“This is Kado City, huh?”
Via stood on the bustling street, gazing at the throngs of people milling about, and couldn’t help but sigh.
Compared to Doff City, this place was at least several times larger.
The sheer volume of foot traffic was staggering. Even though it wasn’t the weekend, the commercial district was still lively beyond measure.
This city was located in the north of the Saint Luo Empire, serving as one of the key transportation hubs. Merchants heading south for trade had to pass through Kado City.
Over time, it had drawn in crowds of traders. Then, when local surveys uncovered veins rich in magic stones, drawing the attention of powerful figures who saw the city’s potential, they poured investments into its development and construction. In just the past century, Kado City had risen rapidly to become a major metropolis.
As for why Via was here, it was because the region she was responsible for on Saint Prayer Day was Kado City itself. So, she’d arrived ahead of the official start of the festival to make preparations.
It had to be said that the Holy Land’s choice to hold the Saint Prayer ceremony in Kado City was a wise one. As a vital thoroughfare, it was easy to gather northerners here.
After the Holy Land announced that both Via and Sophie would participate in the Saint Prayer ceremony, droves of people had flocked to the city.
If the ceremony on Saint Prayer Day succeeded, it could convert many of the masses into believers.
“Does that mean we’ll get to see Lady Sylvia’s daughters during Saint Prayer Day?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s fantastic! I’ve long heard that Lady Sylvia’s daughters inherited her exceptional talents. Today, I can finally see just how much they resemble her!”
As Via walked the streets, she could overhear the citizens discussing Saint Prayer Day. It was clear that many were quite looking forward to it.
“But I have to remind you— the one who inherited Lady Sylvia’s talents is the elder sister, Sophie. As for the younger sister, Via… well, she’s quite disappointing, from what I’ve heard. Apparently, she can’t even wield holy power as a saintess candidate.”
“That’s too bad, isn’t it? So, does that mean the two saintess candidates appearing in Kado City for Saint Prayer Day are Sophie and Via?”
“Yep.”
“Sigh. It feels a bit of a letdown. Couldn’t it just be Sophie?”
The passersby’s conversation drifted into Via’s ears.
She only needed to catch a few lines to sense the vast gap in popularity between herself and Sophie.
Most people’s comments about Sophie were positive, with hardly any negativity.
But when it came to her? It was the complete opposite.
Finding even one compliment felt like a challenge.
“…Whatever. Time to head back.”
Via pulled her hat brim lower.
She’d come out disguised in a hat and mask, dressed in plain clothes, so few people on the street paid her any mind.
In the first place, she could have just stayed at the local Holy Land chapel and waited for the Saint Prayer Day ceremony to begin tomorrow.
But on a whim, she’d wondered what Kado City might be like.
After mulling it over, she’d decided to dress low-key and step out for a look.
Which was how she’d ended up witnessing this scene.
“Via.”
“Huh?”
Via, who had been heading back, suddenly heard someone calling her name on the road and froze for a moment.
I’d disguised myself so well— how did they spot me?
She turned around involuntarily, and upon seeing who it was, she was utterly shocked.
“Stella?”
Via spotted Stella approaching, cradling the little yellow cat in her arms.
For a split second, she had the illusion that this was Avalon Academy.
But on second thought, that didn’t add up.
What would Stella be doing here?
“Meow meow!”
The little yellow cat spotted Via and seemed thrilled. It leaped from Stella’s embrace, dashed right over, and flopped down on top of Via’s hat.
“What are you doing here too?”
Via addressed the cat on her head.
“Via, I brought Little Ha along to Kado City with me.”
Stella reached Via’s side and smiled faintly.
“Little Ha?”
“Yeah, that’s the little yellow cat’s name.”
“Why would you give this guy such a weird name?”
Via found the name a bit odd.
Is there some special meaning behind it?
“It’s like this: That day, I saw this kitty downstairs from the dorm, hissing at a mouse. It hissed for a good while and actually scared the mouse to death.”
Stella recalled the earlier incident, still finding it amusing even now.
“Then, the little yellow cat ran into a dog on campus. It hissed at the dog, totally bluffing it, and scared the dog off. I figured the little yellow cat was really good at hissing, so that’s how I came up with the name.”
“Oh, I see.”
“So, what do you think, Via? Are you satisfied with Little Ha’s name?”
“It’s fine. Let’s go with that.”
Via approved of the name Stella had given the little yellow cat.
A quirky cat like this shouldn’t have a normal name anyway.
Little Ha suited it perfectly.
“Oh, right— you still haven’t explained yourself. Don’t tell me you just came here with Little Ha to hang out with me?”
Via asked, puzzled.
“It’s nothing much, really. I saw the announcement in the newspaper from the Holy Land, saying you and Sophie would be in Kado City, so I rushed over.”
Stella said.
“Honestly, I wanted to observe Via up close during the Saint Prayer Day ceremony.”
“You’re deliberately here to watch me embarrass myself?”
Via couldn’t help but ask.
After thinking it over, that seems like the only possibility.
“I even told you to keep Little Ha back at Avalon Academy. There’s no need for you to come all this way.”
“It’s boring at Avalon Academy. When I’m alone, I just hole up in the library. It might be a bit more fun if Via were around.”
Stella shrugged. “Anyway, I have plenty of free time. Rather than wasting it in the library, why not come out and stroll around?”
“Did you even ask for leave?”
“Leave? Nah, no need.”
“Fine, whatever.”
Via felt a bit helpless.
Stella really did take advantage of her grades and status to act as she pleased at Avalon Academy.
“My luck’s pretty good. I haven’t even reached the Holy Land chapel yet, and here I run into you on the street.”
Stella stepped a little closer. “So, Via— will you be participating in the ceremony with Sophie tomorrow?”
“Yeah, that’s how the Holy Land arranged it.”
“Then I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s Saint Prayer Day.”
“There’s nothing worth seeing. If you want to watch Sophie, that’s one thing, but as for me…”
Suddenly, Via’s words cut off.
It was as if she’d sensed something. She turned her head, staring into the crowd on the opposite street, her expression shifting.