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Chapter 797: Sigrid's Retrospective After Half a Year
Chapter 797: Sigrid's Retrospective After Half a Year
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Headmaster's office in the Inferno Corridor Academy, the starlight from the Demon World shone into the room, intertwining with the light of the fireplace in a dazzling display.
Caught between joy and sorrow, the two embraced, laughing and crying simultaneously, their movements resembling an elegant dance one moment and a comical crab-walk the next.
"I'm truly sorry that you have to part ways earlier than expected."
Cardinal Lanchi whispered apologetically as he sat down on the sofa, awaiting Hyberrian and Sigrid's farewell.
Perhaps, to Sigrid, the notion that they were from different eras and might never meet again in the future had not yet sunk in. But farewells, inevitable as they were, would always be difficult.
Such was the nature of life—full of fleeting moments and temporary goodbyes that could become permanent at any moment.
And the awareness of this made partings all the more challenging to accept.
In truth, he was also reluctant to part ways with Sigrid.
Sigrid was an impeccable child, a trustworthy and valiant companion whose virtues shone like gold.
Fortunately, Hyberrian had recorded her voice as a memento of their sisterly bond, and through the Shadow World's recording program, she would be able to revisit Sigrid's appearance and listen to her voice even after returning to the real world.
This was a small consolation.
In the Headmaster's office, it took a long while for Sigrid and Hyberrian to finally let go of each other.
"Sister, let's be best sisters for life."
Sigrid gripped Hyberrian's arms as she spoke.
"Yes, my feelings for you will never change. Waaah, my Sigrid."
Hyberrian's eyes swam with tears as she replied, her voice thick with emotion.
Sigrid hugged Hyberrian one last time before releasing the soft, tall figure of the demon girl.
"Calliara."
Sigrid turned towards the gray-haired female illusionist by the window.
As soon as she let go of Hyberrian, she rushed over to Calliara.
Talia stood transfixed, unsure of what to say in this moment of farewell, her arms instinctively opening to receive Sigrid as she threw herself into her embrace.
"Calliara, I won't be able to eat your cooking anymore… Please take care of yourself, eat well, sleep well, and live a happy life without the burdens of the Demon World."
Sigrid buried her face in Calliara's face, her voice thick with emotion as she instructed her.
"Sigrid, rest assured, I have long let go of the Demon World."
Talia, equally distraught, closed her eyes, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions.
"Waaah, Calliara…"
Sigrid's sobs turned into hiccups, and like Hyberrian before her, she found herself at a loss for words.
"Don't cry, don't cry. Maybe I should leave a message for you too, so you can listen to it when you miss me in a foreign land."
Talia gently stroked Sigrid's hair, offering comfort and a suggestion.
Compared to the emotional farewell between Sigrid and Hyberrian, Talia felt that Sigrid was even more reluctant to part with her.
It was a genuine sorrow, as if Sigrid and Hyberrian were only parting for a short while, but their separation from Talia would be a long and enduring one.
"Okay."
Sigrid immediately thought of something and took out the voice-recording gem.
Initially, she hadn't considered leaving a voice message for Calliara, intending to use it solely for teasing Hyberrian later on. But now, she realized she could also leave a recording for Calliara, something to bring back to the real world as a cherished keepsake.
"My dearest, I will always love you."
Talia spoke softly to Sigrid, her words filled with warmth and sincere blessings.
The bond between parents and children was often fleeting, and Talia hoped that the decade-long memories she shared with Sigrid would forever be a source of strength for Sigrid as she navigated life's challenges.
"Wow, Mom!"
Sigrid's tears flowed uncontrollably, and she hugged the gray-haired witch tightly, voicing the thoughts she had long harbored in her dreams.
Sigrid was on the verge of melting into a puddle, using Calliara as her emotional support.
"I'm here."
Talia responded to Sigrid's call.
"Oh, Goddess of Fate, you are cruel indeed."
Lanchi, seated on the sofa, watched their heartfelt farewell, deeply moved by the scene before him.
He had thought they would have five more days together, but now, it seemed they had to part ways and embark on their separate journeys.
Upon their return to the real world...
Hyberrian would likely grieve for a long time in Ecclesiastic, Talia would reminisce in Brieuld, and Sigrid would become the Saint Emperor in this projected world of the distant past.
Never again would they gather under the same roof.
"Then, goodbye."
After a long chat by the window in the Headmaster's office, the trio finally concluded their farewells.
They understood that Lanchi's lack of urgency in hurrying them along was a gesture of kindness, but it did not diminish the value of time in the Shadow World. Perhaps he had something important to discuss with Sigrid.
"We'll head to the Demon King's Blessed Restaurant now. Don't let Sigrid get lost in the Inferno Corridor later."
The gray-haired witch opened the door to the Headmaster's office and reminded Lanchi as she stood at the threshold.
Talia had personally witnessed through the Tebiriathus Mirror the mission Lanchi had entrusted to Sigrid in his office, a task that only Sigrid could accomplish.
She would not intrude on their conversation any further.
"Mhm."
Lanchi nodded in acknowledgment.
The three demons vanished from the entrance of the Headmaster's office.
"Goodbye."
Hyberrian reluctantly closed the door, still feeling reluctant to leave Cardinal Lanchi and Sigrid.
"... "
As the night deepened, the only ones left in the Principal's office were Lanchi and Sigrid.
Lanchi sat on the sofa, gazing at the starry night sky of the Demon World outside for a long while.
Sigrid stood by the broad brown wooden table, her fingers gently caressing its surface.
The atmosphere in the room shifted from the earlier lively buzz to a tranquil calm.
"Care for a drink? I think you need something to perk you up."
Sigrid walked to the side of the Principal's office, skillfully picked up a glass, and spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Some tea... no, coffee," Lanchi replied, then changed his mind.
He recalled that there was a drink called Nicalis Iced Tea from the Demon King's City, Nicalis.
It looked just like black tea but was actually an alcoholic beverage, and when prepared according to the original recipe, it could have a high alcohol content.
So, Lanchi always kept in mind to stay away from 'tea' when in the Demon World of the Blood Moon Calamity.
Before long, Sigrid returned with a tray and a porcelain cup. She poured a cup of coffee for Lanchi and placed it on the table in front of him. She then sat down beside him.
The hot coffee in the glass cup emitted a rich aroma, filling the Principal's office with a soothing fragrance. Lanchi felt his mind calm just from inhaling the scent.
Perhaps it was also due to Sigrid's silent companionship.
Unknowingly, twelve years had passed, and the little girl had grown into a reliable and formidable wolf tribe powerhouse.
"Sigrid, I need to ask you for a favor."
Lanchi's voice carried a hint of guilt as he spoke to Sigrid.
Having witnessed Sigrid's sorrowful state in the Tebiriathus Mirror, Lanchi felt a deep sense of reluctance.
But in this era, the only one who could help him end the Blood Moon Calamity was Sigrid; she was an indispensable part of his plan.
"No problem!"
Sigrid replied innocently.
"But I haven't even told you what it is yet," Lanchi stammered, looking at her.
Her reaction was quite different from what he had seen in the Tebiriathus Mirror, where he had given her instructions in this very office, and she had immediately understood that it was something unpleasant. Despite her inner turmoil, she had forcefully stifled her emotions and agreed.
"It's probably something big and important, and you want me to take care of things after you're gone," Sigrid shrugged nonchalantly, easily seeing through his thoughts.
After all, when it came to the Saint's Son, her trust was unconditional.
"Since you already know, aren't you sad about it?" Lanchi asked, suspecting that this Sigrid was somehow different, and he felt compelled to confront her directly.
"There's no need to be sad. I won't stand in the way of what you believe is right," Sigrid replied, moving closer to Lanchi and fixing her gaze on his eyes.
She seemed to have a very open-minded attitude about the whole situation.
She knew that this was the Shadow World, and the Saint's Son couldn't truly die here; it wasn't like the inevitable fate depicted in the countdown of the Shadow World.
"..."
Lanchi's processor-like brain short-circuited a bit.
He started drinking water to hide his confusion and averted his gaze.
Could the Tebiriathus Mirror be faulty?
How could the differences be so stark?
His relationship with Sigrid should be good, but currently, Sigrid didn't seem to care about his life and death as deeply as the Sigrid in the Tebiriathus Mirror simulation had.
If even the basic information in the Tebiriathus Mirror couldn't be trusted, then the projected future it had shown would also need to be re-evaluated for potential deviations.
"But if you do die, I'll definitely remain single for the rest of my life, so you have to cherish your life too," Sigrid added, lowering her voice.
"Pff!"
Lanchi nearly choked on his coffee.
Indeed, in some ways, this Sigrid was quite similar to the one in the Tebiriathus Mirror.
However, the way she expressed herself was a bit too blunt.
"No, Sigrid," Lanchi set down his glass, at a loss for words.
After not seeing her for twelve years, he had expected their relationship to have faded, but instead, it had transformed.
He now even wondered if her previous indiscriminate friendliness toward others had been an act of feigned innocence.
"Then, go back to the Saint Pelラント Teaching Kingdom first. I'll give you the tokens, and with my letter of authorization, you can find Chancellor Elmu and Queen Kexiya. Then, follow the method I taught you to obtain evidence of my soul-shattering influence. Use that to convince the Grand Paladin and the Chief Justice, and directly occupy the Papal Chamber, creating the illusion that I've fled in defeat."
Lanchi hurried back to the Principal's desk and began writing letters, "I'm going to the Demon King's City, Nicalis, and then I'll head straight to the Honing Empire. This time, I won't return to Hersaresam. Time is of the essence, and I'll go straight to the southern part of the Honing Empire with the Great Demon Tribe to cause trouble. Meanwhile, you'll pressure me from the outside in the Teaching Kingdom, and within the Teaching Kingdom, you'll use my crazed deeds to prove your correctness and legitimacy."
He proceeded to discuss the matter at hand.
With the experience of using the Tebiriathus Mirror three times, Lanchi could make some slight adjustments to the actual reenactment.
The main issue was that there was less time for actual operations, and he also lacked the ninth-order strength of Ranklot, which could have allowed him to put on a real fight show in the Hersaresam Papal Chamber. So, he decided to rearrange this power struggle.
"... "
Sigrid watched Lanchi's attitude with great interest.
Teasing the Saint's Son was indeed entertaining.
Whether it was accompanying, seducing, or speaking bluntly to the Saint's Son, he would undoubtedly not respond to Sigrid's affections.
"Sigrid, I'm going to be frank with you. I think you may have already guessed it, but it's likely we won't be able to meet again after this, in many different ways. To me, you have always been a cherished companion..."
As Lanchi sealed the letters on the table with wax and sorted out the tokens, he spoke to Sigrid in a solemn voice.
He had thought long and hard about how to bid farewell to Sigrid.
If Sigrid truly had feelings for him as depicted in the Tebiriathus Mirror, then he couldn't part ways with her as gently as he had with Hyberrian and Calliara. Doing so would only bring her more heartache in the future.
To lessen her pain, it was better to be straightforward about the situation now.
"No problem, then. I happily accept your position as Pope."
Sigrid walked to the principal's desk, taking the handwritten letters and multiple tokens that Lanchi handed her, and replied without hesitation.
"Sigrid, I'm being serious here."
Lanchi looked up, his expression complex as he stared at Sigrid, who was taking the matter too lightly.
"I know, we're saying goodbye, but we can still be cheerful about it, so that the next time we meet after a long separation, it will be easier."
Sigrid nodded, meeting his gaze seriously,
"However, since we might not meet again, can you fulfill a wish of mine? After doing so much for you, I should get some extra compensation."
She hugged her arms, bargaining with a troubled expression.
"What?"
Lanchi asked, sensing that something was amiss.
From what he knew of Sigrid, she was the type to take advantage of the situation.
"Come here."
Sigrid turned her face to the side, silently gesturing with her index finger for Lanchi to kiss her pale cheek.
"That's not going to happen. Come up with something else that's feasible."
Lanchi shook his head.
By now, he had seen through Sigrid's act of pretending to be a child.
"Do you misunderstand something? This isn't a request; it's an order from me, your Pope now. I'm no longer your Saintess, and our positions have been reversed."
Sitting sideways on Lanchi's office desk, holding the papal tokens and letters, Sigrid issued orders to Lanchi,
"When asking the boss to do something, of course, you have to flatter the boss and make him happy."
She had dropped the act and transformed into the domineering attitude of a superior, completely different from the lively young girl she was before.
Although she was still joking, her manner of speaking made Lanchi feel that she wasn't the Sigrid he knew.
Lanchi became increasingly suspicious that the Tebiriathus Mirror was faulty.
"I'm counting to three. If you don't kiss me, I'll take the initiative and kiss you."
Sigrid couldn't help but laugh, pretending to be a big bad wolf as she continued to tease Lanchi.
She couldn't hold her act together anymore.
She wouldn't actually kiss him, but every second of Lanchi's reaction was fascinating.
"Sigrid, this is the principal's office. Don't cause trouble here."
Lanchi said flatly, his eyes expressionless as he warned her.
Seeing Sigrid's behavior, he felt that she might really try something on him.
While she could defeat the Desecration Lord, he had absolutely no ability to resist her.
He could only rely on the ninth-order authority of the Pope to intimidate her.
"... "
"You're still as good as ever at bluffing. I almost fell for it."
Sigrid, as if she had seen right through Lanchi's act, reminded him of when he had protected her in the snowy fields. She couldn't help but curl her lips in a smile,
"By the way, after this shadow world ends, you'll be promoted to the seventh order, right?"
Leaning on the desk, Sigrid moved closer to Lanchi and quietly asked, her eyes scrutinizing him.
"What are you... "
Lanchi's voice trailed off halfway through his sentence.
He looked at Sigrid, perplexed.
How could Sigrid know that this was a shadow world?
Furthermore, everyone should assume that he, as the Saint's Son, was a ninth-order powerhouse pretending to be a sixth-order player in the game. How could she instantly know that he was truly a sixth-order player?
However, he only saw Sigrid smiling, her voice resembling someone very familiar.
"You're stronger than me now, my dear."
Sigrid's eyes curved like crescent moons, her lips curled in a meaningful smile as she blew him a kiss, exuding a hint of sweet alcohol.
Lanchi's pupils trembled as he raised his hand, pointing at the figure in front of the desk.
This...
This wasn't Sigrid at all! It was the Holy Church Pope! And if she got close to Hyberrian, wouldn't that be an epic explosion?!
"What the hell, Sigrid!!!"
Lanchi shouted.
(End of Chapter)
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