“[Please don’t say things like that, Grandfather.]”
“That… I’m sorry.”
It seemed he had just realized how disrespectful his previous words were, as he offered an apology to me.
Hmm…
To be honest, I don’t think I’m the one he should be apologizing to. Why is he apologizing to me?
No, perhaps he thought it was appropriate to apologize to me, who believes in the divine and has received its power.
After all, if I were a typical saint, I would’ve been enraged and accused his words of being highly irreverent.
But since I only recognize the existence of the divine without particularly believing in it or not, I don’t really care.
Still, I decided to show a little discomfort because it felt like he’d understand better if I did. Thankfully, it seemed he realized his slip of tongue.
Still, something…
‘Now that I’ve met him, I don’t really have anything to talk about…’
Previously, I thought it would be nice to meet him just once. But now that I’ve met my grandfather, the Pope, I don’t have much to say.
Of course, it’s understandable. Neither of us really has what you’d call a “normal life.” Especially for Asclyna, who as the Pope is always busy with work, our conversations would naturally revolve around work-related topics, leaving little room for casual talk.
What should I do?
After pondering for a bit, I decided to just talk about the things happening at the Academy.
What if I start with fun stories? Things like how I get along with my friends and what kinds of events happen… I thought they might find those enjoyable to listen to, separate from the stories of using my powers to save people.
What story should I start with?
“[Eh… Well… First, let me tell you what’s been happening at the Academy! How I met Hero Evan and Stella and Uriel!]”
When I think back on it now, there were so many amusing events.
Of course, it wasn’t all fun. Some moments were enjoyable for me, but nightmares for them…
‘Maybe I should leave those parts out.’
Even excluding those, there’s still plenty to talk about.
With that thought, I began my story.
—
Asclyna was feeling a bit confused.
At first, when Aria started talking about her experiences at the Academy, it seemed like she was truly enjoying herself just as she had originally expressed her desire to attend.
Though Asclyna was aware of a few incidents that had happened at the Academy, she hadn’t said anything about Aria omitting them.
After all, they hadn’t known each other for very long, and Asclyna herself was a guardian dragon responsible for protecting humanity.
Even though Aria was a saint, there was no particular reason why she should have any special affection for a single human being. Asclyna had befriended past saints and even accompanied some to their ends, but…
‘This child is truly different…’
Aria was different.
She differed greatly from the previous saints Asclyna had met.
And yet, Asclyna had never revealed her true identity to Aria.
Instead, Asclyna had changed her appearance little by little, pretending to be the next Pope in order to continue her act as the Pope.
However…
‘I don’t want to deceive her…’
Asclyna wanted to reveal her true identity to this child.
She wanted to face Aria openly and honestly as the real Asclyna.
Aria wouldn’t expose her identity anyway, so wouldn’t it be fine? Asclyna had thought many times that revealing her identity now would be the right thing to do.
As for Argen’s case, it had been under special circumstances. In the age of the Hero Parties for Salvation, the world’s existence had been on the brink, so it was unavoidable.
But things were different now.
Even though there was no particular need to reveal her identity to Aria, Asclyna still felt a strong desire to do so.
The reason was simple.
‘Is this… maternal love?’
The first time Asclyna met Aria, she seemed very fragile.
If Asclyna hadn’t been there… if she hadn’t stretched out her hand and caught the collapsed child, Aria might have faded away entirely. She had been so weak.
But this fragile child’s heart was incredibly kind and bright.
Rather than lamenting her own situation, Aria had instead been determined to live in the best way she could.
Perhaps that’s why…
Asclyna had instinctively reached out her hand for the first time, forgetting that she wasn’t in the guise of the Pope but as a regular woman.
It was fortunate, and yet, undeniably a regrettable incident – although it didn’t happen because of Aria’s sensory limitations – that Asclyna wasn’t exposed at the time. It was a nerve-wracking moment for her.
She hadn’t brought Aria around to become a saint, even though she had known about Aria’s potential to have the qualities of one.
Asclyna knew that if left alone, Aria would have met a bad end. That’s why she took her in.
To raise her as a nun… yes, it could be seen as an adoption of sorts.
But Aria was different.
As though she had been chosen by the divine, or as though she had been destined to do so, Aria embraced asceticism without hesitation and even embarked on adventures with adventurers.
When Asclyna heard that this novice nun, who hadn’t even fully mastered Divine Power, had exhausted her own life energy to save someone she barely knew, Asclyna was shocked.
It was something an ordinary human couldn’t do.
Not many people would sacrifice their lives for a complete stranger, no matter how devoted they might be.
Aria had expended all her life force to save a man suffering from congenital disabilities, even as he lay on the brink of death. It was truly a miracle.
Perhaps the gods couldn’t bear to see her sacrifice.
Aria survived.
Right as she ascended to become a saint.
It seemed like she was born to be one.
Thinking back to the adventurers’ accounts of how Aria had rekindled the extinguished spark of life around her, filling it with vitality, Asclyna closed her eyes.
Perhaps it was time to inform this child.
If anything were to happen to her, perhaps there would be no regret in knowing if she already did.
‘It’s right to tell her.’
I don’t want her to regard me merely as the “Pope” – a fabricated image.
I want to be a true family for this child.
‘Though… not yet.’
Asclyna didn’t intend to reveal it right away.
Just because she had made the decision didn’t mean she could share her true identity immediately.
She needed more time.
The mental preparation… it might sound strange, but she wasn’t certain how Aria would react to the revelation that she was not human but a guardian dragon.
If her granddaughter-like figure became afraid upon learning that she wasn’t dealing with a person but a dragon, Asclyna might suffer from the shock for a while.
Still… she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
There was something more pressing to consider right now.
‘Evan… this generation’s Hero…’
She knew about him.
Though they hadn’t met often, most of what she knew was from Argen, but apparently, this Hero was displaying the fastest growth among previous Heroes.
It could perhaps be due to that necklace he wore, a detail even she might not know, but that didn’t negate the fact that he had the qualities of a true Hero.
But…
‘He seems to be mentioned quite a lot…’
Aria kept bringing up this Evan, the Hero, more than it seemed normal.
Every time she mentioned him, Aria smiled as if she was truly enjoying herself, and it was unsettling for Asclyna.
‘Could it be… she likes him?’
Asclyna knew the basic concept of how humans created families and loved ones.
But the idea of the child she cherished, her granddaughter-like figure, entering such a relationship with this Hero filled her with a strange heat.
‘… I must see this man myself.’
She knew.
From all the tales Argen had told her, there was no doubt this Hero was a perfect match for Aria.
But she needed to confirm this herself.
It felt necessary.
“[And… there’s also this about Evan…]”
It was all about Evan, the Hero.
“[He always believes in me, even though I feel a bit guilty, and he’s always so kind.]”
“[He comes to visit me first every time, even though my injuries aren’t serious enough to require it…]”
Grinding of teeth…
It was necessary… absolutely necessary…
