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Chapter 84

In the mansion of the Almadia family in Arkrest Kingdom, an individual with ethereal beauty was preparing for a trip. Her white hair was the color of faded silver and her eyes were an intense crimson; her looks were a miracle among miracles, making her seem otherworldly.

A number of bags were filled with her clothes and money for the journey, as well as her personal belongings. In comparison to these items of hers, there was a massive amount of souvenirs packed too.

This lady possessed a nose bridge that even a master craftsman would not be confident of sculpting in his lifetime, a pair of gorgeous eyes that was unique to this world, and lips that even soul-devouring demons would be embarrassed to touch.

This was Christina, a teenage girl and the fated descendant of those warriors who had slain the Ancient-Celestial Dragon named Dragon.

During the summer break of her school—Galois Magic Academy—Christina had returned to her father’s home, the marquess’s residence. However, she was certain that she no longer needed to remain in this place since she had already greeted her father and stepmother. After a few days in the mansion, she had started making preparations to leave.

Christina was planning to head to Bern village at the northernmost frontier of the kingdom, where she had spent her long spring vacation. Her grandfather had once overseen the development of this village as the main governing figure of the region.

Once Christina arrived at Bern village, she would visit Dran, who had returned to the village, and pass him some souvenirs. After that, she was going to spend the rest of her summer vacation there.

Her time at the Almadia mansion had been nothing but tiresome thus far, with her inscrutable father and blatantly hostile stepmother. The only exception to such an arduous experience was the time she spent with her younger siblings, who regarded her with innocent awe.

「Isn’t it a little rude to be so flagrantly delighted?」

It would not be strange even if Christina started humming with her current unbridled show of joy. In response to her behavior, Nyx warned in exasperation. Presently, this familiar was resting on a perch generously decorated with precious metals and jewels.

This immortal bird had hatched from an egg Christina had bought at a festival stall. She regarded it as part of her family, and they shared memories of Christina’s birth mother.

「It’s fine. We’re the only ones here. Besides, I can finally say goodbye to this place. I should be allowed to be a little happy.」

「This is just temporary, isn’t it? Once you graduate from the Magic Academy, you’ll be summoned back here. Who knows where you’ll be married off to.」

「Don’t say something so horrible, Nyx. Firstly, it’s unlikely that I’ll be sent away as a bride to another household. Even if I’m made a concubine, I’m still a marquess’s daughter. My status and worth still holds. I’ll be hated to the bone by the first lady of the house in this case. If someone tries to take me as a wife, it’ll be hard for them to forge a good relationship with the Almadia family anyway. Any attempt of mine to gain a little power before I’m married will only incur my stepmother’s wrath. That’s why I won’t be made to marry anyone, and I’ll have to stay in this house until I die.」

「I understand, but it’s still an upsetting situation. Even I, your familiar, will end up having to stay here till I die, won’t I? Ridiculous. I was bought as an egg to be cooked, but I wind up being embroiled in a meaningless human relationship and have to be shackled here to death.」

Christina looked at Nyx, who was dexterously using its wings to cover its face like a human would. As it continued with its performance of crying, irritation colored its face. Christina knew that she was the reason for Nyx’s overwhelming human-like behavior. After all, this immortal bird had picked up all kinds of human mannerisms after spending time with her. Yet, Christina failed to hide the annoyance on her face.

「You were the one who started talking about this. Treat this as a lesson. Be careful of what you say in the future.」

「Yeah, fine. I’m just worried about you because I’m your familiar. That’s why I asked in the first place. Anyway, what are you planning to do? You seemed fine with such a situation just a while back. But, right now, you don’t look like you’ll be able to bear with such an arrangement. Isn’t that right? I certainly know this is true about you.」

「Because you’re my familiar?」

「Nope, it’s because we’re family.」

Nyx replied in a solemn tone, its voice not the slightest bit mischievous. Even its face was stern as it spoke. In response, Christina seemed to fall into contemplation.

「Ah, I see. Well, you don’t have to stay with me all the way.」

「That’ll be too heartless of me. We’re friends after all. Hey, Christina. My happiness only comes when I make sure you’re happy too. Otherwise, I’ll feel uneasy. Most importantly, I won’t be able to keep my promise to your mother if you’re upset. So, I hope you can think more seriously about your own happiness.」

「Got it. Well, I’m certainly no longer able to stand staying in this place until I die.」

「I have a solution. Cut your ties with this family and set out into the world as an adventurer. Alternatively, you can try to live in the house of some boy you like.」

「Even if I sever my ties, I can’t erase the fact that my father is the marquees of Almadia. I’ll still be weighed down by such needless burdens. I’m deeply indebted to my father for offering me food and shelter. If I claim such efforts to be a nuisance, I wonder if I’ll be criticized as being ungrateful.」

「You’ll definitely be berated in that manner. Besides, he’s been doing quite well in providing for you, isn’t he? If you really want to avoid unnecessary trouble, you’ll have to leave to a neighboring kingdom or someplace even farther away. How about staying at Dran’s place? Right now, Dran’s a strong candidate to be your lover, isn’t he?」

Nyx was pretty sure Christina was more in love with the idea of love, though he kept this remark to itself. From Nyx’s observations, Christina’s feelings for Dran had yet to reach the point of romantic love.

Christina’s life had turned bleak after the death of her mother, leading her to develop some kind of resignation when it came to relationships with men. The closest male friend she had now was Dran, and he possessed a great influence on her perspective of men. There was a high chance that even the slightest matter could morph these feelings of hers into something more.

「A candidate as my lover? I can’t imagine developing such a relationship with Dran. Though, he’ll probably hum his usual “fumu” and agree to shelter us. Anyway, I’ve already bought so many souvenirs to get into his good books.」

「Oh, will I finally be able to meet the rumored Dran? I’ll have to see if he’s really as wonderful as you make him sound.」

「You’re behaving just like a mother-in-law. I don’t mind, but be careful, Nyx. Make sure you don’t end up being roasted into food by Dran.」

The greatest characteristic of a magical immortal bird like Nyx was its ability to rebirth itself. Regardless of the injuries it suffered, it would be able to be resurrected from flames as long as its soul was intact. This aspect of Nyx had led Christina to treat it as a semi-permanent roasted fowl maker for some time.

Rationally thinking, Christina was pretty sure that Dran would bear similar thoughts about Nyx.

「Eh, what the heck? Well, now I know why you guys get along so well. But, no matter how much you love food, don’t cross the line! Where in the world would someone condemn an immortal bird like me to be a roast bird maker?!」

「Well, there’s Dran and me in this world.」

Christina nodded in complete seriousness to Nyx, who was fuming with anger and indignation. One thing was clear. Such a train of thought was not unlike Dran too.

With this heartwarming exchange between Nyx and Christina, they set out for Bern village with a mountain of souvenirs for Dran and Selina.