Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 837

◈ 837. Future, Promise, Farewell

Rembrary opened the box.

The gaze directed at the contents of the box was more subdued than usual.

Rembrary took out a piece of high-quality paper from the drawer, pressed down firmly to write a message, then placed the paper inside the box and closed the lid.

This was an item he had specially commissioned from a blacksmith at the Libulen Palace a few months ago. He would probably be satisfied.

* * *

It was when Mulu, as usual, stayed late at the training grounds, finished her training, and returned to her quarters.

“Mulu, someone sent you a gift.”

The dormitory supervisor glanced from behind the glass counter on the first floor, opened the door, and called out.

“A gift? From who?”

“Well, the sender’s name isn’t written on it.”

The supervisor told her to wait a moment, then went back inside and came out again. In her hands, she held a box that was even taller than Mulu.

Mulu’s eyes widened. What is that?

“Is that a gift?”

“Why don’t you open it and see? I’m so curious myself.”

The supervisor pointed to the supervisor’s office with her eyes.

“We even made bets among ourselves about what it could be.”

Mulu crouched down and untied the ribbon that wrapped around the box.

“It looks like a ribbon made of very expensive fabric. Look at this. It’s softer than seaweed.”

The supervisor held the received ribbon high in one hand and murmured.

Mulu took off the lid of the box.

“Ah.”

A gasp came out involuntarily. Inside the box was a pure white spear. It was a spear with delicate rose engravings on the shaft, and it looked incredibly precious at first glance.

“Amazing. Who sent it?”

“I don’t know.”

Mulu took out the letter envelope placed under the spear.

“What does it say?”

The curious supervisor urged her to read the letter quickly. Mulu hesitated, then put the letter in her coat pocket.

“I’ll read this alone.”

“Why?”

“They intentionally didn’t write who sent it.”

Could it be from her sister? Mulu became gloomy at the thought. She knew that couldn’t be the case. If her sister had sent it, she wouldn’t have sent it secretly.

“Isn’t it from your family?”

“I don’t think so.”

Although they were a family of knights for generations, if her family had sent it, there would be no need to hide the sender’s name.

Mulu put the spear back in the box and hugged it. Because the box was too big, the supervisor hesitated, then tied the ribbon in Mulu’s hair.

“This seems like a very expensive fabric; it’s a waste.”

When Mulu stared at her with wide eyes, the supervisor mumbled embarrassedly.

“Please keep the letter a secret. I don’t want other people asking about it.”

Mulu asked the supervisor and went up the stairs. When she entered her room, Mulu quickly took the spear out of the box and placed it on the bed.

She took the letter envelope out of her pocket and carefully scratched it open with a knife so that the envelope wouldn’t be damaged. The contents of the secretly sent letter were bland.

-Happy birthday.

Mulu blinked and looked back at the spear. Was it not for her? Did the supervisor give it to her by mistake?

Today was not Mulu’s birthday. Mulu’s birthday was February 14th, so it had already been more than four months.

Mulu went back down to the supervisor’s office and asked the same supervisor from before.

“Teacher, are you sure the gift was for me?”

“Why? Is someone else’s name written on the letter?”

No. But someone else’s birthday is written on it. Mulu couldn’t decide whether to answer or not.

“It’s definitely for you. The postman came and said to give it to ‘Cheru’s younger sister, Mulu’?”

“!”

There was no one with the same name in the training camp, but if her sister’s name was also mentioned, it was definitely for her. Mulu tilted her head and went back to her room.

* * *

Rembrary and Ridal both turned ten years old, and in the upcoming Divine Power Test, both were naturally expected to become lay priests [priests who haven’t taken full vows].

This was a fact known not only to themselves but also to all the priests working at the Redrin Grand Temple.

Ridal became more and more anxious and uneasy as the day approached, and she couldn’t bear it.

Even though she had a bright future ahead of her, she sometimes wondered why she was so anxious.

One night, Ridal sat next to Rembrary, who was watching the moon, and confided her feelings.

“My heart beats so fast when I think about becoming a lay priest. Do you feel that way too?”

“No.”

“Do you ever have times when your heart beats fast?”

“Yes. It’s just rare.”

“…….”

Ridal was newly amazed and admired Rembrary’s profile before looking up at the moon herself.

The air, mixed with the scent of grass and night, was sweeter than Rembrary’s favorite cream bread. Ridal stretched out her hand towards the moon and smiled.

“Do you like it that much?”

Rembrary, who was also curious about her appearance, asked, and Ridal smiled brightly and nodded.

“Yes. But I’m also nervous.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Ridal frowned and tilted her head.

Rembrary tilted his head along with her and said, “Ah,” as if he had remembered something.

“I think I know.”

“You know why I’m nervous?”

“Yes.”

How do you know that? You think in a completely different way than other people, don’t you? Ridal tried hard to hold back the words that were about to pop out.

Rembrary rarely gets hurt, but you never know.

“The number of monsters has increased, and demons are being discovered everywhere. When we become lay priests, we have to work, so we have to fight demons too. That’s why Ridal is nervous.”

That’s not it at all. Ridal thought to herself, but when she saw Rembrary smiling confidently, she decided to just say yes.

That wasn’t the real reason she was nervous, but after hearing it, she became concerned about that aspect as well.

“Will we go to other temples when we become lay priests? There are almost only high-ranking priests here. Lay priests are people with very good heads like the secretary priests…….”

“Kentri isn’t smart and isn’t a high-ranking priest, but he’s here because he’s young. Ridal can stay here for a few years too.”

Ridal smiled weakly and quickly looked around in case Kentri was nearby.

Fortunately, no one was there.

Ridal laughed out loud and said impulsively.

“Hey, Rembrary. Later… when we’re a little older, when we’re old enough to go on a pilgrimage…”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go on a pilgrimage together.”

Ridal looked at Rembrary with shining eyes. It was an impulsive thing to say, but the more she thought about it, the more fun it seemed.

Rembrary is always calm, and she gets along well with people, so it would be perfect for them to travel together.

“Let’s go around every corner, heal the injured, and show people who don’t believe in Redrin how great Redrin is. How about it?”

“The baby is full of dreams and hopes.”

“……Do you hate it?”

Ridal asked, feeling discouraged.

“I like it.”

Rembrary answered without much difficulty. Ridal nodded quickly, excited.

“It’s a promise.”

* * *

For Rembrary, the promise he made with Ridal was very easy to keep.

Rembrary thought that the day he would go on a pilgrimage or a trip with Ridal would come soon.

However, a few days after the Redrin Grand Temple was greatly shaken, someone urgently woke Rembrary, who was asleep.

“Rembrary, wake up. Wake up.”

Rembrary opened his eyes blankly. Kentri was standing at the head of the bed with an urgent expression.

“Are you awake?”

As soon as their eyes met, Kentri asked in a voice that was twice as fast as usual. Rembrary pulled up the blanket and turned away.

“It’s not time to sleep! Ridal is leaving!”

Even after hearing those words, Rembrary didn’t budge.

Kentri let go of the blanket. He thought they were somewhat close, but maybe he didn’t care much about Ridal either?

As soon as he had that thought, the blanket slowly went down, and even more slowly, Rembrary turned back towards Kentri.

“Where to?”

Rembrary’s words were frustratingly slow. Kentri grabbed Rembrary’s arm and pulled him up.

“Home! Let’s go! Or you won’t even see her face.”

“Going home? Why home?”

Rembrary was dragged along without even putting on his slippers properly. When they went out to the entrance of the dormitory, they saw a carriage rapidly moving away in the dim morning sunlight.

“Ah… I think she’s already gone.”

Kentri sighed and glared at Rembrary.

“It’s because you were dawdling.”

Rembrary was finally waking up. Rembrary rubbed his eyes and looked at the carriage leaving through the main gate.

“Is Ridal in that carriage?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Why did Ridal go home?”

“I don’t know. But it seemed like she was leaving for good. She might quit being a priest.”

Rembrary was now fully awake. Rembrary stared blankly at Kentri. Ridal is quitting being a priest?

“Just a few days ago, she was so happy about becoming a lay priest, wasn’t she?”

They even promised to go on a pilgrimage together. She was so excited that she couldn’t sleep or eat properly. But she’s going home in the morning?

“Isn’t she just going for a visit?”

Kentri shook his head quickly.

“No. The atmosphere was strange. I saw her while going to the bathroom, and Ridal was dragging a big bag and crying. And the priest-”

Kentri was about to say something more, but footsteps approached. Kentri stopped talking in a hurry.

The person who walked quickly was the secretary priest.

“Rembrary…!”

The secretary priest approached Rembrary, and when he saw Rembrary’s bare feet standing on the cold stone floor, his eyes shook greatly.

“Did you run out barefoot?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t my will.”

Kentri dragged him out. Rembrary pointed at the culprit with his eyes, but the secretary priest already seemed to have misunderstood properly.

“The two of you have been together since the Florandia Temple. You must be very surprised.”

Kentri thought this was the perfect time to ask.

“Priest, where did Ridal go? Why did she go home?”

“Didn’t you hear why she left?”

“We didn’t even get to talk. I just vaguely heard that she was going home.”

Kentri saw Ridal packing her bags and going down the stairs and was so surprised that he ran to wake Rembrary. He didn’t know any of the specific circumstances.

The secretary priest made a face as if he was wondering, ‘Should I say it?’ then sighed and suddenly turned around.

“Priest? Why did Ridal leave?”

“There are many children who quit and go back during their apprenticeship.”

The secretary priest’s voice was nonchalant.

“Ridal isn’t the type to do that.”

Kentri continued to follow the secretary priest and ask.

Instead of following them, Rembrary stood blankly and looked at the tall, large iron gate in front of him.

The holy knights standing on either side of the iron gate were closing the iron gate again after briefly opening it for the carriage to pass through.

Next to it, he could see the sloping lawn where the two of them had watched the moon together a few days ago.

-Hey, Rembrary. Later… when we’re a little older, when we’re old enough to go on a pilgrimage. Let’s go on a pilgrimage together.

He remembered Ridal’s words as she sparkled her eyes.

Kentri was right. Ridal wasn’t someone who would leave on her own. In just one more month, Ridal would be able to go the path she wanted.