News of the Emperor’s Visit!
Upon hearing the priest deliver the news, Ophel bowed her head and spoke.
“Then, I must go out to greet her immediately. Thank you for informing me.”
“It’s nothing. We will also prepare so Her Majesty can be received without delay.”
Thanks to her efforts with her comrades up until now, the duties of the holy knights had been divided among the three of them, taking turns on a rotational basis.
It was inefficient for all three to stick together unless it was an extraordinary situation, so naturally, their responsibilities were distributed.
While the arrangement could potentially change in the future, the tasks were currently divided into three main areas: assisting the priests at the cathedral, scouting the dungeons where magic surged, and traveling across the territory and nearby villages to aid the impoverished.
Of course, there were countless other duties.
The weight of being a holy knight was heavy—so heavy that only those with truly devout hearts could bear it.
Still, it seemed to be the will of Igogodon himself.
The issue of overwork, which had been chronic for past holy knights according to historical records, was mostly resolved now that three knights shared the load.
In the past, holy knights were said to perform an almost overwhelming number of tasks, but with three knights appointed, the burden on each individual had been significantly reduced.
***
Currently, the task of aiding the poor was assigned to Luca.
The dungeon exploration was handled by Linnea.
Thus, Ophel naturally took charge of assisting the priests at the cathedral—making it her responsibility to meet with the Emperor.
“Well then, I entrust you with this matter. While Her Majesty has recently taken a conciliatory stance toward religion, we can’t predict when her position might change… Please handle this carefully.”
After the priest departed with those words, Ophel sank into thought.
‘Her Majesty, the Emperor…’
As far as Ophel knew, the Emperor had not been close to the religious community until very recently.
In fact, it wasn’t just a distant relationship—the Emperor had viewed the religious sector with disapproval.
She had learned this during her rivalry with Linnea, her main competitor during the holy knight selection process before the concept of “a plate of holy knights” was declared by the divine Igogodon.
Many had whispered around her, “Linnea is only in the running because of her royal lineage. With her exceptional skills as a knight and unmatched piety, surely Ophel will be recognized by the divine.”
These words had reached her ears countless times, making it impossible for her to ignore.
Rumours had circulated that the Emperor wanted to seize control of the religious sector, using the holy knight as a stepping stone.
Of course, such political schemes were rendered meaningless by the intervention of the divine.
Becoming a holy knight had been Ophel’s lifelong dream, but she had vowed never to cease her spiritual devotion regardless of who was chosen.
Even she, however, hadn’t anticipated the decree of “three knights, one plate.”
Then, mere days after this declaration, the Emperor, who had so strongly opposed the religious community, abruptly shifted her stance and declared Igodenkyo the state religion.
From that moment, the number of Igodenkyo followers visibly began to grow.
And today, Ophel would meet the Emperor, who had turned over a new leaf, for the first time.
“Rabbit Gong, Her Majesty the Emperor will be arriving soon. You should prepare yourself mentally.”
“Igogodon.”
“The Emperor is the highest authority in this land. She governs the entire nation.”
“Igogodon.”
“Of course, compared to the one and only God, Igogodon, he is a being of infinitely lesser stature. Think of him as the leader of the creatures, nothing more.”
As she chatted with Rabbit Gong, a shout interrupted her thoughts.
“Her Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived!”
***
By now, Emperor Eirene had reached the cathedral.
Ophel immediately moved toward the cathedral’s main entrance.
In the end, the Emperor had come to the cathedral—a sacred place tied to Igogodon, where Ophel poured out her fervent devotion.
Even from afar, the Emperor’s heart raced with anticipation.
‘Igogodon…’
Since the day she shared a holy bath with the saintess, reaffirming her faith, Emperor Eirene had been dreaming of Him—the God, her master.
She knew it was merely a dream, yet it was so sweet that it left her restless.
In her most recent dream, her master appeared in the form of the man depicted in the portrait, whispering tender words as she lay on her bed.
Upon awakening, Eirene spent the night wide-eyed.
Her stomach churned, her thighs tingled, and she couldn’t return to sleep.
For someone who had lived a chaste life, unaware of men, it was a sensation too overwhelming to endure.
They say the realization of latecomers is more intense—Eirene embodied this perfectly.
And so, at dawn, she had rushed to the cathedral.
There was something she desperately wanted to say to Him.
When she set foot into Igogodon Cathedral—
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
Kneeling before her, a red-haired knight greeted her.
It was a familiar face: Ophel Aichel Transrente, Linnea’s rival back when Eirene had been ignorant of the truth.
Back then, she had viewed Ophel as an adversary, though that seemed utterly foolish in hindsight.
With her newfound clarity, Eirene resolved to support those who worked for the divine.
Smiling sincerely, she addressed the knight.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ophel. Your renowned name precedes you. Has the work of a ‘plate of holy knights’ been burdensome?”
“Not particularly. I’m deeply grateful for the generous funds Your Majesty provides for our activities.”
The Emperor’s financial support for charity work had been unprecedented in scale, enabling Igodenkyoto spread far and wide.
“It’s only my duty. There’s room for additional support, so if you need more, don’t hesitate to relay it through the Saintess. By the way, what’s that on your head?”
“This is Rabbit Gong, a messenger of God.”
Before Eirene could inquire further—
Hop! The rabbit leaped into her arms.
Though startled, Eirene caught it smoothly, her reflexes as sharp as ever.
And then—
“Jarigot Godon.”
What startled her wasn’t that the rabbit spoke but the words it uttered.
“Jarigot Godon?”
If she hadn’t misheard… could that mean…?!
“Rabbit Gong, it seems Her Majesty is surprised. Perhaps it’s best if you come back over—”
“Oh… no, no. Ahem. Didn’t you say this rabbit is a messenger of God? It feels as if the Divine is welcoming me. I liked it.”
“Is that so? If that’s the case, I’m glad to hear it…”
“Jarigot Godon.”
The rabbit nestled in Eirene’s arms, repeatedly muttering “Jarigot Godon,” before suddenly hopping and landing squarely atop Ophel’s head.
‘Jarigot Godon… well ripened…?’
Though its words were garbled, she interpreted it as meaning “well-ripened.”
If it were truly a messenger of God, relaying the Divine’s will to her directly…
‘Oh, Igogodon… If you say such things to me again…’
Barely restraining the tingling sensation in her thighs, Eirene couldn’t hide her flushed cheeks.
She cleared her throat a few times before speaking.
“I’ve come today to offer my words to God, but…”
“Please, this way.”
Following Ophel’s guidance, Eirene entered a sparse space containing nothing but a prayer altar.
“It feels a bit empty due to the removal of old furnishings, but this has traditionally been the place where followers offer their prayers to Igogodon.”
“Empty? Not at all. Surely, everything here is the will of God. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Eirene immediately knelt.
In the past, the idea of an emperor kneeling before a religious symbol would have filled her with intense displeasure.
But not anymore.
Her heart now overflowed, not with mundane political logic, but with deep devotion to her Master.
‘Igogodon… It’s Eirene. The one you told to have faith… the one who went by the name Linashita and spent time with you in the monastery.’
Thump. Thump.
Just recalling her moments with Him made her heart race again.
This was the first time she had spoken so openly about that moment to God.
Steeling her bursting emotions, she whispered carefully, pouring out the words she had desperately wanted to say.
‘From the moment you forgave me for my lies and disbelief…’
‘From the moment you wiped my tears and told me not to cry…’
‘From the moment you reached out and asked me to believe in you, saving me from a future of ruin and despair…’
And from the moment you told me… that I was… “well-ripened…”
There’s been only one thought in my mind.
‘Igogodon… Master… Please… even if it’s just in a dream… take my first.’
***
She continued to dream of God.
In most of her dreams, she was in bed, and He would gently tease her with kind, tender words.
Yet He never crossed the line.
And so, her body burned with longing, leaving her unable to act on those feelings.
She had to convey her earnest thoughts somehow.
‘Everything I have belongs to You alone. From the moment You gave me the stability that can only be felt when one learns to trust another…’
‘I resolved that I would dedicate myself entirely to You.’
‘I… I’m fine with it. No matter what. If it’s You, my one and only Master…’
‘I would willingly offer all of myself to You.’
‘So, I beg You. Please share with me… Igogodon’s “unvarnished truth.” As deeply as You desire… until my head spins… As much as You wish… Please, I implore You.’
‘I won’t demand any more love or attention than You choose to give.’
‘But even if it’s just in my dreams, for the briefest moment, please embrace me as You did the Saintess.’
‘Until that day comes, I vow to keep my body and mind pure.’
Some might laugh at her plea, but Eirene was sincere.
She loved God.
And it wasn’t like the love of an ordinary follower—it was something else entirely.
She was confident He would accept her childish demands.
After all, Igogodon was… so truly wonderful and kind.
The rabbit perched on Ophel’s head seemed to hop gently as it murmured softly.
“Jarigot Godon. Jarigot Godon.”
“As you say, Her Majesty’s devotion to God seems genuinely devout.”
Ophel thought this as she watched Eirene pray.
This was God’s miracle.
This was God’s… sticky…?
“Igogodon.”
“Oh, right. The unvarnished truth. Yes, thank you, Rabbit Gong.”
So, this was God’s “unvarnished truth.”
She might have been startled by how the rabbit read her thoughts, but something else preoccupied her mind.
‘It wouldn’t be right to keep relying on this help forever.
Even though I’m still fumbling with these phrases, perhaps, like Her Majesty Eirene, who came to believe in the seemingly unbelievable God…
With enough effort, I too might one day fully understand and embrace the “unvarnished truth.”‘
As she thought this, Ophel gazed at Eirene, who was lost in prayer.
Her pristine profile, illuminated by sunlight streaming through the stained glass, sparkled—
It felt as though God Himself were tenderly caressing the praying Emperor.
***
A few days later.
The incident occurred on the day Ophel was assigned to scout the dungeon’s surroundings.
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