A Declaration of Resolve
“Harry. What’s your plan from here on out?”
Jun pulled Fortuna into his arms as she eyed the tower of snacks with predatory intent, and put the question to Harry. He was deeply worried about this simple-hearted friend’s future. Now that Harry had become a Saint, an ordinary life was no longer possible for him.
In peacetime it might have been different—but in an age when war with other worlds would soon break out again, becoming a Saint was an extraordinarily hard road. As a Saint, Harry would stand on the front lines of that war. He would inevitably face every kind of hardship and danger.
Part of Jun wanted to tell him to hide his identity to the end, to clear labyrinths together instead. But he didn’t. He knew full well that doing so would only put Harry in a difficult position.
Having grown up like brothers, Jun understood him completely. This pure-hearted friend would never turn his back on the role entrusted to him. So at the very least, Jun wanted to hear his plans and offer whatever advice he could.
“God told me that once I finish the coming-of-age ceremony, I should do as I please. So for now, I’m thinking of following Leon to the capital.”
“You’re going to reveal yourself and start working officially?”
The Church’s true seat of power was the Labyrinth Administration Bureau in Lemumni, but its nominal headquarters was the Papal Palace near the capital. Appointments, education, and major ceremonies were almost always held there.
“Yeah.”
“...It’s going to be hard. There’s a lot you’ll have to learn as a Saint, and plenty of people who’ll try to use you.”
Leon, especially, would keep circling around him. Shared childhood at the orphanage, plus being the son of the previous Saintess—Leon could easily leverage both to win Harry’s support. For a prince aiming at the throne, it was only natural.
But Jun did not want this simple friend to suffer because of that “natural” ambition.
“Harry. Whoever you choose to support is your decision—but before you throw your weight behind anyone, don’t just go by old ties. Make sure you know what kind of person they really are. Got it?”
“Don’t worry, Jun. I’m not becoming a Saint so I can get mixed up in the kind of thing you’re fretting about. Even if Leon throws a tantrum and cries in front of me, I won’t support him.”
“You’re going to stay neutral and sit it out? Yeah, that’s a solid approach too. But then why become a Saint at all? Is it just to fulfill the role you were given?”
“That’s part of it. The other reason is... hehe.”
Harry tried to laugh the question off. It looked so loaded with meaning that Jun almost let it go—
“Fortuna.”
“Over here? Tickle him here?”
“W-wait! Haha! Hahaha!”
—except he didn’t. Instead, he and Fortuna pinned Harry down and interrogated him properly, mercilessly tickling his armpits. What secrets were there between brothers?
“Hahaha! I-I’ll talk! I’ll talk, okay?!”
“Good. Spit it out.”
“Haa... haa... I want to be able to help you more, Jun.”
“...What?”
“The reason you’ve been training alongside Leon and Donald since we were kids—it’s because something big is going to happen in the future, isn’t it?”
“Sorry. I can’t tell you that.”
Among the conditions for receiving additional points and the Stigma were not only a ban on revealing knowledge from his past life and a ban on excessive evil deeds, but also a complete ban on disclosing any information related to God. Even if he wanted to warn Harry about the other worlds’ re-invasion and its approximate timing—knowledge he had gained through his conversations with the divine—he simply couldn’t.
If I could, I might have been able to spread word of how serious things are and get people actively preparing for war...
Jun let out a heavy sigh of frustration and clenched his left hand, where the Stigma was etched. The mark burned hot against his skin, as if warning him not to drop any further hints.
As though he had already expected the refusal, Harry simply nodded.
“God said the same thing—that He couldn’t teach me about that big event either. So I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I do know for certain that something major is coming.”
“Harry. Don’t tell me—”
“I’ll become a Saint and prepare for it. So that you and Fortuna can have that happy life you two always talk about.”
At those words, Jun looked steadily into Harry’s eyes. Behind that clear gaze lay a firm resolve. He meant every word. Jun couldn’t stay silent.
“...Harry. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for me and Fortuna.”
“Yes, I do. I’m only alive right now because of you two.”
Even after Harry’s refusal, Jun tried once more to talk him out of it. But Harry shook his head first and cut him off.
“Jun. This is my life. Whether you want me to or not, I’m going to live it my way.”
“...Fine. Live however you want, you idiot.”
Jun locked him in a headlock and ruffled his hair roughly. Having worked out the apology and the gratitude tangled up inside him, he spoke quietly.
“Thanks, friend.”
“Yeah! Hehe.”
Time passed, and the day of the coming-of-age ceremony arrived. The quiet country village was bustling from early morning for once.
“Here. Let’s put one over here too.”
“Don’t just talk about it—do it yourself!”
The men went around the village setting up torches, praying that the futures of the children becoming adults today would burn as bright and warm as those flames.
“You woman! How can you dump salt in like that?!”
“That’s how it tastes good! It’s a special day—don’t be so stingy.”
The women gathered in one place and put their cooking skills on full display. Villagers had to pay a small fee to eat, but every child undergoing the ceremony today could eat free of charge—one last chance to act spoiled before becoming adults.
“Wow∼! Jun! Jun! That! I want that!”
“I get it, so calm down, Fortuna.”
Even with Jun holding her back, Fortuna’s eyes stayed locked on the whole roast pig turning golden over the charcoal, refusing to look away. Jun was the one who had been stuck in rehearsals since dawn without a bite to eat—yet somehow Fortuna, who had been sitting around snacking on cookies, seemed far hungrier.
She doesn’t even need to eat, so why is she this obsessed with food? Is she really an angel?
Watching her so faithful to her desires always raised that question. Jun snorted a laugh and glanced back.
“What about you guys? I’m planning to fill up with Fortuna.”
At his question, Leon, Donald, Harry, Linda, and Heni—who had been trailing after him—all fell into thought at once. While he waited, Linda and Heni exchanged a look and nodded.
Then—
“Today,”
“we’re going on a date with Jun Oppa.”
—they latched onto both of his arms at the same time.
“Haha. A couple of lovely young ladies want to hang out with me. Leon, you okay with that?”
“That’s a little... ugh! Fine.”
Under the ladies’ fierce glares, Leon immediately tucked his tail between his legs. Ever since they had heard about everything Jun had done over the past four years, Leon couldn’t hold his head up around them. He must have gotten an earful and then some.
Every time Jun saw him like that, he swore he would never end up that whipped himself.
“Well then, permission granted. Heh heh—come here.”
“Fufufu. How embarrassing.”
“Kyaa∼. Your hands are so naughty.”
He slipped his arms around both ladies’ waists and pulled them snug against him. They didn’t resist, leaning into his body. The pleasant softness of their figures pressed close.
Grit.
“Jun, you sure about this? If you let your guard down and lose our match, don’t come crying to me.”
Leon ground his teeth, furious at having his girlfriends netorare’d right in front of him. For the record, the day Leon’s identity as a prince had been revealed, Heni and Linda had confessed to him—and Leon had accepted both of them.
It was a happy occasion, but not purely so. Because of it, one young man had shed tears of heartbreak.
Jun snuck a glance at Donald. The boy was glaring daggers at Jun’s hand wrapped around Linda’s waist, eyes blazing.
So he still hasn’t given up. Looks like a one-track heart under that exterior. How are they so alike even in this?
Whenever Donald’s master, Leonard, spoke of the previous Saintess—Leon’s mother—his face always carried a deep, lingering affection. Jun had never confirmed it outright, but Leonard had clearly been in love with her.
But he never managed to confess his feelings, and just watched her become another man’s woman. Just like Donald.
That shared wound, Jun suspected, was why Leonard—who had never taken a disciple—had suddenly accepted Donald as his student.
“Hey, Leon. Let’s go back and train.”
“Donald. You gonna help me?”
“Yeah, damn it. So go flatten that bastard’s nose.”
I think you’re mad at the wrong person...
Regardless of what Jun thought, Donald and Leon ground their teeth and headed back toward the church. After exchanging a silent look with the two women, Harry waved to Jun and followed after them.
“Well then, ladies. Shall we go enjoy some quality time of our own?”
“Fufu. Yes.”
“Hurry up, Oppa.”
Jun set off with Linda and Heni. From behind came the continuous sound of teeth grinding—grit, grit. For some reason—he truly couldn’t say why—his mood soared.
Why was that?