Chapter 2: The Holy Empire of Deramis

One week passed, and it came time for our party to set off for Deramis. I’d finished creating all the gear I wanted to make for my companions, and they had all had a chance to give their new equipment a spin. Overall, progress was on schedule.

There were no reports of any movement from the Apostles, so things were peaceful. Oh, right—Rion and Shutola showed me the results of their secret training yesterday. I admit, it really surprised me. The idea to use a plushie as a weapon had never occurred to me, and now that Shutola had the Puppetry skill, there was a lot she could do in battle even by herself. On a whim, I’d had her try to control my golems, and she’d pulled it off. The more she familiarized herself with her strings, the more puppets she could control at once. I was truly excited to see what she would eventually become capable of.

“Shutola-sama, did you bring your handkerchief?” Rosalia asked, fussing over her.

Shutola nodded. “Of course I did.”

“How about the plushie that you need to hug to sleep at night?” Huba added.

Starting to get a little huffy, the young girl told her attendants, “Gosh, you’re both worrying too much! I have everything I need!”

Hey, Shutola, it’s not like I don’t get what you’re feeling, but cut them some slack. Parents and guardians can’t help fussing; that’s just how it is.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t come along? We’re supposed to be Shutola-sama’s guards.”

“I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about, Huba, since she’ll be with Master and his party. What’s more, Shutola-sama is now more powerful than you.”

“Ugh, don’t say that! If you do, my reason for being here becomes...”

I wasn’t sure what had happened, but Huba had been working really hard of late. From what I could see, she was doing three times her usual amount of work and wasn’t slacking off anymore. That driven-against-the-wall feeling she was giving off did bother me a little, though.

“Please take care of the house while we’re gone,” Efil told Ellie and Ruka a slight distance away. “If anything happens, please find Mist-san at the Adventurer’s Guild.”

Ellie bowed. “Of course, Efil-sama.”

“Take care of Master, Efil-sama!” Ruka said cheerfully, earning a knock on her head from her mother. The way she acted often made me worry about her, but Ruka was someone who properly fulfilled her duties. I had also heard that under Ange’s tutelage, her assassination skills were improving, although I wasn’t quite sure when she would actually need to employ that particular skill set.

When everyone’s farewells were done, I said, “All right, we’re heading out. We’ll see you when we’re back!”

All the maids, lined up neatly on the front porch, bowed and replied in unison, “Have a safe trip!”

◇ ◇ ◇

The clattering of wheels filled my ears.

How long has it been since I last rode in a carriage? If I remember correctly, it was when I went to Toraj, wasn’t it? After that, it became faster for me to run. Oh well, traveling slowly and leisurely isn’t bad once in a while. This carriage is much higher quality than the last one, and I can barely feel the shaking.

“So, we aren’t using the teleportation gate this time!” Sera exclaimed, excitedly peeking out the windows.

“Dearest sister Sera, you must settle down. There are knights attending us, so we must act more ladylike,” Shutola scolded her primly while trying her best to act elegant. However, she was talking to Sera, who was sufficiently entertained by the passing landscape. I’d bet if it wasn’t for her Clip of Camouflage, we would be seeing her demon tail waving vigorously. I don’t think anyone else knew, but Sera’s tail often expressed her emotions in a manner similar to that of a dog.

“We can’t use the gate because I still haven’t received the authorization on Deramis’s side,” I replied, “though if we’re lucky, Colette might be able to use her connections to get me authorized when we arrive.”

“I still can’t believe this escort we’re getting. Pretty wild, right, Alex?”

“Arf.” (So fancy.)

Both Rion and Alex—who was still in her shadow—seemed a little uncomfortable. Truth was, so was I. We were currently on the road to Deramis; however, something we did not expect had occurred.

“I’m truly sorry for intruding on your journey. The Oracle insisted and simply refused to budge...”

“Oh, no, no, it’s fine. I completely understand where you’re coming from.”

“Ah...thank you for your understanding, Kelvin-san.”

Right outside the window of our carriage was a white horse ridden by none other than Cliff Strogav, the Captain of the Holy Order of Knights. Colette had somehow sensed that we were setting off for Deramis and dispatched a company of knights and the magnificent silver-traced carriages we were currently riding in. Sera, Rion, and Shutola were riding with me while everyone else was in carriages behind ours. I couldn’t even imagine the hoops she’d had to jump through to get authorization to send armed forces past Deramis’s borders and into Parth’s territory.

The holy knights kept pace alongside us, drawing incredulous stares from the occasional traveling merchant we passed. I could hardly blame them; I was painfully aware of how much we looked like a parade. Melfina had almost fainted when she first caught sight of the group waiting for us at the gates of Parth.

“There are a lot of checkpoints between here and the capital of Deramis, but with us accompanying you, you’ll be able to pass through easily. There are some places that would require you to stop for a whole day, so, um...”

“In other words, we wouldn’t be able to just fly over all of them on dragonback, right? It’s fine, Captain Cliff. I’m thankful to Colette. Really.”

For a while now, Captain Cliff had been repeatedly apologizing to me in a roundabout way. I knew he was doing it to show his consideration, but honestly, it was only making things more awkward. That said, there was no denying that this was indeed the fastest way for us to reach Deramis. After all, we couldn’t very well enter the country illegally like we’d done in Trycen, so we were all thankful to Colette—Melfina included. There was no denying that the Oracle had helped us out on quite a few occasions by now. However, courage was necessary to thank her directly. I’m sure you catch my drift. If possible, I did not want Rion and Shutola to witness the sight.

“So, how much longer to Deramis?” Sera asked curiously.

“Well, if we avoid pitching camp by staying at the checkpoints...” Cliff paused to do some mental calculation. “I’d say five days.”

Sera made a noncommittal sound. “Quite a while yet.”

“We would be making much better time if we could use pegasi, but I’m afraid their numbers are limited, so they can’t be dispatched easily.”

“That would be way too much, having such important steeds pulling our carriages!” I exclaimed. “This arrangement is already more than generous enough!”

Rion nodded in agreement. “These seem like well-trained warhorses. They’re all happy and know how to listen.”

“Thank you for saying so.” Cliff looked as happy as if she had praised him personally. In all likelihood, he and his subordinates had trained the horses.

Considering that praise is coming from Rion, who’s so good at communicating with others that she can speak with animals, I’m sure these really are wonderful horses. That said, do your best so that we can arrive quickly, horseys. Please and thank you.

Since I had time, I decided to review what I knew about the Holy Empire of Deramis. It was a country founded by the Holy Order of Rinne, the world’s largest organized religion. In a broad sense, the Holy Order of Knights led by Captain Cliff fell under the umbrella of Rinne as well. The capital of the country—also called Deramis—was the holy ground of the religion that worshipped Melfina, the Goddess of Reincarnation. This was also the location where the Oracles of Deramis had, throughout history, been summoning Heroes to protect the world whenever a Demon Lord appeared. At the top of the pecking order was the pope, under which were the cardinals, archbishops, and other ranks in a hierarchy that sounded quite similar to the peerage system in other countries. As the Oracle, Colette was in a special position outside of this system, possessing power second only to that of the pope. In other words, she was somewhere between pope and cardinal. As for Captain Cliff...I wasn’t quite sure.

“Excuse me, Captain Cliff. I have a question. Do the holy knights possess some sort of title? Like ‘bishop,’ for example?”

“Those of us in the Holy Order of Knights are awarded statuses separate from those of the clergy. But to make it easier to understand, I, as knight captain, possess similar authority to that of an archbishop.”

“I see.” Maybe it’s like the difference between military officers and civil officials. I guess even this holy land is a bit more complicated within.

“Dearest brother, canst thou readeth me a book?”

Shutola, what happened to your manner of speech? You don’t have to force it, you know? Letting people see you at your worst isn’t shameful. Your close friend Colette said so.

“Ah! Me too, me too!”

Rion also grabbed a book from Clotho’s Storage and joined Shutola in climbing onto my lap like it was the most natural thing to do. Thank god Gerard isn’t riding with us. Also, stop looking my way so enviously, Sera. It’ll make things even more weird for you to join now!

“Sure, sure. We do have a lot of time. Okay, what am I reading today?”

The two thrust their respective books at me.

“Contemporary Artistic Masterpieces from the Western Continent, please!”

“The Study of Regal Principle for Royalty!”

“Sorry, um, do you guys have any picture books?”

I guess having excessively talented little sisters comes with its own challenges.

◇ ◇ ◇

If I had to describe the city of Deramis in just one word, I would choose “white.” The walls that protected the city were white. The buildings, whether homes, places of business, or anything else, were white. Even the pavement was white. Everything in the capital was characterized by immaculate whiteness. Consequently, the few splashes of color, such as the green from trees and blue from fountains, seemed all the more vivid. There was just one exception: a giant palace that towered over the center of the city in a dazzling silver.

“Is this your party’s first time in Deramis, Kelvin-san?” Cliff asked.

“It is.” I nodded. “I’m feeling very surprised right now. It’s...very white.”

“Since long ago, we’ve used a special kind of stone that amplifies the effects of magic. That’s the building material for all the structures and pavement you see. This far away, you can barely feel the effects, but the closer you get to the center, the more powerful it becomes.”

A material that amplifies the effects of magic? Analyze Eye is only telling me that this is some kind of stone. The effect of a single brick is almost negligible, but as the saying goes, many a little makes a mickle. If one isn’t enough, gather more until it is. This stone looks pretty sturdy too, which means it serves well enough as building material. The city was probably built a long time ago, but the effect still seems to be going strong. These bricks are probably a form of Magical Jewels that possess a power that’s practically semipermanent due to its output being so minuscule.

“Is that silver building where the power of these bricks is most concentrated?” I asked.

“What wonderful discernment skills. That right there is the heart of both Deramis as a country and Rinne as a religion, the place where Colette-sama is praying earnestly even now: the Great Cathedral of Deramis! Or at least, that’s the line we always give tourists. Truth is, at this time, the Cathedral is overflowing with believers, so someone else is standing in for Colette-sama. She herself should be at her desk fighting a mountain of paperwork.”

“Ah, well, it would be dangerous, after all.”

So it’s basically a body double. She is the only one in this world capable of summoning the Heroes, so it makes sense that she can’t just show up in front of the believers so carelessly. What’s the meaning of the building being covered in silver, though? I’m still too far away to use Analyze Eye on it.

::The white stone used to build the city possesses the power to amplify magic, but the silver used to build the Great Cathedral possesses the power to concentrate that effect. That’s why the effect becomes stronger the closer you get. This is a setup to help the Oracles through the ages summon the most talented Heroes possible.::

Ah, I see. I mulled over the impromptu lesson from Melfina-sensei. I guess that’s to be expected of a place that’s produced countless Heroes throughout history. Wait a moment... So this is the place where Touya and the rest suddenly found themselves? They must have been really confused, just like I was, though I also lost my memories in the process.

“Um, Kel-nii...”

“I know. Don’t say it.”

Our carriage was currently clattering down the streets of Deramis, but we were completely on tenterhooks. Why? Because...

“Say, Kelvin, why do you think everyone’s looking our way? Should I wave my hand?”

“Stop it.”

Every single person we passed was dropping to their knees to worship us like mad. As in, they were prostrating themselves right there on the streets. Don’t tell me—was Melfina’s identity leaked?!

“This carriage is normally used by cardinals or the pope,” Cliff explained. “And in Deramis, the higher someone’s status, the holier they are considered. When believers see this carriage heading towards the Great Cathedral in line with others, they cannot help but stop and worship. This might seem somewhat strange to you, but please bear with it until we reach the palace. We’re almost there.”

If it’s someone holy they’re looking for, I do have a saint currently on my lap. But still, this country is turning out to be a lot more...unique than expected. If things are already this intense from the moment we enter the city, I worry what the future’s going to bring.

“We’ll be entering the palace from the back. There should be no pilgrims on that side.”

Captain Cliff continued leading us forward, none the wiser about my apprehension.

◇ ◇ ◇

It took quite a while for our carriage to reach the Palace of Deramis from the city gates. Watching the view from my seat, I fully understood just how large and expansive the city was. As Sera gazed tirelessly with sparkling eyes, our carriage climbed a slope and stopped in front of the massive palace. And there, beyond the palace complex that surrounded it, was the Great Cathedral before my eyes, throwing back the light of the sun in silver glory.

“Thank you for your patience, everyone,” Captain Cliff said as he opened our doors. “We are here.”

“Thank you for the escort,” I replied, doing my best to smile at the knights as I stepped out. Remaining seated for such a long time had been tiring, true, but my exhaustion was mainly mental. I had no idea whether I was forming the smile properly or not.

As Cliff had said on the way over, there were no layman believers anywhere in sight. There was, however, a group of clergy members waiting in a line, wearing very fancy outfits that boasted their high status. There were five of them of varying ages and genders. Their attire was mainly white, with each person holding a crosier in one hand. The only noticeable deviations were their stoles, which were a colorful range of red, blue, green, yellow, and purple.

Cliff leaned in to whisper in my ear, “These are the cardinals of Deramis. It’s extremely rare to see all of them together at once, but they insisted on being here to welcome you.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa, the cardinals are the second-highest-ranking people in this country aside from Colette, right?! Why are such high-level citizens here to greet us? Time to put Nerves of Steel to the test again. Plus, I also should warn everyone through the Network to be on their best behavior and have their guard up.

The man in the red stole stepped forward. “Kelvin-sama and company, we welcome you to Deramis. I am Marcel Gottes. It is a true honor to meet the person who defeated the Demon Lord alongside the Heroes and is the honorable recipient of both the Pope Medal and the Saint Medal.”

His white hair seemed to indicate that he was the oldest of the cardinals. The way he smiled so disarmingly put me on guard. Am I just a distrustful person? Or this might be a lingering effect from what happened with Riold. Actually, yeah, the latter seems a lot more likely.

The four other cardinals then introduced themselves in a ceremonious fashion, and we responded as best we could. My first impression was that they seemed secretive and performative, cutting a sharp contrast with Gaun, where the people approached every situation head-on. Of course, not all of the cardinals seemed that way, and I wasn’t sure how wise it was to be like Colette and overly expose one’s thoughts, but the general feeling I got was that this country did not suit me. These people reminded me too much of other countries’ nobles with their faction struggles, and I wanted no part of that world.

“The Oracle awaits. Please follow me.”

The man in the green stole, the only one my instincts told me I could trust, gestured towards the door to the palace. He appeared to be the youngest of the cardinals, but that still put him somewhere in his thirties. He had introduced himself as Sai Dill.

He started walking, indicating that we were to follow. Several holy knights accompanied us, but the other cardinals merely smiled and saw us off.

Honestly, I’ve had enough of them. Let’s go see Colette.

::Honey, keep it together! You must stay strong!::

You meant that for yourself, right? The shaking in Melfina’s voice was audible even through the Network. Come on, Colette’s not that bad. I’m sure we can get used to her someday! Ha ha ha...ha ha...ha...

◇ ◇ ◇

We soon found ourselves in a very spacious drawing room. Here, too, everything was white, reminding me of a hospital room.

“Everyone, it has been far too long. I have been awaiting this day with bated breath.”

Both Mel and I barely bit back the “Who the hell are you?!” that rose unbidden to our lips. As expected, Colette was waiting for us, but on her face was the smile of a saint, seeming so pure and divine that it almost matched Melfina’s smile as a goddess.

That’s strange. That’s really strange! I’d braced myself for a hyper Colette breathing so hard we could practically hear her heartbeat. This is so anticlimactic that it’s actually shocking.

“What’s the matter, Kelvin-sama?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. I’m glad to see you’re doing great, Colette.”

“Th-That’s right,” Mel managed. “Health is the most important thing.”

Colette smiled again. “Your concern warms my heart.”

I immediately called an emergency high-speed meeting on the Network. That was how serious the situation was.

What are the chances of this being an impostor?

::I’m...pretty sure this is Colette. Honey, didn’t you check with Analyze Eye?::

I did, but there’s still a chance she’s someone using Disguise. Ange, is there anyone among the Apostles who might be capable of impersonating Colette?

::I mean, that kinda was my area of expertise, so I don’t think there was anyone who was better than me. And I’m not confident I could perfectly pull off being the Oracle of Deramis. Even I know to choose my jobs!::

I...see... I was surprised to hear the former Apostle throw in the towel. So this Colette is the real deal?!

::Kel-nii, Mel-nee, and An-nee, you’re all being really rude! Even Colette can behave when she needs to!::

::I-I suppose Rion does have a point. Honey, let’s take this as an indication that Colette’s sickness can be cured. It’s important to view things in a positive light.::

Rion, you do realize you were implying that if the situation were different, Colette would be out of control, right?

At the same time, Shutola was pumping Colette’s hands up and down. “Colette-chan, it’s been so long!”

“I’m glad to see you lively and well too,” Colette replied, giggling elegantly. It was a truly heartwarming scene of two long-separated friends rejoicing at their reunion.

So, Colette’s grown up and learned how to hold herself back. I’m sorry. I was the sinner. Before I knew it, all of my companions were smiling at the sight.

“Cardinal Sai,” Colette said, “thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to guide my guests.”

“No, thank you for the opportunity, Oracle. It is an incredible honor being able to meet the champions of our age in person. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now. May the goddess bless you.”

The dark-haired, dark-skinned man—a rare sight in this country of mostly fair-skinned people—left the room along with the knights who had joined us...perhaps out of consideration for Colette and me. The cardinal had remained gentlemanly until the end, not stepping in more than necessary and allowing us our distance. Now, the only ones left in the drawing room were my party, Colette, and Captain Cliff.

“Cardinal Sai used to be a holy knight,” Colette told us. “When he said he wished to meet you, Kelvin-sama, it must have been that part of him speaking.”

“It was thanks to him yielding the seat of knight captain that the position is now mine,” Cliff added. “I confess, there is a part of me that regrets not having insisted on winning it in fair combat. After all, the title of ‘strongest fighter in Deramis’ was on the line.”

“Ahh, no wonder.” So he’s a powerful fighter who’s confident in his skills. That explains why I unconsciously took a liking to him.

Once the small talk was out of the way, Mel broached the main topic. “Colette, we have come because there is something we need to consult you about.”

“Consult me?” Surprise flitted across the Oracle’s face but was quickly replaced by seriousness. “Mel-sama, may Captain Cliff sit in on this?”

Colette’s words implied that Cliff could be trusted. Since she was the one vouching for him, I figured it was fine. I asked Sera and Ange to confirm there were no suspicious presences nearby and, with Colette’s permission, cast Silent Whisper to soundproof the room.

“The truth is...” When all the preparations were done, Mel proceeded to tell Colette and Cliff everything about Elearis, the Apostles, and their aim. The two cried out in surprise several times during her recap but otherwise listened attentively.

“To think such an organization exists and that they were the ones behind the Trycenian war and the incident at the Beast King Festival...” Colette murmured. “This is a grave situation indeed.”

“I’m afraid the scope is far too great for me to wrap my mind around,” Cliff admitted. “Kelvin-san, I don’t mean to sound doubtful, but are you sure of this?”

“Ange here also used to be an Apostle. A lot’s happened since, though, and she’s on our side now, so don’t worry.”

“Um, my name is Ange. Feel free to ask—”

“Oh my!” Colette blurted out. “You’ve already opened the eyes of a member of that evil organization! I expected no less from my beloved and much-adored Mel-sama and Kelvin-sama— Ahem.”

I didn’t see or hear anything. What fine weather we’re having today. There’s nothing to be scared of, Ange. Come look outside the window with me.

“The last Oracle who served Melfina-sama’s predecessor, Elearis-sama, would have been my ancestor, Iris Deramilius. However, she’s—”

“Oracle, that matter is highly classified information.”

“No secret of our country should ever be held back from Melfina-sama, our Lady and Goddess. However, it is true that it might be better for them to hear this from my father directly.”

“And your father is the pope?” I asked hesitantly.

Colette nodded. “That is correct.”

Which means we’ll get an audience with the monarch of Deramis. I’ve never seen him before... Colette came in his place during my promotion ceremony and there was no opportunity for him to show himself during the Trycenian war. Thinking about it now, I don’t even know his name.

“Due to private reasons, Pope Philip Deramilius never shows himself, even to the believers,” Colette explained. “On the very limited occasions when he truly has to show up, he stays behind a curtain. The only people allowed to meet him in person are his attendants, Cliff, Cardinal Sai, and me. Not even the other cardinals are granted that privilege.”

“May I ask why?” I inquired.

“I believe it will be obvious when you see him. Captain Cliff, make arrangements for the audience.”

“Yes, Oracle! Immediately!”

With a sharp salute, Cliff left the room. We passed the time chatting about Riold’s teleportation gate authorization and a variety of other topics until Colette suddenly cupped one ear with a hand.

“I see... Yes... Very well. Then...”

Oh, right, Colette and Captain Cliff are connected telepathically too. Is he contacting her now?

“Everyone, the pope has given his permission for an audience. I’m very sorry to ask you to move again when you’ve only just settled in, but please follow me to where His Holiness is.”

◇ ◇ ◇

Colette guided us deeper and deeper into the palace, climbing staircase after staircase. A while later, we found ourselves on the top floor. There were no soldiers or knights standing guard, only stone sculptures of varying sizes plus several attendants, although I only needed a quick look to tell that those attendants were hardly normal servants. They were all at least as powerful as a holy knight.

At the end of a maze of passages that I would definitely have gotten lost in was a giant door flanked by two huge statues of what looked like a cross between a dragon and an angel. Colette stopped and turned around.

“The pope is beyond this door. Are you all ready?”

I nodded. “Any time.”

“Understood.” Colette knocked. “Your Holiness, I’ve brought Kelvin-sama and his party.”

“Mm, come in.”

So young? The voice that I heard from behind the door was that of a young man—no, that of a teenage boy. I did not have time to dwell on it, however, as the door opened smoothly.

“Hey there! ‘Nice to meet you’ for everyone aside from Melfina-sama, I suppose? I’m Philip Deramilius, the Pope of the Holy Empire of Deramis.”

Sitting on the throne before a massive statue of an angel was a boy younger than Rion with silver hair and exquisite features.

◇ ◇ ◇

“I see, so you’re saying that Iris is behind everything that’s happened...”

“This is an enormous crisis, Your Holiness!”

“Aw, c’mon, Colette, why can’t you call me ‘father’ here? It’s not like there’s anyone you have to keep up appearances for!”

“Your Holiness, Melfina-sama is present!”

The boy chortled upon being told off by Colette.

What’s going on? Aren’t we here to meet the man with the most power in all of Deramis? Why do I only see the scene of an older sister scolding her younger brother for having pulled off a prank?

::Honey, I understand your doubt, but I assure you that boy over there is the real Pope Philip.::

Really? So my eyes aren’t fooling me. There’ve been too many occasions for me to doubt my own senses today.

“Philip, Colette, have you had enough father-daughter bonding time yet?”

“Oh no! I’m terribly sorry, Melfina-sama!”

“Yep, yep, that’s about enough. I’m sorry for my klutz of a daughter, Melfina-sama.”

Pope Philip’s casual air was a sharp contrast to Colette’s constant bowing and apologizing. Their reactions being so different left us at a loss for how to respond.

“Well, let’s start again: I’m Philip Deramilius. I may look like a child, but I assure you that I am the Pope of Deramis. Just so we’re clear, my appearance is a big secret.”

The pope placed a finger to his mouth with a cheeky grin. He was wearing the same style of clothes as the cardinals, except the stole over his shoulders was a dazzling silver. That dazzle, when combined with his exquisite features, seemed to make him appear even holier. Still, if he was truly Colette’s father, that led to certain other conclusions. For example...

“Excuse me,” I said, “and please let me know if I’m wrong, but has Your Holiness Evolved?”

“Oh? You’re a sharp one.”

Ah, I got it right straight off? Analyze Eye is being blocked by Rank S Concealment, so I can’t read his Status. Now that I also know about Disguise, I guess Analyze Eye isn’t going to be all that useful when dealing with the people and beings that I’m meeting these days.

“Well, to make sure that we start off on the same page, I’ll tell you more about me. To come right out with it, Iris is my little sister.”

“Huh?!” We all widened our eyes like deer in headlights.

Give me a moment. Wait, hold on, hold on. Did he just say that Iris, the one leading the Apostles, is his little sister? That makes him her older brother, right? And Iris was alive long, long, looooong ago, right? We’re talking all the way back when Sera’s father, Demon Lord Gustav, fought the Hero Serge Flore. That’s even further in the past than the Great War that plunged the Eastern Continent into chaos. Doing the math, that’d make Philip...about as old as Viktor, I guess? I seem to remember that demon being six hundred or seven hundred years old. Oh, damn...

“Um, just how old are you, Your Holiness?”

“I’ve honestly lived so long, I’ve stopped keeping count, ha ha ha.”

Please look at your Status right now!

Philip continued, “You know about the Hero who came before Touya and the others, right? Serge? I’m sure you do. Based on what you just shared, Serge is also in that organization of Apostles. The truth is, my sister, Iris, was the Oracle who summoned Serge, and I was a member of the party Serge formed. She had such pretty black hair that I fell for her. But—and listen to this!—every other member in her party was so handsome that it was just ridiculous! There was the wandering elf, right? The prince of a fallen country. Me. A holy knight. But Serge was so slow on the uptake! In the end, she never got together with any of us and just went back to her world!”

So Pope Philip was a member of the Hero’s party! We’re in luck. He just might have the info we need. But still, what a harem. Sounds like Serge lived that protagonist life, all right. The way Philip cheekily slipped himself into that list of “handsome party members” tells me a lot about his personality.

Sensing the brief glare Sera gave Philip, I said telepathically, Sera, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, but—

::Don’t worry. I’ve come to terms with everything that happened.::

All right.

I was pretty sure it was only Melfina that Sera had forgiven completely, but after being with her for so long, I knew Sera could control herself. I had faith in her.

“Your Holiness, you included a few unnecessary facts just now.”

“C’mon, call me ‘father’! Colette, you have to live life to the utmost or your heart will grow old— Ah, I guess this isn’t something you have any problem doing. But you see, your father is worried about whether you’ll be able to have any children the way you are.”

“I have Melfina-sama, Kelvin-sama, and Rion-sama. They’re all I need!”

“I knew you’d say that. You do— Wait, what?”

“You two, let’s bring the conversation back on track.” Once again, Melfina had to interrupt the father and daughter pair.

I can’t just let the misunderstanding go, but still, it’s pretty rare to see Melfina being the one trying to keep a conversation on track.

“Sorry, sorry, it’s just been so long since I got to talk with someone other than Colette and Sai. Can’t help getting a bit excited. Okay, let’s return to the topic. Just as Kelvin-kun suspected, when I defeated Gustav alongside Serge, I Evolved into a saint. Um, do you know about how Evolving prolongs your life span?”

“Yes, Beast King Leonhart told me about it.”

“Oh wow, that Beast King? He must’ve really taken a liking to you, Kelvin-kun. So yep, I turned into a saint, and my appearance hasn’t really changed since then. And I’ve been alive all this time.”

So Pope Philip is a saint, just like Rion. I’m pretty interested in what happened to his companions from back then, especially the elf and the prince.

“Are your party members still out there somewhere?”

“Unfortunately, not all of us Evolved at the time. The elf, who originally had the longest life span, passed away from old age. The holy knight went to fight a Rank S monster, and...well, not everything goes the way you want in life.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for bringing it up—”

“No, no, it’s fine. Just take it as a lesson from your forebears to be careful. And I still have someone with me.”

“Which would be...?”

The pope clapped his hands as a signal with a bit of a smug look on his face. Immediately, someone approached on the other side of the door we had entered from.

Wait, this presence—

“Pardon my entrance.”

“Cardinal Sai?” I turned around and stared at the man we had just parted with.

“That’s right!” Philip chortled like a kid who had successfully pulled off a prank. “Cardinal Sai is the prince of a fallen country. Just like me, he was one of Serge’s companions.”

◇ ◇ ◇

“Phew...”

“Well done out there today, honey. Here you go.”

“Ah, thanks.”

I accepted the cup that Melfina was holding out and gulped down the wonderfully chilled water with relish.

“Today was one surprise after another. Did you know all this stuff ahead of time, Mel?”

“More or less, though there is a difference between what I know and what I can say.”

“Right, the limitations placed on your artificial body.”

I gestured for Melfina to sit next to me on the bed. Everything that had happened today had left me exhausted, what with being worshipped when entering the city, learning that the pope and one of the cardinals had actually been party members with the previous Hero, and everything in between. Our other companions were currently resting up in the guest rooms that had been made up for us in the palace.

“In the end, I guess the key is the moment you succeeded Elearis,” I noted.

I still had no idea why the position had been passed on. Melfina could not tell us due to the limitations placed on her artificial body, and Pope Philip wasn’t sure about the details, only generally aware that there had been a change in personnel among the deities.

However, that was not the case for the Oracle of the time, Iris. She had fiercely insisted that she would only ever worship Elearis and raised a rebel faction of those faithful to the goddess, causing a schism within the Holy Order of Rinne.

Philip had said, “The two things I didn’t know were that Serge and Iris are still alive. I’m very confused about Serge still being here, since she was supposed to have returned to her own world. If memory serves, Iris died soon after sending Serge back. Specifically, she was executed for spurring those faithful to Elearis-sama to rise up. The record of what happened back then remains highly classified information to this day.”

In other words, even though Rinne is well-known for its faith in Melfina, things aren’t quite so black and white under the hood. Philip did mention that rebellious remnants are rumored to still exist and are in hiding.

“I wonder what it was that Elearis wanted to achieve, even going so far as to manipulate Iris, someone who had placed so much faith in her...”

Silence was all I got in reply, but I was not surprised. The only way to get my answer was to Summon Melfina in her actual body or to ask Elearis in person.

I shrugged. “At the very least, I want to ensure that Colette doesn’t walk the same path Iris did.”

“That I agree with!”

Colette’s a good girl at heart. I don’t want to be the cause of her taking a wrong turn in life. I swear that I’ll do my best to—

“Haa, haa, haa...a room filled with Mel-sama’s and Kelvin-sama’s sublime fragrances... I can smell it fresh and clear even through the keyhole. Ohhhh, the sweet and sublime aroma courses through my body from head to toe! Ahh, I’ve held myself back for so long, my restraint is on the verge of breaking down. I’ve already sent everyone away, so I can indulge myself just a little bit, right? Just a tiny bit? I can allow myself to partake of this holy fragrance for the briefest of moments—”

My ears, which had become very sensitive after my Evolution, picked up something that I absolutely did not need to hear.

She is a good girl at heart, but I guess there’s no denying she’s a weirdo.

◇ ◇ ◇

The streets of Deramis were blinding no matter where I looked, an impression that could largely be chalked up to all the structures being so white. Even the citizens of the city wore the color, making my party’s generally black aesthetic stand out all the more.

They sure are taking this color scheme seriously.

“I’m gonna need a bit of time to gather information and do that thing you asked,” Philip had said. “In the meantime, how about doing some sightseeing? Oh, want me to give you recommendations for nightlife places? Are there any themes that you prefer?”

We had found ourselves with free time on our hands. As we were being treated as guests, we were asked to stay within the city and not leave without reason. That said, Deramis was an absolutely massive capital. We had already had our fill of sightseeing in Gaun, but this new place triggered a curiosity in us. As a result, I was currently out on a walk with Melfina, Shutola, and Colette.

Colette was with us because the pope had, in a show of goodwill, lent her to us as a guide. However, since there were very few as well-known and as “holy” as her in Deramis, she was currently wearing a deep-hooded cloak similar to what I always wore.

My other companions were currently out on the town. Efil and Rion had gone to buy daily necessities; Gerard, Sera, and Dahak had split up to chase whatever caught their fancy; and Ange was out gathering information for me. I had expected Rion to express interest in coming with my group, but she’d said she didn’t want to get in the way of Shutola and Colette rekindling their friendship. I was so touched by how considerate she was that I had to exercise an iron will to stop myself from rubbing my cheek against hers right there on the spot.

“This place really is huge...”

“This is the largest city on the Eastern Continent. The circumference is so lengthy that it’s impossible to walk it in a day.”

“Damn...”

“Don’t be overwhelmed, dearest brother!”

Shutola, who was riding on my back, was practically a bundle of energy. Well, she doesn’t have to walk, so little wonder she’s got so much energy.

Colette giggled. “I see that you’ve gotten used to being Shutola-chan’s big brother, Kelvin-sama.”

Her beaming smile showed no hint of her creepy outburst from earlier. Was it because she’d had her fill then, or had I suffered an auditory hallucination? I mean, it was most likely the former, but it was better for both parties if I didn’t think too much about it. At least, that was the conclusion I had arrived at after running Parallel Processing. It’s important to let things go.

“Om... Mmmmm!”

“Eat as much as you like, Mel-sama.”

With her Oracle enabling her, Melfina had completely lost herself to eating. Although my wallet was spared the burden, I was somewhat worried about whether the sight of their target of worship acting in such a way would detract from the believers’ reverence. Then again, the person spurring Mel on seemed to be having the time of her life, so I supposed it was fine. Things had yet to get out of hand. Yet.

“Would you like one as well, Kelvin-sama? Here’s yours, Shutola-chan.”

“Thank you, Colette-chan.”

“Give my portion to Mel. She probably hasn’t had enough yet. Right, Mel?”

“Oh, honey!”

“Wh-What a dazzling display of love between husband and wife! This must be recorded in the scriptures for posterity—”

“Colette, stop.”

I hurriedly clapped a hand over her mouth. What exactly are you trying to leave behind for posterity?! I just said things had yet to get out of hand; why are you immediately trying to prove me wrong?!

“A whole group of people are approaching us,” Shutola noted.

I looked up. “Huh, you’re right.”

In front of us was a large group of what looked like priests walking and praying. Unfortunately, we were in a residential area, so the streets here weren’t as wide. At the current rate, we were going to bump into them.

“They’re pilgrims,” Colette explained. “I very much appreciate seeing those who are eager about their faith, but if they were to see my face, things would get troublesome. Let’s head this way.” She walked into one of the side streets, so we followed.

“At the other end of this path”—Shutola paused as if trying to recall something— “is the orphanage, right?”

“That is correct,” Colette confirmed. “Very few people pass that way, and it wouldn’t cause as much of a fuss for my face to be seen there. We can stop to rest there for a while.”

“Uh, Shutola, don’t tell me you’ve already memorized the map of this incredibly huge city?”

“I memorized it long ago. When I had to come for a dinner party, I looked it up while looking up everything else.”

So, this is information from her past. Still, normal people wouldn’t remember something like that. It’s like me being able to fully recite a dictionary page that I randomly flipped to in my childhood. I’ve already learned how important it is to ensure that I lock my door at night, but now I have to be doubly careful not to do anything strange where Shutola can see. Perfect Memory is one scary skill indeed.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Sister Marigan, it’s been a while.”

“Oh my, if it isn’t the Oracle! It truly has been a while!”

“Come on, don’t call me that. Please call me by my name like you used to!”

Colette’s conversation with the elderly director of the orphanage went incredibly smoothly. They immediately shifted into happily exchanging stories of the past, indicating that they knew each other from a long time back.

The orphanage was a facility that had been attached to a Rinne church. It was there to take in children who had lost their parents from any number of causes. There were a total of sixteen children but only three nuns—including the old Sister Marigan—to take care of them all. Furthermore, the little ones were far naughtier and more energetic than the young ones in my own house.

Even now, a nun wearing glasses was being played around with by a whole gaggle of kids in the front yard. She appeared to be the same age as me. And she had huge knockers—they were so huge, I could tell even beneath her habit. Ah, a bratty kid just grabbed them. She looks troubled. This is scandalous. Truly scan—

“Kelvin-sama, this is Sister Marigan, who runs this orphanage. She’s given us her permission to stay a while.”

“The Oracle has explained everything to me. Who’d have thought a Rank S adventurer would come to a place like this! Ah, you probably shouldn’t tell the children, though. Otherwise, they’ll make a fuss and you’ll find yourself in the same situation that Sister Ria is in over there.”

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Thank you for the warning. I’ll be careful.”

“Please, come on inside. I’ll serve you something cold to drink.”

“Oh, please, I wouldn’t want to impose.”

Just as I was about to walk into the church, I caught Shutola looking at the children. Mel, who was following behind me, noticed too.

“Shutola, do you want to play with the kids?” Mel asked kindly.

“Huh? B-But...” Shutola’s grip on my back tightened.

Ah, is her prior shyness acting up again? I guess she’s still not as confident about interacting with kids her age.

“Honey, let me borrow Shutola for a while.” Melfina gently lifted the girl from my back, eliciting a small scream of surprise.

I whirled around. “What? Uh, wait—”

Melfina set Shutola down on the ground, then held her hand. “I’ll go with you! I suddenly feel like playing too!”

She promptly began charging towards the group of children, dragging the little princess along despite her squeals of protest.

“Whyyyy?!” Sister Ria wailed, equally surprised by the burst of movement.

Seeing as Shutola’s always just following Rion and Ruka, the way Mel handled it just now is probably the best answer.

“Mel-sama and Shutola-chan holding hands and dancing around?! What’s more, she’s even showing her holy visage to the children! Mel-sama’s love is truly deep and wide without measure, pure and noble and beyond absolute perfection! No, no, Colette. Even though Mel-sama and Kelvin-sama tell you they don’t mind, this is a place of learning and a house of the Goddess! I mustn’t go beyond having a nosebleed—”

“No nosebleed either.” I landed a knifehand chop on the head of the Oracle who was peeking out from behind the doors of the church. I couldn’t very well ignore her when she was literally right there in front of me.

“Owie!” Colette yelped, then gasped. “Huh? What was I...”

“Your chronic condition was acting up, that’s all. Come on, let’s head inside.”

“Yes, Kelvin-sama!”

Phew. I hope Shutola didn’t see that. Wait, hold on, am I getting used to dealing with Colette’s outbursts?

◇ ◇ ◇

I soon found myself in a reception room in the church. Although the tea that was served was by no means expensive, it was still delicious and calmed me down. The time passed with Colette, Sister Marigan, and me making small talk, and soon, Melfina and Shutola rejoined us. I noticed their clothes were covered with dust and dirt, so I cast Clean on them.

“I’m so tired,” Shutola groaned.

Oh? Was that a bit too much exercise for a girl who grew up in a palace?

::She had to really hold back while playing tag with the children. You know, her usual playmates are Rion and Ruka, and the difference in level is a bit...::

Ah, I see.

I looked at Shutola. So she’s not physically but rather mentally exhausted from having to be careful all that time while dealing with normal children. But she does also look pretty satisfied. Conditions aside, I guess she enjoys playing with kids her age after all.

I was roused from my thoughts as the nun with the glasses from earlier knocked on the door and walked in. She was accompanied by a slightly shorter nun who looked younger than her.

“Um, thank you very much for playing with the kids!” the former cried, sounding extremely flustered. Just as when she was handling the children, she seemed rather nervous and overcome when speaking to us.

“Accept my thanks too,” the other nun said, stepping forward. “Sister Ria here is still an apprentice, you see. And as you can tell, she’s a klutz and quite slow with things, so she’s having a tough time of it.”

Although her stature and face gave the impression that she was the younger of the two, her confident bearing made it clear that she was the one with more experience.

“And I’ve told you many times to mind your speech, Sister Atra,” Sister Marigan said chidingly.

“Ah, that ain’t happening. Don’t worry, I’m sure Melfina-sama won’t get her knickers tied up over something so trivial!”

The old woman sighed and shook her head in resignation.

And there you have it. Is your believer right or is she taking your name in vain, Goddess Melfina?

::People are free to choose how they speak and live their lives. I’m not here to dictate such matters. These are rules set by the leaders of the religious order rather than by me.::

Fair enough. Then again, I do see how a nun who gets too out of hand would give Deramis a bad reputation. It’s like how a school gets bashed online for just one student who did something bad enough to attract outside attention.

Colette spoke up. “Sister Marigan, there’s no need to be so harsh on her for—”

“Hey, you get it— WHOA! You’re the Oracle! That’s rad! May I shake your hand?!”

“Of course. I’d be delighted.”

“Atra, that’s enough. Introduce yourself already!” Marigan grabbed the hand that Atra was extending and pushed it back down.

Ah, I guess Colette is truly respected by the believers. And I did notice Ria at the back looking conflicted about whether to stop Atra or not. Maybe she’s just shy.

Atra clicked her tongue. “Aw, I was so close. Well, I’m Atra! This church picked me up when I was young, and I’ve worked my way up to being a nun. Now I’m also in charge of teaching Ria. Nice ta meetcha!”

“I-I’m Ria. I’m still, uh, an apprentice, but n-nice to meet you...”

What an odd pair. They seem like such extreme opposites, both in personality and in...the size of their assets.

“All right, it’s about time for you to return to the children, Sister Atra,” Marigan said. “It’s time for their lessons, is it not?”

“Aw, but the Oracle’s here! That’s—”

“Sister Atra.” Marigan smiled a smile that made even me sit up straight.

“Yes, ma’am! I’m heading beck now!” Atra dashed off towards the orphanage at top speed, flubbing her words in alarm.

“Back,” right? Heading “back.” It almost seems like she has a past trauma that was just triggered.

“I’m glad to see this place is as lively as always.”

“All thanks to you coming incognito and helping us out back in the day, Oracle. Funnily enough, I don’t think Atra ever figured that out.”

“Oh, it’s all right. If what I did was helpful in the slightest, that’s enough to make me happy.”

“Oh, bless you, Oracle.”

The conversation between Colette and Sister Marigan was raising so many questions in my mind, but the two were clearly having a moment, with the old lady feeling so touched that she was even quivering. As for Melfina...she was entirely occupied with the cookies that had been served alongside the tea. Little wonder she’s been so quiet.

“Hm? Sister Ria, what’s that signboard over there?” Shutola, who had grown bored with the conversation and was idly swinging her legs off the edge of her chair, suddenly pointed to a long, oblong placard propped up against one of the walls. It was so old that some of the text on its surface was faded and no longer legible.

“Right!” Ria replied nervously. “That’s the, uh, the signboard used by this orphanage before its, um, renovation. The wooden building was said to be a, uh, hazard because it was right next to the church and it was so old. If, um, I remember right, that’s also when we changed the name of this place?”

“We couldn’t exactly throw it away,” Marigan added, “so that’s why we’re keeping it here. This isn’t something to leave in a reception room, but this church is quite tucked away and we get very few visitors. Still, I’m glad you’re taking your studies seriously, Ria.”

“Oh, I...thank you very much!” Sister Ria blushed as red as a tomato.

Ah, she’s the kind of person who doesn’t know how to handle being praised. Hmm, let’s continue this topic a little longer.

“That sounds very interesting,” I said. “By the way, what’s the name of the orphanage now?”

“Oh, uh, this is Lifil Orphanage,” Ria replied. “But...our name didn’t change all that much. Um, the previous one was, um...”

Shutola perked up. “Huh? Was it maybe Lifril Orphanage?”

“Oh, you sure are knowledgeable. All we did was make the name a little easier to pronounce, but we did also take the opportunity to get ourselves a new sign out front. It was around that time I became director of this place.”

“Really?! So this is where Lunoir and Ashley grew up!”

Lunoir? Ashley? Uh...who’re they?

I didn’t recognize the names, but they clearly rang a bell for Marigan. Her eyes widened with surprise. “You know them?”

Shutola nodded. “Mm-hm! They’re my friends!”

“I...see. Through their letters, I know that after they left this orphanage, they entered government service in Trycen, then joined a knight order. However, I stopped hearing from them all of a sudden two years ago. I was really worried about them. Are they doing well?”

“I’m sorry. Actually, I haven’t heard from them in the last two years either...”

“Oh dear. I wonder what they might be up to.”

The two became dejected all of a sudden. I’ve no idea who they’re talking about, but I guess the people in question have been missing for quite a while? Hold on, why does Colette have such a serious look on her face too? Does she know what’s going on? This doesn’t seem like the right atmosphere to ask the other two, so let’s try Colette.

“Colette, you know who they’re talking about?”

“Do you not, Kelvin-sama? Oh, that’s right. Come to think of it, I’ve never told you.”

Uh, I’m glad the dots connected in your head, but please tell me.

“Lunoir-san and Ashley-san are, well...” Colette moved closer to whisper into my ear. “Those are Sylvia-san’s and Ema-san’s real names.”

To sum up Colette’s explanation, this “Lunoir” and “Ashley” that Sister Marigan and Shutola were talking about were Sylvia and Ema, whom I had met at my promotion ceremony. Sylvia was Lunoir and Ema was Ashley.

Their story started when they had collapsed on the road and were picked up by a nun serving at the orphanage. Lunoir and Ashley were not related by blood. Neither of them knew who their parents were or had any idea where they were born. They were already relying on each other to survive in their earliest memories. Their clothes were in tatters, making them look like slaves on the run. That said, they did not have collars on their necks, and treating slaves in such a horrible manner was strictly forbidden in Deramis. In all likelihood, they were being transported by a slave merchant who meant to sell them in Deramis—they must have managed to escape somehow before the collars were put on.

It wasn’t Marigan who had picked them up, but the previous director. Then again, the title of director did not quite encompass who she was. Before she’d come, the church and orphanage were no more than abandoned ruins; let alone not having a director, it hadn’t even had a single staff member. This nun had repaired the rotten structures and started the place up all on her own.

It was a while down the road when Marigan heard about it and got involved. Eventually, the orphanage shaped up enough to gain official recognition from Deramis. According to Marigan, that former nun had taught—on top of basic reading and writing—knowledge and skills for getting by in life. Lunoir and Ashley looked up to and loved her like a sister.

By the time the orphanage had been properly developed, the two had grown old enough to leave. They headed to Trycen in hopes of entering government service and eventually ended up as the general and lieutenant general of the Magic Knight Order. The fact that they both possessed Blessings from dragon kings meant they had gone through quite a lot along the way, but even Colette wasn’t clear on the details.

Then, two years ago, these two decorated officers abruptly discarded their positions, changed their names, and became adventurers. According to what Sylvia had shared when she’d approached Colette for advice during the feast held after my promotion ceremony, she and Ashley were staying on the down low because of what they were trying to do. They were looking for the nun who had established Lifil Orphanage—she had gone missing.

The story was fine up to this point, but there was simply too little information on the nun in question. Her name hadn’t even been mentioned yet.

“What’d you tell Sylvia, Colette? In the first place, there’d be lots of rumors if a nun who founded such a well-established orphanage just up and disappeared, right?”

“You’d think so, but nothing of the sort occurred. When I started helping out here, it was already all fixed up and Sister Marigan was the director. The founder was gone, but I did not think much of it. I could only tell Sylvia-san that I did not have any information relevant to her search. When I returned to Deramis, I tried looking into it, but all the people who knew this nun well only told me that she was convalescing somewhere.”

“Convalescing?”

“She was apparently afflicted by something. Even after she disappeared, she had kept in touch with Sylvia-san and Ema-san through a magic item that could send short, simple sentences. I did not ask Sylvia-san about the specific details of that correspondence, but apparently, it was two years ago when the founder stopped responding entirely. Sylvia-san said she has no idea what happened after that.”

“Ah, so that’s why the two of them quit the Magic Knight Order. By the way, did Sylvia tell you the name of this nun?”

“It’s Ellen. Sister Ellen.”

Hmm... Yeah, don’t know that name. It doesn’t make sense for Sylvia and Ema to be searching for this Sister Ellen so desperately if she really is just convalescing. Therefore, there’s got to be another reason, something else that’s convinced them they needed to take action. The only thing I can think of is the correspondence through the magic item. I really want to know what was written in the last exchange.

“Are you talking about Sister Ellen?” Sister Marigan asked, possibly having overheard what Colette was whispering to me.

I nodded. “Colette’s just been telling me what a wonderful person Sister Ellen was but that she never had the honor of meeting her in person.”

In a way, this is convenient. Maybe Sister Marigan knows something, since she has met Sister Ellen before.

“It’s a pity indeed. The two just missed each other, sadly.”

“What kind of person was Sister Ellen?”

“Hmm... She had incredible talent in both the literary arts and with the sword, and such stunning beauty that even I, as a woman, could not help but fall for her. She was both strict and kind, and above all, filled with affection. Despite being somewhat sickly, she worked hard at teaching Lunoir and Ashley—the first two children this orphanage took in—sword and magic skills, respectively, and even switched it up at times. Perhaps she was just that good of a teacher or perhaps those two just had the talent all along. Either way, they grew by leaps and bounds and even made it into one of the knight orders in Trycen. Truly, their talent is undeniable. This is especially true of Lunoir, who has a wonderful appetite and makes everything she eats look absolutely delicious—”

The praise came out in an unending torrent, describing a flawless superhuman. For some reason, she had shifted into bragging about Sylvia and Ema halfway through, so I’m leaving that out. Part of me had expected it, but she didn’t possess the information we really needed.

And by the way, is it just me or does she seem really similar to Gerard in character?

“Honey, why’re you only talking with Colette?! That’s so unfair! Please give me some attention too!” Melfina tugged my sleeve.

I looked over. “I mean, you were completely fixated on those cookies just now.”

On Mel’s other side, I spotted a princess nibbling on a cookie like a squirrel.

“My oh my! What hearty appetites you two have! This sure reminds me of Lunoir...” A trickle of tears coursed down Sister Marigan’s face, but I decided not to comment on it.

The plate on the table had been entirely cleaned; not only were there no cookies left, there weren’t even powdered crumbs. In all likelihood, Mel had finished eating, gotten bored, gotten jealous of Colette and me talking, and wanted to join in. I’m pretty certain that was the course of events.

Mel, properly cleaning off a plate is a praiseworthy thing, but I’m pretty sure these snacks were meant for all of us. That said, good job making such a small amount of food last this long. You even gave Shutola a piece. You’re really growing!

Seeing our exchange, Sister Marigan asked, “Um, Kelvin-san and Mel-san, are you two in that kind of relationship?”

“Yes, we are,” Mel answered without missing a beat. “We haven’t been engaged yet, but we’re close enough to sleep together at night.”

“HUH?!” I nearly choked. This is a church! A church! What sort of bombshell announcement is this goddess dropping in a place built to worship her?! And in the first place, you sleep in my bed like you’re the only one in it! Sleeping next to you is literally so dangerous that I gain proficiency in Danger Detection every time I do it!

“That’s a pity. Here I was hoping that the Oracle who’s practically married herself to Melfina-sama finally found herself a partner in you, Kelvin-san. You’re the first man she’s ever brought over, and she’s even addressing you without honorifics.”

“Sister Marigan, these two are tightly tied by the bond of husband and wife,” Colette stated emphatically, “with no room for me to come between them. The only thing I would not yield is the claim of being the person who believes in them the most!”

“I also love my dearest brother and sisters!”

“Honey, let’s get started with the preparations for our wedding.”

“My oh my, what a sinful person you are!”

Everyone in the room seemed to be continuing the conversation while ignoring how flustered I was. Each new thing just made me more dumbfounded: Sister Marigan’s strange expectations, Shutola’s out-of-left-field response, Mel’s extremely earnest request—why is the goddess being the most brazen with her desires here?!—and whatever conclusion it was that Sister Marigan ended up making. My only saving grace was the muttered “Seriously?!” from the person peeking through the window from outside. Thank you, Sister Atra.

::Kelvin, can you hear me?::

Uh, oh, yeah, I guess. What’s the matter, Ange?

::Hmm? You sound kinda exhausted.::

Ugh. A lot’s happened.

::Oh? Oh? Do you need your big sister to console you?!::

I have no idea what you’ve got in mind, but I may take you up on that offer. So, what’s this call for? Did your investigation turn something up?

::Yep, consider it a preliminary report. This info is still under wraps for now, but I’m pretty sure of its accuracy. Tomorrow, the Heroes are returning to Deramis.::

◇ ◇ ◇

Upon confirming that the groups of pilgrims had left the vicinity, we bade farewell to the nuns and headed to a large natural park in the middle of the city. As befitted such a massive city, the park was incredibly spacious.

“It’s my first time seeing your new doll, Shutola-chan. It’s so big I have to crane my head to look up at it. Is this the latest product from Trycen?”

“Ehe heh, isn’t it great? Dearest sister Efil made it for me! Here, touch it! It’s so fluffy!”

“I can touch it? I’ll take you up on— Oh wow, this is much fluffier than I thought!”

Melfina and I were sitting side by side on a bench, watching Shutola and Colette affectionately hugging Georgios. Although their current appearances made them look more like an older sister and a younger sister, they had attended a prominent school on the Western Continent together, where they were known as Golden Sage and Silver Saint and constantly vied for the top grades. Through that experience, they’d become fast friends despite coming from different countries.

The reason we were in this park was to make time for the two of them. Or at least, that was part of the reason. The main one, however, was because I wanted time to talk with Mel about the Heroes’ return. Since the information had come from Ange, I had no doubt about its veracity.

“The fact that they’re coming back probably means they want to return to Japan, right?”

“That is why they were working hard to defeat the Demon Lord, after all.”

“I mean, you did bring them over without their consent. I know it happens often in stories, but when you think about it objectively, it’s a pretty terrible thing to do.”

“You sure aren’t mincing your words, honey! I’ve turned over a new leaf and now know that I should only bring over those who want to come. If I had done one more round of filtering to narrow it down to those who were willing, Touya’s group wouldn’t have gotten caught up in all this.”

I peered into Melfina’s downcast face. Judging by the angle of her brows, the way tears were welling up in her eyes, and the shape of her lips, I concluded that she really was feeling regretful about what had happened.

“Well, after all’s said and done, they seem to have enjoyed the experience well enough. So, I guess you can say it worked out all right. Miyabi in particular seemed to be having the time of her life.”

“Really?”

“Pretty sure. She’s the type who’s quite honest with herself but is bad at conveying her emotions. I know because she seems to hate me for some reason. That’s why you should be the one to see them off. Make sure to thank them, okay?”

Melfina nodded wordlessly.

Honestly, it’s gonna be fine. On the off chance that something happens, Colette will do something about it even if it costs her life, and I’ll also be on hand. I’m sure we’ll be able to wrap everything up with a nice bow.

“It’s not like divine punishment would fall on me for asking them for one last match, right? I’m sure they’ve grown a lot during their time on the other continent.”

“Honey, I really love the part of you that’s able to stay honest no matter the situation. However, whether someone receives divine punishment is my decision to make. There’s a famous restaurant called Waterfall of White Droplets down an alleyway in the southern area of the city. Let’s eat there. Of course, with as many helpings as we want.”

The two of us naturally reached out to shake hands. This was the moment our ironclad bond was strengthened even further.

“Shutola-chan, look at that. It is the world’s most sublime scene. It’s so dazzling that I can’t even look directly at it!”

“Huh? Uh, I guess?”