quest ‘Return to Humanity, Seek Old Friends’ complete. Reward: Anti-Magic Silver Armor ×1.”
What? The quest is already complete?
Before Naya could question the System, Illya’s cheerful voice called out.
“Mama!”
Seeing Naya come out, Illya excitedly waved her hand.
Forget the quest for now. That armor reward sounds pretty useless anyway. Better go meet up with her wife and daughter—she could ask the System about it later.
As she walked toward Iris, Naya suddenly remembered the jade pendant she had accepted. Would Iris be upset when she saw it?
Naya quickly clenched the pendant in her hands and hid it behind her back.
Iris gazed at Naya’s guilty eyes.
“What are you hiding?”
“Th-this… it’s a jade pendant from Linnevia, for protection.”
As someone from China, Naya had an inexplicable superstition about such things like protective charms.
Since it was a gift from her old friend Lina, who was also a Saintess, Naya found it hard to refuse the pendant.
But it wasn’t that she blindly trusted Linnevia. After confirming with the System that it was harmless, Naya had accepted it.
“Give it to me.”
“Ugh…”
Reluctantly, Naya stretched out her hand and presented the jade pendant to Iris.
Iris picked up the pendant, analyzed it with magic under the sunlight, and found only a simple healing spell. Beyond that, it was just an ordinary piece of jade.
Iris clenched the pendant in her hand, crushing it into powder with magic. Then…
“Phew…”
With a soft blow, she scattered the powder into the wind, along with any trace of Naya’s former lover.
Naya stood there like a child caught doing something wrong, watching as Iris destroyed the pendant, not daring to say a word.
Illya stared in shock.
She could sense the heavy, brooding atmosphere surrounding her Mother, while Naya seemed to revert to a submissive demeanor, as if returning to the time years ago when she would obey Iris without question.
“Let’s go home.”
Iris took Illya’s hand, and Illya took Naya’s.
A family of three, holding hands, left the church.
…….
Inside the church, a woman in white stood behind a tall floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down intently.
Linnevia’s deep eyes were fixed on the pink and white family trio below.
These three creatures—were all dragons.
Why had so many dragons been seeking her out recently?
And that silver dragon even knew about her close relationship with Leo.
What could this mean?
Had her plans been exposed?
Lately, rumors about the dragon race’s schemes against the Kingdom of Dia had been frequent, and the northern Garris Empire was eyeing the kingdom too.
But still, the dragons shouldn’t be looking to deal with her…
Linnevia couldn’t figure it out.
“Akatsukimaru.”
At her command, a pink-furred fox emerged from the shadows. It transformed into a small fox spirit, only as tall as Linivea’s chest.
She turned, raising her hand to grasp the fox spirit’s chin.
“Remember this scent.”
Linnevia lifted the hand that had touched Naya’s body. The fox spirit sniffed and licked her palm.
“Mmm…”
After thoroughly licking her palm clean, the fox spirit rubbed its head against Linnevia’s chest, signaling it had memorized the scent.
“Good. Akatsukimaru, tonight, go and investigate what those three dragons in Gerris City are really up to.”
“Yip yip…”
Linnevia gently stroked the fox spirit’s head.
What mattered wasn’t the jade pendant given to Naya, but Naya’s scent.
Akatsukimaru could track people by scent.
The sudden presence of dragons in Gerris City, and their interest in her, made Linnevia uneasy.
…….
…….
Shino
Thanks for the chapter
The wizard Of SILVER
She smart