A month had passed since Minseo entered this world. He had adapted to it, albeit clumsily, and even went hunting with his father.
"...thus, we offer the heart and head of the prey to Lord Barbatos. Please accept this tribute and bless our family..."
Leo's father knelt and covered the ground, praising the god in a reverent voice. This was the only ti the extrely taciturn man would speak.
His voice was thin, which didn't match his rugged appearance, perhaps because he rarely spoke.
Leo also knelt and participated in his father's worship. It was a struggle to serve a taciturn middle-aged man as his father, but it wasn't hard to match the mood.
This Leo was originally quiet too, so he just needed to stay silent.
After the prayer, his father removed the innards of the prey and started cooking, while Leo tied the hind legs of the prey and hung it upside down from a tree.
This was to bleed it out.
When they first went hunting, his father was puzzled by his suddenly clumsy son but silently demonstrated the tasks.
Leo followed his father's example, and fortunately, his body seed to rember, allowing him to mimic it quickly.
Moreover, this Leo was skillful. Minseo, who used to be clumsy, was surprised at how deftly he handled things like tying knots and other chores.
Leo's father seed to think his son had forgotten due to not hunting for a while and dropped his suspicions.
Minseo was becoming completely Leo. He didn't consciously think of modern society, and he recognized all the villagers' faces. Although there were gaps in the past he didn't know, it wasn't hard to get by.
Leo had forgotten his past self, Minseo, who wasted ti smoking and playing gas in a small room.
He had a sturdy, young body that could easily climb rugged mountains, and in the friendly village, there was always Lena welcoming him.
He had co to like Lena "again." It wasn't strange that she sincerely welcod and liked him.
Because I have liked Lena "for a long ti."
Leo thought of her in the village while his father sprinkled the prey's blood on the cooked innards.
The blood sizzled away, leaving only a fishy scent lingering.
*
In a small house without proper furniture, Lena's family welcod the morning.
"Are you going to church today?"
"...Yes."
Lena's mother smiled as she served her daughter a generous portion of soup.
It was the weekend. Her daughter eagerly awaited weekends when she could study to her heart's content.
"Keep up the good work. Thank you for going to church diligently on behalf of your mom and dad. Study hard too."
"...Yes."
Lena hurriedly ate her al and rushed outside. She squinted at the bright morning sunlight.
For the first ti, she had no intention of going to church today. Instead, she grabbed a large bag and, making sure her parents wouldn't see, knocked on the next-door house.
"Leo~"
"Oh! Just a mont. I'm almost done with breakfast!"
Lena waited in front of Leo's house for a bit. Soon, Leo ca out with a broad smile.
Through the open door, she saw Leo's father clearing the table. Lena had never spoken to Leo's father, who was not only taciturn but also didn't participate in village events.
He didn't co to church either, making him distant from the villagers.
As Leo closed the door, he asked,
"Lena! What's up? Did you co by before going to church?"
His tone was higher, indicating his joy at her early visit. Lena's uneasy feeling vanished, and she asked brightly,
"What are you doing today?"
"I'll probably spend the day repairing equipnt. My father plans to go hunting again tomorrow, so I'm preparing to go with him."
"Hey~ Then, would you like to go gather mountain mushrooms with ?"
"Mountain mushrooms?"
Leo's face brightened more than usual.
Mountain mushrooms? But anywhere with Lena was good.
"Sure! Let's go gather mountain mushrooms. I can fix the equipnt in the evening. Wait a mont."
Leo went back inside, ca out with three pouches at his waist—one likely for snacks and another for water. He also slung a bow over his shoulder, possibly for ergencies.
Lena smiled as she looked him over.
Leo was impressive. He was strong and skillful, quickly making small tools. Lena often watched in awe as he crafted arrows from twigs and leaves.
Leo urged her,
"All set. Let's go!"
The two young people reached the foothills and began searching for mountain mushrooms. They kept their hands busy while chatting nonstop.
Seeing Leo, who seed to be back to his cheerful self, Lena had a shy thought.
'Maybe living like this with Leo wouldn't be so bad.'
To beco a priest, she would have to study for several years at the central church and might not return ho.
Although the monks at the church said they tried to accommodate priests' requests, there were unavoidable circumstances. The current village priest wasn't born here either. In fact, no priest had ever co from their village. Sister Leslie, who was at the church now, had left to beco a priest but hadn't succeeded.
'It would be nice even if I returned as a monk...'
Lena glanced at Leo, who was picking mushrooms. It was sad to give up her dream of becoming a priest, but she didn't want to part with him.
Lena made up her mind.
I like Leo. And Leo feels the sa.
Right?
After focusing on gathering for a while, they spread a cloth and took a break.
"Leo, say ah~"
"Ah~~~"
Leo, busy scraping the roots of freshly picked mushrooms, opened his mouth, and Lena fed him pieces of jerky he had brought.
"Munch munch..."
"Munch munch..."
A mont of silence fell as they ate the jerky. Leo, still working on the mushrooms, was conscious of Lena, and Lena, though turning her head away, could see Leo clearly.
She mustered the courage to speak.
"I think I'll stop studying to beco a priest."
"...!!"
"Can't go to the central church, need money for tuition... Even though they say they'll feed, clothe, and house , I'll still need so living expenses."
Lena stretched out her legs and adjusted her sitting position. She stretched her arms as well, making it look casual.
"I don't want to leave Mom and Dad behind... and I kind of want to keep living like this, going to the woods together..."
Her subtle confession left Leo flustered, pretending to focus on the mountain mushrooms. Lena leaned toward him and asked softly,
"Do you want to go beco a priest? Or not?"
"I, I..."
Leo's mind went blank.
He tried to swallow, but his throat was dry.
Mumbling, he bowed his head and muttered,
"...I'd like it if you were here when I ca down from hunting in the mountains."
Leo tried to continue working on the mushrooms, but they had been stubborn since earlier. The roots wouldn't co off easily, and he felt Lena's gaze on him.
His throat felt like it was on fire, and his heart pounded against his ribs.
"Why~?"
Lena asked playfully, smiling brightly. She wanted to lean in and kiss his cheek.
"Why... What's with the why? Why do you keep asking that?"
Leo's curt reply ca with a reddening neck and earlobes. Lena felt an overwhelming sense of happiness.
Leo's warm hand seed closer than usual.
*
The next day, still the weekend.
Leo went hunting with his father. Lena didn't want to go to church, but her parents were going, so she had no choice but to head there too. She wasn't ready to tell her parents she wanted to stop her priest studies.
"Lena, you're here. What happened yesterday? You didn't co to church."
Sister Leslie walked briskly towards her.
Seeing him in his plain robes with gentle wrinkles, Lena felt her throat close up, as expected.
She fumbled for an excuse.
"I felt like I hadn't seen my friends in a while, so I went to hang out."
Since she had spent all day with Leo yesterday, it wasn't a lie. But hiding the truth from the sister made her feel heavy-hearted.
Sister Leslie smiled brightly, oblivious to Lena's inner turmoil.
"I see. Co on in. What book were you reading last ti?"
He seed to have so free ti today, as he personally fetched the book and led the way.
Lena felt like she might hiccup. He had a special fondness for her and had high expectations.
When Lena had asked if going to the central church was realistically possible, Sister Leslie had reassured her, comforting her with his own experiences and wise words.
Sister Leslie's room was both sparse and immaculate.
On the shelf, a few monk robes were neatly folded, and the room was spotless.
The most worn item was a small statue of Saint Azura, which was well-handled due to the sister's daily prayers.
Sister Leslie sat Lena beside him and spoke kindly.
"Lena, becoming a priest is not about being late."
The difference between a priest and a monk was whether they had divine power.
Devotion and constant prayer didn't guarantee divine power. To obtain it, soone with divine power had to bestow it, an act called baptism by the church.
At the central church's educational facility, candidates received baptism and were taught various subjects, including theology. Over several years, the most outstanding students underwent a ceremony to test their aptitude, which determined whether they beca priests or monks.
"It doesn't matter if you're late. If you're a devout and diligent child like you, you'll surely make it to the final ceremony."
A novice priest who received baptism cultivated the small seed of divine power through piety and righteous deeds.
The priest who bestowed divine power lost so of their own, making it costly and rare.
Most of the bestowed power dissipated during baptism, so the church minimized losses by verifying the candidate's potential through a ceremony. Those who didn't et the efficiency threshold were excluded.
Despite the controversy, there was no practical alternative.
Ultimately, candidates deed capable through the ceremony beca priests, while others beca monks.
"I didn't do well in the ceremony, so I didn't beco a priest, but I'm not disappointed."
Sister Leslie held Lena's hand gently.
"Whether you beco a priest or a monk is uncertain, but it's not the most important thing. Even if you can't go, it doesn't matter."
Sister Leslie smiled, and his words shook Lena.
"We have already dedicated our hearts to God."
Having been comforted by Sister Leslie, Lena couldn't bring herself to say she wanted to quit.
Hesitant, she followed the sister inside.
As usual, she sat at the table before the altar and opened her book. Sister Leslie explained difficult parts beside her.
The sacred objects on the altar warmly embraced them.
*
The mundane, peaceful days continued into autumn.
Lena worked on weekdays and occasionally went to church on weekends. After confiding in Leo, they spent more ti together and even held hands again.
Today, like any other day, Lena and Leo gathered food and returned to the village. But,
"Lena! You're back!"
At the village entrance, the priest and Sister Leslie were waiting, along with two unfamiliar outsiders.
Sister Leslie hurriedly grabbed Lena's hand and exclaid,
"Lena! It's happening! This is surely God's providence!"
"Wh-what's happening?"
"These priests will take you to the central church! Praise be! Such a joyous event!"
He pointed to the two strangers. One was a dignified old man, the other a rare female priest.
Lena gasped.
The middle-aged female priest smiled gently at Lena.
"The village priest and Sister Leslie spoke highly of you. We're heading to the central churChapter Would you like to join us?"
Lena couldn't tell if this was a dream or reality.
I can go to the central church!
A lifelong dream was suddenly coming true, and she was overwheld.
"This isn't a dream, right? Le..."
Lena's elation vanished when she saw Leo standing dumbfounded beside her. If she left, she would have to part from him.
She looked at Leo, and silence fell.
Leo bit his lip.
Lena was leaving.
It felt like cold water was poured over his head as forgotten thoughts surfaced. He never imagined Lena could leave the village...
'So Lena had this event.'
There was no way to beco a princess stuck in this remote village. She had to go to the capital where the princes were, and the central church was in the Holy Kingdom of Jero's capital.
This event set the stage for Lena to study in the capital. But would she beco a princess if she entered the priest training institution? He doubted it.
Leo felt conflicted, wanting to live with her here.
He had long abandoned the idea of making Lena a princess. He didn't want to walk such a thorny path or return to Minseo's harsh life by finishing the ga.
But the Lena he loved wanted to beco a priest. Such an opportunity might never co again.
As Leo hesitated, unable to speak, Lena took the lead.
"I'm not going."
She tightly held Leo's hand.
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