Darkness (2)

The relief event was approaching, just a day away.

As the sun had set and darkness descended on this night.

Bigrind was going around the warehouse with Eize, double-checking the supplies.

“You’ve become more saint-like, Bigrind.”

“It’s just that I can think properly now.”

Despite Eize’s sudden remark, Bigrind answered without hesitation.

Now, at last.

Literally, now at last.

It’s late, far too late.

But even though she thought it was late, Bigrind acted according to her own thoughts, believing that she might still be able to turn things around.

And as a result of those thoughts, she was able to meet Yona and make a series of plans with her.

When others acted using her authority, she did nothing.

Looking back, why was that?

Even though she possessed the authority itself, she didn’t think to move on her own while grasping that authority.

Now, at last, she had gained the courage to assert that authority herself.

Bigrind found some comfort in that thought.

“You met her?”

Bigrind nodded at Eize’s words, with the subject ‘Yona’ omitted.

It didn’t matter even if someone overheard.

“So, have you made plans for what comes after?”

“More or less. But even if there’s something I haven’t thought of, I can manage somehow.”

No matter how much the Celestine Church might rage, it’s still a religion under the Celestial God.

The authority of the name ‘Saint’ bestowed directly by the Celestial God himself.

Who in the Celestine Church could possibly oppress Bigrind, who bears that authority?

“That’s right. You’ve thought well. A weapon in hand should be used well. The weapon you possess is the strongest even within the Celestine Church.”

Eize smiled.

“Of course. I can resolve it. The Celestine Church too.”

And of course, Yona as well.

She should be able to set everything right.

Even if it seems impossible, she will make it possible.

Bigrind reassured herself over and over that it was possible, that she could do it.

“Ah, by the way, teacher.”

“Yes?”

“I have a favor to ask you for tomorrow.”

A favor.

What could Bigrind, a Saint, need to ask of Eize, who is merely a priest?

Nothing particularly came to mind at first thought.

“—Please keep a close eye on Ceres, Elder Ceres Olkamine.”

Bigrind had pondered and pondered.

She didn’t specifically think Ceres was suspicious.

There was no sign that would make her seem suspicious, and no particular evidence.

So there was no reason to suspect Ceres.

But wasn’t it Ceres who helped Yona sneak into Evian?

Moreover, it was also Ceres who arranged for Eize to meet with Yona.

But after Eize met with Yona, the Inquisitor came to arrest Eize as if they had been waiting for it.

Fortunately, thanks to Bigrind’s quick wit, the charges that were about to fall on Eize disappeared, but that part felt uneasy.

Perhaps, if Alistein had thought a little more deeply, he wouldn’t have tried to arrest Eize in front of Bigrind.

And if Alistein had moved before Bigrind and Eize met, Eize would have been arrested without a doubt.

The only person who knew about Eize and Yona’s meeting was Ceres.

And Alistein, who seemed to lack such thoughtfulness, was tailing Eize?

Moreover, Ceres didn’t notice the shadow following them while arranging the meeting?

It doesn’t add up.

There’s something that doesn’t feel right.

It was a possibility she didn’t want to consider, but if Ceres had informed Alistein in advance and then arranged for Eize to meet Yona, everything would fit together.

It was truly a possibility she didn’t want to consider, but—

Bigrind couldn’t shake off these thoughts.

“Is everything loaded!?”

Ludvic was shouting as he weaved between the carriages.

Since dawn today, the Evian diocese had been in a state of commotion. Each carriage was loaded full of relief supplies, and fresh food items were brought into the cathedral at dawn, their quantities checked, and immediately transferred to the relief carriages.

From clothing to food items, hygiene products, and even medicines.

Although it was a quarterly relief event, the preparations couldn’t be neglected.

At least for an event where even the bishop of the diocese—one of Evian’s high-ranking officials—was coming, there shouldn’t be any commotion about not being able to give everything due to shortages.

“Is everything ready?”

Povi asked Eize, who was standing next to her.

Eize, the priest, glanced at Ceres standing beside her and then turned his gaze back to Povi.

Although it was Bigrind’s request, looking at Ceres smiling so brightly, he couldn’t think that she might really be planning something strange.

“Everything is ready. All the relief supplies have been loaded, and the quantity checks are all complete.”

“Is that so…”

Povi yawned languidly.

Since becoming a bishop, the number of times she personally presided over prayer meetings had greatly decreased, so it wasn’t too bad, but if that wasn’t the case, getting up every morning would have been a struggle.

Even now, Povi was so fond of morning sleep that she couldn’t remember the last time she had gotten up this early.

“Then you may depart. I’ll catch up after getting a bit more sleep. I’m quite tired from studying the scriptures late into the night these days.”

‘What utter nonsense.’

Eize managed his expression carefully and smiled gently.

It was a smile that seemed somewhat vacant, but fortunately, Povi didn’t seem to notice anything.

“Oh Bishop, studying scriptures late into the night? It would be better if you made up a more fitting lie.”

At Ceres’s words, Eize nodded with a smile.

No matter what, Povi was a bishop, and Eize was a priest under her, so it was a bit difficult to openly agree.

He wasn’t someone who could deal with it as comfortably as Ceres, who casually gossiped about the bishop.

“But it was quite an ordeal, wasn’t it? I never expected the Inquisitor to barge in like that.”

Eize tentatively brought up the topic.

Only after hearing Bigrind’s full explanation of why she made such a request did Eize also think something was strange, something didn’t feel right. So he thought that maybe if he brought it up like this, Ceres might show some confusion—

But that seemed to be just Eize’s misconception.

“Indeed it was. It seems I was tailed due to my carelessness. Wow, aren’t the Inquisitors’ skills amazing?”

Ceres spoke jokingly.

If this was acting, it was truly remarkable skill, and if it wasn’t acting… well, it is what it is.

Eize thought this as he averted his gaze.

The carriages had now left the cathedral and were traveling on the outskirts of Evian.

With more than ten carriages, traveling on the main road that cuts through Evian would have a significant negative impact on traffic.

Thanks to this, they were taking the outer road towards the back alleys.

“By the way, does Bishop Povi usually come late to relief events?”

“I’m afraid so…”

Eize sighed deeply at Ceres’s words.

At the quarterly relief events, Povi literally just showed her face.

Povi was hopelessly pathetic, to the point where one might wonder how she could be so corrupt despite the clear existence of the Celestial God.

Then again, it wasn’t just Povi.

It wasn’t something to blame only Povi for, as most high-ranking clergy became corrupt as if they had never been otherwise.

‘It must be because the Celestial God doesn’t show his presence…’

He appeared far away in Marlen to appoint a Hero, and appeared in Evian to appoint a Saint.

And there, if he had just left a warning, even just to the extent of saying, “I can’t bear to see your corruption, so if you’re going to do that while using my name, don’t do it at all”—it wouldn’t have come to this.

He exists but doesn’t speak, he exists but doesn’t show himself.

He exists but doesn’t punish, he exists but doesn’t answer.

Who would fear such a Celestial God?

Would anyone really fear a god who merely exists?

It could be said that corruption is the natural course in such circumstances.

“Oh, there it is. That’s the place, right?”

His deep contemplation was interrupted by Ceres’s voice.

At the end of Ceres’s finger, who was half-rising from her seat on the driver’s bench, a large open space at the entrance of the back alley was visible.

The carriages that had slowly taken their places in the open space were being unloaded by priests and cathedral knights who were lining up and simultaneously lifting the cover cloths.

The cathedral people started unloading boxes from the carriage compartments filled with boxes.

And around these cathedral people, residents of the back alley began to cautiously approach and take their places.

As if they shouldn’t come any closer, they sat spread out in the open space, keeping a certain distance.

Boxes began to pile up neatly, and according to the letters written on attached cloth pieces, the boxes were also being sorted one by one by category such as clothing, daily necessities, food, hygiene products, and so on.

And the carriage that arrived last.

“Everyone, stand back—!”

Despite being a magic carriage, a carriage with a coachman for the ceremony came to a stop in the middle of the open space.

His command resounded powerfully as if to shake the open space, and a luxurious rug was spread out under the carriage’s footrest.

A cathedral knight wearing golden cloth over silver armor to make it look like a series of priestly robes—Ludvic, who was to play the role of coachman just for today, jumped down.

Due to his stern gaze sweeping around, the back alley residents felt intimidated and instinctively stepped back.

When sufficient distance had been created, Ludvic slowly opened the carriage door.

And from inside that carriage, a brilliant golden radiance burst forth.

Slowly, Bigrind revealed herself.

A saint’s robe that exuded nobility, elegance, dignity, and refinement.

She, whose appearance had changed dramatically from her previous saint’s robe, slowly descended from the carriage.

“We have arrived, Saint.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Hero.”

A brilliant and holy golden radiance.

In that radiance, the red-haired Saint looked around with a gentle smile.

“May the blessing of the Celestial God be with you all. I pray that the grace of the Celestial God will be present at this gathering today, and that your lives may be happy, if only for a moment.”

It was the beginning of the relief event.