Clarisse began to speak quietly, about ten paces away from him.
It was late at night, and the sky was not giving much light today, so she couldn’t see him properly.
If not for the short candle illuminating the desk, Clarisse would have only seen Noah’s shadow.
“I went to see the collapsed golem right after the soldiers returned today. It was a very kind golem.”
Noah nodded lightly. It was telling her to continue.
“The Golem said it couldn’t get up right away for two reasons. One is that it’s protecting its interior with preservation magic.”
“Mother’s magic… I see.”
He seemed to choose his tone carefully, but eventually answered politely.
However, it seemed more like he was trying to distance himself from Clarisse than being polite.
“…Yes.”
Clarisse suppressed her frustration and continued speaking.
“Wizard Sinnet of the previous generation, the former leader, established the preservation magic through the Golem, and it has been maintained until today. It uses the magic left by that person and the full moon as its power source.”
“It’s truly amazing, that’s…”
Noah muttered to himself while fiddling with his mask. For a moment, his curiosity blossomed and he wanted to ask more, but it seemed that he stopped because the other person was Clarisse.
How is it that a man who even puts his own life on the line for experiments can manage to suppress his curiosity at moments like these?
Clarisse was upset and felt like sulking, but for now, she decided to let it go.
“It said that to break the preservation magic and get up, there must be six people who need the truth.”
“So that’s the key to opening the preservation spell. Six.”
Noah picked out one person who could fit that description.
“Duke Sheridan, Valentine, Miss McLeod, I’ll be there too, and…”
Clarisse lifted one hand slightly, feeling a little disappointed that Noah didn’t pick her.
“Me.”
“Uhm, that’s still one less.”
“Although the Duchess desires the truth, I’m not sure if she can come all the way here in a shaking carriage with a child on the way. Couldn’t Sir Benson or Rosalina be an option? They both sincerely wish for the Duke’s problems to be resolved.”
“Honestly, I doubt whether the six include…the Girl. It might refer to six people who have a direct connection with the one buried inside the Golem.”
“You don’t know until you try.”
“Of course, try…”
“….”
“…W, we could find out by going to the Golem and checking each person one by one.”
Noah coughed as if he thought he’d slipped up and turned his head away.
“By the way, preservation magic… Was that what wizard Asto last mentioned? So, the wizard’s gem…”
“The wizard’s gem?”
“It’s nothing. It was just my own speculation, so don’t worry about it. More importantly, what is the other reason the Golem can’t get up?”
“Ah.”
Clarisse fiddled with her wrist for no reason. When she caught the shiny white ribbon, her heart felt a little calmer.
“They say it’s because there’s a piece that fell off.”
“Well, it has been outside for a long time.”
“It seems that the leader intentionally separated a certain stone. That one is… in my room.”
“In your room?”
Clarisse nodded slowly.
“It’s the red stone that Noah…no, wizard Sinnet gave me before.”
“Ah. I didn’t expect that to happen… If that’s the case, returning the stone should resolve the issue.”
“Y, yes, that seems to be the case.”
“That’s good.”
“…That’s good.”
“It seems there’s nothing more to discuss, so please be careful and go.”
“No, I.”
As Clarisse took a step closer, he quickly extended his hand.
“S, stay right there! You must speak from that spot!”
“…Ah.”
She shouldn’t approach.
Clarisse forced herself to push away the feeling of loneliness and briefly looked down.
“There’s another piece that fell off….”
“One more?”
“That stone has passed through the Golem and its surroundings several times.”
Clarisse lifted her head as if her heart had calmed down a little after saying that. She could feel him flinching as if he understood her words.
“I believe there is only one Golem from the previous leader… that is still actively operating with a specific ‘purpose’.”
“…!”
Noah flinched and touched his mask.
“Above all, recalling the sensation when I touched it, there’s no contradiction at all.”
“According to what you said, the stone in my body must indeed be part of my mother’s magic, or certainly some part of it…”
“It’s definitely a part of it. I can say that for sure. With this ability called Golem Master.”
“…Ah.”
He couldn’t say anything else to refute.
“But it’s a golem to protect the wizard Sinnet. That’s why I wanted to meet you and ask you separately.”
“Does that mean… you can separate this stone from me?”
“Actually, I don’t know what to do. But since it’s a golem, I think I can change form. If the wizard Sinnet gives me the chance.”
“…”
“Of course, if you don’t want it, I’ll keep this fact a secret for now.”
“Then the Golem won’t be able to get up.”
“That’s true.”
“That… is not good. The truth that my mother has preserved will be helpful to both you and Duke Sheridan, and I’m also concerned about what remains within it.”
“Then, will you allow me to do so?”
“T, that would be the case.”
He looked extremely uncomfortable. This wasn’t the first time he had shown his face to Clarisse.
“Is there a problem?”
He shook his head in shock.
“N, no! I mean, there’s… nothing. It’s just… the mask…”
“It’s difficult if you don’t take it off.”
If Clarisse was a great golem master, then it would be different, but right now, she couldn’t feel anything unless she actually touched the stone.
“Ah…”
Noah sat down on the desk and slumped for a moment.
It was as if he was giving up something.
“…I’m sorry, girl.”
And for some reason, he suddenly apologized in his usual tone.
“Yes?”
“No, I don’t know if I dare to apologize, but…Girlhas seen me kindly.”
His words, delivered with a slight stutter, were about the stones that had been adorning his face.
She doesn’t know why he was suddenly apologizing for that.
“I did plan to confess the truth someday. But if I don’t have this, the girl will…”
He swallowed his words and slowly took off his mask.
His two eyes, neatly closed beneath his white forehead, and his sharp jawline were revealed.
Up to this point, Noah’s demeanor wasn’t all that different from what Clarisse had known, so she couldn’t quite understand why he hesitated so much.
“Ah.”
But when he opened his purple eyes still and their gazes met.
Only then did she realize.
She forgot Noah’s request to stay away, and unconsciously walked toward him.
He didn’t stop Clarisse from approaching either.
As Clarisse stepped into the area illuminated by the small candle, she could see the change in him more clearly.
The stone disappeared.
All that remained in its place was his original white, smooth skin.
“…Please don’t say anything. I, I know.”
He mumbled in a small voice, ‘That I’m ugly.’
“Noah… you look wonderful.”
“You don’t have to try to comfort me.”
“I, I mean it! I almost want to touch it right now… Not that I actually will! No, no, I won’t.”
As her words wavered, mesmerized by his face, Noah finally softened his gaze and smiled warmly.
“…Please, speak comfortably. I’ve been troubling you for no reason. I’m sorry. My mind has been a bit tangled lately.”
“N, no. I’m also confused.”
“That’s true. Something unusual keeps happening.”
Clarisse swallowed the words, “Of course, that’s true, but right now, it’s because I like you too much,” and just smiled.
In any case, it was nice to be able to face Noah like this and talk comfortably.
Lately, he used to turn his head away whenever he saw Clarisse.
“Just…Just a little.”
While they were exchanging glances, he cautiously made a request with a slightly troubled expression.
“Could you step back a bit? The scent… I mean, just a few steps will do.”
“That doesn’t matter, but before that, can I ask you one thing?”
“Ask quickly!”
He seemed to want to send Clarisse away somehow. His eyes sparkled, showing his will to answer.
“Then, where is the stone?”
“….!”
“If it’s not on your face, then it’s certainly from another place, keeping watch over the situation. That’s to protect Noah…”
At that moment, Clarisse recalled an uncomfortable incident that had happened a while ago.
When the dagger of the wizard Asto stabbed him in the chest.
“…I see.”
She concluded by herself and stared at his left chest.
“Noah’s mother is truly an amazing person.”
Even after death, she used her powerful magic and will to change the shape and form of the stone once again to protect him.
“I should have figured it out right away when you said Noah was experimenting.”
“I, it’s okay. Then later with someone else…”
“Then, can you unbutton your shirt a little?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden!”
“That’s a little embarrassing.”
Clarisse blushed and kept fiddling with her wrist where the ribbon was tied.
“I, I’m still not skilled enough as a Golem Master to communicate with the stone through clothing. Ah, if only I were as capable as Noah’s mother… I’m so embarrassed!”
“There’s something you should be embarrassed about more than that! Ha… that’s enough.”
He blamed himself and muttered, “What was I expecting, really?” and then slid his long fingers down to the buttons fastened up to his neck.
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