Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 60: The Winter Mother

Receiving that voice, my eyes snapped open, turning up to gaze at the statue before me.

[Do you hear me...? Ah, it seems you do.]

Although it sounded similar at first, as its clarity solidified, I realised.

This voice certainly did not belong to the Librarian.

[Human, Enki Valentine... a saviour sent from beyond our realm. I send you my earnest greetings.]

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It spoke gradually, calmly, and the world around me seemed to have slowed to a halt as it did so.

Its overwhelming presence encompassing me fully, I found my eyes as if magnetically drawn to the faceless statue before me, unable to tear my eyes away.

[I am Elara, Twin Goddess of the Winter Full Moon.]

In the subsequent moments, a sharp chill shot down my spine like a thunderbolt, and all the skin on my back, neck and arms rose with goosebumps.

[Agent. I speak to you to convey my sincere gratitude.]

Remaining still for a moment that felt multitudes longer than it probably was in reality, my mouth remained dry, my body stiff. As if an unreasonable, invisible pressure pinned me down, all I could do was bow my head and listen.

Listen―to that cold voice.

[For coming to the rescue of my lonely child.]

[For resolving to save her, the will of endangering your own life to do so.]

[However, let it be known the path ahead is arduous.]

[The dearest child of our Senior Brother is tricky―endowed with both his Blessing and a fragment of his love.]

[Accordingly, for the sake of my own beloved child, I shall bestow upon you a Blessing of my own.]

At that moment, I felt a surge of frigidity around me.

[Equally imparted to you as a favour...]

"...!"

As if thrusted into a hyperboreal tundra and having my clothes stripped from my body, a terribly chilling sensation of freezing winds swept through me, biting my body all over both inside and out, relentlessly and without mercy.

[...As a representation of my recognition, my appreciation, my regard...]

That sudden blast of icy hell was undoubtedly an agonising shock, but by the time my body even thought to reflexively wrap my arms around myself for petty warmth, it had already vanished.

Just as abruptly as I was bathed in that frigid draught, I found myself back to normal, as if nothing had ever even happened.

[...And, as a plea.]

Still, I knew that not everything was the same as before.

[On account of your existence as a child from the outside, my power alone may not be much, but may it prove beneficial nevertheless.]

Deep within me, I could somewhat sense it. Near my heart, as if I had somehow been pricked there by a microscopic needle―I felt a certain stinging touch, but instead of the searing pain you would usually feel when receiving a cut, as if the skin was burning hot, it felt starkly different.

Conversely, it was a vaguely familiar sensation, sort of similar to the inherently loathsome cold you would experience when the temperature dropped too low and you weren’t wearing nearly enough layers, or perhaps the shocking rebound felt when pressing frosty metal against your skin, except multiplied...

In other words, almost exactly like what I had experienced just a moment prior.

Though I wasn’t sure to what extent that previous sensation’s influence was on this current pain, it certainly was like that, a repulsive, lingering thing.

But was it severe――As if a corner of my heart itself had been encased in ice.

Consequently, though cold, and incomparably so.

It burned.

And the disembodied voice of the Goddess continued.

[Defender of my child, saviour of our world.]

[This Mother of Winter wishes only for the greatest winds of fortunes to flow your way.]

[Washing through the lowest of valley troughs; brushing over the tallest of mountain peaks.]

[Accompanying the gentle breezes of summer.]

[Integrating with the tempestuous gusts of spring.]

[And journeying through the numbing gales of autumn.]

[May my gift of the Winter Moon reach you, and may it bring you only success.]

All of a sudden, the world that had frozen―resumed.

"..."

Glancing around, nobody else seemed to find anything off, or even notice that anything had happened at all.

I returned my gaze to the statue before me.

’Goddess...’

Regardless of what reservations I had held until this point, I could no longer deny that it was a real existence.

"..."

Bringing a hand to my chest, which shivered, I subconsciously clutched at the uncomfortable new sensation that had taken firm root within.

The chill that had infected a piece of my heart persisted even now. It was such a raw, crisp bite―the intensity unlike anything else I had ever experienced―that I felt myself instinctively craving warmth to heat my innards up, despite the Temple’s temperature not having shifted a degree since our entry.

A primal sense of needing to stave off the internal, pervasive coldness struck me. Still, I had to wait for Lucretia to finish praying before I could leave... and besides, something told me I wouldn’t be able to erase this harsh chill any time soon.

Thankfully, she didn’t take too long to finish either way.

When Lucretia eventually dropped her praying posture and stood up to send me a subtle glance, I caught it and followed suit. We still had to be mindful of the other visitors praying, so she just nodded at me once before walking away.

As I continued after her towards the Temple’s entrance, however...

"Oh, if it isn’t the Young Lady Archduchess! Fair morning to you! Have you been well?"

Suddenly, our path was obstructed.

A young man with shoulder-length white hair, bright green eyes, and dressed in attire similar to that of the other priests entered the Temple, greeted Lucretia with a radiant smile and a light bow.

"Saint Avalon. Good day to you as well..."

While she returned the greetings, I scanned him twice over, not failing to take in his face, which was exceptionally "beautiful" for a man, immediately bringing one question to mind.

’What, is he a 「target of interest」 too? Is that even allowed?’

Unexpectedly, yet another love interest had appeared.

"―Ah, that’s great to hear! It brings much warmth to my heart knowing that the Lady feels comfortable enough to continue her prayers in our Sunlit Temple. Without a doubt, I’m certain the Winter Mother looks fondly upon her daughter."

"Thank you. I would indeed be honoured if that were the case."

Then, he turned to me.

"And fair morning to this individual as well. My Lady, might this be a family attendant? Pardon me, but I was under the impression you were more of the solitary type... Regardless, it is always wonderful to see new faces in the Temple!"

Following his words, I caught Lucretia cast a sideways glance at me before responding.

"...I have recently been making certain efforts, and thus attained a new assistant to suit such needs. Enki?"

If he was really another love interest, then just like the mage, it didn’t seem like he was someone who had encountered the Protagonist yet.

’Then, I should probably make sure that doesn’t change.’

At her ambiguous introduction, I flashed a smile and shook hands with the guy.

"It’s a pleasure."

"Mikhael Avalon―the pleasure is mine... Hm? Oh, Sir Enki, perhaps, are you feeling alright? Your shoulder is..."

At that moment, I paused. Glancing surreptitiously at Lucretia, my faltering smile turned awkward, and I hesitated to come up with an answer.

"Huh? Oh, well..."

’Aie, what? How the hell did he know that...?’

With a gentle yet subtly firm touch, the so-called ’Saint’ held my arm and placed his palm on my injured right shoulder.

"Oh, dear me, have you been going around with this injury all day? The muscle is practically screaming in pain... Here, allow me to patch that up for you."

"Uh..."

Hearing his concerned words, Lucretia shot an inscrutable glance at me, the corner of her lip curling ever-so-slightly upwards. I wanted to say something, but he had already grabbed my arm, and I couldn’t even come up with anything.

Before I had the chance, she opened her mouth first.

"My goodness. What is it the commoners call this sort of situation? ’Letting the cat out of the bag’? My personal attendant couldn’t even hide his poor condition from me for a full day. I’m rather ashamed to be your master."

"..."

If you were to ask me why she wore a smug expression while watching me get taken care of and healed by this overly-handsome stranger, I wouldn’t be able to give a solid answer.

I guess, living up to her title as Antagonist, she simply felt the need to be mean at every given opportunity.

Or maybe she was just an inherently cruel person.