Free Web NovelThe owner of the voice was Zain. It seemed he had come looking for me with something to say. I immediately stood up. Then I could see Zain's face and Emily's retreating figure.
'That guy...'
Zain's expression was noticeably poor. He was considerably surprised and very flustered at the unexpected situation. Though I couldn't see Saintess Emily's expression, judging by Zain's poor expression, her face seemed still expressionless.
"Sister, why are you here?"
Zain asked while trying to stay composed with a trembling voice, unlike usual. Then Saintess Emily's voice continued.
"Ah, it's you, Zain."
Emily's voice was utterly expressionless, just like her face. Then Emily's words continued.
"But why are you in such a place?"
"What do you mean?"
Zain narrowed his brow slightly and asked back. Then Saintess Emily's head moved. She glanced at me once with expressionless eyes, then turned her gaze to Zain.
"...This place is so small and cramped."
"Sister...!"
"Didn't I tell you before? To become a believer of the Diego Church where I am the Saintess. If you just did that, I said I could raise you to at least the position of High Priest."
Saintess Emily spoke to Zain as if openly calling him pathetic. Zain's expression gradually became distorted. Then Zain looked at me.
He was looking at me with very apologetic eyes. I just shook my head at Zain. Meaning it was okay.
I already knew that the Saintess of the Diego Church thought of our Kyros Church like that, so there was no major blow.
"...I plan to stay here for about a month, so if you change your mind, come find me anytime."
Then Emily passed by Zain. Though Emily left the temple, Zain didn't stop his sister.
'His shoulders are drooping.'
Zain remained frozen in place for quite a while, head lowered and shoulders slumped. I watched him for a moment, then slowly opened my mouth.
"Zain, come in."
Only then did Zain raise his head. Then Zain laboriously took steps and slowly entered the reception room.
I had Zain sit on the sofa and brewed cool fruit tea to hand to him. Then I sat in the head seat and took a sip of tea. At that moment, Zain opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry, Master."
"...You don't need to apologize to me."
Only then did Zain raise his head. His eyes looking at me were moistly wet.
"I'm truly sorry. For making you hear such things... I didn't know my sister would say such things."
"It's really okay, so you don't need to worry like that."
When I said so and told him not to mind it, a tear flowed from Zain's eyes. He soon buried his face in both hands.
Zain quietly sobbed for quite a while. I just silently listened to those sounds. Then when he seemed to have calmed down, I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and handed it to him.
"Are you okay now?"
"...Yes. I met my sister suddenly, so emotions welled up without my knowing."
"That can happen. If I had known this would happen, I would have given you advance notice. I'm sorry."
"Not at all. Master must have had your circumstances too."
Zain had an unusually serious and mature attitude. It must be because it's related to family. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Zain wiped his tears with the handkerchief I handed him and slowly opened his mouth.
"Originally my sister was kind-hearted and gentle. But the Diego Church... made her like that."
"...I see. It seems so."
"Like a puppet doll with no emotions felt. Even thinking of everyone except the Diego Church as enemies..."
Zain, who had been continuing to speak, shut his lips tightly as if emotions welled up again. I stood up and patted Zain's shoulder.
I didn't really know what words to say either. All I could do now was offer this kind of comfort.
***
After the Saintess of the Diego Church visited, several hours passed.
At a time when the sun had somewhat set, I left my office to carry out today's schedule I had decided on beforehand.
Then, as if coming to meet me at just the right time, I encountered Terdius neatly dressed in his Holy Knight uniform.
"Church Leader."
"You came? The Holy Knight uniform suits you quite well."
Around the time grandmother joined the Kyros Church, the Kyros Church gained a Holy Knight Order uniform.
Sasha was in charge of the design, and it was said to capture both practicality and beauty. Though it wasn't very fancy with a pure white color similar to priest robes, it was rather better because it was neat.
And seeing Terdius wearing such a uniform, it felt several times more beautiful.
'Though it suited Grandmother well when she wore it...'
Terdius was definitely the protagonist of this world. I looked at him as if appreciating him for a moment, then moved my steps together with him.
"It's not uncomfortable, is it?"
"Yes. It's more comfortable than I thought."
Terdius answered while adjusting his sleeve buttons. The place Terdius and I were heading together was right behind the temple building.
Today was the day to officially introduce Terdius to the senior members.
"Movements must be as fast and concise as possible!"
With Grandmother's resounding words, the senior members' spirited shouts were heard. When I entered the training ground with Terdius, I could see the exhausted senior members.
I first looked at Grandmother standing in the center teaching the senior members. Soon Grandmother, who met my gaze, lightly winked.
"Let's take a break for a moment. The Church Leader has visited."
With Grandmother's words, all the senior members' gazes gathered on me.
"Church Leader!"
"Church Leader, who is that next to you...?"
There were children welcoming me and some senior members who seemed a bit surprised. And Zain and Troy already knew the news, so they looked as usual.
"It's good to see everyone working hard."
First, I started with words encouraging the senior members. After telling them they worked hard today too, I pointed to Terdius standing next to me and spoke.
"This person has officially joined the Kyros Church's Knight Order as of today."
I gave Terdius a look. Then he tactfully began introducing himself.
"Nice... to meet you. I am Terdius Austin. I look forward to working with you."
When Terdius finished his introduction, a slight silence flowed. Then soon, Zain began clapping first.
Clap clap clap!
With everyone's applause, Terdius showed a slightly awkward smile and bowed his head slightly.
"Terdius received holy power from Lord Kyros and officially became a Holy Knight. I guarantee his abilities."
I added a bit of explanation. Then the senior members' expressions brightened.
"And Terdius, if you have anything more you want to say, please do."
I said while looking at Terdius. I thought Terdius wouldn't say more, but contrary to expectations, he opened his mouth again.
"Those who know will know, but I was originally affiliated with the Diego Church. Though there were circumstances that led to that... what's important is that we were in a hostile relationship. But now we're in the same boat, and I know well that you may not be able to easily trust me because of my past. However, I can assert with everything I have."
Then Terdius spoke with resolute eyes.
"I will absolutely never betray you."
Perhaps that was another trial for Terdius himself. Earning the trust of people who might not trust him. That wasn't an easy thing to do.
Still, I felt quite grateful that Terdius said this. So while I was looking at Terdius proudly...
"Nice to meet you."
Grandmother, who had been silently listening, approached us with a refreshing smile. Then Grandmother offered a handshake to Terdius and said.
"I am Helena Holden, Commander of the Holy Knight Order of the Kyros Church."
"Yes, Commander."
Terdius shook Grandmother's hand and greeted her more politely than expected.
'This guy, when he can act like this, why does he speak informally to me?'
I was looking at him slightly displeased when Grandmother grinned and raised the corners of her mouth.
"I'd like to have a simple entrance test for the Knight Order. How about it?"
I was a bit surprised at Grandmother's unexpected words. Did our Knight Order have an entrance test? There weren't many knights to begin with.
"It's nothing much. Just a simple sparring match with me."
It seemed Grandmother wanted to confirm Terdius's abilities with her own eyes.
"...Yes. Understood."
And Terdius also answered with a faint smile. Both of them had somewhat brightened expressions when they shook hands.
And Grandmother and Terdius took their positions before I could say anything. The two immediately faced each other, and the senior members around them naturally made way.
"Let's use wooden swords for weapons."
"Good."
Grandmother threw Terdius a wooden sword. And the sparring between the two began instantly.
Thwack—!
Grandmother and Terdius leaped at a speed too fast to be caught with the eyes. And the next moment, their wooden swords crossed.
"Wow..."
Exclamations were occasionally heard from the senior members. And I too continuously exclaimed inwardly.
The sparring between the two didn't take very long. After Grandmother and Terdius clashed swords a few times, they faced each other again.
"It was a good match."
Grandmother extended her hand to Terdius with a very satisfied face. And Terdius also grasped Grandmother's hand with a truly beautiful smile, unlike usual.
"I learned from you."
Terdius said. It seemed to be because he respected Grandmother as the Holy Knight Commander.
'The match between the two was a draw.'
Grandmother and Terdius, the two perfectly matched each other in those few exchanges. If I said this, some might think Terdius's power had weakened, but that wasn't it.
His skills were superior to before. Though Diego's power had disappeared, he was still no different from a Sword Master.
'No, he had already reached that level long ago.'
And Grandmother's power had become incomparably stronger than before. Because she had done considerable training for the past six months.
'If I had to compare the two's current strength...'
Assuming the Rizes Church still existed, they could easily take down even the single-digit Demon God's Children.
'With this, our combat strength has become much stronger.'
I spoke to the senior members with a satisfied smile.
"Well, since it's a special occasion, let's all have dinner together."
