"It seems that sharing the story is enough for tonight. What Mendicore said is more than enough for me. Perhaps another night we can tell stories like this again!" I smiled.
"Actually I still have several more things that I could tell. But it seems you already look tired of trying to understand more stories. It's okay to continue later." Mendicore said.
"Haaaaa... then when will it be my turnnnn...??? I want to share my story toooo which is no less interesting than Mendicore's..." Sherubiel said with a slightly sulking tone.
"We still have plenty of time, Sherubiel. If your story is more interesting and must be told now, I would not be able to digest everything later." I reassured her. Sherubiel only nodded her head and smiled faintly.
I left their room. I had already received information from Gruzhnil that we would return to the main planet tomorrow morning. When I arrived at resting room, as I walked toward one of the beds, I saw Hellraider already lying on his bed with both palms placed under his head while closing his eyes. He occupied the bed at the far corner and seemed still awake. I laid down on my bed, occasionally glancing toward Hellraider until I fell asleep.
The next morning we had breakfast together in the same large tent from yesterday. I saw Hellraider eating at the corner of a different row of tables from mine. He appeared to be sitting there alone. Several soldiers sat keeping their distance from him, while the soldiers on my right and left sat normally close beside me. I felt sorry seeing Hellraider who from the outside was praised like a hero, yet they felt intimidated when sitting near him.
After finishing breakfast, all soldiers were asked to line up facing the stage and I stood in the front section. I did not see where Hellraider was standing in line. After that Gruzhnil and Tiberos went up onto the stage. I saw their facial expressions as if there was no problem between them, different from what I had secretly witnessed last night. They seemed to behave as professionally as possible.
Gruzhnil then delivered the closing speech of the military operation on planet Grohn which was also conveyed by Tiberos. After that Gruzhnil gave the highest appreciation to one person who brought this mission to great success by mentioning Hellraider's name.
From the western side the soldiers who were lined up immediately gave space for Hellraider who was walking toward the stage. All the soldiers there immediately cheered and shouted Hellraider's name again. Once again I saw Hellraider showing only his emotionless face before that sea of soldiers. Not long after that we prepared to return to planet Grivendal. I boarded the same aircraft alongside Sherubiel and Mendicore. Grelmure sat beside me.
"Whooaaa... it seems you have gained new friends, Johann?! And they also look quite unique. Are they good people?" asked Grelmure joking again. I actually knew that Gruzhnil had already told him about them. Perhaps Grelmure only wanted to chat since yesterday I had not met him all day.
"Ooohhh... of course, Sir Grelmure! After meeting them you will like them. Especially the cute angel girl named Sherubiel. She is almost the same type as you." I said while chuckling.
"Hmphh... you are starting to dare teasing me Johann, forgetting that I'm also a high official of The Graendall." Grelmure slyly smile while briefly turning his face toward me. Ahhh... that is indeed Grelmure. I thought he was someone who I less relied on for joking around.
"Ohhh yes sir! You know that our troops previously managed to find dreadstones, were all those deposits taken or shared with planet Grohn?" I tried to ease the atmosphere.
"Of course we took them all Johann! Because on our planet only we have the special facilities to process dreadstones into a limitless energy source..." Grelmure said proudly. Suddenly from the row of seats beside us, the high officers glanced at Grelmure with sharp looks. They seemed to warn Grelmure about what he had just said.
"Ehh... Uhh... Ohh dear... s-sorry Johann! I will retract what I just said earlier. Please don't ask about that matter again, alright!" Grelmure said softly but sounding panicked.
I then became silent again. Indeed that matter was absolutely the great secret of the empire. I began to feel somewhat suspicious of them. Had they not truly trusted me yet? I wondered whether I should ask only Mendicore about this matter. I remembered again the complicated story Mendicore told last night. I then questioned whether anyone within the authority of Grivendal actually knew the history of the three angelic entities yet I did not find that record in the archive center I visited earlier.
Grelmure woke me up after I fell asleep during the return journey. After getting out of the aircraft, I was immediately greeted by the sight of that vast military complex. I wondered where Sherubiel and Mendicore would live here. It seemed impossible that they would stay in the barracks building with me, let alone with Hellraider in his house. As I was thinking about that question, suddenly Gruzhnil and Grelmure approached me.
"Johann, I have coordinated with the people at headquarters that after this you, Mendicore and Sherubiel will live together in a house at the foot of the hill as well. The distance is somewhat far from Sir Hellraider's house. You will not need to trouble yourself monitoring them because it is still within the authority area of The Graendall. Grelmure will escort the three of you there." said Gruzhnil.
I was immediately happy hearing that. Not only could I get to know them more closely, I could freely talk and gather much information from Mendicore and Sherubiel. They then came to join us. Grelmure said they had already been informed earlier. I saw Sherubiel smiled brightly toward me.
"It seems my prediction was correct! We can finally live in the same place." said Mendicore happily as well. After that we went to the gokart and drove out of the military complex area. Grelmure said that Gruzhnil would visit us from time to time.
"I have never met an angel with a face as sweet as Sherubiel. I would like to get to know you better later as well. Will you allow it?" Grelmure said somewhat flirtatiously.
"Aaahhhh... don't praise me like that Sir Grelmure... I become very embarrassed..." said Sherubiel whose cheeks again turned red and she immediately covered her face with both hands. We all laughed seeing the interaction between them. I had already guessed that Grelmure would behave like that toward Sherubiel.
"Have you ever met their race before, Sir Grelmure?" asked Mendicore.
"Eeehhh... honestly throughout my life I have never directly seen High Heaven angels descend to Grivendal again. I only know about them from history books. The last time they visited this planet was several hundred years ago, correct? Only the Priests can communicate with them in the central temple..."
"Oh yes, I still don't know the reason Miss Sherubiel ended up stranded there. Perhaps later you can tell the story after we arrive there." continued Grelmure.
"I had been asleep for an unknown amount of time and was found by Johann together with Sherubiel. Honestly I also don't know whether they still come here. Johann seems curious about Sherubiel's past. We can listen to her story together." said Mendicore.
"I... actually feel a bit embarrassed to tell it. But because you have saved me and given me a place, I will be willing to tell it." said Sherubiel.
"There is no need to force yourself to tell everything. If there are things you don't want to explain clearly that is also fine." I tried to calm her.
We finally arrived at the house provided for the three of us located in hillside area. The house was similar to Hellraider's and I could also see Hellraider's residence from afar to my left. I wondered whether he had already arrived at his house or was still with Gruzhnil. We entered the house and saw several servants who were almost finished tidying everything. When we reached the living room, food had already been served in the center of the dining table. Grelmure invited all of us to eat first.
"For Mendicore, it seems doesn't need intake like this. What about you, Miss Sherubiel? Can you eat food like ours?" asked Grelmure.
"I already have my own energy source, do not worry. For angels sometimes they don't eat like humans but possess their own energy source from High Heaven." said Mendicore.
"Perhaps I can try tasting it first. I don't actually feel hungry right now." said Sherubiel.
We all sat in our chairs and Mendicore hovered above it. Grelmure and I began eating. Sherubiel started tasting one of the foods.
"How is it, Miss? Does our food suit your taste?" Grelmure again showed his flirtatious attitude. Sherubiel immediately blushed again.
"I... I like this food. Honestly... I have never tasted human food before and I enjoy this for the first time... I'm very grateful again to give me the chance to live side by side with you..." Sherubiel smiled while her eyes looked watery.
"Ahhh this is nothing yet Miss Sherubiel. If Her Highness Glynpatra, the daughter of Emperor Gregustus, meets you for the first time, she will be very delighted and immediately ask you to stay with her in the palace." Grelmure laughed softly. Once again Sherubiel's cheeks turned red and she covered her face again after hearing that. I laughed again seeing the behavior of the two of them.
After finishing the meal, suddenly the device in Grelmure's hand rang again, answered it and seemed serious listening through the earphone attached to his right ear. After receiving the call he let out a long sigh.
"It seems I cannot hear Miss Sherubiel's story later. Commander Gruzhnil asked me to come to headquarters again. Perhaps next time if there is another opportunity."
We said farewell to Grelmure and asked him to visit us again another time, if possible together with Gruzhnil. I felt my life had regained color again with Sherubiel and Mendicore living together with me in the same house.
However on the other hand I felt that the truth about this universe was becoming closer and clearer with their presence.