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Chapter 133
Birdie?
“…nn…”
Ann was still half-awake when she noticed that her back was hurting, so she did what everyone would have done–flipping herself on the bed.
“She’s flipped over!!!”
Suddenly, someone shouted joyously.
Ann froze.
W-what’s this situation?
Is my flipping over in my sleep worth celebrating?
Wait…
Could it be that I had died and now, I was reborn as a baby, and that was how whoever watched over me shouted happily seeing my first milestone of flipping over?!
But wait…
I certainly feel my long–I mean, big body that wouldn’t fit an infant’s…
Her confusion caused her half-asleep mind to be completely awake now, as she opened her eyes wide, turned over again and…
…saw the face of her husbando in front of her.
“…?!!”
It was so close that her heart almost leaped from her chest.
W-w-w-why so close? Are you going to seduce me first thing in the morning?
Hmm, wait… his expression isn’t right.
He isn’t being seductive at all. His face showed anxiety the most.
Huh? Anxious? My husbando, the calm and stoic Allen?
Ann could only tilt her head in wonder.
What’s going on?
“You… You’re finally awake.”
It felt as if Allen had just heaved a long sigh, a sigh of relief as Ann suddenly found herself being in the warm embrace of the man.
“…???” Can someone tell me what’s going on?
Ann’s genuinely confused gaze happened to meet with Laura’s teary eyes as Laura covered her mouth with her hands just as she entered the room and saw Ann.
It felt as if the two of them could communicate telepathically.
Laura, who was about to burst into tears, happened to detect Ann’s cluelessness in her eyes, and with that, the tears that threatened to pour out suddenly felt like they were being absorbed back.
Laura became annoyed as she opened her mouth, “You… have no clue, don’t you?”
“…?” Ann answered with her pleading gaze.
Laura rushed to Ann’s side. Her sudden movements caused Allen to let go of the hug and turn around to see what was happening. Perhaps it was out of his habit to be alert, especially of rushed movements like what Laura was doing right now.
Seeing that it was Laura, Allen just let his guard off, and that was how Laura managed to leap to embrace her clueless friend… with force.
“Ouch, you’re hurting me!” Ann was more afraid to realize that her friend had the power to hug her until it felt like she was crushing her… She isn’t a hulk, right?
“You’ve been unconscious for more than a week, dummy!” Laura scolded the clueless Ann.
Ann froze.
Finally, the people’s reactions made sense.
The female Imparie tribe member seemed to be on standby to watch her as she only looked from bedside–she seemed like a medic. She must have been the one who shouted when Ann flipped over casually.
Allen was most likely staying by her side.
Meanwhile, Laura must have been nearby since she could rush off quickly. Behind her were Elder Priest Matthias and his accompanying priests.
“Wait… more than a week?!” Ann gasped.
Finally, Allen and Laura filled in the blanks for Ann as the Imparie tribe member went out to notify the rest of the happy news.
It had already been the eighth day of her being unconscious.
The medic had checked on her when she wasn’t showing any sign of waking up, but found out that there was nothing wrong with her.
They waited as they continued to give treatment–healing by magic, healing by aromatherapy, medicine… Laura and Elder Priest Matthias even gave her divine blessings. Yet none had any effect.
Since nothing seemed to be effective, Prince Kiehl took the initiative of asking to bring her back to the capital to look for more treatment there, but the Imparie tribe insisted on keeping her there, believing that it was all part of the ritual’s tribulations or effects that Ann had to overcome, and it wasn’t wise to move her elsewhere.
In the end, Prince Kiehl returned first with Mila and Fremont to report on what had happened, and to find some other help.
Allen insisted on staying, while Laura and Elder Matthias also stayed to continuously give blessings in hopes that they could help Ann’s recovery.
Lots of various efforts were expanded for Ann’s recovery.
The Imparie tribe even held some rituals that they thought would help in Ann’s recovery.
Sure enough, during the last ritual, Ann woke up for a while before she fell unconscious again.
Eh… then the dream in the dream that I was having… It was a glimpse of reality?!
Ann was mind blown when she finally understood what was happening.
No wonder it was so vivid, almost like it was real, turns out… it WAS real!
“Then, what about the ritual? Was it a success? How about Birdie?”
Naturally, that was Ann’s next question after she understood what was happening to her.
Just when the people around her were about to answer her question, the door was opened once more, and a familiar group of people walked in.
“Master! You’re finally back!” Quira jumped happily to Ann.
Okay, that’s the third surprise hug attack I got in the span of less than an hour…
“Quira, come here, don’t bother her,” Rakiasha appeared alongside Nymnienna, and Quira obediently went to her mother’s side, despite pouting, showing her obvious unwillingness.
And finally, Ann saw the person that made her squeal.
The small adorable body, the short green hair, the cute round eyes–it was none other than Faye, her angel!
Meanwhile, Faye was dazedly staring at Ann. She had no reaction.
“Faye!” You’re also staying here?!
Why are you looking at me blankly like that?
Ann was confused.
Three seconds later, Faye teared up as she rushed to hug Ann.
“Mistress!!! Ann-samaaaa!!” She wailed.
The fourth hug attack…
“There, there…” Ann had no choice but to hug the little girl back and pat her on the back.
It must have been so scary for her… This child depended on me so much, after all.
As Ann casually gazed at the place Faye was standing at, she finally saw yet another little child looking at her dazedly.
Eh? Who is that? Why is she here?
Ann blinked her eyes in confusion.
The little girl was so small, it felt as if she was just around 4-5 years old. Her skin looked white and plump, making Ann smitten at her at first sight.
Her pink wavy hair flowed until her waist, her round pink eyes seemed like they were pink diamonds.
She was wearing a simple white dress that exposed her cute limbs and… as she turned around Ann could see her back.
And on the girl’s back was a small, fluffy pair of wings.
Halfing?!
Wait, this coloring…?!
“B-Birdie…?” Ann asked, unsure.
“Birdie??” The little chick responded back with a questioning tone and gaze, her head was completely tilted to the side like a real chick. Her voice was so cute and endearing that Ann almost squealed loudly.
“That… you’re not wrong, but that’s not correct either…,” Laura said, seemingly unsure on how to explain to Ann.
Elder Priest Matthias was the one to answer, “Do you remember the legend of the Mythical Bird of Soul Ascendance?”
“The legend…,” Ann was thinking when she froze looking at Elder Matthias’ expression.
That expression seems to say that he’d choke me to death if I were to not remember!!
“It is said that… The bird will choose a person, then they undergo a ritual, and then… starts a new life? The immortal bird finally enters the natural cycle of life and death?” Ann couldn’t remember the legend exactly word per word, but she tried to verbalize it using her own words, per her understanding.
The elder’s expression loosened, and that made Ann sure that her answer was correct.
“Right. The ritual was a success, and the child standing before your eyes is…,” Elder Matthias said.
Ann widened her eyes. She understood even before the elder finished his words.
Based on the girl’s coloring and cuteness, yet she carried the air of a noble despite dressed up simply… yes, this girl should be the result of Birdie merging with Anne’s soul, giving the two of them a fresh start at life in the mortal world.
Elder Matthias then confirmed that the girl standing before them was exactly the child that was born as the result of the successful ritual.
In the meantime, the little girl had already taken her steps, approaching Ann–or more precisely, approaching Faye as she clung to Faye.
“How should I call you?” Ann softened her gaze and tone as she asked the little girl.
She’s cuter when you look at her up close!
The little girl only blinked.
“Uhm… what’s your name?” Ann asked once more. There’s no way I can call her Anne, or Birdie, or Pinkie… right?
Oh… does she remember me? Does she have any memory from Anne or Birdie?
Judging by her gaze and the way she only clung at Faye instead at her…
Yep. This child is a blank slate.
If she were to have Birdie’s memories… well, Birdie and Faye seemed to view one another as rivals, fighting over Ann…
“Searching,” the girl finally responded.
“Eh? Searching? You’re searching for a name?” Ann tried to interpret her words.
The little girl nodded like a chick.
“Why don’t you try giving her a name? Perhaps she will like it. After all, the Mythical Bird of Soul Ascendance was once contracted to you,” Rakiasha suggested.
They had tried to suggest names to her, but she didn’t seem to like any of the names suggested to her. Perhaps the one who had a link to her before her reincarnation could give a name that she’d like.
“Name, huh? Let me think…,” Ann put her hand on her chin, thinking.
Inside her heart, mini Anns screamed.
I just woke up, but now I have to name someone?!
Brain, please fire up, power up, now! We gotta think of a name for this cutie!!
Though it seemed like a huge and troubling responsibility, Ann felt a bit happy and excited.
She might end up in my hands just like Faye, so I gotta give a very good name that I will like!
Ooh, does that mean I am getting myself another cute loli maid?!
Ann eyed the little girl and saw how attached she was to Faye, and the gears in her brain began to move.
Looking at this, Allen frowned.
This girl named the Mythical Bird of Soul Ascendance as Little Pinkie Birdie… how can she be entrusted to naming a human being?!
Allen didn’t dare to say this out loud, but he grew more nervous when looking at Ann, who was now in deep contemplation.
What if this girl decided to name this poor child something ridiculous like… Pinkie, again? Birde?
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