The Three Hundred and Fifty-Third Sheet: Where Did This Rebel Come From? (13)

That afternoon, on May 20th, Ian was telling Elan a story in White Room General Store.

Over the past few days, Elan had begun studying the arts of sublimation at the Church of Light's Embrace.

But because he was still so young, he was only undergoing basic mental training such as "meditation" and "calming the mind," cultivating patience and control over his own mind.

To Bishop White Mist's surprise, Elan was remarkably gifted in this regard. One could even say that he was exceptionally suited to the inheritance of Light's Embrace.

Ian's assessment of that was, Of course he is!

How could a genius confirmed by another path of destiny possibly be fake?

Of course, aside from meditation, the Church's cultivators also taught him some reading and writing. Though it was only the basics, it was already enough.

After spending an afternoon there, Elan always returned having had a very fulfilling day.

And at times like these, the exhausted little boy would unusually act spoiled with Ian, and the youth would indulge him by telling his little brother stories from his memories.

It was just that, given Ian's tastes, the stories he could tell children were nothing more than Ultraman, Godzilla, Pokémon, Kamen Rider, and Mobile Suit Gundam—expecting him to tell The Little Match Girl, Snow White, or any other uplifting story was truly asking too much of him.

Not to mention that, by his own standards of appreciation, the perspective in which he retold those stories differed greatly from the originals.

"...And so, at the final moment, the Giant of Light killed the giant beast and protected the city. But the defense force and most of the buildings were destroyed by the beast, leaving only ruins."

"Just as the Giant of Light rejoiced in his victory, the last survivor