Chapter 67 - Volume 3 (2/2)

The organiser of the festival, as the name says, is the representative person that conducts everything in the grand festival. All the priests from the grand temples turn out one after the other, and to take on this role is the highest honor. So this young man had ascended to the role of the organiser.

At all the festivals I’ve witnessed until now, only elderly priests have worked as organisers. It’s pretty unusual that Klanven, who could still be called a youngster, is the organiser. As I think about that, KIanven deepens his smile and continues further.

「This year’s grand festival is the first one being held since the demon king’s reign. It holds great importance in both historical and political ways. To become the organiser of such a festival means almost the same thing as being appointed the next head priest.」

「Wow…… Congratulations on that.」

Is that what I’m supposed to say? Probably, maybe, definitely. Klanven lightly smiles, 「Thanks,」 at my barely squeezed out, plain congratulations.

This young man, the next head priest. This man will become a being that governs all the numerous priests spread around this entire country, wielding a power different from the king. It makes me worry a bit about the future of our temples. No, well, on the contrary, such a vague and slippery person might actually be beneficial amongst the special institutes and the temples.

I look at Klanven with very difficult to describe feelings. He faces those eyes right at me. That amber just like the princess’s, easily mistaken for silver, shine with bright sunlight. Even though there’s nothing shady or questionable in it, I still unconsciously get startled. 「But, you know,」 Klanven continues.

「There are people who don’t think that’s very nice.」

‘Clang,’ the sound of a teacup loudly being returned to its saucer. I look to see the princess glaring at Klanven with her big eyes, bordered by long, thick silver eyelashes. The princess is usually always clad in a calmness that’s uncharacteristic for her age, stinging even when she smiles. I’m the one that’s bewildered at her now different atmosphere.

「Uncle, please refrain from speaking further.」

「Right. It’s not something she should hear.」

That man too, narrows his sunrise-colored eyes and looks at Klanven.

It must be scary to be glared at by these two, with such beauty that the world’s poets grieve that no words can describe it. But despite that, Klanven shows no signs of hesitation. In fact, he smiles like he’s enjoying this, daring to say 「There, there,」 to calm them down. It’s an astonishing sight.

「You say that but Filmina won’t feel better like this, right? Us meeting here was all thanks to the goddess’s guidance too, so wouldn’t it be better if we talked right til the end? Hey, Filmina, you think so too, don’t you?」

「Um, no, I……」

Considering the princess and that man’s responses, perhaps it would be best if I finished this off without hearing the rest. Those thoughts of mine are sadly crushed as Klanven shows the daisy bookmark from his sleeve in a way that only I can see it. As a matter of fact, it’s the absolute limit of irritating.

Unable to say yes or no, I stay silent. Klanven seems to take my silence as a sign to continue, bringing the tea to his mouth and smiling.

「It’s not that difficult of a conversation to talk about. In fact, it might be something I can say very simply.」

Klanven says that, starting the conversation. He says that the current temples today are divided into two factions.

One of them is Klanven’s faction, that recommended Klanven to be the next head priest, as Klanven is a blood relative of the goddess’s beloved child, the recent savior of the world, the Princess. Then the other one is.

「……Sir Heathrow, is it?」

I unconsciously reflect over that name that leaves Klanven’s mouth.

「Yep, so you really do know him.」

「Even someone like myself is aware of Sir Heathrow. I have seen him countless times at all the grand festivals so far.」

Heathrow has worked at a grand temple for countless decades as a priest, his devotees have deep faith in him, and he’s taken on the role of organiser at the grand festivals countless times. Even though he’s at a very old age, he stands tall and dignified, looking like a splendid person.

「So the people that nominated Sir Heathrow to be the next head priest are different from the people that nominated Your Highness.」

「That’s how it turns out, I guess. But with this decision, it’s pretty much unofficially said that I’ll be the next head priest. And now, here’s the problem. There are some extremists among the people that nominated Father Heathrow, you see. What actions do you think they’ll take from now on?」

「……That’s…」

For some reason, I sense extreme turbulence. A bad feeling about this. A feeling that if I answer his question, that’ll be the end and I can never go back. Neither that man nor the princess say anything. This silence gives me a bad feeling about this as well. In the midst of this, Klanven smiles gently as usual, as if he’s some kind of alien.

The air leaks out of my mouth. Just what’s up with this? Even if I don’t say it, he must know the answer already. I look at Klanven with those thoughts in my gaze, and he softly laughs.

「Well, in other words, it’s as you fear. The extremists in Father Heathrow’s faction are targeting my life.」