Published at 5th of December 2025 10:59 pm

Chapter 229 Part 1

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Heike looked up at the streetlamp illuminating us and let out a deep breath before speaking.

I told Narce and you that I wanted to try living with Mom after graduation, but the possibility of that happening is close to zero. It was just literally a dream.

.

I feel sorry for being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with you guys despite my lacking skills, but separately from that, I honestly like being at Eszett. Maybe, even by chance, just once, there might be a possibility of running into Mom.

Ever since the talk about her mother started earlier, that usually quiet one kept talking without stopping.

At least regarding the Eszett matter, I was about to console her that there was no need to feel indebted, when Heike muttered.

If our mom was also a mage affiliated with the imperial family, it would have been easier to hear news about her.

She was almost obsessively folding the empty paper bowl in half repeatedly. I snatched that paper and asked.

Then, do you know absolutely nothing about Moms news?

No, I know a little. Shes a teacher at a magic school in the northern part of the capital. She said she lives in the faculty dormitory there.

When I just looked at her, Heike added a bit more.

Its 10 oclock now. At this time, shed be reading the evening edition of the Imperial Newspaper and an education journal, and around midnight, shell take a walk by the lake in front of the school. Shell come out for another walk before going to work tomorrow, and from 7 oclock, shell start morning classes. She doesnt eat lunch at school but always goes out to eat.

Huh? What? Why do you know so well?

I just said it casually, expecting her to tell me the source of the information.

Is this delusion? Or did she really hear it from somewhere?

My reaction must have come across as quite flustered, because Heike clamped her mouth shut and then explained.

I hired someone at the beginning of the year.

.

When I gave an incredulous smile, Heike rolled her eyes.

Thats all I know besides that.

.

Sorry. Actually, I also know that Mom likes beer. Um, I know she doesnt eat much for dinner But really, I dont know more than this. Trying to find out without crossing into dangerous territory meant I couldnt learn much.

Well, yeah.

For nobles, investigating one person isnt that difficult.

Its not right, but this kind of investigation happens commonly even in the 21st century, so its not that surprising. Wasnt the commercialization of background checks starting around this time anyway?

Its just that for the usually emotionless Heike to go to the extent of spending time and money on this, its hard to gauge just how curious she was about her mother.

I organized my thoughts and said.

Heike. If you meet your mother, does it not matter what kind of reaction she shows you?

Would it really be okay if her mother came out hostile?

It was a bit off from the flow of the conversation and slightly rude.

However, I had no choice but to point it out. In my opinion, it seemed a little dangerous.

No matter how much she thought it would be fine, if things went wrong upon actually meeting, she might get genuinely hurt. Heikes resolve was firm, but until she experienced it firsthand, nothing could be certain. People know less about themselves than they think.

Heike answered without hesitation.

It doesnt matter. As you know, I dont even properly know why I wanted to get close to you. I already told you I dont know if its simply because I wanted a friend too, or if I liked you. Its the same. Ive already imagined the worst-case scenario countless times and grew up hearing from my uncle that Mom doesnt think about me, but Ive never really been hurt by it.

I see.

Moreover, even if I get hurt by directly witnessing that Mom hates me.

Heike continued with a nonchalant face.

I want that.

.

I want to be someone who can feel such emotions. Also, if Mom hates me, that means I, who was made from Moms blood, can become someone who can hate someone like Mom does. So, someone who can feel clearer emotions.

I thought the approach was wrong.

There was no need to obsess over not feeling emotions properly; if that emotional deficiency didnt cause harm to society, there was no need to force herself to fix it.

Also, her mother and Heike were separate beings. Was it healthy to seek justification for affirming herself from others? How much could that justification obtained from others sustain her?

.

My answer clearly pointed in the opposite direction of what Heike aimed for.

But regardless of what I thought, Heike wanted to feel richer and deeper emotions. Also, even if it wasnt the healthiest method, if she could gain a foundation for growth through her mother, it wouldnt be all bad.

In the end, I had no reason to preach to her to find grounds to affirm yourself from yourself, and since she wasnt seeking my help, I had no reason to rashly encourage her to try hard to feel emotions.

If it werent a suggestion, I wouldnt have intervened in Heikes life in any direction. That was my intention.

However, she was a character who could become a worse villain than Adelbert in the future, and the system used the suggestion to induce conquering Heike to change her future.

So.

I would try meddling in something I originally wouldnt have bothered with in my lifetime.

Heike.

Heikes half-lidded eyes turned toward me. Under the streetlamp, Heikes ash-gray eyes had sunk into a different light from usual, darkly.

If I help you now, would you want to go see your mother?

Heikes eyes widened. An indescribable anticipation appeared on her face and quickly vanished. An expression close to resignation emerged, and she replied in a tone devoid of any excitement, as if reading from a textbook.

Its a contract violation.

What if we can avoid violating it?

.

She realized my voice was utterly serious. Heikes eyes narrowed. The corner of her mouth that was about to rise into a scoff twisted.

I grabbed the necklace chain from inside my shirt and pulled out whichever of the two artifacts my hand caught. What came out in my hand was the artifact Tsheringen gave me. It didnt matter which one, since Heike didnt know the purpose of my artifacts anyway.

I couldnt reveal that I could use divine power, and I didnt want to mess with her brain, so I needed to deceive a little. I lightly channeled divine power into the hand holding the artifact.

What is it?

Heikes eyes widened. To make the transformation spell I cast on her look like it came from the artifact, not my magic, from now on, this had to appear as power from the artifact.

Without answering that question, I continued what I was saying earlier.

If you were to meet your mother in my appearance.

So, if she borrowed the transformation magic of divine power. Even if she couldnt go before her in her own appearance, if she could stand before her mother and converse with her that way?

Heike looked at the white light shimmering like a star in the darkness, then raised her head.

.

Heikes pupils shook.

Staring at her pale face, I said.

Then, would that still be a contract violation?

Of course. Even if covered in divine power, its still me. Of course.

Heikes voice trembled.

A faint smile appeared on her face, then distorted again. It was closer to not being able to settle on a reaction due to the unforeseen situation, rather than a rejection response.

When I showed a smile, an indecipherable smile rose on her face again. I could tell she copied my expression because she didnt know what face to make.

Breath mixed into Heikes voice, and the sound gradually faded. A chilling obsession Id never seen before flashed in her eyes.

But since no one would know its me, the contract would lose its meaning now.

You know it well, Heike.

.

Decide. If you want, Ill help.

***

Really, what are you doing at this hour.

Back at school.

Richthofen, who came out wearing casual clothes with just a robe over them, shook his head with a wry laugh.

We needed to borrow space magic, so we needed a skilled person. Even now, we were standing on his space magic.

I greeted with a serious expression.

Its already 11 oclock, so thank you for helping at this late hour.

It might be better not to greet me so formally. You know why Im saying that?

Get used to it.

Yeah. Keep asking with that reckless attitude.

Richthofen waved his hand roughly and stuck his face close to Heikes.

Precisely, to Heike who was wearing my face thanks to the overlay of divine power.

Since Heike wanted to meet her mother, I cast a spell on her to change her appearance.

Actually, going disguised as a complete stranger would be the safest. Because theres no weight attached to the name.

But if a complete stranger suddenly went to her and brought up her child, theres a chance shed cut it off with I have no such child.

Then, what if disguising as a mage from the imperial family?

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