Alebians.
A fairy with a personality that’s hard to describe.
Yona was left speechless, stuttering “uh, uh…” at the sudden mention of that name.
Ceres, who had already noticed her reaction, kept giggling.
“You’re both mages, right? You knew each other from the Mage Community. I even knew Yona was coming to Kapatia Port because Alebians kept begging me to look after you.”
“I-I see,” Yona managed to respond. Thinking back, it did make some sense.
They were both mages and might have had some connection with Alebians, so it wasn’t strange after all.
“Anyway, got it. But you’re not planning to leave right after arriving at Infulla, right?”
She hadn’t thought too deeply about it. Depending on the scale, it varied, but after completing a large-scale mission that might take several days, they typically rested for about two days before picking up the next request. This time too, she was vaguely considering staying in Infulla for three days before heading back to the community.
“If you’re not leaving immediately, let’s talk the day after you arrive. I have something to say.”
At Ceres’ words, Yona could only nod awkwardly.
*
It was hard to remember how many days had passed since leaving Semek, but one day, Rubina, looking out of the carriage, exclaimed.
“Wow…!”
Rubina was still young, but all the other passengers gazing outside wore expressions of awe.
Aside from Ceres and perhaps Scarlet, even Vigrind, the saint, and Ludvik, the hero, couldn’t hide their admiration.
It felt like an endless expanse of pure white snow.
While there were many buildings made of grayish-white bricks at Kapatia Port, especially the cathedral that stood tallest, it paled in comparison to this sight.
The city walls surrounding it were built entirely of pristine white.
Below those white walls, the moat sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight, clearly showing how clean the water was.
On top of the walls, flags symbolizing the Empire of Kapatia’s humanity and the Church of the Celestial God fluttered in the wind, creating a truly magnificent scene.
As they got closer, the grandeur of the walls became even more apparent.
It wasn’t just painted white; it must have been built with pure white stones.
The closer they got, the more the walls gleamed in deeper shades of white, striking awe into the hearts of those who beheld it—
“It’s the Wall of Purity. Only those who are pure may enter.”
At Ceres’ words, Vigrind turned to Yona.
When Yona, holding Rubina and playfully messing around, locked eyes with Vigrind, she narrowed her eyes and glared at Yona.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Not one to back down, Yona shot back with a sharp tongue, prompting Ceres to look a bit awkward.
“What I mean is, you can enter even if you’re not pure. So no worries, Yona. Got it?”
“So, don’t worry about it, Yona. Got it?”
“…Your Excellency, I remember saying that it was really a misunderstanding multiple times…”
In the end, the misunderstanding remained unresolved.
After showing the gatekeeper Ceres’ nameplate, the carriage smoothly passed through.
Scarlet, who was trailing behind, breezed through the gates without even needing to show a nameplate.
Now arrived at the drop-off area behind the Papal Palace, Yona gazed in awe at the main building.
The vast brown expanse stretched out behind the Papal Palace.
Though it was adjacent to the Medial Plain, the building was situated slightly higher, allowing an overview of the plain.
White secondary buildings stood around the main building as if embracing it.
While observing such buildings, Yona murmured softly.
“It looks like a hospital.”
A place where a lot of hurt souls go.
But seeing all these pristine white structures inevitably gave that impression.
“A hospital?”
“Yeah. Something like a healing center.”
The very healing center set up by healers.
Hearing this, Alex seemed to get the gist.
After getting off the carriage, the group started to disperse.
The Regent and Chief Elder Ceres was with Ludvik and Priest Vigrind, while Scarlet vanished somewhere with the returning Holy Knights.
Of course, before vanishing, she left a greeting for Ceres, Ludvik, and Vigrind, but not a single word for Yona’s group. Perhaps it was for the best; any exchange would likely have been awkward.
“Your Excellency, thank you for your hard work on the long journey.”
As if waiting for Ceres’ group to finish tidying up, a group of women in white robes approached.
The priests residing in the Infura Church Region came forward, hands clasped, walking calmly, and deeply bowed their heads to Ceres.
“Priest Anankaya, it’s been a while.”
“I’ve heard there were significant events in between. I’m really glad to see you’re safe.”
“Thanks to the divine oversight. The Pope promptly sent the knights, so we could overcome the crisis well.”
“Then…”
As the priest spoke, he glanced sideways at Yona’s group.
Who are they? At first glance, they seemed to be healers, but those beside them definitely did not appear to be of high quality.
“Oh, I’m late in introductions. Yona, come over here with your companions.”
At Ceres’ calling, Yona and her group approached reluctantly.
They would have preferred to find some place to rest instead.
Yona’s thoughts must have been evident, as the priest named Anankaya showed slight cracks in her previously serene expression.
Although Yona was a priest, she had no particular affection for the order.
If she had become a priest, things might have been different, but she hadn’t and was ousted from the cathedral right after becoming a healer.
Had it not been for Aege, Yona would have been chased out even harsher.
If it weren’t for that, Yona would have been chased away even more harshly.
So, Yona doesn’t really have good feelings about the Church of the Celestial God.
“Are you aware of the commotion at Kapatia Port, Priest?”
“Of course. Ah, so these people are the—”
“That’s right, these are the ones. If they hadn’t shown up at Kapatia Port, there could have been a significant loss of life. The insulting Demon, Vervaria, was a remarkably powerful demon. If these folks hadn’t apprehended her, it would have been a disaster. Isn’t that right, Dragon… Ludvik, and Priest Vigrind?”
Ceres spoke, glancing between Ludvik and Vigrind.
Up until now, they had casually referred to them with honorifics like Hero and Saint, but this is the headquarters of the Church of the Celestial God.
Since they hadn’t received their formal ordination yet, they shouldn’t be using such titles.
“That’s correct. If it weren’t for these individuals, not only Kapatia but the entire world, which should bask in the Celestial God’s grace, would have plunged into darkness. It was truly a near disaster, and they were the ones who prevented it. I specially requested them to come here.”
“Ah…”
Only after hearing that explanation did Anankaya Priest’s eyes widen.
Without much expression, his face, which seemed to be seeing something unsettling, broke into a bright smile.
“Indeed, it is those who have accomplished such a great feat! To be a Healer and yet dedicate themselves so selflessly, the Celestial God must indeed be greatly impressed!”
‘Damn those people, they always have to add something and ruin my mood.’
Yona’s face twisted in annoyance.
But then, feeling the warmth of Rubina’s tiny hand in hers, she calmed down, after all.
Since she had to look after Rubina, Yona restrained her rising irritation.
“You don’t need to refer to me as a Healer. The Celestial God wouldn’t wish to separate us just because our paths differ.”
A clear, resonant voice.
Both Yona and Anankaya Priest looked in that direction simultaneously.
A small girl with bright red hair, someone Anankaya hadn’t paid attention to.
“Ah, this is Priest Vigrind. She’s the very Saint whom the Celestial God himself descended to appoint. Ah, since she hasn’t been ordained yet, should I not use this title?”
Ceres flashed a sly smile.
It was certainly on purpose.
*
“I never imagined I would get to meet the Pope all by myself.”
Seeing Yona’s flabbergasted expression, Ceres snickered.
“I don’t get to see him often either. But given the accomplishments established at Kapatia Port, it wouldn’t be fitting if His Holiness didn’t personally commend us, right?”
Walking through the objective hallway with Ceres, Yona smacked her lips.
Since there had indeed been a loud incident at Kapatia Port, the Pope had called for the heroes to come and commend them in person.
Yet, the only one going was Yona.
Alex, Kaiyak, and James insisted they couldn’t make it and instead pushed Yona to go as the representative.
It wasn’t really a big deal, and since Yona was registered with the cathedral, there was no issue with that arrangement.
Having an enemy didn’t seem to pose any problems, so it turned out this way.
And in that decision-making process, Yona’s opinion was completely disregarded.
“By the way, didn’t you say there was going to be an ordination ceremony? With Ludvik and Vig?”
“We’ll have it. In a few days.”
“Oh really? I thought it would be happening right away.”
At those words, Ceres let out a snort.
With her twisted smirk, I half expected her to say something nasty, and sure enough, Ceres spoke in a voice tightly wound up in irritation.
“Seriously, if a demon is showing up, we should be thinking about tracking it down quickly instead of wasting time preparing and going through procedures. Just look at how ridiculous that is. Honestly, it’s astonishing how slow those religious folks are!”
‘You’re a bureaucrat; you shouldn’t be the one saying that…’
But then again, wasn’t the Holy Knight Brigade the very last to show up at Kapatia Port?
If they had appeared sooner, they might have caught and killed Vervaria’s avatar.
‘…Huh?’
Speaking of which, how’s the pursuit of Vervaria’s avatar going?
Yona suddenly grew curious about that.
“Um, Your Excellency.”
“Yes?”
“About that demon of insult, Vervaria, doesn’t she raise the dead or something?”
“I wouldn’t know. Research on demons is a field I’m not able to access either.”
So, could it be that Vervaria’s avatar is included among the suspects who nearly toppled Semek?
However, among the suspect candidates that Ceres mentioned, there were only vampires and liches.
Maybe Vervaria could be considered a suspect too.
“Vervaria—”
“Oh, we’ve arrived. Yona, tidy up your outfit.”
At Ceres’s words, Yona quickly glanced down at herself.
She had already changed into a new nun’s habit provided for the audience with Pope Akzel IV.
As she fixed her appearance and nodded, Ceres flashed a bright smile at the priests standing on either side.
“We come at the call of His Holiness the Pope. I am Ceres Olkamain, Senior Elder of the Kapatia branch.”
The priests did not respond.
The priests standing on either side nodded gently as if they were one body and turned toward the door.
“His Holiness the Pope, I am Ceres Olkamain, Senior Elder of the Kapatia branch.”
– Please proceed.
The priests turned back toward Ceres.
Then, once again like a single entity, they reached out with their right and left hands to grasp the golden door handle and pulled it open.
Brilliant sunlight flooded in, illuminating a beautiful scenery colored through the stained glass.
An impeccably clean office, not a speck of dust in sight.
There was a neatly arranged desk made of brown wood, fitted without any gaps.
And beyond that desk, an elderly man with piercing eyes was watching Yona intently.
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