‘A b, body?!’
“Could you please say that again, your Majesty?”
– You seem overly surprised. This Queen was the greatest Cardinal of my time, so my plate is something that cannot easily disappear either. It is only natural that I would need an avatar.
Hanan Rumayyan scowled as she explained. Her dignified voice echoed in all directions. The ghosts also nodded their heads in agreement.
She was calling it a logical reason, but I, naturally, could not understand it. I urgently looked toward the Imperial Crown Prince, who, surprisingly, seemed to half understand what she was saying.
At least Joanne had a similar expression as my own. She pulled up her pants and asked in an anxious voice. “Your Majesty, what do you mean? I am too stupid to understand your mighty words. His highness and the priest also seem confused.”
– Haaaaaaaaaa…… It feels as if I am teaching babies that are still nursing on their mothers’ bosoms.
The Queen let out a deep sigh before supporting her head with one arm and getting in a more comfortable position.
She then raised her long finger and pointed at crown prince Cédric’s heart. The ghosts looked at us and endlessly whispered.
‘They must be disappointed that their liberators are stupider than they expected. I’m sorry.’
– A human’s soul is called the plate. It is because the ether that comes out of a person’s heart gets stored in the plate. The power bestowed by the Almighty God is not stored in a person’s physical body, but their soul.
“I, I know that, but……” Sand answered in an extremely quiet voice. Hanan scowled after hearing his response. “Aaaaaaaaaah.” The priest got scared and tightly hugged Rhea and Perry.
“Kiiii!” “Kruuuuuu!” The two little ones cutely cried.
Thankfully, the cuteness of the divine beasts seemed to work on the ancient Queen as well. She had a look on her face that seemed as if she gathered up all of her patience into her soul (was it okay to phrase it like this?) and opened her mouth.
– ……I have remained here for a thousand years for an extremely deep grudge. My soul has already ended up different from a regular plate. My extremely strong ether has gathered like tar. It has gathered in one spot and decomposed for such a long time that a regular holy figure cannot allow me to gain peace.
“Then……”
– I will need to transmigrate into someone’s body to resolve it. It will take some time for my plate to be emptied.
‘My goodness, transmigration? That thing I know so well?!’ I suddenly became desperate to find Christelle, whom I had no idea where was right now. I instinctively looked for the adult in our group, Sir Johann. He smiled bitterly and nodded his head. He was saying that what I was thinking was correct.
So, to summarize what was being said right now……
“You need to find a living body to enter, and use that ‘avatar’ to release your abilities so that eventually, your ether is depleted and you can find true peace?”
– The Archbishop is wise. May the Riester heir be blessed.
Hanan looked down at the crown prince and spoke almost as if she was making fun of him.
After hearing her confirm it, my mind became complicated for a different reason.
‘That’s all fine and dandy, but how and where do we find a person to be her avatar? We also need to get that person to agree to do it. We absolutely cannot force someone to-’
– However, unfortunately, your souls are not in good conditions.
“Excuse me?”
I jerked my head up. Swoosh! Hanan suddenly flew over and our foreheads were right by each other. Her large eyes rolled around and observed me. I felt like I was a lab rat. I couldn’t help but gulp.
– You are especially weird. This Queen is unable to detect ether, but your aura seems quite clear. However, why is your shell and your inside playing separately?
“…..I, I do not know what you mean, your Majesty.”
– It would be too complicated to go inside you.
‘Wow, holy shit!’
A thousand year old Queen Cardinal ghost seemed to be able to see through someone else’s transmigration. I had cold sweat dripping down my back and goosebumps on my sides. I suddenly didn’t remember how to breathe. I felt the crown prince’s sharp gaze, so I felt like I needed to say something, but it was difficult to come up with a proper response.
She squinted and her long inner lashes tickled my hair. ‘So, basically……’
– You won’t work because you are not complete. Tsk. Why does a little baby like you have to suffer so much?
‘Eek.’ Hanan had already moved past me when I snapped back to my senses.
She clicked her tongue after looking at the crown prince and then looked up and down Sir Johann.
– Body is strong and plate is firm but completely lacks faith. Why did you end up losing your faith?
“I never had it from the beginning, your Majesty.”
– Hooo.
“My goodness!” The ghosts shook their heads at Sir Johann and whispered to one another. I cautiously made eye contact with him. The man silently smiled.
Hanan thoroughly observed Sand, Marian, and Joanne as well.
‘I feel like I’m going through TSA.’
– You are also lacking faith while you are too young! This one has a lot of suspicion as well. Either way, none of you can be used as my avatar.
She looked as if it was a pity. The ghosts looked up at their queen and all pointed to one spot. I was wondering who they were pointing to, but…
– Squeeeee?
– Kiiiii?
– Cree?
– Aarf?
– Ha! That is not possible. Have you forgotten that you will meet a terrible ending if you mess with the messengers of the Almighty God? Not only will you fall to hell where your soul will be ripped into pieces, you will never be able to reincarnate.
‘Ahhhhhhhhh!’ The ghosts gasped and moved a few steps away from the divine beasts.
Demy tilted his head and took a step toward them, making the young ghosts cry and hide behind Hanan. I hugged them in my arms and apologized.
‘Are you telling me that these ether gluttons that frequently gift me fluffy things are such scary existences?’
– Well then, let’s take a look at that one.
Hanan suddenly stood up. She then extended her arm behind us……?
“Aaaaaah!”
– Hoo.
I gasped after seeing the person dangling upside down in her hand.
“Christelle?”
“Your highness! Ahaha! This is too ticklish!”
“How long have you been here?”
“Earlier, eek! When she started introducing herself!”
‘So you were here from the beginning. All the QNW people are like this! Were you hiding because it felt awkward to interject?’
– Quiet.
Hanan sternly warned her. She then raised Christelle high up and brought her up to her nose to take a look. Her pink hair fluttered in the air.
The MC looked as if she was both scared and entertained. Thankfully, she did not seem injured at all. The Queen acted as if she was a delivery box or something. She shook Christelle, glared at her, before looking back and forth at me and her.
‘Why now?!’
– ……A thousand years is truly a long time. Is your situation common these days? This is the first time this Queen has seen it.
The Queen looked down at me and asked. I stupidly asked back.
“When you say my situation-”
– This little one has a difference inside and outside as well. However, she is different from you. If you ask how you are different…… Mmm.
Hanan continued to hold Christelle and poked at Christelle’s heart. Christelle laughed out loud and flopped like a fish. I should probably have asked her to put Christelle down, but Christelle seemed to be enjoying it, so……
– How strange. Oh!
The Queen’s eyes suddenly opened wide. I was anxious, thinking that her intense reaction might lead to a bomb of a proclamation. Something like how we look like existences from another world or about how we are living in other people’s bodies… Maybe she would be like a skilled shaman and shout, ‘be gone!’ I was scared something like that might happen.
But she suddenly turned her back to us and looked to the other side. My Holy Knight friends turned their heads as well while the divine beasts twitched their whiskers.
‘Is something over there?’
“Please return my daughter. Please!”
‘Please, please, please……!’ An extremely familiar voice echoed in the room.
My head instantly turned white. ‘Is this for real?’
– How entertaining.
“Christelle is still young. If she did something wrong, I will receive the punishment in her place! Please be magnanimous!”
‘Holy moly, how did Isabelle make it all the way here?!’
*
– How outstanding.
Swoosh! Hanan put Christelle down almost as if throwing her (“Ahhhhhhahhh!”) and quickly headed to the other side. I was certain that she would not harm Isabelle, but it didn’t mean that my concern and anxiety went away.
I first moved to check on Christelle. Her whole body was squirmy from the tickle attack, but she seemed fine.
“Christelle. Your mother is here.”
“Aigoo, what the heck……” She rolled around and stood up.
Isabelle on the other side looked to be wearing some comfortable clothes and long boots while holding a club that was thicker than her leg. She was also alone! I could see that she was shaking despite the distance.
Seeing me visibly anxious made the crown prince punk stand in front of me to block my view.
‘Do you think not seeing it will make me better?’
– What an outstanding soul. Deep faith, clean plate, and someone who is fit to be an example for others.
“……T, thank you very much.”
– Will you lend me your body?
“Excuse me?” Isabelle’s eyes opened wide.
As for us, our eyes weren’t just wide open. My eyes felt like they would jump around, do a lap around the neighborhood, before bursting out of my mouth.
“Shouldn’t we stop her? Isabelle is just a normal person.”
“My words exactly!”
“W, will Lady Isabelle be able to handle her Majesty’s soul?”
“A pretty wholesome discussion seems to be taking place, everyone. They are both adults.” Sir Johann commented, almost as if he was consoling us. I urgently looked up at the crown prince bastard.
“What are they saying over there? I can’t really hear.”
“She says lending her body will not harm Madam Rambouillet’s health or lifespan.”
“And then? Isabelle seems to be answering right now.”
“……I am not an owl.” He immediately scowled.
‘The male lead is so cheap! The free pass is only for one sentence?!’
“Mother! How did you get here? What happened to your guards?!” Christelle put up both hands by her mouth and shouted. She suddenly looked extremely serious.
The two women turned to look at us. Isabelle looked ready to cry. Her lips started moving.
“You didn’t come back…… You didn’t come back for five days after leaving for the ruins! I snuck out because I was worried!”
“Five days?!” We shouted at the same time.
Time seemed to be flowing differently inside the ruin than outside. Marian started hiccuping before dangling on Christelle’s hip. She whispered something to Marian before standing back up.
“Still…… You can’t come to somewhere so dangerous by yourself! You know that! What were you thinking?!”
“I thought that would be the last time!” Isabelle shouted in a teary voice. Christelle looked perplexed.
The rowdy ghosts instantly turned quiet. We, as well as the great Queen, Hanan, all started to look at the mother and daughter duo. The atmosphere seemed serious.
“You, to your mother…… You seemed to be avoiding your mother. Your grandfather and grandmother as well. I thought we must have done something wrong to you! But I couldn’t let such a memory be our last one together! I, I……” Isabelle was almost crying. As expected, she knew and had been feeling everything.
Hanan looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. I quickly shook my head. ‘Please wait a bit longer, oh great Queen Cardinal Ghost.’
“Mother, I was never avoiding you!”
But Christelle looked extremely flustered. ‘Hmm?’
“It’s fine! You don’t need to lie. I know it can be uncomfortable! Grandma and grandpa acting too burdensome, your mom being too pushy-”
“No! A cavity!” Christelle shouted. The gazes that had been moving like pingpong balls all landed on her.
‘What did she just say?’
“It’s black over here! Please come and take a look! Ah ah. Maw tood hwas a cawidy ahnd eet huurts (My tooth has a cavity and it hurts!)”
‘My goodness……’
“I was avoiding you because it hurts when you touch my cheeks. Not because I don’t like you! I also like grandma and grandpa very much! But that’s also the reason I didn’t eat the crackers they gave me. I knew you would notice and send me to see a doctor! I swear!”
There is a novel that even tells you about the state of the MC’s teeth. I calmly exchanged glances with the crown prince. I then sent a fierce gaze. ‘Did you know about this?’
The bastard scowled. ‘Why should I?’
‘You feisty bastard.’
“……But… You didn’t use mom’s family name in the guestbook! I thought you were still thinking about your dad-”
“I don’t think about that shitty person!”
‘You’re going to lose your voice!’ I quickly opened a bottle and handed it to Christelle. She took a few gulps before wiping the water off her chin and continuing to speak. She looked a bit apologetic.
“Umm! That…… I haven’t memorized it yet!”
– Not memorized what?
Hanan couldn’t help but interject. Christelle opened and closed her mouth a few times without saying anything, which was rare for her.
“Rambouillet! I know most of it but I keep spelling it wrong. I’m sorry. I didn’t write it because I thought I would get it wrong!”
“……”
“……”
– …….
There was a long silence.
“Ooooo.” A ghost tried to change the mood but shut his mouth after another ghost stared at him.
Christelle must have felt embarrassed after revealing two hidden truths that she started scratching her neck.
The crown prince sighed. Isabelle blankly stood there before her pretty face slowly turned into a scowl. It was a mess because she seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time. But her emotions were clear. It could not be missed as that single emotion was clearly visible. Clear drops of water fell down her cheek.
“Hahaha…….”
“Hehehe.”
The woman was happy. So Christelle ended up laughing brightly as well.
– Then will you make this deal? What will it be, woman who loves her daughter?
The Queen, who had calmly waited for a while, asked Isabelle. The two of our faces stiffened at once. There seemed to be nothing disadvantageous to her since Sir Johann did not stop them, but I still couldn’t help but be worried. What if she became shocked at the sudden power? What if she found adapting to be difficult? What if she wants to nullify the deal……
“I’ll do it.”
“Madam.” The crown prince called out to her in a low voice. He was telling her to think carefully.
Isabelle looked at her daughter and spoke with determination. “I decided to do anything and everything to save my daughter.”
“Mother.”
“People think that this decision came around three years ago. But that is not the truth.”
She extended her shaking hand to Hanan. The Queen picked up a finger with an extremely satisfied demeanor.
“From the first time I saw her…… I’ve wanted to protect Christelle since the day I met her when she was eight years old.”
– I like this avatar.
– Paaaaat―!
A bright light flashed out of the thousand year old soul. The red light soon turned pink before turning pure white again. Shhhhhhhhhhhh! A gust of wind swirled in the burial room. I gathered with my friends to barely protect the child and the divine beasts.
In this storm of light where we couldn’t even open our eyes properly, I thought I saw a bright smile on Isabelle’s face. I also saw her light green hair that resembled the spring grass.
—
Translator’s Comments
That’s one way to get Isabelle to join the harem I mean party without making it awkward I guess?