6
“ ”
Surprisingly, there was no sound when the widening cracks finally broke.
The red-haired hero disappeared, like light losing form or shattered glass—and in his place, what fell to the white floor was a small, unconscious boy.
The desecrating evil who consumed the memories and names of others without concern.
The Archbishop of Gluttony, Roy Alphard, sank to the ground.
“ ”
He didn’t move in the slightest. It was hard to tell whether he was alive or dead. But the deep wound on his left chest matched Reid’s and was unmistakably a life-threatening blow.
Assuring himself of that much, Julius lowered the blade he had raised in respect, slipped it back into its sheath, and turned around.
The aurora faded, and the six bright spirits gathered around him. They had grown from sprouts into maidens in full bloom. Without their strength, it undoubtedly would have been Julius lying on the white floor.
He needed to convey his gratitude and appreciation for their efforts. However, with his apologies, he would have to postpone that happy moment.
Slowly, Julius walked forward.
He moved toward the dainty woman whose pale, blue-green eyes were watching him. Long, wavy, light purple hair and a pristine white outfit that was wholly at odds with their desert surroundings.
At her feet was a white fox whose black eyes wavered uncertainly. She had been hiding as a scarf all this time, but now she stood on her own. That could only mean…
Julius closed his eyes.
And…
“It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”
He introduced himself, just as he had earlier when challenging the Sword Saint. This time, the feeling in his breast was not the exultation of a warrior going into battle.
But there was one aspect that was unchanged—the boyish spirit of adventure. It felt very much like turning the page on a new chapter in a grand epic.
“I’m…”
As Julius knelt there, she spoke first.
Julius waited for her to finish. He would wait as long as it took. There was comfort in that because he had faith she would say the right words.
“…I’m Anastasia Hoshin.”
“ ”
“I want everything in this world… So, handsome mister, what is your name?”
Even though he was still looking down on bended knee, he knew exactly how she would smile, and how she would cock her head. It was as familiar as the back of his hand.
“Milady,” he answered, still kneeling with his face down. “I am Julius Juukulius. Your knight.”
“ ”
“You may have forgotten. However, I have sworn my blade to you. I will devote all my strength to support your ambition.”
Placing his sword on the floor, he performed a final bow. Then, at long last, he raised his head.
No matter how his master’s eyes looked, he would have no regrets. Getting flustered, appearing stunned, or letting his head hang were not how a knight should act.
His dream was to always put on airs and be uncompromising about appearances.
As she peered down at that Julius, her round eyes narrowed.
“Really? I can’t say I recall, but…but…”
“………”
“The first thing I thought when I saw you…was I gotta have this guy for myself.”
There was a fiery gleam in her eyes. This was the determination to not let go of anything that was unique to his master, the one he had longed for so much. Like a lord and a knight in a fairy tale, it was a sublime scene…
The broken bonds of lord and retainer were renewed on the second floor, Electra. This was the removal of one of the four obstacles that Natsuki Subaru had laid out.
And so the curtain fell on the second floor examination of the Grand Pleiades Library.
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