Adopting Disaster

It was a quick hand movement.

It took a few seconds for Isel to realize that the candies in her hand had disappeared and turned her head to look at Rachel.

The black cloth covering Rachel's mouth fluttered with her breath.

Her white eyes looked down at Isel and then glanced at Rosaria.

Rosaria shuddered at her fierce gaze.

Rachel approached, knelt down, and took her hand.

Then she handed all the stolen candies to Rosaria.

"...Huh?"

Rosaria, who was frightened, looked down at the candies with a puzzled expression, then looked up at Rachel.

Her eyes were still scary, and her breath was rough.

And her face was visibly flushed.

Isel scolded Rachel as she looked at her.

"Rachel, you can't just give them away because it's cute. These candies are for proselytizing!"

"..."

"Really, you... You're too emotional. We need to always be rational to gather more believers."

"..."

"But it's cute. I want to hug her tightly because she's adorable, but being cute doesn't mean everything is allowed."

Isel spoke gently to Rachel, but Rosaria knew right away that it was an argument.

Rosaria looked down at the six candies in her hand and tugged at Isel's clothes.

"Sisters, please don't fight."

Rosaria showed the candies in her hands to Isel with a worried expression.

"I don't have to eat the candies. I'll give them back."

She knew it was a fight over the candies and was willing to give in.

Isel and Rachel stared blankly at her.

Her halo was dazzling.

Unlike Isel's artificially created halo, the pure goodness shone even brighter.

Isel looked down at her and said with a hint of regret.

"No, Sister Rosaria. It's not because of the candies that we fought. It's just a simple disagreement."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, I shouldn't ignore Sister Rachel's desire to give them to you."

"Then can I eat them?"

"Of course. You can eat them."

Rachel watched Rosaria eat the candies.

Her face was satisfied.

The proselytizing had failed, and Rosaria had received seven candies, so it was only Rosaria who benefited.

"Today, don't eat them all. Eat only one after a meal. And brush your teeth well."

"Okay, I'll keep them!"

It was good to receive many candies, but as a father, the nagging came out automatically.

Rosaria put all the candies into a glass jar with a beaming face.

"Rachel, you're thinking the same thing as me, right?"

Rachel nodded her head.

Isel spoke seriously.

"That's right. I saw the qualities of the next Saintess."

The next Saintess is a matter no one can mention lightly.

For those not born with overwhelming power, like Isel and Rachel, saying that someone shows the qualities of a Saintess at a young age is a kind of blasphemy.

Mentioning the next Saintess means that Isel genuinely felt that Rosaria had the qualities.

"That purity. The selflessness that cannot be shown at a young age. She's truly the talent our Althea Church desires."

"..."

"If we take her to the convent and educate her, she will undoubtedly become the Saintess who succeeds us. We should quickly plan a kidnapping..."

"Ahem! Ahem!!"

Reed interrupted with a fake cough, as Isel's words seemed to cross the line, even though he appreciated their fondness for his daughter.

Isel covered her mouth with a slender finger and spoke.

"Of course, it's a joke. It's absurd for a clergyman of the Althea Church to kidnap someone."

"It would be good to choose your audience when making such jokes."

"There's nothing more fun than making jokes in front of the most troubled person. Isn't that right?"

"..."

When Isel asked, Rachel turned her head away, avoiding the answer.

Contrary to her gentle voice, she had quite a wicked hobby.

Isel and Rachel.

Seeing the contrasting two people, Reed could not help but wonder.

"I have one question."

"Please, go ahead."

"Who among you originally resembled the Saintess the most?"

At that question, Isel and Rachel stared at each other.

Their behavior was polar opposites.

Unlike Rachel, who is good at organizing, Isel is incapable of it.

Unlike Isel, who is rational and gentle, Rachel is emotional.

He was curious about who among them resembled the original Saintess the most.

Isel answered with a smile.

"Your question is like asking whether a zebra is white or black. We both took half of her qualities. That's why it's impossible to determine who is most like the original Saintess."

"I'm sorry, I asked a pointless question."

"Hehe, no. It's because you know us that you can ask that."

Isel gracefully lifted her teacup.

"But if we have to compare, I would be the most similar."

"...?"

Rachel, with her eyes narrowed, tapped Isel's shoulder.

"I am the closest to the Saintess. A zebra's head is white."

"...?"

"Not being able to organize is the humanity left in me. Aside from that, I am rational and compassionate. But Rachel is emotional. She lacks the qualities of a Saintess."

"...?"

"Ah, really. I'm sorry. I was too careless, even though I didn't do what Rachel wanted. Please cheer up."

Isel tried to lean on her shoulder and act cute, but Rachel turned her head away, seemingly angry.

"Looks like they're fighting..."

"We haven't fought recently. But thanks to you, we've had a lot of disagreements lately."

Isel smiled as she stroked Rachel's shoulder.

Feeling sorry for causing their quarrels, Reed made a suggestion.

"By the way, it seems like you like music. Would you like to watch a performance?"

"Oh, can we?"

Isel clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

"Music created in the Silence Tower. I've always wanted to see it in person; this is perfect. Do you have time, Rachel?"

"...?"

Rachel nodded her head.

She seemed to want to see it too.

"Then follow me."

Reed left the reception room and guided them.

There was no need to go far to the recording location.

It was on the second floor of the Silence Tower.

"Do you do it inside the tower? It seems like there would be security."

"We've set up a recording studio on the second floor. It's cumbersome to move, and even ordinary people are part of the project, so I thought we could at least give them access to the second floor."

They carefully entered the room where the recording was taking place.

A single window on the wooden wall.

The recording studio was similar to what Reed remembered from the modern era.

A song had just ended, and the musicians were taking a break.

Their gazes naturally turned toward the opened door.

"Ah, the Saintess!"

"Why is the Saintess here...?"

Their faces were more surprised than when they saw the Tower Master.

Among the members of the band, some who believed in the Althea Church knelt and paid their respects to the Saintess.

The Saintess greeted them familiarly and began to look at the equipment set up in the room.

"So this is the recording equipment. I thought a mage would just sit and do it."

"Simply recording doesn't capture the original sound accurately. So we're developing it in various directions."

"Indeed, that's why all the music that comes out of the Silence Tower is good."

Isel admired.

Reed glanced at the band members who were waiting.

Their excited looks undoubtedly wanted to present a song to the Saintess.

Reed decided to give them the opportunity.