Chapter 14
‘How does that make any sense!’
Were Gates always supposed to appear this frequently?
If so, then I needed to reflect on how I’d acted in my previous life.
I used to complain about Espers’ rampage levels rising too quickly, but they had only been doing their best.
More importantly, though, there was this.
‘There’s no avoiding it this time.’
When Arle returned to the holy land, he would be on the verge of rampaging.
And if I wanted to save him when he returned, I absolutely had to guide him.
I had two choices.
First, respect his beliefs and leave him alone.
Second, respect his life and guide him.
My heart leaned toward the latter, but I still hesitated.
What meaning would there be in saving his life by breaking his beliefs if he ultimately took his own life afterward?
If the former could at least be called unavoidable, the latter might result in a death that even he would find humiliating.
‘I’d have to break my own vow too.’
I would be taking on a tremendous burden myself.
But if doing so only caused the other person suffering, wouldn’t it be better not to do it at all?
I needed to make up my mind one way or the other before Arle returned.
‘I don’t know.’
And yet I was wasting time searching for a third option instead of choosing between the two.
The perfect solution that would save Arle without provoking his guilt over breaking his vow of chastity.
‘Isn’t there some way to have both?’
It seemed difficult, but maybe if I thought about it hard enough, I could find an answer.
‘I know I’m being greedy.’
Where in the world could you gain something without losing anything?
But with someone’s life at stake, reaching an easy conclusion felt like negligence.
And yet the answer refused to come.
I banged my useless head against the corridor wall with a thud and screamed.
“Hey, brain, do some work! You’re the only one who can do this!”
“…Young sister, are you alright?”
I hadn’t even realized someone was there.
I jerked my head up in surprise and found Priest Leo from the Consecration Room standing nearby.
“Priest?”
The wrinkled eyes of the elderly priest looking at me were filled with sympathy.
“It must be quite difficult carrying those holy water containers around. Especially in heat like this, the work must be exhausting.”
If I interpreted what he meant, it would be, ‘You’ve gone delirious from the heat. You poor thing.’
‘Or if I shorten it even further, you’ve finally lost your mind.’
Something like that.
“No, it’s not like that. Haah, I did come because I need holy water, though.”
“Come inside with me.”
Possessing purification-type divine power, he was the one responsible for making the holy water used throughout the church.
He was also the priest I saw most often.
“I’m sorry. I know you’re busy.”
When I made the request in a small voice, Priest Leo shook his head with a benevolent smile.
“With the Commander away, are we not all in the same position? You’ve been working hard too, young sister.”
He seemed to be aware that the Saintess’s recent tyranny was due to Arle’s absence.
“No. I’m fine. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize for constantly asking you for help.”
“What else is this old man good for?”
Priest Leo opened the lid of the holy water container and poured divine power into it.
‘This must be exhausting for him.’
Using divine power drained one’s physical strength, yet he had never once shown any sign that he found it bothersome or tiring.
“There. I added another blessing so the holy water will stay cool. If you carry the container against yourself on the way back, it should make the heat a little more bearable.”
“Ah.”
“If you need holy water, never hesitate to come find me. I’m happy that it lets me see your smile more often, young sister.”
Seeing Priest Leo smile warmly made the tip of my nose sting.
“…Thank you so much, Priest.”
“I hope your journey back will be a little less difficult.”
I bowed deeply to him, then headed toward the Saintess’s Palace.
The midday sun blazed as though it had plastered itself against the castle walls.
“Whew, it really is hot.”
Still, the cool container of holy water I held tightly against my chest helped bring down the heat.
Thinking of Priest Leo brought a small smile to my lips.
Such warm consideration.
Purely selfless feelings really were beautiful.
“Hehe, so cool.”
The sound of metal clashing came from somewhere nearby.
At the nearby training grounds, knights were swinging their swords beneath the scorching sunlight.
Raphael was among them.
Seeing them drenched in sweat and breathing heavily made my own hardship seem like nothing.
‘They’re really working hard in this heat.’
I quietly cheered them on and tried to pass by.
But a familiar voice stopped me.
“Hey, nun!”
Raphael had spotted me and was running this way.
And just like last time, he was half-naked with his shirt off!
“W-Why is he doing that?”
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