Farewell to the hero! chapter 75

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The Pope shrugged at Owen’s bitter remarks, seemingly unwilling to curb his disdain for the Kingdom of Hadelver.

His faint smile disappeared behind his teacup.

“Still, as God’s representatives, we must extend love.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

Owen nodded indifferently, clearly not taking the advice to heart.

I listened to their cryptic conversation, my eyes darting nervously.

Back when we hunted the Great Calamity, I never would’ve guessed Owen harbored such resentment toward Hadelver.

Now, hearing even the supposedly neutral Pope speak like this only heightened my unease.

Piecing together what Owen had told Sehhir with the current discussion, it was clear something troubling was brewing.

Since I hadn’t noticed any signs during my stay in the capital, it must’ve been a recent development.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t escalate into anything major.

As I absentmindedly toyed with the teacup handle, the Pope shifted his focus back to me with a serene smile.

The chirping of birds filled the pause.

“Now then, Isa.”

“……”

“I hope you’ll settle in well here.”

His words signaled the end of our meeting. I blinked slowly, half-expecting more, but it seemed that was all.

Watching the Pope finish his tea, I eventually managed to respond with a quiet, “Yes.”

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After leaving the Pope’s chamber, Owen led me to the rear of the building.

According to his explanation, the grand structure contained the prayer room, reception hall, and auditorium.

Priests, however, resided not in the main building but in a separate annex, to prevent guests from wandering into their living quarters.

Though less extravagant, the annex was still beautiful.

The main difference was the sight of laundry hanging by windows and the faint smell of food wafting through the corridors.

Owen guided me through the annex, explaining its layout.

On the first floor were dining areas and classrooms, while the second floor housed the priests’ quarters.

Small prayer rooms for the priests were scattered throughout.

“As a novice priest, you’ll spend about three months here.”

“Yes.”

“Then, after passing the exam, you’ll advance to a regular priest.”

Owen continued as we ascended to the third floor. I followed close behind, occasionally feeling awkward when passing other priests.

Unsure whether to greet them, I hesitated until they had already walked by.

By now, I’d lost count of how many I’d let pass without a word.

Finally, Owen stopped in front of a door labeled [307].

“All the essentials for a novice priest are in your room.”

“Thank you.”

“This was no trouble.”

Smiling faintly, he tapped the door lightly with his fingers.

“This is your room, Isa.”

He pulled the door open and stepped inside.

The room was simple, with a single bed and a table positioned to face each other.

A small dresser for clothes stood nearby.

Despite the limited space, the arrangement was efficient and didn’t feel cramped.

Plus, sunlight poured through the window, suggesting the room would stay warm even in winter.

Summer might be a bit hot, though.

Owen, who had entered first, stood quietly watching as I set my bag down and surveyed the room.

Only after I finished did he break the silence.

“Do you like the room?”

“Yes, very much.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“This was all prepared in advance,” he added softly, his smile growing broader with satisfaction.

“Well then, I’ll leave you to settle in. I need to attend afternoon prayers. If you need anything, my room is just upstairs.”

“Understood.”

With that, Owen left.

I watched his back as he walked out, then sank into the wooden chair with a thud.

I was utterly exhausted.

The long carriage ride, meeting the pope immediately upon arrival, and the subsequent tour of the annex had left my whole body aching.

Not that my stamina had decreased, though.

Smiling wryly at the thought, I turned my attention to the items on the table.

Folded neatly were the white robes and brown leather shoes I’d seen the priests wearing in the halls.

Next to them were several thick books, presumably ones I’d need to study during my training period.

“Great,” I muttered, letting out a heavy sigh as fatigue pressed on my shoulders.

I leaned forward, resting my head on the table for just a moment.

Then, a knock at the door made me sit up straight instinctively.

…Was it Owen?

Did he forget something?

There was no one else who might visit me in the temple.

Curious, I tilted my head.

“Who is it?”

“It’s… Buddy.”

Buddy?

The voice was unfamiliar, soft and unassuming, yet steady.

The term “Buddy” was also strange.

I hesitated, torn between curiosity and the need to be presentable.

If this visitor was a fellow priest, I ought to change into the ceremonial robes.

Quickly, I swapped clothes and tidied myself up.

Though I wanted to cover my hair, wearing a hood over the priest’s robes felt inappropriate.

I’d have to dye my conspicuous hair with the dye Sehir gave me after the guest left.

Once I was ready, I opened the door.

A young man stood there, hand raised as if to knock again.

He had brown hair and eyes, and his clear, youthful face gave him an almost boyish charm, though he was a head shorter than me.

I blinked before greeting him.

“Hello. How can I help you?”

“Wow!”

“…Excuse me?”

Instead of answering, he simply exclaimed in awe, a bright smile spreading across his face.

Without hesitation, he grabbed my hand.

“Hi! I’m Harilson.”

“Harilson?”

“Has no one told you about me yet?”

Seeing my confusion, Harilson raised an eyebrow, his smile briefly fading.

He clicked his tongue softly and took a step back, letting go of my hand.

“Each trainee priest gets paired with a ‘Buddy.’ We’ve been paired together.”

“What’s a Buddy?”

“It’s like… a friend. We stick together, help each other study, and complete tasks as a team.”

Harilson explained patiently.

The temple paired trainees for character evaluation; Buddies were meant to work as a team, aiding each other’s growth.

I nodded, understanding the concept.

“Here,” he said suddenly, handing me a loaf of rye bread.

“This is… rye bread?”

“Yep. I saved it from breakfast for you.”

“What if I hadn’t shown up?”

“Then I would’ve eaten it myself, like yesterday.”

I gently pressed the bread, still warm. Had he used divine power to keep it that way?

Though I knew it was part of his role as my Buddy, his thoughtful gesture made my chest feel oddly warm.

I regretted doubting his sincerity when he grabbed my hand earlier.

“Thank you.”

“No problem! I’ll bring more in the future. Oh, by the way, we’re the same age, so you don’t have to speak formally.”

“…Thanks.”

Same age?

I’d thought he was at least a year or two younger.

The revelation surprised me, but I adjusted my speech, and Harilson beamed, extending his hand again, now with a bit of bread crumb on it.

“Let’s work well together for the next three months, Buddy.”

“Sure… I mean, yeah.”

I quickly corrected myself, shaking his hand.

It felt good to receive such genuine kindness, expecting nothing in return.

“Let’s do our best together.”

And so began my first day at the temple.

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