Jes couldn’t forget the sight of Rou lying as still as a corpse.
When Rou first slipped smoothly under the water, Yan and Jes were alarmed but still washed and dried him to the end before laying him in bed. It must have been tiring since listening to the believers’ stories and blessing them was no easy task. Moreover, Rou lying quietly looked as peaceful as if asleep, so Jes and Yan decided to simply let him rest comfortably until his fatigue lifted.
It was the next evening when they felt something was wrong with the High Priest’s condition. No matter how noisily they called the High Priest from around him and shook his body, his tightly shut eyes wouldn’t open. Jes and Yan were trembling in fear and had resolved to call a doctor if his eyes didn’t open even after today passed.
Just as they were only worrying like that, the High Priest opened his eyes. It was extremely fortunate. Even though they’d spent the most time by his side, they hadn’t noticed the High Priest’s fatigue. Jes reproached himself and reproached himself again. He thought that to prevent such a thing from happening again, he must pay special attention to the High Priest’s physical condition from now on.
Yan brought out sweet fruit tea. Rou dropped three or four sugar cubes into the tea Yan brought. The tea disappeared at a quite different speed from the soup. Rou, disappointed by the tea that vanished in an instant, turned the teacup around to shake the sweet droplets into his mouth, and Yan quickly refilled Rou’s cup.
As Rou dropped sugar cubes into the tea again, he held a vain hope that perhaps Brukisel had come while he was asleep. It wasn’t entirely groundless hope. Since Brukisel had appeared in his dream, it was only a just-in-case feeling.
“By any chance, while I was asleep… was there a visitor?”
“Of course. There’s someone who’s come every single day. They’re probably waiting outside the door right now?”
Yan spoke as if complaining it was hard to handle. Unable to understand the strange inflection mixed in the words, Rou took it literally. He glanced at the door with expectant eyes, then unable to bear it any longer, urged Yan.
“Then open it quickly! Making them wait too long isn’t courteous.”
Yan had a reluctant expression. However, since he couldn’t refuse the High Priest’s words, he walked with the slowest steps possible. Hoping that in the meantime Nick would tire himself out and return home.
“High Priest!”
The door opened slowly, and the gap was narrow. Yet Nick shoved his face through the gap. And like someone worried the door might close, he squeezed through the opening in the blink of an eye. At that sight, Rou nearly dropped the cup he was drinking from in surprise. Rou calmed his startled heart and tried not to show his disappointment.
“Welcome.”
Yan opened the door reluctantly. Whether Nick had made a wig using all the hair Rou had given him, his abundant hair looked very warm. Rou looked at his head contentedly. Even the Goddess would find it hard to pass by without stroking that abundant fur if She saw it.
Nick was holding something huge, and the object carefully wrapped in white paper was difficult to identify. Nick came in swaying but holding the object in his arms even more preciously than his wig. As soon as Nick, who had barely settled in place, tore the paper, a rich fragrance spread instantly.
“This is…”
“It’s a precious orchid that grows wild on the southern islands. I brought it here to offer to the High Priest.”
Rou embraced the huge pile of flowers. It was heavy enough to wonder how he’d carried it. Though not the visitor he’d been expecting, fresh flowers were always welcome. The pale purple petals were so soft, having grown exposed only to southern winds, that he became curious what kind of honey was hidden within them.
“Ugh… Urgh.”
While touching the flowers Yan had gifted, Rou suddenly felt dizzy and staggered. If Jes and Yan hadn’t grabbed Rou’s shoulders, he might have fallen face-first into Nick’s arms. Rou held his forehead, and the bouquet that had been in his arms slipped and fell to the floor.
Yan knelt before Rou without even knowing if the flowers were damaged, only examining his complexion. Since he’d only just woken up, they should only show him good things. It was definitely because he’d unnecessarily opened the door and let that person in that this trouble had occurred.
Rou held his forehead and stayed still for a while, then suddenly stood up abruptly.
“High Priest?”
“High Priest! If you suddenly stand up…”
He picked up the flowers that had fallen to the floor. At the sight of him suddenly complaining of a headache then moving as if possessed by something, the believers couldn’t easily continue their words.
Rou chose one orchid flower. And extended it to Nick. Nick accepted the flower Rou offered without daring to ask why.
“Only one flower survived on that stem. The other flowers withered long ago. Rather than attempting something new, it would be better to be faithful to what already exists.”
“Pardon?”
Nick was confused for a moment. But that confusion was brief—as both a believer and an excellent merchant, he didn’t miss the opportunity and asked back.
“Well… I was thinking of starting trade on a new sea route this time. Rather than that, are you saying to use the land route that already exists?”
“That’s what the flower is telling me.”
“Go-goodness… I-in any case. I understand.”
Rou said that much and staggered again. He lay back down on the bed halfway. Feeling suddenly tired, he wished everyone would leave so he could rest comfortably. However, those surrounding him didn’t seem to have such intentions.
Rou tilted his head at the three pairs of eyes looking at him. He couldn’t guess for what reason they were staring at him like this.
‘Ah. Is it because I threw the flowers on the floor?’
Rou silently stood up and picked up the remaining flowers scattered on the floor. And handed them to Yan, who was staring at him with a blank face. Even after receiving the flowers, Yan came to his senses a beat late.
“H-High Priest. Just now, what!”
“…The future. Did you see it?”
Rou, who had sat back in his place, was more bewildered by their reactions. He’d received flowers, saw something before his eyes and told them about it. It was too extreme a reaction. Rou, who had been thinking for a moment about why those two were acting like that, caught on to the reason without difficulty.
‘Ah… I see.’
Having spent several hundred years by the Goddess’s side, Rou’s concept of the future had already blurred. Though he was a bumblebee, he didn’t need to gather provisions for hibernation, nor did he worry about what would happen if flowers didn’t bloom in the coming spring.
Having no anxiety, he didn’t prepare. However, humans who didn’t even live a full hundred years were different. A life swayed by each moment’s choices was a succession of anxieties.
“It seems so.”
Rou wanted to ask the Goddess. If he’d known in advance he had such a useful ability, he wouldn’t have needed to waste time spending a week in that greenhouse, would he? Of course, to Rou that time had been no different from a vacation at a resort.
‘Goddess, that’s too much.’
As Rou grumbled slightly, it seemed like the Goddess’s laughter brushed past his ear.
“Goodness… You’re truly amazing. Such a blessing… The Goddess surely cherishes the High Priest.”
Nick said excitedly that this joyful news should spread across the entire continent.
“Then the Kaine Religion will revive even in this northern land. If the High Priest even possesses the ability of prophecy, the Emperor won’t be able to ignore it anymore and will come to this temple.”
“…Really? I can help him?”
“Of course. How much help would it be when conducting politics or diplomacy to be able to read the opponent’s moves first!”
That Brukisel would visit the temple, and that he could help him. It was content Rou had wished for as if dreaming. Rou spoke hurriedly with slightly flushed cheeks.
“Then go and tell him.”
“Of course! I’ll spread this joyful news to everyone in the world!”
Jes watched Nick, who was leaving after receiving Rou’s order, with uneasy eyes. The ability of prophecy. It was a time when he could feel the High Priest’s greatness once again. However, too many abilities might not be a blessing. Jes was deeply worried whether this innocent High Priest could survive in the political world.
“Brukisel… I wish Brukisel would come to see me…”
However, he couldn’t bring himself to pour cold water on Rou, who muttered so with expectant eyes, so Jes simply closed his mouth and nodded.
“Indeed. If His Majesty comes to the temple, the High Priest will be able to bestow a blessing.”
“I wish that day would come quickly.”
Rou spoke in a languid voice as if dreaming. Jes chose the one with the most abundant flowers and deepest fragrance among the seven vases Yan had created and placed it by Rou’s side. Then carefully asked.
“High Priest, you address His Majesty familiarly. Have you met him before?”
“Yes. Brukisel saved my life.”
“Pardon?”
“In the last moment as I was dying, he grabbed me and saved me. I can’t forget that moment. Even though his own life was threatened, he didn’t turn away from me.”
“Ah… I-I see.”
Not only had the two already met, but the Emperor had even saved the High Priest. Jes thought he vaguely understood why the High Priest tried so hard to reach the Emperor. If one owed a life debt, it would be natural to want to help.
“So that kind and warm child can be happy, I’ll do my best.”
Rou said with a beaming smile. Jes, who had empathized with Rou even a little, stared blankly at Rou with an absurd face as the emotions he’d been immersed in instantly shattered at those words.
