After Lil had fallen asleep again, Ian summoned the five knights stationed at this outpost near the forest.

He explained Lil’s circumstances. When he mentioned the possibility that she might be an ‘interpreter,’ reactions varied — some were surprised, while others were delighted.

“She’s a girl, so Rosaline should take care of her for now. When she wakes up, please give her a bath. Gloria, please help out too.”

Rosaline and Gloria readily agreed. Especially Rosaline, who had also been abandoned in the forest as a child like Lil. Even now, the memory still made her blood boil.

“Louis is with her for now. I’ll introduce her to everyone by tomorrow morning, so please be prepared.”

The members of the group tensed. They had taken in children before, but they had always been sent to the nearby orphanage shortly after. This was the first time a child would be staying at their outpost for an extended period.

Moreover, there was a chance she was an ‘interpreter’ — a national treasure. No one knew how they should interact with her. Ian found the group’s serious expressions amusing and chuckled. Knowing Lil, she’d probably fit in easily. Ian was confident in that.

When Ian stepped outside the building serving as their base, he saw the divine beasts — a cluster of squirrel-like creatures — gathered together. The sight made him stop for a moment, but he soon understood.

“The girl is asleep now. She should be awake by tomorrow morning.”

Hearing this, the squirrel-like creatures nodded as if they understood, then vanished into the forest. They had been the ones who came to inform Ian about Lil. Previously, they’d alerted him about other abandoned children, but they had never returned to check on any of them. Ian realized that Lil must be special, and his resolve strengthened.

The next morning, Ian headed to Lil’s room with Rosaline and Gloria. He had left Louis inside the room in case anything happened, but Ian still felt worried. Would she be crying?

As they neared the room, they heard Louis barking excitedly and Lil’s cheerful laughter. Ian felt relieved. Knocking on the door and stepping inside, he saw Lil sitting on the bed, stroking Louis.

“Good morning, Lil.”

“Good morning, Ian.”

Lil greeted him with a smile, and Ian relaxed once more.

“I’d like to introduce you to someone — two female knights stationed here at this outpost.”

At Ian’s prompting, Rosaline and Gloria introduced themselves, looking slightly nervous.

“I’m Rosaline Pierce. Starting today, I’ll be taking care of you, Lil.”

“I’m Gloria Solanas. It’s nice to meet you.”

Lil silently repeated their names in her head, determined not to forget. She stood from the bed and gave a polite bow.

“My name is Lil. It’s nice to meet you!”

Gloria was surprised by how well-mannered Lil was at her age. Perhaps her guardian spirit was strict about etiquette, she thought.

“First, they’ll help you take a bath. Afterward, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the group and give you a tour of the building.”

For some reason, Lil seemed determined, as if bracing herself for a big task. Though this wasn’t a job, it seemed Lil viewed it that way.

The three chatted about the building as they made their way to the bath.

Lil was astonished by the size of the bath she was shown. There was also a familiar scent in the air.

“An onsen?” she murmured.

Yes, this was like the hot spring in ‘Michiru-chan’s’ memories. Lil clapped her hands in realization.

“Wow, you recognized it! Have you been to one before?” Rosaline asked.

Lil shook her head and murmured, “Michiru-chan did.” Rosaline assumed this ‘Michiru-chan’ was the guardian spirit she’d mentioned earlier. Inwardly, she was grateful Lil had a guardian spirit watching over her — unlike when Rosaline had been abandoned and taken in by the holy knights. She had been completely alone.

“Alright, let’s get in together! Let’s get you nice and clean!”

With Rosaline and Gloria’s help, Lil prepared for her first real bath. Until now, she’d only ever wiped herself down with a damp cloth. ‘Michiru-chan’ had always said that proper grooming was important.

Lil’s body was thoroughly scrubbed, her dull skin gradually becoming fairer. Her hair was also washed carefully, leaving her feeling incredibly refreshed.

“Your hair’s too long. Shall we trim it a bit first?”

Lil’s hair had never been cut since birth and now reached her feet. Since it often got in the way, she gladly agreed. They trimmed it to about waist length, and Lil felt as though her head had become lighter — as if she could float away at any moment.

“Lil, your hair’s such a beautiful color,” Rosaline said, admiring the shimmering silver strands. Only moments ago, her hair had been dull and muddy-looking. The transformation surprised even Lil.

After washing up, Lil entered the bath. It was incredibly soothing — ‘like washing your soul clean,’ as ‘Michiru-chan’ had once said. Lil felt reborn.

After the bath, she was handed some clothes. As she wondered who they belonged to, she was told they were clothes meant for rescued children. The slightly oversized outfit was simple but easy to move in.

“Alright, let’s dry your hair now.”

Rosaline brought over a cylindrical object about the size of her palm. With a small motion, warm air began blowing from it. ‘A hairdryer!’ Michiru-chan exclaimed excitedly. Seeing Lil’s amazement, Gloria explained:

“This is a magical item called a Warm Air Device. It just needs a bit of magic power to blow warm air.”

“A magical item! This is fantasy!” Michiru-chan rejoiced. Curious, Lil asked about magic power.

“Everyone has some degree of magic power. It’s what you use when performing magic.”

Lil wondered if she had magic power too. Could she study magic someday? ‘Michiru-chan’ was encouraging her to become the strongest magician.

Once her hair was dry, Rosaline guided her to a mirror. It was Lil’s first time seeing one. Reflected in the glass was a small girl with silver hair and blue eyes. Lil stared, feeling deeply moved. Rosaline and Gloria praised her, saying she looked lovely.

Hand in hand with the two knights, Lil set off to meet Ian.

———————————

“Captain! We’re back!”

Rosaline’s energetic voice made Ian turn — and he was speechless. Lil looked like a completely different person.

“What do you think, Captain? Doesn’t she look beautiful now?”

“Yeah… she’s stunning.”

Ian gently ruffled Lil’s hair, and she smiled happily. The cleaned-up Lil was a striking beauty. Ian recalled that Lil’s older twin sister had been chosen as a Saint, and now he could see why. Despite her frail frame, Lil’s appearance alone stood out remarkably. Ian couldn’t help but wonder how dazzling she would become once she regained her health.

That thought made Ian just a little uneasy about the future.