Chapter 740
Five days later.
Even now, the two formations fighting on the Bahila front, instead of launching invasions, were focused on securing their occupied territory firmly and concentrating on the excavation of the Sealed Letter.
The tension on the front lines had eased a little, but ironically, Richard, who should have been the one running wild the most during such a lull, had holed himself up inside his command tent and refused to come out.
“Hey, Yona! My fellow! You there?”
A group of burly necromancers swaggered into his command tent. They were all fellow soldiers who had trained alongside Yona.
“What are you doing here? Let’s go out.”
“Tonight we’ve got to go have some fun, right?”
Kang-!
Kang-!
Richard had his back turned, hammering away nonstop. On closer look, he was making something that resembled a horse saddle.
“I’m not going.”
“We’re heading straight to the party hall, so get ready… hm?”
They wore strange expressions, as though they had misheard something.
“Wait, did you just say you’re not going? You?”
“If the mischievous Yona, who’s sampled every kind of entertainment under the sun, doesn’t go, then who will?”
Richard waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting flies.
“I’m not interested.”
“…So the rumor that you suddenly turned impotent must be true after all.”
“What’s wrong, Yona. Did you actually get sick? Maybe… that kind of illness?”
They snickered as they moved closer to prod him, but Richard instantly swiveled in his chair and hooked one of them by the leg.
“Keuk-heop!”
The comrade fell flat to the ground. Richard stood up from his seat, scowling.
“Don’t cross the line, and get lost, you bastards.”
“Y-you… damn you…!”
They glared at him with distorted expressions, but when they met Richard’s murderous gaze, their bravado wilted, and they slunk out of the tent.
“If you change your mind later, come by.”
One of them, wearing glasses, poked his head back in and waved.
Yona said coldly,
“Get lost, Kin Moore.”
“That hurts, you know.”
Once the intruders were gone, Yona sat back down and picked up his hammer again.
Kang! Kang!
He pounded the saddle in succession, then lifted the work up to eye level. He didn’t seem very satisfied, and set it back down on the work table to strike it again.
“Hello, Yona.”
Just then, a new figure entered. Richard replied without turning his head.
“You came, watchdog.”
“Yes, but who were those people who just left? They were swearing as they went.”
“Some nobodies.”
Muttering, he kept working, then quickly glanced at Simon.
“You’re free in two days, right?”
Simon wore a sly smile.
“Going to the orphanage for volunteer work? That’s the sixth time you’ve asked today.”
“…Shut it, brat.”
“Hahahahaha!”
Simon burst into laughter.
Even though this was his father, seeing him like this was just too funny.
“Letting you relax a bit, and you’re climbing all the way over my head.”
Richard clicked his tongue as he went back to hammering.
“Who did you take after, learning nothing but how to smirk during your time here?”
“I must’ve taken after Yona.”
“Don’t say such horrifying things.”
Simon laughed again.
For the past few weeks, Simon had been enjoying his time with his father of the past. Since Richard no longer went out partying, life had gained some leisure.
“By the way, you’ll teach me again today, right?”
“You mean Imago.”
‘Imago’ was a top-level restoration technique, leaving one’s will behind in the removed Bone Armor, enabling it to move as though it were one’s own body.
Originally, Simon had planned to learn it from Richard after returning to the present, but since no one knew when the final battle would come, he was training in it now as well.
In certain aspects, the Richard of the past was better than the one in the present. After all, the current Richard was clearly in the peak of his prime.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be taught by Yona the 7th Legion Commander, rather than Richard, Lord of Leshill.
“Fine, come out.”
Thud.
Richard set the hammer down, slung his outer garment over his shoulder, and led the way.
“I’ll teach you properly, and knock that arrogance out of you while I’m at it.”
Simon followed with a broad grin.
“Yes, Yona.”
“Damn it, stop clinging to me! Are you into that sort of thing?”
“It’s not like that, but it’s fine between us, isn’t it?”
“You keep saying creepy things, brat.”
* * *
“Saint Anna, allow me to present today’s schedule.”
The Holy Federation camp.
Inside the white tent where Anna resided, Israfil, dressed neatly in an officer’s uniform, stood at attention, holding up a file of documents.
“After dinner, there will be a prayer of thanksgiving, the festival prayer, the evening regular service, followed by a walk and then dawn prayer.”
With disciplined movements, Israfil lowered the file and returned to a position of parade rest.
“All the priests in the unit are waiting in the chapel.”
“Thank you for your report, Israfil.”
Anna smiled gently. On her lap, Lete clung like a cicada. Israfil ground her teeth as she glared at Lete.
But then, Anna suddenly said something unexpected.
“From today, aside from the regular services, all group prayers will be replaced with personal prayer.”
“…What?”
Israfil’s pupils trembled.
What did I just hear?
“I feel I’ve troubled too many people and taken too much of their time for the sake of my own religious life.”
Israfil leapt up in alarm.
“What are you saying! For me and for every priest, to pray daily together with the revered Saint Anna is considered an immeasurable honor!”
“I have eyes and ears too, you know.”
Anna gave an awkward smile.
“I realized I’ve been inconsiderate of my position, causing unnecessary inconvenience to so many people. From now on, I’ll reduce needless prayers. Remembering faith is important, but as the war drags on, bodies and minds weary, and rest becomes necessary as well.”
Israfil lowered her head deeply.
“…Understood. Then I shall go inform the priests gathered in the chapel.”
“Thank you, Israfil.”
Step, step.
As Israfil walked toward the chapel, she sank into thought.
‘As I suspected, lately Anna has been strange.’
The cause was almost certain. Ever since that girl named Rena showed up, she had changed.
What in the world was going on. She had suddenly appeared as if she had dropped from the sky.
‘Rena.’
Israfil clenched her fist tightly as she thought of her.
She looked about the same age as herself. Her comportment, speech, and level of holy magic all felt like someone thoroughly trained at a strict church. When asked about passages of scripture, she could recite them down to the details, and most of all, her holiness was vast and purely immaculate.
People were even beginning to compare her sacred power to that of Anna, the highest of their age.
But—
‘Does this even make sense?’
She was a person of unclear status.
Even if she had received the guarantee of the Saint of Miracles, wasn’t everyone being far too trusting? Holiness isn’t everything, is it. Couldn’t Sister Anna’s judgment be wrong, just once?
Rena clung to Anna all day long, whispering strange words. Anna was being strongly influenced by her.
“Hey, Israfil.”
Lost in thought, Israfil startled and turned her head.
She had walked without realizing it, and before long she had arrived at the chapel. A senior priest, several terms above, was crouched with a grimace, rubbing his thigh, and the other priests were in the same state.
“How long are we supposed to keep this up? Where’s the Saint?”
“Ah, well.”
Israfil, nervous, spoke hurriedly.
“The Saint has declared that from now on, all prayer sessions except the regular services will be replaced with ‘personal prayer’.”
“For real?”
Kyaaaaaa!
Loud cheers erupted everywhere.
“Thank you, Saint of Miracles!”
“Goddess Dave must have looked upon us, suffering, with compassion!”
Could they really be that happy.
The priests reacted as though they had just been freed from a long imprisonment. Some checked their hair in a mirror once, then bolted out the door.
“Saint Anna has been so considerate of us lately, it’s wonderful.”
The senior priest stretched out her numb legs and stood. The senior who always wore a scowl was now grinning ear to ear.
‘How many years has it been since I’ve seen that old hag smiling like this?’
“Did you quietly bring it up to the Saint? Israfil.”
“Ah, that…”
“Hmph, a stick-in-the-mud like you wouldn’t dare. It must be thanks to that new maid, Rena or whatever her name was.”
“That girl Rena, she really speaks so prettily.”
“Enough! Let’s go admire those southern paladins who joined this front!”
Kyahahahaha!
The seniors chattered noisily as they left.
Israfil’s clenched hands trembled with force.
‘…Rena!’
What on earth was going on.
Since that woman appeared, everything had begun to change. Saint Anna, the other priests, they all liked her.
It felt as though her place was being taken by that woman.
‘I swear.’
Recalling Rena’s mocking face, sticking out her tongue, Israfil felt blood rush hot into her cheeks.
‘One day, I will reveal your true nature!’
* * *
Another two days passed, and finally the day of volunteer work had come.
“Hurry it up, watchdog!”
“Yes!”
Richard urged Simon as they ran.
Simon smiled softly. He knew that Richard had been awake all night, but pretended not to notice.
“Oh.”
Then Simon noticed the wounds on Richard’s body. Not just his face, but all over his body, he had bandages like plasters stuck on.
“Did you fight with someone?”
“Fight, my ass, just get on the horse.”
Richard leapt up in one motion, mounting his command horse.
“Don’t you need to make breakfast before the children wake?”
“Yes, yes.”
Simon climbed onto the horse with a beaming smile. Richard’s face twisted into a scowl.
“Didn’t I tell you not to smile so smugly? Do you want to die for real?”
“Haha! Sorry.”
And around the same time.
The Holy Federation camp was in chaos as well.
“Th-this dress?”
“It’s beautiful! Saint Anna!”
“Then… then what about this one?”
“That one’s beautiful too!”
Anna and Lete were trying on outfits for the volunteer work.
It was the third dress Anna had changed into, but she still wasn’t satisfied, agonizing over it.
“I’m sorry to trouble you so early, Rena.”
Anna had never chosen her own clothes before.
Whatever was provided from above, whether a dress or a gown, she had worn without complaint, and in her life until now she had never once felt dissatisfaction.
But today, looking in the mirror, suddenly the clothes displeased her. She had even woken Lete, who had been sleeping soundly.
“Oh, of course! How about this one?”
Even though she had just woken up, Lete chose dresses without a single complaint. Anna, in a new dress, looked at herself in the mirror.
Now she realized, it wasn’t a matter of whether she liked it or not.
‘…What kind of clothes would he like?’
She had never thought of it that way before. At that moment, Lete suddenly poked her head in.
“Do you want to look good for him?”
Anna’s face turned beet red. She let out a strange hiccup-like sound, and covered her face with both hands.
“N-no, it’s not like that… it’s just, um, my personal whim…”
‘So cute!’
Lete screamed inwardly.
Insanely cute. So, so, so adorable. She had to resist the overwhelming urge to bite her. Instead she clasped her hands and said,
“Saint Anna, this dress suits you so well. Richa… I mean, everyone will surely love it.”
“R-really?”
Her eyes widened, her voice like cotton candy, delighted. Lete, instead of biting her, bit down hard on her own collar once, then said,
“Of course!”
In truth, what did it matter if someone like her wore rags or sackcloth.
No matter what she wore, that foolish playboy Richard would be drooling, tongue lolling in delight—that much was certain.
Lete took Anna’s hand.
“Let’s go! To meet him!”
Anna’s smile bloomed like a flower in full blossom.
“Yes!”
While the two were getting ready.
“……”
From a little distance, Israfil peeked her head out and watched. Burning with jealousy, she trembled as she clenched her fist.
‘Again, you’re going out to have fun without me?’
This time, she swore she would expose the true nature of that girl called Rena.
Israfil resolved it in her heart.
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