Published: September 6, 2025
“Lady Rosemine, from which gods did you receive their blessing?”
Roderich cheerfully took out his writing board and looked at me, but I wasn’t sure if what I wanted to say would fit on it. Besides, I didn’t want the attention of those around us. I saw Filine, who had been concentrating hard, suddenly lift her head and pull out her own writing board, and I shook my head.
“If both Roderich and Filine have memorized the prayers, then go ahead and perform the rite.”
“Not yet,” Roderich replied.
“Didn't I tell you to focus on yourselves? I will be studying the theory lessons starting tomorrow.”
Since I couldn’t leave unless Richarda and the Guard Knights came to escort me, I decided to study while waiting for everyone else's ceremonies to finish.
It’s said that receiving a blessing makes a difference in the mana consumption when using magic. I was a little tempted to try it out, but since everyone was still working hard to memorize the prayers, I couldn’t use magic now. It would disrupt the class.
“I’ve memorized it. I’m going now.”
“Brother Wilfried, do you have a healing potion?”
“Yeah.”
With a clatter, Wilfried stood up and was the next to head to the rite after me. Since he had been chanting prayers during mana replenishment, he apparently learned the prayers quickly. I watched as he and Hilsure, both tense, entered the innermost chamber.
With the second person from Ehrenfest going in, it seemed the other students from different territories became a bit more serious.
“I did it, Rosemine!”
After a while, Wilfried came out of the innermost chamber with a beaming smile. He looked like he was trying his best not to run, but still walked quite quickly.
“I received the blessings of twelve gods in total. Even Teacher Hilsure was surprised.”
“Twelve gods, you say?”
“That’s quite a lot of blessings from retainers, Wilfried.”
Whispers started to ripple around. Wilfried is of six attributes, and unlike Angelica, he doesn’t make mistakes with the names of the gods. I thought it natural he would receive some blessings, but twelve gods’ blessings seemed surprisingly many to those around.
“Rosemine, how about you? Did you receive blessings from many retainers?”
...It’s hard to say I received blessings from about forty gods, isn’t it? I kept quiet.
There was no need to deflate happy Wilfried, nor drop a bomb in the midst of the murmurs over twelve. I followed Angelica’s example and smiled to cover it up, tilting my head.
“Indeed, I also received blessings from multiple retainers, but is that really so unusual? It was written in the textbooks and reference books, and we are supposed to memorize all the retainers’ names. In fact, both Brother Wilfried and I have blessings from multiple retainers. Isn’t it normal to receive blessings from several?”
Since two have finished the blessing rite and both had multiple blessings, I thought it was not unusual at all. Hannelore gave a somewhat troubled smile at my words.
“Normally, you receive blessings matching the number of your aptitudes, Lady Rosemine. Receiving blessings exceeding your number of aptitudes greatly depends on your past conduct. It’s not uncommon for knight apprentices or Dunkelfelger students to receive multiple blessings from the Fire retainers, but for a lord candidate like Lord Wilfried, who is not specialized in valor, to receive blessings from multiple retainers is rare and very commendable.”
...So Dunkelfelger students often receive blessings from battle-oriented retainers. That makes sense.
I’d heard that Clarissa, a civil official, also has high combat ability. That’s Dunkelfelger for you. Maybe Hannelore will also receive blessings from battle retainers.
“Is there anyone else who wants to try next?”
“I’ll go.”
“Hilsure, your turn. If it’s Ortwin, I’ll enter the inner chamber.”
Ortwin and Gundolf went into the innermost chamber. Since Wilfried and I both received blessings from multiple retainers, they went in with bright expectant eyes, but it seemed they only received blessings matching their number of aptitudes. They returned with slightly disappointed expressions.