CHAPTER 164…………………………………
“Shion!”
Should I say it’s been a while? We did see each other briefly last time, but it was only for a moment.
Shion was dressed in even more splendid priestly robes than usual. It seemed the talk of an important meeting had been true—he wore full ceremonial vestments, the kind one might only see on a day of consecration.
The buttons were fastened all the way up to his neck, and a cloth embroidered with the symbol of God wrapped around his throat and trailed down, giving him an austere, almost ascetic air.
The robe itself was brilliantly white, lavishly adorned with gold thread embroidery here and there, exuding dignity. It was so ornate that one might fear it would overwhelm its wearer—but Shion’s face, on the contrary, seemed to overpower the garment.
Between his dazzling silver hair, his clear blue eyes curved like crescents.
He always looked good, but today his beauty seemed to shine even more. There was no other way to describe it but as a blessing from God.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I came as quickly as I could, but I still ended up a bit behind.”
“Oh, not at all. I’m the one who came without warning. I thought it would take you longer, so I was surprised you came so quickly.”
“Really? I should’ve arrived later so you could look around more comfortably. How thoughtless of me, right?”
Shion teased lightly. Had he always joked like this?
“Come on, what are you saying? I’m just happy to see you like this.”
When I replied with a bright smile, Shion paused for a brief moment.
He quickly turned his head aside and muttered something under his breath before composing his expression and looking back at me.
“You didn’t come just because you missed me, I assume. What brings you to the Holy See?”
The way he said it so decisively made it sound as though I only sought him out when I needed something. Which, well, wasn’t wrong!
But it wasn’t my fault. The moment I stepped into the Holy See, my stomach had started churning.
Still, I forced a smile and continued.
“I’d like to say I came to see you… but, um. I actually came to ask for a favor again.”
“A favor?”
“I feel bad always asking you for help. If you ever need something too, please tell me.”
At my words, Shion’s eyes widened slightly before he broke into a playful smile.
“What kind of favor do you think I would ask for?”
Did this man realize how that sounded?
It might be disrespectful to say this about a saint, but rather than a modest priest, didn’t he seem more like a man casting flirtatious glances?
…Surely not!
“I—I’ll help you as far as Walker’s power can reach. At least within the Belonde Empire, I’m fairly capable.”
“I don’t think I’ll be using it in that way… but I’ll gratefully accept. What I want is something only Emily can grant, after all.”
As he spoke, Shion took a couple of steps closer. At the same time, a clean scent like fresh soap wafted toward me.
As if he had just bathed.
“So, what is this favor?”
“…Shion. Do you know about the ‘Forgotten Library’?”
I broached the subject carefully.
“The ‘Forgotten Library’?”
“Yes. I heard there’s such a place within the Holy See.”
“I’m not sure. It’s my first time hearing of it… Though if it’s truly ‘forgotten,’ it would be strange for me to know about it. But who did you hear such a story from?”
I found myself at a crossroads.
Should I honestly say I heard it from Claude, or make something up?
“……”
After a brief moment of consideration, I decided that if I brushed it off, the matter might end there without further investigation.
It would be better to use Claude’s name to pique Shion’s interest.
“Actually, I vaguely overheard it when I was kidnapped by black mages.”
“Black mages…?”
Shion’s expression instantly turned serious.
“Yes. I didn’t hear it clearly, but they said some sort of truth was hidden there. I was too dazed after waking up and forgot about it, but it suddenly came back to me recently.”
Up to that point, there was nothing particularly suspicious about the story. Rather than looking for flaws in my explanation, Shion seemed to be trying to guess where such a place might be.
“…I don’t know the exact location, but there is somewhere that comes to mind.”
“Really?”
“Yes. This building was newly constructed after the Holy War, but before that, when the Holy See was much smaller, I heard there was an old, abandoned temple that was used.”
My eyes lit up.
Considering it was described as ‘forgotten’ rather than ‘hidden’ or ‘concealed,’ there was a high possibility it was inside that abandoned temple.
“Where is it?”
“Not far from here.”
“Can we go now?”
“…Not right now.”
Shion scratched the back of his head awkwardly. When I tilted my head in confusion, he continued.
“Before the Holy War, the Helios faith was a very small religious order. A handful of priests who believed in God wandered the continent spreading their faith.”
I had heard that it was only after the Holy War that the entire continent came to acknowledge God’s existence.
Before that, atheism had been the overwhelming mainstream.
“However, many nations opposed them. They considered them a group that deceived the people and did not hesitate to drive them out.”
“I see….”
“After wandering from place to place, they finally settled in a remote corner of the Empire, but they constantly faced crises. So the old temple was protected with numerous traps, preventing entry by anyone without permission.”
Now the Holy See kept its doors open to everyone regardless of age or gender, so hearing about such a past felt strange.
“That abandoned temple likely has many traps as well. If we enter recklessly, it could be dangerous. It would be best to gather information about it first.”
After pondering for a moment, Shion nodded.
“If I request access to the records, permission should be granted within a few days. Could you wait until then?”
“Of course. Thank you for going this far for me.”
It must be nothing but a nuisance for him.
“Not at all. Since it was mentioned by black mages, I’m curious too.”
Smiling faintly, Shion naturally led me to the reception room.
Before I knew it, I was enjoying tea with him.
As I had felt before, Shion had a way of putting people at ease. It must be thanks to his perceptiveness and delicacy.
‘I used to think that very trait gave me headaches.’
But now, I found myself appreciating how comfortable he made conversation. The change felt deeply moving.
Lost in such idle thoughts, I felt Shion gently place his hand over mine.
“…?”
“Emily.”
When I looked at him questioningly, he spoke with a subtle twist to his lips.
“It seems you’re still unwell.”
Ah!
This tiresome misunderstanding.
It felt as though I had stepped into a trap I had forgotten about. Even if I denied it now, he wouldn’t believe me.
“I wish I could help you with divine power. But since I can’t, it frustrates me.”
If he were frustrated twice over, I might just die.
“The Holy See is safe, so please rest at ease. Since the last incident, we’ve strengthened security even further.”
He added that previously, anyone bearing stigmata could enter relatively freely, making infiltration easier, but now the system had been completely overhauled.
At that moment, Matteo, who had been waiting outside, knocked and entered.
“Your Holiness.”
“Oh, is it that time already?”
Shion glanced at his watch and stood up.
“I’d like to stay longer. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I know you’re busy.”
If anything, the schedule of a saint was probably busier than that of the Crown Prince—especially in times like these.
“Father Matteo, I’ll leave things to you.”
“Yes, sir!”
After Shion left, a stiffly disciplined Matteo stood diagonally behind me.
“…What are you doing?”
“I will wait beside you until your tea time is finished!”
Various refreshments were laid out on the table for the guest. Was he planning to wait until I ate all of them?
It didn’t seem like they had set out this much expecting it all to be eaten. I quietly set down my teacup.
“Would you help me a little?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s too much for me to eat alone.”
When I asked with a smile, Matteo quickly scanned the table. There were quite a few sweet treats rarely seen here.
After a moment of hesitation, he squeezed his eyes shut and replied,
“N-No, it’s all right!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
When he reacted like that, it made me want to tease him.
“Oh dear… It’s hard to eat all of this. Should I leave some? But these cookies contain the blood, sweat, and tears of the farmer who worked so hard to grow the wheat….”
Flinch.
“If I leave them, wouldn’t that farmer’s efforts all go to waste~?”
Flinch.
“It would be nice if someone helped me. What a pity.”
“I—I’ll help you!”
Unable to endure my blatant pressure, Matteo cried out. He awkwardly sat across from me and picked up a pastry.
“!”
His eyes widened, and he quickly took a second, then a third bite, smiling in bliss as though he had never tasted such delicious cookies before.
“Is it that good?”
“Mmmf! It’s delicious!”
“Slow down. No one’s going to steal them.”
At my words, Matteo nodded vigorously. Good. People tend to soften when they eat something sweet.
In a casual tone, I began,
“By the way, has it been all right here? The Belonde Empire was in an uproar over catching spies.”
With his mouth full, Matteo looked up.
“How is the Holy See?”
After swallowing, he carefully answered,
“Actually… things were turned upside down here because of that as well.”
“I thought so.”
“Yes. We never dreamed something like that would be happening openly within the Holy See….”
At that moment, someone suddenly cut in.
“It seems the young lady is quite interested in the affairs of the Holy See.”
“!”
When I turned my head, I saw a woman wearing a benevolent smile. The emblem symbolizing a cardinal was embroidered on her robes, and although divine power filled the surroundings so thickly I hadn’t noticed before, the amount she carried within her was no small matter.
And above all—
I had seen her before.
“Cardinal Vanessa….”
The very cardinal who had raised black mages in the basement.
When our eyes met, a chilling, instinctive revulsion surged through me.
