Hameres pushed himself harshly. It was the only way to save himself from being buried in thoughts of Beni.

For five years, he poured everything into training except sleeping hours.

Beni also stopped visiting.

Their hearts were woven together, but they couldn’t enjoy the blessing of bearing fruit.

That’s why they stubbornly ignored each other.

Because meeting would be painful.

Because even if they met, they couldn’t comfort each other.

Everyone in the temple couldn’t hide their puzzlement at Hameres’ frenzied behavior. Some avoided going near him lest sparks fly.

When the level of his holy power improved incredibly fast, and he could recite doctrines and scriptures with his eyes closed, they finally began to acknowledge Hameres as material for the position of high priest.

But due to his age, he couldn’t avoid being hindered by the opposition. Even so, the outcome didn’t change since the influential High Priest fully supported him.

Moreover, as Hameres proved his qualifications with his own skills, complaints gradually subsided.

Thus, Hameres Hiya received the honor of being appointed the youngest high priest since the temple was established.

Today was his high priest appointment ceremony.

He wasn’t happy at all.

Others talked about it being a lifelong wish, but he felt nothing.

Enjoying glory?

No, he was merely trapped in a cage that would never open until death.

Perhaps pitying his soul withering like dry grass, God bestowed grace.

“I come to see the High Priest.”

After the noisy ceremony ended, while walking alone around the waterfall, a sad yet clear voice came from quite a distance.

A familiar but now somewhat unfamiliar voice.

Sometimes he missed her so desperately that he had to clutch his chest to breathe. Now, the woman he longed for appeared, bringing a different kind of numbness.

His leisurely steps turned toward her.

Upon discovering Beni, Hameres almost ran to her.

But as a result of long practice, he could calmly control that much. He didn’t fidget with his feet hidden by his long priest robe, and instead of a joyful smile, he wore a gentle one.

When he steadied his finely vibrating breath, he could overlay a calm tone without showing any agitation.

“Sister Numora, it’s been a very long time.”

“On a day like today, I really wanted to see you in person and greet you. Congratulations on becoming High Priest.”

Beni’s gaze carefully examined Hameres.

“You’re dazzlingly beautiful.”

White priest robe and a face as white and fine as snow.

His jade eyes held more distinct intelligence than before, and they were clear as if he had reached the state of enlightenment.

It created an illusion that he possessed a miraculous power that could expose one’s sins in detail.

Beni hid her expression by pretending to fix her hair, afraid he would discover the attachment she still couldn’t erase.

“Everyone praises you as Trycas’ spiritual pillar. I also think you deserve it, High Priest.”

“Are you healthy?”

“……What? Oh, yes.”

“Your face is pale.”

Ignoring her greeting, he spoke only what he wanted to say without taking his eyes off Beni.

They both realized they were helplessly shaken even in this brief conversation. Beni was the one who broke it off.

She seemed to think that since she came on her own feet, she should leave the same way.

“High Priest, please stay strong.”

“You haven’t answered yet. Are you healthy?”

“Of course. The butler visits occasionally and takes care of various things. ……I know you ordered it. I will never forget this kindness.”

“If you need anything, contact Collic anytime.”

She just smiled.

Anxiously bright.

* * *

His appearance stopped changing once his holy power accumulated and solidified. As time passed by, his skin still overflowed with vitality, and his energy didn’t diminish at all.

Many followed him who had entered the divine realm, and honor and power comparable to the Emperor accompanied him.

Time flowed like running water, and before he knew it, he reached a desolate season.

The middle-aged Collic deeply bowed his head in the High Priest’s office.

“She has passed away.”

“……Yes, hoo…… I see.”

His whole body trembled. His ears were numb, making it impossible to understand what Collic was saying.

It seemed to be about preparing the funeral and sending her off peacefully.

When he came to his senses, Collic had already left.

His legs, which had been supporting him firmly, gave way weakly, causing him to barely grasp the table with a clatter.

There was a document Collic had left on the table.

It was a certificate donating all her assets to the temple. The bank president, honoring her wishes, had given it to Collic.

Beni was forty years old.

Thanks to his tears and prayers every dawn, she lived longer than expected. But his devotion only went that far.

“Lord Drahim, should I thank you?”

Should I thank you for letting her live a little longer……

When my heart is crumbling like this.

When it hurts so much that my heart feels torn to pieces.

“Haa…… Beni. Huhuhuh.”

I’m sorry for making you live alone.

His tear glands, which he thought had dried up, burst helplessly. Without even the strength to wipe them away, he left them to flow.

An intense sorrow washed over him, making him unable to control his body.

Soaked in grief and wailing, when his crying subsided, a farewell barely flowed from his lips.

“Thank you for giving me a good memory. Goodbye, Beni.”

He sent her off with the same words she had once used.

* * *

The Emperor and Empress were overjoyed to confirm Isabella was well.

After escorting the imperial family out of the temple, Hameres dismissed everyone around him.

He tilted his head back fully to look up at the temple’s high roof.

The result of pouring energy into an innocent place because he couldn’t control the boiling regret just by holding Beni in his heart.

He raised the roof higher than what the previous High Priest had built. During that time, some priests appeared to dissuade him from further expansion.

Not knowing the reason, they probably thought he was doing something useless.

Only Hameres himself knew the truth.

It was a struggle not to forget the distance between her and himself, and he tried to erase human l*st by looking at where God would be.

“Beni, looking back, I was truly a pathetic man.”

It was nothing more than cowardly avoidance.

Fulfilling his duty as a priest was the way to protect her, but he couldn’t help his heart breaking whenever he recalled it.

After Beni left the world, he closed the door from the temple to the outside. Though it had been open to nobles at the time, he blocked it with his authority as High Priest.

He gave the somewhat narrow-minded reason that more relationships meant more worries, but since the Emperor approved his intention to focus only on the imperial family, it was achieved without opposition.

“It was definitely love, but honestly, I was also obsessed.”

If there had been no deal between his father and the previous High Priest, would the result have been different?

Suppressed by circumstances, he ended up letting go of the woman he wanted as his companion.

Accepting the powerless reality made it even more a source of resentment.

Even though he never passionately confessed his love.

Beni Numora, who briefly left footprints in his life, helped him endure his arduous life.

Perhaps that’s why he still can’t forget.

Perhaps he’s still obsessed.

“It gets colder every day, for goodness’ sake. I might freeze to death at this rate……”

Hameres sniffled his sore nose and climbed the stairs with his hands behind his back.

* * *

A victory celebration was held to commemorate the day of triumph in the monster war.

Today’s party wasn’t for nobles but for the soldiers who bravely fought risking their lives.

Since it was a banquet held at the imperial palace, only key figures could attend, so the rest of the soldiers were given congratulatory money.

Lutz stared at Mac who skillfully dispatched monsters while protecting Isabella. He was someone Lutz really wanted to introduce to Hinael.

“Hina, do you see that man wearing the blue tailcoat?”

“Yes, Isabella is heading that way.”

“He’s Mac Akins, captain of the imperial elite unit. He’s seventeen this year.”

When Lutz suddenly talked about the man, Hinael examined Mac more carefully. She judged that if he remained clearly in Lutz’s memory, he must have some extraordinary qualities.

Hinael nodded her head languidly.

“He’s really sturdy and tall. He caught Your Majesty’s eye, so that’s why you’re telling me about him, right?”

“Hmm, strictly speaking, he caught Isabella’s eye. Look at that. Isabella is flirting with the captain.”

“F-flirting? Your Majesty, that’s too harsh.”

Hinael pursed her lips but closed her mouth when she saw Isabella grinning broadly in front of Mac.

It wasn’t quite flirting, but she was definitely smiling with her eyes seductively.

“Is he a son of the…… Akins family?”

“He’s the second son of Baron Akins, but you probably won’t be familiar with them. The baron is a vassal of Marquis Sebito and is responsible for the territory’s defense forces.”

“What do you like about Sir Akins, Your Majesty?”