Ch.384Chapter 384 – The Saint’s Retirement

My final summer vacation ended with a trip to a resort.

Most students return to the academy before vacation ends.

That way, they have time to prepare for the next semester.

But even though my vacation ended, I didn’t return to the academy.

Why? Obviously because I need to take care of my pregnant wives.

I still need to announce Regina’s and Eterna’s pregnancies.

One is the academy’s chancellor, and the other is the Solar Order’s saint.

Both hold important positions in their respective organizations.

Regina is scheduled to resign from her position as chancellor next year.

Her successor would likely be Marquis Sandrios, my future father-in-law.

Excluding my sister, Marquis Sandrios was the most skilled magician in the empire.

It was tradition for the academy’s chancellor to be the strongest magician of the era.

Since Marquis Sandrios is an officially recognized archmage of the empire, it’s fitting for him to be the next chancellor.

Heh heh heh. My future father-in-law will have a tough time in his later years.

Anyway, Regina’s successor was more or less decided, and there weren’t any particular issues regarding her marriage.

“I was planning to quit anyway, so thanks to you, Patos, I’ve got a good excuse now~.”

In fact, Regina seemed pleased that she could use pregnancy as an excuse to step down from her chancellor position quickly, as she had been hoping to get pregnant.

However, there was a slight issue with Eterna.

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Eterna Lumio Sol.

The saint of the Solar Order and Chief Inquisitor visited the Order’s headquarters after a long time.

“May the sunlight always illuminate your path. Welcome, Saint.”

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

Eterna responded with a bright smile to those greeting her.

Her appearance was modest as usual, without makeup.

However, unlike before, there was now a subtle radiance about her.

This could be because the anxiety in her heart had been resolved, or perhaps because she had received many good things.

In any case, Eterna visited the Solar Order’s headquarters to announce her decision.

“Pardon? Saint, what did you just say?”

“It seems you didn’t hear me properly, so I’ll say it again. I’m stepping down from my duties as saint.”

Stepping down from the duties of a saint.

That was the reason for Eterna’s visit to the Solar Order’s headquarters.

“B-but… the duties of a saint aren’t something that can be so easily relinquished…”

The archbishop of the Solar Order was considerably taken aback by Eterna’s words.

What is the position of a saint?

It’s a being that appears perhaps once in a hundred years, beloved by all simply by existing.

Of course, Eterna was already beloved as the Chief Inquisitor even before becoming a saint.

In any case, no saint had ever relinquished their title until death.

This was because they lived as saints until their dying day, forgoing marriage and living alone.

So the idea of stepping down from saintly duties had never occurred to anyone.

“I can step down. While the position of saint is determined by divine oracle, one can resign when they wish. The Sun God told me I could stop my duties as saint whenever I wanted.”

“But if that happens, won’t the position of saint be vacant?”

“This is no longer an era that needs a saint, is it?”

To the archbishop who insisted on the necessity of a saint, she argued that a saint was no longer needed.

“A saint is someone who serves as a light and guide for people in turbulent times. But now the Demon God has fallen, and peace has come to the world. Though it may not be eternal peace.”

The archbishop remained silent at Eterna’s words. She wasn’t wrong.

“An era of peace isn’t led by people with exceptional abilities like me, but created together by everyone. For the sake of the children too.”

As she spoke, Eterna gently caressed her lower abdomen.

“Could it be… Saint…?”

“That’s right. I have received seed from the Great Goddess Order’s saint and am carrying his child.”

“Ah, well…”

The archbishop was left speechless by Eterna’s confirmation.

It was an unprecedented situation for a saint to be pregnant, but the person in question was remarkably calm about it.

“What did the Sun God say?”

“He said I’ve worked hard and can now step down from my position as saint. He said the next great saint or holy one will be chosen from among the children I bear. So the position of saint won’t be discontinued.”

“If that’s the case… there’s nothing to be done.”

The archbishop finally nodded with a positive meaning.

“When will you make the announcement?”

“Soon. After stepping down as saint, I’ll also resign as Chief Inquisitor and live as an ordinary person.”

An ordinary life. It was something unimaginable to him as the archbishop of the Solar Order.

He couldn’t bring himself to give up everything here, as the time he had invested so far seemed too precious.

“I understand. You may continue to stay where you’ve been living for now. We will prepare a retirement ceremony within a week.”

“Thank you, Archbishop.”

Eterna carefully bowed and left.

The archbishop looked at the place where Eterna had departed and began writing on parchment.

There was much to prepare to transform the unprecedented event of a saint’s retirement due to pregnancy into an official ceremony.

Meanwhile, Eterna’s steps were light, finally able to step down from her position as saint.

Two children, not yet named.

She carefully caressed her lower abdomen where they were growing.

“I don’t know which of you will become the next saint or holy one, but mother loves you both.”

Her smile as she looked at the children she carried resembled a saint’s smile more than ever before.

“Oh, oh my… so that is the smile of the Saint…”

A painter who happened to witness this scene captured it in a painting, which became famous under the name “Portrait of the Benevolent Saint,” but that’s a story for the somewhat distant future.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

A few days later, there was a major declaration at the Solar Order’s headquarters titled “The Saint’s Important Announcement.”

Eterna stepped onto a wooden platform.

Looking at the many people who had come to see her, she began to speak.

“Dear followers of the Solar Order. Despite my limited abilities, the Sun God chose me and made me a saint. Many things happened during that time. I tracked followers of the Demon Cult, swept away the Demon Cult, and finally contributed to the defeat of the Demon God. And in the process, I met a man, fell in love, and now carry his child.”

“What?”

“The Saint is… pregnant?”

As Eterna revealed her pregnancy, the square instantly filled with people’s voices.

“He is someone you all know well. The Great Goddess Order’s saint and the great hero who saved the world, Grand Duke Patos Severio Aurelion. Meeting him, I felt love, decided to become his partner, and now bear the fruit of our love. Therefore, I wish to step down from my position as saint and return to being an ordinary person.”

“Has the Sun God granted permission?”

“That’s right! It doesn’t make sense to simply abandon the duty given by the Sun God!”

When Eterna announced her intention to step down, some who couldn’t accept the reality asked if she had received permission from the deity.

[I have granted permission. Eterna, that child may now step down from the position of saint, and those who follow me should not question my decision.]

And directly from the sky came the voice of the Sun God.

He had given permission, so no one should dare object.

And hearing this, everyone fell silent.

The Sun God who had appointed Eterna as saint had directly said she could step down, so who would dare object?

If anyone objected now, they would likely be ostracized as “not a true believer!”

“As everyone has heard, the Sun God has also permitted the Saint’s retirement. With this, the Solar Order officially declares that Eterna has stepped down from her position as saint!”

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

“…And that’s what happened.”

Eterna explained how she had stepped down from her position as saint.

“So that’s why you’re rolling around in bed all day?”

And now, since stepping down from her saintly duties, she had practically become one with the bed, rolling around all day.

“I’ve been busy running around all the time, so now I want to rest a bit. Besides, once the babies are born, I’ll be busy again. Isn’t that right, dear?”

…Hmm. She has a point.

They say you should let pregnant women do as they please for the babies to grow well(?), so I should let her be comfortable.

And so I allowed Eterna to roll around in bed all day.