Is it for publicity?

Remembering again that the necklace she’d received had been defective, Camilla clicked her tongue to herself.

Should I just demand an explanation, ask if the temple thinks it’s fine to make defective goods?

Ugh, forget it. It was free.

Now that she looked, quite a few people around her were wearing necklaces too. They’d probably invited mostly the ones who’d donated a lot, right?

The priest ghost kept knitting her brows as she stared at the Pope wearing the red stone. Did she not like that holy relic?

[Stupid bastard.]

Huh?! Did she just swear?

[You piece of shit. Pathetic bastard. Sitting in the Pope’s seat and all you can think about is money, so your holy power is trash. I feel sorry for the idiots who worship trash like you and call you the Pope.]

Camilla doubted her ears. Then she rubbed her eyes and checked the clothes the ghost was wearing again. That really was priestly robes, right?

No, it isn’t. Yes, it is.

No, seriously, even if she was dead, how could her mouth be that rough? Was she allowed to talk like that?

[...]

Ghk—!

Maybe she felt Camilla’s stare. The priest ghost whipped her head around. Camilla averted her gaze as naturally as she could.

Right. Ignore it. What does it matter to me whether a ghost is stuck to the Pope’s side or not. Priests are people too. They can swear if they want.

While Camilla’s thoughts drifted, the ceremony moved along quickly. She shut everything else out and focused on the rite.

A choir’s hymn praying for abundance filled the garden, and then the high priests and the Pope continued with a tedious sermon.

“The Lord God has spoken...”

Wow... I’m actually going to fall asleep. Why do all sermons in the world have such a close friendship with lullabies?

Camilla had to keep biting the tip of her tongue to stay awake.

When is this even ending? Is it going to end at all?

[Hrr... haaaahm.]

...Ghosts yawn too.

The same priest ghost from earlier squatted in front of the Pope as he preached, mouth gaping wide as she yawned. Seeing a “priest” do that was oddly fresh.

[It’s so damn boring. That guy and this guy, why do they make sermons this long? Like anyone’s listening with focus. Just get to the point, don’t you know? They say the same thing again, and again. My ears are gonna get calluses, you bastards!]

Exactly.

“Now, we will have the benediction.”

Should I pretend to collapse and use that to escape?

Just as she was seriously considering it, the sermon finally ended and they moved to the next part.

Following the host’s words, the Pope slowly made his way toward where the Lord God’s Tree stood.

Under people’s eager gazes, he bowed his head and began to pray. A gentle light flowed from his hands. Holy power.

[Seriously. That counts as holy power?]

That crooked voice drilled into her ears again.

While Camilla stiffened, the holy power streaming from the Pope’s hands seeped straight into the tree.

“Waaa!”

Small leaves popped out across the dried branches. A huge cheer burst from the crowd at the sight.

“It looks like this year will be abundant too.”

“Don’t you think there are more leaves than last year?”

“As expected of His Holiness.”

Watching people genuinely rejoice and marvel over a few sprouting leaves, Camilla couldn’t hide her confusion.

It was interesting, sure, but was it really that shocking?

The tree still looks scrawny as hell.

Reading the disbelief on her face, Chris explained.

“I’ve heard there was a Pope in the past who couldn’t awaken even a single leaf. That year, the autumn harvest failed to come in properly.”

“What? They’re using that to tell fortunes?”

Isn’t that just differences in holy power?

And why are they predicting that year’s crops with that? The temple’s people, of all people?

Camilla gently shook her head. No matter the era, it seemed people were the same everywhere, always eager to assign meaning however they pleased.

“What are they doing now?”

After the Pope, the other attendees stepped forward one by one and began praying toward the tree.

“It’s the final part of the Harvest Rite. Everyone attending offers a prayer for abundance to the Lord God’s Tree.”

“Everyone? Then I have to do it too?”

“Yes.”

At Chris’s answer, another short sigh slipped out of Camilla. She’d had a bad feeling about coming, and now she actually had to pray too?

And how long is it going to take for that many people to all pray?

Why can’t they just do it together all at once?

[Useless people with no skill, and they still pile on pointless ceremony.]

Agreed again!

“Huh?”

While Camilla was silently agreeing with the ghost, she lifted her head to the tree without thinking—and her eyes went wide.

Something very familiar was fluttering in the air above it.

A small, faint, red dragon.

Hero Yongyong?

That little guy she’d seen in the Gracia Empire’s Imperial Palace conservatory!

[That human!]

Yongyong had spotted Camilla too, and flapped his tiny wings hard as he hurried over. He kept blinking rapidly, like he ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) was really happy to see her.

[So you were here. I wondered why I couldn’t see you over there anymore.]

I’m “here” because this is where I live. Why are you here?

As if he’d read her look, the red dragon spoke again.

[The king who governs autumn being where autumn begins is only natural.]

After circling her head, the red Yongyong plopped down on top of Camilla’s hair.

Hey! What are you doing?

Why are you sitting on my head?

She wanted to shake her head violently and fling him off, but she had to swallow it down because of the people watching.

Ghk!

And the priest ghost who’d been stuck to the Pope’s side was staring straight at her too. She seemed to be watching Camilla because she’d noticed the red Yongyong.

D-don’t tell me our eyes just met. I looked away fast, but...!

[Humans are so funny.]

What is?

Even as she spoke, the Autumn Spirit King shook his head at the people earnestly praying for abundance to the Lord God’s Tree.

[Every time, they interpret it however they want. We spirits are the ones who oversee the harvest! You can’t know anything from that!]

Humans are like that.

They’re always desperate to slap meaning onto something. If they decide to make a random mutt into a god, they can.

[And that tree is insanely old. It’s just resting for a bit because it’s old and its body isn’t what it used to be, but I don’t even get why they’re “praying for abundance” to it. Kids these days don’t know how to respect elders.]

The Autumn Spirit King kept shooting the Pope a displeased look. He seemed unhappy about how the Pope had forced leaves out with holy power.

[Nature is governed by us. It’s not something you can measure with holy power, you idiots!]

...This guy definitely came here to scoff at the whole thing, didn’t he? I want to scoff too, but what can I do? I’m human.

“Lady Camilla.”

“Yeah.”

Chris called to her. It was her turn.

The Pope and everyone else had already focused their attention on her.

The one blessed by God. With rumors like that going around about her, everyone’s eyes were full of expectation.

Of course, among them were also eyes that looked at her sourly, saying the rumors were nonsense.

Of course.

They are nonsense. What am I supposed to do here?

[Want me to help?]

What are you talking about?

Help with what? I just go out, pray, and come back.

Ignoring Yongyong, Camilla walked out and offered her prayer.

Keeping her eyes closed felt awkward, but she should probably wish for something, right? Please let me live a long time.

“Gasp!”

“L-look at that!”

“Waaa!”

What?

Praying with her own version of focus, Camilla slowly raised her head at the sudden murmurs around her.

“Ghk!”

Once she understood, she sucked in a sharp breath. Her wide-open eyes shook.

Why is it doing this all of a sudden?

The scrawny, dried tree from a moment ago was gone. In its place stood the Lord God’s Tree, full and lush with leaves.

[Well?]

“......!”

Yongyong’s voice came again.

[That’s the power of a spirit who governs nature. Holy power can’t even compare. Ahem!]

It was you? You did this?

The red Yongyong had already fluttered back to her side, crowing smugly. Camilla was so stunned she couldn’t speak for a while.

“Did you see that just now?”

“I saw it! The moment Lady Camilla prayed, the tree lit up!”

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen the Lord God’s Tree become that lush.”

“They said she was blessed by God...”

“So the rumors weren’t nonsense!”

I’m going to lose my mind.

With people staring at her in awe, Camilla’s head began to throb.

Even the Pope was glaring at her with eyes wide open. What kind of ridiculous misunderstanding is this?!

“You...”

[Why? People are saying you’re amazing. Isn’t that good?]

“It’s not good at all.”

Camilla growled under her breath. Why would you do something I never asked you to do? Do you want to die in my hands today?

[You’re a funny human. Don’t humans like being noticed?]

I get noticed plenty even without you. I get too much attention. It’s to the point it gives me headaches!

[Hmph. You throw a fit even when I help. No idea how to be grateful.]

“...You look like you’re having a hard time. Want me to help?”

[What? How would you, a human, help me?]

“How about I call Aisla and have her freeze this place solid?”

[W-what?]

“Make autumn disappear in an instant. Then you’d have less to do, right?”

[I-I’m busy. I’m leaving!]

The moment the Winter Spirit King Aisla’s name came up, the red Yongyong’s expression stiffened, and he vanished in a flash.

“Haa.”

Yeah. I’m going to vanish too.

Escaping the crowd’s concentrated attention, Camilla hurried out of there. People wanted to approach her and talk, but she ignored them.

......

But someone was staring straight through her as she left.

Priest Daniel.

He didn’t take his eyes off her until the very end.

A moment later, only after Camilla had completely disappeared did a deep smile rise at the corner of his mouth.

“You really are desirable.”

After murmuring to himself in a low voice, he immediately returned to his usual gentle expression and spoke with the others.