Published: September 6, 2025
After the meeting ended, I thought the high priest would immediately return to Ehrenfest, but that wasn’t the case. Together with Justox, he began checking on the progress of the civil officials’ territory competition and started giving instructions to include a new research presentation.
“What kind of research are you adding?”
“It’s a simple study related to the blessing incantation of the Sacred Scripture. Most likely, by the time I return, Professor Hilsure will come asking to know more about the Sacred Scripture, wondering if there’s any material available. At that point, it’ll be necessary to say that it will be presented at the competition to send him away.”
Apparently, he hurriedly shaped the memo I gave him into something resembling research results for future follow-up. It’s impressive how he transformed a messy note filled with scattered thoughts and findings into a presentable research work.
…Truly the mad scientist. Amazing.
The high priest said, “I don’t want to be called repeatedly,” while giving instructions to Hartmut.
“May I take a look?”
The research on the blessing incantations covered parts that even an azure priest could easily see, focusing on water, fire, wind, and earth. Originally, it would have been best to present it at next year’s territory competition, when I would be participating in the civil official course. But since the head priest’s Sacred Scripture couldn’t be shown this time, they selected safe excerpts from the manuscripts.
“But whose research will this be attributed to? It would be natural for me since I’m known to have grown up in the temple, but ordinary nobles don’t enter the temple, and even though these are copies, they rarely get to see the Sacred Scripture.”
“Hartmut, of course. It will also aid his study on the legend of the saint. If we say it’s research he started after becoming Rosemine’s attendant, that explains any roughness or simplicity.”
The quality and quantity fell a little short for senior-level research, but since Hartmut already has his own prepared work, adding this won’t be a problem. The only issue is that others might view him as an eccentric for frequently entering the temple.
“Since I’m already famously known as Lady Rosemine’s follower, it’s no big deal now.”
Hartmut smiled pleasantly, but his words were anything but lighthearted.
“When did you become so famous!?”
“During the long sleep Lady Rosemine took.”
After I performed a blessing while leading Fischpiel at the unveiling, it seems he was already spreading the legend of the saint at the noble academy. The version Hartmut spread was an embellished setting explained by my Foster Father for the nobility.
…No wonder Prince Anastasius looked at me with suspicion when we first met!
“Hartmut wasn’t my attendant back then, was he?”
“My mother said I was overdoing it, to calm down and gather information carefully, so I had to wait a year. But my heart was already that of an attendant.”
…Wow! Even before becoming an attendant, he was practically a subject. His words sound similar to Roderich’s, yet they come across so differently! Otilier, your son doesn’t seem to settle down no matter how many years pass!
After giving instructions to the civil official apprentices about the territory competition, the high priest gathered the lord candidates and their attendants for a strategy meeting regarding my participation in the tea party.
…If only I could just read in my room, I’d be fine, but apparently, that’s not allowed. Tch.
Since Richarda was eager to give me a normal noble life by letting me out of my room, and Brynhildr was excited to spread trends together with her master, I had no choice but to attend at least the minimum required tea parties.
“But at these tea parties, Ehrenfest’s books are usually the topic, right? I’m not confident I won’t faint.”
I expressed to the high priest my reluctance to attend as much as possible. He handed me a necklace strung with several fairly large mana stones.