The clamor in Celebration Plaza would continue until dawn the next day, followed by the long-awaited several days of holiday and the approaching warm season. But for people in certain positions, holidays were always something beyond reach—Heti, who had already worked overtime for half a month straight, was among them, as was Gawain himself.
In the study, carpeted in blue velvet, Gawain stood before the broad floor-to-ceiling window and gazed out at the distant night. The sky over Pioneer Plaza glowed faintly white, the radiance cast by an array of high-powered Magic Crystal Lamps floating in midair and illuminating the entire district. Separated by a distant distance and thick glass, he could not directly hear the noise from the plaza, yet it still reached his ears through the Magic Net Terminal on the desk. Amid the slightly muffled background clamor, Veronica's voice came through clearly. "...Based on the data collected so far, having the gods' human half-bodies intercept and preside over the sacrificial ritual will not adversely affect the clergy participating in it."
"This was what we worried about from the start—under normal circumstances, a sacrificial ritual uses the complete god as its 'beacon,' yet now we have forcibly bypassed the divine aspect... Fortunately, the theory was correct. The powerful prayers of the believers are the key factor in the sacrificial process," Gawain said, letting out a soft breath. "Feedback has also arrived from Typhon and Silver. The other two test sites have produced results in line with predictions. More detailed field data will reach Divine Authority Council headquarters in a few hours, and I'll have to trouble you with it then."
"It is my duty," Veronica replied immediately. Then she shifted the subject. "Also, what do you think of the things the Saintess of Abundance said at the end...?"