Chapter 185
At that moment, Wendy, who had parted ways with Sia and Rachel under the pretext of going home first, arrived at the Chairman’s Office in the main building.
“Excuse me…?”
As expected, no answer came.
The darkened office was quiet. Shadows lingered in every corner, but the bright light streaming through the windows made it seem unnecessary to turn on the lights.
“Wow…”
Looking out through the office window, Wendy couldn’t help but marvel.
She knew the Chairman’s Office was located at the highest point in the school, offering a truly spectacular view.
What amazed Wendy was the breathtaking nightscape before her, far more beautiful than the scenery she had seen in the office before.
The petals of the fading “Flower of Fragrant Years” were beginning to fall, illuminating the campus like lanterns.
It was said that only once a year, when the flowers fell and emitted light, people would gather to witness this sight. Cheers could be heard from all around.
“Is the Count… among them…?”
Wendy rested her chin on her hand, looking down at the laughing and chatting crowd.
The sound of lively music began to fill the air.
Come to think of it, the ball was said to start when the Flower of Fragrant Years began to glow as it fell.
In other words, the ball had just begun. Upon closer inspection, people were already pairing up and dancing here and there.
Wendy’s heart began to swell with anticipation.
“Today is the day…”
The reason she had come here was that this was the promised meeting place with Tristan today.
Checking the time, it was just past 7 o’clock.
There were about two hours left until the appointed time.
She needed to start preparing soon.
“Alright…”
Wendy took a deep breath and pulled a coin from her pocket.
A lemon-colored coin, a divine sponsorship that could work miracles.
“God…”
Clutching the mysterious coin, Wendy prayed fervently.
What she was about to do was impossible without divine help.
“Please appear before me…”
“Did you call me…?”
“Eek?! Gah?!”
Startled by the voice that came from too close a distance, Wendy stumbled backward and hit the back of her head on a wooden chair.
“Ouch… My, my head hurts…”
“Are you okay…?”
Rubbing the back of her head, Wendy saw a girl with lemon-colored hair standing before her in pajamas. It was none other than the reliable god who had sponsored her.
“Liri…”
“Yawn… Long time no see, aspiring hero Maman…”
Rubbing her eyes, Liri seemed to have just woken up.
Just like the last time they met, it seemed this god really loved sleeping.
“So, what’s up…?”
“I, I want to become an adult!”
“……Huh?”
Liri tilted her head.
“Maman. Can you say that again? What do you want to become…?”
“I want to become an adult, Liri.”
“Yawn… So I didn’t mishear…”
“Ah, is it not possible to become an adult using this coin…?”
“Huh…?”
Wendy, who had stood up brushing her knees, cautiously asked Liri.
“Well… I heard that with this coin you gave me, I can work miracles. So, can I use it to become an adult…?”
“Yup. You can.”
“R, really?!”
Wendy finally let out a sigh of relief.
She had been worried it might not be possible, but thankfully, it was.
Liri yawned and asked Wendy.
“Yawn… How old do you want to be…?”
“Um… T, twenty years old…?”
“Then roughly… um…”
Liri seemed to be calculating something, then spoke.
“About 1 billion coins should do it.”
“Wha?! 1 billion coins?!”
“Yup yup…”
“Goodness… I had no idea it would take so much…”
Wendy, who hadn’t considered the amount, couldn’t help but be shocked.
She only had 100 coins. Compared to 1 billion, it was an insignificant, impossible amount.
“Time-altering miracles can cause issues with causality… That’s why a large amount of coins is needed…”
“Ah…”
Wendy couldn’t hide her disappointment at Liri’s explanation.
Truthfully, she didn’t necessarily need to become an adult to meet Tristan. Given his personality, he likely wouldn’t care whether Wendy was an adult or a child.
It was just that Wendy wanted to become an adult because she was anxious.
The fear that someone might take Tristan away and the desperate desire to be seen as a romantic interest rather than a child drove Wendy.
Perhaps sensing her feelings, or maybe because Wendy’s expression was pitiful, Liri spoke up.
“Alternatively… there’s a bit of a shortcut to unleash the hero’s power…”
“The hero’s power…?”
“Yup…”
Liri picked up the coin in Wendy’s hand.
“Imagine for a moment what you’d look like as a hero… What kind of hero do you want to be to save the world…?”
“Huh?”
“You feel like your current self isn’t enough, right…? Then think about what your ideal hero would look like… This coin’s power will make you that…”
Liri explained slowly but clearly how to use the coin.
“You don’t necessarily have to use it through a god… This coin is versatile. You can offer it to me to make a wish, or you can directly use its power to create a miracle…”
“I, I can create a miracle myself…?”
“What are you talking about…? Maman.”
Liri laughed as if it were a joke.
“Heroes are beings who can create miracles, after all…”
“Ah…”
Wendy felt like she understood.
She remembered a time when she had made rain fall on a drought-stricken land as a child. That must have been the miracle Liri was talking about.
“If you use the coin that way, we gods don’t have to intervene and risk messing with causality. But, you’ll have to take full responsibility for using the coin’s power directly. Keep that in mind…”
“Y, yes! Ah, but Liri…”
“Yup…?”
Wendy, who had been nodding solemnly, cautiously asked.
“Is it okay for me to use this coin however I want…? I’m not using it to save someone…”
“That coin is yours now… You can use it however you like… Just don’t use it to harm or kill anyone… You’re not planning to do that, are you…?”
“Gasp?! N, no! Of course not!”
“Then it’s fine… I think pure-hearted heroes like you aren’t bad. Besides… yawn…”
Liri yawned and stretched.
“It’s the privilege of children to dream of becoming adults… I understand…”
“Liri…”
Liri looked at Wendy with sleepy eyes.
In that moment, Wendy realized. Liri had already foreseen this situation.
She knew why Wendy wanted to make such a wish. She understood the feelings behind it.
“It’s a good time… There’s nothing as beautiful as a child in love…”
“I’m not beautiful…”
“Huh…? Did the Count say you’re not beautiful?”
“N, no?! The Count never said that, but…”
Wendy fidgeted with her fingers.
“He treats me like a cute little sister or daughter… He pats my head and is very kind to me…”
“Isn’t that a good thing…?”
“Of course it is! It’s not that I dislike the Count treating me cutely… It’s just… sometimes it feels a bit disappointing…”
“Yawn… Maman… You want to hear the Count say you’re beautiful, don’t you…?”
“Yes… Ah! But he said that in ten years, when I become an adult… I’ll be more beautiful than anyone! Hehe… I guess I’ve already heard it once…”
Wendy scratched her head and smiled.
Seeing that innocent smile, Liri’s half-closed eyes opened wide.
Her eyes were filled with curiosity and interest in Wendy.
“Hey… Since you called me, why don’t you show me first…?”
“Huh? Yes?”
“The adult version of you that you want to become…”
Liri took out a coin from her pocket and handed it to Wendy.
“Show me. Okay?”
