'...He says he has business with Lady Luminous, but what could it possibly be?'
In the upper levels of the papal palace.
After Adelio and the others headed down to [Night Garden] under Louis's guidance, Hinata had been wandering the palace alone while waiting for them to return. As she did, she found herself wondering about Luminous, who was always shut up in her room.
'To begin with, how did my teacher, a [Hero], end up acquainted with Lady Luminous, a [Demon Lord]? Lady Luminous hardly ever appears in public.'
Like Yuuki, Hinata had never heard a thing about Adelio's true identity. Unlike Shizue, she could not even imagine that her teacher was an aide to someone who was all but the leader of the [Demon Lord]s.
She did know, because Ria had told her directly, that Adelio's lover was a demon. But she still had no idea that Ria was one of the [Primordial Demons], beings treated as equals to the [Demon Lord]s themselves.
'...There's the recent movement among the nations, and that merchant who came from the [Eastern Empire]... Does this mean the tides of the world are about to change?'
Along with Adelio's meeting with Luminous, Hinata had been keenly aware of how active the movements and contacts between powers across the world had become lately. It might not have been the exact answer, but she arrived at a conclusion closer than most to the truth of the situation.
'Maybe my teacher and Lady Luminous are preparing something too, just like the other factions—'
"Hinata."
The moment her train of thought was about to reach its conclusion, an old man in a pure white robe appeared before her in an instant, without the slightest sign of his approach, and called her name.
"......!"
The sacred robe that only the elders of the Luminous faith were permitted to wear, the thin cloth covering his lifeless face, the aura of a [sage] that clearly surpassed humanity, and finally, an evil presence that stood in complete opposition to that aura.
"...Lord Gran."
"Indeed. It has been a long time."
The title of the old man blocking Hinata's path was Sunday Priest, Gran.
He was the eldest elder of the Luminous faith, the one who had once tested her under Luminous's orders, and the leader of the [Seven Luminaries], known as the seven heroes of mankind.
"......May I ask what brings an elder like you here so suddenly?"
Hinata's voice rang out coldly as she calmly smoothed over the momentary surprise Gran's sudden appearance had caused.
Before Adelio appeared, the [Seven Luminaries] had been praised by countless people as the "teachers of heroes," famed for raising many heroes and [Hero]es. But to Hinata, who knew their true nature and their desires, they were nothing more than old men drunk on faded glory.
'That raccoon-like old man gnawing away at the Luminous faith... What scheme is he plotting this time?'
Gran usually sent one of the other [Seven Luminaries], or a bishop at most. The fact that he had personally shown up before her made Hinata narrow her eyes even further.
"Heh heh... It's nothing much. I merely heard that the Ashen [Hero] had come here after so long, and wished to see him for myself."
Gran lightly stroked his beard and answered with a small laugh, completely unfazed by the hostility Hinata was barely bothering to hide.
"...My teacher?"
"Yes. I heard that the [Hero], your first teacher, has recently been making some new attempt in the land where the [Storm Dragon] was sealed. It made me wish to meet him in person again after so long."
"......"
For a moment, Hinata pressed her lips together at Gran's utterly unreadable words. Then she slowly shook her head.
"Unfortunately, Lady Luminous is meeting with my teacher right now."
"...Ho. Already? I heard he had only just arrived here... It seems Lady Luminous is truly fond of that [Hero]..."
For us, who have served her for centuries, even the simple supply of that little love energy had been cut off ages ago—
Swallowing the rest of that thought, Gran twisted the unseen corners of his mouth beneath the cloth and let out a small, amused chuckle.
"...If he is meeting with Lady Luminous, then it cannot be helped. There is little point in waiting around here, so I shall take my leave."
Before long, Gran, surrounded by a peculiar magic power that glowed like light itself, turned away from Hinata, who gave him her usual indifferent farewell, and rose into the sky.
"......Ah, that reminds me. I have a message for that [Hero], Hinata. I'll leave it with you."
"...Understood."
Hinata's expressionless face showed clear annoyance, but she gave a small nod as if telling him to get on with it. Gran then recited the message in a leisurely tone, as though he were merely out for a stroll.
And then—
"—'New attempts are all well and good, but do not be so certain they will always lead to good results. Tell him to be wary of the east at all times.'"
At the very instant he spoke those words, he was no longer Sunday Priest Gran, but Granbell of the Rosso family.
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