The second time we met was when I went to the ball in the castle to congratulate Tisrad-oniisama's wedding.
However, I wonder what is this irritated feeling.
I wonder why is my heart feels irritated when I see chevalier-sama getting surrounded by younger girls.
"It's been a while, Satou-sama."
I don't know myself why am I calling chevalier-sama with his first name. I feel the gazes of the girls around chevalier-sama vigorously gather at me, is this person perhaps popular?
That can't be it right?
I unintentionally thought of a rude thing, but I understood the reason after I ate the snacks that he had made. A snack this delicious. Even though the castle's head chef is excellent, I feel that this snack is incomparable.
I feel happy with every bite.
It's such feeling.
When I see chevalier-sama dances with the girls, I feel the irritated feeling from earlier gets even stronger. Maybe I should invite him to a dance?
"You're quite popular aren't you, Satou-sama."
Ah, even though I didn't intend to speak with sarcasm.
Yet, he replies with a misdirected criticism of himself. That was funny, and made me involuntarily laughed. It looks like he strangely assesses himself low.
However, even though he's kind, he's unexpectedly mean. Even though I plead him to stop adding [Sama], I couldn't quite get his consent. Even though I rarely ever do such thing.
Oh right, he's not just skillful at cooking, but at dancing too.
◇
"Did something good happen? Satou-san."
"Yes, some difficult works have been going well."
Satou-san keeps the promise he's made during the ball, and he's been helping with the food distribution several times after that. And at last, we've started calling each other with "Satou-san", and "Sera-san", without the "Sama" at the last distribution. Since everyone at the temple calls me with "Sama", I've always yearned for friends that call me without honorifics.
Fufu, it's only a matter of time before we call each other without honorifics.
I, it's not like I want us to become lovers.
I'm a miko after all!
◇
That's right, Satou-san resembles Tisrad-niisama.
The way he always doesn't forget to smile, the way he eludes women, or the way he looks troubled yet never raises his hands when I'm mad at him.
I wonder if I've been lonely since I seldom meet niisama after I've become a miko.
It's like, I'm a child.
I received two tickets for the diva performance from Tisrad-niisama, so I gathered my courage and invited Satou-san, but he accepted it cheerfully. He said, "I've been wanting to see it" at face value, but I'm frustrated. Why didn't he look a bit more embarrassed.
The diva's song seemed to be wonderful.
I'm sorry, even the wonderful song only passes through my ears.
Because!
The seats that niisama has given for this performance seem to be for lovers, there's practically no gap between us?! It's the first time I've ever been this close to a male beside niisama, my heart is thumping as if it'll burst out.
Satou-san is like usual, he only smiles back even when our eyes meet, and completely doesn't look like he's nervous. I think it can't be helped that it makes me want to pinch his unruffled cheeks. Of course I only think that inside my mind, I can't possibly actually do it.
As we're sitting this close, I feel like something deep inside my body is being pulled to Satou-san. It's as if cogs that have been put together, something in my heart tells me that this is my place, yes, it's as if my soul is attracted, it's that kind of mysterious feeling.
I wonder if this is what the my colleagues at the temple call love.
But, I think it feels a bit different.
Even though my own feeling is clear, I might be a coward.
◇
I wonder why does he have slaves?
I thought that he was someone who couldn't believe other people, but he doesn't look like that at all. When I see Pochi-chan and the others, they look like they're really cherished, and I don't think he can't afford to employ servants.
"Ah, it was because I protected these girls that had lost their master in the labyrinth, and took them along to the above ground."
"F, from the labyrinth?"
"Yes, if master wasn't there, we, who didn't know how to fight, would only become preys of the monsters in the labyrinth."
"Peerless and wonderful~?"
"Master is the strongest nanodesu!"
Because of that, everyone trusts Satou-san that much don't they.
"I was going to free them after we left the labyrinth, but they didn't like it...."
"I will serve master until I can repay the favor."
"Goetsushudon?" "Chain taxi nanodesu."
I don't quite understand what Tama-chan and the others are saying, but I wonder if they are more like servants than slaves.
"As for us, we've been bound with 『Geass』 by an evil magician. Even if we're going to be released, it'll only get canceled."
[Geass] she said?
There's no one who can use it even in the duchy capital. It might be released with the prayer magic toward god, but since the compensation is too big, head miko-sama will probably refuse even if I ask.
"Sera-san, will you let me know if you know any way to release the 『Geass』?"
"There's this holy magic called 『Prayer(Wish)』. That magic might be able to release it, but the compensation is too big."
"The compensation is?"
"T, that is...."
I reflexively fumbled the words.
The degree of compensation for [Wish] can change. Since sometimes it shrinks your life span by 10 years, it's also possible for it to use up all your life.
Maybe Satou-san had realized it after seeing me hesitating, he didn't ask more after that.
◇
"There is you know?"
"Eeh?"
Head miko-sama easily replied in affirmation when I asked about it.
"Zazaris, the pope of Parion temple should be able to release 『Geass』. I can also do it, but it's impossible for two people. My life would have ran out after I released one of them."
However, I couldn't tell Satou-san about this. I mean, if pope Zazaris, the one they call [Avarice] knows of a great person like Satou-san, he will surely not overlook him. I'm sorry for Arisa and Lulu, but please wait until the time I can use the prayer magic.
They won't have to wait for long.
In 10 years, no within 5 years, I will reach the supreme top without fail.
At the dawn of the time those girls are liberated, I will surely--