Chapter 13. Crisis and Opportunity (4)

In any case, after the previous incident, judging that moving too much would only escalate misunderstandings, I spent my days commuting between the church and the association.

To be honest, it was a bit stifling. If I hadn’t met Ria and had continued with church life, things might have been different, but after Ria started living with me, she took me around to various places for fun, and because of that, I learned how interesting the outside world is.

In fact, at this point, I’m not just a nun staying temporarily; I’m treated as a nun in a true religious sense, so as long as it’s for social life, there’s no major problem with going out.

Those things aren’t determined by a specific start date; they’re gradually eased one by one from within. …Given that I’m wearing a white nun’s habit, there probably aren’t any people left who think it’s necessary to question that.

Things like buying a smartphone or going out to buy some snacks probably wouldn’t be a big problem.

However, at this moment, the thought of going out in this situation brought about so much trouble, and just imagining how many people would get my number if I bought a smartphone made me dizzy, so I decided not to.

Ria also got a smartphone a little later, but she usually seems to keep it turned off.

Actually, it wasn’t bad. Even though I thought I’d have sex someday, I didn’t have a girlfriend right now, so there was no reason to be disgusted by abstinence. Rather, it was a place that made me feel at ease, thinking it would shield me from guys who would hit on me.

For about two weeks, I waited for the world to calm down a bit.

I consistently received contact from the research institute. Magic still hadn’t been fully completed. They succeeded in creating a small hole, but it seemed the coordinates were wrong, and the inside had become flooded. They said it would take a considerable amount of time to readjust, so I decided to leave it as it was for now.

Unless the church gives me something specific to do-

“…An exorcism?”

“Yes, I definitely heard that.”

And finally, someone had a request for the church.

And that request was very absurd.

Ria and I listened to the Nun Superior’s words and stared at each other, holding wooden swords in our hands.

And then we looked back at the Nun Superior.

Of course, the Nun Superior doesn’t seem to believe it seriously either.

In the past, that is, before this denomination was established, believers might have taken exorcism seriously.

If souls exist in the world, wouldn’t there be at least one soul that couldn’t enter a human body? If not, then perhaps a soul that entered a wrong body, or something like a spiritual being…

However, ironically, after this became a ‘fantasy’ world, those stories seem to have disappeared.

That makes sense, because things that only existed in imagination until then have now become reality. And that also means that the fantasy has rules.

Of course, whether everyone completely disbelieves such things is another matter.

At least, in this denomination, they don’t believe in such things.

“Isn’t it possible that a monster is interfering with their minds?”

I asked, recalling what happened in the Dwarf Kingdom last time.

Even if they can’t control people, they can summon them into a kind of mental world. In the Dwarf Kingdom, they tried to summon not only me but many other people.

“That…”

The Nun Superior seriously considered how to explain, and finally sighed deeply.

“They say it’s indigenous beliefs.”

“Indigenous beliefs… Is it not about humans?”

“That’s right.”

The Nun Superior spoke with a complex expression in many ways.

Ria and I looked at each other again.

“Excuse me, but doesn’t that mean there’s a high possibility that another religion is already established there?”

The gnomes had some common ground with our denomination. Since neither of us could describe what the being above looked like, we could just assume it was the same being.

The dwarves believed in something completely different, but given what I showed them last time, they had no choice but to believe.

But in both cases, it was just good luck. There were indeed those who absolutely refused to accept it due to too much difference in opinion.

“Um, well.”

The Nun Superior pondered for a moment and said.

“Although it’s called faith, it doesn’t seem to be a religion with a clear system.”

“Aha.”

Perhaps that’s why our denomination judged it to be worth pursuing. After all, we just need to claim that the most outstanding god among them is the being above.

“It seems like they’ve been diligently spreading their faith for a long time.”

The Nun Superior nodded at my words.

So, in the end, it was again a story related to the expansion of the church.

If they want to believe, they should just believe among themselves.

…

Well, perhaps they think that’s their salvation for those people.

And, unfortunately, I also thought that if those people were suffering, I should help them.

*

“Ria, how is it?”

As I asked Ria, she blinked.

“Huh?”

“I told you, didn’t I? If my life is on the line for what I’m about to do, I’ll get Ria’s permission.”

Ria just blinked and looked at me.

“Uh, so, was that serious?”

“Yes, it’s serious.”

Of course, if a truly necessary moment comes, I might act impulsively.

For example, if Ria herself is severely injured and collapses, I would jump in for Ria even if my own life is at risk.

We don’t know what the outcome will be, but still, a nun who can handle holy power to this extent and knows how to shoot a gun can’t be completely useless.

“Are our remaining lives at stake with my single word? So we need to properly consult with Ria.”

“Remaining lives…”

Ria muttered as if incredulously, then chuckled.

“Hey, no matter what, what kind of person moves after getting permission from their knight?”

“Oh, really?”

But isn’t it common for bodyguards to tell their protectees not to do this or that? Like telling them not to go out because it’s dangerous… Well, the relationship between Ria and me is different from that.

“…”

Ria looked at me intently. As I tilted my head, looking at Ria who remained silent, Ria eventually smiled and reached out, placing her hand on my head.

And she ruffled my hair vigorously.

“Ria?”

“Anyway, sometimes you’re so commendable.”

Ria is younger than me, so I should feel a bit offended, but I don’t feel offended at all. I liked the feeling of Ria stroking me.

No, is this too much of a dog-like mentality?

…Still, I don’t think many people would dislike being stroked by someone like Ria. Hmm, I’m not sure.

Maybe I should be happy that I can touch her like this. After all, it will be difficult to get any closer than this.

“If it’s something you want to do, then just do it.”

Ria said that and took a deep breath.

Then, exhaling with a “Hoo,” she slightly lowered her head towards me.

“Ria!?”

I was startled, but Ria spoke without lifting her head again.

“Sorry. I’ve always seen you as too weak. Even though you’ve done so much up until now.”

“…”

Ah, excuse me.

To suddenly say something like that is quite embarrassing.

“I don’t think it’s wrong to run to save someone. Since you’re connected to the being above, you can surely see much more than I can.”

“No, excuse me, Ria, that’s not it.”

“I was just afraid you would break yourself by going like that.”

Ria finally lifted her head and looked at me calmly.

Her expression looked strangely sad.

“Yes. My job is to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“…”

“So, don’t worry too much. Well, I can’t promise I won’t get angry. I’m me, after all. It’s a bit difficult to get any better than this. If you collapse or get hurt again, I’ll get angry.”

“Ugh, ah, yes…”

I could feel my face getting redder and redder.

I tried to say something while covering my face with both hands, but every time I opened my mouth, only strange sounds came out, so I ended up choosing to just shut my mouth.

“So, let’s make just one promise to each other.”

Ria extended her hand towards me.

There was determination in her eyes.

“At least, let’s promise not to try to die on purpose. In any situation, let’s do our best to survive.”

“…”

I know why Ria is saying that.

It’s because Ria’s mother died that way.

If she finds out how my past life ended, how will Ria react?

…No, if she finds out that my past life wasn’t this beautiful woman, might she lose all her affection-

As I was thinking that, I suddenly realized that light was shining above our heads.

A light that seemed to be expectantly waiting for me to hold her hand.

I felt a sense of absurdity.

No, even if she told me not to, I was going to hold her hand anyway.

As I placed my hand over Ria’s, I thought.

Ria smiled at me.

It was the usual smile of Ria.

In other words, it was an expression that could always be trusted.