That night, I was thinking over who would be accompanying me into Holy Maiden’s Trial: Tarte, L’lyeh, Kent, Cocoa, Frey, Luna, Lina, and Mio made nine—which left three slots. If I were to stick to anyone with an awakened job or better...I could bring Rudith as another cannon. That would make ten.
“It would be perfect if those two could come... Hopefully they’ll have the time for it,” I muttered, thinking of Tithia and Leroy. Not only did Tithia’s unique job as the Pope make her a candidate, she was the one who’d given me the key to the trial in the first place. And if I brought Tithia, Leroy would be there too. “He can attack or support, so he’s a good team member to fill in any gaps.”
For example, if the fighters in the back line were being attacked and there wasn’t enough time for the frontline fighters to come to their aid, it’d be nice to have someone who could hold the line against the monsters. Even though I could cover most of the support on my own, it was nice to have someone else on top of that too. “Okay! I’ll go talk to them tomorrow!” I decided.
Now that I’d made up my mind on whom to bring, I wanted to stock up on items. In addition to healing items, I’d have to ask Tarte to craft some Roaring Potions that boosted our Attack. “I should go ask her right now—” Just as I was about to leave, someone knocked on the door.
“It’s Tarte!” my apprentice announced through the door.
“Come in. I was just about to ask you to— Frey? Lina?” They were standing behind Tarte, clearly distressed. “What’s wrong?”
“After our discussion about switching jobs this afternoon, Mio went out to do some shopping and still hasn’t returned,” Frey explained. “Have you heard from her?”
“What?! No, she hasn’t told me anything. It is concerning that she hasn’t come back yet,” I agreed. It was already dark outside, and all the shops should have been closed for the night. The only open doors in the city belonged to taverns. A girl as cute as Mio was sure to be accosted by drunkards if she was walking around alone. “Priestess or no, Mio’s at a really high level. I don’t think anyone could hurt her that easily...” Still, I was concerned for her.
“I’m not too worried about that,” Frey said. “But we haven’t explored this city much, so I didn’t want her to get lost.”
“Oh, right...” I said. I hadn’t considered that Mio might have been lost and alone in the city. “Then we should go look for her now. I’ll have my brother send a team of knights to look for her too. That will be quicker.” I flagged down a staff member who happened to walk by, and sent a request to Rudith to contact the Order of Knights since Mio hadn’t returned.
“Thanks,” Frey said. “Let’s head out.”
“Right,” I agreed.
Even though the weather was usually temperate in Farblume, it could get chilly at night. I gazed up at the sky full of brilliant stars and couldn’t help but remember the night I’d first left Farblume, exiled by Ignacia. The starry sky had been just as spectacular that night.
While I was taking in the stars, Anne Marie brought out coats for each of us. “It’s quite late... Are you sure you won’t leave it to the knights?”
“I sent my brother a message, so the knights are also searching for her. But I’m too worried to stand around and wait... I’ve gotten much stronger since I was last here. I’ll be okay,” I reassured her.
“Very well,” Anne Marie said, still wearing a concerned look on her face—more for Mio’s sake, I guessed. Anne Marie seemed to understand that I’d gotten stronger.
“We’re going to go,” I announced.
“Be careful,” Anne Marie said.
Throwing our coats on, Tarte, Frey, Lina, and I set out into the streets. Luna stayed at the house in case Mio returned while we were out. The icy breeze made me want to find Mio as quickly as possible in case she was wandering around in thin layers.
“Did she go to purrchase items for her job switch?” Tarte asked.
“Yeah. She said she was going to wander around a bit if she had the time... I’m not sure where in the city she was headed,” Lina said.
“She did mention that she wanted to see the castle,” Tarte murmured.
“Yes... The castle would be a point of interest for her. It’s not the kind of thing we see every day,” Frey acknowledged.
The castle was quite an impressive sight, I had to agree. Without clearance, it was hard to gain access to the castle grounds, though. With little to do except gaze at the structure from the outside, it wouldn’t have taken up much of Mio’s time...unless she’d gotten lost around that part of the city.
“Let’s check out the castle,” Frey said, and we made our way over.
Since my house was a duke’s residence and located very close to the castle, we arrived at the castle gate in no time. Tarte was looking around and into the distance. Perhaps she had a cat’s night vision and could see more clearly than we could.
“Hmm... Mio isn’t around,” Tarte whined, her ears drooping pitifully as she shook her head.
“Do you think she stopped for dinner somewhere?” I asked.
“That’s pawssible,” said Tarte. “Oh! Why don’t we ask at the taverns if anyone has seen Mio?”
“Okay, let’s do that,” Lina chimed in.
Just as we were about to make for the nearest tavern, a voice called from the distance, “Frey?!”
We turned toward the voice to find Mio stepping out of the castle gate. She was inside the castle?! I blinked, staring at Mio as she approached. How did she get past the guards? Frey and Lina ran up to meet her.
“Mio, you took so long we were worried about you!” said Frey.
“Yeah. We thought something might have happened to you,” Lina added.
“I’m sorry,” Mio said. “When I came to take a look at the castle, they let me in... I’ve been listening to people’s confessions.”
“So that’s what happened,” Frey said.
Mio’s explanation reminded me that there were very few people with jobs in the Healer line here. Perhaps they’d welcomed her because of her talents as a Priestess. I didn’t think it had hurt that she was a noble herself. In any case, she deserved a pat on the back for sitting through whatever those meathead knights had to confess about.
“I’d appreciate it if you let us know the next time you stay out late,” Frey said. “I know we can all take care of ourselves as adventurers, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying.”
“I’m sorry, Frey. I’ll make sure to do that next time.”
“Thanks,” Frey said as she sighed in relief.
“I’m sorry I worried you,” Mio said to Tarte and me next.
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” I said.
“I’m happy nothing happened to you,” Tarte said. “It’s ameowzing how you can work as a Priestess in a new city.”
“It’s not a big deal, really,” Mio said. “Skills can heal physical wounds, but emotional wounds are much harder to treat. I try to help people with them in any way I can.”
“I love that!” Tarte said, and I nodded along.
“Thank you,” Mio said. She might have been far better suited to the title of Holy Maiden than I was...
As Mio told us about her job, we began walking back to my house. Her curiosity piqued, Tarte played the part of interviewer. “Whose confessions do you listen to?”
“Anyone’s. Even criminals deserve forgiveness if they’re willing to confess,” Mio said.
“You were talking to criminals?!” Tarte yowled, her tail puffing up.
“That was just an example!” Mio said. “I mean to say that I would listen to the confessions of criminals. There aren’t any criminals walking around the castle anyway. I’d have to go to the prison for that, I think.”
“I was so shocked,” Tarte said, her tail relaxing.
I chuckled at their exchange. It would have been quite troublesome if criminals were walking freely in the halls of the castle. More than a few guards would have been fired for that, I was sure.
“I listened to knights and maids mostly. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to listen for them to feel saved,” Mio explained.
“I see.” Tarte nodded her understanding.
“Some knights were lamenting how strenuous their training is,” Mio continued.
“It’s that bad?!” Tarte asked.
“From what I could piece together, it’s child’s play compared to the hunts Sharon plans,” Mio clarified.
Tarte trilled in sympathy.
Luckily for me and my reputation, the conversation ended there as we’d returned to my house.