Chapter 63

In the conference room, the men's minds went blank.

When asked whose, the answer came: Zess's.

"Well, that's to be expected."

"There's no other possibility."

Sora and Chaf exchanged glances with no tension and tried to grasp the situation.

"...What do we do?"

"Don't ask me."

As Sora tilted his head, Chaf turned to look at Gorge. Gorge looked at科尔, and科尔 looked at Zess.

"Zess is going to be a father too. It's quite a moving moment, isn't it?"

科尔 patted Zess on the shoulder and left the conference room.

"If it's a boy, I'll train him."

Gorge smiled at Zess and left the conference room.

"Good luck, future dad."

Chaf poked Zess in the chest and left the conference room.

"...I need to arrange for a doctor."

Saying this, Sora tried to leave the conference room, but Zess caught him.

"Don't run away."

"Shut up. I'm only ten, you know? I don't understand the intricacies of relationships, and my presence in this situation is just a nuisance. Let go."

"I don't know what kind of face to make."

"I think you should smile. Bye."

Sora skillfully escaped from Zess's hand and ran out of the conference room.

After that, Zess, flustered, carried Raset to the bedroom, nervously waited for the doctor Sora had called to make a diagnosis, and upon hearing the news of pregnancy, ran out of the house in a flurry, returning to the Great Tree Hall with a bunch of amulets and baby clothes.

Raset scolded him for being too hasty.

The Great Tree Hall was bustling with joyful commotion when, in the city's cathedral, the First Bishop Gaist was writing a letter.

The windows and doors of the room were tightly closed, rejecting the city's noise that had increased in proportion to its splendid development.

In the dim room, devoid of any light from magic or candles, Gaist finished writing the letter and read it over.

Even after being promoted from Second Bishop to First Bishop, Gaist could not escape the Kleinzelt territory.

He was dispatched to the viscount's territory to monitor Sora, who had been ennobled as a viscount.

The church had no idea that Gaist was wearing a collar.

Gaist knew the church's plans but kept his mouth tightly shut to avoid being detected by Sora.

He had some complaints about the church in the viscount's territory, which had been reduced to a mutual aid society, but the doctrine was not something Gaist could betray so easily.

He sealed the letter with wax and the church's special seal, which bore the pattern of a bird holding a staff.

– This might be the last time I see it.

Gaist stared at the seal, then had a sudden thought and dripped wax on a random piece of paper, sealing it.

As he did this, there was a knock on the door, and a girl with a determined look appeared, holding a bag.

"The preparations are complete."

"Shalina, are you really coming with me?"

Gaist asked with a troubled smile, and Shalina puffed out her cheeks.

She demonstrated by tapping the bag like a drum and spoke.

"You can't even prepare for a trip on your own. Who do you think will steer the ship? If you want to end up as fish food in the sea and then on a warm family dinner table, I won't stop you."

She rattled off these words quickly and showed the bag.

There was no sign of hesitation in her demonstration that her role was irreplaceable.

Gaist's smile deepened.

The seriousness and aloofness he had when they first met were gone, and she seemed to have entered both her rebellious and pubescent phases simultaneously.

Thinking about it, despite his continuous decline after being collared by Sora, Gaist had become a First Bishop thanks to Shalina's proactive work.

The women of the Kleinzelt territory were strong. Sora's advisor had said something similar, and Gaist strongly agreed.

"Alright, let's go together."

"That's fine. Seriously, why did you suddenly think of a missionary journey?"

– I have to protect the last ally I have left. Being a bishop means something.

Without voicing his thoughts, Gaist left the letter on the desk and pushed Shalina out of the room.

Looking back at the room from the corridor, Gaist narrowed his eyes to see the dark future ahead.

"...Lord, your wise decision."

Murmuring this, Gaist started walking.

About ten days later, in a room of the Grand Cathedral in the capital, the High Priest Leul finished reading the letter and leaned back in his chair.

The High Priest's attendant received the letter and, finding its content unpleasant, frowned and snorted.

"The development of the Viscount Sora Kleinzelt's territory is remarkable, its technological capabilities far surpassing those of other territories, and the viscount is beloved by the people. After the plan succeeds, there will be no one capable of governing this territory while suppressing rebellion. The viscount's territory is like a soaring eagle, impossible for anyone to capture – Gaist, you're quite exaggerating."

Placing the letter on the desk, the attendant spat out these words with displeasure.

Summarizing the letter's content, it essentially said to stop the futile efforts.

It took a few seconds for Leul to realize he was smiling.

"High Priest, what's the matter?"

"No, it's just that Gaist has a very high opinion of Viscount Sora Kleinzelt's abilities, yet he still thinks the plan will succeed, which I find amusing."

Indeed, the letter only expressed concerns about the aftermath of the plan's success.

"Besides, it's a parting gift from a capable subordinate. We should gratefully heed the warning."

Saying this with a smile, Leul chuckled.

The attendant bowed respectfully.

"I'll gather the necessary personnel to meet your expectations."

"No, that's not necessary. I'll go there myself."

"–! Please wait. There's no need for you to go in person. What about the capital?"

The attendant tried to persuade him, but Leul shook his head.

"There's nothing more to hope for in the capital. Besides, if the plan succeeds, it will be the land where I will live. It's just a matter of time."

"That's true, but..."

The attendant searched for words to persuade the High Priest, but he knew he couldn't win.

In the end, it was the attendant who gave in.

Looking up at the ceiling with a tired face, the attendant saw Leul point to the sky through the window and smile.

"Look, today's sky is unusually clear and high. It's like –"

Pausing, Leul chuckled.

"Within reach, isn't it?"