act15d5

Our sister, Hildegard. Today, we see you off.

May the light extol your path forth, may piety and conviction be forever by your side.

The bells of Landen Monastery cross long through... hm? What?

*cough* The bells of Landen Monastery cross long through the years, tolling centuries of... Wine!?

Wh—Why has wine been left here? Where did... my Lord, don't tell me the old man snuck it in? Shh! Sshhh!

To be brief, may Landen's centuries of glory be with you! Now, Hildegard! Come here and help! Help us get the wine barrel open!

Hee-hee, we can't have a farewell without this, can we? Now, before the old man comes back! Cheers!

Ah... did I fall asleep?

Someone's knocking at the door... it's this late already!?

Good morning, Cleric Hildegard.

Good morning, or should I say good afternoon, Mr. Bison. It's been long since I laid on a bed. I seem to be somewhat remiss.

It's been a long journey, I don't blame you. I came to confirm your travel itinerary today; hopefully I didn't disturb your rest?

No worries at all. I thank all your efforts as well.

You came from Laterano... such a far-off country, all the way to Lungmen. It can't have been easy, can it?

It wasn't.

This is my own first time so far from Laterano... Long-distance travel isn't as simple as admiring the scenery, it turns out.

Ha ha. Even seasoned Messengers still take every method they can to keep their moods level...

The life of a Messenger must be tough.

So, Miss Hildegard, was last night's accommodation to your liking?

Mm-hm. It's a stone's throw from the city center, and very cheaply priced. You've got some keen insight.

You don't need to worry about expenses, actually. MountainDash Logistics will reimburse the costs of your time in Lungmen.

No, as a representative of Landen Monastery, I can't depend on the wealth of others. Forgive me for that.

What's more, I'm on this mission precisely to address the many problems besetting the Monastery. I could never partake excessively of others' friendship on their land, all while indulging myself.

I see... your mindset really is admirable.

A compulsory lesson, and nothing more.

Your meeting with Eurill is set for tomorrow evening. May I ask what your plans are for today?

Um... I'll take a small walk around the area. It's my first time in Yan, after all.

Will you require a tour guide or entourage to be arranged, then?

Ah, no. I'd like to look about myself. I'm just satisfying my own curiosity, that's all; I wouldn't like to trouble you all.

Alright... then I won't keep bothering you.

Thank you for your understanding.

If I may be so bold as to ask, Mr. Eurill is your father, is he not?

Hm? Uh, he is. What about it?

No, forgive me. It's just that I've noticed you treat him wholly as if he's your boss while you're on the job, Mr. Bison...

Uh-huh. If I always rely on my relationship with the old man, how could I ever surpass him?

Hahah, I see you're someone of great ambitions too, then, Mr. Bison.

Hardly. If it hadn't come up with you, Cleric Hildegard, I wouldn't even talk about anything like it with a client.

Well, I won't bother you any further...

But if you have any spare time, I'd like to hear your stories about Laterano. Just as you're curious about Lungmen, I... think about that place a lot.

But of course.

Alright. I wish you a pleasant day.

Lungmen, then.

I don't really have any travel funds, but... I suppose I'll wander around some.

After all, 'opportunity and faith alike dwell in markets and bells.'

Your dad's too set in his ways! This is Lungmen, come on!

But it's a craft our old place passed down from generation to generation...

Look at the age we're in now! How's manual labor going to make any money?

That's true. That's something my dad needs to be talked over for.

What number were we in the queue again?

Number 21. It'll be us pretty soon now. Why's this dessert shop so crowded...

I'm number 31.

So sweet...

Oh?

Huh...?

Uh... a-are you the visitor from Laterano?

Hm? Do you know of me?

Uh, yes, actually, for certain reasons my house is currently uninhabitable, so the L.G.D. gave me a residence at the same inn as you... erm, I'm actually right across from you...

So I see... what a coincidence, then.

Ah, where are my manners? I should introduce myself first. I come from Laterano's Landen Monastery. Please, call me Hildegard. You might be?

Y-Y-You don't need to be all polite to me, I'm just an average engineer... engineer, codename Snowsant...

Actually, um, why isn't a person of your status living in a more high-class apartment instead?

Ahahah... I have a few troubles, too, but it's moreso to remind myself. You needn't be so modest with me, either. I'm just touring around right now, that's all.

Here. Would you like some?

Are these... cakes?

I'd noticed they were famous, and so I bought two extra, but I hadn't imagined the flavor would be so intense.

That said, if such things can gain widespread popularity, then perhaps the goods the Monastery can offer may not suit Lungmen...

Are you sure you can give me these?!

Eh? Ah, by all means.

Th... thank you...

(She's just like a hungry little cystybeast...) Ahem. Do eat a little slower.

Snowsant, was it? Would you be able to accompany me for a while longer?

Nmp, *sigh*. Of... Of course, Ma'am! I'm on vacation today!

D—Don't shout 'Ma'am' like that; I feel a little bad now...

I hadn't noticed, but it's already evening now.

The days without hearing the bells...

Miss Hildegard, is something wrong?

Ah. Nothing. I just feel like the time passes so fast.

In the end, today was a day off, and the traffic jams were all so bad. We just wandered around Lungmen city center a little and it's already dark now.

Snowsant, what kind of place is Columbia, I wonder?

Huh? Let me think... uh, everything's so bright all the time, it's really technological, and...

A little inhuman...?

O-Of course, I only stayed in the research institute! To be clear, I never went more than two kilometers from my workplace!

Ohh, that tiny little back-and-forth life... I feel queasy...

Hahah... forget I mentioned it. Don't force yourself.

Sigh.

Miss Hildegard, what kind of... place is Landen Monastery? I've only heard about the Notarial Hall before...

...Bread.

Bread?

It's ancient, a convent situated amongst the wheat fields and hills.

It was originally for the training of Apostolic warriors. Its greatest difference from the Notarial Hall and the Apostolic Knights is that Landen Monastery accepts people from countries the world over.

But...

Gulp. But..?

But these last few years have been too peaceful! The Notarial Hall mopped up every last bit of our work! We didn't get a single new disciple this year! The old man's cohort refuses any grants on the grounds of teaching the Monastery to be self-reliant!

It's about to go bankrupt. The time-honored Landen Monastery is about to go BANKRUPT because of its financial issues!!

Miss Hildegard, should you say 'bankrupt' for a monastery...?

It's the closest word there is. Take it or leave it.

*cough* *cough*.

And that's why you left Laterano, Miss Hildegard?

There always has to be a way. Fortunately, the Monastery's reputation aside, people might not think we're much more than ornamental, but at the very least, we still have our grand wheat field...

I've troubled you enough for today, Snowsant.