Published: August 3, 2025
The harvest festival season had ended, and it seemed that the azure priests had returned to the temple. I hadn’t seen any of the azure priests myself, but at the orphanage, the divine blessing noticeably increased, making it quite apparent.
The high priest had been dispatched to a nearby village, so he returned relatively early. Because of that, my assistance duties resumed, and after the third bell, I was once again allowed into the high priest’s room.
“High Priest, the calculations are finished.”
As usual, I was diligently working on the calculations assigned to me by the high priest today. Just as I reached a good stopping point and looked up, I saw a white bird flying straight toward the window.
“Ah!?”
I instinctively raised my voice, thinking it would crash, but the white bird effortlessly passed through the glass. It then circled once inside the room and fluttered down on the high priest’s desk, neatly folding its wings.
“Wah!?”
Unlike me, whose eyes widened in surprise, the high priest’s attendants around him seemed to know what the bird was. They tensed up and stared intently at it.
“Myne, be quiet,” the high priest scolded me as he reached out to touch the bird.
Suddenly, a man’s voice echoed from the bird’s beak.
“Ferdinand, there has been a request from the knights order. Prepare to depart immediately.”
The same message repeated three times, and then the bird’s form vanished, leaving a yellow stone rolling on the desk.
The high priest pulled out a glowing baton-like rod from somewhere and muttered something under his breath as he lightly tapped the stone on the table. The stone bent and grew in size, then transformed back into the shape of a bird.
“Understood.”
Saying this to the bird, the high priest flicked the baton, and the bird took off, flying right through the glass as it had when it came in.
…Wow! Fantasy!
I was excited by the magical phenomenon the high priest had just performed right before my eyes, but he glared at me sharply. I noticed the attendants who had been quietly working suddenly bustling about, tidying up and preparing for what was next.
“Myne, don’t daydream! It’s a request from the knights order. Change into the ceremonial attire and come to the Noble Gate.”
“Yes!”
Startled by the high priest’s stern tone, I answered energetically, but I didn’t even know where the Noble Gate was.
“...Um, where exactly is the Noble Gate?”
“I know where it is,” Fran said, bowing to the high priest before picking me up and quickly leaving the high priest’s room. She strode swiftly, crossing the corridor in large steps.
“Myne-sama, do you still remember the prayers for the ceremony?”
“Yes.”
“This is a request from the knights order. Please prepare to depart as soon as we return to your room.”
Clinging to Fran’s shoulder, I nodded solemnly.
Fran hurried back to the room and, as soon as she opened the door, she called out in a voice louder than usual.
“Delia, prepare the ceremonial attire immediately!”
“Yes!”
Even as she gave the order, Fran didn’t stop—she hurried up the stairs quickly.
“Delia, Rosina, please prepare quickly!”
When we reached the second floor, Fran gently set me down and immediately turned her back, descending swiftly.
Delia rushed over with the ceremonial attire in hand, placing it on the table before swiftly pulling off the blue robes I was wearing.
“Wah!?”
“Hey! Stay still, please!” Delia snapped with a harsher tone than usual as I stumbled slightly.
While I was overwhelmed by their energy, the ceremonial outfit was suddenly draped over me. As I slipped my arms into the sleeves, Rosina brought over an obi and began to tie it.
Delia fetched a long, yellowish sash-like cloth and handed it to Rosina, who wrapped it over the obi, tying it decoratively.
…Such a great team effort.
Just as Rosina finished tidying the obi, Delia smoothly pulled out a hairpin. Before my hair could even fall from it, Rosina slipped her hand under my arm and made me sit in a chair.