Chapter 32 - Apostle of Love

In the garden outside her quarters, Renée sat on a bench in a sunny spot, absorbed in practicing the sacred arts.

She was working on elemental arts, the least difficult branch of spellcraft. Her physical limitations prevented her from learning combat arts, while spellcraft arrays required a theoretical understanding she had yet to acquire. She had arrived at this choice by elimination.

"Phew..."

A long breath escaped her lips. She inhaled again, released the divine energy within her, and gathered it above her hands. Then, concentrating her thoughts, she began to change its form.

The foundation of elemental arts was giving physical form to an image in the mind.

'Fire.'

Not an overly hot fire, but the warm fire she had warmed herself by when they camped on their journey. That was what she needed to imagine.

It would flare and flicker, its shape shifting. It would be red, like the sunset. If she brought it close, it would carry warmth to her skin.

Unable to see it, she could not be certain. Still, drawing on memories from when she had her sight, Renée pictured a shape as close to it as possible, then began molding her divine energy to realize that image.

WHOOSH

The sound came as she drew out her divine energy and refined its shape.

CRACK

There was the sound of firewood popping, too. It was probably a result of creating it with a campfire in mind.

Renée kept molding and refining the fire. After wrestling with her divine energy for some time, she realized there was nothing left to refine and asked Bera,

"Sir Knight, how is it?"

"You have succeeded splendidly."

"Hehe, what a relief."

A bright smile bloomed on her lips at his answer.

Bera gazed at that smile, then looked back at the fire she had manifested above her hands and continued.

"The fire has a strong scarlet hue. Beneath it are several long sticks that appear to be firewood, and the heat..."

As he spoke, he held his hand over the fire.

"...is a little warmer than body temperature. A campfire, correct?"

"Oh, yes! I remembered the one we lit on our way to the Holy Empire."

"You have reproduced it wonderfully. It is so well formed that one would never imagine you created it without seeing the real thing."

It was no empty compliment. The campfire floating above her palms was so intricate that he could easily have believed she had made it while looking at one.

"Imagination is more important than anything else when giving form to an art. You have a talent for elemental arts, Saintess."

"W-well, it's embarrassing when you praise me so much..."

"I mean it. I cannot create things this way."

"You can't, Sir Knight?"

"No. That is why I am poor at elemental arts."

That was why Bera had chosen to delve into spellcraft arrays among the sacred arts. It was a field with ample room for improvement through aptitude, experience, and knowledge. He had judged that it could compensate for his meager imagination.

Bera was not a man who invested in things with little prospect of success.

Renée gave a small nod of understanding, then continued with a sheepish smile.

"Hmm. It's strange to hear there are things even you can't do, Sir Knight."

"I am human as well. It is only natural."

"Still... you feel like someone who can do anything."

"You honor me."

"It's 'you honor me' this time? Oh, and don't answer with 'my apologies' or 'forgive me,' either. Try something else."

Bera pressed his lips firmly shut.

Renée giggled at how he immediately fell silent to avoid answering, then spoke again.

"I'm joking."

"Forgive—"

"Still not allowed."

Her firm refusal left Bera feeling increasingly at a loss. Whenever she teased him like this, he struggled to find anything to say.

After a little over a month, Renée had almost finished adjusting to life in the Holy Empire and was gradually beginning to show the playful side she had displayed in her village.

It was a great relief, yet Bera could not shake the thought that the people of the Holy Empire might be responsible for this playfulness. The worry ate away at him every day.

Of course, that concern was entirely subjective and far removed from the truth.

Renée's behavior was her own attempt to calm a heart that would run wild unless she did something like this. Frustrated with herself for becoming flustered every time she spoke to Bera, she had devised this desperate solution.

But perhaps even that had its limits.

As silence settled over them, Renée felt that restless sensation inside her again. She quickly racked her brain and pieced together something to say.

"C-come to think of it, the Grand Temple has been rather busy. Is something happening?"

"Ah, it is probably because the apostle of love has returned to the Holy Empire for a short visit."

"The apostle of love?"

"Yes. The long-term assignment is now in its fifth year. I hear the apostle has come back to rest briefly before leaving again."

"Oh..."

Renée nodded at his explanation, then felt her curiosity growing and asked another question.

"What is the apostle of love like?"

"I do not know either. We have never met."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. The apostle had already left on assignment when I devoted myself to the Holy Empire, so this will be our first meeting as well."

"That sounds like a very busy person."

Renée hummed thoughtfully after saying that, then asked another question. The mention of assignments had brought someone to mind.

"Come to think of it, doesn't Rohan go on assignments?"

She occasionally ran into Rohan—a man who was always cheerful and boisterous. She had heard he was sent out more often than anyone else, yet since arriving in the Holy Empire, she had never once heard that he was going anywhere.

"He is under orders to remain on standby for now. Since you have only recently arrived, Saintess, it is best for the apostles to stay by your side as much as possible. That is also why the apostle of love is making time to visit."

"Oh..."

For some reason, his words made Renée feel awkward. She lowered her head a little and continued.

"I feel bad. Everyone's going to all this trouble because of me..."

"There is no need to worry. I cannot speak for the others, but that man Rohan is too busy going out and enjoying himself to spare you a thought."

"Oh."

Understanding appeared on Renée's face. Seeing it, Bera continued his train of thought.

It was the truth, without a trace of exaggeration. Since being placed on indefinite standby, Rohan had become an utter wastrel, spending his days indulging himself in a city near the Holy Empire.

He always returned to the Holy Empire at sunrise, staggering and soaked in drink.

For Bera, it was welcome that the man he was most wary of was wandering about elsewhere like that. But the more pathetic Rohan became, the more often Bargo sighed.

"Nothing good comes of getting close to that man."

This time, Renée could not bring herself to contradict him.

"Well... um, yes."

Her head dipped in agreement. Even she thought Rohan's habits needed a great deal of improvement.

"Let us go inside now. It is nearly mealtime."

"Oh, yes."

Renée gave a small start as Bera's hand settled over hers, then rose.

They walked slowly. As always, Bera matched her unhurried pace so that she would not have to strain herself.

For some reason, the way he adjusted his steps to hers pleased Renée, bringing a faint smile to her lips. Then a question suddenly arose in her mind.

'Come to think of it...'

Bera would soon be an adult, too. Eighteen exactly. She had heard he was born in winter, so this winter he would be old enough to enjoy nightlife legally.

In other words, in four months, he could start going out drinking as well.

At that thought, Renée's entire body went rigid.

"Saintess?"

Bera called to her, but her mind was too tangled with thoughts and the worries that followed to answer.

'What if...'

What if Bera followed Rohan to the entertainment district? What if he drank all night there, and...

'W-women, too...!'

...met women?

Renée's movements became stiff and jerky, like a wooden doll's.

"Saintess?"

At his second call, Renée jumped in surprise and blurted out in a rigid voice,

"Yes!"

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"N-no!"

With that reply, she tapped her cane against the ground and resumed walking.

Bera said nothing further. He simply walked on, holding her hand.

In that quiet atmosphere, with fantasies endlessly rising in her mind, Renée suddenly spoke.

"Sir Knight."

"Yes."

"Um... do you like drinking?"

Immediately after asking, Renée reconsidered her own words and suddenly realized her mistake.

Bera was still a minor. He would never even have tasted alcohol.

Yet she had forgotten that and asked a question so stupid she could hardly bear to hear it. What was she doing? As self-reproach welled up and she squeezed her eyes shut—

"I do enjoy it to a degree."

That was the answer she received. Naturally, a bewildered response slipped from her lips.

"... What?"

"I have not had any since coming to the Holy Empire, but before that I enjoyed it from time to time. Particularly on sleepless nights. There was no better sleeping draught."

Bera had answered while recalling his previous life. He had also answered without remembering that he was currently a minor.

Of course, Renée knew none of that. To her, it sounded like he was saying, 'I lived in a drunken stupor until I was fourteen.' Naturally, her expression stiffened.

"... I see."

"Yes. Hmm... speaking of it makes me want a drink again."

Renée's fingertips twitched. This time, the tremor was strong enough for Bera to notice.

"Saintess?"

"No, no. It's nothing..."

Good heavens. Bewilderment filled her. Only now had she discovered the truth.

'A j-juvenile delinquent...'

Those terrifying people who supposedly existed only in big cities. Bera was one of those juvenile delinquents.

Her heart felt as though it were sinking, thud by thud. She felt she had learned something she should never have known.

Of course, whether Bera liked drinking or met women had nothing to do with her! But still! The thought made her feel as though her insides were turning upside down.

Her grip on Bera's hand tightened.

"Um... Sir Knight?"

"Yes, please go ahead."

"Drinking... isn't good for you..."

For some reason, she felt downcast, and it showed in her voice. Bera tilted his head at her words, then replied.

"Indeed. If you spend your life soaked in drink, you will end up like Rohan. One must always guard against that."

Renée's face brightened at once. First she was miserable, then happy. Such ceaseless emotional ups and downs ought to have exhausted her, yet she answered Bera with all the joy of her sudden good cheer.

"Right?"

"Yes. But why are you suddenly asking about drinking?"

"Hm? Oh, n-no reason!"

Her cane tapped the ground. With a beaming face, Renée walked on.

Watching Renée smile and laugh, Bera had a thought.

'Does she want to drink?'

Wasn't it too early for Renée, who was only fourteen? As that thought crossed his mind, another followed.

'... No. It is possible.'

Remembering that she was just at the age when adolescence began, he nodded slightly in understanding.

Wasn't this the age when one wanted so badly to seem grown-up? It was perfectly natural for a girl her age to be curious.

Bera pondered the matter.

Should he bring her alcohol because she wanted it? Or should he scold her instead?

He considered it for a long time, his expression growing stern, before finally shaking his head to dispel those thoughts.

'It is her decision to make.'

All he needed to do was follow the direction Renée wished to take.