Chapter 149

"Get lost…! Stupid birds! Who told you to come here and catch fish! Do you even know that there aren’t many fish in this lake to begin with! Do you understand that this counts as an invasive species invasion!"

A tiny stone, under Sheffy’s astonishing arm strength, actually stirred up waves over ten meters high in the lake, nearly splitting the water in half. The startled birds scattered in fright.

Sheffy brushed away an imaginary bead of sweat from her forehead, placed her hands on her hips, and sighed at how much more mature she had become.

Hmm, I beat them not because I hold a grudge, but because the big fish in the lake were limited.

If they snatched fish, then for every one they took, my chances of catching one would drop sharply—that was really bad.

Yet seeing that there were still water birds that didn’t know fear, even daring to launch a counterattack against Sheffy…

Sheffy prepared to grab a second stone.

A witch and a flock of water birds, clashing fiercely for the fish of a lake.

But this time…

The stone didn’t seem like it could be thrown.

"Ahhh…! Miss Shaya! Please spare them! They only wanted to eat fish, they won’t stay here long!"

"To eat fish is a capital crime!"

"Why?!"

Hearing Livra’s voice rushing over from afar to dissuade her, Sheffy had no choice but to toss away the stone in her hand without enthusiasm.

But that tactless bird that flew over still pecked at her head!

"Heyyo…! My bad temper, you saw it, didn’t you Livra? Mercy to these creatures is cruelty to myself!"

"Uu… no it’s not, I’ll make them leave right now."

"Hah?"

It was rare to see Livra not wearing a gown.

Because when Sheffy usually saw her, it was always in formal occasions—banquets or the arena—always her most dignified self.

But this time, it was the first meeting they had arranged privately, as friends rather than as partners.

Her simple jade-green half-skirt, cinched with a finely crafted crystal-blue belt, highlighted Livra’s graceful figure, while her brown long boots added a touch of old-fashioned elegance.

Silently giving high marks in her heart for Livra’s casual outfit, Sheffy grew curious as to how she planned to drive these birds away.

After all, those birds were still glaring and ready to attack me!

Then, Livra walked to the edge of the lake.

Her ink-black hair blended into the scenery, like brushstrokes of ink on a landscape painting.

Facing the lake, she gracefully and naturally raised both hands.

The water birds that had been circling Sheffy, waiting for the chance to strike, suddenly seemed to respond to a summons, gathering around Livra and spiraling, forming a whirlwind of white feathers.

Livra lifted her head and smiled at them, as if she had spoken something, but Sheffy didn’t hear a single word.

She only saw Livra wave one hand toward the surface of the lake, her slender fingers pointing the way.

That whirlwind of white feathers moved in perfect order, flying one after another toward the forest on the far shore of the lake.

The birdsong faded into the distance and ceased.

Livra let out a soft breath, lowered her arms, clasped her hands in front of her, and looked back, smiling brightly at Sheffy.

"Alright, Miss Shaya, the birds have gone off to find a new lake."

"Oh… to wreak havoc on someone else’s big fish… fine then. Wait, can you talk to birds?"

"Not exactly talk…"

This wasn’t any kind of secret—Livra simply hadn’t mentioned it, and no one cared much for such a trivial talent.

"I don’t know why, but when I calm myself, when I hear birdsong, I feel like I can understand what they’re thinking. I don’t understand their language, but I can grasp their meaning… um, sorry, maybe that sounds hard to believe?"

"It’s fine, I already understood."

"As expected of Miss Shaya!"

Yes yes yes, as expected of me. I didn’t actually understand what you just said, but I still have to act tough and claim I did.

One could only say that everyone had their own unique talents. Livra’s happened to be a rather peculiar one, and that was all there was to it.

With the water birds gone, the lake’s submerged fish leapt up once more. But after spotting who was standing on the shore, they sank back down and disappeared without a trace.

Sheffy sat down on a large stone by the lake.

It wasn’t for rest, but rather for her young yet already overworked waist.

Yet in Livra’s eyes, this posture of sitting before speaking looked mature—cool, even!

"So, coming to see me so early in the morning, what was it you wanted to say?"

"Well… um, forgive me, Miss Shaya, for intruding… may I sit here?"

"As you like."

The surface of the stone was wide enough. Livra sat down on the other end.

Her posture was elegant—compared to Sheffy, still in pajamas and sitting casually, they were like two extremes.

Silence didn’t last long.

Livra drew her gaze away from the shimmering surface of the lake, and instead directed all the light her eyes caught toward Sheffy sitting not far beside her.

"Miss Shaya, I actually… wanted to thank you in person."

"Oh oh, it’s about yesterday, isn’t it? Didn’t I already say, it doesn’t matter. Helping you settle the rebellion wasn’t really my goal—it’s just that those two things tried to attack Belith, so I casually evaporated them."

"Mm… of course I’m grateful for that too, but Miss Shaya, that isn’t what I came here to say today."

"Something else?"

"There is."

Livra rose from the stone.

She searched inside the pocket at her chest and took out two black feathers engraved with defensive magic.

They were the charms Sheffy had given her.

Seeing her take out those feathers, Sheffy raised a brow.

She probably… wanted to thank me for yesterday, when the defensive magic blocked the blast of the magic cannon?

But then—

When Sheffy looked up and met Livra’s emerald-like, shimmering eyes,

She discovered that within them flowed a light far purer than mere “gratitude.”

There were no words to describe it, but it was something that transcended time, not limited to their recent encounter.

"I wanted to say… thank you, for saving me back then."

"Uh… back then? Back then… don’t tell me you mean that incident… Are you talking about the same thing I’m thinking of?"

"Absolutely, Miss Shaya—no… Princess Sheffy. You met me when I was a child, didn’t you? The royal convoy patrolling the border between the Demon Clan and the Humans, the landslide on that rainy day, and those vicious mountain bandits!"

"……"

She had to admit… Livra’s memory was surprisingly good.

If not for her mother reminding her, Sheffy would have completely forgotten. Yet Livra could recall it on her own.

Actually, it wasn’t really about memory.

It was just that the same incident… carried different weight for each of them.

For Sheffy, it had been nothing more than a casual act of drawing her blade against injustice—nothing unusual.

But for Livra…

What had it meant to her?

That was something only Livra herself knew.

There was no need to hide it, and Sheffy had never intended to be some nameless hero.

So, she nodded.

That single nod acknowledged that she was indeed the girl who had saved Livra from the bandits that year.

"That’s right, it was me. It’s been so long, and you still rememb—eh?"

Her vision suddenly spun wildly!

Along with it, everything went dark.

—Something soft and gentle pressed against her face, carrying the sound of a heart beating faster and faster.

And in the last moment before her sight faded, it seemed Sheffy saw…

Livra’s eyes, wide and brimming with tears, as she instinctively threw herself forward and hugged her tight!

Seriously now…

Was that really necessary?!

---

60. Gift

Thinking about it, in her whole life, there were only three things that could overwhelm Sheffy.

First, there was Xiarette.

Then, the lively giant fish.

Lastly, the crushing disappointment of failing to catch one of those giant fish.

And now, unexpectedly, Livra’s bear hug had been added to the list!

"Hey…! What are you doing?"

"I found you…"

"Huh?"

"I finally found you…"

"I wasn’t playing hide-and-seek with you."

Muttering under her breath, Sheffy wisely stopped talking any further.

If you want to press down, then press. You’re not exactly heavy anyway.

After all…

It seemed Livra was really crying.

Thinking carefully about it, this cheerful and optimistic princess didn’t often cry.

Aside from those tears of joy during negotiations—which hardly counted as true crying—Sheffy had only ever seen her cry twice.

Once, when they first met.

Once, when they met again.

At their first meeting, mountain bandits surrounded them, blood spattered the ground, everything fragile and broken.

At their reunion, willows swayed in the wind, and a nation’s princess stood proud on her own.

And this “reunion”… must be here and now.

Her sobs were hushed, pitiful.

But unfortunately, as a witch, Sheffy was not one to pity delicate flowers.

Sheffy suddenly twisted her body, attempting to fling the girl pressing her down to the other side.

A little pressure was fine, but being pinned underneath—she had some psychological shadows about that. It was really uncomfortable.

"Heave-ho…!"

"Eh?"

"……"

Who would have thought—Livra clung to her like a koala.

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