Chapter 53
Back when they first met, Reina was always a timid little girl.
Having lost her mother at a young age and been subjected to abusive treatment by her father and stepmother, she developed a distrust of people and always looked around with frightened, wary eyes.
After being taken in by the shrine, she soon became a clingy child.
She began following Clael around under any pretense, trying to stay with him as much as possible—even at bedtime or during baths.
And as she grew older, she gradually turned into a mature and polite young woman.
She began taking care of Clael's daily needs so attentively that one might jokingly call her a newlywed wife.
And then... six months passed since Reina had gone to the royal capital.
Reina had returned to the shrine in Eggbell, but... it seemed she had turned into a koala.
"...And that's how it is."
"Um... I'm sorry. I really have no idea what you're saying."
Tilting his head in exasperation was the muscular crossdressing owner of the town's clothing store... Oratorio.
The location was the same as always: the chapel inside the shrine.
Due to certain circumstances, Clael couldn't sit down, so he greeted the visiting crossdressing shopkeeper while still standing.
"I heard Reina-chan came back, so I came to see her... but why is she stuck to the Priest's back?"
Yes... ever since Reina returned, she hadn't separated from Clael's back for even a moment.
Like a koala clinging to a tree. And tightly at that.
"Did Reina-chan switch jobs to a backpack while she was at the academy?"
"That's impossible... Oratorio, please say something too."
"Let's see... um, Reina-chan?"
"...No."
Still clinging to Clael's back, Reina shook her head vigorously.
"I'm currently storing up energy. I'll let go in a little while."
"...So she says. Can't be helped, I suppose."
"No, it absolutely can be helped! What do you mean by energy!?"
In fact, it was Clael who was receiving an influx of holy energy from being stuck to Reina.
At this rate, he felt like he could even use a secret technique of the Holy Arts that he'd never tried before.
"Girls go through all sorts of things... Just try to understand, okay? It's a plea from a fellow crossdresser."
"I really can't understand at all though..."
"Look, you were separated for six whole months. Let her get away with this much selfishness."
"Ugh..."
When put like that, he couldn't refuse.
A fifteen-year-old girl had spent six months away from the person who'd been like a parent to her, in an unfamiliar land.
Even if Reina had a strong and dependable personality, there was no way she hadn't felt anxious.
(Besides, she's the heroine of a game. She was probably bullied at home or at the academy...)
In the game, Reina had been mistreated both at the duke's house that adopted her and at the academy.
It was a necessary event that led to bonding with the romanceable characters, but that didn't make it any less painful.
(I raised her to be strong enough to fight back against bullying... but yeah. Not everything goes perfectly. She must've gone through a lot.)
Clael was overcome with a somber feeling... but it was a complete misunderstanding.
Reina hadn't been bullied at the duke's house or at the academy.
People were too intimidated by the fully realized Saint she had become to even think of such things.
Although she did get involved in a few romantic entanglements, she crushed them all with the power of the Saint.
"Suu, haah... suu, haah..."
Reina's clinging wasn't out of anxiety or loneliness—she was simply inhaling Clael's body scent into her lungs.
To replenish six months' worth of Clael essence, she clung tightly and pressed her face into his back.
"Ah... Reina."
"I'm not letting go."
"...You don't have to let go, just listen to me, okay?"
"..."
"I'm sure life at the academy was tough in many ways. You really did a great job."
Clael gently spoke to Reina.
"You did so well for those six months. You can cling to me all you want until you're satisfied, okay?"
"...Really?"
"Yes, really. You're light as a feather, Reina, so I don't mind at all."
In fact, what he did mind wasn't the weight, but the softness of her chest... and he quickly shook his head to dispel the thought.
"Um... come to think of it, I promised to give you a reward once you graduate from the academy. It's still more than two years away, but if it's a small request, I could give it to you in advance..."
"Really!?"
"Huh?"
"You'll really grant my request!?"
"Uh, well... if it's something simple?"
Reina let go of his back.
She circled around to face him, looking up with sparkling eyes.
"Then, let's save the marr... for after graduation, and for now, let's take a bath together tonight!"
"T-The bath... wait, what!?"
Clael recoiled at Reina's statement.
"T-That's absolutely not okay! Reina, you're an adult now—take a bath by yourself!"
"You just said you'd grant my request! You said you'd do anything!"
"I didn't say anything! Wait—Oratorio!?"
He looked around for help, but at some point, the crossdressing shopkeeper had vanished.
He escaped... and despair filled Clael's mind.
"After the bath, we're sleeping in the same bed! Ah, I can't wait. Now that it's decided, I need to get dinner ready!"
Reina disappeared into the depths of the shrine, leaving Clael alone in the chapel.
"Uh... huh...?"
Clael muttered in confusion, his shoulders drooping in exhaustion.