Under the Moonlight
“May peace and tranquility dwell in every place and every person you visit!”
Mmm. Hmm.
I wonder if I should even say this, but it really feels like watching some kind of cult.
Not quite, but everyone kneeling and praying quietly like before, only to start shouting out loud, it makes the feeling even thicker.
If they were just praising some specific person there, it would truly be the birth of a cult. An odd monster bursting out from the shell of the Bright Light Church. Like shouting “Hail! Hydra!” from Shield or something?
“Ye noble souls who bravely faced your duties in places filled with death and fear! Ye who should not be ashamed of the title of hero!”
“Rest in peace! May you descend to the place heroes must go! Oh God. May you keep them by your side and let their loyalty and sacrifice shine through the ages!”
This one I like. Always feels good to honor our comrades.
Not just my unit members, but praise for all who devoted their entire time to fulfilling their duties. Hearing this, I feel a bit healed too, as if I who suffered the same hardships also receive some healing.
“Brothers and sisters. Let us all pray. For another gift to come to us in the spring next year.”
“God. Please, let no one shed tears. When the fresh spring breeze comes, another fortune may arrive. May you, yourself, bend down and look upon us, and receive us warmly with your touch.”
What is this? That’s right. I am your nephew. Praying for our imperial prince to be born well, and then this.
The Pope even promised, “We will offer prayers every Monday. Until the day our imperial prince is born, we will do our utmost to ensure he is born healthy and beautiful.”
They even prepared a blessed baptismal name in advance, but that was cut off.
If there was already a name decided by the imperial prince and his sister, we should use that first.
“Hahaha. Really.”
At first, I was bewildered. Maybe this whole thing is some act orchestrated in the Holy See.
Honestly, that makes sense. When the Pope prayed, nothing happened. Then when I prayed, suddenly light poured in and chaos ensued?
For those who are suspicious and love conspiracy theories, it would be believable to say, “Ah, the Empire is just putting on a show for us,” and nod.
But no matter where I looked, I realized it couldn’t possibly be an act.
If it were magic, I wouldn’t have noticed it in the first place. The feeling from mana concentration is something I’ve experienced hundreds or thousands of times in battle.
It’s like the sound of a cannon. If you don’t notice that, you’re just rolling around as meat chunks on the battlefield.
So, this is neither an act nor magic. It was beyond that level from the start.
The Holy See isn’t desperate enough to pull off such a scam, and there’s nothing to gain from it.
“Brother Karl.”
Is this the time for the Great Feast of All Saints? Or the start of something else. I was staring blankly at the scene, and when the Pope’s voice came, I reflexively stood up.
“Your Holiness.”
I am truly grateful to His Holiness the Pope. If it hadn’t been for him, I might have ended up in a situation like “Karl’s resurrection! All demons rejoice!” or something ridiculous.
He also promised a prayer meeting for our nephew. That’s enough by itself.
“May I sit for a moment?”
“Yes, Your Holiness. Please sit.”
“Thank you.”
The Pope, sitting right next to me with his butt on the chair, quietly gazes at the front. There, the scenery of the Holy See bathed in the afternoon sun, filled with a pure white aura, was unfolding.
“Yesterday’s events were truly remarkable.”
“...”
“I have never experienced such an event in my life. We pray to the Lord every day. Even if we don’t hear it, even if we don’t reach it. One day, our devotion will reach Him, and He will make this world a little more livable. A brighter place.”
“Thanks to you, Your Holiness, and the many members of the Holy See, and the members of the sects across the continent, the world has already become more livable. It has been like this so far, and it will be so today. It will be so tomorrow.”
At this, the Pope smiled and said it was really grateful. His Holiness... But this isn’t flattery! Because the benefits of the sect and religion are truly being received.
“But yesterday, the Lord himself gave the answer. It was truly a glorious moment. Even if it meant returning to the side of light right then, there would be no regrets.”
You shouldn’t say that, Your Holiness. If you suddenly go to the side of the Lord while I’m in the Holy See, I would be in a very difficult situation!
“Brother Karl.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
“The Lord loves all people above the continent. Those who believe in you, those who don’t. Those who continue good deeds. Even those who commit evil deeds. You believe that one day they will repent and regret.”
“I have heard that the merciful heart of the great one is like the sea.”
“Indeed. However, even such a God has beings that he must love more. As I said before, to my eyes, that person is just like Brother Karl here next to me.”
“I am...”
Before I could answer, the Pope shook his head and continued.
“What kind of prayer did you offer?”
“Just like all the other brothers and sisters, to family and friends, and furthermore, to all people—”
“Not that. There is something else.”
“...Perhaps for the imperial prince of the Empire.”
The Pope looked at me fixedly as if it wasn’t that either. First or second, then... the remaining one is now one.
“...Perhaps for my comrades.”
“Exactly. That’s it.”
The Pope’s eyes were looking at the Holy See. No, further than that. Looking at a place brighter than any other in the world.
“Yesterday’s light was, at the same time as the Lord looking down upon you, the noble souls stayed by your side. This old body thinks so.”
“...”
“They are heroes of the Empire. And as Brother and those who share the same will as Brother say, they are also noble people who value their comrades more than themselves. They answered your fervent prayer, didn’t they.”
I involuntarily turned to look at the Pope. Really, really, do you think that?
As if sensing my gaze, the Pope who was gazing at the front met my eyes.
“The most precious brothers stayed by your side and left.”
“...If they really came and went, can you tell why they came and went?”
Suddenly, this question popped out of my mouth. I don’t know why I asked that. After all, it wasn’t a question the Pope could answer.
Nevertheless, I wanted to ask it. If my comrades, my brothers really stayed and left, what words were they supposed to say when they came?
“I don’t know.”
“...”
His Holiness. The answer was so bold that I almost laughed without realizing. If he was trying to lighten the strange atmosphere, thank you, but it’s a somewhat embarrassing answer.
“Just as the Lord does, those by his side also do not give exact answers. We must find them ourselves. When we meet someday. To have the qualification to hear the answers we want. Shouldn’t we put in all our efforts?”
“...”
“So, to live rightly. So, to live correctly. I stand before them, and I myself boldly. I have tried to live rightly. I have worked so that I don’t tarnish your honor. So that I can say that.”
With a whoosh—
After saying that, the Pope stood up from his seat. When I tried to stand up with him, the Pope stopped me.
“Brother, sit here a bit more.”
“Your Holiness?”
“Your mind isn’t clear yet. After sorting it out a bit more, and when it becomes quieter, then stand up. And when you take steps, you can go anywhere. As long as you don’t lose your way, Brother is a person who can go anywhere.”
With those words, the Pope and the priests disappeared together. Now, only I am left.
“...”
I still don’t know. Whether the Lord really stayed for a moment and left. Or whether my comrades told me to stop. My mind is still hazy. It’s embarrassing, and a hollow laugh comes out.
Nevertheless, one thing is certain. Unlike that time, I can smile a bit more.
It’s fortunate. At least, because you knew that I really tried. At least, if I dream tonight, it won’t be the nightmare I used to have.
*
Evening. Selena was walking in the garden with Karl.
“...You said His Holiness said such words.”
“Yes. Selena. He did.”
“He gave good words.”
“The Pope is different after all.”
Karl burst into laughter, and Selena watched him cautiously. Maybe, like before, he would suddenly give off a gloomy atmosphere. Just like survivors, maybe he would shiver with guilt again.
“I’m fine, Selena.”
As if noticing that, Karl stepped forward a bit and shrugged his shoulders.
“Just a little surprised. Really. How surprised I was.”
“Frankly, I was too, Karl. When offering a prayer, suddenly a huge light above my head—”
“Th-that story, please stop. Since yesterday, I’ve heard it every time I meet the sect members.”
“Why? It was really cool! It looked like the Lord’s messenger coming down from the sky!”
Whether it’s sincere or a joke, the admiration is unclear. Every time Selena does that, Karl’s body twitches.
Maybe it’s not that my mischievous comrades did it to be laughed at once.
After that, the two men and women continued walking while talking about various things.
The stars in the night sky sparkled endlessly, the gentle night breeze flowed pleasantly. The scent of grass and the sounds of insects stimulated the senses and passed like a faint song.
“Again, there were so many things after all. Right, Karl?”
“Yeah. I don’t know how it keeps happening like this.”
They smiled at each other, and as the sound faded, awkwardness settled between the two men and women.
No. Rather than awkwardness... Yeah. Shame. Maybe that’s a better expression.
Both Karl and Selena knew it. The current atmosphere, what they were showing off.
No matter how I think, that seems right. It feels like shouting that this is the right timing.
“...”
“...”
The two men and women hesitating, and the moonlight growing more intense as if teasing them...
“Ah, a bit.”
It felt strange. Why was only this area getting brighter? After the midday sun, now even the moonlight is giving it? Please stop.
Despite Karl’s grumbling, the moonlight didn’t recede easily. As if saying, come on, I’ll give you courage, so come closer. It looks like seeing mischievous comrades from the battlefield a bit too much.
Really. Even without teasing, they would handle it finely. Karl clicked his tongue and turned his head to Selena.
A moment of gaze. A moment of hesitation. A moment of shame. And. A kiss under the Lord’s blessing to be remembered forever.