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At those words from Giuseppe, Tatsumi shuddered.

That was something he himself had been thinking about ever since the incident involving the Gargardon mother and son.

“I asked you before what your thoughts were on marriage. I, too, wish to respect your wishes. Even Calcedonia would wait as long as you ask her to.”

When Giuseppe glanced at his granddaughter sitting next to Tatsumi, she gave a soft, gentle smile.

Tatsumi wanted her to wait until he could earn enough to support a family.

Caledonia, too, is well aware that this is how Tatsumi feels about marriage.

Tatsumi says it’s just petty stubbornness, but his feelings make her happy. After all, it’s proof that he’s seriously considering a life with her.

So, just as her grandfather said, she intends to wait as long as it takes until Tatsumi is fully convinced.

“You’ve become a Senior Priest. On top of that, you’re also a full-fledged soldier priest. Your combined salaries from these two positions alone should bring in more income than the average family in the city. Of course, I’m well aware that your ultimate goal is to become an Exorcist. However, wouldn’t it be acceptable to at least formalize our relationship as an engagement? That’s what I think… but what do you think?”

Formally become engaged to Calcedonia.

Although he’d already been living with her for over half a year, hearing it put that way made Tatsumi feel a bit self-conscious.

.

“Uh, well… I don’t mind formally getting engaged to Chiiko… no, I understand that it would be for the best. But… what exactly does that involve?”

In his original world, Tatsumi had never even dated a girl, let alone been engaged.

He had a vague idea of what the word “engagement” meant, but he had absolutely no idea what the specifics entailed.

“Let’s see. It’s customary to hold a ceremony called the ‘Engagement Rite’ at the temple. Only the priest who officiates the ceremony and the two parties involved participate. Before the god—Lord Savaiv, of course—you declare your engagement and receive God’s blessing. That’s the gist of it, in simple terms. Oh, and by the way. If you two decide to hold the ceremony, I’ll serve as the officiating priest.”

As Giuseppe explained the general procedure while stroking his long white beard, Calcedonia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I-Is that all right? Isn’t it usually only for royal engagements or ceremonies among the highest-ranking nobles that the Supreme Pontiff—Grandfather serves as the officiating priest?”
“You’re certainly right, Calcie, but Sonny has been a great help to you in many ways. As your grandfather… no, as your adoptive father, I’d like to do at least that much for you.”

Tatsumi had not scolded or blamed Calcedonia for forcibly summoning him to this world; on the contrary, he had accepted her with open arms and they were living together happily.

From Tatsumi’s perspective, he would likely say that he, too, has been indebted to Calcedonia in many ways, but Giuseppe is also grateful to Tatsumi for his adopted daughter.

By serving as a witness at Tatsumi and Calcedonia’s wedding ceremony, he wanted to express that gratitude in his own way. That was Giuseppe’s intention.

Of course, he likely also took into account that having himself, the Supreme Pontiff, serve as a witness would exert pressure in various quarters.

“Understood. Then, I’ll leave the details of the ceremony to you, Giuseppe-san. So, when will the ceremony be held?”

Exhaling a sigh of relief that Tatsumi had agreed, Giuseppe quickly ran through the details in his head.

“Hmm… The Temple has its own schedule to consider as well. How about ten days from today?”

Tatsumi nodded in agreement at Giuseppe’s suggestion.

And behind Tatsumi, Calcedonia was smiling happily.

.

“Huh? You want me to tell you about a shop that sells jewelry?”

The day after Giuseppe had brought up his engagement to Calcedonia.

Having finished his training as a soldier priest, Tatsumi asked this to Barse, who had been training alongside him.

“Yeah. I’ve never actually been to a shop like that in this town. If you know of any places that carry high-quality jewelry, I’d appreciate the tip.”
“Sure, no problem. But why all of a sudden…? Oh, I see.”

Barse seemed to have figured it out on his own and flashed a knowing smirk.

Feeling as if his thoughts had been read, Tatsumi grew self-conscious and shifted his gaze.

“If that’s the case, I think you’d be better off asking Nitz and his brothers than me. Their family business mainly sells weapons to monster hunters, but it’s apparently been around for a long time. They know more about the merchants in this town than I do, right?”
“R-right. Then I’ll ask them.”
“Yeah, go ahead. And make sure you pick out some good pieces, okay?”
“Sh-shut up!!”

Barse stared intently at Tatsumi’s back as he walked away quickly, his face bright red, wearing an exasperated expression.

“Even though they’ve been living together for over half a year, he really never loses that fresh-faced innocence. Well, I guess that’s just typical for Tatsumi and his wife.”

.

And those ten days flew by in the blink of an eye; Tatsumi was incredibly busy during that time.

At the jewelry store Nitz had introduced him to, he also purchased the jewelry to be used for the engagement ceremony.

Apparently, in this country, rather than rings, earrings or piercings are used as a symbol of engagement.

After consulting with the salesperson at the jewelry store he’d been referred to, he managed to choose a pair of earrings that would look great on Calcedonia.

In the process, he ended up going slightly over budget, which led to a little incident where he had to borrow money from Giuseppe.

After all, he couldn’t very well borrow money from her to pay for a gift intended for Calcedonia.

Tatsumi temporarily entrusts his entire salary from the temple to Calcedonia. From that sum, he receives an allowance—a so-called “allowance system”—that he can use at his discretion.

If his engagement to Calcedonia hadn’t been so sudden, Tatsumi would likely have taken a little more time to plan his budget before going shopping.

He also met with Giuseppe’s family.

Giuseppe’s wife and their sons. Giuseppe had three biological sons—all boys—and all of them were already married with children of their own.

Given Giuseppe’s age, this was only to be expected, but Calcedonia’s step brothers were quite a bit older than Calcedonia herself.

For Tatsumi, meeting the men who would become his brothers-in-law was no small source of nervousness, but it seemed Giuseppe and Calcedonia had told them about him beforehand, and he was warmly welcomed by Giuseppe’s family.

Even so, the gaze his brothers-in-law directed at Tatsumi—who was to become the partner of their step sister (and, given the age difference, it would not be an exaggeration to call her their step daughter)—was still rather stern.

However, they soon warmed up to him. In particular, Giuseppe’s second son is the General Command, who commands the soldier priests at the Temple of Savaiv.

For Tatsumi, he was essentially his direct superior, and it seemed Tatsumi had already heard of his reputation.

Incidentally, Giuseppe’s wife was a leading figure at the Temple of the Ocean God Dalagarvae; his eldest son was a Knight of the Kingdom; and his third son was a soldier priest of the Sun God Golaiva—truly, a family with a diverse range of backgrounds. ¹

.

Tatsumi, wearing the ceremonial robes and sacred insignia of a Senior Priest, knelt before the massive stone statue of the God of Savaiv enshrined in the chapel of the Temple of Savaiv.

Beside Tatsumi, Calcedonia, also dressed in ceremonial priestly robes and bearing her sacred seal, knelt; and before the statue of the God of Savaiv stood Giuseppe, clad in the resplendent formal attire of the Supreme Pontiff.

“—Here and now, these two young people swear before the Great God of Savaiv to forge a new bond. May this oath never be broken, and may it become an unbreakable chain that binds them together for all eternity.”

Giuseppe’s resonant voice echoed through the spacious chapel.

This chapel, which is usually overflowing with worshippers, is now occupied only by Tatsumi and the other two. Since the public had been notified in advance that an engagement ceremony would be held here today, the general congregation is waiting outside the chapel until the ceremony is over.

And among them, there are surely those who are close to Tatsumi and Calcedonia.

“—By wearing these earrings of vows, the engagement shall be considered official.”

With a solemn expression, Giuseppe placed the earrings—which had been consecrated and set out before the statue of God—onto a round tray and turned to face Tatsumi and the others.

At Giuseppe’s instruction, Tatsumi and Calcedonia stood up.

Then, in front of Tatsumi, Giuseppe respectfully presented the consecrated earrings.

The earrings Tatsumi had chosen featured a design of thin, plate-like silver strands intricately intertwined. Set at their center was a small yet highly transparent crimson gemstone.

These earrings were masterpieces crafted by a dwarf artisan—a demi-human who was at home with fire and skilled in metalwork.

Tatsumi picked up both earrings and handed one of them to Calcedonia.

“Forgive me, Chiiko.”
“Huh?”

Caught off guard by the sudden apology, Calcedonia couldn’t help but look dumbfounded.

“W-well… normally, we should be more than just engaged—we should be a step further than that… but because of my selfishness, we’re stuck at just being engaged… I’m really sorry.”
“N-no, it’s not like that… Speaking of selfishness, I’m the one who’s… I’m the one who summoned you to this world just for my own convenience—!!?”

Just as Calcedonia tried to continue, Tatsumi’s fingertip gently touched her lips, cutting her off.

“That’s not true. I’m truly happy that you summoned me. To be honest, I’m not entirely without regrets about my previous life… my life in Japan.”

Compared to modern-day Japan, this world is inevitably harder to live in.

There’s no electricity, so the nights are dark, and in the cold winters, the only real source of heat is a fireplace. Compared to Japan, where you can maintain a constant temperature by running the air conditioner, the difference in comfort is like night and day.

Besides that, there are probably countless other ways this world falls short of Japan.

“Even so… You’re here in this world, Chiiko. I thought I’d lost you forever and would never see you again, but now I can live with you like this once more. That alone gives me… no, I can’t imagine any happiness greater than that.”
“Master…”

A beautiful, warm, colorless, and transparent gem appeared in Calcedonia’s crimson eyes.

Smiling gently at Calcedonia, Tatsumi brushed her hair aside to expose her left ear, then fastened the earring of their vow there.

“Chiiko… Please.”
“Yes… yes…!!”

Wiping away her overflowing tears again and again with the back of her hand, Calcedonia also fastened an earring to Tatsumi’s right ear.

In the Kingdom of Largovere, men wear earrings in their right ear and women in their left. Wearing earrings of the same design is considered a symbol of engagement. When it comes to marriage, however, the ears on which the earrings are worn are reversed between men and women.

“Here and now, the engagement of these two young people is sealed!”

With Giuseppe’s declaration, the temple bells began to ring out a melody of blessing.

The solemn tones reached every corner of the city of Levantis, celebrating the young couple’s new relationship.

Clutching each other’s hands tightly, Tatsumi and Calcedonia gazed into each other’s eyes from close range.

Right now, outside the chapel, friends and acquaintances were likely waiting for the newly engaged couple to emerge, ready to offer their congratulations.

Barse. Nitz. Sargo. Ciro.

Senior soldier priests and familiar faces from their days as junior priests, when they worked together as assistants.

Female priests, starting with Coulis, who are acquaintances of Calcedonia.

Perhaps even people living near Tatsumi and Calcedonia’s homes have rushed over to join them.

“Come on, Chiiko. Let’s proudly announce to everyone that we’re officially engaged.”
“Yes, Master!!”

Still holding hands, the two set off toward the chapel entrance.

But.

Before they’d taken more than a few steps, Tatsumi suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Is something wrong, Master?”
“No, it’s just that ‘Master’ thing you call me… don’t you think it’s about time we stopped that?”
“Huh?”
“Well… um… Chiiko is definitely my Chiiko, but you’re not that Chiiko anymore—the pet… the cockatiel. You’re a human woman now… so I’m going to start calling you Calcie too… so, Calce, why don’t you stop calling me Master as well…?”

Hearing Tatsumi’s words, Calcedonia’s eyes widened in surprise. But that lasted only a moment. Immediately, she smiled happily and blushed.

“W-well… from now on, instead of ‘Master,’ I’d like to call you ‘Husband’…² Is that all right…?”

Calcedonia said this, blushing and looking up at him.

Meanwhile, Tatsumi, upon hearing this, also turned bright red.

“Ah—y-yeah, Chiiko… I mean, Calcie, if that’s what you want to call me, I-it’s fine with me.”
“Yes!! I look forward to working with you from now on, Husband!!”

Both blushing, Tatsumi and Calcedonia smiled happily at each other from close range.

Giuseppe watched with satisfaction as the distance between their lips gradually closed until it was finally zero.

.

A little while later.

Seeing that the two showed no signs of parting their lips, Giuseppe called out to them in exasperation.

“How long do you plan on doing that? Give it a rest already.”

Though he said this, a gentle smile remained on the face of the Supreme Pontiff of the God of Savaiv.