Chapter 437 – Time Apart

Shortly after the first landmark meeting between the Empire and the Commonwealth.

The Prime Minister led her by her curved waist, finished a brief greeting with Barian, and solemnly asked for understanding from her saint.

For the next task, I left first, accompanied by the vice-captain of the Eunik Knights and some members.

As if that was something that had been originally planned, Eclair led the remaining members into a formation and guided the federal government’s distinguished guests to the gate.

“Saint. I will greet you on the day of the next meeting. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Brother Varian, you worked hard too. I will pray for your health until that day.”

After saying hello to Atra, Varian shifted his gaze to Roman, who was silently guarding him behind him.

“Roman.”

“Yes.”

“I will ask for you, Theodore, in the future.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best. I’m not someone you can fool, right?”

At the polite request, Roman grinned and readily agreed, and after confirming his intention, Varian bowed deeply to show courtesy.

Varian watched as the voices of the waiting dragons grew louder. He said he would refrain from making a fuss, and after saying a final goodbye, he walked away.

Somehow, only three people remained together.

“Saint. I still have work to do, so it won’t be possible for us to move to the capital together.”

“You’re going through a lot, sister. I’m fine, so you don’t have to worry.”

Eclair’s work ends when he guides federal guests to the border where he went on a mission and returns to the capital to report on his work.

When all work is finished, darkness will fall in the sky and the moon will rise.

“Roman. I will ask you to take care of the saint.”

“I’ll keep it clean until the end, so don’t worry. I’ll wait for you at the mansion when it’s over.”

“Hmm.”

There was a good chance that Roman would return to the capital today, but no one was sure.

How surprised everyone would be if they saw Roman back at the mansion.

Eclair, who pictured that scene, tapped Roman’s chest with her gauntlet with a gentle smile, told him to work hard, and walked towards the group of federal agents.

Eclair’s confident steps and unwavering backside.

They awakened Roman’s spirit and made him focus on the remaining work.

“Atra. Can we head straight to the capital?”

“···.”

“If you have any remaining work nearby, feel free to stop by.”

“N-no! There’s nothing left to do, so let’s go to the capital.”

For a moment, her desire to spend more time depending on the answer hit like an awl.

Atra barely managed to hold on to his senses.

If she acts like that, it will only put pressure on her sisters who are waiting for her and her fatigue and her desperate need for rest.

No matter how much she wanted to be together, she didn’t want to selfishly fulfill her desires while making Roman tired.

Then, if it even seemed like a bother… I was scared just by the premise and imagination, and my whole body started shaking.

··
··

“Atra. Are you feeling dizzy?”

“Whew… I think I’ll be okay if I just take a breather.”

In fact, he felt bad because he used the gate too much, but the reason Atra’s expression darkened was complex.

If we were to be honest, the proportion of dizziness and unease in the saintess’s sinking mood would not be even 10%.

“It’s a good idea to drink plenty of water before your mouth gets dry.”

“Okay, thank you.”

As I drank the cold water that Roman handed me, I thought about it.

I ended up complaining for no reason. It was displeasing.

Atra has never resented the convenience of the gate as much as she did today.

The rapid progress in magic and magic tools has made the path from a territory that has developed beyond a certain level to the capital to be literally instantaneous.

I was mixed in with the crowded crowd and couldn’t even have a proper conversation.

The two people continued to move and eventually set foot in the capital of the empire.

“I haven’t been gone for a long time, but because it’s a foreign country, it feels like I’ve been gone for several years.”

“I see… I’m okay now, so shall we go?”

“I will guide you to the church.”

Atra, who fixed her gaze on the front, somehow raised the corners of her mouth and headed toward Roman and the church.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t laugh naturally.

‘···.’

It’s a feeling that can be seen just by glancing at the profile while walking down a familiar path.

Roman, who came out of the gate, was drenched in anticipation that he could not hide.

Atra’s light blue eyes now began to see it and read it.

‘I envy you.’

His breath caught in his throat as he knew who Roman’s feelings were directed to.

It’s to the point where I even have the delusion that what it would be like if my path through religious denomination continued for the rest of my life. Illusory fantasies repeat one after another in my head.

“Saint…!”

What broke it and awakened Atra’s spirit was Majella’s voice waiting at the church.

A church where she doesn’t even know when she arrived.

Atra, coming out of her daze, gave a small wave of her hand to Majella, who was dressed comfortably.

“Mazella. Nothing bad happened, right?”

“Yes. There was nothing other than the news sent by the saint.”

“Everyone must have suffered because of me. I’m sorry.”

“Not at all. None of the church members are dissatisfied with being busy with this matter.”

Majella is feeling as she answers as usual.

There is something strange about this current atmosphere that makes me roll my eyes.

‘···What? ‘Is something wrong?’

Majella observed Atra and Roman at the same time.

It is different to say that Atra is having a hard time due to fatigue or drowsiness. It is a strange atmosphere that can be read as it is a Majella who has been together for a long time since the past.

“This is the bag I took with me when I left. It just so happened that my baggage increased a bit.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Majella, who had received a heavy backpack from Roman, looked a little embarrassed when she saw her horn sticking out and the doll’s lower body.

Roman, who was about to take a step backwards, stopped and put his hand in his arms as if he remembered something.

“I almost forgot. I’ll give this back to you too.”

“!”

I finally got my black notebook back.

Majella squeezed her eyes shut as her mind grew dizzy, and then she reflected on her letter to Atra saying that she was okay, and she thanked Roman first.

“Thank you for your hard work. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your safe return.”

“It was a meaningful day for me too. I learned a lot from serving Atra.”

Majella blinked blankly at Roman’s answer.

‘I’m sure she called you a saint… Atra?’

It is unclear how Roman originally called the saint.

She was so comfortable referring to the saint by her name, so natural that she wondered if her memory was wrong.

“···Can we provide guidance on escort-related compensation after an internal meeting?”

“Of course. It’s enough to pay the fee to the Adventurer’s Guild for the first time in a long time.”

He responded positively to Majella’s reply that he would send a letter to the Adventurer’s Guild when he was ready.

Roman scratched her chin and looked around at the Order.

‘Should I go back quickly?’

Shuel is not visible. However, she did not go to the extent of looking for and greeting a nun who might be busy with work.

She had enough supplies that she had pre-stocked so she didn’t need to replenish them.

From Roman’s perspective, there was no need to see the church anymore. It was time for her to return to the mansion where her lovers were waiting.

“Atra.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Thank you for your hard work. I will go back now.”

“Thank you. Please say hello to the sisters.”

Atra smiled as brightly as she could as she recalled her happy memories.

Roman, who was with her, must have felt something strange about her all this time. I was glad that he finally seemed a little relieved.

If the ending is clean, the days spent will at least not be remembered as obstacles in one’s mind.

Jeez. Jeez. Jeez.

Roman’s steps that make the church cry.

Atra blankly watched Roman’s back as he walked away from her. Although she feels mean and sad that she doesn’t look back, she feels fortunate.

The corners of Atra’s mouth, which she had been forcing up, slowly lowered.

“Saint. I have something to tell you…”

“···.”

It was only after Majella confirmed that Roman had completely disappeared from the Order that she gave her voice to Atra.

Majella was even prepared to be kicked out of her position as the saint’s guard, even if this mistake meant putting her in the punishment room for the longest time.

“I’m sorry. I won’t make any excuses for my carelessness. You may already know this, but I gave you a supply notebook… Saint?”

Even when I raised my voice next to her, Atra wasn’t even interested and she didn’t even give a short answer.

“Mazella.”

“···.”

The deep depression that bursts out of Atra as she realizes the days to come after Roman leaves.

It silenced Majella, who was watching from her side.

She got the vibe from Atra that she should not ask her reasons.

“I’m going into the prayer room, so please leave me alone until I come out…”

Majella looked blankly at Atla walking away alone, making noises.