Chapter 014. Uninvited Guest (2)

"What's the status of the barrier?"

"It's progressing without any issues. I can't afford to mess things up under your shadow, Elder."

"...Remember, we only have a temporary alignment of interests; our roots are different. I have no interest in the church whatsoever."

"Is that so?"

In Theon's office, where bright sunlight streamed in, a secret conversation unfolded.

The man speaking with Theon was a middle-aged man with fiery red hair, yet for some reason, Theon maintained a respectful demeanor towards him, despite appearing to be of a similar age.

"Have we not secured the items yet?"

"That... is proving to be more difficult than expected. Since we're doing this without the church's support, finding suitable candidates is not easy."

The middle-aged man glared at his partner, whose response was stiff and tense. The cold gaze felt like that of a predator staring at its prey, causing Theon, despite holding a position as a professor, to tremble slightly.

'This madman. It's no wonder he's called the Sword Demon.'

The person before him was no ordinary swordsman. With hair that looked as if it were drenched in red blood and two swords strapped to his waist, it was easy to guess his identity.

"Is it not true that the princess has hidden beneath the surface, and that internal information has not been leaked?"

"...I cannot speculate on the reasons for Princess Maria's disappearance, but the likelihood of information leaking from the church is extremely low."

"Just trust me this once. It would be in your best interest to proceed without any gaps."

─ Bang!

As the man left the room with a low response, Theon slumped into his chair, feeling as if all the strength had drained from his body.

It was hard to tell whether it was the right decision to engage with that uncontrollable mad dog.

When the infamous 'Sword Demon' demanded to join him at the academy, he was taken aback. After the job was done, he felt utterly lost about how to handle the aftermath.

"I'm already riding on the back of a tiger."

The presence of the Sword Demon, who treated him like a subordinate, was quite uncomfortable, but there was no turning back now. Recalling that fact, Theon smirked wickedly.

* * *

The popularity of the café within the academy was truly remarkable.

The exotic teas and pastries boasted unique flavors that made the mouths of young students water, and the café's sophisticated atmosphere naturally attracted a large number of female students.

Cecilia, who hosted a tea party with students from the Holy Kingdom at such a café, received astonishing news.

"...Is that really true?"

"Yes! It's true. If it weren't for that person named Veris, I would have truly lost my life."

Cecilia looked at a fellow novice priest who had entered the academy with her, astonished by her account.

Goodness, a trap in a dungeon was triggered, and they entered it? Just that alone was shocking, but to think that a group made up entirely of freshmen managed to escape without anyone dying!

If they had even a slight understanding of dungeons, they would have never taken such a risk, but perhaps at that time, they had been paralyzed by reason.

However, what truly surprised Cecilia was not the incident that the novice priest experienced during the entrance exam, but rather the name of the freshman who saved them.

'Veris...'

When she had received help in the past, Veris had appeared to be of a similar age, leading her to think that if she were lucky, they might meet again within the academy.

But to think they were in the same year? What could this mean for Cecilia, who had endured the painful path of a Saintess while thinking of him for years?

"Sister."

"Yes, Saintess?"

"Do you believe in fate?"

"Fate? Hmm... I do believe. I think my path as a priest is all part of fate."

"I think so too."

Cecilia clenched her tiny fist at the refreshing response from the priest.

In truth, she had been thinking the same. She merely wanted to hear someone else speak of 'fate.'

Fate, fate.

It had a pleasant resonance to it. Perhaps it was the divine will that led her down the path of light and brought her face to face with him on that path? Such thoughts crossed Cecilia's mind.

"Do you happen to know which organization that person who helped you belongs to?"

"Um... I think I heard he entered B-Class."

"Hmm? B-Class?"

"Yes. I heard from a group member who took the entrance exam with us that he might have gotten caught up in a political struggle. But it's undeniable that he saved all of us... Saintess?"

Tremble.

Who? Dared? To him?

They say that when one gets really angry, their vision narrows and their heart races, right? Cecilia was in exactly that state, feeling the urge to storm out and run to the dean's office immediately.

But as a priest from the Holy Kingdom, tasked with spreading the divine will across the continent, she couldn't do that.

"Ugh..."

"...Saintess?"

Inside her heart, a heated debate was taking place between the good Cecilia and the bad Cecilia.

The good Cecilia was stopping her, saying that he might feel burdened, while the bad Cecilia was persuading her that at least seeing his face would be okay.

"Th-that's right! It's fine to at least see his face, right?"

"Pardon? Right now? Whom are you talking about?"

"Hahaha. Who else? I should at least greet the benefactor who saved Lily's precious life, shouldn't I?"

"I don't think it's necessary for the Saintess to take the lead..."

"No? I have to go. That's the only way my sincerity will be conveyed."

In moments like this, the title of a Saintess felt cumbersome. If she were just an ordinary student at the academy, she would have rushed to him without a second thought...

Ah, of course, that didn't mean Cecilia was going to stop her actions. She would meet him. With that single determination, Saintess Cecilia began to move.

* * *

"The legendary elven weapons mentioned by my brother, the spirit swords, are a weapon style that did not exist in the mythological era; they are thoroughly fictional, appearing at least in the ancient or magical eras..." "I said I got it. I understand, so please stop."

"...?"

As Arwen moved towards the dining hall, using the usual nonsensical conversation between Veris and Gunther as a backdrop, she suddenly realized an unexpected figure was in front of her.

Saintess Cecilia.

The beautiful-hearted woman who had passed the entrance exam alongside Arwen and had since become someone she could call a 'friend.'

Out of nowhere, she had appeared and blocked their path.

"Phew, haah..."

Her breathing was oddly ragged, and beads of sweat were forming on her pale forehead. Moreover, the flush on her cheeks suggested that she had been running hard, but she soon greeted them with her characteristic bright smile.

"It's been a while, Arwen."

"Didn't we just have lunch together?"

"...Is that so? It seems time has passed so quickly!"

This was not her usual gentle and relaxed demeanor; she appeared anxious and urgent. Arwen couldn't help but look at Cecilia with a strange gaze.

Of course, Arwen was accompanied by Veris and Gunther. Gunther looked shocked, his mouth agape at the sudden appearance of the Saintess.

Yet, despite the obvious presence of the two, Cecilia was staring only at Arwen with a stiff posture, like a wooden puppet, as if she were too shy to meet the eyes of a stranger.

Then, a thought pierced through Arwen's mind.

Surely, Cecilia had mentioned during the entrance exam that she had someone like a star in her eyes.

And that person was her benefactor who had saved her, with whom she had promised to meet again later.

At this point, could anyone as perceptive as Veris or Gunther fail to piece together the puzzle in their minds?

"Could it be...?"

With a thought that it couldn't be true, Arwen slowly turned her head to look at Veris. Unlike Gunther, who was startled by the sudden appearance of the Saintess, Veris maintained his usual poker face.

Flinch.

However, what caught Arwen's attention was Cecilia's significant reaction as she turned to look at Veris.

With the situation being so obvious, how could she pretend not to know?

Gently approaching Cecilia, Arwen subtly posed a question to her.

"Is that person the light you were looking for?"

"Yes... By the way, the fact that Arwen is here means..."

"You're correct in your assumptions. ...What a playful fate it is."

Upon hearing Arwen's words, Cecilia lowered her head as if lost in thought.

'Fate.'

While Cecilia pondered, unlike the still dazed Gunther, Veris was wracking his brain, as if something was on the verge of surfacing.

Soon.

When Cecilia lifted her head, the lack of composure from earlier had completely vanished. The bright smile blooming on her face was as radiant as her mood.

And then.

"Wha-what are you doing?"

"Y-you're saying there's another woman... a Saintess, no less...? Damn it, where is our sister and what is she doing!"

Cecilia suddenly dashed towards Veris, throwing herself into his arms, causing Arwen and Gunther to shout in surprise.

Clap!

But unlike the two, Veris seemed to have recalled something, clapping his hands.

As Arwen and Gunther looked on with bewildered expressions at Cecilia nestled in Veris's embrace, the words that flowed from Veris's mouth were incredibly peaceful.

"I remember now. Crybaby novice priest Cecilia. It's you, isn't it?"

Nod, nod.

"P-pull away!"

Arwen shouted at Cecilia, who had buried her face in Veris's chest. But in this situation, there was no way Cecilia could hear Arwen's cries.

Arwen felt an inexplicable sense of entanglement. A very strong one at that.