Chapter 66
On a hilltop bathed in the light of the setting sun.
Clael had been just moments away from kissing Reina... but was snapped back to reality by the sudden appearance of four capture targets.
Pulled back from the romantic atmosphere, what followed was confusion.
"Why are they here...?"
Standing before him were four handsome young men.
They were the main capture targets in the game—men most likely to fall in love with Reina.
(That they came to this beach... well, it's not so strange. It's within expectations.)
In the game's scenario, Reina is invited by them to come to this beach.
If her affection level hasn't reached the threshold, she comes here with her girlfriends and happens to run into the four capture targets.
So it wasn't strange at all that he was here.
(But... why did these guys come up to a sunset-viewing hilltop as a group of four dudes?)
Normally, Reina (the player) would choose one of them to come here with.
He never imagined they'd come up here as just guys.
(Is it coincidence, boredom, or the force of the narrative... Either way, showing up at a lovers' spot as a group of guys feels incredibly sad...)
"Reina, what are you doing here?"
Ignoring the confused Clael, one of the capture targets... the refreshing prince-type Eric, spoke to Reina.
"You two looked awfully close... Don't tell me you were being hit on? If you plan to do anything improper to my friend, I won't show mercy...!"
Eric glared at Clael.
Even a handsome guy's angry face has impact... That was the random thought that popped into Clael's head upon meeting a capture target for the first time.
"............Haa."
Reina let out a long sigh.
Just moments ago, she had a sensual kiss-ready expression, but now she wore a cold look she rarely showed Clael.
However, when she noticed Clael's gaze, she quickly returned to her usual gentle saintly expression.
"This man is my family. He took me in when I was living like an orphan and raised me in the shrine. He's a priest."
"Family...? You didn't look that distant, though?"
"You're mistaken."
Reina stated flatly.
Her expression was calm, but her tone was completely curt.
Just from Reina's attitude, it was clear that Eric's affection level wasn't very high.
(No... it seems the Crown Prince does care about Reina to some extent. Maybe it's Reina's side that has the low affection level...?)
Before enrolling at the academy, Clael had told Reina to avoid entering the Crown Prince's route.
Because if she entered Eric the Crown Prince's route, her stepsister Carrot would fall to darkness, causing catastrophic damage.
(So she's following my advice... Yeah, Reina really is a good girl!)
"......You must be the rumored Priest Clael?"
Eric shifted the conversation from Reina to Clael.
His tone was rougher than when he spoke to Reina.
"I don't know about rumors, but I am Clael Byrne. Your Highness, Crown Prince Eric."
"So you knew about me... That's right, you're the fifth son of the Byrne Marquis family. People in the royal capital talk about you a lot."
Eric glared at Clael as he said that.
"The young priest who discovered Saint Reina. A devout man who rejected promotion at the Grand Shrine and chose to dedicate himself to faith in the frontier. There's even talk of naming you the guardian saint of 'child-rearing' soon..."
"That's quite the overestimation."
Who the hell is the guardian saint of child-rearing?
He had no intention of discussing gender roles... but shouldn't that kind of holy motherly role go to someone pure and maternal?
"Whoa, this guy's Reina's foster parent? He's so young!"
"That's surprising. I thought it'd be someone older."
The other capture targets spoke up from behind Eric.
It was the arrogant handsome Vincent and the scheming intellectual type Will.
"Probably just comforting her because she felt sick or something. Don't press him too hard, Eric. You're scaring the priest."
"I don't think someone who raised Reina would try anything with a child."
"Mmm..."
Chided by the two, Eric lowered his eyebrows.
In the game, Vincent and Will both came off selfish at first, but grew through interacting with Reina.
Seeing them cover for Eric, they now seemed fairly mature.
(......So does that mean Reina is heading toward Vincent's route or Will's? No, there's still one more main capture target...)
"Reina sis! What a coincidence, meeting you here!"
The last of the main capture targets... the younger-brother type pretty boy Luei Biscuit called out cheerfully and ran toward Reina.
"That swimsuit looks amazing on you! So pure yet sexy—Reina sis, you look so............Gah!"
Luei tried to hug Reina, who was wearing a swimsuit with a hoodie over it, but something flew in at a speed too fast to see.
Clael's dynamic vision couldn't catch it, but whatever it was, it struck Luei's cheek with a fierce blow, sending his small body flying.
"W-Wait, Luei!?"
Eric shouted.
Luei, having been punched, rolled away... and disappeared over the cliff edge of the hilltop.
Eric rushed to the cliff in a panic and found Luei caught in a tree below, unconscious with swirly eyes.
"T-This is bad... We need to pull him up, fast!"
"Jeez... What a handful."
"I'll go get help, so please wait here!"
The other three capture targets scrambled to rescue Luei in a panic.
Clael was left behind, glancing around uncertainly, unsure what to do.
"Um..."
"Master Clael, shall we return to the hotel?"
"N-No, but we can't just leave him..."
"Even if we stay here, there's nothing we can do. We'd just be in the way, so let's head back."
Reina gently but firmly stated.
Indeed, there was nothing Clael could do here.
People would likely gather soon... and the best he could do was clear the area so he wouldn't be in the way.
"Th-Then, shall we head back...?"
"Yes, let's go."
Just like when they had climbed the hill, Reina took Clael's hand.
Watching his step, Clael escorted Reina as they descended the stairs.