480 Chapter 480 – Mia’s Past
Mia took me inside the makeshift church after she told the children to rest and play. It seemed like they built the church and made a simple playground behind it so the children could play after learning.
That was what motivated them to come around. The concept was similar to the kindergarten back on Earth, so I quickly understood when she explained it to me.
Who proposed the idea, though? When I asked Mia about that, she shyly raised her hand and said that it was her idea. I smiled at her and patted her head, making her smile and giggle.
I sat on a simple chair while Mia prepared some tea for us. The room was small but clean. I wouldn't complain or compare it to the room in the official Castitas Church in Academy City or Capital City, as the scale was already different.
The door was opened and Mia entered, greeting me shyly.
"I am sorry for making you wait, S-Sir Arthur."
She walked toward me and put two cups of tea on the table before sitting across from me.
Fidgeting, she looked at me nervously.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"I-I never expected you to visit this place. It's not ready to welcome you yet, Sir Arthur. A-And, please forgive me for creating a church in this place without your permission!" She bowed her head at me, looking very nervous and slightly scared.
"Don't worry about it, Mia. I am not mad."
I spoke in a soft voice, trying my best to assure her. She looked at me and beamed in a smile. After that, I continued.
"Not only am I not mad, but I am actually happy that you found something you want to do. Is teaching the children fun?"
"Yes!" She nodded repeatedly, "It's really fun! I… I could see their smiles, and it made me happy. You know… The children here have no place to play and are in danger. It made me remember my childhood before… my family was gone. Only when I entered the church's orphanage did I have fun!"
"I see, that's good. What did you teach them?"
"At first, I taught them how to smile! They looked so grim and sad. So we played together, having fun. They looked far better than a month ago, so I began to teach them how to write and the teachings in the Holy Book."
"So you are acting like the Bishop from the Castitas Church?"
"T-That's… Please forgive me for doing it as I pleased!"
Curious, I only asked, but Mia's reaction was a little strange. Was something like teaching children without permission not allowed by the church?
If that was the case, then why? Anyway, Mia had done something helpful for the children in this city, who would become citizens and the future of the new city I would build. There was nothing wrong with teaching them.
"You've done nothing wrong. Raise your head, Mia." I said, "I would like you to continue what you do. Teach them some magic Skills too, if possible. The city will be moved soon if everything goes well. Children will be the future of this world, so teaching them is a Virtue. You've done well."
"S-Sir Arthur." Mia's blue eye glimmered with tears. She covered her lower face with her hands as she nodded, "Hnn! I-I will do my best."
"I believe in you."
'Teach those children and forget about your obsession.' I added in my head, 'That way, I can rest easy without worrying about getting stabbed by a yandere. No matter how I see it, she's the scariest gal among the ones I know.'
We ended up talking for a while, sharing what we experienced with each other. Mia unexpectedly became sweeter and more confident than the last time I saw her. Her cute giggle reminded me of Sana, which was not strange, considering they had probably known each other for a long time.
In fact, Mia told me more about herself.
"Umm, are you aware of the Vampire Hunt, Sir Arthur?"
"Yes, I am aware." I nodded at her.
"Thanks Goddess…" She heaved a sigh of relief. "To tell you the truth, I was the only survivor of that hunt, saved by Castitas Church. After I was taken in by the church, Archbishop Sana was still a Bishop, and she taught me many things. I was happy at that moment, and I took her as a role model.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"You know? Many people said the government or the church was behind the hunt. But that's really wrong. We… My big family lived near the southern edge of the world, close to the thick fog that engulfed everything. Sunlight didn't reach us. Thus, it became a perfect place for Vampires to live."
Indeed. From the description I've heard about that edge of the world, it sounded like the perfect place for Vampires to live besides undergrounds.
Still, it was surprising that they lived near an area filled with monsters. I was curious about its exact location, but I stayed silent and listened to her story.
"In that village, I was treated not harshly but not kindly either. It's because I was a Half-Vampire, not an original one or even Kins. My human father loved me and gave me food, but my mother… She ignored us and left toward the thick fog, never returning. Or that's what my father told me."
'Disappeared?' I thought while keeping my expression in check. 'Why, though? Did she hate Mia or her husband? I can't understand.'
Maybe it was a family matter or something. But to think she disappeared beyond the fog was still mysterious, and I was so curious.
"A-And about the Vampire Hunt, it wasn't the government or the church, but a group of strange individuals wearing the church's cape. A few days ago, I just learned that the group is called Hell's Cult. Sir Arthur… If I say that I hate them, will I be forgiven by the Goddess? They took my family from me…"
Mia looked at me with trembling eyes. The sky blue color was gone, replaced by a fiery ride. Not only that, her hair turned white due to her anger, which probably triggered her [Full Moon's Rampage] state.
I extended my hand and patted her. She gasped in surprise when she felt my touch, and that transformation stopped.
Looking straight into her eyes, I smiled and caressed her slowly.
"Don't worry. They are our enemies, and you are free to hate them. But don't focus on your hate and get eaten by it, okay?"
"Hnn!" Mia nodded and suddenly leaped toward me, hugging me with all her strength. "Please… allow me to stay like this for a while."
From the sobbing sound I heard, I knew that she had begun to cry. I pulled her closer and sighed.
"It can't be helped. Calm yourself down first."