The hours passed and dinner was prepared, Saintess Kyria returned.
She stopped at the doorway and looked at Shin Yato, who was still sitting beside the sleeping Kore, his face devoid of emotion.
"Excuse me, sir," she said softly. "Dinner is ready. You may join us."
"Okay."
He didn't look at Kyria when he answered.
Before standing, he gently brushed a strand of hair away from Kore's face. The candle beside the bed flickered as he rose, its flame trembling for a brief second.
Without another word, he followed the Saintess.
They entered the dining hall.
Four women were already seated around the long wooden table. The soft glow of candlelight illuminated the quiet room.
When they noticed Shin Yato, the air shifted.
Conversations stopped.
One of them straightened unconsciously.
Another lowered her gaze.
One simply stared.
It wasn't just his appearance.
His long dark hair brushed against his neck. His figure was lean yet solid, standing around 5'11", carrying himself with effortless stillness.
But it was his eyes that unsettled them.
They were deep.
Not cold.
Not warm.
Just… empty.
Like an abyss that swallowed light.
No smile. No hostility. No presence of emotion.
Just existence.
As Shin Yato looked around for a place to sit, Saintess Kyria quickly stepped forward.
Since there were no empty seats left at the table, she brought another chair and placed it at the center.
"Forgive me, sir," she said with a calm voice and a bright smile. "Please, sit here."
Shin Yato looked at her for a brief moment.
"Thank you."
A faint smile touched his lips — barely noticeable — before he took his seat.
Some of the women felt nervous. Others felt a quiet awkwardness. Still, they composed themselves and folded their hands in prayer before the meal.
Together, they began to chant:
"Oh, Holy Goddess of Light, you have blessed us with another day and another life. Before we partake in this meal, we thank you for your mercy and your grace. Please continue to watch over us, as you always have."
Their voices blended softly in the candlelit hall.
When the prayer ended and they opened their eyes—
Shin Yato was already eating.
Nifti's lips tightened.
Kyria paused for half a second.
Another lowered her gaze.
But none of them said anything. They quietly began eating.
After a moment, Nifti glanced at Shin Yato, hesitation flickering in her eyes.
"Sir… if you don't mind," she asked nervously, "why were your clothes stained with dried blood? And… what happened to your sister?"
The table grew still.
Before Shin Yato could answer, Saintess Kyria spoke.
"Sir, please forgive her," she said calmly. "She is a little naïve."
Then she turned to Nifti, her expression composed but firm.
"I will explain it to you after dinner. So keep quiet."
Another girl smiled playfully from across the table.
"Yeah," she teased lightly. "She's always been too naïve."
Nifti frowned and shot back in mild annoyance, "What did you say, Lish?"
Shin Yato lowered his gaze slightly.
"It was attacked by a demon," he said quietly.
The candlelight flickered against his eyes.
"We ran without stopping. My sister collapsed from hunger while we were escaping."
His voice carried a restrained sadness — controlled, measured.
Across the table, Nifti's expression shifted to guilt.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered.
Shin Yato gave a faint, reassuring smile.
"It's not your fault."
And in a way…
He wasn't lying.
Lish clicked her tongue lightly.
"I told you," she said with a small mocking smile. "You're too naïve."
Nifti lowered her head, embarrassed.
The other women softened.
Pity replaced their earlier tension.
Some looked at Shin Yato with sympathy.
Some with quiet sorrow.
They believed him.
All of them… except one.
Saintess Kyria kept her expression calm.
She nodded slightly, as if accepting his words.
But for reasons she could not explain, something felt… off.
Not in what he said.
But in how he said it.
The sadness in his voice had been perfect.
Too perfect.
And his eyes—
They never changed.
The others continued eating, their expressions filled with sympathy.
But Saintess Kyria remained still for a moment longer.
As the High Saintess, she was trained to sense the flow of spiritual energy — the gentle warmth of faith, the faint tremble of malice, the distortion of corruption.
Every living being carried something.
Light.
Darkness.
Fear.
Guilt.
Something.
But from Shin Yato…
She felt nothing.
No warmth.
No malice.
No corruption.
Not even emptiness.
It was as if the space around him swallowed spiritual presence itself.
Her fingers tightened slightly beneath the table.
She lowered her gaze before anyone noticed.
And resumed eating.
For a moment, she thought she had imagined it.
Then—
Shin Yato's hand paused mid-motion.
He did not turn fully.
He did not speak.
But his eyes shifted.
Just slightly.
They met hers.
No emotion.
No accusation.
No curiosity.
Only awareness.
He knew.
Kyria felt her breath grow shallow for the briefest second.
Then he continued eating as if nothing had happened.
And the candles flickered again.
Their eyes met for only a second.
Kyria felt it — that strange absence again.
But this time, something else lingered beneath it.
Not hostility.
Not hatred.
Curiosity.
Shin Yato looked at her as one might study a flame.
Not to warm himself.
But to understand how easily it could be extinguished.
Then he looked away.
Calm.
Detached.
As if nothing had happened.
But inside that silent gaze was a quiet thought:
Let's see how long your light survives.
Lish leaned slightly forward, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"Sir, I noticed the sword at your waist. Is it yours?" she asked cheerfully.
Shin Yato glanced down at it briefly.
"Yes," he replied calmly. "It's my family's heirloom."
A faint shadow crossed his face — just enough to resemble sadness.
Lish's eyes sparkled. "It's a very beautiful sword."
She smiled warmly before continuing, "Oh, by the way, sir — I'm Lish. As you already heard that idiot shouting my name." She gestured playfully. "Beside me is Venessa, and near that idiot is Jenney. So… what is your name?"
"Don't talk too much while eating," Saintess Kyria said calmly, though her tone remained gentle.
Shin Yato looked at Lish.
"Shin Yato."
"Shin Yato?" Lish repeated, tilting her head. "That's such a unique name."
"Yes," he answered with a faint smile. "I've heard someone say the same before."
When Lish complimented the sword, Kyria's gaze shifted to it instinctively.
The weapon rested quietly at his waist.
It looked ordinary at first glance.
Beautiful.
Well-crafted.
Balanced.
But as Kyria focused for a brief moment, she felt a faint disturbance.
Not dark.
Not holy.
Just… wrong.
Like a note slightly out of tune in a hymn.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her cup.
Shin Yato noticed.
Of course he did.
But he did not react.
When the meal ended, Jenney and Venessa began clearing the plates in silence.
Shin Yato rose from his seat.
"Thank you… everyone, for the meal," he said calmly, offering a small, polite smile.
He turned to leave.
"Shin Yato."
Saintess Kyria's voice stopped him.
He paused and looked back.
"Yes?"
Kyria held his gaze, keeping her expression composed despite the faint uneasiness stirring within her.
"You and your sister may stay at the temple until she fully recovers," she said gently. "You may not have anywhere else to go."
The room grew quiet again.
Shin Yato looked at her for a brief moment.
Then he inclined his head slightly.
"Thank you, Saintess Kyria."
His voice carried gratitude.
His expression reflected appreciation.
But it was performed flawlessly.
He turned and walked away.
And as his back faced them—
A small smile lingered on his lips.