The morning after a restful night, Dana Rowen began her day with morning prayers and finished getting dressed. She had breakfast with the maids returning to the south and bid them farewell. Once they departed in their carriage, she headed to the library with Hilda, who had stayed behind with her.

With the librarian’s assistance, they pulled out the oldest books on divine beasts from the library shelves. Together with Hilda, Dana spread the books out and examined them, but the content was, as expected, difficult to read.

“Bome… of spring, it seems. The next part is Wi, Yu…”

“Could it be the goddess Yurhemia?”

“Aha.”

The two of them pored over the books until sunset. After spending the entire day grappling with confusing letters, their heads ached. It took a long time just to read each character. When they finally deciphered a sentence stating that “Yurhemia is the goddess of spring,” both Hilda and Dana were astonished.

Despite this, Dana did not give up. She spent several days with Hilda, trying to make sense of the texts, but eventually concluded that it was no longer feasible. After yet another entire day in the library, as the red glow of sunset descended upon the shelves, Dana finally threw up her hands in surrender.

“This is just too much of a waste of time.”

Hilda nodded, as if she had been waiting for Dana to say that, and suggested a method befitting royalty.

“Why not just summon a priest and give an order?”

Dana agreed that it might be the better option.

Leaving the library with Hilda, Dana called for Countess Vicar. The Countess, still at Eluan Castle, promptly came to see Dana and said:

“After hearing your previous request, Your Highness, I asked for priests who could visit Eluan Castle, but none are capable of reading records from the time of the first king. However, a monk from Cargot was recommended, as he seems to have expertise in that area.”

“From Cargot? A monk is more knowledgeable than a priest?”

The faith on the continent of Vicanthia was under the jurisdiction of the Holy Kingdom of Vicanthus, and priests were considered the representatives of Vican, the god of light and the origin of the world. Monks also followed Vican and the gods of the four seasons, but they were more akin to researchers and practitioners of the divine.

Thus, the rank of priests, officially recognized as Vican’s representatives, was often regarded as higher. Priests tended to look down on monks, a sentiment that subtly influenced the believers as well.

“Yes. He was originally a priest in Vicanthus but is now a monk on a pilgrimage of silence.”

Dana fell silent. The fact that he was on a pilgrimage of silence indicated that the monk had been punished for some unknown reason by the Holy Kingdom.

“Perhaps you should request another priest from a further location…”

Hilda suggested, looking quite worried. There was still plenty of time, so that option remained open. After contemplating, Dana spoke.

“If a priest recommended him, he must be quite capable. I’ll meet him first.”

If his transgressions had been severe enough to be problematic, the priest would not have recommended him. Countess Vicar acknowledged Dana’s decision.

“Please inform Sir Vicar to visit me tomorrow morning. I’d like to hear about the current situation in the north. After that, I’d appreciate it if you could also tell me about the northern social circles.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After Countess Vicar withdrew, Dana had a light dinner of cheese and bread before going to bed. The thought that she wouldn’t have to be buried in the dust of the library from the next day onward lifted her spirits considerably.