Two days had passed since the search for Evelyn and Kira began. At the Grand Basilica, those who could had gathered to report on progress, but the search was proving more difficult than anticipated.
“So no leads were found in Laster.”
“No...”
“I combed through the Semme area, but the situation was the same.”
Igna and Theodore had sent reports, but they also had no information on Evelyn. Currently, they were on their way to the Duchy of Caté on little to no rest.
This is bad. I wasn’t expecting us to find so little information...
Without any promising eyewitness accounts, they couldn’t so much as make the most basic of assumptions. Could Evelyn and Kira have actually been caught up in some sort of incident? Evelyn, as the former saint, had superlative magical abilities. The people who would want to take advantage of that were too numerous to count, both domestically and internationally.
If we can’t find her...
Oz shook his head to dispel the thoughts of a worst-case scenario.
What am I thinking?
He’d given Theodore a pep talk. It wouldn’t do for him to become the pessimistic one now. They needed to expand the search, but it was too early to lose hope.
“Welp, the old geezer is looking less alive by the second,” Alex said loudly as he stared at the high priest slumped in a chair. “Looks like the grim reaper will be paying him a visit soon.”
Somehow, word that the high priest was depressed had reached the crown prince, who had promptly barged into the Grand Basilica uninvited and had been doomsaying since. He seemed delighted beyond measure that the high priest—with whom he had a contentious relationship—was in such a feeble state. Despite being Oz’s brother, he was truly complete scum.
“Do you ever shut up, Clown Prick?”
“Ah, how laudable you are to be so concerned. Knowing Evelyn, she’s probably having a grand old time, eating and stargazing, doing whatever she wants. Right?”
“What do you know about her?!” the high priest spat. “Go die!”
Alex laughed, his nostrils flared wide with mockery—an expression utterly unbecoming of the royal heir. “What’s the matter? Can’t even abuse me right anymore, huh?”
Knowing he had to intervene to keep the peace, Oz interjected, “Brother, when are you going to stop cooping yourself up in the palace under the pretense of poor health? Weren’t you telling everyone who would listen that you were going on a journey to find people to take photos with? Whatever happened to that?”
Alex’s expression stiffened as he took a hit where it hurt. “I, uh...”
“Lady Mary set out on a hangnail-healing journey after the Summer of Evelyn Festival, you know. Meanwhile, you’ve just been sitting around, slacking off. Have you no pride, brother?” Oz asked, unable to contain his sarcasm.
Alex’s face turned bright red, and he shouted, “Sh-Shut up! I was totally thinking of departing soon, myself!”
“Were you, now? That’s wonderful news.”
Then, ripping through the tension in the air, a beautiful girl emerged from the shadows.
“Lady Europa...?” Oz asked, feeling his shoulders stiffen.
Europa was supposed to have been resting. He’d been concerned that she might try to run out of the Grand Basilica again.
Seemingly sensing Oz’s concern, Europa declared, “Be at ease. I’ve offered up three days’ worth of prayers in advance, so we will have no problems.”
“Th-Three days’ worth?”
That sounded far too dubious. Wait, was that even possible? Oz stared at her, his expression skeptical.
“It’s true, Prince Oz,” the high priest said. “Rupy poured all of her magical power into her prayers.”
“What...?”
Just how worried was she about Evelyn’s safety? Regardless, even if Europa joined the search efforts, there wouldn’t be much she could do.
Suddenly, the downcast Europa broke into laughter. “Heh heh heh. Heh, heh heh, heh...”
“L-Lady Europa?” Oz stammered, startled.
Had Evelyn’s absence inflicted serious damage on Europa’s psyche after all? If so, Oz had no idea what to do. He watched her anxiously—and then she stopped laughing.
“It’s ridiculous, truly, when you think about it,” she said.
“Wh-What is?” Oz asked, mystified.
Europa’s gaze was determined and her voice was clear. “I am Europa Caté, 18th Saint of the Holy Kingdom of Snasile!”
Her tone was so sharp, dignified, and bright that it seemed to illuminate the gloom of the Grand Basilica.
“The great Lady Evelyn herself entrusted me with this honor! It would be a disgrace to her legacy to assume I’ve done all I can and stop at such easily verifiable statements as ‘She’s not in Laster!’”
Lady Europa...
Many in the room must have felt rebuked. Oz was one of them. Before he knew it, he, the high priest, and the priests had all lifted their heads to look at Europa. No one could remain downcast in the face of her determination.
“I will find Lady Evelyn, wherever she might be, and rush to her side! I wish to be with Lady Evelyn always! To gaze up at the same sky, and offer ten thousand prayers to her beautiful, untainted soul! That is my purpose in life! That is why I was born!”
“Lady Europa...!”
Such pure, passionate feelings! Everyone’s eyes grew moist, as though her words had struck their hearts.
“That is why, Your Eminence, everyone, I ask you to lend me your power!” she exclaimed, looking around at the men.
“R-Rupy?”
“No! ‘Lend’ is far too modest for such a sacred goal! I shall find Lady Evelyn, whatever it takes! Bestow upon me everything you have, everyone!” Europa said firmly.
“Rupy...!”
Rubbing under his nose, the high priest stood up and turned to the priests.
“Everyone, squeeze out every last drop of magic you have! Believe in Rupy! Entrust her with your all!”
Leading by example, the high priest let out a surge of tremendous magical power. The priests, likely feeling the same way, nodded and closed their eyes.
“We’re counting on you, Saint Europa!”
“Please, find our Lady Evelyn!”
“We beg of you!”
As he watched the scene unfold, Oz, too, channeled all of his magical power into her. “I’m leaving this to you, Lady Europa!”
Granted, Oz’s magic was probably tiny compared to that of the priests serving the Grand Basilica, but he wanted to offer what help he could. As part of a whole, anyone, no matter how modest their power, could work miracles.
This version of Europa had the kind of charisma that made one believe in such miracles.
Oz’s lips curled into a smile. Igna will be so frustrated that he didn’t get to see his fiancée looking this dashing.
He was getting dizzy, but that didn’t stop him from continuing to channel his magical power. Oz gritted his teeth and endured.
“S-Stop it! I never said I’d help! Quit forcing my magic out of me! Aaaargh!”
Oz thought he heard someone shriek, but he figured he’d imagined it. After all, everyone stood as one in this moment, united in entrusting all their magical power to Europa.
“O-Oh, that feels good!” Europa shouted in a shrill voice. She was bent forward, clenching her fists. “I can feel the power rising within me!”
Curious, Oz timidly opened one eye and was met with the sight of the current saint wrapped in an unbelievable amount of light.
“Oh deaaaaaaah!”