Chapter 28: A Soul’s Struggle and a Peculiar Absence

“Additionally, I have a few other matters I need your help with. Joshua, are you currently in Falmond?”

From thousands of miles away, Joshua paused in thought before responding.

“I am in the Holy City; there must always be a Saintess on standby here. Is there anything I can assist you with?”

“Could you help me investigate information about the underground sanctuary in Falmond’s North District? Also, do you recognize this ring?”

Noah held up the exquisite “Rosemary’s Embrace” on her right hand. She distinctly recalled that it was only after clearing the underground sanctuary’s dungeon and acquiring this very ring that she had been transported to this location.

Undoubtedly, it was labeled “World-Class,” yet the Demon Lord’s Castle library yielded no information about it. Noah could only place her hopes in the sanctuary’s knowledge archives.

Furthermore, she vaguely recalled that the original Healing Saintess Noah had been the one to issue the quest for exploring that underground sanctuary.

“Hmm… I don’t have any impression of it. I will help you look, though it might take some time.”

Joshua meticulously scrutinized the exquisite ornament through the owl’s eyes, her face almost pressed against the screen, only to conclude that it was merely a “beautiful accessory with a faint magical aura.”

Even so, she approached Noah’s request with utmost seriousness, and it was this unspoken trust that brought Noah immense peace of mind.

“Understood, thank you.”

Noah exhaled a breath of relief, then, as if remembering something, her gentle features subtly hardened.

“Joshua, I have a question for you, though it might seem inconsequential.”

“What is it?”

Joshua adjusted her round-rimmed glasses, while Issac beside her perked up her ears, listening intently.

Though still young, Issac, having experienced much, had already begun to form her own standards of judgment, even if she didn’t yet know how to articulate them.

For instance, among all the Saintesses, the kindest, most reliable, and gentlest was undoubtedly Sister Noah, who stood before them.

Thus, whatever Sister Noah said, Issac would listen attentively.

“What is your general attitude towards these ‘adventurers’ from other worlds?”

Saintess Noah’s recent memories were quite hazy, compelling her to use this vague phrasing, “you all,” to refer to the inhabitants of this world.

“Adventurers? They are visitors from another world, explorers driven by self-interest, capable of rebirth even after death, composite beings of magic and data.”

Joshua flipped through her notes, objectively and accurately detailing her perspective on adventurers, or “players” as they were called.

“While I’m unsure of their reasons for being here, it’s said that the central system’s highest administrative authority rests with the High Priestess. If you have the chance, you could return and ask her yourself.”

Joshua’s words implied, ‘Even if you ask me to relay it, I wouldn’t understand; it would be better for you to return and ask her in person.’

Although she was a Saintess dedicated to uncovering mysteries, the very existence of adventurers involved “authority,” tied to World-Class items, and Joshua dared not make any rash conclusions.

“All right, I understand.”

In response, Noah simply nodded calmly, her gentle smile as unwavering as ever, much like a researcher awaiting the results of a long-term experiment.

“Well then, Issac will go submit the mission report to the head maid now. For the time being, both Issac and Sister Joshua will remain here.”

As the conversation drew to a close, Issac noticed the clock on the wall and spoke timidly.

She gazed at Noah, who stood with her hands gracefully clasped before her, watching them with a gentle and elegant demeanor. A flicker of reluctance crossed Issac’s clear eyes, and like a fledgling swallow, she suddenly darted into Noah’s embrace.

Noah froze, and before she could utter a word, a muffled, soft voice emanated from Issac, who was buried in her chest.

“Sister Noah… you must come back.”

Issac’s slender hands tightly encircled Noah’s delicate waist, her voice growing fainter and fainter, like an ethereal murmur.

Noah chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around Issac’s shoulders and gently stroking the little head nestled against her chest, speaking tenderly.

“Don’t worry, your Sister Noah will certainly return.”

As the evening bells tolled dully, Issac released the warm embrace she clung to and relied upon, then, taking Joshua’s owl, she scurried away from the spot.

She glanced back occasionally, and seeing Noah still standing upright, gently watching them, her heart settled.

The petite figure grew smaller and smaller in Noah’s eyes until it rounded the corner and vanished from sight.

***

“Ugh!”

The moment Issac left, Noah clutched her head, a violent ringing in her ears bringing a tearing pain, as if something was forcefully trying to rip her from this world.

Contact with those she once knew seemed to have caused a clash of souls, resulting in a fierce conflict between her original soul and her current one.

It was as if two warring factions were vying for conquest, each attempting to usurp the other.

After a long while, Noah finally recovered. Leaning against the wall, her face as pale as gold leaf, she clutched a fist to her chest, gasping for breath.

Her smooth, gracefully curved back was already drenched in fragrant sweat, and for a moment, Noah couldn’t even distinguish who she truly was.

‘I can barely hold on… it seems even if it’s a bit reckless, I must perform the ritual quickly.’

“Hahaha…” Noah chuckled weakly, a self-deprecating sound. She was unaware of how frail she appeared at that moment, her slender legs trembling like those of a newborn fawn.

‘The “Soul Fusion” secret art of a World-Class item… let me witness its power.’

Raising her hand, she placed the exquisite azure ring beneath the newly lit magic-flame lamp, and a magnificent gleam sparkled in her pink eyes.

‘Otherwise… I don’t know how I’ll be able to save myself.’

***

This afternoon… how strange?

Having finished dinner and now strolling through the garden, Letitia suddenly felt that something was amiss.

The moonlight in the night sky was cold and vast, seemingly reflecting Letitia’s somewhat lonely heart.

Since noon, she hadn’t encountered the Saintess at all.

Yesterday, she had managed to escape Noah’s incessant presence because she had gone out with Clennina to apprehend an Abyssal Bishop.

Today, however, she had been in the Demon Lord’s Castle all day; there was no reason for that Saintess not to come and bother her.

Letitia was utterly perplexed, a subtle worry gnawing at her. Despite only two days of acquaintance, she had, for some inexplicable reason, grown accustomed to Noah’s presence in her life.

Before she had ‘acquired’ her, Letitia had regarded Noah as a dazzling prize, an inevitable acquisition, much like a crown or a precious jewel.

Perhaps Noah’s significance in her heart was indeed slightly greater than those inanimate objects, but that was all.

This was what she had initially believed, yet after ‘obtaining’ Noah, she found herself devoid of the excitement she had anticipated, replaced instead by a profound, almost serene sense of peace.

It was as if Noah had always been an intrinsic part of her life; her presence brought no particular sensation, but her absence left an unfillable void in her heart.