Chapter 119
The Royal Academy offers a variety of classes, and one of them... 'Theology' is an elective.
It's a subject mainly taken by humans aspiring to become priests or Temple Knights, and the classes are held in the sanctuary within the academy.
"This is the academy's sanctuary... though, Lord Clael, you're already familiar with it, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am a graduate... This place brings back memories. It hasn't changed a bit since I was a student..."
The sanctuary has long tables and chairs lined up, and at the altar in the back stands a statue of the goddess.
For Clael, it was a room he visited almost daily during his student days—a place filled with cherished memories of his youth.
"When I was a student, a seventy-year-old priest was teaching here... Seems like someone else has taken over without me noticing?"
"Yes. When I enrolled, a sister named Mary had taken the teaching position. Recently, she reunited with a childhood friend she was separated from due to the war and retired. Apparently, their parents wouldn't approve of the marriage, so they eloped to another country hand in hand."
"W-Wow, she quit under some pretty dramatic circumstances..."
Even a female teacher who was just a nameless background character without a name or alternate illustration in the game seemed to have a life of her own.
(Hmm... No, wait. That kind of retirement due to marriage wasn't in the game, was it?)
In other words... does that mean the game's scenario has changed?
It's a phenomenon known as the butterfly effect.
Reina's changed life might be causing ripples even in places like this.
"Ah, the organ is still here too. Just like it was back in my student days."
In a corner of the sanctuary sat an antique organ.
When he tried pressing the keys, a deep, resonant sound echoed.
"Yeah... that's a beautiful tone. I'm glad to see it's been well maintained."
"Come to think of it... Lord Clael, you were very good at the organ, weren't you? I really love your playing."
"Hahaha, it seems that was the one thing I had talent for... Reina, on the other hand, never improved at all."
Clael gave a wry smile.
There was also an organ at the shrine in Eggbell. It was a cheap one, incomparable to the one here.
He had tried giving Reina some basic instruction so she could use it for playing Hymns, but in the end, she remained terrible at it with no sign of improvement.
Reina, who was perfect in both looks and academics, seemed to be a paragon of beauty and intellect... but it appeared god had not granted her any musical talent.
(Well, maybe that kind of flaw is part of Reina's charm. It's more endearing than someone who can do everything.)
"Aww... Lord Clael, you're being mean..."
Reina pouted and turned sulky.
Even as she turned her face away in a sulky manner, she kept casting glances his way—an action that was utterly adorable.
Even if she had done it on purpose, she couldn't have looked this cute.
"...You're really shameless, you know. That's cheating."
"Oh, Lord Clael. If you don't mind, could you play something for me?"
"Sure, I don't mind. Do you have a song you'd like to hear?"
"That one song, please. Was it 'Canon'? The one you're really good at."
"Ah, that one."
Pachelbel's Canon.
It wasn't something he learned in this world, but a piece he had studied in his previous life.
He had played not only the Hymns of this world for Reina, but also classics from the other world like Schubert and Beethoven.
(To think the songs my parents made me learn as a kid would come in handy someday... You never know what will be useful.)
This world also had instruments and music, of course, but they weren't as refined as in modern Japan. It was still in a developmental stage.
He might have become a renowned musician using his knowledge from his past life... but presenting someone else's composition as his own felt wrong.
"Alright, I'll play then. If you don't mind, I'd love to hear your singing too, Reina."
"Yes, I'd be happy to."
While Reina was terrible at playing instruments, she was actually a good singer.
Clael played the organ with a light touch, and Reina made up lyrics on the spot and sang along.
For Clael, this was his second time living school life at the academy.
That morning, marking the start of a new chapter, began with a private concert for just the two of them.