Chapter 173

Christmas is a Christian holiday. It’s believed to be the day when the saint most revered in Christianity was born after the New Testament was written.

There seem to be various stories about its exact origins, but anyway, it’s undeniable that we celebrate it for “those reasons.”

The most widely practiced religion in the world is basically not related to Christianity, but it’s true that the denomination borrowed quite a bit from it to exist as a “denomination.”

Excluding the creation of new objects of faith and scriptures, they basically followed all conventional practices.

Even up to that holiday.

I understand. The existence of denominations hasn’t been around for that long. Even if the object of faith has changed, people still want to keep their traditions.

When you think about it, it’s a bit strange to argue about defining a holiday based on the shape of snacks and exchanging treats. After all, it’s not like Buddhists have to go to work on Christmas. Unless, of course, you work at a place that stays open on Christmas.

“But isn’t it a bit odd that ‘sisters’ have jobs on Christmas?”

Ria asked me with a genuinely puzzled expression.

“Our god is a different god, right? I understand why we keep Christmas as a holiday and take a break, but why go to church for prayers that day?”

That’s… true.

I can understand keeping it as a traditional holiday, so naturally, I can see the sense in making trees and exchanging gifts in celebration. Having a fun day like that is nice.

But there’s no need to go to church for prayers that day.

The birthday of the saint isn’t Christmas. Nothing particularly significant happened on Christmas. So, in terms of the “denomination,” it’s basically not a day of religious significance.

“But we can’t ignore tradition.”

“That’s quite an interesting thing to say for someone who always claims to be an atheist.”

As I wrapped tiny lights around the tree, Ria supported my waist and said that.

It was a stable step stool, and it wasn’t wobbling at all, but Ria’s words of “I’ll protect you” felt like they translated to everyday life too.

I felt a little flustered. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have felt anything here.

I buried that feeling deep inside and said,

“Think about it. If a place that gathers people every Christmas to comfort their weary hearts suddenly decides to stop all of that overnight just because they switched religions, what would happen?”

For the same reason, the ‘calendar’ we use is the same.

If someone decides to overhaul the calendar divided into BC and AD based on their denomination, there would probably be quite a bit of chaos for a while. It wouldn’t ruin the world or anything, but it’s better to leave it alone than to fix it and create unnecessary trouble.

I think there were discussions about creating a ‘new origin’ at some point, but the denomination was fundamentally a group that was born believing in a new deity while having existed before. Once the discussion of “if you start changing one thing, do you have to change everything?” came up, everyone just zipped it.

It’s only been a little over ten years. If we were to divide it into ‘eras’, it still feels like a period of confusion.

“So, what you’re doing to help people is kind of similar to that, right?”

When Ria replied, I turned around.

Ria was looking up at me, smiling, and then,

“Yikes!?”

She tightened her grip around my waist, lifting me up effortlessly.

Then she placed me down gently next to her.

I quickly looked around and found people staring at us. It seemed they caught the sound of me shouting.

My face felt a little flushed.

I wanted to point something out, but Ria continued speaking.

“You said you could have faith if it was to save someone.”

I mean, I did say that.

But rephrasing it like that makes it sound somewhat different from my intention.

“…”

Still, I feel that there’s some underlying meaning there. Maintaining a day of no significant religious importance just to help others fits.

Well, just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean atheists never took a day off.

Even I used to get a flutter of excitement at that time. Although, I never had a girlfriend to spend it with.

I could hear whispers nearby. Ria’s hand was still resting on my waist, and she was smiling down at me.

At this rate, it felt like she might pat my head soon. I don’t know why I thought that.

“…There’s still some time left, but I’m pretty busy preparing. I mean, we’re also getting ready for the first worship of the New Year.”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I used that as an excuse to twist away from her grip.

This is all Ria’s fault.

The strange thoughts I was having were all her doing. She treated me like a hand warmer in the cold winter. She insisted on cuddling up in the same bed to watch movies.

Whenever it was something, she’d rest her hand on my waist and pat me for saying something nice.

…

What is with that?

Thinking back, it feels a bit strange.

It’s like—

I’m being domesticated.

Or rather, it feels like I’m being tamed.

And that annoys me even more, not because it’s bad. Damn it, if Ria didn’t look like that.

…

Is it really just about her looks? Maybe it’s not just that.

Whichever way, it’s still a troublesome situation.

*

The next morning.

I was sitting in the dining hall, spreading jam on bread like any other day.

Even though it’s called a church, it doesn’t feel like a chapel inside the dining hall. It’s just an ordinary cafeteria. However, the fact that most of the people eating there were wearing religious garb was a little different.

The meals are served with nutritional balance in mind. It doesn’t come in huge portions, but at least it wasn’t served starvingly.

But recently, the menu has changed a bit… or, to be honest, it’s changed quite a lot.

Previously, one plate per person was served, but at some point it switched to self-service. The variety isn’t extensive, but it seems like a simplified Korean buffet, changing menus daily and preparing food in ample amounts.

I think it’s a method that suits growing sisters well, but I strongly feel that’s not the only reason.

Perhaps it’s because of me.

I’m still not a ‘Saintess’. But I’m definitely being treated as if I were one. Maybe the Vatican knows I’m a bit of a big eater.

Still, I’m just having a piece of bread and cream soup for breakfast.

It’s not that I lost my appetite, but rather it’s an issue of getting used to it.

Before Ria came, I usually sat alone eating at my own pace. I didn’t really feel lonely. Until I graduated from college, I was more used to eating alone. Maintaining that for a long time, I honestly found it more convenient, even if the menu expanded.

Now… it’s a bit different.

Not just Ria sitting across from me, all my acquaintances from this church occupied the seats around me, too.

Glaria was drowsily poking at the salad with her fork, and Davi was picking at her food even more.

Meanwhile, Paina and Pertia were having a very meat-heavy meal. I wonder if it’s because they’re beastmen? They were happily eating bulgogi stuffed in their bread like hamburgers. Thinking about it, it feels like it’s my first time seeing exactly what kind of meals beastmen enjoy.

Well, they must be pretty hungry for breakfast since they’re working hard every night.

Oh, maybe the menu changed because of those people. You can’t exactly starve someone who’s a princess from another country. Maybe our church is getting special funding from the government.

Hmm.

I get why we’re all sitting off to the side.

Everyone around me is high-ranking, so I’d be nervous just sitting next to them.

And then.

“…….”

I turned my gaze away from Glaria and Davi, looking the other way.

“Mari?”

“……Anna.”

At Anna’s words, Mari glanced our way. It was a tricky expression to see on Ria. When Ria is flustered, it’s really serious.

The reason Mari was flustered was that Anna was offering her a cherry tomato on a fork.

Sitting there with one hand propped up on her chin, she pointed her fork towards Mari, and it was oddly fascinating how there was not a shred of ulterior motive in her look.

…But despite appearances, I felt like there had to be something else behind that action.

So… well, isn’t it? The last two individuals left in the world. Someone who’d kept a spot right beside the other for years.

Honestly, I can’t think of any other explanation than love.

Mari’s eyes darted around before she eventually leaned slightly forward and bit into the cherry tomato that Anna offered.

I couldn’t hear what those two were saying to each other. I could guess, or maybe not guess, what their conversation entailed.

How would I react if I met Ria like that?

Could I have gotten through it like those two are, seeming completely normal and unaffected?

As I turned my gaze, our eyes met.

Both of us had expressions that seemed to convey we wanted to say a lot to each other.

Lowering my gaze to the bread I was holding, I shook my head. Come on, they feed me bread, so it’s not that cute after all.

…

Maybe I should grab a bit of salad next time.