The Blue Priests Do Whatever They Please

After I recovered, the Dedication Ritual continued by visiting the remaining noble mansions, and it basically ended without any problems. We were able to return to the Temple.

"Welcome back, Lady Myne."

"It's wonderful that you were able to fulfill your duties without incident."

"Thank you for watching over things while I was gone. Has everyone been alright?"

When I returned to my room, I was greeted by Deria and Wilma. A vague sense of having returned to my own place washed over me, and a sigh of relief escaped before I could stop it.

Fran began unloading the luggage that had been packed onto the carriage together with Gil, while I changed out of my noble travel attire and into my usual shrine maiden clothes with Deria's help.

"I'll prepare the bath as soon as the water is ready."

"Thank you, Deria."

Deria, Wilma, and Rosina were all working hard to unpack and organize the luggage being carried in one after another, but the incoming shipments were faster than the unpacking, and just like before I left, the room was starting to fill up with piles of baggage again.

"Lady Myne, I am terribly sorry, but the Chief Priest has requested your presence on an urgent matter. It seems to be about your return home."

Fran, who had been carrying luggage, set the items down on the first floor and hurried upstairs to tell me this with a slightly troubled expression.

I had been worried about when I'd finally be able to go home after the Dedication Ritual, so just hearing that the Chief Priest had news about my return made me happy. I hopped right off my chair.

"I'll be right there."

"Rosina, could I trouble you to accompany Lady Myne? I need to finish bringing in the luggage."

During the trip, Fran had apparently gotten along well with Hugo, as I'd seen them working together on the luggage. Ehla was strong—perhaps because she was a cook who handled heavy pots—and could carry even heavy loads with ease. Gil had also been eating more, and between working at the workshop and in the forest, he was surprisingly strong for his size.

"I'll head to the Chief Priest's room. Please take care of the tidying up."

Outside the front entrance of the Noble District, carriages were still lined up in a row, and I could see luggage being unloaded one after another. The Gray Priests from the orphanage seemed to have been mobilized as well—I recognized faces from the workshop carrying large boxes.

"I've just returned. Has everything been alright with the orphanage?"

When I called out, the Gray Priest's eyes went wide in surprise, then softened with a gentle smile.

"Welcome back, Lady Myne. The young ones have grown tremendously. Please do visit the orphanage again soon."

"I'm looking forward to it."

The Gray Priests carrying luggage moved to the side, clearing a path. I gave a slight nod of thanks and walked on at a brisk pace.

"Excuse me, Chief Priest. ...Lord Sylvester?"

"You're back, Myne."

In the Chief Priest's room, it was Sylvester who lounged there with an air even more imposing than the room's actual master. He was reclining on a long sofa, eating the fruits arranged on the table meant for receiving guests.

Meanwhile, the Chief Priest seemed to completely ignore Sylvester's existence, giving directions to the Gray Priests who were carrying in luggage.

"Um, Chief Priest. I was told you wished to see me."

At the sound of my voice, the Chief Priest turned around and let out an exhausted sigh before gesturing to a seat. "Sit down." As the Chief Priest and I moved toward the table, Sylvester leaned toward me.

"It's not Ferdinand. I thought it would be convenient to have someone show me around the various facilities, so I decided to make Myne my guide. I'm the one who called you here."

"...What exactly would a guide be expected to do?"

I looked up at the Chief Priest. But before he could open his mouth, an exasperated reply came from Sylvester.

"What else does a guide do but give tours? First, the orphanage. Then the workshop. I also need to see the forest where the orphans go."

"Huh?"

No blue priest had ever shown interest in the orphanage or the workshop before, so I instinctively tensed up. The Chief Priest had only ever listened to reports without actually visiting in person. I had no idea what Sylvester, who had suddenly appeared after the Dedication Ritual, was thinking. Without thinking, I grabbed the Chief Priest's sleeve.

"Relax, Myne. I intend to go with him to the orphanage and the workshop. It's something I've been meaning to see for myself."

If it was a visit conducted under the Chief Priest's supervision, there probably wouldn't be any major incidents. I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Chief Priest, his face still showing the heavy toll of the journey, shot Sylvester a sharp glare.

"But the forest... stick to the forest in the Noble District."

"No, I'm going to the forest. And also, the dining establishment."

Sylvester rattled off the places he intended to visit.

"The dining establishment isn't finished yet. ...Chief Priest, is it really alright for a blue priest to go to the forest in the Commoner District?"

If he were simply taking a carriage straight to the Italian restaurant, that probably wouldn't be a problem, but I'd never heard of a blue priest going to the forest in the Commoner District. The Noble District had a forest where only nobles were permitted entry. There were managers who oversaw it, and if commoners from outside the town wandered in, they could be killed without anyone batting an eye. If he wanted to go to a forest, he should do as the Chief Priest said and go to the one in the Noble District.

"I'm curious about what kind of forest commoners go to. Besides, the people in the Commoner District are safer because they don't recognize noble faces. And I have the means to protect myself."

Sylvester patted his own arm confidently and grinned. I could tell he was brimming with motivation, but if he went wherever the mood took him, he'd cause trouble all over the place.

Unlike the extremely energetic Sylvester, the Chief Priest looked utterly spent, as if he couldn't bear to think about anything anymore.

...Please hold on to those reins tight, Chief Priest.

Even though I was cheering with all my might in my heart, the Chief Priest pressed his fingertips to his temples as if warding off a headache and looked at me.

"...Fine, do whatever you want. Myne, just make sure to give me a report."

"Huh? What?"

Still confused, I looked back and forth between the two of them, and before I knew it, I had been appointed as Sylvester's guide. It was less a guide and more of a babysitter, wasn't it?

"You're both free to go."

The Chief Priest was clearly telling us to leave quickly, but I grabbed his sleeve firmly. If I got stuck as his guide without even hearing the main reason I'd been called here, I wouldn't know why I'd come in the first place.

"Chief Priest, I was told you had news about my return. When will I be allowed to go home?"

The Chief Priest's gaze drifted for a moment before he looked down at me.

"Ah, yes. You've used a tremendous amount of Magic Power. If your condition were to deteriorate, your family wouldn't be able to handle it. ...Stay here for about three days, and if your condition hasn't worsened by the morning of the fourth day, you may return. Contact your family as well. And get plenty of rest today."

"Yes!"

I replied energetically and bowed my leave together with Rosina. For some reason, Sylvester stood up at the same time. Behind him, what appeared to be his Attendant—also a Gray Priest—was there as well.

"Alright, let's go, Myne."

"Lord Sylvester?"

"Come to my room."

"Huh? But I..."

I looked to the Chief Priest for help, but he merely shrugged and jerked his chin toward the door, essentially telling me to just go. Sylvester left with a cheerful stride.

There was no escaping it. I exchanged a look of resignation with Rosina and followed after Sylvester.

"Here we are."

Sylvester's room turned out to be right next to the Chief Priest's. I was led into a spartan room with very little furniture and looked around with a spin. I found the bare-minimum furnishings puzzling. With Sylvester, I'd expected a room crammed with all sorts of incomprehensible knickknacks, the way an elementary school boy might fill his room with his favorite things.

"Myne, you've been taking the orphans to the forest, haven't you? If you want me to keep quiet from the High Priest, then take me along to the forest as well."

He said this with a smug chuckle—essentially blackmail. It was common knowledge within the Temple that the High Priest disliked me, which was exactly why no blue priest had ever approached me before. I had no idea what Sylvester was after, and I furrowed my brow.

"...Why exactly do you want to go to the forest?"

"Hunting."

"Hunting? What were you doing until now?"

The unexpected word made me blink. He wouldn't need to go all the way to the forest in the Commoner District just for hunting.

"Well, of course I was hunting in the forest in the Noble District."

"Then wouldn't it be fine to hunt there?"

"That place is boring."

From there, Sylvester launched into an extended list of complaints about the noble forest. Apparently, you had to get permission from the manager and could only hunt at designated times—it wasn't the sort of place you could just drop by whenever the mood struck.

Furthermore, while a hunting tournament was held there every year, the rankings were determined by noble rank, and you had to be constantly mindful of not overstepping your station. It had stopped being a hunting tournament and turned into a sycophant's convention for flattering the Lord.

For Sylvester, who had the soul of an elementary school boy wanting to compete purely on skill or to earn genuine praise or to grab a bow and arrow whenever the fancy struck him, the noble forest must have felt suffocating.

"But you can't go to the forest in the Commoner District dressed in such fine clothes."

"Then bring me some shabby old clothes from the Commoner District."

"...I'm not sure how many people will be coming, but can everyone wear shabby clothes?"

It wouldn't be hard to prepare—I could buy them at a secondhand clothing shop—but I had no idea how many sets we'd need. Sylvester tilted his head at my question.

"What are you talking about?"

"How many people will be accompanying you?"

"Just me is enough. I don't need companions within the Temple, much less in the Commoner District."

I compared Sylvester to the Attendant who was preparing tea.

"...Does the Chief Priest know about this?"

"Why would I need Ferdinand's permission? Unlike you, a commoner under Ferdinand's protection, I don't need anyone's permission."

He told me this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and I hung my head. Granted, a fully grown blue priest normally wouldn't need permission for his actions. But with Sylvester being so free-spirited, I felt he needed a handler just as much as I did—who knew when he might keel over.

"First, the orphanage and the workshop. We're going the day after tomorrow."

"...Lord Sylvester. Is the reason you're going to the orphanage to search for a Flower Offering shrine maiden?"

I couldn't think of any other reason a blue priest would visit the orphanage, so I asked, and Sylvester's expression turned unpleasant.

"Myne, that's not something a child like you should say. Do you want to be made to snort again?"

"No. But I am technically the orphanage director..."

If the blue priest was going to search for a Flower Offering shrine maiden, I had been thinking of secretly hiding away any girls who didn't want to go, but based on his reaction, it didn't seem like that was Sylvester's intention. Just knowing that was enough to let out a sigh of relief.

"In any case, do I really look to you like a man so desperate for women that I'd have to search the orphanage?"

"Huh? Aren't blue priests supposed to find their shrine maidens from among the Gray Priestesses in the orphanage?"

Since blue priests basically never left the Temple, I'd assumed they recruited from the convenient Gray Priestesses nearby. Was I wrong?

I tilted my head, and Sylvester pressed his lips together for a moment before clearing his throat.

"...A man of my standing can find someone in the Noble District."

"I see."

It didn't really matter whether Sylvester's boast was true or not—if there was nothing for him among the orphanage's Gray Priestesses, then so be it.

I promised to prepare the secondhand clothes and left the room together with Rosina.

Back in my room, I gathered all the Attendants who were cleaning and told them about the upcoming tour. Everyone needed to be informed about the Chief Priest and Sylvester's visit.

"The day after tomorrow, the Chief Priest and a blue priest named Lord Sylvester will be touring the orphanage and the workshop."

"The day after tomorrow!?"

Everyone except Deria, who never went to either place, let out surprised voices. For nobles, who typically relied on advance planning and coordination, the schedule was far too sudden. But since the date had come from Sylvester himself, it was safe to consider it finalized.

"Tell everyone to give the orphanage and workshop a thorough cleaning. Other than that, everything should stay as usual."

I didn't think there was anything particularly problematic that might be seen. Besides, in my case, trying to hide things awkwardly only made them more obvious, so I figured it was better to be open from the start.

"Lady Myne, if a blue priest is coming, then that means..."

Wilma's face went pale, but I shook my head slowly.

"Please don't worry, Wilma. Lord Sylvester isn't looking for a Flower Offering. He's simply interested in how the orphanage and workshop have changed."

"I... see."

Even so, the tension didn't leave her face at all. I felt sorry for Wilma, who was trembling minutely, but now that the orphanage tour had been decided, there was no avoiding a blue priest setting foot inside.

"I'd like to tell you that you don't need to come out and meet him, but since I've asked you to manage the orphanage, I'll probably call for you if he asks any questions."

"Understood."

Wilma clasped her hands tightly together in front of her chest. Seeing those trembling hands, I felt a bit pathetic for being unable to do anything for her.

"Gil, if Lutz or Leon happens to be at the workshop, could you call them over? I should probably let the shop know about the tour as well."

"They're both here today, so I'll go get them."

Gil turned and left.

To make room for Lutz and Leon to come in, I moved down to the first-floor hall, while the other Attendants pushed the empty wooden crates in the area into the male Attendants' room for the time being and tidied up the appearance of things.

"Hey, Myne. You're back."

"Lutz, it's been so long!"

I ran over and hugged Lutz tightly. Honestly, it was the first time I'd been separated from him for this long.

"So much has happened that I'm exhausted."

"Yeah."

While I was recharging by basking in Lutz's presence, an annoyed voice came from behind him.

"Could you please save the clinging for later and explain why I was summoned?"

"Oh my, Leon's here too?"

"He's been here since I walked in, you know?"

Leon was a dapl of the Gilberta Company who had been receiving serving training from Fran over the winter. He was close to coming of age, but his somewhat short stature gave him the impression of a boy trying to sound more mature than he was.

Benno wouldn't have contracted him as a dapl if he weren't capable, so he was undoubtedly competent when it came to work. But he had a tendency to be harsh toward me whenever I was being clingy with Lutz, and I often found myself a bit annoyed by him.

"I don't have anything to discuss with Leon, though?"

"Myne, this is important for the Gilberta Company, right?"

Lutz patted my head as if to say "calm down," and I slowly let out a breath. Even so, I didn't let go of Lutz and looked up at Leon.

"The day after tomorrow, the Chief Priest and one of the blue priests will be touring the orphanage and the workshop. I'd like you to pass that along to Benno. It would be beneficial to have connections with someone of the noble class, wouldn't it? They're interested in the Italian restaurant as well."

"I'd be honored."

Leon knelt smoothly. He could be a bit prickly when I was being affectionate with Lutz, but his professional demeanor was excellent.

"That's all I have regarding the Gilberta Company. I also have a personal favor to ask of Lutz."

When I said that, Leon stood up. He glanced at me with a bored expression, still stuck to Lutz like a barnacle, then told Lutz, "I'll head back first," and left the room.

"What's the favor?"

"So, I've been told I have to stay here for three more days to monitor my condition, but if I don't get worse, I can go home on the fourth day. Could you let my mother know?"

"Got it. ...Man, it's been a long time."

From Lutz's mouth, as he endured my clinging assault, came a voice heavy with emotion. The fact that I'd been able to live apart from my family for this long was thanks to Lutz faithfully coming to visit and letting me cling to him.

"Oh, and I need you to buy some secondhand clothes. About the size of Dried (Heidi's husband). Tall and sturdy adult male clothing."

"...Who's going to be wearing them?"

I wasn't sure if I should say it loudly, so I stretched up on my toes and whispered to Lutz.

"The blue priest who's coming for the tour the day after tomorrow."

Lutz's face became indescribably complicated, and after thinking for a while, he murmured softly.

"...That's a weird guy, huh?"

"Yeah. Pretty weird. He wants to go hunting in the forest."

A blue priest who wanted to go to the forest in the Commoner District to hunt, even if it meant wearing shabby secondhand clothes—what else could you call him but a weirdo?

Lutz muttered, "Does that mean I'm going to be in charge of taking him to the forest too? Ugh, this is going to be a pain." I fully agreed.

"Can't be helped. I'll go buy them tomorrow so they'll be ready by the day after tomorrow."

"Thanks, Lutz."

After that, I heard about the progress on the printing press order and Johann's metal type while I'd been away. Papermaking had resumed at the Mine Workshop, and apparently they were producing paper again.

"I want to print the next book soon. I wonder if the Ink Workshop has started making ink?"

Even if we had paper, we couldn't print without ink. If it was being made in-house, they'd have to start by collecting soot all over again.

"Yeah, I heard from Benno that a craftsman was hired specifically to make ink for Plant Paper. ...Come to that, the head of the Ink Guild has changed."

"I know. The High Priest told me he'd passed away."

I couldn't very well say it was apparently the work of a noble targeting me, so I just quietly clung to Lutz.

"What's wrong?"

"Nobles are scary."

"Huh? You mean the blue priest who's coming for the tour?"

Lutz's words made me laugh despite myself. Unlike the noble who was targeting me, Sylvester had an entirely different kind of scariness.

"Lord Sylvester is a noble weirdo. He's unpredictable and does things out of nowhere—you never know what's going to happen. On our very first meeting, he told me to snort, and then he poked my cheek!"

"What's that all about?"

I told Lutz about Sylvester's bizarre behavior when we first met. I also told him about all the strange things Sylvester had done during the Dedication Ritual.

Lutz had been listening with amusement, and then, as if struck by a mischievous idea, he grinned and poked my cheek.

"Go on, Myne. Let me hear it."

"Lutz, you're so mean! Snort!"

Sylvester is free-spirited. The Chief Priest has given up on thinking entirely.

I've finally returned to the Temple.

Next time: the tour of the orphanage and workshop.