The Defeated Saintess Is On A Journey To Tame The Evil God Book 01 Chapter 06.01 - Whale Song

"... there have been two sightings of Steam Man in the White Tower District overnight. Councillor Estain Allorn and Bishop Arcadia Sebourn were murdered. The police and the Bellkeepers are cooperating in the investigation..."

"... a storm brewing in the Middle Sea, with wind force reaching five string rank. It is speculated that a narwhal pod is migrating...",

"... Prince Austin has spoken on the Steam Man incidents, stating that he will establish a foundation to provide compensation for the victims and their families..."

"... the latest release of Nevirabeta Magic Academy: stable wind string sails..."

Aurora put down the newspaper and stretched her body.

Sunlight poured into Miriam's old apartment from the window, backlighting the picture frame containing the picture of three people smiling standing by the window. The surface of the picture seemed to be shrouded in a layer of haze.

Today was Saturday. Aurora and Xing Mo had gone to the Sunflower Hot Springs two days ago.

In the past two days, the senior figures of the Citadel tried to cover up the Steam Man incidents, yet reporters wearing Gatsby hats exposed the truth—after all, since Bishop Arcadia was attending a banquet when he was murdered, there were many witnesses.

Unsurprisingly, panic spread throughout the Citadel, and the streets became increasingly deserted at night.

"I'm going to take a nap." Aurora squinted, shading her eyes from the sun with her hand, "What about you? Young Saintess? Will you be my pillow?"

At this time, Xing Mo was standing by the coat rack, draping herself in an outdoor in a robe over her academy uniform.

"I'm going out, and may not come back until evening." Xing Mo's voice was calm, "I’ve left some money on the table. Go get yourself something to eat nearby."

"Eh... that's cold... what kind of servant would have their master take care of lunch themself..." Aurora rubbed her belly, puffing out her cheeks: "Where are you going?"

"I'm attending a funeral." Xing Mo straightened her bow tie.

"Whose funeral?" Aurora tilted her head.

"My own funeral." As she spoke, Xing Mo looked at the small table by the window, her eyes fixed on the photograph.

Seeing her calm emerald-green eyes, Aurora was quiet for a while before finally falling back onto the chair: "I’m not going. After all, to me, you are still alive. It would be really strange to attend the funeral of a living person."

"Take care of your lunch yourself." Xing Mo reiterated.

"Got it, don't worry." Aurora said, "Oh, by the way, come to Saint Auroth Cathedral tonight for the Starsea... no... the Tree of Life Mass!"

"Hmm, all right." Surprisingly Xing Mo didn't say much more and just opened the door and left.

After the door closed, Aurora gazed at it for a while, then raised her head and stared blankly at the ceiling.

......

After leaving Splash Street where Miriam's apartment was located, Xing Mo deliberated between taking the steam railway or hiring a carriage, and finally decided to splurge on a carriage.

Crossing the bleak streets of the Northern District, the carriage entered the White Tower District and stopped in front of the Holy Spirit Church.

After alighting the carriage, Xing Mo looked up at the lofty Holy Spirit Church.

This was the second-largest church in the entire White Tower District, second only to the Church of the Starsea's Starsea Church.

This church was the headquarters of the Bellkeepers, as well as the place where Xing Mo had to go every weekend after being selected as a Bellkeeper.

By coming here, she should be able to meet some of her former colleagues, shouldn't she? However, most of them were out on assignments with Headmaster Merlin and might be back anytime soon...

But she was certain to meet Senior Alice.

After adjusting her bow tie again, Xing Mo entered the area belonging to Holy Spirit Church.

She didn't enter the church, but walked down a flagstone path on one side of the courtyard, heading for the cemetery behind the church.

Passing through the cemetery's black iron gate, a lush green lawn spread out before her, with rows of tombstones neatly lined up, stretching into the distance.

As a testimony that autumn had set in, it was strangely cold this morning.

Xing Mo silently walked among the tombs. She hadn't gone too far, when she saw a group of people gathered in the distance.

The funeral had already started. The church's orchestra was playing a mournful dirge. A priest stood next to a grave, holding a Starsea Scripture in his hands, saying something indistinct.

Xing Mo stopped, watching her funeral through the crowd.

While listening to the melodious dirge, she glanced at several stooped individuals—they were obviously civil servants of the White Tower District, attending the Bellkeeper's funeral out of professional obligation.

So this was what took place when you depart. Some would carve your name on a tombstone, while others would place flowers in front of your grave. But after that, they would scatter, yawning, returning to their lives.

Even Bellkeepers were subjected to this reality. When a guardian of the Citadel died, another would inevitably take their place.

In the end, everyone would follow the flagstone path, leaving only you behind, peacefully sleeping in the coffin beneath the soil.

Of those who surrounded you in life, only a few would occasionally visit you.

Gradually, as those people also passed away, you would be forgotten completely.

…

As the priest shouted "may the stars accept his soul", the tombstone was lowered into the grave, and soil emerged from thin air and covered the coffin.

At this point, the mourners began to disperse, and the priest closed the scripture and strode away.

Once the crowd dispersed, Xing Mo saw a fire-red figure.

Senior Alice still stood in front of the grave, silent.

Vivian stood next to her, saying something to Alice while wiping her face with a handkerchief.

From a distance, Xing Mo stared blankly at Senior Alice's back for a moment.

She lowered her head, her lips curved into a slight smile.

So even the strong and though Senior Alice could cry.

Xing Mo pulled up her hood, then turned and walked away.

......

Ten minutes later, Xing Mo found Instructor Lucius at the edge of the cemetery.

The instructor was crouching in front of a tombstone, saying something in a low voice.

When Xing Mo reached the tombstone, Lucius had already stood up. She saw a bouquet of white flowers wrapped in newspaper next to the tombstone.

He was wearing a black trench coat, with a formal suit underneath, holding a black top hat in his hand. He was the embodiment of a serene and classical gentleman.

Usually, this professor dressed quite casually, but here, his scholarly aura was replaced by intense solemnity.

"I didn't see you at the funeral." Lucius glanced sideways at Xing Mo, immediately revealing a gentle smile.

He put the top hat on his head, adding some dignity to his appearance.

"I was watching from a distance." Xing Mo responded.

She crouched down, took out a bouquet of flowers she bought at the entrance of the cemetery, and placed it in front of the tombstone.

The name engraved on the tombstone read Miriam Phillips.

"It has been two years since she is gone now." Lucius muttered, "Whenever I hear someone knocking on my office's door, I feel like she will rush in the next moment, talking about her new discovery of the day."

"Miriam was always so lively." Xing Mo said in a quiet voice.

"The last thing she did was protect the Citadel, preventing poisonous alchemical fumes from spreading." Lucius raised his head and looked at the gray sky, "Yet the sky grows gloomier."

Xing Mo lowered her head and looked at Miriam's tombstone, her vision a little fuzzy.

Yes, since Miriam passed away, except for occasional visits from Senior Alice, she had been mostly by her lonesome.

The image of Miriam's death seemed to be imprinted in her mind, replaying every night.

That girl valued the Citadel more than her own life.

Perhaps that was why Xing Mo studied so hard, strived so hard to become stronger, and worked so hard to improve her ranking among Bellkeepers.

Maybe that was why she went to Mordheim without hesitation, pointing her wand at the God in the blizzard, not taking a single step back.

"Bellkeeper Xing Mo was buried today." Xing Mo looked up at the instructor, "But as long as I am still here, nothing will happen to the Citadel."