Time Healer Ceres

Even his handwriting only became readable because Grace had made him practice endlessly since childhood.

Back then, no one could decipher the letters he wrote.

“......”

The letter spanned several pages, filled with many stories about everything that had happened after her death.

And then—

“...Was it you?”

Why had she awakened in this girl’s body after death? And why had she crossed three hundred years to arrive here?

She would be lying if she said the questions had never crossed her mind.

“I finally understand.”

Artia.

It was all because of the magic he had cast.

[I don’t know how long it’ll take, but you’ll definitely appear someday.]

Using forbidden ancient magic, Artia had sealed Grace’s soul within her dead body. Then he cast another spell so that when a body suited to her soul finally appeared, the soul would find its way there on its own.

[Since you still haven’t appeared when I’m close to dying, I guess it’s taking longer than I thought... but that’s still a relief, right? Even if I’m gone, there’ll still be someone by your side.]

...He meant Kainel.

[I was so annoyed that I never told him any of this. Watching him completely lose it after your death was honestly hilarious. He’s even preserving your corpse, you know?

Imagine the look on his face when the body your soul left behind suddenly crumbles to dust.]

Good grief, Arti...

“Haa...”

Ceres sighed as she pictured Artia cackling to himself while writing the letter. How was it possible that neither of them had changed after all this time?

[But I’m relieved.]

“......”

[Because that guy will stay by your side.]

...That never changed either.

The two of them fought like mad whenever they saw each other, yet when it truly mattered, they trusted one another more than anyone else.

[Of course, you’ll never reveal that you’re Grace.]

This rascal knows her far too well. Look at this! It’s like he’s right here beside her!

[But don’t worry. He’ll definitely find you.]

“What?”

...Where was all this confidence coming from? What was he basing it on?

Ceres answered in a subdued voice.

“Sorry, Arti, but you’re wrong about that.”

Kainel didn’t recognize her.

Well, that was only natural. Not only did she look completely different now, but three hundred years had passed as well.

However, Artia clearly thought otherwise.

[He will. So don’t be too lonely just because I’m gone.]

Reading the certainty in his words, Ceres chuckled. Sometimes it felt as though Artia trusted Kainel more than she did.

[Take care, Grace. No... my friend, who must be living a brand-new life by now.]

“......”

[In this life too, live the way only you can.]

The letter ended there.

After finishing the lengthy message, Ceres sighed.

“I can’t even resent you anymore.”

When she first woke up in this body, she had cursed God with every insult she could think of.

Why did you bring me back to life? Why revive someone who had finally accepted death and managed to leave peacefully?

But...

To think all of this was Artia’s doing.

How could she resent someone who had even used forbidden magic for her sake?

Ceres carefully folded the letter and tucked it against her chest.

As she watched the Lunaria flowers flutter in the wind, she stood there silently for a long time, holding the final letter Artia had left behind.

***

How many hours has it been now?

The clock already struck three in the morning.

Hidden within the shadows of a giant tree overlooking the white building, someone concealed his presence completely.

Dressed entirely in black, the man had been waiting for Ceres to come back out ever since she entered the building two hours ago.

“What on earth is she doing in there? She’s not even a mage, so why go inside?”

Clicking his tongue quietly, the man focused on the building once more.

Ah.

About twenty minutes later, the woman finally stepped outside.

What’s that?

A flower?

The man narrowed his eyes at the white flower in Ceres’s hand. She definitely didn’t carry that before entering.

Did she bring it out from inside the tower?

Swish.

“—!”

When Ceres suddenly stopped and looked directly toward his hiding place, the man stiffened and hurriedly concealed his presence further.

Tch...

How many times has this happened already?

It had been over fifteen days since he started following her under orders from above. Yet every so often, she would throw a glance toward him with unsettling precision, almost like she could sense his presence.

Every time it happened, his heart clenched.

Can she actually tell I’m here?

Nah... impossible.

She was just an ordinary person.

There was no way someone like her could detect him when he possessed enough skill to slip through the Magic Tower’s barrier unnoticed.

...She’s leaving again.

The reason he could never be sure was because she always turned away afterward like she had seen nothing at all.

Ben pressed a hand to his forehead.

I seriously can’t figure this woman out.

“What exactly is she?”

According to the investigation, she was just a young lady from a nearly ruined noble family.

So where the hell did she get that from?

Sky.

The greatest intelligence guild on the continent.

The name supposedly meant they possessed knowledge of everything beneath the sky or something equally grandiose.

Ben personally thought it sounded embarrassingly childish, but that wasn’t important.

The important thing was that Sky stood at the very top of the Empire’s intelligence world. No, the entire continent’s.

Having money didn’t guarantee you could request their services, and even the powerful ones weren’t automatically accepted as clients.

Yet, not long ago, the entire organization was thrown into chaos because of a request brought in by that woman.

More precisely, because of the Black Key she carried.

“Any request made by the holder of that key must be accepted without exception.”

“Why?”

“Because that is this organization’s first rule.”

“You didn’t even charge her a fee. Is that really okay?”

“Because that is this organization’s first rule.”

...Did they really have to repeat the same answer every single time?

It was annoying as hell.

Still, the request made by the woman carrying the key was surprisingly simple.

“Spread a rumor for me.”

To spread a rumor about the head of the Ellesia family as quickly as possible.

Not long after that, the head of the Ellesia family changed.

Afterward, a new order came down from the organization. It was to investigate the woman carrying the Black Key, Ceres Drow.

He absolutely couldn’t get caught.

“If she notices something’s off about you...”

“No way. Do you not know how good I am? I’m the best agent in the organization.”

“Even so, you could still get caught...”

“I’m telling you, I won’t.”

“You punk. I’m not worrying over nothing here...”

“Heh, relax already.”

“...Hell if I know anymore, you b*stard. But if she does catch you, follow whatever she says. Don’t think about going against her.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. There’s no way I’ll get caught.”

...He really hasn’t been caught, right?

He had bragged so confidently back then... and ever since, he had been trailing her nonstop.

Just how long was he supposed to keep doing this?

“Haah...”

Ben let out a sigh as he watched Ceres disappear farther into the distance before silently following after her again.

.

.

.

Chapter 16: The Training Grounds

“What’s this, Ceres?”

“A key.”

“What kind of key? What does it open?”

“It opens information.”

“Information?”

Having returned home after quite some time, Ceres gently patted Julia’s head as the girl clung stubbornly to her side.

While Ceres was leisurely sipping her tea, Julia rummaged through the luggage bags like she was treasure hunting.

It was amusing.

Julia hadn’t shown any interest in the doll Cheion gave her, yet she was fascinated by the black key.

“It’s a key I use whenever I need something.”

Ceres chuckled as she took the key back from Julia. The memory of visiting Sky with that key not long ago surfaced in her mind.

“...Is that real?”

“Yeah.”

“No, seriously. Is that actually real?”

“Yeah.”

“Is that rea—”

“Ask one more time and see what happens.”

“...What happens if I do?”

“If you’re curious, go ahead and find out.”

“......”

It had taken exactly ten minutes from the moment she revealed the Black Key until she was brought before Sky’s leader.

Thankfully, the Black Key was still valid.

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