episode_0048

48.

The second day of the journey.

Hanna seems quite tired from the aftereffects of sex. Erina helped her up, but her buttocks are still numb. It’s natural to feel discomfort after repeatedly having such a large object roughly inserted and withdrawn.

Before setting out, Erina prayed through the Goddess Statue and received an answer.

“Thanks to you, my power has increased. From now on, you will be called not a mere nun, but a greater being. Please act accordingly.”

“They, too, are my faithful servants. Don’t worry and share my grace with them.”

“As my divinity strengthens, your abilities will also grow. Please work hard to increase your followers.”

Erina reaffirmed her mission.

Originally, the journey to Ziben’s hometown was, in conclusion, to find the Goddess Statue, so it simply changed into a journey solely to find the Goddess Statue.

It might be considered a somewhat rash judgment, but Hanna thinks it’s right to follow Erina’s words and silently agrees.

Unlike when we went to the elf city, Chinahara, we’re only traveling on main roads, so it’s comparatively safe.

As a bonus, just as Gabi helped, we can also expect helping hands from those who want to help a nun.

Currently, the necessary information is about the Fried Church and the Goddess Statue. Since we have the location given by the succubus, we’ll head that way while collecting information along the way.

“Ah, Hanna-ssi. If you brew this herb and drink it, it’s delicious.”

“Is that so?”

The reason for bringing Hanna along is to thoroughly instill in her the knowledge of this world. Because she is a valuable talent who, by combining her existing knowledge with that of this world, could devise amazing things like portable portal devices.

We’re giving her on-site learning whenever we have time, within the limits of Erina’s knowledge. Hanna says she did quite a lot of reading in Chinahara, but seeing things firsthand in the field is a completely different pace of learning.

Hanna’s occasional stories also greatly pique Erina’s interest—it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

Clatter, clatter.

The sound of horse hooves is heard. It’s not just one or two horses, and we can even feel the vibrations. A considerable number of them seem to be coming up from below the hill.

Erina and Hanna decide to step slightly off the path and wait until they pass.

Then, a lightly armed group comes up the hill. Hanna discreetly hides behind Erina in the imposing procession of about twenty people. They all wear helmets, adding to the intimidating presence.

“Halt!”

The one at the very front, armed differently from the others, signals with a hand gesture, bringing the march to a standstill. Even the way they stop at once is impressive.

“I ask. Are you a nun?”, To show respect, he removes his helmet, revealing reddish-brown hair fluttering along with glistening beads of sweat.

“Yes. What is it?”

“We are the 3rd squad of the Kingdom’s 2nd Knight Order. I am Satsuki, the commander. Are you affiliated with the Fried Church?”

“No. I am Erina, belonging to the Fai Church, currently serving at the Barahm Church.”

Satsuki falls silent for a moment. A sharp-featured middle-aged man in his 40s, giving off a similar impression to Asti. However, perhaps because of his sharp eyes, he seems comparatively stricter and more thorough.

The knight orders in the kingdom are divided into three, with the 2nd Knight Order being a kind of rapid response unit focused on light armament.

“Excuse me, but what brings you from Barahm all the way here?”

“I’m on a pilgrimage to find the Goddess Statue.”

“In this day and age?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

The knight commander’s reaction is quite different from what Erina anticipated.

“…No, nothing. Then, my men, forward march!”

“Sir Commander, since we’ve met the nun, wouldn’t it be good to receive her blessing?”

“That’s right. Feeling better will improve morale.”

“Since when have you all been faithful?”

Satsuki’s knights momentarily halt their departure.

“Haven’t you heard the rumors? There is a lot of talk about the nun from Barahm.”

“I haven’t.”

“You, uh, said your name was Erina-nim…? With utmost respect, we humbly request your blessing.”

“Who are you, so casually…?”

Erina smiles gently.

“It’s not difficult. However, I can’t bestow the Goddess’s blessing indiscriminately, so I need to know your purpose. What’s your connection to the Fried Church?”

Satsuki glares at his subordinates, then sighs and begins to speak.

“……Hoo. It’s nothing major. A conflict arose between the orcs in Celtia, you see. Reports say it’s connected to the Fried Church.”

“Oh my. Orcs aren’t demons, so the blessing would have no effect. Are you still alright with that?”

“It’s fine.”

“Alright then…In the name of the Goddess, I bestow my blessing. May sanctity fill your journey.”

Erina uses her divine power to bless the knights. A normal blessing allows for easier access to physical strength and provides the capacity to withstand demonic energy.

It’s a constant effect for those affiliated with the church. Erina didn’t need to grant additional benefits to people of her parish.

However, depending on the performer, additional effects can be added. Naturally, the effect Erina adds is arousal. Just a little, but definitely. Enough to make them casually recall sexual acts when they have free time.

Such fine-tuned adjustment is, obviously, impossible at a normal level; it’s a technique made possible by the strengthened connection with the Goddess through the Goddess Statue.

In addition to that.

Skill Maker activated

-> Satsuki: Shared / A skill that forces one to share sight with a specific target (Erina). Since receiving everyone’s sight would be inconvenient, it’s limited to those with divine power.

“…Thank you, Nun.”

“Ah, I have one more thing. I met a Fried Church heretic inquisitor in this area yesterday.”

“Really? Do you know where they went or their purpose?”

“Well, they seemed to be looking for the Goddess Statue.”

Satsuki looks puzzled.

“Religious people are so unpredictable… Ah, excuse my language.”

“If you find the Goddess Statue, would you perhaps give it to us?”

“…Why?”

“Even if they’re inquisitors, they’re not necessarily benevolent. I can’t let them tarnish the Goddess’s name.”

Even if they don’t want to give it up after finding it, they will have no choice but to bring it. Having met Erina, they can’t escape the Goddess Statue’s magical power.

“I’ll let you know after an internal discussion. …All rest is over! Let’s go!”

“May you be safe♡”

With a thunderous sound of hooves, the knight order disappears into the distance.

“Are you alright, Hanna-ssi?”

“Ah, yes, I was just a little surprised…. But they didn’t invite us to join their order…?”

“Things take time♡ Celtia is where we were originally going, right? You’ll gather information for us. And in any case, you’ll eventually come to our church.”

Hanna nods for now.

From her experience of meeting the Goddess directly, she can only say that a strange current is flowing through the world.

She brings up the question she thought was the most peculiar.

“Um… This might be a sensitive… strange question, but… Although I don’t go out much, it seems that there is an overwhelming lack of men in this world….”

“I knew Hanna-ssi would ask that someday. Yes, that’s right. In this world now, the number of men is drastically reduced… or maybe they’re gone completely now.”

Erina gestures to hurry on their way.

“I don’t know why. I just suspect the demons are involved…. Once this journey to find the Goddess Statue ends, we’ll be a little closer to the truth.”

“But without men, there will be no children…. No matter how hard Erina-nim and a few others try… realistically speaking, the population will collapse within a few decades….”

“Realistic…. Yes. I may have been looking at things too narrowly.”

Erina stops for a moment to catch her breath. While she had been preoccupied with forcibly turning all the women into females to have sexual relations with them, she hadn’t really considered reproduction and getting them pregnant.

She still had the naive notion that men would return someday.

“…That, actually I also mentioned this to Aries…… But we didn’t have a good conversation…. It was like they didn’t even acknowledge the existence of men….”

“……!! Certainly, mysterious. There were definitely men in Barahm until a month ago, so there was no reason to say that.”

Is it because of the demons’ descent, or is the world itself warping? If what Hanna has been developing is the trigger for this situation, the solution might also lie with Hanna.

The fact that Erina believes Hanna is necessary for the journey certainly implies this context, Erina thinks.

“…Hanna-ssi, get behind me. There’s a demonic presence.”

“Hit?”

It’s not a lower-grade slime. They’re creatures of instinct, but undoubtedly were waiting for the knights to pass.

I wonder if I should open a portal to call for people, but seeing the strength of the demonic energy I sense, I think I can handle it alone. Considering the excessive increase in my divine power through the Goddess Statue, it’s like crushing ants.

Nevertheless, Erina cautiously waits for the enemy.

“Ah…!”

What appears before them is an imp. However, it’s a bit different from what Erina knows.

‘…It seems to be more than just an ordinary demon. It’s demonic energy that seems to hide something huge.’

I’ll finish it in one blow. The demons have likely affected the monsters. A pitiful race that exudes demonic energy by its very existence.

Killing it will help those victims.

Thinking so, Erina gathers a large amount of divine power in her hands.

“Wait, just a moment!”

“Hanna-ssi, what’s wrong?”

“It’s not me…?”

“Wa, wait a moment!!”

The voice was coming from the imp.