3 bar menu

83. Golem Fortress

She stopped at a corner of the hallway and opened a creaking door to a small guest room. It was simple but equipped with the minimal necessity of a bed, table, and chair.

「We can use this place. Geli heard that when girls get together in their pajamas, they talk about cosmetics and love. We’ll do it at night.」

「I didn’t know there was such a culture… So, are you going to tell us?」

Shizuku naturally pressed about the fact that Angelina kept quiet about Vita Tama being her hometown. Angelina started talking as if understanding that’s exactly what is being asked of her.

「Before Geli explains that, she has a favor to ask of you two first.」

「A favor?」

「Geli knows she can’t ask the two of you to lie to Skill Lender-san. If you are asked about it, you can tell him everything. But if he doesn’t ask, Geli would like you two to keep what you are about to hear to yourselves.」

「And what is that?」

「Geli has 1,100 years worth of memories, though most of them are related to research.」

「T-Thousand……!?」

Angelina took out an old book.

The title engraved on the leather cover was『Outline and Inheritance of the skill [Glittering Millennium Tree」』.

「Geli will tell you everything. Geli will surely tell Skill Lender-san someday as well, but first to the two of you.」

……………….

………….

…….

「I understand that it is not something that would be detrimental to my master. I do not mind if you choose not to disclose it.」

Koe answered first after listening to everything Geli had to say.

「Thank you. Geli feels relieved hearing Koe-san say so.」

「However, I have a doubt. If that is the case, I think it would be better to talk to master. I am sure he will cooperate.」

「Geli thinks so too. Even though the look on Skill Lender-san’s eyes is bad, he is certainly kind.」

「If that’s the case, then–」

…Angelina suddenly straightened her posture and turned to Koe.

「Are you absolutely sure?」

「What do you mean by absolutely?」

「Are you absolutely certain that Skill Lender-san will not kick Geli out because he finds her troublesome or dislikes her. Can you absolutely swear by both heaven and earth that that won’t happen?」

「That’s……」

「Geli apologizes for sounding threatening. Geli knows that the possibility of that happening is low, but that’s just how important it is to Geli. Geli absolutely doesn’t want to be hated by that person.」

「I understand. I do not mind.」

「What about you, Shizuku-chan?」

Shizuku simply nodded in response to Angelina’s question.

「Needless to say, we never talk about people to other people. Speaking behind someone’s back is not something a werewolf does.」

With Koe and Shizuku’s consent, Angelina took a deep breath and sat down in a chair.

「That’s reassuring. After all, Geli is shy and not good at talking, so if the three of you pressed her, she won’t be able to make up excuses. It’s already a great help having the two of you not prying too closely.」

「You are shy and not good at talking?」

「Koe-san, stop asking questions with a straight face.」

「I haven’t managed to organize everything yet… but for now, let’s prepare for the enemy attack. The Knights Order might be coming after us at this very moment.」

Angelina said nothing to Shizuku as she got up from her chair.

「Oh, don’t worry. They are already here.」

「……Huh!?」Shizuku.

「The enemy attack is already here. Right now, in front of the main gate and on the west side.」

When Shizuku hurriedly opened the curtains, she saw the area outside had already turned into a battlefield. The streets were filled with a crowd of low-ranking knights in red armor. And the opposing side was “stonewall”.

「The stone walls are fighting…」

「Why do you think Geli brought the two of you here? Even though there were things that shouldn’t be found out which could have been found out. There’s even a diary here that Geli wrote when she was little.」

「……I wonder why.」

「Since Skill Lender-san said that he would entrust the two of you to Geli, she thought that no matter what might be found out, she should protect the two of you in the safest possible way. And so we are here.」

The Emesmes family has been practicing alchemy for generations. Angelina asserted that if that’s the case, then there is no way that the Emesmes mansion, where they live, is an ordinary mansion.

「Golem Fortress. That is the common name of this house.」