Chapter 19
“…So this is what you brought back?”
Masha stared at the pile of apples completely filling the temple’s small room, looking absolutely horrified.
Some apples had even rolled out into the hallway.
Yeah, maybe this is… a bit much.
“Well, yeah.”
An hour ago, Esha had finally realized I meant real apples.
After several rounds of confirming questions, she had handed over a huge haul of apples, declaring:
[“Don’t think this settles the debt. I always pay what I owe!”]
A dramatic exit line fit for a villain. I didn’t know “just wait and see” could be used in such a context.
Anyway, since there were too many apples, I summoned Shirin.
With Shirin’s wind power, transporting apples was easy.
He could just float them over in bunches.
There were a lot of apples, sure, but each one wasn’t heavy.
So, having transported all the apples with great enthusiasm, Shirin was now—
—Do you know who I am? The Great Spirit of Wind! The mighty, magnificent Shirin, that’s me!
—boasting to Seraphina about his mighty achievements.
“Apples! Amazing!”
Seraphina was only interested in the apples.
In her tiny hands, she held apple slices Masha had peeled.
One in each hand, nibbling alternately with a focused yom-nom-nom expression.
Of course, she couldn’t eat that much.
Isn’t it bad for kids Seraphina’s age to eat too many apples?
I’d heard it could cause digestive issues.
Maybe that’s why—
“Fueh?”
Her apple feast ended quickly.
Looking devastated, she stretched out her hands and peeked under her bottom as if checking if she had dropped some.
Once she realized she’d eaten it all, she toddled over to me in a little rush.
“I want more appoo-.”
“No. You’ve had enough for now.”
Masha, who clearly had experience caring for younger siblings, was firm. She didn’t waver, even in the face of Seraphina’s chubby cheeks and starlit eyes.
Me?
I hadn’t made eye contact with Seraphina from the start. How could I resist that face?
And of course, Seraphina caught on quickly.
Realizing Masha wouldn’t budge, she toddled right up to me.
“Pwease.”
Ahh…
“Appoo, pwease!”
Her tiny hands clutched together desperately.
As if I hadn’t heard, she repeated it again.
This is driving me nuts.
– Goddess Rudina is appalled by your cold-heartedness.
– Goddess Rudina shakes her head, wondering how you can withhold apples after seeing that.
The divine dust motes had started acting up again.
Oh, shut up.
It’s not like I’m doing this on purpose.
I’m barely holding myself back here.
Apparently, the Marceline apples were perfectly suited to the little saint’s taste.
“It’s time for bed now.”
Seraphina wriggled out of Masha’s grasp—and then, she pulled out the ultimate weapon.
She poked her cheeks with her index fingers, tilted her head, and said—
“Cuuuute face!”
Holy crap.
There’s a limit to how much money can be in your bank account, but there’s no limit to how cute something can be.
I realized that today.
Even Masha, who had been holding strong, covered her mouth with a stifled groan.
Maybe… I could give her just one more?
Just one more wouldn’t hurt…
Wait, hold on a second.
I had already reached for an apple before catching myself.
Seraphina remained frozen in her “cute face” pose.
So adorable it was almost dangerous—but also a little concerning.
Is she doing that because she thinks she has to act cute to get an apple?
She believed she had to earn it with affection.
“…Who taught her that?”
Who told my Seraphina she had to perform to deserve something?
I asked out loud.
POP!
The little wind bird that had been fluttering nearby disappeared instantly.
You little…
Shirin was quickly resummoned and punished.
As my contracted spirit, fleeing was pointless—I could summon him anytime.
Now, with a sign hanging around his neck, Shirin flapped his wings dramatically.
—I used my wind power for selfish personal desires.
He flapped harder as if weighed down by the signboard.
Nice try.
He’s a spirit—not a real bird. He wasn’t really being weighed down.
He’s just supporting the sign with wind underneath. I can see it.
—You’re so cruel! You liked it too! I saw your lips curl up—
“Shirin, dismissed.”
I coldly cut him off like a true villainess.
Then I picked up Seraphina, who was still clinging to my feet.
“You don’t have to act cute to be lovable. You’re already lovely, Seraphina. The reason you can’t have more apples isn’t because of anything you did—it’s just that your tummy might hurt.”
I softened my voice and stroked her hair to ease her worries.
She’d been watching the mood, but now slowly lifted her head.
“Then… can I have more apple tomorrow?”
“Of course. But tonight, how about brushing your teeth and going to bed?”
“Mmh…”
I waited for her to digest her snack a little, then laid her in bed.
She didn’t fuss—just drifted off to sleep.
Her mouth slightly open, soft snores escaping.
A typical child.
But it made me reflective.
Grown-up Seraphina wasn’t like this.
The first time I met her was in the slums.
Even as she eyed me with deep suspicion, she had desperately stuffed the bread I offered into her mouth as if afraid someone would snatch it.
The second time was here, in the temple.
She had just begun awakening her divine powers.
Wearing priestess robes and being called “saint,” she enjoyed her new life, but feared it would vanish like a mirage. She played the perfect saint, terrified she’d be thrown back into the slums if she slipped.
That anxious expression now mirrored the look she had while doing “cute face” for an apple.
I didn’t want her growing up believing she had to prove herself to get what she needed.
When the curse lifts, her memories will return, and she’ll be an adult again.
But while she’s a child—I want her to live in peace.
Because I’m her guardian now.
After ensuring Seraphina was tucked in, I joined Masha in an empty room.
There were things we needed to discuss and confirm.
“I’ve withdrawn all the proceeds from the stock sales, as instructed.”
“Well done, Masha.”
Before the banquet began, I’d sold off all my stocks.
They were political theme stocks, so I dumped them before a crash could hit.
I also took a short position and made a decent profit.
Shorting is risky—it causes losses if the stock price rises. It requires constant monitoring and quick reactions, so I left management to Masha.
“Um… do you plan to reinvest in anything?”
“Nope. I’ll hold onto cash for a while.”
Masha looked visibly relieved.
She’d been overwhelmed by the large sums involved.
But that’s fine. I know the future. I’ll handle the big risks.
Besides, I planned to take a break from the market anyway.
A panic selloff is coming. Prices will plummet soon.
In times like that, holding cash is the best move.
Now, that was enough talk about money.
Time to get to the real issue.
“Lady Marceline seems to have regained some memories?”
“Not all. Just partially.”
Esha wasn’t skilled at hiding emotions. She hadn’t grown up in a world where she needed to.
“Isn’t that… disappointing?”
“Not really. I’m actually relieved.”
Esha had a complex life of her own.
A struggling territory. A noble lady excelling in management despite no formal training.
A father who didn’t value her talents and just wanted to marry her off for profit. A daughter who hid her love for a knight, watching her father’s moods.
Despite her struggles, Esha always stood by her people, looking them in the eyes.
If she regained her memories—she’d rush to help me, no matter what it took.
Because that’s who she is.
“I can’t let someone like that carry my burden too.”
If she were a grifter, I’d have no qualms about using her.
But stealing from someone like Esha would wreck me with guilt.
“Just seeing the possibility that people like Esha might one day remember me is enough.”
It’s enough to help me hold on.
But that didn’t mean I wasn’t curious—
Then who’s the other one?
The person who remembered me completely.
👀