✧ʚ .·:¨༺♡༻¨:·. ɞ✧

Caligo appeared in the Duke’s office exactly one week later, just as he had boasted.

“Didn’t I say I could do it in a week?”

Honestly, I thought it would take longer since it was such a complex spell.

His eyes were sunken, suggesting he had struggled to research the appropriate formula.

Whether he found the process rewarding or not, his expression showed a faint sense of accomplishment.

“I believe I asked you to refrain from teleporting into the office.”

“Cut me some slack~ Just this once.”

When Cromwell scolded him for his sudden appearance, Caligo tried to smooth things over with uncharacteristic cuteness.

“Miss, hold out your hand.”

While I was frowning at the unexpected cuteness attack, Caligo spoke to me.

When I showed him my hand as he wanted, the button was placed on my palm.

“I did as you asked—made it so the connection to the spell caster isn’t broken while preventing harm to people nearby?”

The way he explained without taking a breath made it seem like he was emphasizing how unreasonable my request had been.

“How does it work?”

Cromwell asked, and Caligo immediately swept his hand through the air like a man who had been waiting for this exact moment.

The office darkened, and blue particle lights floated in the air.

“Ahh……”

Anastasia bounced in place and babbled, delighted to see magic again after so long.

The aqua-colored particles floating in the air gathered in one place to form a round shape. It was the exact same shape as the button in my hand.

“This is the button.”

Caligo pointed to it and explained.

“The formula I created makes a barrier around this button.”

Suddenly, a complex formula flashed into existence and formed a thin membrane around the button.

“The medium of a spell tries to extend its lifespan when separated from the caster for too long. Disgustingly. Anyway, when that happens, it absorbs the life force from its surroundings.”

The button extended an ominous purple light as if trying to draw power from outside. Then the barrier, which had momentarily disappeared, reappeared and blocked that action.

“This barrier blocks that.”

Caligo tapped the barrier with his index finger.

“Even if the spell has a long duration left, when the caster is nearby, the spell tries to extend that period by absorbing the caster’s lifespan, which I’ve allowed.”

When a purple light identical to the one emitted by the button appeared from outside, the button absorbed it without interference.

“That’s how what you said about ‘the medium glowing when close to the caster’ works. It was easy since I already knew the answer.”

‘Oh…… so that’s how it works.’

In the game, it just glowed when close to the lady and dimmed when far away, so I just accepted it.

Caligo was as expected.

The magic receded, and the room brightened again.

“Now, I’ll take questions.”

“How much of the spell’s duration is left, do you think?”

“It was a one-time spell from the start, so it won’t last long. That’s good news if we’re only thinking about safety, but……”

“It’s troublesome for us who need to find the spell caster. Exactly how much time is left?”

“About two years?”

I looked at the button on my palm.

‘What was I thinking when I chose the spell caster route in the game?’

To think that ‘not lasting long’ means two  years.

Its attempt to sustain itself using life force is, as Caligo said, disgusting.

“Cromwell, what about you?”

“Nothing much.”

Cromwell said.

“It looks easy to lose.”

“That’s your responsibility now.”

Caligo shrugged as if his role was over.

‘I’ll need to keep it safe……’

With a brief resolution, I said,

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“This was nothing for someone like me. This much.”

As a grand mage, he seemed reluctant to admit he had worked hard.

Looking at the time it took and his haggard appearance, it seemed like he had gone through every possible hardship. But since that’s what he claimed, I had no desire to correct him.

“Well, now we have work to do.”

I said, looking at Cromwell.

✧ʚ .·:¨༺♡༻¨:·. ɞ✧

We spent the past two days verifying all the mansion staff.

The verification process involved staff members entering the office one by one, me checking if the button in my pocket glowed, and if I shook my head, Cromwell would dismiss them.

As I suspected, the culprit wasn’t here.

‘I didn’t have high expectations anyway.’

It’s good news that there’s no one in the mansion with enough ill will to want to kill the Cromwell father and daughter.

“Do you have any particular suspects in mind?”

After checking everyone, including the stable keeper and the boy who helped him, the button remained quiet.

Cromwell maintained a thoughtful silence in response to my question.

What started as a ‘moment’ became several minutes, and several minutes became more than ten.

Fearing it might become tens of minutes or even hours, I stroked the sleeping Anastasia’s back and said:

“If you can’t think of anyone yet, maybe later……”

Someone who only breathes and works probably doesn’t have time to make enemies.

“No, there are too many, so I was sorting through them.”

……But Cromwell far exceeded my expectations.

His tone was so calm that I momentarily thought he was joking.

“……Think about it slowly.”

Instead of laughing it off, I swallowed my bitter feelings and spoke.

“I’ll keep the button with me. I can put it in a locket pendant or sew it into a pocket.”

“Do as you please.”

‘A locket pendant would be better.’

Just as I was thinking about shopping with a catalog after a long time, there was a knock.

When permission was granted, Hasson entered.

“A letter has arrived from the temple.”

On the tray the chief butler brought was a white letter. After opening the envelope with the paper knife provided, Cromwell read the letter carefully.

“I need to go to the temple.”

Thankfully, he shared the contents as soon as he put down the letter.

“That means……”

“Anastasia’s blood collection will proceed. The grand temple isn’t in Lasruto, but it’s near the capital, so be careful about safety.”

Considering I was prepared to wait months for a reply, this is a quick response.

“They’re asking us to visit during summer.”

Although I’m not pleased they specified a visiting period after receiving donations, at least they processed things quickly.

“When do we leave?”

With all the preparations, I thought we might go in late June or early July.

“Now.”

Cromwell delivered this thunderbolt news while I was estimating the schedule.

“What?”

“Let’s get it done quickly.”

He nodded, telling me to prepare quickly.

First Summer, Day 12

How could I refuse a sudden long-distance trip?

I knew I wasn’t in a position to do so.

After preparing for the trip, Cromwell and I took the earliest evening train. Fortunately, first-class compartments were available for urgent booking.

From 8 PM until 8 AM the next day, I took care of Anastasia on the train.

♡SYSTEM♡

You have arrived in Lernia!

‘Wow…… this actually works.’

That was my impression upon arriving in the holy city of Lernia.

I had many concerns about traveling with a baby, not just adults.

Indeed, the new environment of the train seemed unfamiliar to Anastasia, who cried on and off all night.

‘I might have died without Cromwell.’

Whenever I was about to get exhausted, Cromwell would comfort Anastasia for me.

“We’ll go to the temple in the afternoon.”

Cromwell announced upon arriving at his villa in Lernia.

After sending a letter notifying the temple of our arrival, Cromwell instructed me to rest until then.

Perhaps the journey had been too much for her small body, as Anastasia just slept after arriving at the villa.

Time passed quickly as I sprawled on the sofa.

‘I should leave this behind.’

Before going to the temple, I put the button I had brought in a jewelry box.

I didn’t want to experience a medieval witch hunt here.

If mages dislike dealing with spells, the temple wants to eradicate the very existence of spells.

They are wary of anything that deviates from God’s will and are horrified at the mere sight of anything similar.

Even if I didn’t cast it myself, carrying an object with a spell on it would be enough for me to be burned at the stake.

“A spell caster would have to be crazy to enter and exit a temple.”

I probably won’t need it anyway.

“Are you ready?”

Cromwell’s voice came from outside the door. I closed the jewelry box and went out.

Lernia, which rode on its reputation as a holy city while also serving as a resort for nobles, was as beautiful as the game graphics.

The temple on the mountainside had very poor accessibility. It was difficult even by carriage, but we finally arrived.

“Thank you for making the long journey.”

The priest guarding the temple entrance welcomed us as though no lengthy explanation was needed.

“Thank you for receiving us.”

“If it’s Duke Cromwell, we should always make time, shouldn’t we?”

She’s acting like she’s doing us a favor after eagerly accepting donations.

I inwardly clicked my tongue and checked the priest’s profile window.

♡PROFILE♡

Name: Philippa

Viewing Level: 5

Occupation: Grand Temple Priest

Favorability: Please raise your level to view favorability.

Special Notes: Please raise your level to view special notes.

In Wellem, level 3 is enough to view most people’s profiles.

‘How do I raise this level?’

Seeing a profile marked private after so long makes me stubborn.

“So this is Anastasia.”

Priest Philippa, who greeted Anastasia with a gentle smile, led the way as if telling us to follow.

‘I’ve been to the grand temple many times too.’

I walked down the corridor I had often traversed in the game.

Brilliant light created a sacred atmosphere.

‘If you go that way, it’s the Saintess’s room.’

I had chosen the Saintess route after hearing that a Saintess could never marry in her lifetime. But in the end…….

Well, let’s stop here. It’s getting depressing.

After walking down the corridor for a while, I entered a room I had never been to in the game.

There were two more people inside.

They wore the white robes I often saw in the game, but judging by the gold thread embroidered on their shoulders and chest, they seemed to be important figures, and

‘It’s Saintess Letitia……!’

They really were important figures.

When I took the Saintess route, she was the lady’s predecessor. She was like a mentor.

They’re certainly giving us our money’s worth.