Chapter 21
A few days passed.
Clael and Reina spent their final moments together.
They went around greeting townspeople, visited places full of memories, and spent entire days doing nothing but chatting idly at the shrine.
While they were doing that, an escort arrived from the Grand Shrine in the royal capital.
A white, majestic carriage engraved with the shrine's crest. From the luxurious carriage—one that seemed fit for royalty—stepped out the same cardinal they had met a few days ago.
"We have come to escort you, Saint."
The cardinal knelt and bowed respectfully.
Surrounding the carriage were Temple Knights who had dismounted from their white horses, and they too bowed their heads toward Reina.
Additionally, townspeople who had heard in advance that Reina would be going to the royal capital as the Saint had gathered, dabbing their eyes with handkerchiefs as they saw her off.
"Thank you for coming all the way from the royal capital."
Dressed in a brand-new white robe, Reina spoke in a calm tone.
Faced with the extravagant escort of the cardinal and Temple Knights, she showed no signs of fear.
Her dignified presence exuded the very aura of a Saint, and those around her let out sighs of admiration.
"......Such gracious words. Thank you, Saint."
The cardinal spoke without raising his head.
Reina nodded and called out, "Raise your head."
"To be able to welcome the Saint like this is the greatest honor...!"
The cardinal, having raised his head, attempted a formal greeting but choked on his words midway.
Looking up at Reina... clad in a pure white dress, she looked like an angel descended from the heavens.
The outfit, designed by Oratorio for this very day, further accentuated her mystical beauty.
"A-a goddess..."
Forgetting his formal greeting, the cardinal murmured involuntarily.
Though it could be seen as rude behavior, Reina paid it no mind, brushing off her dress hem and turning around.
"Everyone, thank you so much for everything until now."
She addressed the townspeople with a voice like the ringing of a blessing bell.
Every person present turned their eyes toward Reina.
"The reason I've been able to live this far is because of your kindness. I will never forget your generosity."
"Reina-chan... You've grown up so well..."
"Hic, sob... Don't say such sad things..."
Mrs. Lottel dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, while Oratorio twisted his muscular body and bawled.
"May blessings be upon this town."
When Reina raised her right hand, a gentle light fell from the sky like snow.
The light was absorbed by people, the ground, and buildings, enveloping the entire town in a soft blessing.
"Oh...!"
"It's a miracle...!"
"How beautiful, it's wonderful...!"
The cardinal and Temple Knights voiced their admiration, and the townspeople were mesmerized by the particles of light being absorbed into their bodies.
"And... Clael."
"......Yes."
Reina looked up at Clael.
Emerald-like eyes, silver hair. She looked like a completely different person from the ragged girl he had first met.
"Who I am now is thanks to you. Truly, truly, thank you for everything."
"......Yes."
"May I ask you to kneel?"
"............"
As requested, Clael knelt on one knee.
Reina gave a gentle, embracing smile and softly placed her hand on Clael's head.
"May blessings be upon you."
Then... Reina pressed her lips gently to Clael's forehead.
A small kiss sound echoed, and she pulled away with visible reluctance.
"......I will definitely come back. Please wait for me."
"............Take care of yourself."
In voices only they could hear, Reina and Clael exchanged words and parted.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Y-Yes! Please, take my hand...!"
The cardinal, who had been entranced by the fantastical sight, hurriedly held out his hand to Reina and helped her into the carriage.
"Then... please excuse us."
The cardinal bowed to Clael and the townspeople before boarding the same carriage.
The Temple Knights loaded luggage and spare clothes into another carriage, and the group set off.
"The Saint is departing!"
The sound of trumpets echoed, and the carriage began to move.
Dozens of Temple Knights rode their horses, surrounding the carriage as they followed.
"......Goodbye, Reina."
"......Was this really the right thing?"
Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Clael's friend Roywood spoke to him.
"Aren't you really feeling lonely? Was it really okay to let her go to the royal capital?"
"......Of course I'm lonely. But it couldn't be helped, right?"
Reina is the Saint.
Sooner or later, the Grand Shrine would have realized her existence and come to retrieve her.
Besides, there was no way he could let his own selfishness keep Reina in a rural shrine and crush her potential.
"......Just because we're like family doesn't mean we can be together forever. This was the right thing."
"............"
Clael spoke as if convincing himself.
Roywood silently patted his friend's back.
After seeing Reina off, Clael returned to the shrine he had grown so used to.
Without Reina, the place felt strangely empty and hollow.
(Living alone starting today... I'm getting old, maybe it's time I look for a wife?)
Clael was reaching the age where marriage was on his mind.
Now that he felt so lonely, maybe it was time to seriously start looking.
He opened the door with a wry smile and stepped into the chapel.
"......I've returned."
'Kuma kuma'
"........................Eh?"
To the greeting no one was supposed to hear, a reply came back.
A bear plushie sat on a chapel bench, raising its paw as if to say "yo."
"H-Huh... huh!? You didn't go!?"
'Kuma kuma. Kuma—'
The bear plushie... the Holy Spirit residing within it explained through body language.
Its job was guarding the home.
The others were protecting Reina.
"I see, I see... Being able to communicate with a plushie is kind of creepy...!"
'Kuma—!'
At Clael's words, the bear plushie—named 'Urzus' by Reina—raised both paws in protest.
Reina may have left, but that didn't mean Clael would be living completely alone.
It seemed he was about to start a life with a strange roommate.
(A single man living with a doll... That might be even lonelier than living alone. Is it just my imagination...?)
Would there really be a woman who'd marry a guy like that?
Clael, enduring a headache, began pondering his future life.