Chapter 157 - Signal Fire
"Do you remember, Philia? When I received baptism from you, it was also in the middle of the night."
As I reminisce, I peer into Philia's eyes.
Her blue eyes are hollow, lacking focus. Even though my face is right in front of her, her gaze is fixed on something that isn't me.
What is Philia seeing right now?
The corners of her mouth are smiling slightly; is she seeing something incredibly pleasant in her vision?
I take Philia's hand and lead her toward the outskirts of town.
Our destination is the harbor. That place where I fought Philia—there are no people there, and above all, there is a massive amount of water.
Since Erin is a mage who specializes in the Fire Attribute, it will be more convenient in many ways to fight by the water.
...While holding a woman's hand, I calmly devise a combat plan. If I were the simple-minded boy I used to be, I wouldn't have been able to perform such an act. I would have been stiff with tension, my mind going completely blank.
I wasn't able to grow in the way Philia desired.
I learned about women while still in my teens, and my physique is that of a fully grown man. My beard isn't thick, but it isn't thin either.
The Boy Hero that Philia was obsessed with is nowhere to be found. Such a thing has vanished with the passage of time.
And yet, Philia remains unchanged from those days.
Did I cause this woman's life to go astray?
Suddenly, such a thought crosses my mind.
If she had never met me, she might have been living a quiet life as a nun in some rural church.
She might have had a mediocre life as a priest, finding joy in prayer, labor, and teaching children how to read and write.
"...What am I thinking?"
There is no use thinking about "if" possibilities.
I shake my head to shift my mindset and decide to quicken my pace slightly.
＊ ＊ ＊
Upon arriving at the harbor, I first had Philia sit down.
Then, I fired a light bullet toward the night sky with all my might.
Arrows of light ascended into the sky, flickering and blinking. It looked like a modest display of fireworks, and since I had imagined a slightly more flashy scene, it was a bit of a letdown.
"...The light intensity is insufficient."
I have no choice but to concentrate magic into my palm and generate Divine Sphere.
Philia sat beside me, staring blankly at the magic that had once burned her to ashes in the past.
Come to think of it, both the light bullet and Divine Sphere are spells I learned from Philia.
The moment a spell is mastered, its properties are explained in one's head. However, that only happens once.
It is said that no matter what, one cannot become a first-rate user without receiving guidance from a skilled practitioner.
Philia taught me magic constantly, just as an older sister might teach a younger brother—or perhaps as a parent teaches a child.
Though, I think it was a bit excessive how she would cling to me from behind as if hovering over me, providing hands-on instruction.
It sounds foolish, but back then, I used to think, "She's an older sister with a very close proximity."
I understand now, but that was clearly an expression of romantic feelings.
"Seriously, there really was an incredible High Priestess, wasn't there."
While reflecting on the past, I release a massive sphere of light.
A torrent of immense light and heat, as if another moon had appeared in the night sky.
I squinted my eyes slightly, and Philia crouched down, covering both eyes.
The sphere of light continued to illuminate the sky for a long time, emitting light for well over five minutes.
Eventually, it burned out and was swallowed by the darkness as if nothing had happened.
...All that's left is to wait for Erin to come.
I silently sat down and crossed my legs.
I turned my eyes toward Philia, who was sitting beside me.
A beautiful woman of a certain age, wearing a cardigan over a loose white one-piece dress. She had an atmosphere like an upper-class woman who had come to the sea incognito.
In fact, it is said that if one traces Philia's lineage back, it reaches the Nobility, so she is indeed an upper-class woman.
She is different from me, a mere commoner, from birth, and one could even say she is the polar opposite of Elsa, who rose from being a Slave.
Philia and I were not a good match... in every sense of the word.
It was probably inevitable that we would not be together.
As I stroked Philia's head while telling myself this,
"Meow,"
A cat's meow sounded.
Following that, two glowing yellow eyes floated dimly in the dark night. Pupils dilated to the extreme stared intently at Philia.
It was a cat with pitch-black fur that completely blended into the surrounding darkness.
...Erin's Familiar is a Black Cat.
I quietly stood up and lowered my center of gravity deeply. A posture ready to pounce at any moment.
Covered by Concealment, I am not recognized even by Erin or the Black Cat. To them, only Philia is visible.
...Come.
Even though there is no way the opponent could notice me, I find myself holding my breath instinctively.
"...I've come to pick you up."
A girl's voice can be heard from the direction of the cat. The voice quality is still innocent, but the tone is strangely calm, like an adult's.
Convinced that the prey has been caught, I generate a Light Sword in my right hand.
"...Philia, stand up."<
A rustling sound of footsteps.
From within the darkness, a small figure clad in a robe appears.
On her head is a pointed, triangular hat with a form that looks exactly like a witch's.
There is no mistake, it's Erin.
Her youthful standing posture is exactly the same as when we fought together.
However, the magic dwelling within her is on a different scale; if she felt like it, she could likely annihilate this town.
She is an opponent that would be troublesome if she went on a desperate rampage.
That is why, a surprise attack.
I leaped up soundlessly and, with the first strike, severed Erin's head.
There was a definite sensation of cutting through a mass-bearing object.
Behind me, Philia let out a short scream.