Published: September 10, 2025
This is Satou. When I hear "high-dimensional world," the only thing that comes to mind is interstellar jump navigation (warp), reflecting the limits of my scientific knowledge. A long time ago, a sci-fi enthusiast friend taught me various things, but I never quite fully understood them.
â—‡
"Master, I wish you good fortune in battle."
Nana, striking a sharp pose, said this as she left the Duke's Capital villa carrying a heavy load.
She was probably going to visit the orphanage in the Duke's Capital and the children of the Seal Tribe.
"Then, let's go as well."
Sera, holding onto my arm, headed toward the main gate.
This newly purchased villa had the Tenion Temple right behind it.
So technically, it would be faster to leave through the back entrance, but Sera insisted that maintaining appearances as a noble was more important than time efficiency. So, we decided to take the carriage from the main gate.
"His Excellency Pendragon, this way, please."
After a commotion at the entrance of the Tenion Temple where we arrived, the current chief shrine maiden guided us to a room where Lily, the former chief shrine maiden who was still a young girl, was waiting.
At the entrance bordering the sanctuary, we parted ways with the current chief shrine maiden and proceeded further into the room alone, just Sera and me.
"Welcome, Nameless. Or should I call you Satou?"
"When in this form, please call me Satou."
Even as a young girl, the atmosphere of the chief shrine maiden—Lily—remained unchanged.
Lily smiled softly, and I returned her smile.
Perhaps due to her holy motherly aura, I naturally felt relaxed whenever I was with her.
"Satou! How long are you two going to keep staring at each other?"
Sera cut between me and the former chief shrine maiden and scolded, "Have you forgotten your purpose?"
Before she interrupted, she had muttered in a somewhat sulky tone, "It's unfair to communicate just through eye contact," but I pretended not to hear that.
"Hehe, Sera, are you jealous?"
"Th-that's not true!"
Sera turned her face away like a child in response to Lily's teasing.
Having been raised under Lily since childhood, Sera probably regards her as a mother figure.
"Were they called the Bridal Knights? I heard from Sera that you formed a private knight order."
"Yes, because more and more people have been trying to forcibly recruit companions."
"Oh? I heard it was a knight order gathering prospective brides—"
"That's a misunderstanding."
I had to correct that mistake.
"I see. If shrine maiden apprentices can join, I would have liked to join too."
"Lily-sama would be most welcome."
"Really? That makes me very happy."
Lily clapped her hands like a child in joy.
I overheard her quietly mutter, "It's a pity you're not a bride," thanks to my eavesdropping skill.
When our eyes met, she shyly stuck out her tongue and laughed. Apparently, that was just a joke earlier.
â—‡
"Such a convenient magic you have. But I suppose it was disappointing for you, Sera?"
"N-no, not at all!"
After hearing about the mental magic I created myself—Mind Connection Advance—to avoid the ceremony of embracing each other naked, Lily was impressed and then teased Sera.
Sera's face turned bright red as she denied it, slightly disappointed—"Really, it's not like that!"—but she didn't say much more.
"Is that so? Then let's proceed with the ceremony fully clothed."
A few of the shrine maidens around seemed to be just as downhearted as Sera, but that was probably just my imagination.
After changing into the white ceremonial robe for the ceremony and receiving the sacred mark transference, we began a slightly simplified ritual.
"—God."
Through the telepathic skill, I heard Sera’s inner voice calling out.
In other temples, the call was made aloud, so this must be unique to the Tenion Temple, calling silently in the mind.
"Great God who watches over us."
Responding to Sera's call, a serene light descended from the sky.
Last time, probably because I wasn’t used to the power of the gods, it looked like just plain white light, but this time I could see faint green mixed in. That must be God Tenion’s unique color.