CH 77

The place Ciel was led to was a private prayer room that’s used exclusively by the high priest. Ciel had come to this same prayer room when he was a child, back when he had first manifested as an Esper. He came here to receive the high priest’s blessings.

When he opened the door and entered, he saw the high priest kneeling on the floor while praying. A moment of hesitation passed by, but Ciel then knelt next to the high priest and prayed to God as well.

Though it might be called a prayer, Ciel only asked many questions with no answers in his mind, and when he felt someone’s gaze from his side, he opened his eyes.

Unlike the pretentious benevolence seen in the saintess’s eyes, the high priest’s deep gaze contained sincerity as they curved into arcs as he smiled at Ciel.

“You finally came to seek God, you who had returned.”

At the high priest’s words, Ciel felt something getting lodged up in his throat. He was unsure whether he should believe in God’s will, but he was still wary of everyone around him.

It wasn’t until long ago that he had lived in an environment where he had to be vigilant at all times. Old habits die hard.

“If you knew, why didn’t you summon me here?”

“If I had called Your Grace, perhaps God would have no longer granted the prophecy. Human beings are bound to find answers on their own.”

“Are you telling me that I must conform to my fate?”

“Not at all, only that you have to face your fate. Hoho.”

“…Please tell me—what is that fate? That aside, why did you reveal the prophecy in a different manner compared to the past?”

While Ciel was speaking, the high priest stood up.

“Would you care to join me for a stroll?”

“…Of course.”

As the high priest continued to speak evasively, Ciel grew more and more frustrated. However, he silently acquiesced and went along with the high priest. He was not in the position to threaten anyone here.

Following the high priest, Ciel entered the garden where outsiders were not allowed to step foot into. It’s his first time entering this place.

The garden of the temple was surrounded by tall trees, reminiscent of a maze. He could feel a mysterious energy subtly vibrating in the air as they walked along the narrow path.

But for some reason, it felt familiar. Ciel’s expression began to soften, and at that time, the high priest in front of him slowed down and began to speak.

“At first, the only prophecy that came down was about how a saintess shall be coming.”

Ciel stared at the high priest’s back with a hazy vision.

“But before long, another prophecy came down once again—but it was strange.”

“What was it?”

In response to Ciel’s question, the high priest stopped in his tracks and turned away. There was a deep look in his benevolent eyes.

Hesitating as though he himself couldn’t believe what he was about to say, the high priest soon answered.

“I didn’t quite understand it, but you, Duke, might be able to understand the meaning of the prophecy.”

Ciel stood upright and stared at the high priest. In the past, the high priest had cared very much about Seo-yoon, the saintess.

Of course, this was a given considering his position. The high priest was the closest to God, and so he cared for the saintess who God had sent to their world.

“It was with an enraged voice that God had said, ‘I shall give you one more chance. Find the man who has come back to the past and whose sole mission is to protect, and search for the one and only true Saintess.’”

When Ciel approached, the high priest restarted his steps. He looked up at the sky for a moment as he walked, then he continued speaking.

“It did not make sense to me. The real Saintess? He who came back to the past? I had to think about it quite a lot.”

“Then, why have you come to the conclusion that it’s me? Not even God had told you.”

“Hoho, I realized it through the prophetic script.”

Recalling the prophetic script that was actually just an ordinary novel, Ciel replied with an exasperated tone.

“That’s not a prophecy. It’s merely a fictional novel.”

“But it would be right to say that it is a record of the past.”

“That time had already disappeared—it can’t be called the past any longer. Besides that, by no means had I ever dared to rebel against His Highness the Crown Prince. That past had already disappeared, and only the present remains.”

Not wanting to admit to the past, Ciel adamantly denied it. The high priest laughed and added,

“Of course, it’s not wrong to think of it in that manner as well. As you said, Duke, it’s merely a fictional novel. Still, you should be aware of who it is that dies in that novel, shouldn’t you?”

The only thing Ciel felt whenever faced with the past was displeasure, and as he listened to the high priest’s words, his expression hardened.

“I was not completely certain. In fact, my supposition would have remained only that—just a guess—had Your Grace not come here today. Even so, I had surmised as such because going back in time might be possible… for someone who had paid the ultimate price of relinquishing one’s life.”

“…Haa.”

The memory of his death came back to him. The pleasantness he’d been feeling since he stepped into this garden soon faded away.

Right. This place’s energy could not even compare to her energy. Hers was more refreshing, comforting.

“Duke, only you can follow God’s will. I implore you, please find the real Saintess. I shall give you all my support, in any way possible.”

Hearing this, Ciel urged himself not to give in to the rising nausea within him. He asked.

“Then, why have you been leaving the fake saintess alone?”

To this, the high priest replied with a polite smile.

“Because chances should be fair to all.”