Walking across the white stone bridge over Lake Starnestle again, Ed tugged at his clothes with some nervousness. He was sure that he looked presentable, that he looked dignified—the clothes that Vala had chosen for him, a dark blue coat with dark silver patterns, gorgeous but understated.

He had intended to dress more modestly, but Vala smiled and said, "If you can only wear white robes from now on, this garment I made for you will be of no use." “

Her smile was so sad that Ed couldn't say no more.

When he made up his mind to tell his mother that he wanted to become the priest of the god of water, he was met with not the expected opposition - a far cry from what Vala expected of him. But Vala was only silent for a long time, and a wry smile appeared on her lips: "I heard that being a priest is much safer than a paladin, because knights will do anything to protect the priest and cast spells...... Isn't that so?"

He could only nod blankly.

"Then that's the only thing I can expect from you. Vala stood up and hugged him gently, "You have to live in peace—I knew a long time ago that if you made a decision and told me with such a look, there would be no way to stop you...... You're a lot like me, Ed, and sometimes I wish you weren't. ”

She once married River Singhal, a small merchant without any aristocratic ancestry, despite all the objections...... On the surface, Ed looks more like a father, easy-going and generous, full of curiosity and lack of tension, but in her bones there is her stubbornness.

That made her know her son better than River—who had been away from home for more than half a year, and had returned early, had heard that his son was going to be some pastor. Unprecedentedly furious, even Vala couldn't calm him down. Ed had studied business with him, and he thought it was all settled. He can finally slowly hand over his business to his son, and he has even planned to take Ed with him on his next trip......

"And you told me you're going to be one of those deceitful priests!!" he thundered around the room, looking like he wanted to grab something and smash it on Ed's head.

"Not all priests are liars!" Ed discerned, "A half-elf priest has saved my life more than once!" and ......" he hesitated, not knowing if he should mention that he also had healing powers. It had even brought an innocent man, who was probably now a king, back from the dead.

"Just because a homeless man on the side of Lanxia Harbor saved my life, doesn't mean I have to be a homeless man!" River snarled forcefully. He has always been good at words on the outside, and can convince almost anyone...... In the face of his stubborn son, he only felt all kinds of powerlessness.

"Do you think that if you come back in majesty on a dragon, it means that you will be able to do your own thing and never have to listen to me again? Don't even think of going anywhere without my permission!"

Finally he threw it down and locked Ed in his room—and Eth easily picked the lock and slipped in that night.

But he didn't come to save his friend from the cage.

"Maybe you should think again. ”

He unexpectedly persuaded Ed.

"I asked you...... You said that even though I became a pastor, we were still friends. Ed said dejectedly, "I thought you wouldn't object to ......"

"I'm not against it. But I don't want you to make that decision for me. Isis whispered.

He had been silent since his return from Esterlo - and he was not a talker. But that silence is different. Ed was always worried that when he woke up one morning, he would see Narya running up, crying and throwing herself into his arms, telling him that Iss had flown away and would never come back...... Well, Naria doesn't necessarily cry.

- I probably won't throw myself into his arms.

So the whole fantasy is only the part of "worry". He did fear that Iss would leave alone again. Things were more complicated than they had previously thought, and the "enemy" might not be the only one for Lydia......

Ed must admit that he is more desperate than ever to become a pastor. Indeed, I wish it could be a little more useful...... Can help more.

"Even if it's for you, doesn't that mean it's the wrong decision?" he asked Is, puzzled. "I've heard that pastors are messengers of God to help the world, and if I just want to become a pastor for myself, wouldn't that be even more wrong?"

Besides, he really wanted to know more...... Why they save some people when it comes to how God created the world and why they seem to have completely forgotten how others want humanity to survive......

He had received God-given strength and favor for almost no reason...... And he wanted to figure out why.

"I'm not human. His ice dragon friend smiled, a hint of bitterness in his smile.

“...... Are we really going to continue to talk about this?" Ed glared at him, "Are you going to help me?"

Isis shook his head dryly: "Even if I don't object to you being a priest, I can't get you out of your house behind your father's back, that's not right." ”

He was so serious that Ed had nothing to say.

Things stalled for days, until River himself came and opened the door that had been relocked by Is, with Alan Caver following him.

"Now that you've decided, you're going to be a great priest!" River patted his son on the shoulder, his eyes reddened slightly, and before Ed could react, he turned away with heavy steps.

“...... What did you tell him?" Ed asked Alan, dumbfounded.

"Oh, nothing, just told him a few stories about the 'Great Priest'. Alan smiled a little slyly, "One of them was a priest and an adventurer, a successful businessman, not only famous but also wealthy, who lived more than a hundred years before returning to the arms of God. ”

"How can there be such a priest?" said Ed, rather skeptically, "Isn't it true that a priest can't covet the riches of the world?"

He was a pastor, then a pastor and adventurer, and after he declared that he realized that worldly life was more suitable for him, his God forgave him and blessed him with health and longevity, and the friends and people he had helped as a pastor made him a businessman. He is indeed a lucky fellow, but it does not seem difficult to convince your father that your luck has always been quite good and that you have been favored by the goddess. ”

Ed finally couldn't help but laugh, relaxed and proud.

"I'm so lucky!" he said, "why didn't I think of that? I could have convinced him myself!"

"For he is thy father, and thou art his son. Alan sighed, "And as far as I know, fathers and sons usually don't care much about who is more reasonable, only louder than whoever. ”

He definitely remembered Naria—Ed nodded sympathetically as he remembered the time he and his daughter had begun to argue.

In short, he succeeded in convincing his family, with the support of his friends, to hopefully prepare to become the priest of the god of water—if the head of the paladin, who had been hiding in his armor forever, did not come looking for trouble.

But Felicity would not refuse him, and he was convinced of it.

River himself brought him to the temple, but Vala did not come with him.

"I'll be waiting for you at home, always...... The priest can come home from time to time, right?" she asked him, and Ed could only nod desperately.

Of course, he has to come back from time to time, and he still has an uneasy ice dragon living in his house!

River, of course, brought a lot of gifts, and he even planned to pay for a batch of white robes and armor to be remade for the priests and paladins of the Temple of Collins.

Ed didn't know if it was the gifts and promises that made Sean a little kinder—or if he was just embarrassed to say nothing to him in front of River. The Paladin Master himself came out to greet River and his would-be priest, and even when River asked him to take care of Eddoga, he did not coldly reply "I treat all priests and paladins equally", but politely remained silent.

River had dealt with Sean during his time at Stonebug, and was unimpressed by his silence.

Before leaving, he pulled his son aside.

"I've heard about what trials you have to go through to become a pastor or something...... It doesn't matter if you can't be a priest, you know?" he patted Ed on the back, "There's a lot of other way to go, kid, don't push yourself to death on one road." ”

It sounded like he still wanted Ed to fail.

Ed smiled, he knew what kind of answer would reassure his father: "Of course...... I am your son. ”

River slammed Ed on the shoulder again, sighed, and walked out the door with his hat on.

He didn't look back, but Ed couldn't help but watch his back disappear into the bright sunlight, and he froze for a moment before he walked towards Sean Fletcher.

Standing in front of the Paladin's leader, he didn't know what to say. Would-be priests are usually received by the elders of the High Priesthood, rather than the serious Paladin Leader, who is likely to scare the newcomer away. However, most of the high-ranking priests of the water god remained in Stunbuch, and even Browder, the deputy head of the Knights, had recently gone to Stunbuch to deal with the troubles caused by a nobleman. Icappard, the only high-ranking priest in the Temple of Collins, had been obsessed with completing a masterpiece on the history of the gods and had not set foot in the temple for several years - and having hurt Ise, Ed was unsure if he would be able to maintain propriety in his face with him.

He had expected to face Filly...... Maybe his luck wasn't as good as he thought.

He looked at Sean, and Sean looked at him. The two were relatively silent, and Ed was tickling all over.

Sean's gaze was strange - it seemed less hostile and more than something else.

"Follow me. ”

After a long time, Sean finally spoke, leading Ed to the back of the temple.

(To be continued......)