Alebians.
The fairy that first entrusted Yona, who had just become an adventurer, with a quest away from the shadows of Sister Aege.
Looking back now, that request was surely part of the strategy to get close to Yona.
Even though it was just a task to go pick some blue circlet mushrooms near the shadowy forest in the south, the reward was hefty enough to make it clear.
“…I have nothing to say to you, pretty girl.”
“Cut the ‘pretty girl’ nonsense, Alebians.”
Inside the carriage heading to Evian, Alebians and Yona sat facing each other.
Kaiyak, James, and Alex had deliberately given Yona and Alebians some space, allowing Yona to glare at Alebians as much as she wanted.
“Let me ask you something. Alebians, are you the watcher or the leader?”
At those words, Alebians widened her eyes.
At the same time, her ears perked up several times, indicating she was indeed surprised.
“…Vervaria told you, didn’t she?”
“I wouldn’t know. Anyway, Vervaria is on my side now, not yours. What Vervaria said to me is none of your business, and you and Ceres aren’t in a position to treat me casually either. Tell me the truth, Alebians. Are you the watcher or the leader?”
Alebians silently chewed her lips.
It seemed like she was stalling, but Yona patiently awaited her answer.
There are some things that can’t be rushed, so it was better to wait.
“…I am the watcher. I have been watching over you, and you… you are one of the candidates for the Saint.”
“Candidate? So that means there were others besides me?”
If Yona was the one chosen among them, it felt utterly unfair.
Frustration swelled to her chin.
Feeling irritation rise like a tidal wave that could drown her rationality.
“There were. But in the end, it was you, Yona. The others all valued their own safety and wealth, not the sanctity of the priesthood.”
“What kind of nonsense is that—”
“It’s about picking one who should become a Saint, Yona. Do you really think someone who treasures their own safety and wealth can be entrusted with the duty of a Saint?”
“So why did it have to be me? I’m asking why it had to be me.”
“You were the most ‘priest-like’ of them all. That’s simply how it was.”
The conversation seemed endless.
In the circling exchange, only Yona felt frustrated.
Alebians wasn’t wrong, but it didn’t change the fact that it felt unfair.
Why was it her? Why her? Could anyone really accept that the reason was because she acted like a priest?
But Yona chose to remain silent.
The more she spoke, the more her anger seemed to boil over.
So, she decided it would be better to say nothing.
The carriage was passing through the city gate of Evian.
Although Alebians’ carriage didn’t have the same prestige as Ceres’ carriage, in Evian, it still represented authority, allowing them to pass without much scrutiny.
“I know why I’m here, right?”
“You came to meet Sister Aege, didn’t you, pretty girl?”
“Stop calling me ‘pretty girl,’ damn it. I don’t want to hear that from you.”
Gritting her teeth, Yona glared at Alebians but eventually took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising frustration.
If only Alebians would finally stop with that annoying ‘pretty girl’ talk, but she just wouldn’t let it go.
“That’s Alebians.”
“Yeah, I came to see Sister Aege. After meeting her, I need to see Ceres.”
“…If it’s Ceres, she’s already here.”
“What about the hero’s party?”
“They haven’t arrived yet. There was a skirmish with the Dark Order in Foret, so Ceres came first.”
Thank goodness.
For the first time, it felt good that my unsettling premonition was wrong.
Yona unconsciously sighed and splashed some water on her face.
If the hero’s party were here, and by some chance we crossed paths…
Ludvik would definitely rush in to kill her.
After being humiliated by Vervaria, Ludvik had sworn that Yona would regret trying to disappear.
So, if they met this time, nothing good would come of it, and thank goodness that wasn’t the case.
“I definitely need to meet Sister Aege.”
“Right. Don’t worry. I heard all about why you came here from Ceres.”
“When you say not to worry, it makes me worry more…”
An unknowable anxiety.
That anxiety surrounded her.
No matter how much she tried to look away or act like it didn’t bother her, that anxiety was relentlessly following her.
Even when she desperately tried to think that nothing could go wrong, that anxiety lurking in her chest revealed itself, tinted black.
“So I came into Evian… what should I do now?”
Since Evian is a mid-sized city, it’s quite bustling, and being a city of adventurers, there are many people around.
From the moment Yona and her party get off this carriage, they need to assume there will definitely be onlookers.
Because of that, Yona couldn’t let her guard down even after entering Evian.
“You can wait at my house. Ceres will be there too, so it should be fine to meet her for a bit.”
“I really don’t feel like meeting her.”
“Do as your heart desires.”
The ever-calm Alebians was annoyingly insufferable.
But I couldn’t deny that her suggestion was the most reasonable one.
Right now, is there a safer place than Alebians’ House?
Besides, I need to talk about the next destination, the Katus Empire, after meeting Ceres.
There are a lot of things to do, and many people to meet.
Yona habitually propped her chin and looked out the carriage window.
However, the window, which should show the city’s view through the transparent glass, was covered by a thick curtain, and nothing was visible.
‘…Well, that’s only natural.’
Still, isn’t Evian supposed to be a so-called hometown?
Even though I’ve returned to such a place, feeling gloomy about having to hide without seeing anyone is quite disheartening.
“We’ll be there soon. Be careful when you get off, pretty one.”
“That pretty… No, never mind. If you really wanted to say it, you would have told me earlier.”
You’re only saying that because you’re not hearing it.
Yona thought it would be quicker to give up and let out a big sigh.
*
When Aege heard that Yona wanted to meet her, she momentarily thought she misheard.
However, Ceres’s face as she relayed the message was quite serious, with an expression that indicated it wasn’t a lie at all.
“…Are you really, really saying that Yona is here in Evian?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But… how did you, Elder…?”
Ceres Olkamain, the elder of the Church of the Celestial God, who came to Evian to assist the hero’s party in capturing heretics.
Thanks to this, Bishop Poby, welcoming three guests including the hero, the saint, and the elder, was sweating bullets, but that didn’t concern Sister Aege at all.
Sister Aege had no connection with Ceres to begin with.
She had seen her once or twice while passing by, but they had never spoken, nor did they have any sort of relationship.
Still, despite this, Aege had to remain vigilant about Ceres, who had come forward braving danger to deliver the message that Yona was waiting.
“Actually, I have a—no, I’m quite close to Yona. I heard that Yona really looks up to you, Priest. So I thought meeting you just once before the arrest wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
Ceres wore a warm smile, completely devoid of any darkness.
Her expression was filled with kindness that seemed genuinely heartfelt.
Even Aege, who had spent years as an adventurer, couldn’t see through such a thick and impeccable facade.
“…Where should I go?”
After scanning Ceres’ face for a moment, Aege slowly rose from her seat.
The pounding in her chest blossomed into excitement that she could no longer hide.
The news that Yona, whom she had cherished like her own daughter, could be seen again after hearing the unfortunate news was enough to keep Aege from sitting still.
“There’s a Professor Alebians, right? The fairy Yona was close to.”
“Oh, yes. I know.”
“He is waiting at his house. Go quickly.”
“I understand. Thank you. I will definitely repay this favor…!”
“You don’t need to think of it as a favor. Instead, don’t mention that I told you, just hurry along.”
“…Understood.”
Aege bowed her head and quickly left the room.
After she had exited, Ceres, who was now alone in the room surrounded by simple furnishings, let out a light whistle.
“Well, I suppose it’s okay to proceed a bit quickly.”
With her hands casually behind her back.
Those fingers were busily sending signals to someone.
*
Professor Alebians’ house was not particularly close to the cathedral.
However, as Sister Aege dashed down the street, it felt as if she was flying towards her home.
Yona’s figure vividly danced in front of her eyes.
Teacher, teacher—she seemed almost tangible as she recalled Yona following her around.
Finally arriving at Alebians’ house.
In front of the large door, Aege took a deep breath.
This level of breathlessness made her think in a silly way, “Maybe I’ve grown old, huh?”
Sister Aege gently knocked on the door.
– Who is it?
“It’s Sister Aege.”
Because she committed to always remain humble, she referred to herself as Sister rather than Priest.
After a short while, the door creaked open, revealing a golden-haired fairy.
The fairy, Alebians, known for her peculiar expressions.
She looked somewhat indifferent yet languid, but upon seeing Aege’s face, she faintly smiled.
“…Yona will be delighted.”
Ahh.
Yona is really here.
She really came here.
Yona has arrived—
Suppressing her heart that was pounding even harder, Aege entered with the guidance of the Alebians.
Inside the living room, there was another door leading to another room.
In that small room, there were only a table and two chairs.
And in one of the chairs was Yona sitting—
Ahh.
It’s Yona.
Yona has been here.
With that lifeless, pure white hair, and those bizarre tattoos.
Seeing Aege, Yona’s eyes widened as she slowly, slowly… stood up.
Aege bit her lips tightly.
That foolish one, that stupid one.
I knew it was foolish, but I didn’t expect it to be this foolish.
Just look at those tattoos.
Isn’t that why you get such misunderstandings?
At the very least, shouldn’t you go out without them visible?
Didn’t the priest teach you to conduct yourself properly?
Aren’t priests the ones who are taught to always carry themselves with grace and cleanliness?
Yet you still haven’t taken off the nun’s outfit.
That nun outfit, you insisted on wearing.
As her vision blurred, Aege took a step forward.
One step turned into two, two into three, and three into four.
Facing Yona, Aege—
Raised her hand and fiercely slapped Yona’s shoulder.
“Who taught you that? Who taught you to do this!”
With a sound, Yona’s shoulder turned red.
She could hear Yona mumbling something, but Aege’s ears were deaf to it.
“An apostate? Who would call you an apostate? Even in this state, you can’t let go of that nun’s outfit. Who would call you an apostate?”
“I knew from the moment you started slacking off without studying your scriptures!”
There must be some misunderstanding, it surely has to be.
The Yona I know wouldn’t do that.
Absolutely no way Yona would apostatize.
“You have to study even as a nun! Haven’t I told you that even as a healer, you’re still a priest, so you should carry yourself properly!”
She slapped her shoulder,
Again slapped,
And again slapped.
“Just what kind of behavior have you been showing that you’re being called an apostate!”
Each time, her voice grew fainter.
In the end, Aege was gently caressing where she had slapped.
“Oh, you poor thing…”
Finally, her voice trembled.
She felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks.
Ultimately, Aege embraced Yona.
The pain of magic clashing with her divinity stung, but she didn’t care about that.
“Oh, you poor thing… Yona, Yona… It’s okay, it’s okay Yona. Teacher will protect you. Even if the whole world insults you, I believe in you, Yona. I know you would never do that, it’s all a misunderstanding… I will definitely protect you, Yona…!”
Tears flowed freely.
The bond shared in their embrace of priest and student was deep and profound.
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