“Um, is it really okay to enter through the main gate like that?”
“Yeah, Monica can see the future. That’s why she opened the gate and walked in without getting caught.”
Hearing Murmur’s calm explanation, Citrine looked up at the tower with a dazed expression.
“To think she can see the future without even having her coming-of-age ceremony…”
It was beyond common sense, but by now, Citrine had no choice but to accept it.
“Let’s hurry back, Citrine.”
As Murmur tightly grabbed her right hand, Citrine reluctantly moved her legs.
‘But…’
Imagining Monica climbing the tower diligently, Citrine furrowed her brows slightly.
‘Why is the Saintess, the treasure of the Holy Nation, living in such a tower?’
Until now, it had been such a natural story.
‘And to think she’s living a life similar to Murmur-nim, who can’t even be described as modest…’
The story of summer clothes and underwear was something Citrine could never laugh off.
‘It’s just too strange.’
* * *
“…I think it would be better to play during the day with proper permission rather than sneaking out every night for fun.”
Even though we had just brought Monica out of the tower again today, Citrine sighed and made a comment.
“That’s not possible, is it?”
“Yeah, Monica can’t do that, Citrine.”
Citrine really doesn’t know the story, so she sometimes asks strange questions.
“Why can’t she do that?”
Half-giving up, Citrine followed me as I walked down a side path and spoke.
“During the day, she has to offer prayers, do transcriptions, and give blessings to those who visit.”
“…Does she do that every single day without rest?”
“Yes, it’s a very precious duty I can fulfill.”
Citrine let out a small gasp and looked at me.
Even if she looks at me like that, there’s nothing I can do.
“Monica can only play at night, Citrine.”
“Ah, I see. I suppose there’s nothing we can do if the people of the Holy Nation are blocking it.”
This isn’t something that can be resolved immediately.
If it were, why would Monica have given up?
“Monica, we’re going to have even more fun today than yesterday.”
“Indeed. I was surprised at first by what Murmur-nim said.”
Citrine and I held hands and slowly turned to look at Monica.
“We’re going to enjoy a bonfire today.”
“And we’re planning to play in the stream!”
* * *
We decided to settle by the stream in the Starry Forest to play.
The stream that started from Hedone Lake was perfect for elementary school fifth-graders to splash around in.
“Oh~hohoho! Murmur-nim!! Citrine has gotten stronger!”
“Using a water gun all by herself…!”
It didn’t feel like this until we arrived at the stream and started lightly splashing water with our hands!
The moment Citrine brought out the water gun, it turned into more than just simple water play.
“Not even a little bit unfair. I remember what happened at the fountain!”
Are you seriously remembering that?
I quickly dipped both hands into the water and summoned a water spirit.
“Naiara! Charge!”
“Kyaaah…! Again, again!?”
“Citrine is using a water gun!”
“No matter what, Murmur-nim throwing living water bombs is even more unfair… Kyaaah!”
─ Splash!
The moment the soft Naiara hit Citrine’s body, a loud sound erupted as the water bomb exploded.
In an instant, Citrine was drenched like a wet mouse, shivering as she aimed the water gun at me.
─ Sploosh!
“Ugh…!?”
She hit me right in the chest!
I knew she was good, but isn’t she too good with that gun?!
“Come on! Come on!! Saintess, attack before you get hit!”
“I’m fine…”
─ Sploosh!
Citrine laughed as she sprayed water directly at Monica’s chest.
Monica’s eyes widened in surprise. Her usual calm demeanor was replaced by a pure, childlike expression that was adorable.
“Hohoho! In a world where you’re either an ally or an enemy… Kyaaah!”
Are you an idiot?
Monica, now soaked, crouched down and scooped up water with both hands, splashing it all over Citrine.
“Citrine-nim started it first!”
“W-wait! Wait! I didn’t mean for you to attack me!”
“Citrine, you’re an idiot? Of course, I’m attacking you.”
“Kyaaah! Stop! Stop it!!”
Citrine frantically aimed the water gun at me and Monica, firing rapidly.
But she’s really skilled!? She keeps hitting our faces and chests!??
“Ugh!”
I summoned Naiara again with both hands and passed her to Monica.
“Yah!”
Monica, with a burst of holy light from her hands, hit Naiara like a volleyball.
“What are you…”
─ Splash!
Naiara, now a giant holy water bomb, charged straight at Citrine.
Citrine was once again completely drenched.
“Eek…! D-don’t use holy water for water play!? It’s strangely sticky and slippery… Ugh!”
Citrine, now pale-faced, frantically scooped up water from the stream and poured it all over herself.
It’s okay, it’s okay.
I created another Naiara and exploded it on Citrine’s head, who was panicking.
“Kyaaah!?”
“Yah…!”
Monica also splashed water on her.
“Y-you’re helping, but please stop!? I’m completely soaked, and it’s embarrassing!?”
Having cleared her karma, Citrine shivered, while Monica and I burst into laughter.
“Since we’re all wet, let’s rest by the fire.”
After helping Citrine up with both hands, we walked towards the beautifully burning bonfire with Monica.
Around the bonfire, there were pretty wooden chairs for us to sit on and delicious skewers being grilled.
While we were playing in the water, Citrine’s butler, Balkan, must have prepared everything.
“Please come over, Miss Citrine.”
Citrine handed out bath towels to all three of us equally.
Since she used a spell to dry us off immediately, there was no worry about catching a cold.
“Citrine, is it okay to eat this?”
I pointed at the skewers with large chunks of meat, chicken, mushrooms, leeks, onions, and bell peppers.
“Of course~!”
Citrine immediately picked up a skewer, blew on it, and carefully handed it to me.
“I’ll enjoy it, Citrine.”
I opened my mouth wide and bit into the juicy meat and leek at the same time.
The rich flavor, the hearty texture, the subtle sweetness and fragrance of the leek made me smile unconsciously.
“Citrine, you eat this too.”
“Hohoho, as expected, Murmur-nim is so kind.”
After I blew on the skewer to cool it down, Citrine also took a big bite.
She didn’t eat the whole chunk of meat in one bite like I did, but her cheeks puffed up adorably as she chewed.
“Hoo… hoo…”
While Citrine and I shared the skewer, Monica was just holding hers and blowing on it.
“Monica, you don’t know how to eat this, do you?”
“…Do you need a plate, fork, and knife?”
Citrine’s voice was filled with warm concern.
“That’s not it. I’ve never seen food like this before, so I don’t know how to eat it.”
“Huh…?”
“Monica. Just take a big bite like Citrine and I did.”
“…Ah.”
In front of a bewildered Citrine, Monica took a bite of the skewer.
She only took a small bite, but her eyes widened in delight.
“…It’s really delicious!”
Monica’s eyes sparkled. Seeing it and actually tasting it must be completely different!
“Right?”
“I’ve never known grilled meat tasted like this. The saltiness, the sweetness and tanginess of the brown sauce, it’s all so fascinating!”
Monica smiled brightly and took another bite.
“…Cough, but it’s a bit spicy for me.”
“Huh, you find the pepper spicy?”
Citrine, surprised, gestured to Balkan to bring some apple juice.
“Here, have this juice first.”
Monica put down the skewer and carefully held the cup with both hands, drinking the juice like a cat.
“Hoho, so this is what apple juice tastes like.”
“W-wait… is this your first time trying it?”
Monica smiled without answering.
But I know.
Our Saintess has never had any drink other than water and milk.
“Monica, is it good?”
“Yes, it’s very delicious.”
“Let’s eat delicious food like this every day. Murmur promises.”
Monica nodded with a bright smile, clasping her hands together.
* * *
After enjoying a delightful late-night snack, we decided to have a small fireworks display by the stream.
“Saintess, this isn’t really fireworks. I’ll definitely show you real fireworks with Murmur-nim later, so look forward to it.”
“Citrine-nim is truly kind.”
“I-I mean! If you call this fireworks, it’ll ruin our guild’s reputation!”
How cute.
Citrine handed Monica and me each a pretty stick.
“Murmur-nim, Saintess. Do you know how to use the small magic to create sparks?”
“Yeah, Murmur can do it.”
“Really?”
“If you light the end of the magic tool I gave you, you’ll see it sparkle like stars in the night sky.”
Citrine held out her stick first and lit it.
─ Crackle, crackle!
With a pretty sound, the stick began to burn, emitting tiny stars.
Citrine said it was nothing special, but it was a very beautiful little fireworks display.
“Murmur did it too.”
While Citrine’s stick emitted yellow stars, mine burned blue.
Monica also nodded and lit her stick. Hers was red.
“Murmur thinks these sparks are really pretty.”
“I think so too? It’s like the stars in the night sky are sparkling in our hands.”
“Both of you… I will definitely! Definitely! Show you real fireworks later!”
Citrine’s earnest words made me smile.
“Yeah, sounds good. Let’s have fun together then, Citrine. We’ll enjoy the festival to the fullest.”
“Can we enjoy the festival too?”
“Yeah, fireworks are usually at the end of the festival. You can enjoy fun games, sing, and dance.”
“…Does the Saintess know about festivals?”
Citrine smiled awkwardly.
“I think the Saintess always attends the Grace Saintess’s birthday, right?”
“Yes, I always attend.”
“But Citrine. Monica can’t play during her birthday.”
“Huh? That can’t be… huh?”
Citrine furrowed her brows, recalling something.
“I have to talk diligently with the believers who come to see me.”
“T-that’s… ugh! It’s like a pie in the sky!? Sitting all day talking to old folks…!!!”
“Is that so? But it’s very pleas─”
“Festivals are for having fun!? I’ll definitely! Definitely! Take Monica to a festival later!”
Citrine huffed and made her declaration before waving her sparkling stick again.
“Today we have to make do with this stick, but there are other colors too, so feel free to ask!”
See, I told you.
Citrine and Monica are bound to become friends!
* * *
“Good morning again, Saintess Monica.”
On a morning filled with birdsong.
Monica, who had enjoyed a fun night of play, smiled softly and clasped her hands for morning prayers.
Monica’s pure white skin fully absorbed the sunlight streaming through the open window.
“Good morning, Sister Anna.”
Receiving the lovely Saintess’s greeting, Sister Anna smiled brightly and approached the wardrobe.
“Saintess Monica, do you remember today’s morning schedule?”
“I do. It’s the day guests from the Magic Kingdom are visiting.”
“That’s right. The bishop is devout, so please feel free to converse comfortably.”
Anna took out the underwear and nun’s habit Monica needed to wear from the wardrobe.
It was a part of the daily routine that repeated every day.
“And then…”
─ Creak!
The moment Anna stepped back from the wardrobe, a strange sound came from the floor.
Monica looked at Anna with eyes full of anticipation for the first time in a while.
“Oh my, the floor is broken… huh?”
The shape of the loose wooden plank was strange.
Anna crouched down, puzzled, and easily lifted the creaking plank to the side.
The anticipation that had filled Monica’s golden eyes turned to resignation in an instant.
“S-Saintess? What is this? Where did these clothes come from?”
“…”
“Saintess!? Did some noble gift them to you? It would take me a year to save up for even one of these…!”
Hidden beneath the plank were the summer clothes Citrine had bought.
Since Anna chose Monica’s clothes every day, it was strange for even a single pair of underwear to appear.
‘It seems fate can’t be changed no matter how hard you try.’
What you hope for doesn’t happen.
What you see with your own eyes doesn’t change.
Used to such situations, Monica calmly smiled and answered.
Beneath the Saintess’s composed demeanor, memories of last night’s sparkling fireworks and the first tastes of new foods flashed by.
A short but precious time, that was enough.
Now it’s time to wake up from the dream.
“The Hero gave them to me as a gift.”
