Demi-human Girls Completion Manual Chapter 1663 - 119: Old Woman (2)

Before Emhardt in Alicia’s arms could stick his head out and say anything, Fisher had already cut the gift carriage loose from the front section and was dragging Valentina’s gift carriage out of the convoy.

Under the Hidden Blessing, anything he interfered with would have a long delay before being noticed; he had already tested this on the train by taking someone else’s hat.

By the time these people realize he’s rolled off the gift carriage, all the gifts will probably already have been loaded into it; how many of them will still remember at that point is anyone’s guess. Otherwise, how could a gift so aggressive toward an empress who worships the Nali people have possibly been pushed in by the servants?

Watching Fisher struggle so desperately for his own life, Emhardt could only sigh helplessly and mutter,

"When did that little brat Valentina’s way of speaking become so... mm, nasty? Could it be that after sleeping four and a half years inside that Ice Egg, once her Phoenix Bloodline awakened she gained an aggressiveness fitting her Rank? Truly strange..."

"Mr. Book, what’s wrong with big brother?"

"Oh, nothing much. He has something he needs to do. You’ll get used to it; this sort of thing happens all the time."

"Eh?"

Alicia had no idea what "something" Emhardt was referring to; she simply felt, once Fisher was away from her, a sudden anxiety about everything she was about to face in the church.

Perhaps that unease had always been there—whether it was reconfirming her grandfather’s passing, or facing her sister Vileli’s hatred...

But now that she was here, and hadn’t yet been eaten, she could only grit her teeth and press on.

She held tighter to Emhardt, disguised as a book in her arms, and quickly entered the hall inside the church, led by servants to the front of the nave.

After it was settled that this would be the site of Helson’s funeral, engineers from the Golden Palace spent half a month completely transforming the church, instantly giving a quiet, unknown country chapel the specifications of the St. Nali Cathedral. At the very least, the prayer hall could now easily accommodate hundreds of people.

At this moment, the vast prayer hall of the church was already packed. Row upon row of neatly arranged chairs were filled with nobles, scholars, and officials from all over the country; on another side sat foreign friends, colleagues from the Magic Society, the president of the World Magic Association and various branch presidents...

Several Archbishops of the Nali Church and their families, the Pope’s special envoy from Kado, the Royal envoy from Schwali—even the kingdoms of the Northern Realm, embroiled in the turmoil of the Wutong Tree, had managed to send envoys despite their busy state...

Yet even these famous figures, whose names rang out across their respective fields, seemed humble before the old man lying in the crystal coffin beneath the loving gaze of the Mother Goddess statue. They entered the church in silence, were seated by guards of the Golden Palace in nameless seats, exchanging a few words here and there, but mostly offering their grief in quiet.

Only the very front row of seats was different: every place there bore a name. That was where those closest to Helson, those of the highest standing, were meant to sit.

Counting in order, first was the current head of the Royal College, Mr. Damian; Helson’s granddaughter Vileli and her husband; Helson’s granddaughter Alicia; the Empress of the Empire, Elizabeth Gedelin, and...

Helson’s only disciple, Fisher Benavides.

"Miss Alicia, we’re here. Please, take your seat."

"...All right."

Alicia pressed her lips together, clutching Emhardt, and nervously glanced at the important figures filling the seats behind hers. As the servants guided the small girl into the hall, they all fell silent for a brief moment, seemingly curious to size up this granddaughter Helson had adopted five years before his death.

At the very front, Queen Elizabeth had not yet arrived. Damian, bearded and white-haired, wearing spectacles, carefully studied the little girl before him, then forced out a smile.

"Little Alicia, do you still remember Grandpa Damian? We met when you were little."

"I remember. Thank you for coming to see Grandpa, to see him one last time."

Alicia didn’t really remember anything from when she was small, but she did remember that her grandfather often exchanged letters with this old man, knew he was her grandfather’s dearest friend, so she spoke this way.

"...Yes, one last time. Go on, sit down—your seat is next to your sister. Have you still been studying Helson’s Magic? You even brought a book with you here."

"Eh..." Alicia, terrified that Emhardt would be discovered, hugged him tighter. Her speech faltered slightly as she said, "Mm, it’s because... because I miss Grandpa very much... so..."

Her lying skills were still quite unpolished, but clearly Damian didn’t bother to distinguish whether this was a lie or not, because Alicia’s longing for Helson was genuine.

And beyond Damian, what met her eyes was her sister Vileli, heavily pregnant, leaning against her husband’s chest.

Because she had been crying, her eyes were flushed red, and when she looked at Alicia there was undisguised resentment and hatred. For she knew full well that it was this child her grandfather had picked up who had caused his death. Even though living past a hundred should count as a good, celebratory death for a Human, she remembered perfectly how this Little Demon wrapped in human skin had committed such deeds at night.