Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 450: The Blessing Ceremony
The day after Tauro, Aeris, and Zion were unexpectedly added to Saint Matilda’s tour of the kingdom, Aeris gathered the members of Black-Gold Wings and bowed deeply.
“I’m sorry, everyone. I never expected matters to develop this way.”
“The Crown Prince himself made the request,” Ankh said. “No one could simply refuse him, so this isn’t your fault.”
“Ankh is right,” Ragune added, worried by her friend’s expression. “Even Tauro could do nothing in that situation.”
“I was there,” Zion said. “I don’t think anyone could have refused.”
“I’m sorry too,” Haku murmured.
He didn’t fully understand the political situation, but he knew that Tauro had protected him from being drawn into the tour, and that alone made him feel guilty.
“You came to the Royal Capital for the adoption procedures, Haku. I became involved only because Prince Fleue asked me to assist during the Saint’s stay. There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”
Tauro shifted the conversation toward their next steps.
“We should decide what everyone will do once Matilda leaves the capital. Ankh, Ragune, what are your thoughts?”
Tauro had expected to assist only within the Royal Capital. Instead, he would now be involved in the Saint’s activities throughout the kingdom.
The tour offered opportunities to meet influential nobles and gifted people near his age, but such connections mattered little to him personally. He was an adventurer at heart. What concerned him was Aeris, who had only just returned to the party and had tried to protect everyone by accepting the burden alone.
“We’ll follow our leader, obviously,” Ankh said, looking toward Ragune.
“Of course. I hope we can be added to the Saint’s delegation as well.”
Ragune nodded and looked to Tauro for approval.
“At the ceremony, all I could manage was to remove Haku from the arrangement and offer Zion in his place. Prince Fleue may have an idea, but I can’t think of another solution.”
Even Tauro’s strategic instincts offered little help against the combined wishes of the Crown Prince and the celebrated Saint.
“Prince Fleue may also find it difficult to overturn his brother’s decision,” Aeris said. “At worst, perhaps Ankh and Ragune can be assigned as additional guards alongside the royal knights.”
“As long as Ragune and I travel with the Leader, the official title doesn’t matter,” Ankh replied. “We would still be on the same journey.”
“I agree.”
The discussion produced no elegant answer, but at least their intentions were settled.
Later that day, Tauro and his companions attended the Blessing Ceremony held in the palace gardens as part of Matilda’s official activities in the Royal Capital.
“At last, we’ll witness Saint Matilda’s sacred art.”
“The previous Saint appeared nearly a century ago. Legends say every nation she blessed prospered afterward.”
“The Kingdom of Sart will surely flourish even more after today.”
The nobles packed into the gardens were filled with expectation.
As members of Matilda’s temporary entourage, Tauro, Haku, Aeris, and Zion had been given excellent places from which to observe.
“Blessing…” Aeris murmured, tilting her head thoughtfully.
“Is something wrong?” Tauro asked.
“I can’t be certain until I see her perform it.”
Aeris fell silent.
The Luwan representative began with a lengthy formal address. Apart from the royal family, few people seemed to listen closely. Sart’s royal representative followed with a shorter greeting.
At last, Matilda entered the center of the garden in ceremonial dress. Her attendants escorted her solemnly, then took their places around her with expressionless faces.
Matilda began reciting a prayer.
“If this is truly only a Blessing, it shouldn’t require long,” Aeris whispered.
“Do you know something about it?” Tauro asked.
“It’s beginning. Watch.”
Matilda raised her voice.
“Glory and Blessing upon the royal family of Sart! [Blessing]!”
A soft, warm radiance enveloped her. In the next instant, the light expanded in every direction, washing over the assembled guests and spreading across the palace grounds before fading away.
“What a gentle warmth.”
“So this is the Saint’s Blessing.”
“Magnificent!”
Praise rose from every side, and Matilda looked thoroughly pleased.
“I thought so,” Aeris murmured beside Tauro.
“What did you notice?”
“Her [Blessing] is still at a beginner’s level. I could perform something similar.”
“What?”
Tauro stared at her. For a moment, her statement sounded like a declaration that she too was a Saint.
“No, that isn’t what I mean,” Aeris whispered quickly. “Do you remember the dragonfolk guardians staying with my family?”
“Maria, the dragonfolk woman with [True Saint]?”
“Yes. She trained me while I was recovering and taught me several advanced techniques. Some abilities become available after mastering higher-level applications of related skills. [Blessing] is one of them.”
“That’s remarkable in its own right.”
“That’s why I recognized Matilda’s level. Her [Blessing] is still extremely basic. It simply activates several effects at once, including something similar to your [Purification] and ordinary healing magic. It isn’t especially advanced.”
Even doing all of that at the same time is extraordinary, is it not?
Tauro finally realized that training under a [True Saint] had distorted Aeris’s standards rather badly.