Chapter 303

The warm morning sun rose as always.

It was a pleasant start to Sunday.

I was able to wake up at eight in the morning, later than a weekday, but earlier than a typical Saturday, which is the only day off.

Feeling more refreshed than yesterday, just after finishing my duty, I quickly had a simple breakfast and headed straight to the Seminary Main Chapel. I had to officiate the Sunday worship service.

The service started at eleven o’clock sharp. If the Seminary Main Chapel were a larger church, we would celebrate it in the morning, noon, and evening, but it wasn’t that big.

Initially, there weren’t that many attendees.

After hastily preparing for the Sunday worship service with Sofia Sub-priest, we finished the officiating, and before I knew it, it was already half past twelve, just past lunchtime.

We immediately returned to the dormitory, had a simple lunch, and hurried to tidy ourselves up and prepare for the veterans’ meeting.

“Is this priest robe better? Or is this one better?”

“…Sofia Sub-priest. Aren’t all priest robes the same?”

“But this priest robe is the new one we received in a package from the Holy Empire. Doesn’t it look more polished?”

Sofia Sub-priest asked while holding two identical priest robes on hangers. Just as she said, when I took a closer look at the one in her right hand, indeed.

“…It just looks the same.”

Surprisingly, I couldn’t feel any difference at all.

Upon hearing my words, Sofia Sub-priest’s expression immediately soured. It seemed like her lips were going to pout out, so I quickly pointed to the robe in her left hand and said.

“Actually, looking again, I think the robe in your left hand is better. It’s not that formal of an occasion, and this robe is the one I’ve worn since our first meeting.”

“Hmm…”

The tail of her elongated nasal voice grew longer, but soon Sofia Sub-priest nodded.

“That sounds good. I’ll do that.”

After we finished the rather incomprehensible robe selection process of Sofia Sub-priest, I had to wait for her a while longer.

Until last year, it had been an unexpectedly decided task, so it couldn’t be helped, but now that there had been progress in our relationship, I couldn’t go looking disheveled to avoid embarrassment.

I was fine with it, but it seemed that Sofia Sub-priest was not.

Not being very good at understanding a girl’s feelings, I quietly waited for her.

“Um…! Let’s go now!”

“…Yes.”

Finally, after completing all the preparations, we could leave the dormitory with only an hour left until the promised time of seven in the afternoon.

“Head Priest. Are you tired?”

“…Yes?”

“You’ve been looking a little dazed for a while…”

“I’m perfectly fine.”

I wasn’t tired yet. I certainly wasn’t worn out from waiting for Sofia Sub-priest.

…Really.

* * * * *

Café Greenbeard.

A tavern known for its good food and drink, it’s recognized for its quality even in the City, although it contains the word café in its name, it is truly a proper tavern and restaurant.

Having lived in the City for several years, I didn’t know it well until last year, but as Sofia Sub-priest said, if you ask the folks in the City who are likely old enough to drink, probably either one or the other would have heard of it, to say the least.

Of course, I felt that tremendous reputation clearly last year.

Last year, it was the place where Meijhem hosted the veterans’ meeting.

And this year was no different.

“…Did you rent the whole place again?”

“It seems that way.”

Just like last year, and this year.

Looking at the size of the tavern, one could say it lived up to its name. Though it’s not an enormous restaurant, it’s also not a shabby little tavern cramped in an alleyway on the outskirts of the Empire.

There is a spacious hall suitable for many people to enjoy meals, and there’s a bar where one could enjoy drinking and dance, which fits the occasion well.

To rent a place like this not just once, but two years in a row, must have cost quite a lot.

“I should convey my thanks to Meijhem.”

“That seems necessary.”

Though Meijhem slipped from the ranks of a general to retire as a colonel, the monthly pension he receives after retiring as a colonel and the compensation for war from the superior officers must be a considerable amount.

That said, this kind of expense isn’t something one could casually afford. Perhaps he collected all the savings from his pension built up over the years and the compensation he received for a year since he did this for both years.

‘This is…’

It may not be enough to express gratitude with just words.

A warm light spilled from the entrance of the familiar tavern. The signboard hung above the door had a slightly vintage-style light, flickering sluggishly.

The cheerful laughter and the sound of clinking glasses from inside increased the lively atmosphere.

I stood at the door for a while, listening intently to the raucous noise.

Last year, I almost slipped at this door. After making a firm resolution, I was overcome with despair and almost turned back.

Still, last year I attended the veterans’ meeting while carrying that heavy weight.

Because Sofia Sub-priest next to me carried some of that burden for me.

And…

“Private Dennis.”

Though he retired with a rank of sergeant, much like Meijhem, he remained forever in my heart as a seasoned yet somewhat sentimental private.

He was the one who nudged me into the door in front last year, when I was hesitating to go inside.

In battle, he was the brave comrade I could count on more than anyone else.

Thinking of meeting Private Dennis after a long time filled me with energy.

“Are you not going in?”

When I opened my eyes at Sofia Sub-priest’s call, her deep green eyes sparkled elegantly as they looked at me.

I calmly gazed at my reflection in her eyes and nodded. Ripples formed in the serene green pool.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes.”

The version of me inside moved.

I stepped into the tavern.

As I opened the door, the main hall of the tavern burst forth.

An unremarkable hall, devoid of any distinctive features or lavish decorations, with just the mounted skull of a large horned deer hanging on the wall.

It wasn’t particularly a story I was curious about, but I heard that the mounted skull was from a deer that the tavern owner personally hunted.

Looking at how the pristine white skull and the large bones were intact with not a single scratch on them, it indeed seemed like he cherished it.

“Oh! The protagonist has come this year too!”

As I passed the mounted deer skull and stepped inside further, someone, merrily drinking and laughing, pointed at me with a wide smile.

Though the long scar on his cheek seemed to twitch and gave an intimidating vibe, at least.

“Private Gunter.”

“Haha! Are you still calling me by rank? You’re still a priest, aren’t you! That’s too unfair!”

Gunter, whose face was flushed red like a tomato, shouted loudly. Although he was also granted a sergeant’s rank after voluntarily retiring, in my memory, Gunter was still firmly placed as a private.

As I forced a smile and accepted awkwardly, Gunter keenly fetched a glass filled with drink and handed it to me.

“Here, here! It has only been a year since we’ve met like this; let’s not dredge up old memories! Priest! Just down it!”

His excited demeanor was quite over the top, but at this moment, it didn’t matter. This is precisely why we gathered.

I, along with Gunter and others around, was pushed and urged as they encouraged me to drink the glass I held down in one go.

While the alcohol’s proof was indeterminable, it burned down my throat, yet the smoky flavor and slightly smooth vanilla taste tore through my mouth.

As I put down the glass with slightly squinted eyes, Gunter joyfully slapped his left wrist with his right hand.

His left arm ended at the wrist.

“Indeed! You were the pride of our Phoenix Battalion, Reverend Antenelli! You can certainly hold your drink!”

“Yanma! Stop tormenting the priest and let him go!”

“Oh dear, I apologize. I got too excited…”

“It’s alright.”

Gunter appeared to be quite tipsy. I wondered how he could be so lively, weaving in and out of the tavern like this while maintaining such enthusiasm. I tried to smile and ward off the bitter taste of the drink.

“Hahaha! Then next, Gilbert should drink!”

“Shut up! If you drink more here, the wife will get angry!”

“Let’s play a drinking game! A drinking game!”

With Gunter trying to stir up another round of drinking games, I subtly approached him and casually asked.

“By the way, do you know where Meijhem is?”

“Meijhem? The battalion commander is out on the balcony!”

“Thank you.”

As I distanced myself, Gunter again gathered around others to start the drinking games.

I didn’t particularly want to show this scene to Sofia Sub-priest, so I quietly placed my hand on her shoulder and began to walk towards the balcony.

“…What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I thought it would be an embarrassing sight…”

“Oh, it looks just fine. Everyone is just excited because they haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

Well, I wonder if that’s really the case?

Last year, I attended, thinking I wouldn’t, so I didn’t appear to be in a disgraceful state, but whether it would be the same this year was uncertain.

I was well aware of how debauched the drinking gatherings organized by Gunter and his friends, known for their prowess in drinking, could get.

As I began to distance myself from Gunter, I noticed a comparatively more subdued group of people drinking further inside. Familiar faces greeted me with warm smiles as they waved.

“Reverend Antenelli. You attended again this year?”

“Yes. I’ll do my best to attend as long as I can from now on.”

“That’s good to hear. Would you like a drink?”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

After tactfully declining a drink from the former platoon leader as politely as I could, I grabbed a bottle of chilled liquor and three glasses filled with ice from the bar and headed toward the balcony. Sofia Sub-priest followed me closely behind.

As I opened the door, a cool breeze grazed my forehead. At the end of it sat Meijhem, in the same seat where we had sat together last year sharing drinks.

I slowly approached and took a seat. This table was for four people, so there was a place for Sofia Sub-priest to sit as well.

“You came early.”

“I came at the same time as last year.”

“If you come punctually, then that’s considered early.”

Meijhem’s face appeared relatively bright. It looked like he had successfully risen above the heavy burdens.

“I believed in you.”

“In what way?”

“That you would be able to smile again, Meijhem.”

“I endured through those hellish times, so I can’t crumble over something like this.”

We shared smiles and raised our glasses for a while. Although Sofia Sub-priest tended to get a little tipsy, the drink I selected wasn’t too strong, allowing her to maintain a pleasant buzz.

Just when the warmth of the alcohol was beginning to make the surrounding atmosphere sizzle, I idly glanced at my wristwatch and realized something strange.

“By the way, where is Private Dennis?”

“Private Dennis? He hasn’t come yet?”

“Yes. I haven’t seen him since earlier…”

“That shouldn’t be the case… I remember that he said he would definitely attend this year as well.”

A chilly breeze blew against my warm body, sending a shiver down my spine. An uneasy feeling arose within me.

“…I’ll go look for him.”

“Head Priest, shall I accompany you?”

“No, I’ll be back soon.”

I wanted to have a talk with Dennis at least once. He was one of my closest soldiers, and I owed him a debt of gratitude from last year.

After searching the tavern for a while, I couldn’t find Dennis anywhere.

‘Has he not come…?’

The first thought that struck me was that he might be busy.

That could be true, considering he was the head of the household. He must maintain a living.

“…Tsk.”

I felt a tightness in my chest. The walls of reality were always high and thick.

To soothe this frustrated heart, I slipped a cigarette into my mouth and stepped outside the tavern for a moment.

“Reverend?”

At the entrance, just beside the door, I heard a voice calling me.

Without thought, I turned my head.

“…Private Dennis?”

There, leaning against the hard brick wall with his hair in disarray, was Dennis, sitting on the ground.