Chapter 19
"Sir Clael, who is that person...?"
"I'm sorry. Could you please take care of the shrine for a moment?"
"Understood...?"
Leaving the puzzled-looking Reina in charge of the shrine's duties, Clael led the cardinal from the Grand Shrine in the royal capital—Dilet Horst—into the reception room.
"Was that the Saint just now? I see, she is a woman of radiant beauty indeed."
As soon as he entered the reception room, the cardinal inquired in a probing manner.
He hadn't even sat down yet—how impatient.
"Her name is Reina. She has been under our care here at the shrine for the past five years."
"Oh? For five years..."
"Anyway, please have a seat on this sofa. I'll bring some tea right away..."
'Kumaa'
As they were talking, the door to the reception room opened and a bear plushie appeared.
The bear plushie, no taller than Clael's knee, held a tray in its small hands and brought in two teacups.
The cups were filled with tea, white steam rising from them.
'Kumaa'
"...Thank you very much for going out of your way."
Clael accepted the tea and placed it in front of both the cardinal and himself.
The bear plushie gave a polite bow and then left the room.
"...What was that just now?"
"......That was the Saint's doing."
When Clael forced out the words, the cardinal muttered, "I see," in a voice that sounded as if he'd given up trying to understand.
"Indeed, a shrine where the Saint resides is something else. Do miracles like that happen regularly?"
"Well, yes, somewhat."
"How enviable. I wish we could have welcomed her to the Grand Shrine much sooner..."
Sitting on the sofa, the cardinal brought the teacup to his lips.
He slowly let the freshly brewed tea flow into his mouth... and after a long silence, spoke again.
"Now then... Priest Clael Byrne. First, allow me to commend you for discovering and protecting the Saint. You did well in finding her. In due time, a proper reward will be issued from the Grand Shrine."
"......Thank you very much."
"However... there is something that must be clarified first."
The cardinal set his teacup on the table and glared at Clael with stern eyes.
"Are you truly a faithful servant of God? Or are you a grave sinner, like a thief of the divine, seeking to use the Saint's power for your own gain... Let us make that clear."
"............"
"Priest Clael Byrne. Why did you not report to the Grand Shrine for five years after welcoming the Saint into your shrine?"
Why had the cardinal come to this town?
Of course, it was because Clael had sent a letter of report.
(Reina needs to attend the academy. For that, I must report to the Grand Shrine...)
That was why he had sent the letter... but the cardinal now stared at Clael with eyes full of reproach for the delay.
"Depending on your answer, we may have to detain you. Can you provide a satisfactory explanation?"
"...Yes, of course."
Clael exhaled once and then began to explain.
"The reason I didn't report while protecting the Saint was because I wanted her to grow up peacefully and healthily, even if just a little. Over these five years, I've provided her with proper meals, education, and upbringing. She has also been trained in the Holy Arts."
"I see... So you claim it was for the Saint's sake. But isn't it the Grand Shrine's responsibility to educate the Saint? What right do you, merely a priest of a provincial shrine, have to decide how the Saint is to be educated?"
"...Forgive me for saying so, but do you truly believe the Saint would grow up healthily after being taken in by the Grand Shrine?"
"...What do you mean by that?"
He must have felt insulted.
The cardinal furrowed his brow even deeper and glared harder at Clael.
"The previous Saint came from a ducal house. The one before her, and the one before that as well... all are said to come from noble bloodlines. So what do you think will happen if a Saint of common birth appears? Can you guarantee the priests of the Grand Shrine won't abuse her under the guise of educating her?"
"...There are no priests who would mistreat the Saint."
"Do you truly believe that? Can you swear it before the Goddess?"
"............"
The cardinal fell silent.
He likely thought that what Clael said wasn't entirely impossible.
The priests working at the Grand Shrine in the royal capital were mostly of noble birth, and they had strong attachments to power, status, and wealth.
Throwing a common-born girl into the midst of that could very well lead to her being persecuted out of jealousy.
"...If she were adopted by some noble house before entering the Grand Shrine, she likely wouldn't be abused."
"Even so, the possibility isn't zero. People consumed by power sometimes do foolish things that no one can overlook... Surely, Your Excellency has witnessed such things yourself."
"............"
The silence was his answer.
Internally, the cardinal seemed to acknowledge that Clael's words were true.
In fact, when Reina was sent to the royal capital, she would be taken in by the Duke Laurel's household, but even there, she would end up being abused.
The mother and daughter of the ducal house would say, 'I am the one truly fit to be the Saint,' and whip Reina, saying, 'Why should a common child...'
(...That's the final blow.)
"I, Clael Byrne, swear before the Goddess.'I have done nothing to harm Reina, the Saint. I had no intention of using her, and only prioritized her protection.'"
"............!"
When Clael made his declaration, the cardinal widened his eyes slightly.
For a priest, an oath to the Goddess carried great weight.
If someone serving the divine were to lie in the name of the Goddess, they could lose their Holy Arts as divine punishment.
Seeing Clael take such an oath, the cardinal remained silent for a moment.
But eventually, he let out a sigh and spoke.
"......Very well. Let us leave it at that."
"You understand now?"
"That you bear no ill intent... However, from now on, the Saint will be protected by the Grand Shrine. She will likely begin attending the academy in the royal capital next year."
"Yes, please take good care of the Saint... of Reina...!"
The cardinal before him was a good man.
In the game, he had played the role of a helpful character.
He might have a few blind spots—like not noticing the bullying by the priests—but still, he was someone Clael believed could be trusted.
"Then, within a few days, a carriage from the Grand Shrine will be sent. Please inform the Saint and have her belongings ready."
Leaving those words behind, the cardinal departed the shrine.
It would likely be only a few days before the escort arrived in this town.
(At last... the time for farewell has come...)
Seeing off the cardinal, Clael felt sentimental and clutched his chest.
Reina would go to the royal capital. This was goodbye.
She might never return to this town again.
(But... before that, there's something I must do...!)
"Sir Clael, has the guest left?"
Having finished her duties at the shrine, Reina came over to Clael.
Looking down at Reina, Clael held his breath in anticipation of the difficult task ahead.
(I must explain to Reina that she is the Saint, and persuade her to go to the royal capital...!)
It had been five years living with Reina... and she still didn't know that she was the Saint.
Would Reina agree to part ways with Clael and go to the royal capital?