Volunteering as the Bridge of Love
The carriage rattled along toward the Divinum Holy Site. Amid the clamor of the spinning wheels, I glanced at Hubeo sitting beside me. He fidgeted restlessly, his eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching Divinum Cathedral.
He was definitely tense.
I chuckled, recalling our school days. Back then, the short, scrawny kid would loiter in front of the imperial magic shop's display window every day, coveting the top-grade magic staff they'd imported. He'd looked just like this.
Of course, it sold soon after, leaving him utterly dejected, but I'd never forgotten that moment. Truth be told, I'd bought that staff myself and stashed it away in our family warehouse.
But it wasn't to tease him. I planned to mess with him a bit, then gift it to him way down the line. Time just slipped by, and I forgot. For real.
Armida, sitting up front with Shura, chimed in.
"Little bro. Something up with your friend?"
Hubeo stiffened instantly, but I waved it off dismissively.
"Nah, nothing big. Don't worry about it."
"What exactly is it?"
"Eh... hard to say."
Hubeo shot me a glare, his voice laced with threat.
"Don't you dare say a word."
I shrugged.
"Since you hate it so much, not now. I'll tell you later."
"Not later either!"
I scratched my head awkwardly at his shout. Hubeo was usually such a good kid, but lately he'd been crossing lines he shouldn't.
Still, I decided to let it slide. I'd come here to cheer him on, and he already needed all the courage he could muster. No point killing his vibe with bad news.
"Anyway, yeah. It's some super private stuff that's hard to talk about."
"Oh?"
Armida narrowed her eyes, glancing between me and Hubeo suspiciously, but she didn't seem to catch on.
Shura, though, widened her eyes as if she'd figured it out.
"Wait... is that person coming to the Divinum Cathedral this year too?"
"That person's way younger than me."
Hubeo trembled with rage and grabbed my collar.
"You already told her, didn't you?"
I put on my most shameless face.
"Me? Told what?"
"Then how does Lady Shura, the Great Saintess, know?"
"She's our Great Saintess Shura. She sees through everything."
"Make sense! How can anyone read minds like that?"
I clasped my hands in mock piety.
"Through fervent prayer and devout faith. Anyway, Great Saintesses are amazing. How else do they pull off miracles?"
"Hey!"
"So you should have faith too. Everything'll work out."
Hubeo ground his teeth.
"Hey, buddy. That's not something you should say."
"Is it?"
"Yeah. Absolutely not coming from you."
"Fair enough."
Soon, the carriage entered the cathedral grounds. Hubeo immediately called for it to stop and hopped out.
"Hey, buddy. We're strangers starting today. Even if we bump into each other, don't act like you know me. Got it?"
"Why?"
"Just... anyway!"
"Tch, fine. See you later."
Hubeo gave me one last sharp once-over and went his way.
The moment the carriage door shut, Armida pounced like a demon.
"What the hell's going on?"
"I told you before. My friend's tearing his hair out over a romance issue."
"Oh my gosh, that's it?"
"Yeah. That's why I tagged along this time."
Armida stared at me intently.
"Wait, little bro. Weren't you here on business?"
"Why would I come to Divinum on business? I'm a busy guy."
"Then...?"
I nodded.
"Yep. I'm here to play wingman. Hubeo's too immature and indecisive. Without someone pushing him, he'll never confess."
Armida's eyes sparkled.
"Sounds fun. Count me in."
"Nah, why? You can't join."
"Why not?"
"These things take experience. What can you do if you've never even dated?"
Armida glared.
"Oh really? I've got plenty of experience."
"What, from plays? Romance isn't a stage drama. Don't turn some poor sap into a tragic hero. Stay out of it."
"I can do it for real."
I eyed her skeptically.
"How, then?"
"Just set them up to meet."
"That's the problem—it won't work. It's not just boy-girl stuff; family issues are huge too."
"What, are the families blood enemies? Forbidden love across classes?"
I sighed deeply. She'd clearly been watching too many morning melodramas.
"Not that. It's a bloodline issue with magic talent. Duke Pereiro's stubborn as hell. He resents Sam, the association president from slave origins, for outranking him despite his status. So he's touchy about his heirs. It's complicated."
"Oh."
"Anyway, can't rush it. Gotta unravel it step by step."
Armida smacked her lips regretfully.
"I could've done well though..."
"And you need to focus on your report. Nemisona's already got it out for you; she'll grill you hard."
Armida grimaced and sighed. She and Nemisona didn't get along—different factions, and she'd blown the Urubos incident wide open by tipping off Prosia too fast.
"Ugh, the report... Hate it. No excuses this year."
"Blame the Lil Spider thing. You were there three months."
"But the rest of the schedule's blank."
I shook my head. Valkyries needed school too. Fill out a planner like kids on vacation homework, and reports write themselves.
No need for daily weather logs—just a solid frame, some meat, and spicy seasoning for a convincing report.
After settling into Hotel Darkness, I headed to the Divinum Cathedral. Time to meet Lord Izenberg and ask a favor for Hubeo.
"Baekmyeon. Come in."
He greeted me warmly the moment I entered his office.
I was a valued guest to him.
In the Urubos incident, I'd saved the cathedral from near destruction, found the missing Great Saintess Arieta to calm the faithful's unrest, and last year helped wipe out Chronos infiltrators.
Without me, the Central Church would've had endless headaches.
"How've you been?"
"Good. Things are settling down now. Worries are fading."
"Glad to hear it."
"But something's bothering me."
"What?"
Lord Izenberg looked uneasy.
"Every year around now, chaos erupts like clockwork. Hard to sleep."
"Yeah, understandable."
He sighed deeply.
"The church plans a memorial rite soon to ward off bad luck."
"Memorial? Warding?"
"The Depraved Grand Prince incident. Rumors say his dying curses on our church cause annual disasters here."
I waved it off like nonsense.
Sure, I was involved in most incidents, but it wasn't my three-year-old curse causing yearly catastrophes.
"Nah, no way. Superstition. Skip it."
"No. All these events chain after his death. Too coincidental."
"Still, don't. Why stir up trouble? Conservatives and zealots would love a memorial for the Depraved Grand Prince."
I opposed it vehemently. Living off my ashes? Bad juju.
He nodded slowly.
"True."
"Exactly. Don't do it."
Sensing the awkwardness, he changed topics.
"Heard you had a rough time at Jores Island?"
"Not rough—just regrettable exposing state secrets. Tried to keep it hidden till the end."
"The levitation boats?"
"Yeah."
"Lord Santys praised them endlessly in his report. Says we need them too. Kara's advancing daily—superpower in two years, top military now. God-sent nation."
"Nah."
I waved modestly. Didn't like "God-sent"—I'd done it all.
"No. With three Great Saintesses there, it'd be weirder without blessings."
"They're my lovers, that's why."
He gave a knowing look.
"Church has eyes on you lately."
"Me? Why?"
"Wondering if God has big plans for Baekmyeon. How else three lovers all Great Saintesses?"
"Coincidence."
"How do you know? God's plans are secret."
"Exactly. No way He'd flaunt it."
Izenberg scratched his chin awkwardly.
"Anyway, be careful. Nations watch and fear you. Even divine plans threaten survival."
"I know. Tackles keep coming."
"From where?"
"Bastain Kingdom first."
Right after Jores, I'd heard rumors: Bastain expanding Polkin Fortress massively against levitation boats—30m extra walls, internal batteries.
Worriers. But I'd play dumb; it'd boost their defenses.
"Makes sense. Enemies till recently, name change or not."
"Trade and alliances booming now."
"Still, Bastain can't relax."
"Nope."
He eyed me.
"Plans ahead? Nations fear Kara conquering the continent."
"With 150k? Please."
"Didn't 50k repel over a million monsters?"
"War and rule differ. Kara can't hold the continent—population too low. Conquest? We'd get wiped. Why waste money? Tell 'em to chill."
He smirked.
"But influence? Like Count Randal in Kokt. Backed by you, now global. Everyone lines up for him."
Randal was the rural lord I'd befriended during Sky Despair. Bros now, endless support—he'd skyrocketed.
"Kid's got potential. Buy land there, Lord Izenberg. Big gains."
"Why?"
"Trade hub. Not Jores-level, but promising."
He grinned playfully.
"Better buy prime Jores land then?"
"Duh. Want some?"
"If I had cash."
I teased back.
"Don't buy—move in. Padilla'll grant you a chunk free."
He hesitated, then waved no.
"Nah. Swore as a cleric."
I chuckled. Classic Izenberg. Worldly now, but devout core.
Chronos wasted talent. Without drama, he'd be pious; events pushed him astray.
"Anyway. My request?"
He pulled a document from his robes.
"Here."
"Thanks."
Grinning triumphantly, I took it—the appointment naming me overseer of the Holy Hall event.
"We welcome it."
"Good. Gotta run—busy."
As I stood, he rose to see me off.
"Come anytime for favors. I'll help."
"Will do."
Leaving with the letter, I smiled contentedly. Now I could fully help Hubeo connect with his love.