Chapter 294

"Reinaaa! So you came back!"

"I'm glad to see you're doing well. Here, have some pumpkin we grew at home."

"How's life at the academy? Have you made lots of friends?"

"Thank you, everyone. Happy New Year."

Townspeople coming to the shrine for New Year's worship.

Reina greeted them with a gentle smile, seeing them again after several months.

"Seeing Reina's face gives me energy. I feel like I just gained ten more years of life."

"How long are you planning to live? You're already eighty, aren't you?"

"Ever since Reina and Priest Clael went to the royal capital, the town has completely changed. You must be surprised, right?"

The townspeople spoke to Reina with smiles, finished their New Year's prayers, and left with peaceful expressions.

The familiar sight of the Eggbell shrine after a long time. Seeing the unchanged people from before Reina enrolled brought a natural smile to Clael's face as well.

"The town has become a tourist spot, and Gieville looks like that now... I thought everything had changed, but the warmth of people stays the same."

"Hey now, getting all sentimental like you're some old man."

"Roywood? What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean, what? Don't be rude. Obviously, I'm here to pray."

"Are you really that pious? You used to skip worship at the academy, didn't you?"

"I prioritized studying and sword training! I was seriously aiming to become a soldier!"

The friend who spoke from behind scowled in protest, as if to say how unfair that was.

But when Roywood turned his gaze to Reina, his expression softened into a warm smile.

"I didn't recognize you yesterday with your hood on... Reina, you've become even more beautiful. No wonder the old folks are making a fuss."

"Don't stare too much. You'll defile her."

"What do you take me for? I'm your best friend, Roywood Belen!"

"Just kidding. Of course Reina's beautiful."

She's our heroine, after all.

Surely, she'll only continue to grow more beautiful from now on.

"Is that you showing off...? Well, I don't mind."

Roywood shrugged, then suddenly turned serious.

"For someone still dazed by the New Year, I've got bad news... There's a bit of a troublesome guy in town right now."

"Troublesome? Like, Crown Prince Eric or something?"

"Don't say things that are hard to respond to. I'm a soldier, I can't call His Highness troublesome."

Clael had immediately thought of one of the main characters... but apparently, that wasn't it.

Tilting his head in confusion, Clael heard an unexpected name come from Roywood's mouth.

"It's Bishop Adriard Saintlogue of the Holy Nation of Shinecross."

"...What did you say?"

Clael's eyes widened.

It was truly an unexpected name... a name of a main character he had almost forgotten.

"Adriard Saintlogue... the son of the Pope of the Holy Nation of Shinecross..."

The Holy Nation of Shinecross was the country that once tried to abduct Clael using a gang.

He'd heard rumors that the bishop behind it had fallen from power... but the Holy Nation of Shinecross was a hotbed of corruption and rot. Monsters still roamed wearing the skin of holy men.

The son of the Pope, the highest authority in such a nation... that was Adriard Saintlogue.

(One of the sub-main characters. In the official route, he transfers to the academy when Reina becomes a second-year...)

Clael recalled the game's scenario.

Adriard enrolls in the Royal Academy to catch a glimpse of the newly appeared Saint.

In his route, Reina deepens her friendship with him as fellow clergy, and once their affinity passes a certain threshold, an event triggers.

They vow to correct the corruption in the Holy Nation of Shinecross together and set off on a journey.

(In that ending, the Saint disappears from this country... but travels with Adriard across nations, saving people. It wasn't such a bad ending...)

The issue is... why is Adriard in Eggbell?

"It was about a week ago. He came with his guards, saying it was a pilgrimage. Seems like he's been visiting places connected to Reina."

"I see..."

Adriard is a devout follower of the goddess. He held deep admiration for the Saint as well.

Wanting to see the town where Reina was born is only natural.

"By the way... I only spoke to him once due to security reasons, but it seems he tried to request an audience with Reina at the Grand Shrine in the royal capital. Since Reina was away, he couldn't meet her, so he came here instead."

"Ah... right. She was on a ski trip. Yeah."

Spring brings a new semester. Adriard will be transferring in.

He probably came ahead of time to meet Reina.

"He's the type who can sacrifice himself for his faith... I'm sure he'll come to this shrine too."

"Wait, you know him?"

"No... not really, but I just have a feeling."

As they spoke, a man burst into the shrine.

A familiar man. A town resident who worked as a stonemason.

"Ah, thank goodness. The military police are here too...!"

"What's the matter, all of a sudden?"

"Well... just come with me! We can't handle this on our own...!"

They didn't really understand, but he seemed panicked.

Clael and Roywood exchanged glances, then left the shrine.

"Huh...?"

"What...?"

Clael and Roywood had stepped out of the shrine grounds... only to freeze at the chaotic sight before them.

"Oh... what a sacred scene. Truly a miracle...!"

"Wha—please stop! Lord Adriard!"

"You mustn't worship something this incomprehensible! Please, stand up!"

There, in the middle of the road, a boy was kneeling with his hands clasped in prayer.

Several guards... Temple Knights were trying to get the boy to stand.

"Repent, and you shall be saved..."

The boy... Adriard Saintlogue, the Pope's son and one of the main characters, was praying to a naked man floating and spinning in the center of town.

Before the kneeling boy, a glowing, spinning, completely naked Gieville was rotating.

――――――――――

[New Work Posted]

The Golden Annihilator

~The Useless Hero Who Was Abandoned, But When He Got Donations, the Castle Collapsed~

https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093092685255471

If you'd like, please give this one a read too!