The Flute-Playing Priest - (End)
“What… what exactly do you mean by that?”
Elise doubted her own ears. What had this man just said? A life that should have ended. Vitality leaking out like water from a cracked vessel. The story was hard to believe, yet Ignacio’s gaze was deadly serious.
“I mean it literally. Leo has been living on borrowed time. I cannot say exactly when that time will run out, but it will come soon.”
“That… that can’t be true!”
“Precisely because it makes no sense, it is fate. A path ordained by God. I have lived a long time, yet His will remains difficult to comprehend.”
Ignacio spoke as if it were nothing, but Elise’s hands trembled. This can’t be…
She wanted to deny it. But the old man before her was a legendary priest. His insight could not be wrong. Refusing to believe would be stranger still. Despair crashed over her like a wave, threatening to swallow her whole.
“Does Leo… does the priest know about this?”
“He has never said so directly. Still… who knows? That boy has always been sharp. He’s given me plenty of headaches since he was small.”
If Leo had known, Elise could suddenly understand everything—his calm detachment, his lack of greed, even the sudden, almost escapist decision to take this vacation. Had he been acting on the premonition of his own end?
Her lips parted, but no words came. Sensing her turmoil, Ignacio softened his expression.
“In truth, that is why I sent him to Erebos. I thought he would enjoy his remaining days better in a finer place than this rural village.”
“…”
“Looking at the people who came for him, I wonder if he inherited octopus blood. Never imagined he would entangle four women at once. He’s a disgrace as a priest. Heh.”
Ignacio chuckled and leaned his broom against the wall. Elise did not laugh. She could not. She felt like a condemned prisoner who had just heard her sentence.
“Why… why are you telling me this, Ignacio?”
“Call it an old man’s worry. A whim, if you will, from a faithful servant of God who cannot lie to the Saint candidate.”
Elise’s face twisted. Fate had decreed Leo’s death. She forced herself to accept it. Who decided that…? Acceptance did not mean submission. Elise had always chosen her own path, and it was Leo who had taught her that.
“Fate, God’s will… they can all go to hell.”
Ignacio’s eyes widened at the crude curse that left her lips.
“Is there… any way to extend the priest’s life?”
“A cracked vessel cannot be mended.”
“Then…”
Elise bit her lip. “You just keep pouring water into the cracked vessel. More than what leaks out. Or… prepare a new vessel.”
Ignacio smiled gently at her rambling.
“It may not be impossible. Yet the world will converge upon Leo’s death. Only someone who can withstand that convergence and twist fate itself could be called a true apostle of God.”
“An apostle of God…”
A distant, lofty realm. But Elise was the Saint candidate—an uncut gem of exceptional talent even within the Church. Valois had recognized that talent and raised her as both vessel and sacrifice. In that case…
“Teach me. How do I reach that level?”
Elise spoke with resolve. The man before her once possessed holy power so great he was revered as a saint. Even in old age, he would not have lost his knowledge.
“Please guide me, Ignacio.”
“Heh.”
She could ask for no better instructor in the ways of holy power.
“I have already left the Church. I run this chapel, but it is little more than a pretense.”
“I’ll pay you whatever you want.”
“I have no interest in money.”
Ignacio shook his head. Anyone who funded an orphanage in this remote place with his own coin likely had no need for wealth. Elise racked her brain for another approach. Before she could speak, Ignacio smiled.
“However, if it is the request of a woman willing to defy God’s will to save one man… that is a different matter.”
He tossed the broom he had been holding toward her.
“Leo is like a son to me. I will believe in your resolve to save him.”
“Ah…!”
“In return, you must be prepared for what lies ahead.”
Elise nodded, her expression grave. She would walk through fire if she had to.
*
Clearing up the misunderstanding about Void required considerable effort.
“So… this is the spirit you mentioned?”
“Mama!”
“Yes. It appears to have taken that form after receiving mana from Lady Isolde.”
“Priest!”
Even after hearing Void’s explanation, Isolde wore a bewildered expression for some time. Void, oblivious to the tension, rubbed against her as if nothing were amiss—having apparently recognized at once who supplied her with mana, just as she had in her dog form.
“Mama!”
“…Calling me ‘Mama’ is…”
“Void, that’s rude to Lady Isolde.”
“Mama!”
With an awkward look, Isolde gently stroked the head of the child clinging to her. The girl resembled her perfectly, save for the color of her eyes. Isolde spoke carefully.
“Um… Void, if I’m your mama… then your papa is…”
“Priest!”
“…”
Isolde swallowed hard. She glanced between Void and me, then offered a sheepish smile.
“…Ahaha. That’s… quite the research topic. Yes. A spirit taking human form…”
“R-right. Yes.”
Silence lingered for a moment. Then Isolde spoke again.
“By the way… has the priest been the one bathing and dressing this child?”
“I usually leave that to Helena at Ophelia Hall, but under the current circumstances… yes. That’s correct.”
“…”
Isolde’s face flushed crimson and she bowed her head. Void had taken her exact appearance; the embarrassment was understandable. While I wondered how to smooth things over, Void noticed Isolde’s reddened cheeks and chirped brightly.
“Red!”
She was learning new words even in this situation. How impressive.
“Hmm…”
The commotion caused by Void gradually subsided. I began preparing to send everyone back.
“Since the misunderstanding is cleared, it’s time for all of you to return to Erebos.”
“Return?”
“Yes. You have classes, and Lady Sophia needs to prepare for her qualification exam. We can’t stay here like this.”
“But, Master…”
“Of course, I’m coming too.”
I had planned to spend a full month relaxing in my hometown, but that was no longer possible. These girls would never leave without me. More importantly, the fourth arc was fast approaching. To prevent the coming disaster, it would be better to prepare together within the academy’s walls.
“You mean it, right? You’re not going to run away again after saying that?”
I waved my hands at Ottilie’s question.
“I’m not running. I can’t run. Besides, I’ve never run away. I’ll pack my things, so wait outside.”
I ushered them out and began tidying the room.
“Haa…”
The rare peace had come to an end. It was a shame, but there was nothing to be done. This was simply my lot in life. If I wanted to blame someone, I should blame myself for hearing Elise’s confession that day.
I packed. There was little to take.
“Priest!”
The biggest bundle, at least, was Void.
Carrying her in my arms, I stepped into the courtyard where a carriage already waited. Everyone had finished preparing to leave, yet one person was missing.
“Where is Lady Elise?”
Now that I thought about it, Elise had never entered the room. Sophia shrugged at my question.
“I don’t know. I saw the white dog talking with that old man earlier…”
“With the head priest?”
Just as suspicion crept in, Elise emerged from the chapel.
“Are you planning to return to Erebos, Father?”
“Yes. Since things have turned out this way, I intend to spend the rest of my vacation in Erebos.”
Elise nodded, then dropped a bombshell without changing her expression.
“I’m staying here.”
“…Pardon?”
Staying? Elise? In this remote village? Why?
“…Um… why do you wish to stay?”
“I… need to become stronger.”
What on earth was she talking about? I frowned, and the head priest stepped out of the chapel behind her.
“Leo, the Saint candidate has asked me to instruct her.”
“…Instruction?”
“Yes. A modest lesson in the use of holy power.”
I tilted my head. But the real issue wasn’t the lessons. Elise staying behind was the problem.
This is troublesome.
The fourth arc would be no small ordeal. Losing Elise, who was supposed to be our reliable support, felt like a bolt from the blue. Yet her eyes were utterly serious.
“During the last cathedral incident, I realized something painful. With my current strength, I can’t protect anything. I could only watch while you were hurt, Father…”
“…”
“I’m going to become stronger. Not as the Church’s puppet, but as a true Saint who wields real power.”
She had shown no interest in becoming a Saint and had planned to run away after graduation. Whatever wind had blown through her, Elise now wore an intensely determined expression. I shot the head priest a look demanding an explanation. He merely smiled.
“The Saint candidate is quite the fine gem. She’s worth passing my knowledge to—unlike you, you century’s calamity.”
“…Hmm.”
I had already guessed he was a skilled priest from the way he had detected Elise’s energy flowing through my body earlier. Still, instructing the Church’s most promising Saint candidate was another matter. While I stood there looking puzzled, Elise stepped closer.
“Wait for me. I’ll definitely come find you.”
Her golden eyes were distant, nothing like her usual playful gaze. What change of heart had occurred? I was deeply curious, but I chose not to ask. With her mind made up like this, I had no right to interfere. Besides, there was no reason to stop her from training to grow stronger.
“Just promise me one thing.”
“Yes.”
“You must return to Erebos within two weeks.”
Elise nodded.
“Yes. I’ll definitely come back.”
That was enough. A little over two weeks remained until the fourth arc. If she arrived without delay, we could still make it in time.
“Priest! White!”
Void shouted, pointing at the color of Elise’s hair.