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Celestial Festival.

An official prayer meeting dedicated to Goddess Serena, held just once a year.

To put it bluntly, it’s just a prayer meeting, but aside from a few events in between, it leans more towards being a festival where everyone has fun.

The opening ceremony is declared by me, the warrior of the goddess, alongside Mariel, the spokesperson.

After all, beginnings are important. Given that, it’s no surprise that Mariel, standing next to me, is feeling nervous right now, just before the opening ceremony.

Although she has been revered and respected as a saint for several years now, this is her first time standing in front of such a large crowd.

In fact, this year’s Celestial Festival marks the first time since the era of the previous generation’s hero that both a hero and a saint are attending.

From the perspective of an ordinary student, it’s probably stranger that I’m standing here so calmly.

“… Walk straight to the goddess statue, stop, and then the next line…”

Hearing a small whisper, I turned to see Mariel, head down, murmuring to herself as if running a simulation in her head.

Knowing her usual vibrant and confident personality, this was rather hard to imagine.

While tension isn’t entirely bad, there’s no need to be so tense in a situation like this.

So what can I do to help ease Mariel’s nerves?

What’s needed here isn’t a sedative or calming magic.

Just the reassurance that I am right next to you, and you are never alone is enough.

As I gently held her slightly trembling hand, she flinched in surprise and looked at me.

I raised our clasped hands to eye level, showing her.

Mariel’s gaze briefly shifted to our hands, and then back to meet my eyes.

I gave her a light smile, and she blinked a few times before showing a smile even brighter than mine.

The slight tremor in her hand began to subside.

Right. To alleviate a person’s tension doesn’t require something grand.

Just the familiarity that sheds light on the unknown, a warm word to melt a hardened mind, and the simple comfort of knowing I am here with you can help anyone overcome their nerves.

At least, that’s what I’ve learned. There have been many times when I felt overly nervous in front of the demon king’s army leaders, and I often received help like this.

I tossed a joke toward the smiling Mariel.

“Why not just make a mistake? It might actually boost the saint’s popularity.”

Jokes are indeed helpful for relieving tension, but given that Mariel already seems completely at ease, the reason for throwing in a joke was simply for the fun of it.

Seeing that she was relaxed enough to respond to my joking, Mariel raised the corners of her mouth and began to speak.

“Hm? If the hero says that… should I take it on as a challenge? Let’s see just how perceptive our hero really is.”

I should have stopped after seeing her nerves ease, but by taking one more step, I inadvertently pressed Mariel’s switch.

I was a bit worried, but since she wouldn’t want to ruin the opening ceremony, it likely wouldn’t be a problem.

“Now! You two, please start!”

As the staff signaled, Mariel and I slowly moved forward, embracing the solemnity of the moment while also enjoying it.

I carried the Holy Sword at my waist, while Mariel held the Holy Flame, the sacred artifact of the Church, in one hand as we walked.

Since it was just before dawn, the surroundings were still quite dark.

Thus, the magically lit torches illuminated Mariel and me.

However, as we walked, the light gradually dimmed, and the sunlight, which had begun to rise in the distance, started to brighten our path.

Taking one step at a time, we climbed a few steps and finally arrived at the front of the statue of Goddess Serena in the center.

While the other statues depicted various postures, the statue of Goddess Serena radiated a gentle presence that was slightly different.

In one hand, it held a sword resembling my Holy Sword at my waist, and in the other hand, it held a Holy Flame like the one Mariel was carrying.

Drawing the Holy Sword and harnessing its power, the sword began to emit a particularly bright light against the backdrop of the red morning glow.

As the bright light of the Holy Sword touched the sword in the statue’s hand, its light transferred to the statue.

Then, Mariel also used the flame from the Holy Flame she held to ignite the flame in the statue’s other hand, which had previously been extinguished.

For a moment, the flame flickered fiercely before settling into a gentle glow.

“A blessing to the hero who drives away the darkness of the continent.”

“A blessing to the saint who illuminates the continent with light.”

As Mariel and I faced each other, each holding the symbols of the Church, we exchanged words of blessing.

Originally, we would have moved on to the next phase here, but unlike during the rehearsal, Mariel stood still, extending the hand that wasn’t holding the Holy Flame towards me, palm up.

I could feel the surrounding staff’s surprise at her sudden action.

Of course, the crowd was unaware that this wasn’t part of the plan.

But if I hesitated even slightly, everyone would surely notice.

Mariel raised one corner of her mouth just enough for me to decipher it, as she looked at me.

In response to her smile, I returned a smile of my own and knelt down.

I gently took Mariel’s outstretched hand and placed a light kiss on her palm, wishing for blessings upon the saint.

For a moment, the hand I kissed lowered before coming back up to softly cradle my cheek.

Then her lips came closer as she bent down towards me.

Mariel pressed her lips lightly against my forehead, granting a blessing toward the hero.

As her lips parted from my forehead, she whispered softly, unheard by anyone else.

“You did well, hero.”

Well, I had good instincts, so if it were someone else, it would have probably led to an incident at the event.

The morning sun, which had stretched out across the edge of the world, had now fully risen, blending red on canvas with blue paint.

Rising from our place, Mariel and I turned to the crowd, speaking in loud voices.

Certainly, our voices wouldn’t reach those at a distance, but the sound team and their magic would ensure that.

“The goddess’s sword will never break, and it shall cut through all that stands in your way.”

“The goddess’s touch will never be refused, and it shall embrace all that torments you.”

The words of blessing quickly became a declaration directed at everyone participating in the festival and even further at all the people of the continent.

This was a prayer to Goddess Serena and a proclamation against the demon king and demonic races that aimed to plunge the world into darkness.

So to all the lambs who hear this prayer, do not tremble in fear. For Goddess Serena is always with you.

And to all the children of demons who hear this prayer, tremble in terror. For the goddess’s sword is ever aimed at your neck.

“And thus, peace shall reign in the Beltlin Continent.”

With this final declaration, the curtain of the Celestial Festival rises at last.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a deafening cheer erupted from the once-silent crowd.

Right from the morning, it felt like there was some kind of energy overflowing; everyone seemed lively due to the festival.

Even if there hasn’t been any blatant invasion, everyone had probably been somewhat anxious about the demon king’s resurrection.

I suppose that anxiety will be eased to some extent with this Celestial Festival, thanks to the hero and saint standing together like this.

“Well then, let’s head out without making any mistakes until the end?”

Mariel offered a hand that had previously kissed my lips.

Taking her hand, we slowly walked back the way we came.

“By the way, do you have any plans after the opening ceremony, hero?”

While walking in the same direction, Mariel spoke to me in a voice soft enough for just me to hear.

“Well… my friend will be busy with a tournament starting tomorrow, so I’m spending the day with her today.”

In the distance, I spotted Anne, happily waving her hands and bouncing up and down.

Even though she’s the smallest among us, her every action is especially eye-catching.

“Ah… then what about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow, I have plans with another friend.”

Next to Anne stood Yuli.

Yuli waved her hand and smiled, looking quite graceful, unlike Anne’s boisterousness.

“What about the day after that?”

“Ah… I have an appointment with yet another friend then…”

Turning my gaze to Yuli, I could also see Selian standing next to her.

As I looked her way, I could feel our eyes meet.

But for some reason, Selian’s expression showed dissatisfaction, her lips puckered.

I thought I did a decent job of showing my worth as the hero during the opening ceremony, but maybe, from Selian’s informed perspective, it was still lacking?

I should definitely ask her about it when we hang out next time.

“…You can’t be serious about next day too?”

“…Yep.”

A familiar series of questions and the same answers.

Just answering the questions shouldn’t evoke guilt, but for some reason, I felt bad.

Yet what could I do when it was the truth? I indeed had plans to hang out with our cute little boss on the fourth day.

“…Must be nice to be so popular, huh, hero?”

Mariel’s statement, starting with an air of resignation and ending in a teasing tone, nagged at my conscience.

I’m not sure why it bothered me, but I had to settle this fire first.

“T-tomorrow! The day after that is free! Want to hang out together?”

Of course, my schedule was open, but originally, I had planned to be with my friends.

Still, if it’s just for a day, wouldn’t my friends understand?

The connection between the hero and the saint is important too.

“You’re quite the sinful woman, hero.”

Having finally returned the path we walked, we exited the crowd and made our way back to the staff area.

As soon as other people’s gazes were blocked, Mariel reverted from her gentle saint persona back to her usual vivacious self.

“Well! Not being aware of such things is one of the charms of our hero!”

Not aware? Who? Me, who cleverly picked up on Mariel’s jokes earlier?

I could not agree with that statement at all.

“Come on! I saw some friends waiting earlier, so you should hurry along. I’ll be cheerfully waiting for my turn to come.”

Without leaving me a chance to make excuses, Mariel pushed me towards the exit.

“Well then, hero. I hope you have a wonderful Celestial Festival.”

“Saint, I hope you enjoy the Celestial Festival too. I’ll come to find you on the promised day.”

“Hehe… suddenly, I feel like a princess waiting for the hero to come to her rescue? But you mustn’t keep me waiting too long!”

I waved lightly at Mariel, joking with her, and headed towards where my friends were waiting.