TAMDHP 05

Chapter 5

“Then from now on, we’re officially business partners. I look forward to working with you.”

‘I’ve really done it….’

I’m in no position to call Simon money-crazed.

This was the first time in my life I had acted so impulsively, trusting the words of someone I barely knew.

‘But it doesn’t seem like Simon is lying. And he has no reason to.’

We agreed to sign a contract after my admission to the knight order was finalized, so at least I wouldn’t end up signing anything unfair.

After organizing the documents with the negotiated clauses, Simon stood and put on his coat.

Then he turned to me.

“From now on, things will get busy. Joining the knight order isn’t something I can handle with my power alone.”

“Then what do we have to do?”

“There are places we need to go together.”

“W-wait…?!”

I stood up to follow him and pointed at him in shock.

In the blink of an eye, the Simon who had been standing there was gone—replaced by a man with black hair and blue eyes.

“Come to think of it, I never told you. This is my ability. When I operate publicly, this is usually how I look. Only a handful of people know my true appearance, including you, Miss April.”

“Wow… That’s amazing! You changed in the blink of an eye. Can you turn into other forms too? What about animals? Could you turn into a hamster?”

“Miss April truly never fails to disappoint me.”

“…You just insulted me again, didn’t you?”

“Shall we go?”

Ignoring my reaction once again, he extended a hand to me.

His smooth face was annoyingly composed, but I couldn’t refuse the hand he offered.

‘It’s my first time being escorted like this. I’ll let it slide just this once.’

When I took his hand for the first time, it was firmer and rougher than I had expected.

Escorted by him into a carriage, I gazed out the window and asked,

“Where are we going?”

“To the Grand Temple. First, we need to have it officially recognized that you’ve received the Goddess’s blessing, and we must measure your mana.”

In the Kingdom of Kaian, the reason mages exist is said to be entirely because of the blessing of the Goddess of War.

Long ago, during the height of the war against monsters, she granted humans the power to end the war themselves—that was the source of magic.

That was why testing for magical talent and measuring mana were both conducted at the temple.

“It feels like I’m about to take an exam. I’m nervous.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. If it’s you, Miss April, you undoubtedly possess a vast amount of mana.”

“Do I?”

Unconsciously, I looked down at my hands.

The fact that I could use magic still didn’t feel real.

‘Ah, come to think of it….’

There was something I hadn’t said to Simon yet.

I tapped his knee lightly to get his attention and smiled brightly.

“…What is it?”

“Now that I think about it, I never thanked you. Thank you so much, boss! If it weren’t for you, I might have gone my entire life without knowing about my ability.”

“……”

I expected a sarcastic reply, as usual—but strangely, there was none.

I tilted my head and stared at him.

“Boss…?”

After blinking a few times, Simon returned to his usual expression.

“I didn’t tell you out of kindness, so there’s no need to thank me. Think of it as us using each other.”

“Tch, do you have to define everything so capitalistically?”

“Because that’s the truth. And…”

“And?”

“There’s no need to call me ‘boss’ outside the shop.”

Why was it? For the first time, his annoying tone felt almost friendly.

Perhaps because instead of looking directly into my eyes as he usually did, he was gazing out the window.

I couldn’t hold back my smile.

“Were you hesitating just to say that? Are you embarrassed because you want to get closer to me?”

“No. I was merely stunned that you think you would have gone your entire life without realizing your ability. I was speechless at how dense that is.”

‘Ugh, he’s so irritating.’

One day I’m going to spit on that smiling face.

Still, he was right—we needed to settle how to address each other.

I couldn’t call him ‘boss’ in the knight order.

“Then how about we call each other by our names? You said we’re business partners earlier.”

“……”

“From now on, call me Ariel. Got it, Simon?”

“Do as you please.”

I was secretly surprised at how easily he allowed it.

‘I thought he’d be strict and say, “Call me Sir Raymond.”’

Could it be that we’d gotten a little closer?

When we arrived at the Grand Temple, the carriage came to a smooth stop.

While Simon paid the driver, I stepped down and looked around the entrance.

Centered around the grand chapel—the tallest structure in sight—antique buildings were harmoniously arranged.

‘Wow… This is incredible.’

Aside from the Count’s estate, it was the largest building I had ever seen.

“This way, Ariel.”

Simon, who had already entered, called out to me as I stood in awe.

Hurrying after him, I noticed him discreetly showing a crest taken from inside his coat to the priest guarding the entrance.

Judging by his secrecy, it must have been the insignia of the shadow knight order.

After verifying it, the priest allowed him through.

“You’ll receive one too, once your qualifications are recognized,” Simon explained.

Following him deeper inside, we were eventually greeted by an elderly man.

Unlike the others we had passed, he wore ornate robes. He seemed to be a high-ranking priest.

“Welcome, Sir Raymond. May the Goddess’s blessing be upon you.”

“It has been a while, Priest Whitman.”

“And the young lady behind you?”

Priest Whitman’s gaze turned to me.

Not knowing how to behave before a high-ranking priest, I bowed deeply without thinking.

Simon answered on my behalf.

“I met someone whose magical ability awakened after childhood, so I brought her with me. Her name is Ariel April.”

“Magic awakening after childhood… Even in my long life, this is a first.”

“Would you serve as witness for her mana measurement?”

“Of course. Please follow me.”

With a kind smile, Priest Whitman led the way.

I stared at Simon for a moment.

‘He looks so natural speaking with the priest. I feel so awkward.’

It wasn’t just conversation—he observed the proper etiquette flawlessly.

Moreover, there was an unmistakable familiarity in the way Priest Whitman looked at him.

‘It almost feels like the priest is the one treating Simon with deference….’

Was it normal for a royal knight to be this close to a high-ranking priest?

“Ariel.”

“Y-yes! I’m coming!”

Simon urged me forward, pulling me from my thoughts.

Following Priest Whitman, I entered the mana measurement chamber and stood before the holy water placed upon the altar.

The source of mana is the Goddess’s blessing.

Therefore, when someone with mana comes into contact with a holy relic, it reacts.

Among all such relics, the most accurate was said to be the holy water drawn from the eternal spring created by the Goddess herself.

The moment I touched it, the extent of my mana would become visible.

My mouth went dry with tension.

Even though I told myself it couldn’t be wrong, a sliver of anxiety crept in.

‘What if Simon was mistaken…?’

“There’s nothing to be nervous about. Just think of it as washing your hands.”

“What?”

Simon had leaned close and whispered that.

I stared at him in disbelief.

This was holy water, and he was telling me to think of it as washing my hands?

He immediately returned to an utterly solemn expression.

When our eyes met, he gave me a cool smile—shameless as ever.

Still, thinking that he had tried in his own way to ease my nerves calmed me slightly.

“Please place your hand in the holy water, Miss April.”

I nodded firmly to the priest.

Once I placed my hand into the shimmering water before me, it would finally be confirmed.

Whether I was truly blessed—or truly useless.

“What can you do besides please me?”

Why was Delia’s voice surfacing in my mind now?

‘Forget it. She has nothing to do with the person I am now.’

Shaking away the intrusive thought, I carefully lowered my hand into the holy water.

At first, it shimmered faintly.

Then, gradually, a brilliant radiance began to spread.

“This is…!”

Priest Whitman gasped as sacred light filled the entire chamber.

“This is brilliance worthy of being called a Saintess.”

I did it…!

Instinctively, I turned toward Simon.

I wanted to share the joy that we had been right.

But the expression on Simon’s face as he looked at me was…