Aftermath (1)
Those ominous shadowkin, treated like creatures of darkness, had staggered into the Kalderan Cathedral on the brink of death—only to be revived.
And of all people, the one who healed that shadowkin was none other than the saintess, the very embodiment of Kalderan's light.
Everyone had gathered to confirm it for themselves, and by pure coincidence—or so it seemed—the sun itself blessed the moment, shining down like a spotlight.
And all of this lined up almost perfectly with the prayer an ancient saint had woven into the winds.
If they just accepted the shadowkin now, it wouldn't be "almost"—it would fit together like the final piece of a puzzle.
Just like that.
For the Kalderan Cathedral, it fulfilled the prophecy.
For the shadowkin, it was something impossible made real.
So, it was a miracle.
Something...
Something...
I felt like I'd been thoroughly dragged into this mess and tossed around like a ragdoll.
Ashushikara, the one who'd sparked the whole chain of events—no, the miracle itself—returned to her room and let out that holy sentiment.
"Phew~ It all worked out somehow."
Ssu and I had been summoned back upstairs.
We couldn't leave anyway with the crowds blocking everything, so the excuse was to chat with the miracle's protagonists about the "joyous tidings."
The moment we entered, Ashushikara flung herself into a chair and stretched out with a long, drawn-out streeetch~.
Ssu's eyes were completely unfocused.
She was shocked that she'd been healed in the cathedral, shocked to be surrounded by crowds, shocked to receive a blessing out of nowhere, shocked to be in the same room as the saintess who symbolized Kalderan's sun...
If you drew Ssu's pupils right now, they'd look like @@.
Ssu, just flop over and pass out already.
Worked out, huh?
"You received a revelation and performed a miracle according to the god's will, didn't you?"
"It wasn't just luck—it went exactly as the god you believe in intended, right?"
"…………."
A silence loaded with very, very deep meaning.
What if Ssu's body had been carried out of the cathedral back then?
The gathered shadowkin wouldn't have just shrugged it off with a "Yeah, figures." They'd have unleashed all their pent-up resentment in one explosive outburst.
When that much frustration converges in one place, it turns into a riot—and the cathedral could burn.
Ashushikara must have figured sending me and a healthy Ssu out was the only way to prevent a riot or protest at the cathedral steps.
Bonus points for indirectly staging "The bishop and saintess cooperated too."
But somehow, that miracle happened instead.
Maybe today's miracle was...
Just some brilliant ad-lib from a quick thinker.
Like how dream interpretation beats the dream itself.
"...I'm just glad I could bestow blessings on everyone."
Ad-lib confirmed! Dream interpretation nailed it!
I shrugged and shot her a knowing signal.
Ashushikara let out a soft ‘huhu,’ flashing a brief, screen-like black smirk.
But was this really just coincidence and improvisation?
"Ashushikara, I get the feeling you're someone with a lot you want to do—and a lot you want to change."
"Yeah, I figured you'd understand, Kirgil. You really do deserve this ring."
Ashushikara showed off the Connection Ring on her right ring finger.
...It was on her middle finger yesterday.
At least it's not her left hand.
Probably no special meaning here either. Let's assume that.
"I'll be using you a lot from now on. Huhuhu."
Now she's not even hiding it, grinning like a full-on villain.
I might be in the clutches of a scary woman.
But...
Her goals don't seem bad.
Today's events had fundamentally dismantled the cathedral's discrimination, after all.
Even if it was ad-libbed, you couldn't pull off something that bold without prior thoughts or prep.
Ashushikara might be hoping to leverage my mission and her own calling for all sorts of reforms.
And honestly? That piques my interest a bit.
"Huhuhu, now you're my accomplice. Finally, we've got our justification."
A little scary. Gotta stay vigilant.
Come to think of it, she's basically a shadow puppetmaster secretly steering world order.
Oh, right—one thing I need to ask.
"This is a temple to the sun god, but last night you were praying under a moonless sky—no sun in sight."
"Any special reason?"
"……."
Ashushikara rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head.
"No idea."
"I just woke up suddenly and felt like I needed to pray. Then the other priests followed me out."
"Why do you think that happened?"
Answering a question with a question—and somehow, that is the answer.
The other priests probably tagged along because a priestess with stronger divine power than them was heading out to pray.
But.
"Maybe it's that humans can't arrogantly presume to grasp the gods' intentions."
"……."
Ashushikara pondered deeply for a moment.
"Yeah, let's go with that."
She flashed a bright smile, looking refreshed.
The plaza in front of the cathedral was packed—not just with people, but food and booze barrels from who-knows-where, turning everything into a rowdy festival.
The priests didn't seem restricted from alcohol either; the off-duty ones were out there drinking with everyone.
The cathedral knights...
Still on high alert.
Can't blame them with VIPs inside.
Suddenly, a roar exploded from the plaza—like it was about to burst.
It was so intense that even Ashushikara and I, deep in a second-floor room, had to check it out.
As I stood, Ssu jolted in panic and koala-clung to me.
This kid's abandoned thinking entirely for pure instinct.
Heading to the chapel, I heard chants: "Long live the lord! May Kalderan's light be with him!!"
"Blessings upon the lady too!!" Everyone joined in.
Then the cathedral doors swung open.
Liard General opened them, and the lord's first wife—with her brown skin—stepped inside.
"WAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
Another earth-shaking cheer rocked the place.
The countess hurried straight to Ashushikara and clasped her hands.
"I am Feripa, wife of Count Prosek and shadow of the Baida Cliffs."
"This is my first time greeting you, Saintess."
"I apologize that Kalderan's light has not reached you until now."
"I promise to watch over not just you, but all shadowkin from here on."
They exchanged blessings, the countess burst into tears, and Ashushikara embraced her.
The cheers outside didn't stop.
Amid it all, Liard glanced at me—standing a bit apart from the saintess.
Our eyes met, and he bowed deeply in formal greeting.
Oho! Perfect timing.
Finally escaping this prison without bars—Ashu's party.
I grabbed my stuff, snuck Ssu into Liard's escort procession, and bolted.
The guards parted the crowds for the countess—couldn't be easier.
Of course, we slipped out without the priests noticing.
The bishop's been hounding me for info to "record this great event."
Say I'm heading home? He'd grab me for sure.
Ashushikara can handle the rest.
She started this whole miracle aftermath and its crowds—extremely tiring for her.
A good while later.
"I, Liard, never saw any of this coming."
"Even you didn't predict it? Feels like I finally landed a hit on you."
Finally got to share a drink with Liard General. In a quiet, spacious tavern inside the castle—far from the festival hub.
Probably a high-end inn-cum-bar by this world's standards.
Yep, fewer people suits me fine.
Ssu sat primly in the back corner, knees together, hands folded—like a fresh recruit at attention.
Her eyes had shrunk to pinpricks. Earlier confusion, now mortal terror.
"That girl there—you called her Ssu from Nightshadow Village?"
"Y-yes, sir! You can call me Ssu!"
I knew Liard had a rep as terrifying.
Ssu turning into a proper lady was hilarious.
Pity flickered briefly, but nah—she needs the discipline. Manners drilled in.
So, ignoring her.
"Here, you take a drink too."
Ssu offered her cup with both hands at a perfect right angle.
Sharp. Disciplined.
"I know it too. Without you, Kirgil couldn't have pulled off this miracle. Don't hide in the corner—come sit here."
Liard spoke gently, like a kind grandpa, but Ssu was sweating bullets.
Fun. Enhances the booze.
Manners born of fear and pain, huh.
Maybe nudge her a bit?
"Smells good, right? Super expensive, rare stuff. Hope you don't spill a drop in front of Liard General."
Ssu glanced at me, stared at her cup, trembled...
And downed it in one gulp!?
That's top-shelf liquor!!
"Hngheheng..."
"Puhahahaha! Kirgil, your teasing's too much."
"Here, drink some water."
Yep, she overdid it from nerves. Kid stuff for strong booze.
More water first. Lay her down early.
Water jug by the bed.
"Even I, who brought you into the hero ranks, am just stunned by this."
"Feels like less than a month. Incredible."
"No clue here either. Came to, and chaos everywhere—didn't feel like I did much."
"Tired, noisy, dizzy... You showing up was a lifesaver."
"Puhahahahaha!! Honored to aid the miracle hero."
"This day will be my lifelong glory, Liard swears. I'll boast about it forever at drinks. Hahahaha!"
We drained our cups amid his booming laugh.
Ku~ Savoring the strong aftertaste, Liard spoke.
"Originally, the lord was supposed to come to the cathedral too."
I'd wondered about that. A miracle and festival in his own territory.
Politician-wise, prime time to spin it as his achievement.
Win a World Cup match, and the president's approval spikes.
"The lord's got such an upright personality—once he promises, he sticks to it."
"...No way?"
"Yes. Because of you, Kirgil. He promised before. Even blocked Lady Orio's visit."
The hero condition: no seeing the lord or Orio wife.
And he honors it—even now. Stubborn...
Like father, like son.
"You might not realize, Kirgil, but from today, your influence in this territory is massive."
"Especially—you've completely won the shadowkin."
"You need to understand that."
Sudden bombshell.
I'd left Agnes Village aiming to change this world a bit.
Something's finally starting. Then I—!!
"...Wanna run away."