Chapter 6

Coughing lightly, Uta-seyu opened the door to a room that was no longer in use. The room had been left untouched since its owner left a month ago, everything remaining just as it was on the day they departed. The jacket hanging on the chair, the training sword and leather armor leaning against the wall, the quill pen left on the table, and the worn-out boots by the bedside. Even the mud on the boots seemed too precious to wipe off, and so it remained.

Whenever she came here, she felt as if she could meet that person anytime.

"Uta-seyu"

Yes, she felt as if he would call her name and embrace her gently. She felt as if he would make her laugh with his silly jokes.

Uta-seyu approached the bed and sat down gently.

"I'm so big, I'm afraid I might crush you if we sleep together"

It was his serious face, trembling with fear, that led them to have separate bedrooms. Uta-seyu felt a bit lonely, but she agreed. It was a grateful offer for Uta-seyu, as she didn't want to wake him up in the middle of the night with her coughing.

Lying down on the futon, she pressed her face into the pillow. She had placed several bags of hahanelo, so it wouldn't need to be washed, but the scent of that person was already gone. Feeling sad, Uta-seyu sighed.

How long had she been there? Uta-seyu remembered the purpose of her visit and got up, her body feeling heavy. She stood by the window and gathered the sunshade cloth. As she reached out, she coughed again.

The window, with its small glass panes set in a lattice frame, was a special order from the capital. The glass was of high transparency, allowing the outside scenery to be seen without distortion. The person had ordered all the windows in the house from the capital's workshop, even postponing the replacement of his own boots and saddle.

Unlocking the window and placing her hand on the frame, she pushed. To her surprise, the window opened without much effort.

Uta-seyu gasped.

Just a moment ago, the window was clearly reflecting the green outside, but now a woman she had never seen before was standing there. The woman had honey-colored skin and black hair with a lustrous sheen, like the kuroshinju, a rare gem found in the akoya shell. Upon closer inspection, even her eyes were black.

Remembering the black eyes of the devil from a children's book she read as a child, Uta-seyu felt a chill. But then, she realized who the woman was and smiled.

—Ah, so it's finally time.

"I've been waiting for you, angel."

The angel opened her mouth wide in surprise.

"Waiting for me? Me?"

"Yes."

The angel seemed surprised. "This is a new development," she muttered.

Perhaps not everyone who is visited by an angel is prepared for it.

"I've been prepared for a long time."

"What for?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

The confused voices slipped out. The angel also seemed puzzled.

Uta-seyu stared at the angel's black eyes for a moment. The angel blinked and looked back at her.

"Are you here to take me?"

"Take you? Me?"

The conversation wasn't making sense.

Uta-seyu examined the angel closely. The unfamiliar black hair and eyes, the strange texture of the clothing.

The smooth yellow wall behind the angel, which only those ascending to heaven could pass through, must be the judgment wall, she thought, but perhaps it wasn't.

The angel spoke in an awkward tone.

"Sorry. I just opened the window for some fresh air because it was a nice day. I don't seem to be the one you were waiting for."

"Oh, I see."

Uta-seyu's shoulders drooped.

She had heard the news that the person had successfully completed the royal mission and was appointed as the head of the capital's knight corps as promised.

So, it could have been any time.

The hero would receive many proposals from the sophisticated women of the capital. Uta-seyu wanted to leave before hearing that he had chosen someone.

Tears she thought had dried up gathered at the corners of her eyes, and a drop trickled down her cheek.

"Huh? What, what's wrong?"

The angel frowned in concern.

"I'm sorry, for showing such an unsightly appearance... cough."

As she tried to wipe away her tears, a sharp pain shot through her chest, and the taste of blood filled her mouth. She clutched the fabric at her chest and crouched down. Her breath stopped, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

The intense pain, like being ground in a stone mill, was something she had experienced many times.

"Hey, are you okay!?"

The angel leaned out from the gate of heaven.

Her throat tightened. Sweat stung her eyes, and a small container was thrust into her blurred vision. It contained a thick, dark red liquid that emitted an odor she had never smelled before.

"Drink this! It's a killer in taste and smell, but just drink it!"

In her fading consciousness, she heard the angel's voice. Perhaps she was being tested. Perhaps she needed to show her faith by drinking this liquid that smelled like her insides were being turned inside out. That's what the angel must be saying—

Uta-seyu extended her trembling hand. But just as her fingertips were about to touch it, her body tilted.

"No, no. Wait! Try to hold on until you drink this."

The angel descended from the gate of heaven to Uta-seyu's side.

"Just take a sip!"

The container was pressed to her lips, and a warm liquid flowed into her mouth. Uta-seyu struggled to keep from gagging. The taste was even worse than she imagined from the smell. Even if she boiled down tamane and nin-nik and left it in the sun, it wouldn't be this bad.

"Cough, cough, uh"

She managed to swallow a mouthful, and the sticky sensation spread in her mouth, causing her to choke. But she pushed back the rising sensation and looked at the angel.

—Surely, she must think I lack faith.

She was worried, but...

"Ugh, cough, cough"

Strangely, the angel was also choking.

"Are you, are you okay!?"

"I'm... fine."

The angel nodded with teary eyes when Uta-seyu touched her back, which, unlike the angels in church paintings, had no wings.

"Um, what was that just now...?"

After the angel's nausea subsided, Uta-seyu asked. She thought she was being evaluated to see if she was worthy of ascending to heaven, but perhaps she was completely mistaken.

"Trangone's blood. ...I mean, it just came out, but I'll go back for now. It would be bad if the window closes."

The angel, panting heavily, spoke words that barely registered with Uta-seyu.

"...Trangone"

That was the name of the dragon the person had been sent to slay on the royal mission.

"Why does an angel have Trangone's blood?"

"I received it from someone in armor. Or rather, it was the leftover from what was forced upon them..."

"Who is that person in armor...?"

Could it be? Uta-seyu's heart trembled with hope.

"Name? Ah!!"

The angel tilted her head and then exclaimed.

"I didn't ask for the name! Oh, no. This way, I won't know who to meet if I go to the wife."

Uta-seyu stood up quickly.

"Angel, please wait a moment. I'll be right back!"

"I can wait for an hour and a half."

Bowing slightly to the surprised angel, Uta-seyu ran out of the room, turned down the corridor, and entered the guest room. She tore the portrait hanging on the wall and returned.

It had been years since she had run so much, yet strangely, she felt no chest pain and her breath was not short.

"Angel, this person! Is this the person you met!?"

The portrait depicted the person in knight's armor—Uta-seyu's husband.

His golden hair and deep, lake-like blue eyes. His strong and thoughtful features still captivated Uta-seyu's heart.

"Oh, right, this person."

The angel nodded lightly, but then her black eyes widened.

"Are you, by any chance, this person's wife!?"

Uta-seyu smiled, a bit sadly.

"Ex... wife."

The angel extended her hands from the gate and took Uta-seyu's.

"I wanted to meet you!"

"Huh?"

Uta-seyu was confused.

The angel hadn't come to take her, but why did she want to meet her?

"Are you not here to take me?"

"Um, what do you mean by 'take'? ...I don't think so, but are you talking about an angel coming to take the soul of the dead to heaven?"

Uta-seyu nodded. According to church teachings, it was the duty of angels to separate the souls of the dead from the world.

"Am I a Grim Reaper...?"

The angel sighed. Then, she opened the fingers that had been gripping Uta-seyu's hands and straightened up.

"Listen carefully. I met this person by chance and had a conversation. He said he wanted to celebrate the success of the Trangone slaying with you. He said you were important to him and that he deeply regretted it. You know, um, that thing."

The angel's eyes darted around, and her cheeks turned slightly red. Uta-seyu realized what she meant.

"Going to the brothel?"

"Yes, the brothel. He said he ended up sleeping naked there, but it wasn't his intention. He was drunk and out of it, probably because the king's messenger made him drink until he was unconscious."

"I knew he went to the brothel, but I didn't know he slept naked."

The angel pressed her forehead and looked down.

"But I knew nothing happened."

The angel looked up sharply.

"Because he's useless when he's drunk."

After saying that, her cheeks turned hot. What kind of vulgar talk was she having with an innocent angel?

The angel laughed awkwardly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be talking about such things with an angel."

"No, that's fine. ...So, you can't forgive him for stepping into a brothel?"

Uta-seyu shook her head.

"No, no one can refuse a drink from the king's messenger. I know he was tricked."

Then, why... The angel furrowed her brow in confusion.

Uta-seyu placed her hand on her chest.

"I don't have much time. Shortly after we got married, I had my first attack while he was on patrol. The doctor said I wouldn't last more than a year. I couldn't tell him, especially when he was laughing about wanting a child soon. Then, a messenger from the capital came and said he would be appointed as the head of the capital's knight corps if he succeeded in slaying Trangone. But he refused. For me..."

Tears streamed down her face without her noticing.

She felt pathetic for being a burden to him. She resented her body for not being able to do as she wished.

"He's amazing. He can defeat anyone with one strike. Have you seen him wield a sword? It was beautiful. He shouldn't be buried in this rural area. Yet, he was going to refuse... even though I'm going to die soon."

Suddenly, she looked up. The angel was looking at her with a face that seemed to be chewing on a bitter pill. Her eyes were definitely on Uta-seyu, but her mind seemed to be elsewhere.

"Angel?"

When she called out, the angel snapped back to reality and showed Uta-seyu a complex smile.

"Maybe you two should talk more."

Is that so? But if they talked, he would probably have stayed. The thought of how much he would grieve after she died was unbearable for Uta-seyu.

"Also, I think you're probably fine now."

"Huh?"

Uta-seyu tilted her head. What did she mean by "fine"?

"Trangone's blood. It's said to cure all diseases. I only got over a hangover, but your ex-husband said it healed his burns. It seems your attacks have stopped too. Don't you feel lighter? Your body, I mean."

"...Ah"

Uta-seyu looked down at her body in shock.

There was no shortness of breath. The dull pain in her chest, the sensation like touching a grater, was gone.

"Am I cured?"

"Probably."

"Am I not going to die?"

"No, the current illness is cured, but everyone will die eventually... I got a hangover again after drinking."

"Can I have his child?"

"Well, are you listening to me? But, probably, yes."

The new tears felt very comforting. Uta-seyu sobbed with joy.

"Um, so, that's it. Try to go to the capital as soon as possible. The person in armor is probably waiting for you."

The angel reached for the gate.

Uta-seyu gasped and took the angel's hand.

"Wait. Please, let me thank you."

The angel frowned.

"I'm thinking maybe it's better if nothing is left behind..."

"Please, can I repay your kindness?"

Clutching the angel's arm, she pleaded.

"You two are a matched pair," the angel muttered, then looked around the room.

"Um, what about those round bags on the futon?"

"Hahanelo?"

Uta-seyu picked up the bag made of brightly colored fabric sewn together.

"Those, those, what is hahanelo? Why are they scattered on the futon?"

"It's a very spicy spice. If you grind it coarsely and put it in a cloth, it repels insects and prevents mold. By the way, it can also be used as a child's ball."

The angel's eyes lit up.

"Mold prevention!? That's perfect."

"Would you like all of them?"

Uta-seyu was somewhat shocked.

—Mold in heaven?

Handing the hahanelo to the angel, she realized that heaven and the teachings of the church were quite different.