140 139 th Anniversary Commencement of Post-Secondary Education in Hong Kong




"Yes, of course--there is no way I would choose such a foolish method.

 Alueno said, his pale lips chirping.

 This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing. Alueno himself is not sure why such a complicated voice came out of his mouth.

 But even so, Alueno's lips quivered with pleasure.

It is not a punishment to simply tighten the neck of a sinner. Yes, let him live, let him live to the end, let him understand his own folly. That is the punishment he deserves. Then, after he has paid for everything, let's even give him salvation.

 Alueno cleared his throat smoothly, as if he were saying a line from a play.

Our God offers salvation even to sinners, though of course there is a price to pay.

 The voice in the parlor sounded like a song. Her voice was beautiful, and yet soothing to the ear. One of the reasons why Alueno is called a diva.

 Alueno closed her lips and turned her gaze to the person in front of her with twinkling golden eyes, Kalia-Bardnick.

 Her lips lifted in a ready smile. However, I could see that there was a hint of excitement in that smile. Apparently, my words were not exactly what she wanted to hear. Well, Alueno thinks that there was certainly a part of me that stroked her feelings.

 Kalia said that she had come to Belle Fain with Fialat-La-Borgograd to avenge Lugis and follow his shadow.

 I see, regardless of the truth of the matter, at least Rougis is recognized by the world as the one who brought down the walled city of Galuamaria. If that's the case, there will naturally be resentment, obsession, and revenge that will sprout. Alueno deeply understood this situation.

 And it was not impossible that they had come to Belle Fane to satisfy their grudge and obsession. Human emotions have the power to move us forward, even if they trample on reason and common sense. That is also a fact.

 That's why, even if you say that it is the teaching of the Daishonikyo to give salvation by forgiving those who have wronged us, I cannot agree with you.

 So why did I throw such words at them?

 Alueno's lips quivered slightly. I can feel my own blood flowing through my body with a slight heat. Well, it seems that I am uncomfortable with the feelings they have for Lugis.

 You can hate Lugis, you can have hostility, you can have prejudice, you can have discrimination, you can have annexation of everything, I don't care.

 In any case, it is enough for you to take Lugis' hand. Even if the world forsakes him, only you can take his hand. So it doesn't matter if someone else hates Lugis.

 But, yes, but still, it is unpleasant.

 Alueno didn't like the obsession of Kalia and Fialat, who, despite their high class status, followed Lugis to Belfain without any travel companion.

 There is no right or wrong in emotions, Alueno thought. There is only a direction, a standard of strength or weakness. People unknowingly give them all sorts of names.

 And the person in front of me, at least the girl named Kalia, undoubtedly has some kind of strong feelings for Lugis, like an iron chain. The way she spoke about Rougis, every word she said, and the gleam in her silver eyes showed it.

 Alueno can't help but be annoyed by that. It's fine to be hostile, it's fine to hate. But the intensity of the feeling is unacceptable.

 Unknowingly, Alueno realized that he had been very greedy. It seems that I can't accept that Lugis has strong feelings for someone else. He smiled to himself in his mind, "I have a troublesome nature.

 However, he could not blatantly express his feelings here and now. I am here now as a candidate for the Daishonin. Alueno's golden head of hair swayed slightly, even though there was no wind.

Arueno's golden hair shook slightly even though there was no wind. That is the way of the Great Patriarchate.

 As he looked at Caria and Fialaert, Alueno's cheeks wavered unconsciously. His lips opened again, as if to sing. The words must have been accompanied by his own ugliness, Alueno thought.

In the end, you are just strangers to the one who is Lugis. Piling up thoughts in your mind will only make you sinful.

 So why don't you just forget about it? The golden eyes pierced through the room, biting such meaning into the words.

 Alueno's words, expression, and even demeanor are unmistakably that of a saint. To the casual observer, it is no different than the way a maiden proclaims her faith with a heart of compassion.

 I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.


 ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


 --So, Lugis, apologies, please? Please ask for forgiveness. To me.

 The moment the words left my lips. The moment the words left her lips, Mattia felt her heart thud. The shock of wondering what she was saying, and the shock of thinking that she must have meant what she had just said. The two mixed together, and the palpitations spread through my body.

 Mattia's eyes looked at Lugis with a slight hint of fear in them. What would he say? Would he laugh in disgust, or would he give her a look of contempt? Mattia's heart thumped even more at the thought of it.

 I don't want that. I don't want to be hated. I've never thought about that before.

 What people think of me. Mattia didn't have the time to let her emotions waver over such a ridiculous thing. First of all, as a saint, you may think about how you are perceived in a calculating way. However, Mattia, personally, never once thought about how she herself would be perceived. Such things never existed in Mattia. The saintly Mattia had the concept of the individual only when she was a child.



 And yet... Now I'm incredibly afraid of being rejected as an individual. My teeth don't click together, making a grinding sound in my mouth. To be mocked is fine. But to be scorned is scary and disgusting.

 Lugis, as if pressured by Mattia's mood, took a step back and stroked his own chin.

 There was a moment of silence. A void of time covered the room of the inn. The words were spoken under the tension that made Mattia almost hold his breath.

...... I'm sorry. I understand that it was a close call. All right, I'll be careful. I can't swear that I won't do it again.

 Lugis said, looking a little embarrassed. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.

 I'm not sure what to say.

"...... No. I told you, with all my heart. Yes, again.

 I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on. She raised her hands as if to say, "I'm sorry," and again apologized to me. Yes, to this, to me.

 Oh, that's all right, Rougis. That's the only way to make you happy.

 Mattia forced his cheeks to tighten and adjust as if they were about to collapse. You can't show such a disheveled expression. Even more so when dealing with Lugis.

 But how could she stop her cheeks from burning with more than a little heat? How could I stop my heart from melting and joy from filling my heart?

 This is good for now. This is fine. I'm sure he, Lugis, only said the words lightly. But he certainly said it and obeyed me.

 --Oh, now he'll remember my face every time he steps into danger, every time he throws himself down.

 He will remember my face every time he steps into danger, every time he throws himself down, even if it's annoying, even if it's a pain in the ass, he will remember that he apologized to me. Every time he repeats something dangerous, I'll keep doing the same thing. Like an imprint on his consciousness.

 And eventually, every time he does something, I'll become a shackle that will bind him.

 In the end, Lugis will become an existence that is always looking at my face and can only move within my control. I'll make sure of it. Oh, how sweet that would be. Just thinking about it makes my heart burn.

 Mattia's eyes sparkle with heat and emotion. Out of the corner of her eye, Mattia could see Bruder about to open his mouth.

 At that moment.

 --Kong, Kong.

 The sound of a visitor's call echoed through the creaking room.