That God

While I didn't bother to explain things too simply, I still made sure she understood everything. She knew how to cook, considering the way she assisted me in the kitchen, just not too often that she'd be as efficient as I was.

By the end of my explanation, some kind of determination had overtaken her, and she told me to tell her everything about the meals I'll be making for them from now on. I thought she just wanted to make sure the food we'll be eating would be safe, so I agreed. Of course, she'll have to watch me cook so I can explain things properly with a demonstration.

When the Coren saw us enter at the same time, they exchanged looks and raised eyebrows. I ignored them and put the Shepherd's Pie on the table, still warm, but the bread will have to wait until later—it would taste better cooled and fluffy, not gooey and gummy. While the Saint excitedly shared my recipes to her Coren, I prepared a table for two, before calling Adeline and Rita to eat.

"Eh?" Rita voiced out once she sat down. "What about you two?"

The Saint gently scratched her cheek with a finger. "I already ate."

I hummed. "Your dear Saint couldn't wait, so she ate first."

Adeline put a hand on her mouth, and I saw the mischief on her face. Oh no. "With you?"

"No," I cut in, before the Saint can answer. "She ate on her own, but I cooked her food."

Rita stabbed the wooden serving spoon into the pie, peering at me and her leader. "So just the two of you?"

I turned away from them to raise an eyebrow at the Saint, and she laughed nervously, not helping the situation. "It's his job, remember?"

"Sure, Stella. Sure, it's his job." Cackling, Rita scooped the pie into her bowl before becoming captivated by the food. "Anyway, what's this?"

"The Saint can explain it to you. I have to double-check my belongings first." I made a move to get out of the tent.

"Come back soon, Junpei," I heard Adeline behind me. "We'll leave as soon as you do. Thank you for the food!"

Waving a hand towards them, I exited the tent again. I'm pretty sure the Coren would drill the Saint with questions about our arrival together, and I didn't want to be there when they do.

For now, I had to distance myself from them. Our destinies would only cross once like this, and once we part, we will never meet again—it won't do me any good to get attached to them when I knew this.

Especially Estelle.

Whatever. I'll assist her as her personal chef and part-time Salvator, that's all I'm going to do. Here's to hoping I won't let myself get lost in my role as the latter—gods help me.

My birthmark felt like a heavy weight on my chest, and I ignored it, like I'm wont to do these days.

Like the girls said, when I returned to their tent with everything I had, they were all rearing to go, and we shared a tearful parting with the camp—well, it was tearful on the cooks' end. I was ill at ease at the attention, but they were well-meaning, thanking me for teaching them methods and recipes to try, as well as leading the kitchen during my stay.

I didn't realize I became the head chef unanimously.

Our destination was in the west towards the border of Creatus Forest, and after a few more goodbyes, we finally hit the road with the horses provided for us. According to my companions, we will have to pick up some of the Coren stationed in another camp slightly south on the way, where the situation might've already been resolved, so we shouldn't expect any fights to break out.

Though, we still had to be careful not to let our guard down.

For a few hours, the ride was mostly silent except for Adeline and Rita chatting in front of the Saint and I, who stayed back to protect the rear. Most food items were with me aside from snacks for the riders, and though we weren't expected four days from now, they wanted to go faster and reach our destination as soon as possible, as if we're being chased by Time.

At least, it seemed that way to me whenever I looked at the Saint, starry eyes shaking at nothing, clutching her chest, and my own squeezed at her appearance.

I moved my horse closer to hers. "We're going to get ambushed at this rate, Saint," I said, trying to ease her out of whatever was occupying her mind.

Saints were connected to the god of Salvare, Raede of the Dream, who communed with them through dreams, or if the Saint was powerful enough, directly into their thoughts. Maybe it's true that Estelle was the most powerful Saint to date, but I'm not about to let that god mess with her head for now.

I took the Saint's wrist and moved it away from her chest, at which her blank look disappeared. "Don't listen to that god, Estelle."

Her clouded gaze slowly focused on me, and she snatched her arm back before averting her eyes. "G—god? What are you talking about?"

"That won't work on me." I faced forward again. "I know you were talking to that god. Raede."

Silence. I'm taking that as confirmation.

"We're travelling right now. Tell them not to distract you," I said. "Unless they want to lose their only Saint to surprise attacks."

A gasp from her. "Wha—no, I can't just tell them that! I have to listen to them. Besides, how did you . . . ?"

It was my turn to remain silent, my birthmark tingling with the presence of the god.

"Junpei."

I shrugged, as nonchalantly as I can. "Just a hunch. Anyway, don't listen to them right now, whatever they're telling you." Glancing at her, I pointed at the sun high above us—it's almost noon. "It's too early to dream, and I bet everyone is hungry."

As if on cue, Rita called out to us, waving from where she and Adeline had stopped under the shade of a large tree. "Guys, I'm hungry! We have to let the horses rest too. Come on!"

"See."

"You . . ." The Saint narrowed her steely eyes at me. "We have to talk. Later."

I smirked, bringing my horse into a trot after the Coren. "Sure. Don't get your hopes up though." And I left her behind to follow at my heels, letting her curses at me go into one ear and out the other.

That god . . . had finally decided it's Time, huh.