The Cowardly Baby Saint Sees Ghosts - Chapter 65

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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# Episode 65.
A few days later, Demian stopped by the Temple again.
“Your Highness? We weren’t expecting you today.”
“…I was just passing through.”
It was odd how the carriage pulled up precisely to the front gate for someone merely passing through, but my gladness at seeing him outweighed any suspicion.
“What are you up to today?”
“I promised to watch Robin practice swordsmanship today. Would you like to join us?”
“…Robin?”
“Yes, Becky’s younger brother. He’s going to become a Holy Knight.”
Demian’s expression went flat in an instant. What was that about?
“…Do you really have to watch?”
“You said you wanted to watch together!”
“…Well, I suppose.”
It struck me as odd that he was dragging his feet, but I thought nothing of it and led him toward the Training Ground.
Cheese had somehow perched herself on Demian’s shoulder, sitting unusually still and quiet.
When we arrived at the Training Ground, Robin had just finished a bout and was wiping away sweat.
“Ah.”
Robin glanced at me and gave a slight bow.
It was a taciturn greeting, but I’d grown used to it and waved enthusiastically.
“Why does he greet people like that?”
At the disgruntled remark, Robin looked up and only then noticed Demian, his expression shifting into surprise.
“I didn’t know you were here. Your Highness the Crown Prince, I offer my respects.”
“Right.”
Demian’s reply was terrifyingly curt.
“Your Highness, why are you being so stiff?”
“…I’m always like this.”
That was absolutely untrue.
I narrowed my eyes at him, studying his face.
Ignoring his reaction, Robin picked up his sword again and resumed his practice, while I cheered from the sidelines with enthusiasm.
“Robin, go left! Your left side is wide open!”
What does a child like you even know.
Demian muttered from beside me.
“You can do it! Keep going!”
“…It seems to me he’s putting too much force into it.”
Demian interjected abruptly.
“Does Your Highness know swordsmanship?”
“…I know a little.”
“Oh.”
I see.
At my lukewarm response, Demian clicked his tongue again.
‘Why is he like this?’
Robin’s swordsmanship improved noticeably with each passing day, and I wanted to watch it progress, but he kept getting in the way from beside me.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“…It’s just that you keep cheering for him.”
“Huh? Is there something wrong with cheering?”
“…It’s not that there’s something wrong with it.”
His words trailed off uncertainly. I tilted my head, confused.
Now that he mentioned it, in the original story, Robin and Demian had quite a good relationship.
Could he be upset that I was taking for myself someone who would become his right hand in the future?
“Should I cheer for you too, Your Highness? Come on, you can do it!”
I clapped and cheered playfully, and Demian’s face flushed crimson in an instant.
“…Why are you suddenly like this?”
“It looked like you wanted to be cheered for too, Your Highness.”
“No, I don’t.”
His voice cracked. Something was definitely off, but I couldn’t begin to guess what it was.
Robin glanced over at us while wiping sweat from his brow.
When I started clapping again, Demian suddenly moved close beside me.
“…I can actually use a sword too.”
“Huh?”
“I learned a little bit from childhood.”
“……Suddenly?”
“Just so you know.”
The sudden self-praise made me blink. I couldn’t understand what was happening here at all.
“Your Highness, you’re acting a bit strange today.”
“……I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
Robin caught sight of this exchange and let out a quiet chuckle.
It was the kind of laugh that suggested he knew something, but he said nothing and simply adjusted his grip on his blade.
“I’ll continue with my training.”
After that, Robin paid no attention to Demian whatsoever, swinging his sword with even greater intensity.
That composed demeanor seemed only to make Demian more self-conscious.
* * *
In truth, Robin had already caught on. His reaction was obvious enough that nearly anyone would have noticed.
But he chose not to show it, opting instead to focus solely on his sword.
‘No point in meddling unnecessarily.’
With that thought, Robin settled into his stance to face his next opponent.
It wasn’t his place to intervene anyway, and he figured this would blow over soon enough.
No reason to get caught up in the children’s emotional squabbling.
* * *
“……Why doesn’t he even care?”
“Care about what?”
“……Never mind.”
Demian kept stealing glances at Robin, and finally, unable to contain himself, muttered under his breath.
“I can do better than that later.”
“……Yes, yes.”
When I answered half-heartedly, Demian bristled.
“I really can!”
“I know, I know.”
I wasn’t sure why he’d suddenly kindled this competitive spirit, so I simply treated it as childish petulance and gave him a bland agreement.
“So, next time will Your Highness show us your swordsmanship too?”
“……If you wish.”
“Oh, I’m looking forward to it!”
“Really looking forward to it?”
“Of course!”
At my answer, Demian’s expression brightened a little. His shifting moods were curious.
“But Your Highness, don’t you realize that was a bit childish?”
“……What?”
“Well, suddenly bragging about how well you can use a sword, glowering at Robin. It’s juvenile.”
Demian’s face flushed crimson in an instant.
“……I never!”
“Just now.”
“That’s not what it was!”
His denial sounded even more suspicious, but I didn’t press further. I simply decided it must be an odd day and let it go.
Becky, who’d been watching from a distance, drifted over and asked.
“Holy Maiden, why is His Highness acting like that today?”
“I don’t know. He’s been strange since earlier.”
Becky tilted her head in confusion, then suddenly wore an expression of realization.
“……Could it be.”
“Could what be?”
“Oh, nothing. You’ll understand when you’re older.”
With Becky being cagey too, I only grew more curious, but no one would give me a straight answer. It seemed everyone but me knew something. I felt left out.
This is so unfair!
* * *
After training ended and Robin went to get water, Demian remained on the bench with a sullen expression.
Honestly, he wasn’t entirely sure why he was behaving this way.
The fact that Robin wielded his sword well, that Diane seemed delighted watching him—neither of those things was inherently bad. Yet his chest felt oddly tight.
‘……Why am I like this?’
He couldn’t quite tell if he disliked seeing Diane smile at someone else, or if he simply resented not being in that moment himself.
It was too unfamiliar to call it affection, yet too complicated to dismiss as mere concern for a friend.
Every time Diane praised Robin, something sharp pricked inside Demian’s chest.
Part of him wanted to receive that praise instead, and part of him just wanted Diane to look at him and smile like that. It was a strange, unfamiliar feeling.
‘Could it be that I dislike him?’
He didn’t particularly dislike Robin. The boy’s Swordsmanship was worthy of respect, and his temperament seemed decent enough. And yet Demian couldn’t help but notice.
Whenever Diane cried out, “Robin, you’re the best!”, Demian’s hands clenched into fists without his knowing it.
He didn’t understand why he reacted that way. It wasn’t as though he was angry.
‘I want to hear words like that too.’
The thought had barely crossed his mind before Demian shook his head in surprise at himself.
To worry over something so childish.
But what could he do about it? The worry persisted.
Was the heart always this unmanageable?
‘…I don’t know.’
Unable to name what he felt, Demian simply kicked at the ground with the tip of his shoe.
Did adults all know how to handle emotions like this with such ease?
He certainly hadn’t the faintest idea.
* * *
At that same moment, near the Warehouse behind the Temple.
Seria only withdrew the small Obsidian Shard from her bosom after scanning her surroundings several times over.
The shard trembled faintly in her palm. Someone was sending a signal.
‘Ah….’
Seria’s expression hardened like stone. It wasn’t the first time she’d felt the tremor, but it never became familiar.
Her heart always sank with dread.
Whenever this signal came, the same thought always arose.
How much longer would she have to live like this? There was never an answer.
After a brief hesitation, she closed both hands around the shard.
“…I understand.”
Her whispered words scattered on the wind, so quietly that no one could hear them.
From afar came the sound of Diane’s laughter.
Seria stood motionless in that spot, waiting until the sound had completely faded away.
The Temple was a warm place.
That was why holding this shard now felt so unbearable.
Every time Diane laughed, something inside Seria’s heart grew numb.
It was worse because she knew that warmth was real.
Because it was real, she felt that much more sorry.
Seria tucked the Obsidian Shard deep into her bosom once more, and smoothed her expression as though nothing had happened.
Then, toward the direction from which Diane’s laughter had come, she began to walk slowly.
Wearing a mask like a second face, smiling again.
So that no one would notice,
just as she always had.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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