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“…I came to deliver this.”

“What…?”

Sion tightly sealed his lips and handed a small box to Shione.

Just like me, Shione was momentarily speechless at Sion’s sudden gift, staring down at the box in silence.

Even if he dressed up like a pious priest in Count’s house, his holy priestly attire could not hide the sarcasm and mockery embedded in his past with Shione.

Unlike the gift Siabel had given before, this time Shione was still not prepared to accept it.

“What is this?”

To Shione’s suspicious inquiry, Sion frowned as if he expected it.

“Just. How about you take it and open it?”

Shione raised her hand, but hesitated, scrutinizing the exterior of the box.

Finally, tired of waiting, Sion swiftly placed the box on her hand.

“Don’t tell me you put something weird inside.”

“…How could a priest play such pranks with a precious box bearing the Church Seal?”

“Hmm…”

Well, recently Sion had been so eager to become a Battle Priest, uncharacteristically following the ways of a devout cleric.

As a devoted believer, would he really put something strange in a box stamped with the Church’s solemn seal?

The issue was that Sion tended to show that unruly side only to Shione. He seemed to present himself as ordinary or even better when it did not involve their employer.

However, since Sion’s wits were generally intact, there should be something worthwhile in that box.

‘A box with the Church Seal. What could it contain?’

Curiosity sparked within me.

I knew that the Church in this world didn’t abuse their seal; they only stamped it on items with significant value.

One couldn’t help but wonder what precious items might be inside.

After all, this hesitation from Shione toward Sion’s precious box must stem from the thought that he wouldn’t offer her something so important.

I shifted my feet slightly, stepping into a position where the box was most visible.

“Isn’t it time to open it? At this rate, the sun will set.”

“Don’t rush me.”

“Well, if you want me to stop rushing, shouldn’t you move a little faster, Sister?”

“Ah, really…”

Zing!

The moment Sione and Sion’s gazes collided, a small spark ignited between their intense stares.

I maintained my third-party position, quietly diminishing my presence.

The drawn-out standoff resembled that between a spear and a shield.

“Haah…”

The battle was broken with Sione’s heavy sigh, and she finally shifted her focus back to the item in her hand.

“Then I guess I’ll open it now.”

As Sione opened the box, its contents finally came to light.

She grasped what was neatly arranged and lifted it.

“What is this…?”

The sound of connected precious metals jingled gently.

And soon, the warm divine power exuding from the jewel at the end brought a sense of reassurance to anyone who gazed upon it.

It could only be described as an expensive necklace made from divine power poured forth by the Church.

As Sione got momentarily lost in admiration of the necklace, Sion crossed his arms, observing his frozen sister with his blue eyes.

“I think you should give it a try.”

“…You really expect me to wear this?”

“Then who on earth would wear the necklace if not you, dear sister?”

Sione and Sion exchanged incredulous looks, but since it was Sione who received it, she merely shrugged off the annoyance with a deep sigh, one that expressed her fatigue more than anything.

Clank. Clank.

With the sound of the chains, the necklace finally found its place around Sione’s neck.

The polished silver chain and the intricately carved transparent jewel shimmered.

But the intense divine power trapped at the center illuminated the whole gem, like the sacred yellows of the morning sun.

The glow enveloped the ends of Sione’s hair, making them appear golden as it reached her collarbone.

I could not help but admire this extraordinary necklace’s appearance.

‘It’s clear this isn’t just an ordinary item.’

Given such concentrated divine power,

This necklace has to possess some unique property; it wouldn’t be surprising if it was an artifact.

I suspected it might be one of the finer creations made with considerable effort by the Church.

Even I, who lacked divine power, could sense its significance.

If the box bore the Church’s seal, it would indeed be justified.

“Hm.”

Sion cautiously observed Sione’s expression as she examined the necklace and began to speak.

“Thanks to you losing some weight, at least you avoided looking like a pig wearing a pearl necklace; it suits you nicely.”

His tone, which was both coy and irritating enough to provoke a punch, was clearly still maintaining Sion’s characteristic.

Perhaps Sione had reached a level of maturity or maybe the weight of the necklace on her neck was simply too heavy that she faced him steadily, without any visible signs of irritation.

“…So, this necklace is─”

“I said to wear it, so you’ve realized, haven’t you? That necklace is yours.”

“Sion, you’re really giving me this necklace?”

Sion quietly nodded at her question.

The brief silence felt heavy, as if it bore down on their shoulders, extending indefinitely between them.

In this suffocating silence, it was Sion Shianella who broke the ice first.

“…Sione Shianella, who repelled countless monsters atop the castle walls and achieved accomplishments worthy of the Count’s house, the Church and─”

He then hesitated a moment, his mouth sealing shut before finally opening once again.

“And I…”

His voice was as small as a mouse crawling.

However, in this place where no one was lacking in mana, Sione and I, who had heightened senses due to mana, could hear his voice clearly and comprehend his meaning.

“It’s a small gift along with my praise for you, dear sister. You don’t have to feel burdened receiving it.”

As soon as his awkward words concluded, he relaxed his crossed arms, scratching the side of his head absentmindedly.

“I also heard from Mother that you’ll be going to the Great Forest soon, along with that attendant, among other things.”

Sion’s gaze turned towards me, who had been quietly observing their conversation from a distance.

Suddenly feeling the weight of his gaze, I lowered my head slightly to express my respect.

Fortunately, Sion shifted his attention back to checking out Sione’s necklace without further reaction.

After lightly grazing the divine power, she refocused on Sione while Sione treated him naturally, without any signs of wavering.

“That necklace will be of help. With the divine power contained within, you can perform three miracles.”

“…Miracles?”

“You can heal your wounds or, with a flourish of divine power, protect yourself from the attacks of regular soldiers’ swords and spears for a brief moment. However…”

Sion made a small sign of the cross.

“This is divine power, not a protection spell through mana. Rather than warding off attacks, it’s better spent healing someone.”

“……”

“If you request a blessing from the priests, the divine power can always be replenished. So it’s best to use it wisely.”

Abruptly spilling so much, Sion took a step closer, reducing the distance between him and Sione.

“Sione, sister.”

“…What’s up?”

“I hope not to hear news that you died a disgraceful death in the Great Forest. When it comes to spilling blood, it should be as a proper member of our noble family, not on some random battlefield.”

Sione’s eyes widened slightly and then grew larger.

“At the very least, it would be fitting to perish beneath the castle walls while protecting it.”

“……”

“Whatever happens, make sure to come back alive.”

Having uttered those words, Sion took a few steps back.

“Now that I’ve said everything I wanted to, I wish you to use that necklace well.”

Sion tossed his farewell rather casually before exiting Shione’s room.

The door slammed shut with a bang as Sione stared blankly at it.

She touched the jewel of the necklace, glancing between it and me with a rather strange, contorted expression.

“Ray.”

“…Yes?”

“I think he’s a bit off his rocker.”

Her tone was serious, like she was contemplating which cookie to eat first as she asked me.

“…Should I tell Mother that Sion’s acting strangely?”

I nodded, though it was too vague to call it an affirmation or a denial.

Honestly, I couldn’t comprehend why Sion was like this either.

Like Sione, I simply stared at the shimmering jewel of the necklace in silence.

*

A new dawn brightened the sky, and the promised day had finally arrived.

I lay in bed, mumbling nervously to myself.

“Oh, please.”

The day had finally come to board that wretched carriage.

 

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