After talking with Pope Incensino, my heart felt as heavy as a lump of lead. As soon as the door closed, a sigh escaped my lips.

‘Did I misjudge him, or has he changed?’

The Incensino I knew and the one I just faced were completely different. I never imagined he would exploit others’ desperation to make me submit.

‘Is this just a momentary lapse, or is he heading somewhere beyond return?’

Since Incensino was human too, perhaps the current situation was driving him to act out of character. As I frowned, lost in contemplation, Lord Roman asked in a cautious tone:

“Did something happen between you and His Holiness?”

“He’s not one to treat people based on personal feelings, is he?”

“Y-yes. He shouldn’t be.”

After hesitating, Lord Roman continued with a stiff tone:

“Still, leaving right now is unreasonable. Not just for you, Holy Maiden, but all the knights are preparing to depart next month.”

“I don’t think His Holiness literally meant this very moment. Let’s try to push it back as much as possible.”

“Holy Maiden.”

“…”

I sighed. Then I bowed my head and turned away first.

“I’ll go pack my things then.”

I knew what Lord Roman wanted to say. Still, I pretended not to notice and turned away. Honestly, if I continued talking with him, I couldn’t trust myself not to speak ill of Pope Incensino.

The corridor with its heavy footsteps was quiet as usual, with no one passing by. Walking with my hands behind my back, I bit my lip firmly.

‘Packing won’t be difficult. I’ve always had few possessions.’

But knowing the journey ahead would be arduous, I couldn’t help dragging my feet. If only I had to suffer alone, I could have laughed it off, but everyone traveling with me would suffer too.

[‘The Dragon Trampler asks why you don’t just refuse to go.’]

“I can’t do that.”

I smiled awkwardly. The deity spoke with apparent frustration:

[He says nothing in this world is forbidden to you.]

[He says you should act according to your own will.]

I understood what he meant. But still.

“If I refuse to go, the suffering of those waiting for me will be prolonged. Being treated with holy power, expressing their resentments, and praying with me would at least soothe their wounded hearts.”

[…]

When I mentioned the people in the regions where I needed to go on pilgrimage, even the deity fell silent.

It was right to become strength for those facing drought and hunger immediately rather than relieving my own heavy heart.

As I was consoling myself this way, I thought of the Pope, who should rightfully have such thoughts even more than I did, and stopped in my tracks.

“My God.”

[‘The Dragon Trampler turns to you.’]

I slowly parted my lips. And looking into the empty space, addressing the seemingly visible yet invisible deity, I asked:

“Is Pope Incensino still under your protection?”

[…]

“Is it right to follow his words?”

[…]

The only response was silence. I gave a bitter smile.

Yes, I thought there wouldn’t be an answer. The deity oversees everything, but in any situation, he never steps forward first, always letting me make the choice.

The doctrine teaches that this is the deity’s kindness, respecting the will of his creations, but…

‘I never know what to do at times like this.’

Though I seemed to have walked aimlessly, I found myself already in front of my room. Pulling the doorknob, I straightened my drooping shoulders.

‘Let’s pack first. I can run away anytime.’

Let’s think about the Pope after helping those in need.

With that forced positive thought to console myself, I opened the door, and there in the middle of the room, my family greeted me with pumpkin-yellow eyes sparkling.

“Oh right, Kyle!”

I must be crazy. How could I have forgotten about Kyle?

Kyle toddled toward me on his small feet. But I couldn’t pick him up and kiss him as usual. I anxiously bit my fingernails.

“I need to leave Kyle at the cat daycare…”

“Meow?”

Kyle tilted his head, wondering what was wrong. Tapping my nails, I bent my knees to meet Kyle’s eyes.

‘That’s right. Kyle found his way to the basement by himself before. And then returned to the room.’

Such a clever cat might understand what I’m saying now, right?

I spoke to Kyle in a serious tone:

“Kyle, His Holiness the Pope suddenly ordered me to leave for pilgrimage right now. So there won’t be anyone to feed you for a month. Could you find your way to the cat daycare by yourself?”

I looked into Kyle’s eyes, hoping he would nod. After sitting quietly for a moment, seemingly digesting my words, Kyle…

“Meooow?”

He tilted his head with an innocent expression. Deflated, I brushed back my bangs with a helpless smile.

“…Right. What am I doing talking to a cat like this.”

Asking a cat to find his way to a distant village by himself. A place he’d only been to once, no less.

As I giggled at the absurdity of what I’d just said, the deity grumbled:

[‘The Dragon Trampler says it’s abominable.’]

Abominable?

Not understanding what he meant, I tilted my head, and Kyle mimicked me, tilting his head in the opposite direction. It was so cute that I ended up hugging him.

“Kyle, I have to leave for a provincial pilgrimage for a month starting now.”

“Meow?”

“I want to take you with me, but… it’s a drought-stricken area, and we’ll have to walk barefoot. So I don’t think I can bring you along.”

Pilgrimage. Being a religious journey in the literal sense, it’s far from comfort or abundance. In the past, they not only walked barefoot but also prostrated themselves on the ground to pray every few steps. Nowadays, such austerities aren’t practiced anymore.

In any case, it’s not an easy journey where one could bring a pet cat.

Stroking Kyle’s cloud-soft back, I sank into serious thought.

‘Why is he suddenly moving up the pilgrimage like this? And specifically telling me to leave Richard behind.’

It was bewildering in many ways. As I nibbled on my lips, coincidentally, one possible reason came to mind.

‘…Could he have found out about Richard’s proposal to me?’

Suddenly, the ring hanging around my neck felt heavy.

‘Regardless of my opinion, I’m a very important asset to the temple. A proposal is a dangerous act that could render me worthless.’

That would explain everything.

‘Perhaps he wants to distance me from the central temple while my heart seems wavering, then manipulate the people at the central temple to prevent anything like a proposal from happening again.’

Even deliberately imposing hardship…

‘Pope Incensino knows my personality well. He might be forcing me into harsh situations to make me realize what it means to abandon holy power.’

Indeed, I’m planning to leave early for the pilgrimage because I can’t turn my back on those people.

But using poor people to intimidate me? Realizing this made my heart grow ice-cold. Like a premonition, I inevitably understood:

‘I won’t be able to get along with the Pope like before.’

And the Pope wouldn’t leave me alone if I didn’t align with his will.

‘If things continue this way, Kyle will be in danger too.’

I carefully put Kyle down on the floor. Then I spoke to him again, saying something completely different from what I’d said earlier:

“I’m sorry. I can’t take care of you anymore. If you stay here, you might starve to death. You should go somewhere you can survive.”

I could no longer promise anything after the pilgrimage. At first, it was difficult to doubt the Pope, but once I recognized that he was walking a different path from mine, my resolve quickly hardened.

My only worry now was this small life. As I looked down at Kyle for a moment, I suddenly remembered the quest I’d forgotten and my eyes widened.

‘Wait. Taking care of Kyle was originally a divine command.’

The quest I had to carry out to survive despite breaking the curse.

That was precisely to take care of Kyle.

‘So if Kyle leaves, will I die too?’

After briefly weighing my life against Kyle’s safety, I shook my head. There was no need to put it on a scale.

‘I have no choice anyway.’

Better than Kyle suffering.

With a gentle touch, I stroked Kyle’s head. Knowing it might be the last time, my touch naturally became tender.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t take care of you until the end. If I’m given another chance, I’ll definitely come find you.”

I looked into Kyle’s eyes and whispered:

“You’re the most precious being to me, Kyle.”