"Thank you very much for your kindness. I am Fia Ruud, a member of the Kingdom's First Knights." (Fia)
I introduced myself to Chief Radek and bowed deeply.
The tribe chief and Captain Curtis seemed to be on good terms, and they exchanged slight nods with each other.
The chief's wrinkled face lit up with a gentle smile and he gestured to a nearby rug.
"Would you like to sit down? I think it would be more comfortable for me to sit down, if that's okay." (Chief)
As the three of us sat down on the rug, the residents gathered around us with interest. Chief Radek looked at my hair with an impressed look on his face and then spoke.
"What beautiful red hair. I only know this from legend, but it is said that the legendary Great Saint also had vibrant red hair just like this. It's a very beautiful red." (Chief)
"Thank you. However, I heard that the previous Duchess also had red hair, and it's not an uncommon color in the royal capital." (Fia)
After replying that it was perfectly natural, the chief continued calmly.
"That's right. I have seen the previous Duchess's hair before, but it was an orange-red color, not as vivid as this. I have been to the royal capital on duty a few times, but even though everyone has red hair, it's often yellowish, or brown in some places, and I've never seen it all crimson like yours." (Chief)
"Is that so?" (Fia)
When you put it that way, I guess that's true. Thinking about it, I'd never really paid much attention to other people with red hair before, so when someone told me that my red hair was unusual, I couldn't really say for sure.
The chief laughed joyfully and held out the branch of Adela he was holding.
"Hahaha, the higher the Saint, the more particular you are about having red hair like the legendary Great Saint, but for someone with truly red hair like you, it doesn't seem to matter at all. Here you go. I couldn't protect the Adela tree planted by the Great Saint, but when the tree was felled, I was given a branch and took a cutting, which grew big. This is a branch of that tree." (Chief)
"Well, thank you." (Fia)
I smiled as I saw the red flowers on the branches.
When the chief saw me like that, his face lit up.
"Everyone said that Miss Fia knows this place well, but do you know anyone here? When you saw the opening dance, why did you think it was a dolphin dance?" (Chief)
"I was interested in the Blue Knight, the former lord of Sutherland, and wanted to see the sea and towns of this land someday. Dolphins are... well, broadly speaking, dolphins and jellyfish are the same thing. I seem to have made a mistake." (Fia)
The moment I spoke, the residents nearby, who had been listening in, gasped. Everyone stared at me with expressions of disbelief, and I stiffened uncomfortably. I was perplexed and looked at the chief, who looked back at me with a serious expression.
"Miss Fia, if you don't mind, may I talk to you about the 'Reincarnation Faith' that has been passed down and believed in for many years by the people of this remote island?" (Chief)
"Huh? Oh, yes, of course." (Fia)
It wasn't the right atmosphere to refuse, so I graciously accepted.
"We, the people of this remote island, believe that our souls are reborn when our feelings are deep. Deep, deep feelings allow us to meet again after a long time. ...The Blue Knight, who was the lord of Sutherland and whom you cared about, was the Great Saint's guardian knight. The story you told us earlier about the dolphins and jellyfish, is also still remembered as the words of the Great Saint. ... You must be a reincarnation of the Great Saint's soul." (Chief)
"………………" (Fia)
I was speechless.
I was speechless at this sudden, poignant story.
"………huh, ………oh...…" (Fia)
The chief looked at me with a concerned expression as he saw that I was unable to form any coherent words.
"Are you okay? I'm sure you're surprised at this sudden news, and I know it's hard to believe, but our family believes in the resurrection of souls. We believe that souls with great thoughts and a mission will return. And this is also our wish. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Great Saint, and we vowed as a family to one day be of use to her. But in the end, we were unable to repay her for anything." (Chief)
The chief looked sadly at the red flower in my hand.
"The Great Saint promised to return to this land. That's why we continued to believe that she would definitely return someday. I'm sure you are not the reincarnation of the Great Saint and you feel uneasy that our clan has made such a strange accusation, but as the representative of the clan, I ask you. Please, please, can you please accept what we have done?" (Chief)
"Umm……" (Fia)
I opened my mouth but didn't know what to say, so I couldn't continue.
"For it to be a coincidence, your actions are too reminiscent of the Great Saint. We look on with hope, thinking that perhaps it is because of the Great Saint that you are concerned about the Blue Knight, who was her guardian knight. Even if we are mistaken, could you please accept our feelings that have remained with nowhere to go for many years?" (Chief)
"Umm..." (Fia)
I tried to think while the sound of my heart pounding loudly became deafening. Well, it seemed this didn't mean that they had found out that I was a great saint in my previous life. However, the people of the remote island believed in the resurrection of souls, and they suspected that I might be the resurrected soul of the great saint.
...You got it right! Without any basis, you guessed the answer! I muttered to myself, "Phew," and began to think about what to do.
Meanwhile, Captain Curtis looked at the chief with a reluctant expression, then opened his mouth.
"Since Fia has red hair, and there are even the slightest similarities between her and the Great Saint, I understand the desire to believe she is a reincarnation... but Fia is not a Saint after all." (Curtis)
"Since Miss Fia is a knight, we understand that. Since it is a resurrection of the soul, the body will be different and the power may not be inherited. ...In fact, we believe in the resurrection of the soul, but this is the first time we have seen someone resurrected, so there are some things we don't quite understand." (Chief)
"……I see" (Curtis)
The moment I heard the chief said that I was the first person he saw whom a soul resurrected, I realized that Captain Curtis was convinced that the chiefs had misunderstood. However, in order to avoid hurting the feelings of his family, he began to pretend that he understood.
"It's true that Fia has red hair and golden eyes. Yes, her interest in the Blue Knight may be due to her being conscious of her previous life somewhere in her soul." (Chief)
"Hey, Captain Curtis!" (Fia)
When I tried to complain about how they were having so much fun, a small voice whispered to me.
"Fia, this is your chance. If they believe you to be the reincarnation of the Great Saint, they may accept you as a knight... and by extension, the knights themselves. Perhaps the Sutherland family and the residents can make amends." (Curtis)
"Ugh..." (Fia)
I glared at Captain Curtis, but he just bowed his head slightly with a pleading look on his face. Uuuugh. I'll look at my feet. I certainly want to be of help to Captain Cyril, but...
I turned to the chief and clapped my hands.
"Ah, that's right. It feels like I was the Great Saint! Yes, it feels like Canopus was my guardian knight." (Fia)
"You even know Lord Canopus's name! She's the real deal! She's the real Saint!"
Seeing the residents suddenly become upset, I turned pale.
...Ah, damn it. I was wrong. That's right, I shouldn't have mentioned Canopus's name. However, Captain Curtis looked at me with a big smile, as if to say well done.
I felt my face twitch as I watched the residents become overjoyed and repeatedly called me "Great Saint."
………W-what should I do? Is this something that Captain Cyril will get angry at? Or will it mean he'll praise me?