The beginning of March.
The start of spring.
The south was already hot.
It was originally a place where humid sea breezes blew constantly and lush greenery flourished year-round.
The Arkidne Grand Temple located at its center was likewise full of verdant vitality.
If only the man who brought the northern wind and snow hadn't dropped the surrounding temperature below freezing.
He was a man white as snow from head to toe, as if he had walked through a snowfield.
Only his eyes looking up at the pediment on the temple's stone pillars were blue, but it was a jade color closer to northern ice than the south's hot sea.
Such a person stood before the grand temple of the south. Ironically.
His gaze was cold, his breathing monotonous.
'It's good that you're consistent everywhere.'
The aide beside him, constantly wiping sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, glanced at his lord's well-defined profile.
His lord, dressed in a spotless white coat with a complete blue three-piece suit, looked neat to the point of appearing obsessive.
'Isn't he hot?'
The aide, who had lived his entire life in the north, couldn't adapt to this place's weather where it didn't even snow in midwinter.
But that person was no different.
Wasn't he the very symbol of the north itself?
The one and only master of the northern Kahiten territory, Ian Kahiten.
Suddenly Ian turned his head.
"Huk."
Their eyes met.
His cold silver hair fluttered lightly as his crystal ball-like blue eyes blinked slowly. It was an unreal sight, like a ball-jointed doll moving with self-awareness.
"He left?"
The man covered entirely in white and blue asked.
"Yes. There was word that he went out far just before we arrived, and they said to use the communication device if there was any message."
"Went out?"
A brief sneer flowed out like cold air.
"You're wrong, Jes."
Ian naturally rummaged through his coat pocket and put a cigarette in his mouth. His chief aide, Jestria Vindel, quickly pulled out a lighter.
The silver-haired, blue-eyed handsome man exhaled smoke like a mirage while flicking ash with his fingertips.
"It's not going out, it's running away."
His red lips curved crookedly upward.
"Such expressions are not appropriate in front of a temple, Your Highness."
"He didn't leave even a single note. Even his destination is unknown. Isn't it somewhat ridiculous to call this a simple outing?"
"That is......"
"It seems the temple guys want to leave a noble impression befitting an archbishop."
Flick. The half-smoked cigarette fell to the ground and was crushed under his shoe.
"There's no obligation to respect dogs who don't know manners."
Subtle anger settled on Ian's smooth face.
He had come all this way for a deal.
The temple would recognize Ian's northern governing rights, and Ian would allow proselytizing in the north in return.
Honestly, from Ian's perspective, it was quite an unwelcome deal.
However, to break away from the empire's influence and gain diplomatically independent status, he had no choice but to erase the long conflict with the temple and establish a new foundation.
But when Ian arrived at the grand temple after much deliberation, the Arkidne Archbishop—the party to the contract who would acknowledge him as the official master of the north—was not there.
How much cost and time had gone into deciding this southern journey?
Meaninglessly wasting capital and time was what he hated most.
'Unilaterally breaking a deal is intolerable arrogance.'
"This has happened before."
Ten years ago, when his fiancée went missing.
The trembling voice of Marquis Bringston still rang clear in his ears.
'My daughter did not run away! How could a child who dreamed only of marriage to Your Grace all her life dare to flee!'
Then was she kidnapped or something? What was she, anyway?
Even if it was kidnapping, that wasn't Ian's concern either.
What mattered was that the deal partner had disappeared and the plan had gone awry.
At that time, he had even considered annihilating the marquis family due to his twisted mood from the unexpected situation, but looking back now, his fiancée's disappearance was rather fortunate.
Thanks to that, he could obtain the Bringston marquis family's diamond mines and the port leading to the imperial capital that had been originally promised, even without the engagement.
Since he got what he wanted without taking on troublesome baggage, there could be no better deal.
Though the search continues to this day considering Marquis Bringston's social dignity, this too is merely a moral obligation.
Using the excuse that his fiancée's life or death is unknown, he can shake off his stepmother's persistent marriage pressure—truly killing two birds with one stone.
Now his current feeling was that he'd like her to stay quiet for about five more years before appearing as a corpse somewhere in a distant foreign land.
His fiancée, Leticia Bringston.
He wished she was dead.
That she had died long ago and only traces barely remained.
He so wished.
'But this time is different.'
While Leticia was merely a means to guarantee the deal, the Arkidne Archbishop was the very protagonist of the transaction itself.
Ian needed his notarization.
"Find him."
"Pardon?"
"The archbishop's disappearance wasn't long ago. There must be traces left. Search thoroughly like catching lice and track him down. And."
He paused to organize his thoughts before continuing.
"Use any means necessary to catch him and bring him before me."
"......"
Aide Jes blinked and swayed on his knees.
Here it starts again.
He's starting to bite without regard for consequences again.
That hunting dog, really.......
"Your Highness, though he may be young, he is the master of the temple."
Do you want to get pelted with eggs by fanatics?
Swallowing the words that rose to his throat, Jes added in a mosquito-like voice.
"What if they change their minds?"
"Do you think they will?"
As Jes said, the Arkidne Archbishop was still young. For such a person to become the head of Arkidne Temple, which had the most believers on the continent, meant he was recognized purely for his ability alone.
Around such talent, jealousy and hostility always lurked. Ian knew this well, as he too was such a 'naturally gifted' person.
He didn't know what the believers on the ground might think, but at least the higher-ups who decided to deal with him wouldn't truly care about their master.
Ian didn't trust the morality and goodness of deeply faithful people.
They were human in the end.
Humans who desired and craved like himself.
Then all he needed to do was give them what they wanted.
Similarly, what he himself wanted was simply something to be seized by his own hands.
"Don't make me say it twice. Find him."
"......I understand."
Jes couldn't bring himself to defy his lord's command.
Meanwhile, in Baron Delin's territory beyond the northern Nemper Mountain Range.
Chait and I were in a standoff.
"Sister."
"Answer me."
"......"
His gentle voice stopped along with the wind. Soon he drooped his eyebrows and smiled.
"Yes...... Just once."
"......!"
"It was long ago."
I know when that was.
Eight years ago, the day he first disappeared.
I thought I had some unpleasant dream. But that wasn't a dream.
"Can holy power originally manipulate people's memories at will?"
"No. It only seals them away. With the right trigger, memories will return somehow."
"Trigger......"
"It's not something just anyone can handle either."
"......"
So Chait really isn't an ordinary holy power possessor.
My suspicion that his past is connected to Arkidne Temple grows stronger.
It was also unpleasant that he had carelessly tampered with someone else's memories, but more important was the magnitude of the power Chait possessed.
'If Chait has holy power equivalent to Corellia's......'
In a situation where Corellia is absent, he might not be unable to take on the role of the world's savior instead.
"Chait, you know."
"Yes."
"What exactly happened in the past?"
It took tremendous courage to bring up this question. For me, it was dangerous to approach the whirlpool of fate I had once escaped from.
"......"
Chait hesitated for a long time, then.
"......I'm sorry."
Closed his mouth.
I tried asking the question in different ways several times after that, but Chait's mouth stayed shut tight as if glued. Even pressing him harder didn't seem like it would yield anything.
'In the end, I have no choice but to keep trying what I can do on my own for now.'
Forcing marriage on others isn't exactly pleasant work though.......
We were quiet the entire time walking down the forest path.
'Even walking with a complete stranger wouldn't be more awkward than this.'
Chait wouldn't answer my questions, and I had nothing more to say if not those questions, so we really just walked quietly.
How much time had passed?
Chait was the first to speak.
"This really won't do."
It was completely out of context.
"Huh, what won't?"
Still feeling awkward, I hesitated embarrassedly. Then Chait looked down and frowned.
Eh, did I do something wrong?
"Sister."
"Mm-hmm."
"You're going to fall like that."
"Huh?"
I followed Chait's gaze downward. How pathetic—my calves were trembling.
What, I'm really such a coward. Haha.
A hollow laugh escaped.
"This is just reflexive. It'll get better with time."
"As if it's fine."
Chait bent his waist and showed me his back.
"Get on."
"How embarrassing, what!"
"Should I carry you in my arms instead?"
"......"
I got on his back.
Chait easily carried me and walked as if nothing had happened. In the process, he didn't forget the courtesy of supporting me below with his clenched fists.
Looking at this, that kid really seems like he'd be popular.
'But he can't use it......'
My regretful mood was brief. The afterimage from earlier flashed through my mind again.
The pitch-black demon's remains, the smell of blood I felt from Chait's fingertips, his chillingly leisurely gaze.
Chait had stood there like a top predator.
To think this kid is a predator. When he's just a tiny cat beastman.
......I know it's meaningless denial.
Having seen the true value of 'divine power' that instantly subdued a demon, I can no longer carelessly underestimate him.
'Maybe his timely arrival to find me wasn't coincidence either......'
"Chait."
I called to him while on his back.
"Yes, Sister."
"How did you know I was here?"
"Since you didn't return for such a long time, I searched for you."
"This place is pretty hard to find though."
"Yes. It was difficult. I did something praiseworthy, so please pat my head at least."
I tapped the head of the guy speaking cheekily. Then his shoulders, which had been tightly gripped, rose lightly.
This kid is finally laughing comfortably.
"You know."
"Yes."
"Earlier you were......"
"Ah, Sister."
Chait cut off my words and stopped walking.
"We're here."
"......"
"Shall I put you down?"
We were already at the village.
Looking at the scene that had become a raucous barbecue party from a simple picnic, I asked to be put down quickly.
I can ask about curious things anytime, but embarrassment lasts a lifetime.