The Master's Arrival
“Having a priest like you around makes everything so much easier.”
“Your skills have improved tremendously.”
“If you all keep training, you’ll reach my level too. I’ll teach you everything I know.”
“Oh dear, that’ll take forever!”
“It feels so far away!”
The surrounding priests burst into bright laughter. Ah—my ears felt cleansed. The sound of rolling pearls, something I never heard in the Labyrinth, soothed my restless heart.
“Oh! I have a confession to make.”
“What is it?”
“I actually worked up the courage to apply.”
“Apply for what?”
“To enter the Labyrinth.”
The priest’s bombshell announcement sent the room into an uproar. I had noticed some priests growing bolder after watching me come and go from the Labyrinth, but I never expected such a sudden declaration.
“Why didn’t you tell us? I was thinking about it too!”
“I just… didn’t want to make a fuss. I wanted to go quietly.”
Since she had volunteered for the Labyrinth, I couldn’t stay silent as someone with experience.
“It will definitely help you. You’ll gain so much from being inside.”
“Yes, I think so too. I’m still scared, but I want to be brave.”
Watching someone strive to improve was always heartwarming. Once one person spoke up, the others seemed far more shaken. They crowded around the priest who had made the announcement, bombarding her with questions.
“Do they accept everyone who applies? There aren’t any special conditions, right?”
“What do we need to prepare? How long is the schedule?”
“Goodness, if you all ask at once, how am I supposed to answer? I’ll reply one at a time.”
The treatment center grew lively with talk of the Labyrinth. I had almost mentioned it myself but instead hurried to speak to her.
“If you come find me later, I’ll give you whatever advice I can.”
“Oh! Thank you so much. Among the people I know, you’re the only one who’s been inside the Labyrinth, so I had no idea where to turn.”
“Ugh… what about me?”
“Try to find your courage. But don’t let yourself be swept up by others and make an impulsive decision just because you’re scared.”
Entering the Labyrinth was no child’s game, so caution was necessary. Even with protection, danger couldn’t be ruled out entirely.
“Hwaaang! When you put it like that, it sounds even harder!”
“How about this? Once I return, I’ll tell you everything I experienced!”
“Really? If you do that, I’d be so grateful…”
The priests’ anxious expressions brightened at the promise that she would share her firsthand account of the dangers.
“Th-then, could I ask you too…?”
“Of course. When I get back, I’ll gather everyone and share my Labyrinth stories.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll never forget this!”
“I’ll pray for your safe return every evening and cheer you on!”
“Yes! Knowing that will give me strength. I’ll do my best!”
I was watching the warm scene with a contented smile when someone slipped up behind me and spoke.
“How heartwarming. No wonder you never want to come back.”
“H-huh?! Who—Bishop?!”
The voice was familiar, yet one I never expected to hear here. A chill ran down my spine. It couldn’t be a ghost, so he must have come after reading my letter.
When I stared at him in shock, he laughed heartily.
“It’s been a while.”
“What brings you all the way here?!”
“What else? I came because of your letter. Why else would I?”
He wouldn’t have come without reason. I felt I could expect a positive answer.
“…You’ll do it?”
I had asked, but it was the kind of favor that would burden anyone. Yet my master looked at me with clear, untroubled eyes.
“Of course. The disciple who always handled everything alone sent his first plea for help. How could I ignore it?”
Knowing he would help lifted a weight from my shoulders. The problem was that the surroundings weren’t ideal for a private conversation. Too many curious eyes were watching us.
“This is my master, Bishop Saul of the Palmore Church.”
“Oh! May the Sun God’s blessing be with you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bishop. May the Sun God’s blessing be with you.”
The sudden introduction startled everyone.
“Even though we’ve just met, you all feel strangely familiar and warm. Thank you for being so kind to my boy.”
Wait, Master? Why would you say that…
“We’re the ones who should be grateful. Arthur has been so good to us.”
“That’s right. He’s truly a blessing.”
“You all seem quite close. Haha! Now I understand why that rascal never wanted to return. With a flower garden like this, how could a countryside church even catch his eye?”
The priests giggled at the bishop’s words. I had wondered why he greeted me so slyly—now I understood after seeing his face.
‘If I had made that face, I would’ve said the same thing.’
I wasn’t sure if I should say this about my own master, but that smile was downright perverted.
“You didn’t come to take Arthur Priest away, did you?”
“You can’t take him!”
“We’d be in trouble without Arthur Priest!”
“Exactly!”
“Oh my, I didn’t come to take him, so don’t worry.”
“Waaah!! Thank goodness.”
My master’s gaze pierced straight through me. He seemed intensely curious about what I had been doing here to provoke such reactions. I scratched my head and shrugged.
* * *
There was much to discuss, but we couldn’t linger forever. It was time to work, so I asked my master to wait in my room. Of course, he paid no attention.
“The atmosphere here is nice. Why would I stay in your dreary little room? Don’t mind me and do your work.”
“If you’re tired, please say so.”
“Ahem! Tired? Don’t underestimate my stamina.”
After that, my master truly did wander leisurely around the treatment center with his hands clasped behind his back, peering here and there. He wasn’t a hindrance. I knew that better than anyone. Whenever a priest was flustered and unsure how to treat a patient, he would quietly approach, offer advice, and then slip away again. It was more help than hindrance.
He had done the same at the Palmore treatment center in the past.
“That man is Arthur Priest’s master?”
“Wow! I want to greet him…”
“Shall we go together?”
“Yes!”
Perhaps because he was my master, the priests were especially drawn to him. He seemed to enjoy the attention and accepted their greetings without complaint.
“Hoho! You’re all quite skilled.”
“It’s all thanks to Arthur Priest’s teachings.”
“Is that so? I didn’t know my disciple had a talent for teaching.”
“Perhaps it’s because his master is so excellent that he learned well?”
“Hahaha!!!”
Having a stranger meddle might have been awkward, yet everyone accepted Bishop Saul without resistance. The fact that he was my master probably played a large part. He seemed to know this too and threw himself into enjoying the moment to the fullest. Especially his shameless habit of selling stories about me to win the chicks’ interest made me sigh.
“Why do you keep telling them stories about me? They’re not even good stories—they’re embarrassing black marks from my past.”
I finally pulled him aside and spoke up.
“They’re all so fond of you that they don’t know what to do. That’s why. When people admire someone, hearing about their embarrassing moments makes them think, ‘Ah, that person is just like me,’ and it puts them at ease.”
“The priests feel at ease because of that?”
“How can my disciple be so dense… I should have taught you better. I must have been too lazy.”
“??”
My master claimed there were priests who admired me so much they couldn’t even approach.
“No, how long have you even been watching our priests to say something like that?”
“For heaven’s sake, you’re old enough now—try to do something about it. How long are you going to stay alone? You need to meet someone nice.”
“You’re alone too, Master.”
“…You little brat?”
If we were at Palmore Church, I probably would have been hit with his staff. Meeting after so long had made me too happy, and I’d let my guard down.
“Still, please stop trying to pair me with the priests.”
“Have you really never considered it? Those precious youths will waste their time because of you.”
“I couldn’t accept anyway. I’m too busy.”
Even if some priests had feelings for me, I would have to refuse. My master clicked his tongue repeatedly, clearly displeased with my firm stance.
“It won’t work even if you say that.”
“I acted just like you when I was your age. And now I regret not dating back then.”
“Come on, I know what you were doing at my age. That’s a ridiculous lie.”
“…I must have said something unnecessary while drunk.”
As a former Inquisitor, my master would have been busy crushing heretics at my age. And I knew full well that he hadn’t taken any breaks from romance even back then. I had listened carefully whenever he bragged about his glory days.