Tiendavis - For Perfect Salvation - Chapter 42

The young Ibi walked on her tiptoes, doing her best to move stealthily without making any creaking sounds on the floor.

She passed through the treacherous floorboard section and landed on the thick carpet, but she didn’t let her guard down at all.

Ibi carefully crossed the room filled with sunlight.

Someone was sitting in the armchair by the window. It was an astrologer, wearing a black robe with a deeply pulled hood concealing his face.

He had been reading a book until just now.

But now one of his hands rested on his stomach, the other beside his leg, no longer moving.

Moreover, the breeze through the window gap freely read and turned the pages of the book on his knee, but he just let the wind do as it pleased.

Is he really asleep?

The astrologer’s lips visible through the hood were peacefully closed.

So the young Ibi, convinced he was asleep, bit her lower lip slightly.

Then, like a feline predator eyeing its prey, her eyes shone with utter seriousness.

One step, two steps. Ibi carefully closed the distance, held her breath, and reached out towards the astrologer.

Just as Ibi’s small hand was about to touch the astrologer’s hood, passing his shoulder—

“No.”

With an amused voice, a gentle hand wrapped around Ibi’s wrist.

The astrologer, who had awakened unnoticed, gently restrained Ibi. Ibi, caught in the act of mischief, became angry instead.

“Weren’t you sleeping?”

“Yes, I was napping for a bit.”

“Then how did you know? Did you hear my footsteps?”

When the astrologer just laughed, Ibi let out an “Ugh!” and shook his armchair vigorously in frustration.

Despite his body rocking back and forth from Ibi’s assault, the astrologer just held onto his hood with his hand and laughed carelessly.

With this, Ibi’s attempt to sneak a peek at the astrologer’s face met its fourth failure.

Of course, these four times were just counted from this month; if one were to tally all her past attempts, it would exceed the count of her fingers many times over.

One might think she would give up after so many failures, or that he would get angry after being challenged so many times, but Ibi and the astrologer remained unchanged.

Ibi never gave up and looked for new opportunities, while the astrologer laughed softly instead of scolding her.

Tired from bothering the astrologer, Ibi plopped down on the sofa next to him. Then, with a face full of discontent, she said,

“Don’t you think this is too much? We’ve lived together for almost 2 years, but you still won’t show me your face. How long are you going to keep this up?”

It was quite a rebellious voice, but the astrologer laughed even at this. So Ibi glared at him coldly.

“Don’t laugh, this is a very serious problem.”

“What’s so serious about it?”

“What if something happens and we get separated? I won’t have any way to find you if I don’t know your face or name.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll find you.”

The astrologer said calmly without a moment’s hesitation. Ibi’s furrowed brows immediately relaxed at those words.

Ibi, who had been angry, became happy without resistance, and so her eyes sparkled brightly before she belatedly realized and narrowed her brow again.

“Then the problem is even more serious. What if I can’t recognize you? …Stop laughing and listen!”

Ibi spoke seriously again, but the astrologer wasn’t listening properly.

Because he was laughing, his shoulders shaking, due to Ibi’s diverse range of expressions.

The astrologer laughed until Ibi’s face turned red with real anger, then belatedly said as if to soothe her,

“Don’t worry about that either. You’ll definitely recognize me.”

The astrologer’s voice was calm and affectionate.

So Ibi felt strangely emotional.

Her chest felt heavy and painful, yet something seemed to bloom ticklishly inside her, leaving her dazed and unknowingly shedding tears.

When the astrologer asked why she was crying, Ibi couldn’t say anything.

Until now, the world had never been kind to Ibi. It was a world full of cruel traps rather than even small compassion, where she had to hope for a daily miracle just to survive each day.

So she had hated this world so much, but meeting you made even this world likeable.

Ibi cried, biting her lips, because that was too sad, yet also fortunate.

She cried for a long time, feeling the gentle touch stroking her head.

But as time passed, that person became a hateful and longed-for liar, and Ibi had no choice but to hate the world that had grown cold again even more than before.

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Ibi was running.

She was running non-stop in pitch-black darkness.

Her breath was already caught in her throat, but she couldn’t stop. If she stopped here, the ground beneath her feet would collapse and everything would end.

So Ibi ran. Just a little more, just a little more. She urged herself on and somehow kept running.

But suddenly, a faint question arose in a corner of her mind.

How long do I have to run? I’ve been running without rest all this time, so why am I still just running like this?

It’s painful. But I have to endure it. Why?

Ah, that’s right. I’m going to become the Holy Maiden.

Then I’ll be able to rest, so I just need to hang on a little longer.

The moment she thought that, the other side of the darkness brightened. Light appeared. Finally, this long, long darkness was ending.

But just before Ibi threw herself into that light, the ground beneath her feet gave way.

When she came to her senses, she was surrounded by a black, slimy swamp. The heavy, sticky swamp entangled Ibi’s body, and in the meantime, the light that had seemed within reach grew distant again.

No, wait!

Ibi thrashed about, trying to wade through the swamp. But her exhausted limbs felt as heavy as lead, making it difficult to make progress.

Yet as she struggled, unwilling to give up, a low voice reached Ibi’s ears.

It was the cold and stern voice of a certain count.

―Above all, it doesn’t suit you. The Holy Maiden, not at all.

Ibi gritted her teeth at those crushing words.

I know! I know it doesn’t suit me!

―It’s the same even if you become the Holy Maiden. Even if you attain that position, you’ll only end up being used.

What’s wrong with being used, when being used is the only way I can be treated like a person in this life!

Ibi gritted her teeth and shook off that devilish voice.

Then a honeyed voice followed.

―You want to become the Holy Maiden? How interesting. Go ahead, try it.

Ibi, who had been angry at the Tower Master’s gentle mockery, rather felt relieved.

Yes, I’ll try.

Keep watching me, don’t lose interest.

Don’t worry, I’ll do as you wish.

I don’t want to be chased off this stage.

Because outside of this is the abyss for me who has nothing.

She had surely been wading through the swamp, but suddenly Ibi found herself standing among people, wearing pretty clothes.

But all the people around her had no faces. Only from their attire and gestures could she tell they were nobles.

So Ibi greeted them as politely as she could.

But when Ibi spoke, the people turned away angrily.

Only then did Ibi realize she was under a curse, and the moment she realized it, her body sank back down to the ground.

And a sweet voice rang in her ear.

―Have you come to see me already?

A huge white snake was suddenly coiled around Ibi.

―I’m glad, I’ll eat well.

It opened its mouth, and this time she was finally swallowed.

A pure white silence enveloped Ibi.

Half dazed, Ibi looked around slowly, catching her breath.

She saw a path. It was the path Ibi had to keep running on, but now she couldn’t bring herself to face it.

That path stretched like a thin tightrope over a bottomless cliff.

No matter how much more she endured, she could only imagine slipping and falling.

The liar who tried to become the Holy Maiden just to survive now stood before a grave, unable even to lie anymore.

Finally, unable to do this or that, Ibi bit her lip in frustration.

Then the rabbit spoke.

―Why don’t you become an honest Holy Maiden?

And Ibi woke up from her dream.

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Ibi opened her eyes, taking a deep breath.

An unfamiliar ceiling came into view. Ibi stared blankly at the antique ceiling decorations before letting out a sigh.

‘…I knew I’d have bad dreams, it’s because I’m at Rio Tuha’s house.’

Realizing the cause of her nightmare, Ibi groggily got up. Then she got out of bed and headed to the window.

She drew the curtains and opened the window to see a deep blue sky. Early dawn, Ibi’s favorite time of day.

The cold dawn air gently took away the remaining sleepiness.

After catching her breath like that, she finally saw the wisteria blooming profusely under the dim sky.

This is the Tuha family’s villa, and today is the second day of the Wisteria Festival, representing spring.

Spring is the season of Manyanya. The compassionate Manyanya, who purifies impurities, resembles spring that caresses all things.

That’s why the Tuha family, which has produced Holy Maidens for generations, cherishes spring especially, beautifying the garden like this and holding festivals.

And today, the second day of the Wisteria Festival, the current Holy Maiden, Roble Tuha, is also scheduled to participate in the festival.

Ibi recited today’s schedule while looking at the beautiful garden. But for some reason, the pretty flower garden didn’t catch her eye, and her thoughts just floated around in her head.

So Ibi wondered why this was happening, and belatedly realized that her heart was in a mess, like a tangled ball of thread.

It was still early dawn, but Ibi’s mood was already heavily sunken.

Partly because of the unsettling dream she had last night, and partly because of yesterday’s incident with Count Montra.

She desperately pretended to be fine in front of others, but in truth, Ibi was greatly displeased by Count Montra’s behavior yesterday.

And when Count Laurel got angry about the incident, she felt so ashamed she wanted to bite her tongue off.

The actions of the count and the marquis were very different, but Ibi felt she was treated similarly by them.

One treated Ibi like a toy because he was in a bad mood because of someone else, while the other got angry on her behalf and treated Ibi like a child who couldn’t take care of herself.

Both were quite displeasing, but nevertheless, Ibi had no choice but to smile sweetly at those men. Truly without sincerity.

But even if time were turned back and she was given a second chance, Ibi would probably make the same choice.

Because that’s the best choice Ibi can make. It might be a bit cowardly, but it will ultimately be a smart and safe choice.

Being a commoner-born Holy Maiden candidate in the noble world is like being the only sheep living in a wolf’s den.

So she has no choice but to be cautious not to get caught up in the wolves’ whims.

It’s dirty and petty, but she has no choice but to console herself that this is the most beneficial choice.

So Ibi pulled herself together with all her might, as she always did.

But the more she did so, the more Ibi was driven to the edge of the cliff, approaching her limit.