Published: August 3, 2025
During a game of Reversi with the high priest, after finishing paperwork early, I was handed an eavesdropping prevention magic tool with a soft click.
I reached out and gripped the magic tool just as the high priest placed a black piece with a snap.
"Myne, from the next Earth Day, the dedication ceremony will begin."
"Understood."
While glaring at the black piece the high priest had placed and seriously thinking about my next move, he muttered quietly.
"...Take it easy."
"Pardon?"
I couldn’t immediately understand what he meant and looked up at the high priest. He advised me to keep my gaze down so as not to show a foolish expression, then began explaining the amount of mana to be used during the dedication ceremony in one day.
"Be careful not to pour in too much mana. I have informed the head priest that the surplus mana you usually offer is equivalent to about seven or eight minor mana stones. In that case, no matter how hard you try, if it exceeds twenty, you will collapse."
The high priest sighed slowly, muttering, "You probably have some leeway even at twenty..."
"If you show too much mana recklessly, it might make others suspicious, thinking you’ve been hiding it or trying to deceive them. So, for this dedication ceremony, limit the mana you put into the Holy Grail to around twenty minor mana stones. Ideally, by the time you finish, having a slightly unwell look on your face would be even better."
"I don’t particularly mind... but doesn't that basically mean deceiving the head priest?"
I could suppress the mana I dedicate, but to say I’m “trying to deceive” is not just the head priest’s suspicion—it’s effectively the truth.
The high priest twisted his lips into a slight smile at my remark.
"If it’s a fact that you’re deceiving, it’s no longer suspicion, right? Being suspected is frustrating, but if it’s true, you just admit it. Also, it’s better in the long run to hide your full strength than to show it openly. There’s no need to be painfully honest and reveal everything. If there are adversaries, you should always keep tricks and reserves up your sleeve."
"I see..."
I accepted this explanation for now, but imagining the exchange between the head priest and the high priest—“You deceived me!?” “That’s right”—made me think the villain was the high priest.
Earth Day. The day the dedication ceremony begins.
Delia had me bathe from the morning to purify myself. Then I put on the new ceremonial attire.
The blue outfit embroidered with flowing water and flowers in the same colored thread was trimmed with gold. Around my waist was a silver belt. The accessories were in the noble colors of winter—red, the color of the hearth that softens coldness and gives hope.
“Delia, I’ll use the new hairpin today.”
Stopping Delia from taking one out of the closet, I retrieved a package that had just arrived a few days ago from the office desk drawer and handed it to her.
“Geez! Hairpins should not be kept in desk drawers! What if their shape gets ruined!?”
Pouting in frustration, Delia carefully opened the package.
The colors of the hairpin were red and green threads so it could be used for the winter and spring ceremonies. The design was very similar to the previous baptism ceremony hairpin: three large flowers like red roses, with several green small leaves hanging down instead of the little flowers like wisteria.
My family had made this new ceremonial hairpin for me after seeing me sad about the slightly crumpled hairpin during the knights order request. It also helped ease the loneliness of the winter retreat.
“This suits you too, but your hair color was better complemented by the previous hairpin.”
Rosina, who was checking from a bit of a distance, sighed a little disappointedly when I gathered my hair with the new hairpin.
“This hairpin was requested to use noble colors for the winter and spring ceremonies, so it can’t be helped.”
After fixing my hair with the new hairpin, I waited for Darmel to arrive and then moved to the high priest’s room.