CH 50

50 The Bishop(?) Has a Sketchy Character

===Act 3===

Finally, the three long years of waiting came to an end today! YA~Y!!!

It’s finally time. At last… I can finally use magic! It was surely a long wait for one to just learn magic.

What? It’s normal alright. I can’t help but keep being curious, okay? I mean, magic is a staple for isekai reincarnation after all! How can I not be curious? And how can I not be happy that I’m finally able to use magic???

Today was the long awaited Magic Unsealing Ceremony.

It was something that I had hoped for ever since I realized I had reincarnated.

Besides, Frederick already had his own ceremony two years ago, while Richard had his last year. So, I would like to catch up with them soon. Still, they said that it wasn’t a big deal…

Really guys? It’s magic, you know? Magic! Isn’t the mention of it alone supposed to make you curious or at the very least wondering what kind of magic is going to come out?

Alas, no matter how many times I asked them, their opinion was the same.

Unfortunately, when I told them I wanted to see their magic, they just smiled wryly without even giving me the chance to see it. The way they reacted to my request was just like how Kevin, Martha, and every other adult I asked in the past reacted. But this did not deter me. Instead, it was making me endlessly curious.

Fortunately, my curiosity would be answered after the Magic Unsealing Ceremony. All I had to do now was to wait for the count-down to be over. So… Let’s look forward to it~!

…

…

… Cra*p. I can’t hold back my curiosity now. I’m really, really, really curious about magic. I want to know no~w. I trembled, trying my best to hold in my inquisitiveness. Seeing my state, my father and mother only smiled at me without saying anything.

Thus, with the endless curiosity in my mind, we set out toward the royal capital. By we, I meant my whole family including my little brother, Chester, who turned two years old this year.

And yup, my family got another member to it, the third and youngest child who happened to be a boy too. He was incredibly adorable, yet at the same time he was also slightly cheeky. Meanwhile, his big sister, Wendy, who turned six years old this year had grown into an extremely adorable girl. Truly, I had no other word to describe my siblings; they were all so very adorable~!

“Listen, Chester. Don’t make too much noise in the carriage, okay?”

“Yesh, nee-tama (Big Sis).” Chester, who was sitting on our mother’s lap, was nodding obediently. Truly a charming boy.

However, he was after all still a two years old boy. So, it was only natural that his interest in the world was high. One moment he was looking at the passing scenery outside the window, the next moment he climbed up to our father’s lap, then at another moment, he would play building blocks. Truly, he was quite an active boy.

Wendy would remind him to stay calm everytime that happened, and Chester would listen to her. However, a while later, he would forget it as all children do.

“Geez, Chester…”

“It’s okay, Wendy. Chester just wants to tease his big sister.” I soothed, placing Chester on my lap as I poked his squishy cheek. So soft… poke more~

“Mu~, nii-tama~, sto~p!”

“No~. Be a good child for a while. It’s about time for your afternoon nap anyway, right? So, take a nap now. You must be tired from all those moving around you did…” I said as I patted his back and closed his eyes. Because most stimulation came from the eyes, blocking their field of view was the best way to calm the children and get them to rest, so that was what I did.

And as expected, a while later, the sound of his even breathing resounded in the enclosed space. When I was sure that he was sleeping, I gave him to our attendant.

“You’re really good at handling Chester, Theodore. Where did you learn that from?” My father asked curiously, but it would be troublesome if I replied with ‘From my previous life’, so I had to lie to him.

Anyway, after a long and bustling journey, we finally arrived at the royal capital. When we did, I pulled Kevin and RIchard with me and went to the grand temple as fast as possible.

Although they would only hold the Magic Unsealing Ceremony in a few days, I was unable to hold myself back anymore, hence my decision.

The Grand Temple was located in the east district of the royal capital. It was a huge, old building that gave off an air of historical church from my previous life. However, unlike the church, this place didn’t just worship one God. It worshiped the six Gods and the Saint.

It was not the only temple in the royal capital, though, there was one other temple. However, this other temple worshiped Mother Earth Goddess and Creation God. And the reason why they did was because in their lore, the Creation God was the one who gave the revelation to the Saint, while the Mother Earth Goddess’ main angels were referred to as six Gods. That was why they chose the two as their deities.

However, in the Grand Temple, the Creation God and the Mother Earth Goddess were treated as side deities. Instead, the main deities they worshiped were the Saint and the six Gods. So, it was only natural that when I went to the main hall, I only found seven statues standing in the inner part with an altar placed in front of them.

Slipping in silently, I paid my homage. It was only proper to do it after all. When one visited temples, one had to pay homage to the Gods enshrined there. Common sense really.

Anyway, after paying my homage, I went to the receptionist and gave a donation before I went on to offer my prayer on the altar.

I wish nothing will happen during the Magic Unsealing Ceremony. I hope my engagement with Muriel will be smooth sailing. Gods above, please grant my wish. I opened my eyes and smiled. Great.

“Why are you pressing your hand together, Theodore-sama?” Richard asked, looking puzzled.

Eh? People here do not do that? Wait, come to think of it, none of the visitors I saw press their hands together the way I do. They just clasped their hands together and prayed in silence. Oh dang, no wonder Richard is puzzled. I was, after all, not doing it like the others.

“Just felt like it. I get this feeling that something is missing unless I do that.”

“Doesn’t look like that to me, though.”

I heard someone say so as I was about to turn around and leave. It was a blue haired priest with a gentle smile that seemed to be permanently fixed there. From his looks, he might be around the same age as my father. However, his rank might be above that of a priest since I spotted a priest attendant following after him.

“Bishop Cobalt-sama!” Richard said, flustered at the sight of that prie ―― Euh, I mean bishop ―― as he bowed in a hurry.

Following his example, Kevin and I also hastily bowed.

“Aah, please spare me from the formality. Back to the topic, I think your prayer will reach the Gods no matter what form you did it with. There’s no fixed prayer form after all. Still ―― Sure enough, it’s Lord Goldberg’s son after all. How’s your father doing?”

“Yes, I’m Theodore Goldberg, nice to meet you. My father is as healthy as usual, thank you for asking. Our family is currently staying in the royal capital for my Magic Unsealing Ceremony.”

“I see. Since the crown prince is going to participate in this ceremony too, I think the scene will be more bustling than usual.”

Will it become something like a festival I wonder? I thought, unable to help myself. Although, I don’t think there was that kind of celebration when it was Frederick’s or Richard’s turn, so it might not be? I tilted my head in puzzlement.

“Fufufu, I’m really looking forward to D-Day.”

From the way he spoke… Bishop Cobalt must have known something, right?

“By the way, Theodore-dono, what are you going to do if you become one of the Six Wise Gods?”

“EH?!”

What is with this bizzare change of topic? It was way too strange, okay?!

“Ah, please forget my question just now. As one of the people who works in this temple, I just want to hear your opinion as the descendant of the Six Wise Gods. Opinion such as what do you think about the Six Wise Gods… what should we do to feel closer to Them… those sort of questions. Will you answer those questions for me?”

Uhm, so even a bishop like him had such worries, eh?

Speaking of descendants of the Six Gods, I first heard about that matter around three years ago. And honestly? I couldn’t help but feel elated that I was born to a hero’s lineage. My father also told me his wish for me at that time. He told me that he wished I could become someone who saved many people like what the Six Gods did.

I looked at Bishop Cobalt and saw that he was smiling at me, but despite his smile, his eyes were dead serious.

Does this question have something to do with the rumor about the demon race that was caught three years ago?

“Uhm. I can’t say anything elaborate, but in my opinion… to be able to feel closer to the Six Gods, it is important to want to protect the people you love. Be it family, retainer, friends, or lover. I think… you’ll feel closer to the Six Gods because you have people, who are important to you, that you want to protect at all cost.”

“People you love…”

“Yes. I believe that my ancestor, Goldias, also feels the same as me.”

When I said so, I noticed that the air around Bishop Cobalt softened a lot.

“Do you have people that you love?”

“Yes. I love them. They’re my important treasures.”

“Thank goodness. Then, don’t ever forget that feeling. I’m sure that it’ll save you someday.”

“Yes. Thank you very much!”

“Likewise. It’s such a nice conversation.” Bishop Cobalt said before he turned around to leave. However, he stopped midway and said, “Oh, right. Please get along with my son, Simeon, too.”

Geh. So, he was ‘that’ Simeon’s (Blue’s) father! He should have told me that when he introduced himself a while ago! Furthermore, get along with Simeon? His son still hates me!

“Y-Yes. I’ll do my best.”

Alas, that was the only reply I could come up with.

Yes, that was a safe answer that promised nothing. I meant, that blue (Simeon) was the one who called me a child whose head is filled with a flower garden. So, I think it would be hard for us to get along.

Thus, with a weary feeling due to Bishop Cobalt’s request, I returned to my family mansion in the royal capital.