We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Trial of Love
“Um, I’ve decided to come today to talk about my relationship with Ruiseine-san…”
Almost immediately after we met, I received words that seemed to acknowledge me from Ruiseine’s parents. However, just like with Yufilia and Nina, in situations like this, I know I need to speak up myself.
And so.
I’ve decided to reintroduce myself.
We sat facing each other in the reception room chairs, exchanging greetings.
Ruiseine’s parents, as I had heard, were clergy.
Her mother’s name is Risene. She was a former High Battle Priestess of the Great Shrine, and she is said to be even more skilled with the naginata than Ruiseine. She was a priestess I had helped before.
Her father is Louis. He is a Shinkan who serves at a small shrine that was attacked by demons. Since getting married, he has been involved in managing the small shrine with Risene. Although he serves at a small shrine in a different district from our school, it seems they resided here.
They both appear to be around forty years old. The wrinkles etched on their faces and necks gave them a gentle expression.
Risene and Louis listened to my story with smiling faces. Their smiles closely resembled Ruiseine’s. Ruiseine inherited her hair color from her mother and her eyes and nose from her father. I can observe these things while greeting them; I have that much composure.
This is because every time I say something, they nod with an all-affirming smile.
Are they strict people because they are clergy?
No, they are not. Because they are clergy, they are very kind and have a healing presence.
Ruiseine’s kindness is proof that she was raised with great care by these two.
Ruiseine, too, initially had a tense expression, but her face began to relax under her parents’ gentle smiles.
“Elnea-kun, your feelings and resolve have been fully conveyed.”
“Thank you so much for choosing our daughter.”
Risene and Louis took my hands and rejoiced with tears in their eyes.
Ruiseine also placed her hand on mine, and the four of us shook hands firmly.
The marriage proposal greeting proceeded more smoothly than I had expected.
There was no opposition from Risene and Louis, and we enlivened our conversation in a pleasant atmosphere.
As we drank tea in the reception room, they asked me about school and our life at Dragon Peak, and I answered.
They seemed surprised to hear from Ruiseine herself that she had secretly lived at Dragon Peak for a year. When I told them about her becoming friends not only with Dragonfolk and Dragons, but also with the Mimicho and Magic Beasts, they were surprised again, realizing it was true.
“Thanks to Ruiseine and Elnea-kun forging a bond with Dragon Peak, this country has been protected from the Demon Race.”
“Is it all the guidance of the Goddess?”
I explained that it wasn’t just our power, and that the cooperation of other races, who don’t believe in the Goddess of Creation, was also significant. They became even more impressed, saying things like, “You are so young, yet you have such splendid ideas,” and “Your values are not solely based on faith.”
“But I’m relieved. I was so worried about what we’d do if you were opposed.”
“You’re lying. You slept soundly last night too, didn’t you?”
“No, that’s not true. I was talking with my parents late into the night.”
“Priscilla-chan was sulking.”
“Eh? It seemed like a normal morning to me?”
“Do you know how much trouble we went through? Ares-chan also won’t manifest if Elnea-kun isn’t around.”
“We were in the same house, so I probably could have summoned him if I wanted to?”
Didn’t Priscilla-chan just pretend to be sulky and have a lot of fun? Would it have been even more fun if she had summoned Ares-chan, but she couldn’t play together because her sulking wouldn’t be effective?
Hmm. Priscilla-chan is quite the strategist.
As Ruiseine and I shared a laugh, Risene and Louis also watched us and smiled.
“We are relieved. We can clearly see how much you trust each other.”
“If you were a horrible, domineering husband, I was thinking of properly disciplining you at least once.”
“Eh? Discipline, me!? Far from being domineering, I’m always being walked all over by everyone, and I feel pathetic.”
“Hahaha. It’s good if you’re being walked over. The Shrine is a society with Priestesses in a higher position, but things tend to go smoothly when men respect or are teased by women.”
“I will certainly keep Louis-san’s words in my heart.”
“Dear, it’s fine to be friendly with priestesses, but aren’t you spoiling the new ones a bit too much?”
“Risene, what are you talking about? That’s not true!”
It seems Louis is also being walked over by Risene. This time, Ruiseine and I laughed watching the exchange between Risene and Louis.
Their affectionate demeanor made me feel that they truly love each other.
Louis knew this when he held the fatally wounded Risene in his arms, consumed by despair, but Risene also seems to have deep feelings for Louis. I, too, hope to remain so affectionately in love for many years to come.
As we were chatting amiably, someone knocked on the reception room door from the outside.
I and Ruiseine turned our gazes, wondering what it was.
“It seems it’s time.”
“It appears the heroes have arrived.”
What could that mean?
The expressions of Risene and Louis, who had been smiling in a way that healed people just moments before, suddenly became stern.
“Well then, shall we go too?”
“Um, go where?”
“As you probably know, when marrying someone from the clergy, if you have multiple consorts, there is a trial. If you cannot overcome it, you will absolutely not be approved, regardless of whether you are you, the heroes, royalty, or clergy.”
That’s right!
The greeting to Ruiseine’s parents proceeded without any problems.
However, separate from that, we needed the Shrine’s permission.
Even Listea, who had expressed her intention to marry early, has not yet been approved. This is how strictly the Shrine side enforces its regulations. There are no exceptions for anyone, nor any leniency considered based on past achievements. The Shrine operates according to its own precepts, unbound by any country, status, or power, charting its own unique course in the world.
If one of our multiple consorts is from the clergy, we must accept these strict regulations.
The brief tension and enjoyable time came to an end, and the atmosphere turned solemn.
Ruiseine and I also straightened up, and led by Risene and Louis, we left the reception room. And then, we moved to another location.
The place we moved to was further beyond the barracks where the priestesses and Shinkans resided. It was a building that was slightly more imposing, but without any flamboyant decorations.
“This is the building where the Head Miko resides.”
Ruiseine informed me as we walked beside each other.
Apparently, the trial we will face will be directly bestowed by the Head Miko of the Great Shrine in Armēdo Kingdom’s Royal Capital, the representative of the clergy in this country.
Before leaving. I saw the Head Miko during the New Year’s Eve rituals. It wasn’t the first time I had seen her, but I still vividly remember her as a benevolent elderly woman.
Speaking of Head Mikos, I’m reminded of Madrine of the Yorttenitos Kingdom. She was a very fun person who was friends with Yufilia and Nina’s companions, but I wonder what kind of person this Head Miko will be.
Following our guide, we entered the building and, here too, entered a reception room.
There, we found three people with familiar faces and two unfamiliar pairs of men and women already waiting.
The familiar faces were the hero Listea and the priestesses Kiiri and Inea.
Perhaps the two pairs of men and women were Kiiri and Inea’s parents.
Listea and the others, who had arrived earlier, were also waiting with tense expressions.
“We have kept you waiting. This is Head Miko Yashura.”
And after a short wait for everyone. an elderly woman, led by a priestess with rich hair, entered the room.
We greeted her with polite bows.
“Thank you for coming all this way today.”
Head Miko Yashura also bowed deeply and returned the greeting. As she lowered her head, her hair was so long it almost touched the floor.
Those who serve as clergy grow their hair. The higher their rank, the more they venerate long hair. I once heard from Ruiseine that a requirement for higher ranks includes growing one’s hair to shoulder length or longer. Not only women, but men in high positions as Shinkan also grew their hair long.
As prompted, we sat down on the prepared long benches, separated by family.
Listea, Kiiri, and Inea sat together on one long bench. Ruiseine and I sat on the adjacent bench. Kiiri, Inea, and Ruiseine’s parents sat on chairs behind us.
Facing us, centered around Head Miko Yashura, were three priestesses and one Shinkan.
“One of the two on Yashura-sama’s sides will be the next Head Miko. The man is the Chief Shinkan.”
Ruiseine whispered in my ear.
It seems the leaders of the Temple Religion are all gathered here.
Listea and I exchanged tense glances.
Listea also doesn’t know the content of the trial, it seems.
Only the priestesses Kiiri and Inea and Ruiseine, as well as their parents, seem to know the details.
Listea’s and my parents were not invited. This is a trial specifically for those marrying clergy, so perhaps our parents were not invited.
Head Miko Yashura looked at all of us with slow movements. Then, in a gentle voice, she spoke terrifying words.
“As the Temple Religion, we do not permit having multiple consorts. However, we are human. We cannot ignore the feelings and emotions of those we love. Nevertheless, the ways for us to confirm that resolve from others are limited. Therefore, from now on, you will undergo a trial. With that, we will ascertain the depth of your love and your resolve.”
Her expression was by no means stern. Rather, she had a benevolent aura that seemed to forgive everything, yet her words were nothing but harsh.
“Although I am the one giving the trial, allow me to say this clearly in advance. Your lives are of utmost importance.”
After a pause, Head Miko Yashura said:
“No one who has returned after overcoming this trial has ever done so. Whether a prince or a famous adventurer. Therefore, please think carefully once more. With your families, and with your other consorts.”
A trial that is absolutely impossible to achieve. It sounds like Sera-sama’s trial, but this trial, as a matter for the Temple Religion rather than a personal one, sounds several times more severe.
“You will part ways with your other consorts and companions and go north.”
“Head Miko Yashura. We will go north, but what should we do?”
Head Miko Yashura nodded deeply at Listea’s question.
“We permit only the five of you—the clergy consort, the hero, and the two saviors—to act together. And in the northern lands, you will be tasked with picking the Full Moon Flower.”
“Full Moon Flower?”
I tilted my head at the name of a flower I had never heard of. However, Listea’s eyes widened, and she was rendered speechless.
“The Full Moon Flower is a legendary flower said to have been admired by the Goddess. However… it is a legendary flower that appears in fairy tales, but it is said that no one has ever actually seen it.”
“Eh…?”
It appears in fairy tales, but could it be a flower that doesn’t actually exist?
Do we have to go to the northern lands to search for this flower? Moreover, the fact that no one has seen it means that not even its blooming form has ever been found, right? Why do we have to go to the designated place in the northern lands to pick such a flower?
The northern lands, in other words. It is the Wyvern Hunting Ground that spreads to the north of Armēdo Kingdom’s Royal Capital, and the unexplored lands further to the north.
I wonder why the trial points to that land.
Along with the despair-inducing trial content from Head Miko Yashura, it was a declaration that brought forth a great mystery.
