Chapter 17
The Next Day
At the Grand Temple, an oath ceremony was held exclusively for Papierre and Irtis.
Before the ceremony, the two men changed into pure white ceremonial uniforms.
Seeing them appear in identical outfits, Prodia felt as if she might go blind.
‘When two handsome guys stand there like that, it just amplifies how cool they look…’
At this rate, they could just debut as a unit and succeed instantly.
‘Haah… If that unit existed, it’d be a guaranteed hit. What a waste, seriously.’
The fact that this was another world was truly regrettable.
Just as she was thinking that, Irtis called out to her.
“Prodia? Are you ready? Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes.”
Let’s focus on the ceremony first.
Prodia walked down the temple corridor with the two men.
As Papierre’s mentor, she had also been granted permission to observe the ceremony.
Before long, the three arrived at the main hall.
Just yesterday, it had been filled with participants, but now it was empty, reserved solely for the two of them.
Soon, the High Priest entered the hall.
The two men stepped forward to the altar and knelt before him in turn.
The High Priest placed a hand on each of their heads and began asking questions.
“Do you swear, as participants of the tournament, not to bring harm to the Imperial family?”
“We swear.”
“Do you swear not to harm others?”
“We swear.”
Several more questions followed.
Each time, a green light lit up on the sacred relic in the High Priest’s hand.
Fortunately, it seemed that the killing intent in Irtis’s heart had properly subsided.
Only then did Prodia let out a sigh of relief.
‘Haah, we’re safe.’
Irtis also looked noticeably relieved.
And so, the oath ceremony came to an end.
After the ceremony, Prodia and Irtis quickly prepared to leave.
The two of them were extremely excited to finally be getting out of this place.
However, they were the only ones feeling that way.
Soon, the High Priest returned, dragging along a gloomy-looking Papierre.
He bowed his head toward Prodia.
“Then, I leave him in your care, believer.”
Prodia responded with proper courtesy.
“Please don’t worry, Your Grace. I will ensure his training lacks nothing.”
She glanced at Papierre standing beside him.
With his head hanging low, it seemed he had already resigned himself to his fate.
Prodia clicked her tongue inwardly.
‘Tsk. Your life really is unfortunate.’
What kind of team was this? Everyone seemed like they belonged in Les Misérables.
One had been expelled from the Magic Tower, another from the Grand Temple…
And one was practically destined for hell.
‘What a fantastic combination.’
At that moment, Papierre spoke in a faint, creeping voice.
“P-please take care of me…”
“The feeling is mutual.”
Lastly, Papierre turned to the High Priest and bowed.
“Please stay well, Your Grace. I will return to the side of the Lord soon.”
It was an ordinary farewell.
Yet the High Priest’s response was strangely cold.
“Papierre, do not forget what I told you.”
At those words, Papierre’s face turned pale.
“…I will remember.”
“Good. I trust you.”
After finishing, the High Priest looked at him with a gentle gaze, but Papierre’s expression did not improve.
Prodia, who had been watching everything, narrowed her eyes.
‘What’s that about?’
There was definitely something going on between them.
She decided to ask him about it later.
Just then, Irtis approached the High Priest.
“Hey, I’ve got a question.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Is it fine if I open a teleportation circle on the way back? We’ll be leaving the sacred grounds anyway.”
Prodia turned toward him in shock.
‘This guy again?!’
After all the trouble he caused using magic inside the temple!
But surprisingly, the High Priest didn’t seem to mind.
“Normally, it is not permitted. However, I would prefer not to see my child suffer.”
Irtis grinned.
“I thought you were rigid, but you’re more flexible than I expected.”
“Please exercise extra caution.”
“That goes without saying.”
With that, Irtis extended his hand toward the floor.
Flash!
A black magic circle spread across the temple floor with a violet burst of light.
At that moment, Prodia remembered something she had forgotten.
To teleport, she would have to hold onto Irtis again.
‘Ugh.’
Seeing her displeased expression, Irtis let out a dry chuckle.
‘I expected it, but she really hates it.’
Prodia sighed deeply and turned to Papierre.
“Papierre?”
Startled, he stammered.
“S-superior priest?! P-please, just call me by my name… I’m… no longer a priest.”
He looked utterly dejected.
But Prodia replied without hesitation.
“Alright, Papierre. We’ll be traveling through the magic circle now. It’s simple—go over there and hold onto Irtis.”
Papierre froze.
“E-excuse me? H-hold onto him?”
He was the type who struggled even with conversation, let alone physical contact.
“T-there’s no other way? Maybe I could just hold the tip of his finger…?”
Prodia shook her head.
“I wish that were possible too. But if you do that, only your hand might get transported.”
“Eek!”
His face immediately turned pale.
Seeing him tremble, Prodia reassured him.
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve done it before—no problems at all. See? Not a single finger missing.”
She spread her hands to show him.
Papierre swallowed hard.
‘I-it should be fine… right?’
Despite that, his feet wouldn’t move.
Irtis clicked his tongue.
“What are you waiting for? I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong, so hurry up.”
After hesitating, Papierre slowly approached him.
Gathering his courage, he threw himself into Irtis’s arms—
and wrapped him tightly, as if never letting go.
“S-so ready…!”
Irtis’s eyes turned cold.
“Priest, what do you think you’re doing?”
“I-I’m just doing what you said…?”
“You planning to go alone to the estate?”
“…Huh?”
Seeing he still didn’t get it, Irtis snapped.
“If you take the entire spot like that, how am I supposed to bring Prodia?”
“A-ah! I see…!”
After thinking, Papierre asked:
“Th-then… should I ride on your back?”
“Am I your father?”
“S-sorry…!”
Tears welled up in Papierre’s eyes.
“Just stick to my left side.”
“Y-yes!”
He clung tightly to Irtis’s left.
Still trembling like a baby animal.
Irtis sighed inwardly.
‘Why did I even worry about this guy?’
Then he turned to Prodia.
“Prodia, ready? Take my right side.”
She immediately imagined the situation—
herself and Papierre both clinging to Irtis.
‘I hate this.’
With a grimace, she moved to his right.
Soon, she met Papierre’s eyes across Irtis’s chest.
He awkwardly greeted her.
“Y-you’re here…”
What kind of absurd scene was this?
‘This is awful.’
Please let this be the last teleport.
But Irtis had clearly seen her expression.
Clicking his tongue, he activated the teleport.
In a burst of violet smoke, the three vanished—
and reappeared at the Ducer Count’s estate.
Inside the estate.
Papierre crouched in a corner of the reception room, quietly sobbing.
The aftereffects of leaving the temple had finally hit him.
“Sniff… I should have properly thanked the High Priest…”
Irtis scoffed.
“Why thank someone who threw you away?”
For the first time, Papierre snapped back.
“H-he didn’t abandon me! He said if my faith remains unchanged after the tournament, I can return anytime!”
“Oh really? Then just go back on the first day.”
“I-I…”
He couldn’t answer.
At that moment, Prodia stepped in.
“Papierre?”
He stood up straight.
“Y-yes! M-master!”
“No need for that. Just call me by my name.”
“Ah… y-yes, Prodia.”
“There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Of course.”
“What did the High Priest tell you earlier?”
“…Ah.”
He hesitated.
Prodia gently reassured him.
“You don’t have to answer now.”
“…Thank you.”
Meanwhile, Irtis watched them, feeling oddly irritated.
‘She’s so gentle with him… but cold to me.’
Then he shook his head.
‘Well, that guy’s weak. If she treated him like she treats me, he’d cry again.’
‘Why am I even thinking like this… forget it.’
Just then, Papierre spoke.
“…I’ll tell you.”
Prodia blinked.
‘There was more than just entering the tournament?’
Papierre continued slowly:
“The High Priest instructed me… not to return to the Grand Temple until I make it into the final top ten of the tournament.”
