Ch 206
Acting Tower Master Demier.
She was quite engrossed in the object before her.
Even though Melthas, her subordinate, Pallag, the former Tower Master, and even Lumiere, her Master and the true Master of the Grey Tower, opened the door and appeared before her, she did not even notice; her concentration was truly extraordinary.
The engrossed Demier readily praised that wondrous existence.
“Ah… this is the last rainbow… what should I do… what should I do… will I be able to endure until this time next week…? Can I spend that eternity without this beautiful rainbow…? Shouldn’t I stop now!? Think about it, Demier ━ if I slowly share this last one over the remaining four days… it’ll be agonizing! I know! But still, it’s better than nothing!?”
With her eyes closed, the owner of that monologue was undoubtedly that of an innocent and lively girl.
A girl in the prime of her youth, blooming like a vibrant flower!
Who would think that such a girl is the Acting Tower Master?
Who would think that such a girl is a clone modeled after the youth of the Wandering Star?
Moreover, the girl had a more mature appearance than Lumiere currently did.
At that sight, Melthas and Pallag were experiencing extreme cognitive dissonance.
And, if there was anyone greatly shocked in that place, it would be none other than Lumiere.
“Ah~ If I could give up being the Acting Tower Master and become someone who makes cakes like this, how happy would I be?”
Uh-oh-
At that shocking statement, Pallag and Melthas watched Lumiere’s nunchi.
She, too, hastily opened her mouth, at her ever-increasing embarrassing history.
“Demier.”
“Hiya!?”
Demier, whose mind was completely fixated on the rainbow cake before her, let out a startled cry and stepped back.
Her two arms, clinging tightly to her upper body in surprise, were truly adorable.
“Wh-who dares to enter without knocking-… Oh?”
Three expressions flashed across Demier’s face in that short moment.
Oh my! A girl.
Who dares to enter my office without permission! Acting Tower Master.
Lastly-
Oh, you are? An obedient creature.
“M-Master!!!”
Demier widened her eyes and covered her mouth with both hands.
“Ah…!”
At that moment.
Demier let out a sound as if something had come to mind.
Her expression gradually became clouded with anguish.
“Demier?”
Lumiere focused all her attention on the creature’s actions.
She could be certain.
This flow.
The creature’s next action would be a confession.
How did a creature modeled after the Master’s youth come to this state!
She would confess her unavoidable circumstances from now on.
Lumiere interrogated the creature with a stern gaze.
Then, soon-
The creature, after making a great decision, squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
“M-Master, I’ll give you…!”
What would she give?
A journal recording the shocking inside story up to today?
The creature held it out to Lumiere.
It was a plate with the rainbow cake she had just praised endlessly.
The last remaining piece!
Her body trembled, showing how much she regretted giving it away.
Tears seemed about to fall from her tightly closed eyes.
To give it away without hesitation, despite cherishing it so much!
It was a moment when the creature’s love for her Master was clearly revealed.
Demier.
Along with the fact that some kind of problem occurred during the creation process of that doll, modeled after the youth of the Wandering Star.
“…”
A wry chuckle escaped the Tower Master’s lips.
She took the cake plate offered by the creature and said.
“Demier. Shall we eat together? I’ll prepare some tea━”
“To, together? To eat rainbow cake with Master…”
Demier.
Until recently, she had been burdened with pressure.
It was the guilt of not having fully completed the mission and responsibility entrusted to her by her Master.
At that time, Demier often thought.
If I meet Master again, what should I do?
Should I make excuses?
Should I ask for forgiveness?
No way.
She simply intended to accept everything, bearing it all.
The image her Master wanted, the image she wanted.
As the Acting Tower Master.
But now.
Demier was free from all the pressure that had been weighing her down.
Since Master entrusted her with the Tower.
The Tower was experiencing an unprecedented boom.
“Okay! I’m so happy!”
Therefore, the creature could comfortably reveal her true form.
The deep fatigue and dark circles that had been forcibly added to her youthful face to give it a seasoned look had now faded.
The creature-
The girl made a bright smile befitting her age.
It was an expression that the past Demier would never have been able to make.
『★★★ : Eating rainbow cake together with Master and Lisir!!!』
It was the moment when a part of the creature’s cherished wish came true.
✦✦✦
“Demier. Eat slowly. That rainbow cake? I can buy you as many as you want.”
“But, Master! Rainbow cake is a limited menu only sold on the last day of the week! I had the same thought as Master, but I could only enjoy this joy once a week because of that reality…!”
“You were going to share that cake with me?”
“Lumiere-nim is my one and only Master!”
Yum!
Demier, looking at her Master, put a fork in her mouth with a happy face.
“But, you already ate all the cake you were going to share?”
“Yes? Oh! What should I do! I didn’t know!!! I’m sorry, Master…!”
Pallag, who had been watching their conversation from the side, said.
“In that case, we’ll have to stay at the Tower until the last day of the week when they sell that cake. Don’t you think so, Lumiere?”
“…”
Lumiere was confused.
Let’s say the change in Demier, the creature, is understandable.
But Pallag-
Why did that grumpy old man suddenly change so much?
It was as if the shadows that had been ingrained in his body had suddenly disappeared.
And, that wasn’t just true for Pallag.
Entering Bondales-
And after looking around the Tower, she felt.
It had brightened.
Lumiere was receiving such endless impressions from them.
Of course.
It wasn’t a bad feeling, despite the confusion.
How could it be otherwise?
“Demier.”
“Eh? Ah, yes! Master!”
The creature hastily replied, wondering if she could scrape the remaining cream from the bowl in front of her Master.
“How old are you this year?”
“Fourteen! It’s the precious identity you gave me, Master!”
This was the part that surprised the Master the most after hearing the story so far.
Lumiere, recalling this part again, rubbed her brows.
‘What have I done?’
First of all.
Lumiere was greatly shocked that she had made a fatal mistake in the process of creating her masterpiece.
And.
She was even more shocked that she had entrusted such a heavy responsibility as Acting Tower Master to a child of only fourteen years old.
Lumiere recalled her own personality at the age of fourteen.
Then, she imagined herself becoming the Acting Tower Master at that age.
“Hmm…”
The Gray Girl.
A heavy sigh, unbefitting her delicate lips, escaped from her.
“M-Master…?”
The Gray Miss.
She looked at the girl’s complexion in surprise.
“I’m sorry, Demier. I can’t even imagine how much you must have suffered in my ignorance…”
“N-no, Master!!! Please, don’t apologize…!”
The Master’s anguished expression.
The creature’s eyes, taking in that sight, were soon filled with moisture.
Lumiere couldn’t help but worry about the creature’s appearance.
“…Yes, you’re right. There’s no reason to worry now. It’s too late, and it’s turned out too well.”
There is nothing more meaningless than regretting belatedly when everything has been miraculously resolved.
Therefore, instead of regretting, Lumiere thought about what she should do.
“Lisir…”
That name being mentioned.
The creature brightened.
“Ah! Does Master know Lisir too!?”
As soon as the Master uttered those three words, the creature excitedly began to continue the story.
How much he had helped her during her most difficult times.
The reason Demier could reveal her true form in front of her Master like this was thanks to the rehearsal she had already done with him.
Lisir had accepted Demier’s true form.
Thanks to that, Demier could gain courage and conviction in her own existence.
“If I’m reborn… I want to make this cake again and serve it to Lisir and Master together…!”
“Then we have to wait until our next lives?”
“Ah, that’s… I’m the Acting Tower Master now…”
Demier said that and smiled wryly.
It’s hard, but it can’t be helped!
It clearly showed the responsibility and burden that the young girl felt towards the heavy position of Acting Tower Master.
Lumiere looked at the creature and said.
“Oh, by the way, I didn’t tell you this. I’m planning to bring in another child soon to help you with your work.”
Actually.
Lumiere wished she could let Demier step down from her position as Acting Tower Master.
It wasn’t something a young girl could handle.
The reason she didn’t say that-
“Yes!? Wh-why!? D-did I not meet Master’s expectations…!?”
It was because she knew her personality.
Moreover, it was an ability she had painstakingly acquired.
Wouldn’t it be a waste to let it go to waste?
“No. It’s quite the opposite.”
“The opposite…?”
“A reward for Demier, who has done so well?”
“A, a, reward…!?”
“Yes, now Demier will have some free time. You could learn pastry making, which you’ve always wanted to do.”
“Wow. Wow…!”
Demier stamped her feet, covering her mouth.
“Thank you, Master…! I’m so happy!!! It feels like my wish has come true!!!”
“A wish?”
“Yes! Master and Lisir… and me. The three of us eating the rainbow cake I made was my wish!”
“Ah. So, we don’t have to wait until the next life?”
“Hehe, that’s right!”
“Alright. I’ll look forward to it, Demier.”
Master’s expectations!
The creature nodded solemnly.
“Heh heh. In that case, we’ll have to stay at the Tower until that cake is made. Don’t you think so, Lumiere?”
Pallag was now acting completely childish.
Looking at Demier, he had a warm smile, as if he were looking at his granddaughter.
That Frozen Breath.
While looking at the clone that had somehow been modeled after his 14-year-old self.
“Ha.”
A chuckle escaped Lumiere’s lips.
Now, even she couldn’t understand what was going on.
However.
There was one thing that was certain.
‘Lisir…’
Lumiere recalled the conversation she had with him about the ‘reward’.
A reward for helping the Tower.
Lisir had said he didn’t care much about the reward.
Lumiere felt the same way, so the conversation about the reward fizzled out.
However.
The situation had changed.
Lumiere felt that she should somehow give him a reward.
She consulted Pallag about it.
At the end of that conversation, Pallag said.
“Heh heh. In that case, we’ll have to stay at the Tower until we give Lisir a proper reward. Don’t you think so, Lumiere?”
“Are you senile, old man?”
✦✦✦
It was the morning after Lisir stayed in the Tower room for a long time.
He was greeting a guest who had suddenly appeared at the door.
“Tower Lord?”
“That’s a rather stiff title. You may call me Lumiere.”
“Ah, yes. Lumiere… nim. What brings you here? Shall I let you in first?”
“Hmm.”
The Gray Girl entered the room with her arms crossed behind her back.
Tea was served before the girl who was guided to her seat.
Gulp.
After taking a sip of tea, the girl completely lost interest in it.
She didn’t feel thirsty at all, but it was a way of showing respect to the person who served her.
Lisir didn’t think much of it, but it was a sight that would have shocked those who knew the Wandering Star.
“I heard from Demier.”
“Yes? Ah, you mean the Acting Tower Master.”
“That you helped her when she was struggling with her work at the Tower?”
“Should I call it help? It was an action I took to gain the trust of the Acting Tower Master.”
“Your modesty is… rather cheeky, isn’t it?”
“Yes?”
“I’m saying that your modesty is more effective than boasting.”
“Ah. I do expect that kind of effect when I speak.”
Lisir gave his characteristic sly smile.
The Tower Master looked at the youngster with pity, but a cheerful smile appeared on her face.
“Then, I’ll say it went as planned to some extent.”
“Yes?”
“Lisir. I intend to observe your daily life today, and perhaps for the next few days.”
“Uh… may I ask the reason?”
“To find out what you need, what you require, in that process.”
“…Ah! Is it, perhaps, that? A continuation of the reward conversation we had yesterday━”
“You’re quick to understand. Let me tell you in advance, don’t refuse. This is already a decided matter. You owe our Tower too much to just let it go.”
Lisir could only smile wryly and accept the firm favor shown by the Gray Girl.
Above all.
Lisir was also curious.
A being of the level of a Tower Master would personally observe him and give him what he needed as a reward.
‘What kind of…’
Even Lisir, whose senses were distorted and who had become a person with a naturally simple personality after experiencing various things, couldn’t help but be interested.
“So━”
The girl crossed her arms on the chair and crossed her legs.
“Pretend I’m not here and focus on your daily life.”
“…”
The Tower Master.
An Archmage, even in the form of a girl, was watching him intently nearby, and she told him to pretend she wasn’t there?
‘This person…!’
Lisir unintentionally realized that it was unusual for the Wandering Star to give rewards to others.
Her unusual sense and method were clear proof of that.
‘Should I consider this an honor?’
Anyway.
Lisir decided to focus on his daily life as the Tower Master had said-
He decided to continue what he had been doing before the Tower Master’s visit.
He stood in place, closed his eyes, and concentrated.
“What are you doing?”
The Tower Master immediately showed interest.
“Oh, a non-existent person is talking…?! A ghost?!”
“…”
“Just kidding. I was contacting my younger sister.”
“Your younger sister?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
How does he contact his younger sister with his eyes closed?
‘Is he researching a new magic? He has a surprisingly eccentric side.’
Lumiere felt doubt, but she remained silent, not wanting to disturb his daily life any further.
✦✦✦
Actually.
Lumiere’s plan to observe Lisir’s daily life in order to prepare a suitable reward had a little selfish motive.
Reaching the 7th Rank Realm in his twenties-
A being followed by a fastidious spirit that even elves wouldn’t allow.
The daily life of such a mysterious being would surely be full of countless ‘stimuli’.
Lumiere was looking forward to experiencing countless ‘stimuli’ while observing Lisir’s daily life.
However.
Was her expectation too high?
His daily life was quite ordinary, not much different from other young people of his age.
“Hey, Lisir~ Long time no see~ I heard the news. I heard you almost participated in the Starbirth Festival? Let’s have lunch together and hear about it~ Pien is curious too.”
He met with a male friend named Eron and had lunch together-
“Master! Let’s have a nap together!!!”
“What? Now? It’s too bright to take a nap now.”
“A daytime nap is still a nap!!!”
“Philosophical.”
He took a nap with his spirit, who had appeared somehow.
“Hmm.”
Lumiere hummed as she watched Lisir start to take a nap with his spirit.
There’s no point in continuing to watch him nap.
She temporarily stopped observing and returned to her office.
“…”
Lumiere looked around her office awkwardly and sat down.
“Whew.”
As she leaned back in her chair, she unconsciously sighed.
She suddenly wondered.
Is it really okay for me to be this leisurely?
She took something out of her bosom and placed it on her desk.
Shaped like an hourglass, it was a kind of milestone representing the responsibility and fate Lumiere bore as the Wandering Star.
Usually, the hourglass flowed from top to bottom, like other hourglasses.
But that was a bad sign for Lumiere.
For Lumiere, it was desirable for the hourglass to flow from bottom to top.
It meant that Lumiere had encountered ‘stimuli’-
It meant that she had encountered ‘traces of fate’.
For some reason, Lumiere had to return all the sand accumulated at the bottom of the hourglass to the top.
To do that, she had to encounter countless stimuli.
Lumiere’s hourglass, which she wandered across the continent without a single day’s rest in search of stimuli, had to flow from bottom to top without a single day’s rest.
In that sense, yesterday was a monumental day.
Lisir.
Perin.
The encounter with those mysterious beings caused the hourglass to flow violently as never before.
That was why Lumiere could stay at the Tower, even though she was restless.
It was also the reason why Lumiere had great expectations for her companionship with Lisir.
“Will there never be a day like yesterday again.”
But in the end, those expectations were betrayed.
She stared at the hourglass with cold eyes.
To check how much of the sand that had flowed back yesterday had flowed down again.
“…What?”
Her eyes widened suddenly.
The hourglass was flowing back at a speed no less than yesterday’s.
“…Why?”
Lumiere recalled the events of today to find out the reason.
‘Watching Lisir quietly contact his younger sister… watching him have lunch with his ordinary friend Eron… watching him nap with his young spirit…’
And she fell into great confusion.
And it’s no wonder.
All she had done today was observe Lisir’s extremely ‘ordinary’ daily life.
✦✦✦
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