We spent the morning window shopping in a boutique filled with stylish accessories and trinkets, but my primary concern was Olivia.
Kaori didn't seem to be having any trouble. Since we had stepped into the store, she had been happily browsing the shelves, her eyes lighting up whenever a particular knick-knack caught her fancy. I figured she would enjoy the experience and simply buy whatever she liked.
Olivia, on the other hand, had never even set foot in a general store before. Only moments ago, she had been questioning the practical necessity of tabletop decor; her extreme lack of worldly experience was showing, and I felt I needed to support her.
As I watched, Olivia peered at a small item displayed on a shelf with an intrigued expression. Sensing my approach, she spoke up.
"Is this... perhaps modeled after the Bell of Prayer?"
"Design-wise, that was definitely the inspiration. You can't actually ring it, but the motif is unmistakable."
The Bell of Prayer served as the primary symbol of Shenism, the world’s dominant religion. Naturally, Christianity didn't exist in this world, so the cross wasn't used as a symbol for churches.
I had heard that some churches displayed crosses—perhaps a remnant of influence from a former Hero-role—but every church, temple, or sanctuary in this world was guaranteed to house a Bell of Prayer.
These bells were intended to carry one's prayers on waves of sound to the gods in the God Realm and to the Creator of the World, Shallow Vernal. It was standard practice to ring the bell after completing one's devotions at a cathedral.
The number of times the bell was rung supposedly held different meanings, though I wasn't well-versed in the specifics. The one thing I knew for certain was that the Bell of Prayer was universally recognized as the icon of the faith.
Even the Bell of Vows, which a bride and groom rang at their wedding, was a derivative of this bell. For Olivia, the pinnacle of the religious hierarchy, it was surely an item that resonated deeply.
"Based on our earlier conversation, if one places such an item on a desk or shelf... I see. Unlike me, who resides in the Great Cathedral, the common citizens must find it difficult to install a proper bell in their homes, and visiting a sanctuary requires time they may not have. Thus, they use these items to offer simplified prayers of gratitude to Shallow Vernal-sama before sleep or upon waking. What a wonderful innovation... I am moved by their pious dedication to Shallow Vernal-sama."
"Y-Yeah. I'm sure there are plenty of people who use them for prayer. But beyond that, they’re just nice because they look stylish, you know? They add a bit of color to a room."
In truth, they were mostly just decorative. Since the Bell of Prayer itself was designed to be beautiful, these miniatures were sold purely as aesthetic interior goods.
I didn't doubt that some devout believers used them for prayer as Olivia suggested, but the vast majority of people likely viewed them as nothing more than desk ornaments.
However, seeing Olivia nodding with such heartfelt admiration, I didn't want to rain on her parade, so I kept my response a bit vague. Regardless, I was just glad she had found a reason to take an interest in the shop's merchandise.
"I understand. If the Bell of Prayer—the very symbol of our faith—sits upon one’s desk, one can use it as a reminder to discipline one’s actions so as never to bring shame upon the Great Shallow Vernal-sama. I am truly impressed by the ingenuity of humankind. Prayer and gratitude should always be at the center of one's heart, and it is a joy to see such faith reflected in daily life."
"Well, since you like it so much, why don't you buy one for yourself, Olivia? I know you have the real thing at the cathedral, but having something related to Shiro-san on your personal desk might be nice in its own way."
"As expected of Miyama Kaito-sama... a truly marvelous suggestion! Indeed, I frequently process paperwork in my capacity as City Representative. To have a model of the Bell of Prayer within my sight during such tasks would be wonderful."
As a member of the hardcore believer group, Olivia seemed genuinely delighted by the prospect of having a bell nearby even outside of formal prayer hours. She was full of praise for my suggestion.
She was the type to pray whenever she had a spare second, so this kind of decor really hit the mark for her. Given her perfectionist streak—the same one that led her to study cooking so intensely once she took an interest—she might eventually decide to produce her own line of "Bell of Prayer Interior Completely Supervised by the Pope."
But that was fine. It meant she was expanding her horizons, and seeing her grow like this made me feel a strange sense of happiness.
Serious-senpai: "She has the same obsessive passion for Kaito and Shiro that she does for tea, so that seems like a very real possibility. She'll buy one today, put it on her desk... and eventually start noticing tiny flaws until she's forced to create a perfect reproduction herself. Though she'd probably be satisfied just using it herself, so unless Kaito or Kaori suggests it, she'd never think of actually selling them."
???: "A Bell of Prayer Interior Completely Supervised by the Pope, huh? If I can get my foot in the door on the distribution route, there's a fortune to be made there."