“Thank you, Father.”
The light returned to Hulim Heyerar’s eyes.
Rezelian nodded approvingly, then shot a sidelong glance at Armen.
“Just keep up the good work, Hulim. Don’t end up like someone else who’s spent years practicing swordsmanship and still can’t get past the third form......”
“Hey, Dad! I heard that! Is mastering three forms really that bad?! Don’t joke around!”
“Alright, alright, it’s getting late.” Rezelian ignored Armen’s protests. “Hulim, you should go wash up and have breakfast.”
Hulim glanced up at the sun’s position, bowed respectfully to Rezelian.
“Yes, Father!”
With that, she turned and left the courtyard.
Behind her, the sound of Armen and Rezelian bickering echoed through the air.
“Hey, Dad! Don’t ignore me!”
“How dare you say that? Look at how you swung your sword earlier! Is that even the Heyerar Sword Style?”
“Why not?!”
“Hmph, still talking back. Fine, let me show you what the real Heyerar Sword Style looks like!”
“Huh?! Wait, Dad! What are you gonna do? Wait a second......”
SPLASH!
After washing off the sweat in the bath, Hulim changed into her school uniform and headed to the dining room.
Only Lilia was there when she arrived.
Seeing Hulim walk in, Lilia smiled warmly. “Come on, Hulim. The bread’s about to get cold.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Hulim sat down at her seat, picked up the warm bread in front of her, spread some jam on it, and ate it with a glass of fresh milk.
It was just the two of them at the breakfast table—not because the others skipped breakfast, but because almost everyone else was away from home.
Her eldest brother Zieg had finished his field training long ago, but he hadn’t graduated yet. Once he got his certificate from the Imperial Knight Academy, he would inherit their father’s title smoothly.
Her second brother Reid wanted to make a name for himself, so he’d joined the imperial army half a year ago and was still a recruit in the barracks.
Her third sister Rudy dreamed of becoming a teacher, so she’d gone to study in the capital of Count Leicester’s territory.
As for her sisters Rumia and Lucia, their situation was a bit special.
Blessed with the rare light attribute talent, they’d passed the Seven Heavens Church’s selection half a year ago and were now training as Cleric Trainees in the Church City.
On a side note, Hulim hadn’t taken part in that selection.
Other than them, only Hulim and Armen were left at home. Armen wasn’t old enough to leave yet, so he should’ve been sitting at the table with them. But since he was getting “personal instruction” from their father, the bread on his plate was destined to go cold.
After finishing her breakfast in the dining room, Hulim bowed to Lilia.
“I’m done eating, Mother.”
With that, she left the table.
“Alright. Be careful on your way.”
Lilia’s voice drifted over from behind her.
After straightening her clothes one last time, Hulim stepped out the front door.
“Father! I’m off to school!”
Stolen story; please report.
Passing through the courtyard, she saw Rezelian “teaching” Armen the true meaning of swordsmanship—by chasing him around and whacking him.
“Alright, have a safe trip.”
“Wait, Hulim! Don’t leave me here! Help me!”
“Oh~? Still got the energy to shout? Then double the weight on your training gear!”
“Nooooo——!”
The iron gate of the Heyerar Estate closed behind her, and Armen’s screams faded into the distance.
The Heyerar Estate was located on the southeastern edge of Mentor Town, while the Preliminary Academy was in the northwest part of the town, right next to the Adventurers’ Guild.
Which meant Hulim had to walk through most of the town to get to school.
......
Warm sunlight spilled over the streets, and the number of pedestrians gradually increased.
“Morning, Hulim! Off to school so early?”
“Yes. Good morning.”
“Hey there, little miss! Wanna try a stick of candied pastries? They’re super sweet~!”
“Thank you, but I’ve already had breakfast.”
“...Wine~, more wine~, I can still drink~......”
“......Sigh, I heard from the adventurers that there’ve been monsters popping up in the forest around the mine lately!”
“Really? That close to town?”
“It’s true! Several people have seen them! There’s even some glowing flying monster no one can identify!”
“......”
“......And so, the merciful Earth Mother Goddess solved the troubles of Wisdom God Visos, and thus profound wisdom and tools that made our lives easier gradually spread across the land......”
At a street corner, the young town priest was expounding the church’s doctrines to a group of young women, extolling the greatness of the gods.
“Ah~, how magnificent~! Father, I’m so moved! I could listen to you talk all day! Do you have time today to come to my house and spread the gospel?”
“Me too, Father! Please come to my house and deliver the teachings!”
“And me......”
The young women crowded around the priest, scrambling to invite him home, their eyes fixed on his face the entire time.
It made one wonder if they were actually listening to a single word he said.
The priest looked somewhat flustered.
“Ahem, ladies, please watch your words. It is the gods who are great—not a humble follower like me.”
“Right! Right! That’s exactly what I meant! I just slipped up earlier! I’m so ashamed! Father, please come to my house and reprimand me~!”
“Father! Don’t just talk to her! Look at me too!”
“Father! My house is really big~......”
Faced with the enthusiastic women, the priest was at a loss for what to do.
Just then, he spotted Hulim walking by.
An idea instantly popped into his head.
“Ah——! Miss Hulim! Little girl over there! Please wait a moment!”
Hearing someone call her name, Hulim stopped and tilted her head, looking at him in confusion.
The priest immediately pushed his way through the crowd, apologizing profusely as he went.
“I’m sorry, ladies, but I have urgent business with this young lady. We’ll continue the sermon another time.”
“Aww——! What a letdown......”
“Father! You have to come to my house next time, okay?!”
“See you tomorrow, Father......”
The young women dispersed one by one, dejected.
“Hehe, of course! Definitely!”
The priest replied sheepishly, breathing a small sigh of relief.
“May I help you with something? Uh...... what was your name again?”
Hulim stared at the priest in front of her and asked.
“Er...... just call me Father, missy from the Heyerar family.”
The priest answered, then went on. “Thank you for saving me back there. Those ladies have been getting more and more playful—someone even tugged at my robe just now......”
As the priest was complaining,
“Ah! I remember now!”
Hulim finally seemed to recall who he was.
“You’re the one who used to follow the old priest around! After the old priest passed away a couple of years ago, you took over his position. But you’ve been dreaming of getting transferred to the Central Cathedral in the capital ever since!”
The young priest’s mouth twitched involuntarily.
Is that really how you remember people......
“Do you have anything else to say? If not, I need to hurry to school.”
With that, Hulim turned to leave.
“Wait a minute——! Even though I said that to get rid of those ladies, I do actually have something to tell you.”
The priest quickly called out to stop her.
“It’s about your two sisters. A messenger passed through town with news about them. If you have time these next few days, tell your parents—especially Mrs. Lilia—to come by the church and hear it.”
“So it’s news about Rumia and Lucia sisters. I understand. I’ll let Father and Mother know.”
Most of the church’s affairs were not open to the public—including the training of Cleric Trainees. So if they wanted to get news about the girls, they had to wait for the church to send it.
On a side note, Hulim knew so much about this priest not only because he was the only clergyman in Mentor Town, but also because her mother had almost joined the church once, and now two of her sisters were there.
It was safe to say the Heyerar family had quite frequent contact with the church branch in Mentor Town.
Her father had been friends with the old priest, and it was the old priest who’d accidentally let slip the secret that this current priest was obsessed with transferring to the fancy Central Cathedral.
“Haha, you’re a lifesaver! Now I don’t have to make a special trip to your house.”
The priest said, looking visibly relieved.
“......Father, I think you should take your duties at the church a bit more seriously.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because if you keep acting like this, you’ll probably never get transferred to the Central Cathedral......”
“......”
