“I’m not really keen on it, but do I really have to attend? I could just meet the Hero and the Saint later.”
“Come on now, you already agreed to it.”
As Pope Akzel IV hesitated, still clearly reluctant, Ceres forced a smile and urged him on.
It had been a few hours since the Hero party—specifically, Ludvik, Priest Vigrind, and Scarlet—arrived in the Church Region.
The Pope had already gone out to greet them and commend them for their efforts, but when Ceres requested his presence at the banquet this evening, Akzel IV showed signs of distress.
“I thought it would be better for me to demonstrate simplicity and humility first.”
“Oh, come on! You need to show up occasionally for the sake of motivation for the clergy!”
When it came to banquets, it was undeniably a domain of luxury, and Akzel IV couldn’t shake off the feeling that attending would be a bit awkward.
He thought it would be better not to attend the banquet and to congratulate Ludvik and Vigrind separately later.
However, Ceres seemed entirely unyielding.
Eventually, unable to resist her fervent insistence, Akzel IV decided to attend the banquet, but he still hesitated because he lacked confidence that this was the right path.
Banquets in the Church Region don’t happen very often. They usually occur on special occasions like the Creation Festival—the day the deity is said to have created this world—and on the Day of the Divine Extermination when the deity vanquished the false gods. Aside from a few commemorative days, they mostly lead a simple and modest lifestyle.
The banquet being held today, coinciding with the arrival of the Hero and the Saint, was indeed an exception, so Akzel IV thought that having the Pope attend and enjoy it could lead to misunderstandings.
“No one is going to say anything about that! Besides, you had such a tough time last night, so why not enjoy some good food today?”
Last night, he had summoned the elders to discuss the lifting of Johannes’s ban. There had been intense debates, but they had ultimately achieved a good outcome. In fact, it might have been more difficult if it weren’t for Ceres, so giving in to her insistence wouldn’t be too terrible.
“…Alright, let’s go with that.”
“Really? No changing your mind now!”
“I won’t change my mind this time. Don’t worry.”
With a firm expression, Akzel IV spoke confidently. Despite his old age, the vigor in his response reassured Ceres.
Now, the stage and the actors were all set.
The only remaining task was to ensure the stage settings functioned properly.
“Well, I’ve already checked that, right?”
As Ceres turned away, a sly smile crept across her face.
All preparations were complete.
*
They entered the banquet hall, which was an annex of the main building. It was a two-story structure painted a pristine white, which was only opened and used for church events.
A building that is only accessible when opened.
“Is this a banquet hall with a white exterior…?”
Whether Yona was pondering such a question or not, the priest guiding them didn’t look too pleased.
Especially when he saw Alex’s shiny bald head, he seemed to be barely holding back laughter, which made Yona feel a bit upset for a moment.
Despite the slight backstory, they stated their names, checked the guest list for the three of them, and thus they were allowed into the banquet hall.
“Wow…”
“Whoa…”
“Ooooh…”
Yona, Alex, and Kaiyak, upon entering the banquet hall, couldn’t help but gasp in awe with their mouths agape.
It wasn’t because it was extravagant or spacious.
While it lacked the grandeur and size of the banquet hall they had visited at Ceres’s mansion, the cleanliness they felt at first glance was extraordinary.
On the wall immediately visible from the entrance, there was a large painting of a celestial being.
Set against a bright blue sky, the celestial being, with hands clasped in front of its chest and eyes closed, was surrounded by angels flying beside it.
Beneath that painting, a choir was lined up, gently singing a soothing, warm hymn.
Centered between them were tables lined up, with silver platters of banquet food placed at the very back.
As the banquet had just begun, people were gathered at the tables, some dining together while others engaged in conversation.
“Uh, Yona! This way!”
A voice calling out to Yona could be heard from somewhere. For a moment, overwhelmed by the scenery of the banquet hall, Yona snapped back to reality and quickly looked over, spotting Ludvik eagerly waving his arms towards her.
Ludvik and Priest Vigrind seemed to be seated at a table and were in the midst of a meal.
Meanwhile, Scarlet stood right behind Vigrind, fully armored but without any food, just looking awkward.
“Yona-yaaa—! Over heeeere—!”
Thinking Yona hadn’t heard him or couldn’t recognize him, Ludvik called out to her even louder now, waving both arms vigorously.
Next to him, Vigrind was blushing red, with his head bowed low.
“Uh, um… yes…”
There was no ignoring it now.
Given that Ludvik had called out so loudly, all eyes were already on Yona.
To be honest, she wasn’t too thrilled about it and didn’t particularly feel like going over, but with someone calling out to her like that, she couldn’t just pretend she didn’t hear.
“With him calling out like that, it wouldn’t hurt to go, Yona.”
“…I guess so.”
As Kaiyak said, ignoring it now would be impolite.
Thinking that way, Yona slowly made her way towards Vigrind, with Alex and Kaiyak following behind her.
‘Since I’m going to join them anyway, I should at least try to put on a smile…’
With that in mind, Yona tried her best to shake off any displeasure from her face.
Thanks to that effort, her irritation seemed to lessen quite a bit.
“Wow, it’s really been a while.”
Even though he could have waited for Yona to come over, Ludvik got up from his seat and walked straight towards her.
Ludvik stood up and approached Yona.
Seeing the hero do this, Priest Vigrind felt it was a bit awkward to just stay seated, so she also stood up and followed behind.
“Well, it’s been a while, hero. How have you been?”
“Oh, I’ve been busy rather than well. You’ve been busy too, haven’t you, Saint?”
“Is that so? At least you look good, so that’s a relief. You’re not hurt anywhere… I mean, there’s a saint here, so I guess you’re fine.”
As she said this, Yona glanced at Vigrind.
Anyway, Priest Vigrind was a priestess, so unlike Yona, she didn’t have to take the direct hits up front.
Plus, why would she get hurt with that thick-headed fool right next to her?
“That’s true. The saint is overly protective of me, really—just a little scratch and she’ll fuss over it like it’s a life-threatening injury.”
“Wahh—! N-no! I said that was a misunderstanding, hero!”
Vigrind’s face turned bright red as she poked Ludvik’s side.
As a result, Ludvik let out a weird sound, but his smile didn’t fade.
“…Saint, you’ve been doing well…”
“Just do it as you always do, Yona.”
Vigrind had a prim expression on her face as if she was saying, ‘When did I ever say that?’
She had already dropped the honorifics, calling Yona by name, so Yona had nothing left to be shy about.
“Yeah, Vigrind. Looks like you’ve been doing well too. But are you still as short as ever?”
“…Is that your first line after not seeing me for a long time?”
Vigrind threw her eyes dramatically at Yona, but Yona wasn’t intimidated at all.
What could the little one do, really?
“Alright, let’s not get carried away. Please, sit down. Is it okay to join you?”
“Well… I guess we have no other choice.”
Yona glanced back and forth at Alex and Kaiyak. Once she made eye contact and saw them blinking as if it didn’t matter, she nodded to Ludvik.
The food was self-service, so it was set up where everyone could grab plates piled with food at the start of the table.
Yona picked up a plate and walked around the table, eyeing the well-prepared dishes.
There were many dishes she had never seen before, and she couldn’t really imagine how they’d taste.
Basically, Yona wasn’t much of a seafood fan, so after passing on those, she found herself staring at unfamiliar meat dishes.
“Try this.”
Before Yona could say anything, three pieces of meat plopped onto her plate.
They looked like they were marinated or something, and she couldn’t tell which beast the meat had come from, but there were some red powders sprinkled on top, making it look spicy. Also, she spotted green veggies that seemed to be asparagus and some nicely grilled corn.
And more importantly, the girl popping up from the other side of the plate was Vigrind.
“Why, are you worried I gave you something weird? It’s delicious, so just eat it.”
“…What kind of meat is this?”
“Lamb. It’s made from lamb shank, so just try it.”
At those words, Yona shut her mouth.
“And this too. Oh, and that. Here.”
Vigrind led the way, and Yona quietly followed behind her.
He walked behind her.
Every time food was served, Yona’s plate grew a little heavier.
“And so… have you been well?”
Vigrind, who had placed a small meat pie on her plate, quickly turned and asked Yona.
It was unexpected.
Sudden, really.
Yona was about to ask what that was all about but kept her mouth shut.
At least in Vigrind’s gaze directed at her, there was no hint of malice.
Years ago, when they first met in the orphanage, his eyes were ablaze with hostility, but now they were just utterly ordinary and sane.
“…I’ve been well. And you, have you been well?”
“Just okay.”
“With the world like this, being well is the strange thing.”
“That’s true.”
That was as far as the conversation went.
Vigrind only grabbed a drink, while Yona returned to her seat with a plate full of food.
And that was it.
“Did you eat a lot?”
“Ah, I’m full. I really ate a lot.”
“The fish was cooked very well. Truly a chef from the Church Region.”
It seemed both Alex and Kaiyak had enjoyed their meals too.
Yona had eaten to her heart’s content as well but—
“Isn’t it kinda hot in here?”
Yona took off the shawl she had draped over her nun’s outfit and draped it over her chair as she asked Alex.
It had indeed been hot for a while, but with so many people around, she thought it might just be that; however, it felt oddly hot now.
“Here? Hot?”
Alex asked back, making Yona wonder if she was the odd one.
It was certainly very hot, extremely hot.
Hot enough for her to sweat; was she the only one feeling this…?
Suddenly uneasy, Yona looked around.
Everyone was wearing an extra layer over their outfits.
No one was just in a single ceremonial dress like her.
‘…What’s going on?’
Strange.
Very strange— as Yona thought this.
– I am the one who carries out the will of the Celestial God, guiding the Church of the Celestial God on its path—!!
The gatekeeper’s boisterous shout filled the room.
At the same time, the sound of the choir singing hymns grew louder.
The entrance, which Yona and her companions had come through, had a double-door structure, and the doors swung wide open, revealing a thick white carpet that flowed inward.
– His Holiness Pope Akzel IV enters—!!
About twenty papal guards in honor of the Pope entered first in a line, clearing the way for the Pope, followed by Yona’s acquaintance, Pope Akzel IV, who walked in slowly.
With a consistent stride and pace, his upright posture displayed his dignity.
“Ah, what a splendid entrance. Right, Yona?”
Yona turned to see someone tapping her shoulder.
A silver-haired beauty, Ceres, sparkled even more under the banquet hall’s lights— she was smiling, lightly brushing her left arm from her shoulder down with her hand.
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