Since I had no plans that morning, I secretly called out to Colonel Curtis.
Ever since I found out that Colonel Curtis was Canopus, there had always been someone around, so I couldn't talk about anything important. I had many things I wanted to ask and things I needed to tell him, so I decided to meet Colonel Curtis in an uninhabited forest to talk in secret.
I went to the meeting place early to avoid being late, but Colonel Curtis was already there.
I cautiously looked around, and as expected, no one else was there. This place, where a terrifying basilisk had appeared just a few days ago, was completely empty.
"Curtis, I'm sorry! I kept you waiting!"
As I said this and ran over, Colonel Curtis came running up, looking surprised.
"Why are you running just because I'm waiting! What if you fall?"
I glared at Colonel Curtis, who was pressing me with questions, and said in a bewildered voice.
"Curtis! I haven't fallen since I was seven. Besides, I'm the Holy Maiden, so I can heal minor injuries myself."
"...That's right. Lady Fee has grown so much."
Seeing Colonel Curtis speak with a deep, but sad tone, I tilted my head in confusion.
"Curtis?"
"No, it's nothing. It's just... how much you've grown."
Colonel Curtis looked at me intently and sighed deeply, as if in admiration.
What's with this reaction? I thought, and decided to confirm just in case.
"Um, you are Canopus, right? You have the memories of your past life, just like me, right?"
"That's correct. I apologize for not reporting sooner. Three hundred years ago, I served as Canopus Bragey to Lady Serafina. I remembered this yesterday, but I apologize for not reporting it until today."
"Um, you're not my knight anymore, so please don't bow like that. But, yes, you also remembered your past life after nearly dying...?"
As I was confirming the situation, Colonel Curtis added to my words.
"That's right. However, in my case, I started seeing fragments of my past life in my dreams after meeting you. I partially awakened when I saw you surrounded by the villagers in the cave. However, even then, I couldn't fully control my body. I fully awakened when I woke up in the cave."
"Huh? So, you gradually remembered after meeting me? That's strange..."
"There's nothing strange about it. I always wanted to serve you again. Naturally, I was influenced by seeing you in person."
"Huh? Serve me again...?"
As I blinked in confusion at what Colonel Curtis was saying, he continued with a reflective tone.
"Lady Fee, you are now fifteen years old. Despite no one being by your side, you have grown so much on your own."
"Well, anyone would grow up without a knight. I have a family too."
"Yes, that's right. Your father, brothers, and sisters were all knights. They must have protected you."
"...Right. My sister was especially kind to me."
Although I was neglected by my father and two brothers due to my lack of sword talent, I didn't think it was helpful to mention it here, so I glossed over it.
"If possible, I wanted to serve you again from when you were young..."
Colonel Curtis muttered, still seeming to be trapped in the past.
Probably, Colonel Curtis... Canopus, felt that he had failed in his duty because he wasn't there when I died.
Even though it wasn't his fault at all.
I glanced up at the tall, blue-haired knight standing before me and, thinking I had to say this, opened my mouth in a casual tone.
"Curtis, about the time I died in my past life... it was like a mutual kill. I sealed the Demon King, but I was also killed at the same time. It happened in an instant, and I was already dead when I realized it, so the pain was brief."
I died without Canopus, my guardian knight, knowing.
For Canopus, it must have been an unimaginable event.
Given Canopus's personality, he must have regretted not being there at the end and wondered over and over again how I died.
So, I wanted to at least reassure him that I died peacefully.
Even if it was a lie.
"...Curtis?"
I waited for a while, but Colonel Curtis didn't say a word, so I looked at him curiously.
However, I was startled when I saw his face.
"What? What's wrong!?"
I asked, but my voice didn't seem to reach him. Colonel Curtis stood straight, hands clenched at his sides, and didn't move an inch.
"Curtis..."
I didn't know what to do and called his name again.
---The name of the knight who stood still, silently shedding tears.
Colonel Curtis didn't say a word, but tears streamed down his face.
I didn't understand what was happening.
But at least in my past life, I had never seen Canopus cry.
Colonel Curtis covered his face with both hands and tilted his head back as if looking up at the sky.
However, large tears continued to fall through the gaps in his hands.
"Um, what's going on...?"
I was at a loss and, grabbing the collar of Colonel Curtis's knight uniform, looked up at his face hidden by his hands.
"...I... understand..."
A broken voice came from the gaps between Colonel Curtis's hands.
"If... that was your... desired end... yes, I accept it..."
"...Huh...?"
Facing Colonel Curtis, who continued to shed tears without stopping, I tilted my head in confusion.
What's going on here?
Did he become sad because I told him about my death in my past life? That is, did he remember the moment he heard I had died and feel sad?
But his emotions seemed too intense for that...
I didn't know what to do and stood there helplessly in front of Colonel Curtis, who was crying silently.
In front of me, Colonel Curtis removed his hands from his face---tears were still streaming down, but he didn't seem to care---and knelt before me, bowing deeply.
"I apologize for not being able to protect you. I sincerely apologize. If you were to ask me to take my own life, I would do so immediately. However, if you allow it, please let me protect you this time."
Facing Colonel Curtis, who spoke with a pained, as if squeezing out his life, I couldn't find the words to continue.
Thank you for always reading!
Let me express my gratitude and share some news.
The first volume of "The Great Holy Maiden" has been reprinted w(*γoγ*)w (surprised and happy)! Thank you to everyone who bought it.
However, since many people have already bought it, I was worried if anyone would buy the first volume in the future, so I consulted with my editor...
"That's right! I was also worried and questioned, 'Is it okay?' But our capable sales team...!!"
...My editor also had a chicken heart like me.
Since it's the judgment of a capable salesperson, it should be fine, but I'm still worried, so I want to introduce it.
The first volume was revised and expanded under the direct guidance of the editor-in-chief.
So, it has become a collection of the best efforts of the publisher (I hope).
I added about 25,000 new words (equivalent to 6-7 chapters of the web version), and over 20,000 of those words form a single story, "Another Beginning."
While opinions on stories can vary, this "Another Beginning" received only high praise.
All the comments were positive, with no critical remarks.
This story connects to the second volume and (eventually) to the web version.
I hope you can feel the excitement when the stories connect!
*Note: The web version will be structured to avoid any dissonance, so please rest assured.
The web version is created by me alone, but the book version includes ideas from many people.
Thanks to the editor-in-chief, my editor, the illustrator, the designer, and others, who contributed their excellent talents, it has become a truly wonderful book.
I would be incredibly happy if those who haven't read it yet could pick it up and enjoy it.