Chapter 9: The Great Church of the Great Saint.

　The brigade entered Ixendahl, the largest city in the southern region.

　Hirune poked her head out of the carriage, waving her hand with a smile, receiving an enthusiastic welcome from the people.

　At last, a great saint has come to the south!

　The citizens shed tears and hugged each other.

(It seems to have been very hard for them. ...... There are many marks in the city, traces of the demon attacks ......)

　Hirune felt unusually drowsy.

　The frontier city of Ixendahl was a rugged city.

　It was surrounded with walls, reinforced with steel plates that were completely colorless. It was filled with refugees who had lost their families or had fled after their villages were attacked.

　There were no trees on the main street, just a straight brick paved road designed for practical use.

 That was because if they had put anything unnecessary on the streets, people wouldn’t be able to easily escape in an emergency.

“It's so different from the royal capital.”

　Hirune murmured, looking at the tattered houses that had been recently destroyed.

“Yes, it is. It's a big difference between what you hear and what you see.”

　Holly replied, waving her hand to the people.

　Holly's face was smiling, but her voice was filled with sadness. Holly was a girl with a strong sense of justice. She felt her responsibility of being a saint.

“Hirune-sama, Holly-sama, they said that’s enough.”

　Jeanne, who had received instructions from a window in the back of the carriage, said to them.

　Hirune and Holly moved away from the carriage window and closed the curtains.

(This looks like a lot of work. ...... I hope I get a good night's sleep.)

　A sigh escaped from her.

　A heavy air hangs over the city of Ixendahl.

　It was not only the constant smoke from burning demon coal, but also the air of never-ending fatigue that enveloped the entire city. Everyone was living in fear of the miasma and the threat of demons.

(Well, as they say, if you live in a place, you live in a place, and if Holly and I can purify it little by little, we can manage to get by.)

　Hirune thought optimistically. When she felt relieved, her drowsiness returned.

“Fuaaah ~~~ ... Ahm"

　Holly and Jeanne, who had been looking seriously at the big yawn, looked at each other.

"Hirune  really is at her own pace ..."

"As expected of Hirune-sama! Let’s do our best as usual."

"Huh?"

　Hirune, who had missed their words because of her yawning, opened her big mouth and nodded her head.

Holly and Jeanne were strangely reassured by Hirune’s relaxed and usual attitude, and they couldn't help but laugh.

“Fufufu ...... the Great Saint is different, isn’t she”

“Yes, she is.”

“What is it? It's terrible to laugh in someone's face, you know."

　Hirune blinked her blue eyes and let out a small yawn.

　　　　　　()

　 They arrived at the Mephistopheles church on the south side of the city, and the carriage entered the premises.

“It's a big place. It looks like there's another church on the hill at the back.”

　A little hill can be seen behind the church.

　It looked like a huge park set up in the city.

　There was an old church, and behind it was a grassy plaza.

　At the top of the hill, they saw a large temple-like building. It seemed to have been half destroyed, or perhaps it was still intact.

　When Hirune flipped on the Great Saint's robe and got off the carriage, one of the Mephistopheles priests was waiting for her.

“Great Saint Hirune, ...... we've been waiting for you."

　An old man dressed in a priest’s robe made the holy seal.

　He was a man with kind eyes and a star-shaped stain on his forehead.

“I am Archbishop Zigitoria of the Southern Branch of the Mephistopheles Church. I've heard rumors that you looked ...... like the beautiful Goddess Sophia."

　His voice quivered, as Zigitoria was thrilled to see Hirune.

　Archbishop Zigitoria was in charge of the southern branch. As the archbishop of a local church, he is treated as one rank below Zekyutos.

　He exuded the aura of a hard worker.

“It is my pleasure to work with you. I have a lot of inadequacies, so I would appreciate it if you could teach me.”

　Hirune gave a big a bow.

"You’re very young, but also very strong."

　Zigitoria smiled then turned his attention to Holly, who came out of the carriage.

“Saint Holly, we've been expecting you. The youngest saint along with Hirune. The Southern Chapter is pleased to welcome you."

　Holly received the greeting and carefully made the holy seal.

“It's a pleasure to meet you as well. I've heard of your accomplishments, Archbishop Zigitoria. Everyone knows that it was you who spread the existence of Mephistopheles religion to the southern regions.”

"That’s ridiculous. It was only through the guidance of the Goddess Sophia.” 

　Without further greetings, Archbishop Zigitoria gave them a tour of the churches of the southern branch.

　Hirune, Jeanne and Holly. Then Wanda, the educator, followed suit.

"This is the chapel."

　Zigitoria said reverently.

　The chapel was old, and the walls had been repaired many times, but it was filled with tranquility and cleanliness.

　The priests and maids from the main church of Mephistopheles, who were members of the brigade, dispersed to their respective posts. The soldiers and the civilians who had followed Hirune prayed in the chapel and disbanded to do what they had to do.

　Hirune, Holly, and Jeanne exchanged greetings with Thomas, the manager of the Valhalla bedding store, Phi Phi, the baker, the manager of the skewer stall, and other good friends, then parted ways.

(The journey’s over, isn't it? ......)

　 Hirune felt a tad sad and lonely, but instead thought about her new life.

　After praying in the chapel, Archbishop Zigitoria urged them to go inside the church.

　The sounds of them walking in the hallway echoed.

"Hirune-sama, you can call me Zigi.”

"Zigi?"

　She parroted back.

　Holly and Wanda quickly tapped her on the shoulder in a panic.

“Hirune, it's outrageous that you call him by any nickname. ......!”

“That’s right, Hirune. Archbishop Zigitoria is called the father of the South. Even Archbishop Zekyutos respects him, you know?"

　Holly and Wanda said in a stereotypical way from both sides.

　But Hirune wasn't really listening.

(Zigi-sama or ......  something nice. It reminds me of my grandfather.)

　It reminded her of her grandfather, whom she had met several times as a child.

　During summer vacation, when they went to visit her mother's family, he'd cut her some watermelon. She also remembered him buying her sweets at the candy store.

Hirune felt happy as she recalled the past one scene after another as if a switch had been turned on in her memory.

　She naturally smiled and looked at Zigitoria, who was walking next to her.

“Yes. I understand. Please call me Hirune, Zigi-sama.”

　He wasn’t expecting Hirune to agree, so Zigitoria was frozen just for a moment, then he quickly broke into a smile.

"Ho-ho-ho-ho. Zigi-sama, yes, yes. That's very good. Then feel free to call me that Hirune.

"Yes."

　Zigitoria smiled at her as if he was looking at his granddaughter, and Hirune smiled and nodded back.

Holly and Wanda sighed as if to say, "It can't be helped," while Jeanne, walking behind them, smiled at Hirune’s behavior as usual.

“Zigi-sama, can I ask you a question?”

“What is it, Hirune?"

　The two of them immediately started calling each other by their newly decided names.

“What's wrong with the star-like spots on your forehead? Is it because of the stardust?”

"It's been there since I was born. Every time I meet the Goddess Sophia, it gets bigger.”

“You've met Sophia?!”

（Zigi-sama’s met her too!)

　Hirune was so happy and looked into Zigitoria's eyes.

　Holly, Wanda, and Jeanne were also curious about the story and looked at Zigitoria.

 "When I pray, she appears to me at a moment's notice. My eyes can only see a vague outline. ......"

　He said so and narrowed his eyes.

“I see. I've met her too! She's very beautiful and kind! I love her!”

"What, you've met ......?"

"Yes. She has blond hair and is tall. She wears a tiara on her forehead.”

"Oh, ...... oh, ......."

　Zigitoria was so impressed that he stopped and shivered.

“that’s wonderful, Hirune. I’m in awe ...... I hope to see her face  someday ......."

　Zigitoria made the holy seal several times.

　Holly and Wanda also made the holy seal.

(I want to see you again,...... Goddess.  We promised to take a nap, didn't we?)

　Hirune smiled, remembering the Goddess's luxurious blonde hair. It would be nice to take a nap together, she thought.

　After a while, Zigitoria resumed the tour.

　The group walked inside the church and then went outside to a square with a continuous lawn, the grassy plaza.

Zigitoria turned to the half-demolished building on top of the hill and looked at Hirune.

“That's the Great Church, where the former Great Saint lived. Because of the threat of demons, it cannot be repaired .......or be used.”

He spoke with as little emotion as possible, but she could sense the sadness from Archbishop Zigitoria.

　Hirune looked up at the far end of the green-tinted lawn.

　The large church was a pile of rubble, with only a few traces of the beautiful building it had once been. It looked like a pile of broken blocks. The entrance and the steeple on the roof were still intact, and in some places she could see ornaments of the goddess carved on them.

(That's the Great church where the previous great saint was ....... I don't know what it is ......, but it makes me feel like I've come home ...... and it feels like it’s calling me…..?)

Hirune couldn't stand it any longer and ran across the lawn.

"Ah! Hirune!"

"Hirune-sama ?!"

　Holly and Jeanne noticed and chased after her.

　Zigitoria and Wanda, bewildered, hurried after her.

(It's calling ...... me ......!)

　The sound of kicking grass echoed, and the smell of blue grass tickled her nose.

　She wasn’t very athletic, so she was quickly losing her breath.

“Hah ...... hah ......”

　Hirune ran up the hill and looked up at the crumbling great church.

　It was barely possible to get inside through the entrance.

(It's cool ...... and there's a magic circle painted on the floor. ......)

　It was clean, except for the piles of rubble.

“Hah ...... phew ...... phew ......."

　Sunlight filtered in through the crumbling walls, and she could see the floating dust drifting about at will like stardust. Only the statue of the goddess in front of her was still in beautiful shape. 

　As Hirune looked up blankly, catching her breath, Holly and Jeanne came up next to her.

“Hah ...... hah ...... what's wrong with you all of a sudden? If you're going to start running, just tell me.”

“Huuh . I was worried that you’d fall.”

Holly asks breathlessly, Jeanne has a worried look on her face. 　 

　Hirune makes no reply.

　The two of them looked at Hirune's blue eyes from the side and looked up at the statue of the Goddess out of the corner of their eye.

“The statue of the Goddess ...... it’s so beautiful.”

“It's different from the statue in the main church......”

　Holly and Jeanne murmured with deep emotion, and Hirune turned around.

“I've decided. I'm going to sleep here from today on. It's a very cozy place!"

　Hirune's blue eyes sparkled as she looked up at the ceiling of the half-demolished church.

"What?!”

"What?!”

Holly and Jeanne's startled voices echoed, and Archbishop Zigitoria and Wanda, who had caught up with them, widened their eyes as if they had heard what Hirune said.

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