“Lena! What brings you here so early?”
Leo emerged, a grin on his face.
He looked like he knew something she didn’t.
“Hmm? Why are you making that face? Are you trying to prank me?”
As if caught, Leo’s left ear twitched. It was a habit he had when he was flustered, one that only Lena knew about.
“You better not be up to something. I won’t let you off easy.”
Lena raised a threatening fist. Leo’s slightly intimidated look was cute.
“No, I’m just happy to see you…”
“Really? Well, if you try to prank me today, you’re dead!”
She shook her fist again. Leo’s left ear twitched again, and Lena’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you hiding something?”
“Wh-what? No, I’m not!”
“You are! You’re definitely hiding something! Let me see your bag.”
Leo had to go to great lengths to appease her suspicions.
'Man… I should have just kept quiet. She’s way too sharp.'
The Lenas he encountered in each scenario had completely different personalities.
The Childhood Friend Lena was smart and witty. The Engagement Lena wasn't as intelligent, but she was a strong warrior and very stubborn.
The Beggar Siblings Lena was too young and uneducated to judge properly, but she was very talented and a bit lazier than the other Lenas.
It might have just been because she was young or perhaps because she was so pretty she just needed more sleep, but compared to the other Lenas who were all so diligent, the younger Lena definitely slept a lot more.
'I’ll have to be more careful in the future.'
The Childhood Friend Lena seemed to be even smarter than Leo, not to mention Minseo, who was in his late twenties. She lacked education and information, but she was a good judge of character.
It had been the same when they went to Nebis last time. Even without any information, she had sensed that life in Nebis wouldn't be easy.
Finally, Lena and Leo reached the foot of the mountain, and from then on, things proceeded much like they had before. The only difference was that Lena’s chatter as they gathered mushrooms was a little different.
They found a spot to rest after picking mushrooms for a while.
“Here, open wide.”
“Ahhh~~~”
“Chew, chew…”
'This is it. She’s going to tell me she’s giving up on being a priest.'
Leo waited.
“I think I’m going to stop studying to be a priest. I can’t go all the way to the Holy Cross Church, and there’s tuition… They say they’ll feed me, give me a place to sleep, and clothe me, but I’m sure I’ll need some spending money.”
Lena stretched her legs out and shifted her position. She even pretended to stretch her arms.
'Cute.' She was doing it because she was embarrassed to confide in him. He couldn’t help but adore her.
At the same time, Leo’s body stiffened.
“It’s not like I can just leave Mom and Dad here by themselves… And I kind of like going into the woods with you like this… Do you want me to go be a priest? Or do you want me to stay?”
Even though he knew exactly what the future held, his throat felt tight.
Leo loved Lena.
He couldn't help but feel his heart race at her confession.
It was a good thing he had prepared what to say in advance.
“I don’t… Well, I mean, it’s not like I wouldn’t want you to stay here with me, but… I’d be sad if you gave up on your dream.”
His face burning, Leo lowered his head, just like he had done the last time, and focused on diligently brushing dirt off an innocent mushroom.
“Really~? Why~?”
Lena’s teasing question made his jaw clench, and he forgot what to do with his hands.
“Why… There’s no why. Don’t ask weird questions.”
Sweet emotions swirled within him.
'Get a grip, Leo. You’re supposed to part ways with her.'
But as Lena’s hand reached out and clasped his, the last vestiges of his reason vanished. He couldn’t bring himself to pull away.
***
As the summer heat began to fade, Leo grew increasingly uneasy. The priest who would be heading towards the Holy Cross Church would arrive around the time summer ended.
Until then, Leo spent as much time with Lena as he could, forgoing even his hunting trips.
Lena would sometimes take his hand in hers. Every time she did, Leo’s heart would pound, and the line between their long-standing friendship and something more blurred.
Then one day, as they were returning to the village after gathering food in the fields, they found the village priest and Monk Lesley waiting for them at the entrance. A female priest and an old man were with them.
Leo shuddered.
'This is it.'
'I have to do what I have to do. Send Lena away and go on my journey…'
The female priest smiled kindly at Lena and asked if she would like to accompany them.
“This isn’t a dream, is it? Leo…”
Lena looked back at him with a stunned expression, and silence fell over them.
In the previous timeline, Lena had given up on her dream and refused to go for Leo’s sake.
If he stayed silent now, the same thing would happen.
Swallowing down his regret and lament, Leo opened his mouth to convince Lena to go. But the words that came out weren't the ones he had planned.
“Can I go with you?”
He was going to gather information in the Jerom Holy Kingdom anyway, wasn’t he? Going with them would be ideal. He could travel to Lutetia comfortably with Lena, and then they could study together.
The Holy Cross Church didn't just train priests. They also trained paladins, the sword and shield of the church, and Leo had some skill in {Swordsmanship}.
'God?'
'If it means I can be with Lena, I’ll believe.'
'I’ll believe deeply and praise His grace for bringing Lena into my life.'
“I know my theological studies are lacking, but I’ll work hard. And I’ve learned a bit of swordsmanship from my father. I want to become a paladin. I have some savings, too. Please, wouldn’t it be possible?”
Leo pleaded earnestly.
“Leo…”
Leo’s family held hunting sacred, and he had always wanted to become a great hunter like his father.
Seeing Leo’s willingness to sacrifice for her, Lena’s heart swelled with emotion. She reached out and gently squeezed his hand.
Priest Ophelia, the middle-aged priestess who had come to collect Lena, observed the two youths before her.
She had a feeling she knew what their relationship was.
'It reminds me of the old days…'
On the day she had left to become a priest, Ophelia, too, had parted ways with a friend with whom she had shared a special bond.
During her years of religious study, there were many times when she had yearned for that friend, and each time, she had offered her longing up to God.
Now, after all this time, it was just a bittersweet memory.
Ophelia’s heart softened.
It wasn't a big deal to make room for one more person in the carriage, and with that kind of passion, he could grow into a fine paladin.
“I don’t see wh-”
“Absolutely not,” the old man beside her interjected gruffly.
Everyone’s eyes turned to him.