Return (2)

“I’m not too keen on it, but do I really have to attend? I could meet with the Hero and the Saint separately later.”

“There you go again. You’ve already agreed to it.”

Ceres urged with a forced smile at Arczel IV, who was still hesitating as if reluctant.

It had been a few hours since the hero’s party—that is, Rudvik, Bigrind, and Scarlet—had arrived at the church territory.

The Pope, Arczel IV, had already gone out to greet them and commended their efforts, but when Ceres asked him to attend tonight’s banquet as well, he expressed his reluctance.

“I keep thinking it would be better if I showed frugality and poverty first.”

“Come on, there’s a time to spend and a time to show your face like this. It motivates the clergy too.”

When it comes to a banquet, it’s bound to be a scene of luxury, isn’t it?

Unable to shake off that thought, Arczel IV felt it would be somewhat awkward for him to attend the banquet.

So he thought it would be better not to attend the banquet and instead call Rudvik and Bigrind later to commend them.

But Ceres didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down.

In the end, Arczel IV, unable to resist her persistence, agreed to attend the banquet, but he was still hesitating because he wasn’t sure if this was the right path.

Banquets are held only a few times a year in the church territory. The Creation Festival, when it’s said the Celestial God created this world; the Celestial God Festival, held on the day the Celestial God defeated the False God. And a few other commemorative days are all, but otherwise, they mostly lead a frugal and poor life.

The fact that a banquet is being held today, the very day the Hero and Saint arrived, is a kind of exception, so the Pope attending and enjoying the banquet might lead to some misunderstandings—that’s what Arczel IV thought.

“No one will say anything about that. Besides, after all your hard work last night, wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy some good food today?”

Just last night, he had called in all the elders to discuss lifting Johannes’ interdiction. There had been heated debates, but they had reached a good result. In fact, it might have been difficult without Ceres, so if she was insisting on his attendance this much, it might not be bad to go along with it, pretending to be unable to refuse.

“…Alright, let’s do that.”

“Really? You can’t go back on your word now.”

“I really won’t go back on my word now. Don’t worry.”

Arczel IV spoke with a resolute expression.

Though an old man, Ceres was reassured by his answer, still sharp with spirit.

Now, the stage and the actors were all set.

The only thing left was for the stage machinery to work properly.

‘Well, I’ve already checked it anyway.’

Ceres turned away with a slight smile.

All preparations were complete.

The place they entered was the banquet hall, an annex to the main building. It was a two-story building painted with white exterior paint, only opened and used when there were church events.

‘White exterior for a banquet hall…?’

While Yona was pondering this question, the priest guiding them didn’t have a particularly good expression.

Especially when he saw Alec’s shining bald head, he looked like he was barely holding back laughter, which made Yona momentarily angry.

Even though there was such a small incident—

After stating their names and confirming that their names were on the guest list, they were able to enter the banquet hall.

“Wow…”

“Whoa…”

“My…”

Yona, Alec, and Kaiyak, upon entering the banquet hall, couldn’t help but gape in admiration.

It wasn’t because of its splendor or vastness.

Although it fell short of the banquet hall at Ceres’ mansion in terms of splendor and size, the purity that was felt the moment you saw it was extraordinary.

On the wall immediately visible from the entrance was a large full-body painting of the Celestial God.

With a bright blue sky as the background, the Celestial God, with hands clasped in front of the chest and eyes closed, was surrounded by angels flying and guarding.

Below that full-body painting, a choir was lined up singing hymns with a soft and cozy feeling.

With them in the center, tables were arranged on both sides, and rather than the banquet food, serving carts with silver trays of prepared foods were placed at the innermost part.

As the banquet had just begun, people were gathered in small groups at the tables, some eating and others engaged in conversation.

“Oh, Miss Yona! Over here!”

A voice calling Yona was heard from somewhere. Momentarily overwhelmed by the scene of the banquet hall, Yona quickly came to her senses and looked in that direction, soon finding Rudvik waving his hand vigorously towards her.

Rudvik and Bigrind seemed to be in the middle of their meal, sitting at a table.

Scarlet, on the other hand, was standing right behind Bigrind, still in full armor except for weapons, not even touching the food.

“Yona-aang! Over he-ere!”

Thinking Yona hadn’t heard or recognized him, Rudvik called out to her in an even louder voice, now raising both arms high and waving them.

Next to him was Bigrind, her face bright red, head bowed low.

“Ah, y-yes… okay…”

Now it was impossible to pretend not to notice.

Already, attention was focused on Yona due to Rudvik calling out in such a loud voice.

Honestly, she wasn’t very glad or willing, but with someone calling out like this, it would be rude to ignore them.

“He’s calling so eagerly, wouldn’t it be better to go over, Yona?”

“…I guess so.”

As Kaiyak said, it would be impolite to ignore them at this point.

Thinking this, Yona slowly walked towards Bigrind, with Alec and Kaiyak following behind her.

‘Since I’m going to join them anyway, I should at least try to lighten my expression…’

Yona tried to shake off any signs of dislike from her face.

Perhaps because of this, her displeased look had subsided quite a bit.

“Wow, it’s really been a long time.”

Although he could have waited for Yona to approach, Rudvik got up from his seat and came towards Yona.

Seeing the Hero do this, the Saint Bigrind seemed to feel she couldn’t just sit there either, so she also got up and followed him.

“It has, Hero. It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Well, rather than being well, I’ve been quite busy. The Saint has been very busy too.”

“Is that so? Still, I’m glad you look well. You haven’t been hurt anywh… I guess you wouldn’t be, with the Saint there.”

As she said this, Yona glanced at Bigrind.

After all, Bigrind, being a Saint, is a priest.

Unlike Yona, Bigrind, coming from a priestly background, doesn’t need to roll around on the frontlines.

Besides, with that tin-head sticking close to her, what could hurt her.

“That’s true. The Saint is so overprotective of me, even for a small scratch—”

“Waaah! No, no! I told you that was a misunderstanding, Hero!”

Bigrind, her face turning bright red, repeatedly jabbed the Hero’s side.

The Hero made a strange sound, “Ugh,” because of this, but the smile didn’t leave his face.

“…Saint, have you been well…”

“Do it like you used to, Yona.”

Bigrind had a nonchalant expression as if nothing had happened.

She had dropped the formal speech first and called her by name, Yona, so Yona also felt there was nothing to hesitate about anymore.

“Alright, Bigri. Looks like you’ve been well too. But your height is still the same?”

“…After not seeing each other for so long, that’s your first words?”

Although Bigrind glared at her with a cold look, Yona wasn’t scared at all.

What’s there to be afraid of from such a tiny thing?

“Come now, don’t be like that. Let’s sit down. It’s okay if we join you, right?”

“Well, I guess…”

It’s not like there was any other choice anyway.

Yona looked alternately at Alec and Kaiyak. Seeing them blink as if it didn’t matter when their eyes met, Yona nodded at Rudvik.

The food was self-service, so you could take a plate stacked on the table at the start, and take as much of whatever food you wanted.

Yona also took a plate and looked around at the well-prepared foods between the tables.

There were many foods she had never seen before, so it was hard to imagine their taste.

Basically, Yona didn’t particularly like seafood, so after avoiding those, the meat dishes were also full of unfamiliar items.

“Try this.”

Before Yona could say anything, three pieces of meat were placed on her plate.

It looked like it had been simmered in seasoning, so she couldn’t tell what animal it was from, and it had reddish powder sprinkled on top, making it look spicy. Along with it were some green vegetables that were probably asparagus, and a few well-grilled corn kernels.

And more than that, the girl visible beyond the plate was Bigrind.

“What, think I gave you something strange? It’s delicious, so try it.”

“…What kind of meat is this?”

“Lamb. It’s made from lamb leg, so try it.”

At those words, Yona closed her mouth.

“And this too. Ah, that. Here.”

Bigrind went ahead, and Yona quietly followed behind.

Each time food was added, Yona’s plate got a little heavier.

“And— …Have you been well?”

After putting a small meat pie on the plate, Bigrind turned around suddenly and asked Yona.

It was abrupt.

It could be called sudden.

Yona was about to ask what that was about, but she closed her mouth.

At least in Bigrind’s eyes looking at Yona, there was no hostility visible at all.

Not like before, years ago—when they first met at the orphanage, those eyes burning with hostility, but now extremely ordinary and normal eyes.

“…I’ve been well. Have you been well too?”

“Just so-so.”

“With the world like this. It would be stranger to be doing well.”

“That’s true.”

The conversation ended there.

Bigrind only got herself a drink, and Yona returned to her seat with a plate full of food.

That was all.

“Did you eat a lot?”

“Ah, I’m full. I really ate my fill.”

“The fish was very well prepared. As expected of the church territory’s chefs.”

It seemed both Alec and Kaiyak had eaten well too.

Yona had also eaten deliciously until her stomach was full, but—

“Isn’t it a bit hot in here?”

Yona asked Alec as she took off the shawl she had been wearing over her nun’s robe and hung it on the chair.

It had been hot for a while, but she thought it might be because there were many people, but now it was strangely hot.

“Here? Hot?”

Alec’s questioning made Yona wonder if she was the strange one.

It’s clearly very hot, extremely hot.

Hot enough to almost break a sweat, am I the only one feeling this way—

Suddenly anxious, Yona looked around.

Everyone else was wearing an extra layer of outerwear over their clothes.

No one else was wearing just a single layer of formal wear like Yona was now.

‘…What’s going on?’

It’s strange.

It’s strange—Yona thought.

-The one who carries on the will of the Celestial God, and guides the path of the Celestine Church——!!

The doorkeeper’s booming shout.

At the same time, the sound of the choir singing hymns grew louder.

The entrance through which Yona and her group had come in seemed to have a double door structure, as larger doors opened wide on both sides, and a thick white carpet unfurled inside beneath them.

-His Holiness Pope Arczel IV is entering——!!

About twenty of the Pope’s personal cathedral knights entered first, lining up to guide the Pope’s path, followed by Pope Arczel IV, whom Yona had met once before, slowly walking in.

His constant stride and steady walking speed, his straight back even while walking, seemed to reveal his spirit.

“Ah, such a grand entrance he makes. Right, Miss Yona?”

Yona turned around as someone tapped her shoulder.

The silver-haired beauty, Ceres, her hair sparkling even more under the banquet hall lights.

She was smiling, lightly raising her hand and gently stroking Yona’s left arm from the shoulder down.