‘Huh?’
It was as if Theon had prompted Jeffrey to keep quiet. I glanced at Theon. His handsome face remained expressionless.
Jeffrey, too, lowered his voice in response.
“Of course. I haven’t told anyone. Not even sister Anne knows. She believes I was healed by the miracle of master Reytan and God Aubawth.”
“…You didn’t tell Anne either?”
“Yeah, big sister Berry.”
Jeffrey’s tail wagged faster than before.
Although I felt a bit relieved, there was still something that piqued my curiosity.
It was as if Theon and Jeffrey were sharing a secret.
“Why?”
Upon my question, Jeffrey looked at Theon without saying a word. I followed his gaze, noticing that, unlike before, Theon had a slightly tense expression and pursed his lips.
“Big brother Theon said—”
“Don’t.”
“He promised to let me join the Secret Society…!”
“…Huh?”
“Sis, you know the hero Montbleu, right? The Secret Society from that story? Theon is part of it…!”
Jeffrey, trying hard to suppress his excitement, whispered to me with a serious expression.
‘Hero Montbleu’ is a famous picture book in the Hayshal Empire, a story that boys between five and seven years old adore.
In that book, Montbleu forms an organization composed of children, a Secret Society.
For Theon, who was ten, it sounded a bit childish.
“I was a bit mad at big brother Theon earlier for lying, but it’s okay.”
“Lying?”
Come to think of it, when Jeffrey saw Theon coming out of the wagon, he growled, calling him a liar.
Jeffrey sighed as he replied.
“I kept asking him who the girl that came with him was, but he claimed he didn’t know. Then he came with sister Anne the other day, saying the girl is a member of the Secret Society and that they don’t even know each other’s identities.”
“…I see.”
“…….”
I sneaked a look at Theon. He avoided my gaze, slightly lowering his head, his face turning redder than a strawberry.
“Actually, back in Hispoth Town, when I boarded the carriage, I could smell not only sister Anne but also you and big brother Theon. And yet he said they didn’t know each other’s identities. He lied to me.”
Jeffrey spoke freely, looking satisfied as he continued.
“But it’s okay, I understand. Since you’re also part of the Secret Society. I’m loyal, so I’ll keep the secret perfectly.”
His last words echoed a line from a storybook character’s friend. As I looked at Jeffrey, who was completely immersed in the fictional world, I moved my pinky finger to hook around Theon’s.
“…Oh!”
“Jeffrey, do you know why Theon lied? It’s because you haven’t been officially inducted into the Secret Society yet.”
Jeffrey wiggled with excitement, while Theon seemed like he wanted to say something to me. I nudged Theon with my elbow, signaling him.
“This is the Secret Society’s sign.”
“I know. I… I want to do it too…”
Jeffrey’s eyes, as he looked at the fingers intertwined between Theon and me, sparkled with admiration, almost like the way Theon gazes at Dad, the Grand Master.
He watched the linked pinky fingers with a focused intensity, similar to how a puppy waits for a treat right in front of it.
“Do I just need to touch my finger here…?”
“Jeffrey, do you want to join in?”
“Yes…!”
“Then from now on, whatever is shared as a secret, it’s only known among us.”
“Of course. I’m all about loyalty!”
Jeffrey promptly pressed his pinky against ours. His tail wagged vigorously, enough to stir up a small breeze.
“But big sister Berry, that thing tastes terrible.”
Yuck. Jeffrey, recalling the taste of some herbs, made a face of disgust before leaving when Anne called for him.
Now, it was just Theon and me left on the rock. Theon, perhaps embarrassed about playing such a childish game secretly, remained silent.
“Hmm.”
I leaned sideways, letting my head rest on Theon’s shoulder.
“Hehe.”
“…Why?”
“Thank you for keeping the secret.”
***
The next day.
We stayed a night at an inn in the city on our way to the Main Temple.
After dinner, I placed a newspaper featuring an article about Sillon Village on the living room table, but by the morning, it had disappeared.
Then, we set off in the carriage again.
We arrived at the Main Temple past noon.
“Master Reytan! You’ve come such a long way.”
The temple doors, which were usually so heavy and massive that only one side would open, were flung wide open.
The height of the doors was three times that of an average person, and their width was enough to let twenty people stand side by side comfortably.
Beyond those doors lay a vast, pristine white landscape. An elderly man, followed by a group of priests, approached us in haste.
Everyone but Dad was wide-eyed as they recognized the elderly man.
It was the Grand Priest, the highest authority in the Aubawth Order, who had personally come to greet Dad upon his arrival.
In the Hayshal Empire, it was akin to the Emperor coming out to welcome a guest.
“The Grand Master sure is something remarkable…”
One of the knights behind us murmured in awe.
Dad, however, didn’t seem particularly surprised by the extraordinary welcome. He held my hand as usual and greeted the Grand Priest standing before him.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Indeed, it has. For six years, we had no idea where you were, so we had to seek some help from Count Travel.”
“…Yes.”
Dad seemed a bit uncomfortable, possibly reminded of the bounty poster. He then introduced us to the Grand Priest, who chuckled warmly.
“This is my daughter.”
“Hello, Grand Priest! I’m Berry Quartz Travel!”
“Oh my. How lively. How old are you?”
“I’m seven years old.”
“You remind me of my granddaughter. Feel free to call me Grandfather.”
There was a stir.
At the Grand Priest’s final words, both the knights outside the doors and the priests inside murmured in surprise.
How could I turn down the chance to get closer to the head of the Aubawth Order? This was a golden opportunity.
“Yes! Grandpa Grand Priest! Hehe.”
Dad then introduced Theon, who was standing to his left.
“This is my disciple.”
“…Hello.”
The High Priest looked pleased as he acknowledged Theon, who seemed nervous.
“Quite a fine young man. He reminds me of Master Reytan in his youth.”
“And—”
Dad turned to look back. Standing further away were the knights and Jeffrey, who were watching Dad with hopeful eyes.
Their gaze seemed to say things like:
‘Will he introduce us too?’
‘Will he take us inside as well?’
‘The hero Montbleu is a Sword Master…!’
In truth, the Main Temple was a place of admiration for the knights as well. Only one in a thousand ever reached the level of Sword Master, the rank required to even step foot inside and hold the holy sword.
Dad turned his head forward again and spoke.
“The rest will wait outside.”
Someone let out a soft sigh of disappointment.
***
The Main Temple was even more otherworldly than I had imagined.
The sunlight reflected off the white marble exteriors of the buildings, while the sound of the cascading artificial waterfall was refreshing just to listen to.
The path from the entrance to the main shrine was paved with white gravel, flanked by white birch trees, making it feel as if we were walking through an enchanted forest.
“Amazing, right?”
“Yeah.”
Theon and I followed Dad and the Grand Priest. Behind us, the priests trailed along.
They all looked exhausted, with dark circles under their eyes, yet smiles never left their faces.
“It’s as if Wyndis knew of Master Reytan’s visit; it’s been calm since morning.”
The Grand Priest chuckled with satisfaction.
“Is that so?”
“We cannot express how joyous we are that Master Reytan has expressed his desire to return as Grand Master.”
“The final choice is up to the Holy Sword, Wyndis. If Wyndis rejects me, there’s nothing I can do.”
Dad’s waist was bare, with no weapon.
The Main Temple was a no-weapons zone, except for the Holy Sword, so no other weapon could be carried. But that empty waist had been like that since we left the Count’s estate.
‘Leaving his sword behind just in case Wyndis’s gets jealous, huh?’
Dad has a habit of drinking until he’s passed out about once a year. During those times, he’d place a photo of Uncle Brown on the dining table and sit before it, pouring his heart out.
“Brother Brown, you’re going to regret it. Do you have any idea how well my Berry has grown up…? I’m the only one who gets to see how adorable she is… Why don’t you get to see her…? I even retired from that Grand Master title you were so proud of…”
The first time I saw him like that, I was five. I’d woken up early one morning and went downstairs looking for him.
For some reason, I instinctively knew not to interrupt him. I sat quietly on the staircase, listening to his occasional sniffles.
“Wyndis… why hasn’t it chosen another master yet? Huh? You know how amazing that sword is, don’t you, Brother Brown? Maybe I’m the best, after all? Am I the only one it finds worthy?”
Every year, and even the year after, two names always came up in his drunken ramblings: Uncle Brown and Wyndis.
So, it was clear that Dad was incredibly excited to see Wyndis again, even if he pretended otherwise.
“Haha, would it dare refuse? We’ve all been in quite a fuss to bring Master Reytan back.”
At the Grand Priest’s comment, laughter broke out from behind me. It was the priests. They chuckled, though a bit wearily, hinting at the trouble Wyndis had put them through.
We passed through the entrance to the main shrine. I glanced to my side. At some point, Theon had begun walking in an almost robotic manner, his arms and legs moving stiffly in sync.
“Nervous about seeing Wyndis?”
Theon nodded at my question. Trying to ease his tension, I asked the Grand Priest a question.
“Grandpa Grand Priest, is that statue of the god Aubawth?”
“That’s right. Very observant of you.”
I had read about it in a book from the Bonwell Village library. The first floor of the main shrine was designed to be 12 meters tall, creating a grand, awe-inspiring atmosphere.
The statue, carved from white marble in stacked layers, was so large that its head nearly touched the ceiling.
The textures of its clothing and skin were crafted so smoothly that it almost looked like it would come to life at any moment.
Wow, look at that. The blue eyes, just like Dad’s, seemed to be moving…
“Ahh!”
The scream escaped me involuntarily, and both Dad and Theon turned to look at me.
