Chapter 55: The Ordinary and Commonplace Mowan

Mowan arrived at the old spot.

It was the inn where Rosa had stayed when she returned to the Holy City.

Just as she entered the door, Rosa walked down from upstairs.

Her eyes filled with exceptional joy as she looked at Mowan.

For some reason, Mowan felt the warmth of friendship from Rosa at this moment more intensely than during the days and nights they had spent together in the past.

“Mowan, you’re here.”

“Good morning, Rosa.”

“Have you eaten breakfast? I just bought some. Come and eat with me.”

Rosa waved to Mowan, and once Mowan reached her side, she took Mowan by the arm and led her all the way to the room she had rented.

However, a member of the Demon Race whom Mowan was not particularly keen on seeing appeared in the room.

She froze at the doorway.

She had originally wanted to talk to Rosa alone to convince her to stop associating with Laedel, but with Laedel present, how could she say such things?

“Mowan, we need to look out for each other and keep a constant eye on whether people from the Church appear outside.”

Rosa pushed Mowan into the room and closed the door.

Mowan noticed that Laedel was indeed near the window, holding a piece of bread bitten in half, glancing outside from time to time.

Mowan recalled the question Rosa had asked her yesterday and wanted to ask Rosa the same thing in return.

‘Is this really the life you want?’

Walking the same path as Laedel, constantly avoiding discovery by the Church.

“Do you know the consequences of staying with her, Rosa?”

“Uh… Mowan, I know there must be something unresolved between you two. Even though you’re only cousins, you’re still family. Is there anything family members can’t talk through properly? Relax, stay calm, and let’s sit down for a good talk, okay?”

“Why haven’t you left yet?”

Mowan clenched her fists.

She didn’t want to blame Laedel too much.

But…

Involving Rosa was simply going too far.

“I want to protect you,” Laedel replied softly.

Mowan took a deep breath.

Seeing the displeasure on Mowan’s face, Rosa explained further.

“I’m the one who asked her to come back for you. She truly does want to protect you. After I learned about your past from her, she was worried I would talk carelessly to others. That’s why she kept me by her side and made me keep my lips sealed. But she didn’t intend to come back for you; coming here was my suggestion.”

“I’m done talking to her.”

“Really? Won’t you think about it again? Mowan, I don’t mean for you to leave. I know the Lady Saint is very gentle and kind, but she is the Saintess after all. Her identity destines her to be responsible for humanity. Some things cannot be swayed by feelings.”

Mowan lowered her head and raised her right hand.

She summoned Rosa’s Staff from her Spatial Ring.

“Rosa, this… the Lady Saint gave this to me.”

“Eh?”

“The Lady Saint said that you… sacrificed yourself. She brought me Rosa’s Staff, and I believed it to be true until now.”

Rosa was stunned.

“Take it back. I can rest easy knowing you’re still alive and well.”

Mowan pressed the staff into Rosa’s arms.

She looked at Rosa, and only at Rosa.

She had come to talk to Rosa, not Laedel.

She also didn’t want Rosa to act as a peacemaker.

“I understand your concern for my safety, just as it’s hard for me to accept you putting yourself in danger because of me. Being with her will destroy your future. You knew the consequences of associating with the Demon Race from the start, yet you disregarded the teachings of the Church and betrayed them.”

Rosa held her staff and lowered her head.

What Mowan said was the truth.

Now, to some extent, she had entered the Church’s wanted list.

“The Lady Saint’s actions were right. You’ve become too deeply involved with the Demon Race, Rosa. Your faith in Visa has been shaken; have you not noticed it yourself?”

“I just… wanted you to find your old self. You must care about the fact that the Demon Race abandoned you three years ago, right? Don’t you want to vent those painful feelings? Are you really willing to accept this arrangement?”

“Yes, I used to care. During those three years of wandering, I thought every night about returning to the Demon Empire one day and slapping the faces of those ministers who exiled me. But I don’t think that way anymore. There are other, more beautiful things worth pursuing. I have already stepped out of the shadows of the past.”

“I see…”

Rosa stared blankly at Mowan.

She suddenly felt that Mowan had changed.

She had become… much more mellow, and very ordinary, very commonplace.

Mowan had become like a worldly beauty amidst the wind, flowers, snow, and moon.

She was no longer the Hero who struggled and forged ahead through pain.

“Later, I will persuade the Lady Saint to allow you to return to the Way of the Knight — if you’re willing. That is, if you stop associating with her and never speak a word on her behalf again.”

Mowan looked at Laedel behind Rosa.

“I won’t.”

Rosa refused directly.

Mowan’s brow furrowed.

“You’re right, Mowan. I have already betrayed the Church. I don’t like the Church anymore.”

“Rosa, do… do you know what you’re saying?”

Mowan was astonished.

She couldn’t believe such words could come from the mouth of a native-born Vissa.

“I know. However, I won’t disparage the Church. The Lady Saint is truly capable; she could even teach a Demon Princess to forget her original identity. I will respect your choice, and I understand your feelings. Visa is so beautiful; I can understand your longing for a peaceful era.”

Rosa watched Mowan with a smile, while also feeling a slight sense of loneliness in her heart.

She reached out and patted Mowan’s shoulder.

“I haven’t experienced your pain, so I might have been a bit self-righteous. But now that I know what’s on your mind, I’m satisfied. If there’s a chance, you should come visit my hometown. My mother would surely like you.”

Usually, her mother would always nag her about being stable, not taking risks, and finding someone she liked to marry early.

Rosa felt that Mowan was that kind of person now.

“Of course there will be a chance, as long as you leave her.”

Mowan looked once more at the culprit who made Rosa so stubborn.

“No… I want to see different scenery. I’m not forcing my thoughts on you anymore, so you can’t force yours on me either.”

Rosa’s eyes were so clear that Mowan couldn’t see a single trace of murkiness or reluctance.

Laedel turned her head away; she hadn’t said a word from start to finish.

She was merely a subject following orders.

Mowan’s heart was filled with mixed emotions; perhaps she had wrongly blamed Laedel.

“How long… will you stay?”

“If you’re willing to talk with your cousin, we’ll leave.”

“I have nothing to talk about with her.”

It seemed that Mowan truly had no lingering thoughts about the Demon Race, and Rosa deferred to her.

“Alright, then we’ll… pack up and leave tomorrow. To be honest, I’m a bit reluctant to leave you just after arriving.”

“I also wish you could stay a little longer.”

“You haven’t told me where you live yet. If I knew where you lived, I could sneak over to see you, and the Lady Saint wouldn’t know.”

“About that…”

“But since that place is the Lady Saint’s territory, she probably has informants there, right? You’d better not tell me after all.”

This time, Rosa didn’t make things difficult for Mowan.

Mowan had intended to brush it off, but seeing how much Rosa cared for her feelings made her change her mind in an instant.

Instead, she felt even more like telling Rosa.

“Rosa, I…”

“Hmm?”

Mowan wanted to tell Rosa the truth.

She wanted to tell her best friend that she had someone she liked, and that person was the Saintess, Iserin.

They were living together now, which was why Iserin wouldn’t let her tell Rosa her address.

Then she remembered Iserin’s words.

‘Would Rosa… cut ties with her completely because of this?’

‘Would Rosa think her brain was fried for wanting to date the Saintess?’

Mowan put herself in the shoes of a normal person and felt that any normal person would think so.

But Iserin was different.

Iserin wasn’t an ordinary Saintess.

She wasn’t the conventional Saintess people perceived.

Only I understand her.

Only I… discovered her uniqueness.

“Then, can you leave a bit later? I have some things, and I haven’t decided whether to tell you yet.”

Even so, Mowan really wanted to share it with Rosa.

Hiding her romance with Iserin was certainly sweet and wonderful, but having no one to bless them always made Mowan feel a bit empty.

She hoped Rosa would support and bless her.

Rosa was intrigued by Mowan’s mysterious look and nodded.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you.”

Before leaving, Mowan reassured Rosa again and again.

“You will be very safe. I promise you, the Lady Saint won’t find you.”

When she went back, she would also try to persuade Iserin to be lenient toward Rosa.

‘If Iserin really loves me and is truly willing to be with me, she should… indulge my request, right?’