Chapter 81
"Can't you at least spend your vacation quietly?"
Those were Rays-sama's opening words.
Having returned from Gadeland, we went straight to see Rays-sama, Zackhart-sama's letter in hand.
After hearing the circumstances, Rays-sama let out a truly deep sigh and muttered, "No... Was it my mistake to assume Lufa's situation was already settled...?"
Rays-sama had apparently been sounding out a certain noble about adopting Lufa, and the matter was just about settled.
"But I never expected Zackhart-sama to take such a liking to Lufa..."
Apparently, there are things even Rays-sama cannot foresee.
"Why did you suspect the priest from Riflea? Was there any basis for it beyond the rumors from the soldiers?" When I asked about something that had been bothering me,
"Oh, that's simple. We still haven't received a request for Lufa's return."
It was no secret that the Tenth Knight Order had rescued Lufa near the border. Anyone who did even a little investigating could learn that. If the priest from Riflea genuinely wanted to adopt her, it would only be natural for him to come and take her at once, along with a word of thanks for rescuing her.
Yet despite waiting and waiting, we had not even received an inquiry.
"In other words, if they took her in through official channels, they would be obliged to look after her. There must be some reason they cannot do that. From that perspective, the rumors of sacrifice inevitably gain credibility. That said, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that some circumstance has delayed their inquiry. I was proceeding cautiously, but now that this disturbance has occurred, it is all but certain that the priest is 'black.' There is no problem with the adoption. I will handle the paperwork. But as for her formal enrollment in the Tenth Knight Order..."
As expected, he was reluctant to approve her joining the Order. With both Rapiria-sama and Lufa insisting that she be sent on campaigns once she formally enlisted, he was even more opposed.
Rapiria-sama put it this way.
"What are we supposed to do if we leave Lufa behind while the Tenth Knight Order is away? What if something happens? She might be kidnapped like that again."
"I can't rule out that possibility entirely, but still... Lufa, do you understand what it means to take a girl as young as you to the battlefield?"
"Yes. I understand. I want to come along, too."
"But Lufa can't fight, can she? I know this sounds harsh, but I can see no point in bringing someone who would only be a burden. Wouldn't it be more practical for her to stay in Gadeland while the Tenth Knight Order is away?"
What Rays-sama was saying was perfectly reasonable. If Lufa was only going to begin learning how to use weapons now, I thought she would be better off practicing until she could ride a horse on her own and travel to Gadeland.
But Rapiria-sama refused to back down. She had properly discussed the proposal with Lufa on the way back, and Lufa would be going with us, too.
"She doesn't need to be able to fight. We're taking Lufa along as a war shrine maiden," she countered.
"A war shrine maiden? You're bringing up a rather old superstition," Rays-sama said, raising one corner of his mouth. It was the expression he wore when he was willing to listen.
A war shrine maiden. If we were taking Lufa to the battlefield, I, too, had thought this was our only option.
The deity most widely worshiped on battlefields is Waldwort, the goddess of fate. Waldwort is the eldest of three sisters; the second is Lippitoria, goddess of the earth and fertility. Loref, the wind goddess deeply revered by traveling troupes, is the youngest.
Waldwort's younger sisters are said to be quite young themselves. There is said to be a considerable age gap between them and Waldwort.
If the goddess of fertility grows willful, that year's harvest can suffer greatly. For that reason, farmers hold various festivals to curry Lippitoria's favor.
Loref is the goddess who governs rain and wind. If she gets sulky, the rain will linger. If she runs wild, there will be a storm. That is why travelers and sailors pray to Loref for a safe journey.
It has long been earnestly claimed that because the goddess of fate, Waldwort, dotes on these two goddesses, girls around their age are especially likely to receive her protection.
That superstition gave rise to the war shrine maiden.
The idea was to gain the goddess of fate Waldwort's protection by placing a girl of suitable age at the main camp. I once read that, until fairly recently, war shrine maidens were a common sight on battlefields.
But...
"The war shrine maiden is an obsolete superstition. I doubt it would raise morale at this point."
Rays-sama was right. Since bringing very young girls around battlefields caused all sorts of problems and made them easy targets for public criticism in every country, the practice gradually died out.
"Oh, is that so? At least, I think it would still have some effect on older people."
"Why do you think that?"
"Why? Because I used to be a war shrine maiden myself. My grandfather took me along," Rapiria-sama said matter-of-factly. Her grandfather was certainly a renowned grand general, but... had he really dragged Rapiria-sama around battlefields since she was a child?
The classic anecdote about the War Princess is that she was so composed during her first battle that no one would have guessed it was her first. No wonder she was so accustomed to battle. The battlefield had been her playground since before her first battle.
"That man... I've never heard such a story before," Rays-sama said, letting out what must have been his umpteenth sigh that day.
"Everyone was happy, you know? Even rank-and-file soldiers need something to rely on emotionally. Even if it's only superstition, I don't think it's a bad thing for them to believe that the goddess of fate, Waldwort, is protecting their main camp."
Rapiria-sama was speaking from personal experience, which made her argument rather persuasive.
"Lufa... I'll ask you one more time. If you go to the battlefield, you could easily die. When the time comes, there may be no one to save you. You may face something even more terrifying than that kidnapping. Are you sure?"
"Yes." Lufa answered directly and firmly.
"I understand... Then I will handle the paperwork for both the adoption and your enlistment. Lufa, make sure you explain in your letter to Zackhart-sama that you'll be going to the battlefield as well. Tell him that you accept responsibility for whatever happens."
"I understand."
Though Rays-sama had spoken harshly, Lufa answered once again without hesitation.