Chapter 92
The one who came out from the shrine was the priest left in charge... Gieville.
However, his appearance had become as healthy as a bodybuilder's.
Only the glinting glasses barely retained a trace of Gieville—he was practically a different person.
His voice was the same, but it made one wonder if it was someone else entirely.
"Um, Priest Gieville... is that you?"
"Oh, no doubt about it!"
Gieville struck a pose.
His pumped-up muscles made the monk's robe stretch and rip with a popping sound.
"It's been a week since I arrived at this shrine. Even I'm surprised by how good I feel! As expected of the shrine where the Saint was born and raised. It's overflowing with the god's blessings!"
"...I-I see."
Clael grimaced and glanced toward Reina.
Reina wasn't looking at Gieville but at the flowers in the garden bed.
"R-Reina... hasn't he changed a bit too much?"
"Huh? You think so?"
"A week ago, he didn't have that kind of build, and his skin looked unhealthy..."
"Hmm... Honestly, I don't really remember... Wasn't he like that from the beginning?"
"I-I see..."
Reina's tone suggested disinterest, and she likely didn't remember Gieville at all.
(Well, I only greeted him briefly before we left, and I don't remember him that well either...)
Maybe something happened during the trip, and his memory got fuzzy.
Clael shook his head to clear the doubt and thanked Gieville as a fellow adult.
"Thank you for managing the shrine on our behalf this past week. Thanks to you, we were able to enjoy our trip."
"It was really fun. Thank you very much."
"That's all I could hope for! I'm glad I could be of service to the Saint!"
As the two expressed their thanks, Priest Gieville flared his nostrils proudly with a hum.
"The honor was mine, even if only temporarily, to be entrusted with the Saint's shrine! If you ever need me again, just say the word!"
"Thank you. I'll count on you when the time comes."
"Ah, that's right. While Priest Clael was away, a letter arrived from the Grand Shrine in the royal capital."
Gieville pulled out a letter and handed it to Clael.
"This is..."
"It's from His Eminence the Cardinal."
Reina also looked puzzled upon seeing the sender's name.
The Cardinal... Dilet Horst.
He was the one who recognized Reina as the Saint and invited her to the royal capital.
He was also the one who had arranged several matchmaking meetings for Clael.
(All the meetings he arranged got canceled last minute... Does he have bad taste in women, or is he not taking this seriously?)
There was also the possibility that it was intentional harassment.
Clael didn't recall doing anything that would make him hated that much, though.
"The content... is he inviting me to the royal capital? Saint recognition?"
The letter said they wanted to recognize Clael as a 'Saint' and asked him to come to the Grand Shrine.
The title of Saint was awarded to priests who had achieved great accomplishments.
Unlike the Saint title, which was granted by divine blessing at birth, this one was based on achievements and was considered the highest honor for a priest.
"That's amazing, Lord Clael!"
"Oh, how wonderful!"
"............"
Reina and Gieville both said this enthusiastically... but Clael had mixed feelings.
(Achievements... does that mean raising Reina?)
Other than that, Clael had no notable accomplishments.
Clael didn't feel he had done anything particularly special.
He had just taken in an abused girl, given her food and shelter, and provided basic education.
(If Reina weren't the Saint, there's no way I'd be recognized as a Saint... This isn't about my achievements—it's just a bonus because of Reina.)
"...Is it really okay for me to be recognized as a Saint?"
"Of course it is."
Reina responded immediately.
Without hesitation, her eyes sparkled brightly.
"Everything I am now is thanks to you, Lord Clael. If anyone says that's wrong, I won't forgive them! I'll scold them all with a big 'No-no!'!"
The moment Reina said 'No-no!', a muscular Bear and Cat appeared behind her for just an instant... but Clael must have imagined it.
"I-I see... Well, refusing would be rude, wouldn't it?"
From the Grand Shrine's perspective, they probably had to at least give Clael a token reward for raising the Saint.
Since they were only giving him the title of Saint, in a way, it was rather stingy.
"Well then, I suppose I'll accept the invitation and head to the royal capital... Huh, there's another letter inside?"
Another letter had been tucked inside the envelope.
Clael unfolded the paper... and found the following written on it.
"'Certificate of Appointment. You are hereby appointed as a temporary lecturer at the Royal Academy in the royal capital'...?"
The letter was an appointment naming Clael as a teacher at the academy Reina attended.