If one person pulls ahead, it might be dismissed as just that one person standing out—but once two people start advancing, everyone has to move. Two becomes three, three becomes four, and a massive leading pack forms in the blink of an eye.
That's why Later's sprint following Erich's completely shook up the dynamics of the Luize competition.
Erich, who had desperately tried to defend his title as the only one who shared her hobby, ultimately couldn't stop Later. There was no justification for preventing a Baking Club member from baking, after all. If anything, Erich had already done well to hold him off this long. He should be satisfied with having enjoyed the monopoly effect until now.
With Erich and Later occupying both sides of Luize, naturally the remaining three joined in on the baking as well. The Baking Club that couldn't bake had finally evolved into a Baking Club that actually baked.
Honestly, the fact that I'm even thinking this way fills me with a bit of self-loathing. I made it sound so grand—shaking up the dynamics, evolution—but in the end, they're just belatedly starting something they should have done from the beginning.
'The continent's future looks bright...'
Idiots, the lot of them. To think these fools are key personnel of the continent. The continent's future will probably shine as brilliantly as the Third Section Chief's head—so bright you can't even see it.
With a dismal heart, I quietly observed the six-member group when my eyes happened to meet Later's as he turned to move a plate. He gave an awkward nod of acknowledgment, so I nodded back in response, and only then did he pick up the plate and return to Luize's side. Ever since our last conversation, Later has been showing this cautious demeanor.
He must be quite embarrassed himself. After all, he'd asked family to stop giving advice to family. At the time, Erich had the advantage, and if that situation continued, even the continuation of the competition itself was uncertain—but honestly, it had been an ugly display.
Later probably didn't realize it at the time, desperate as he was to stop Erich's solo run, but once his emotions settled, he must have belatedly recognized it. How uniquely pathetic he'd looked.
Of course, I don't mind. Having one person of interest behave obediently because of this incident is more profitable for me. The small peace obtained at the cost of someone else's dark history gave me great satisfaction.
"Is this really your first time?"
In the midst of this, Luize's surprised voice reached me, so I turned my gaze to find her looking down at the cookie Tanian had made with admiring eyes. The plating on the plate made it look quite presentable. Though, do cookies even need plating? Wouldn't it be fine to just pile them in a container?
"I'm fortunate to be rather dexterous. Besides, with Sister teaching me so clearly, I found I could do it quickly."
Separate from my thoughts, Tanian—perhaps pleased to receive Luize's attention—answered with a subtle smile, looking more cheerful than usual. For a leading Saint Candidate evaluated as certain to become the next Saint, it was a modest happiness.
Or maybe not—considering the divine teachings include living humbly, perhaps that was exactly right.
While I was caught in this subtle dilemma, the other members' cookies were placed on plates one by one and set on the table. Seeing them like this, Tanian really had made his well. Outwardly, they rivaled Luize's level. Is this what they call talent?
The others seemed to share similar thoughts, looking at Tanian's cookies with unfavorable gazes. It looked a bit much, like they were jealous of cookies, but at least they hadn't reached the stage of resenting each other yet, so this supervisor was satisfied. As long as they don't fight amongst themselves, that's all that matters.
"Now let's taste them!"
Luize gathered the six varieties of cookies made by the six members in one place as she spoke. Yes, this is what a proper club looks like. Until now, it hadn't been a club but a Luize one-woman show freeloading group.
While the members gathered closely together and reached for the cookies, I hung back a bit, just watching. The ones meant for me were resting peacefully on the shelf, so there was no need to join in. Not when Luize was so generous with her portions—it seemed like the rate at which they were being refilled was faster than the rate at which they were being eaten.
'Wait, you little shits.'
And my personal cookie jar, which hadn't seen the bottom since the club's founding, was set to be filled to the brim again today. Of the six varieties of cookies, only Luize's remained untouched.
The guys who had been eating a few of Luize's cookies out of politeness had, at some point, stopped touching them as if by mutual agreement. At first, I thought I was seeing things wrong, but as the other plates gradually emptied, I realized I'd seen correctly. This isn't a gourmet club, so why are they being gourmets here?
Feeling embarrassed for no reason, I glanced at Luize, but she seemed oblivious, busy chatting with the five-member group. Thank goodness. I'd been worried she might tremble with betrayal and shame.
"Did you save these for me to eat? I'm touched you think of your supervisor this way."
Still, if I left them sitting there any longer, Luize might notice, so I casually approached and took the whole plate. Today's portion is a bit... bigger than usual... I'm going to fill up on just these today.
As I collected the plate they'd all been avoiding while exchanging glances, the five looked at me like I was someone who'd grabbed their hand just before they fell off a cliff. Luize also beamed with joy when I suddenly took her cookies.
"I made more because Elder Brother seems to like them!"
Yeah, I can tell just by looking...
"Brother seems to have a warm heart."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
Around the time club activities ended and the club room had grown quiet, following Later, now Tanian remained behind and spoke to me. And with bizarre words completely unlike me, no less.
"Didn't you show consideration for Sister Luize again today?"
Tanian's words, spoken with a slight smile, were even harder to understand. What consideration did I show? If you don't know that, you're a fool. I'm not a brain-degenerate yet.
"If you knew it was consideration, why didn't you eat with me?"
You bastard, knowing but not doing is the worst.
In a situation where everyone was turning away, I could only put down the plate after finishing all the cookies on it. How could I put it down midway when the girl who said she made more because I seemed to like them was staring at me like that?
As my brow furrowed slightly at the lingering sweetness still in my mouth, Tanian chuckled softly and bowed his head.
"I apologize, Brother. There are some things that are difficult even with effort. I'll be more mindful going forward."
"I'm really looking forward to that."
"Haha. I wouldn't call it a replacement, but if you're willing, may I tell you about your future path, Brother?"
At those words, my body instinctively stopped as I was clearing away the scattered plates.
"My future path?"
"If you're comfortable with it, Brother."
The future path Tanian spoke of was, to put it in comparable terms, like fortune-telling. Except in a world where gods and divine power existed, it was fortune-telling with considerably higher reliability than in the world before my possession. Since only a select few priests with exceptional faith and divine power could do it, I'd never had the chance to receive one before.
"Please do."
But a future reading from the next Saint? Even if I had to eat raw flour instead of cookies, this was absolutely worth it. It was a chance to find even the smallest clue about my thoroughly tangled official luck and fortune.
Seeing my attitude change, Tanian burst into laughter again before settling his expression into something serious. Perhaps it was because he'd said he would read my future path, but he looked like a professional devoted to his duty, which increased my trust in him. Sorry for thinking you were just a slippery bastard until now.
"Actually, from the moment I first saw you, Brother, I could see your future path. Sometimes, just by looking at someone, I can see their path ahead."
"I see."
"And in such cases, it's a path that cannot be interfered with even through blessings."
"...."
What the hell, why are you making this sound ominous?
When I stared at Tanian in silence at the unsettling feeling, he shrugged and continued.
"There's good news and bad news, but it doesn't matter which you hear first, so I'll tell you in order."
"I don't mind. I'm listening."
"An impossible trial will not come to you, Brother."
"That's good news."
Even now, breathing was occasionally difficult—if a calamitous trial were to come on top of that, I might have truly lost my mind. Tanian's words gave me at least a small hope, putting my mind at ease.
"However, a trial bordering on the impossible may still come."
Son of a—
I barely managed to stop the curse that nearly burst out at this delayed hope-torture. Perhaps feeling a bit guilty about what he'd just said, Tanian continued speaking before I could protest.
"I debated a long time whether to tell you or not. Since blessings won't help anyway, hearing it won't change anything, and besides, the future path isn't something exact. How could we, mere creatures, fully comprehend the affairs of those chosen by God? I kept silent, worried I'd only trouble your heart with needless words."
It was the right instinct. Because right now, my heart was extremely troubled.
Since I couldn't bring myself to speak, Tanian awkwardly opened his mouth instead. No, stop. I'm scared to hear what comes next.
"As I said, the future path isn't exact. We can see it, but we can't know if what we've seen is truly accurate. In fact, there are records of the previous Pope and Cardinals seeing futures that turned out to be wrong."
"I see."
That's so comforting...
After Tanian left, I was alone once more in the club room.
"Even if a heavy trial comes to you, Brother, it will be one you can overcome with your abilities, so don't lose heart and press forward."
Tanian's parting words echoed in my ears. He'd added that this encouragement was actually his real purpose, more than talking about the future. He'd wanted to say it all along but only found the opportunity now.
But he said the future path could be wrong. What if it's worse than what he saw and a truly impossible trial comes? Could I overcome it just by not losing heart?
I sighed. I'd thought today would pass peacefully and uneventfully, but out of nowhere I'd just heard something like 'Your fate's royally screwed. It'll be rough, but there's nothing to be done. Sorry.' from a Saint Candidate.
Of course, as Tanian said, the future seen by people isn't exact. I could just think of it as hearing something slightly unpleasant from a fortune teller in my life before possession. Except that fortune teller is Nostradamus. Damn it.
I almost sighed again but closed my mouth and stood up instead. Well, when had I ever thought my fate was good? Thinking of it as hearing something obvious actually made me feel a bit better. Disappointment comes from having expectations—what was I even expecting in the first place?
Having sorted out my feelings, I returned to the dormitory and finished my day—
"Inspector. Um..."
The next day, when the Vice Principal came to the club room, I realized Tanian's words had been foreshadowing the work that would immediately arrive.