Side Story: Two Years at the Temple — Part 2

At the end of summer, when the new ink was completed, Mine Workshop began making playing cards with the new paper and new ink.

The cards were made from a smooth, hard-textured paper that looked completely different from the wooden playing cards used until now. The ink came in multiple colors, with each suit rendered in a different hue, making them visually stunning as well.

Then, one autumn day as the Harvest Festival drew near, Lord Egmont arrived at the High Priest's office with a single gray priestess in tow. I could see that the priestess being led along was pale-faced, and I furrowed my brow slightly.

"Lord Egmont, you don't have an appointment for an audience…"

"What appointment would be needed in the High Priest's office when the High Priest is away and only gray priests are present?"

Hearing that said with such a composed expression, I let out a quiet sigh and looked at Zaum. Zaum slipped away toward the kitchen. He would exit from the kitchen side and notify the Chief Priest. I would have to stall for time until the Chief Priest returned.

"I am truly sorry. We have never previously hosted a blue priest without a prior appointment. It seems this unprecedented situation has caught me somewhat off guard. I can only assume this is an urgent matter, but may I ask what it pertains to?"

"Return Lily and bring in a new Attendant. Bring the gray priestess here."

I immediately signaled Monica with a glance. Monica promptly turned on her heel and left the room. She would contact Vilma at the orphanage.

"Lord Egmont, I am terribly sorry, but without a prior appointment, we are unable to accommodate such an abrupt request."

"What did you say?"

"The gray priestesses each have duties assigned by Lady Rozemyne, the Head of the Orphanage, so even summoning them takes time. Moreover, a priestess who has been cleaning the temple is not in a state of appearance befitting an audience before a blue priest."

Lord Egmont narrowed his eyes in a way that suggested he didn't quite understand. He only knew gray priestesses who had been properly groomed.

"If one of the gray priestesses is to be taken on as your Attendant, she needs to be cleansed of the appearance she has from being called away during her work, so that she looks as presentable as possible. Wouldn't it be more advantageous for you, Lord Egmont, to simply conduct the conversation today and schedule the actual exchange for a proper appointment?"

Blue priests despise anything unsightly in their field of vision, so although Lord Egmont wore a dissatisfied expression, he gave his assent.

"Lord Egmont, might I ask why you wish to return Lily? What was the nature of your dissatisfaction?"

Even though I already knew there was only one reason a gray priestess would be sent back to the orphanage, I asked while pretending to fill out a form.

Lord Egmont looked down at Lily with distaste and snorted through his nose.

"Because she's pregnant. Every single day she has a dark, unpleasant expression and suddenly vomits. For an Attendant, she is utterly useless."

"I see. It would be troublesome if an Attendant couldn't perform her duties."

"Yes, exactly."

Having received my affirmation, Lord Egmont's tone softened ever so slightly.

"However, the matter of changing Attendants falls under the Chief Priest's jurisdiction, not the High Priest's office. Please schedule an appointment with the Chief Priest."

"What!? Surely the High Priest would be sufficient!"

Lord Egmont was a blue priest who had been on close terms with the previous High Priest, so he had likely always run things through the High Priest and done as he pleased. But things were different now. The Chief Priest was working hard to restore the temple to the state it had been in before the previous High Priest's regime of dominance.

"Personnel matters regarding priests and priestesses fall under the Chief Priest's duties. There may have been blurred boundaries in the past, but that is no longer the case."

"You insolent wretch, acting so bold for a gray priest!"

The instant Lord Egmont reached out his hand, a small bell chimed. I silently breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of the Chief Priest's bell. Zaum, who had been sent to summon him, led the Chief Priest into the room.

"Lord Egmont, it so happens that I have a scheduled audience with the Chief Priest. If you would be so kind as to yield your time, perhaps you could direct your request to the Chief Priest?"

"Grr…"

He might have gotten away with such rudeness toward a gray priest, but he could not pull the same stunt with the Chief Priest. Those in the temple who had belonged to the former High Priest's faction had refused to cooperate with the Chief Priest and had been gradually stripped of their budgets, leading to increasingly cramped and uncomfortable circumstances.

"Fran, I had an appointment scheduled here. Why is Egmont in this room?"

The Chief Priest entered and addressed me with a displeased look at Lord Egmont. I answered honestly.

"Lord Egmont arrived without warning. He urgently wishes to exchange a gray priestess."

"Hmm. Personnel matters involving priests are my domain. Egmont, do not go to the High Priest's office — schedule your appointment with me."

As if exchanging places, Lord Egmont dragged Lily out, and in the end, he ended up having to book an appointment with the Chief Priest.

After watching the door close firmly behind Zaum, I knelt before the Chief Priest.

"I am truly sorry for causing you such trouble over this matter, Chief Priest."

"No, it's fine. I anticipated that situations like this would arise with Rozemyne absent. …But, exchanging a gray priestess? I need to honor Rozemyne's wishes, or she'll make a fuss later. What a pain."

The Chief Priest let out a light sigh and relayed Lady Rozemyne's intentions to me. Apparently, she had insisted to the Chief Priest that while she would willingly release whichever gray priestess was desired, she would absolutely refuse to hand over anyone who was reluctant, even if he tried to compel her.

…Lady Rozemyne really is too soft-hearted toward the orphanage children.

It was endearing because it was so like her, but at the same time, I felt anxious about what would happen when Lady Rozemyne was no longer the High Priest.

"Fran, Egmont, who needs a new Attendant, will no doubt submit an appointment request immediately. I intend to hold the audience at the fifth bell three days from now. At that time, bearing Rozemyne's wishes in mind, you will bring a gray priestess from the orphanage."

"Understood."

I watched the Chief Priest leave the room, then handed responsibility for the office to Zaum and headed straight for the orphanage. Someone would certainly be chosen as Lord Egmont's new Attendant. I needed to be prepared by the time three days had passed.

"Fran, what happened?"

As I entered the orphanage, Vilma came out wringing her hands tightly against her chest, trembling. Monica stood beside her with a worried expression.

"Lily appears to be with child. In three days, there will be a selection for a new Attendant."

"In three days…?"

"Vilma, the Chief Priest said we may honor Lady Rozemyne's wishes. So it won't be as terrible as you're imagining."

Vilma suffered from a fear of men and had no desire to leave the orphanage, and since she was already Lady Rozemyne's Attendant, she harbored no further ambitions. However, for the remaining gray priests and priestesses at the orphanage, being taken on as an Attendant was a promotion. Even if the master in question was Lord Egmont, there were those who desired the position.

Gray priestesses like Rosina and Nicola had come of age, and more at the orphanage had as well, but the gray priestesses present in this room numbered fewer than twenty.

Among the lined-up priestesses, some gripped their hands tightly in front of me, clearly signaling they absolutely did not want to go. Others showed signs of hesitation, unsure which way to lean. And of course, there were some whose eyes gleamed with ambition, much like Deria in the old days.

"Are there any among you who wish to serve as Lord Egmont's Attendant?"

Four gray priestesses raised their hands vigorously. I surveyed the room, thoroughly ignoring those who were fidgeting with their hands half-raised, and declared, "Then I will bring these four to the selection in three days."

"…Fran, is it not necessary to bring everyone?"

Vilma, who had assumed all the young gray priestesses would be brought for the selection, blinked repeatedly in surprise.

"Lady Rozemyne's wish is to help each person find the path they desire as much as possible. We prioritize those who want to go."

Then, when the fifth bell sounded three days later, I brought the four who had volunteered as Attendants and headed to the Chief Priest's room.

"Only four?"

Lord Egmont scowled upon seeing the gray priestesses lined up before him.

"…The previous High Priest had a great many priestesses dealt with. Were you not aware, Lord Egmont?"

"No, I was aware. …Well, the quality is decent enough."

Since the gray priestesses had been retained by the previous High Priest based solely on appearance, it was only natural that they were pleasing to look at. Lord Egmont compared them with his lewd gaze, then pointed at one.

"Good, you're the one."

Once one was selected, I left only that priestess behind and quickly left the room with the remaining three and Lily, who was being sent back to the orphanage.

The subsequent contract was to be handled by the Chief Priest. I did not know the precise terms, but it was said that those who became Attendants to blue priests were bound by Contract Magic to prevent information from leaking from blue priests to the nobility — preventing the disclosure of Lady Rozemyne's cooking methods, Workshop-related matters, personal affairs, and so forth.

"Welcome home, Lily. It must have been difficult working while feeling unwell. You should rest easy at the orphanage."

When Vilma greeted her, Lily suddenly burst into tears. As Vilma gently stroked her back, Lily sobbed and pleaded that it had been agonizing — how her body was changing in ways she herself didn't understand, yet her master had called her burdensome, called her unnecessary.

I left the matter to Vilma and exited the orphanage. In the end, those who wished to become Attendants had become Attendants, and the one who had been suffering was able to leave the position, so perhaps things had turned out for the best.

Now, with the expectant mother returned to the orphanage, none of us knew how to properly care for a pregnant woman. Lily had said her body was "changing in ways she didn't understand," but neither she herself nor those of us watching from the sidelines knew how such changes would progress.

When I asked the Chief Priest, his answer was, "Given time, it will simply be born on its own."

If the Chief Priest said so, then that must be how it worked, and the entire orphanage was taking a relaxed attitude — when Turi and Lutz arrived to learn their manners and etiquette.

"Just leave her alone and it'll come out on its own!? No way! Giving birth is incredibly difficult! Is it really that easy and painless for nobles!?"

"You can't just do it without preparation! People band together and help deliver the baby!"

Hearing Turi, who had witnessed her own mother's labor, and Lutz, who had been drafted to help with neighborhood births, I felt the blood drain from my face. Come to think of it, even marriage had different customs and perceptions between commoners and nobles. The same could well be true for childbirth. Without Magic Power or Magical Tools, the orphanage would likely be closer to a commoner birth.

Since the Chief Priest's words couldn't be relied upon, we had no choice but to seek outside help. However, we couldn't very well band together when no one in the orphanage had ever experienced childbirth, and given the current reality where orphans were looked down upon, no one eccentric enough would come to the orphanage to assist with a delivery.

…If only Lady Rozemyne were here at a time like this.

I couldn't help but think it. If it were Lady Rozemyne, she had witnessed her brother's birth up close, and she could have easily called upon connections in the lower town to assemble people.

"My mother would probably come, but a single helper wouldn't be enough."

"For now, I'll ask the master. Since Corina has given birth, she ought to know what's needed."

When Benno heard Lutz's words, he reportedly said, "If it just comes out on its own, you'll have it worse! Giving birth in the Temple Orphanage without any knowledge of childbirth is far too dangerous! The mother could die!" No one had realized that childbirth was that perilous, and everyone turned pale.

Benno and the others apparently racked their brains trying to think of a good solution. Lutz suggested, "For now, move Lily to Haase during the Harvest Festival." The small temple in Haase still had closer ties to its residents, so if Rozemyne's name were used on a letter of request, and Ahim and Egon — who had spent the winter there — made the appeal, they might find several women willing to help. Moreover, orphans from Haase should know more about childbirth than the gray priestesses here, Benno said.

…As expected of Benno. Thank you for your advice despite your busy schedule.

Following Benno's sound counsel, we began preparations to move Lily to Haase. We also sourced the tools needed for childbirth by consulting with the Plantan Company.

Then came the autumn Harvest Festival.

I wrote a request letter to Richt seeking his cooperation with Lily's delivery. The carriage carrying Lily, Ahim, and Egon departed for Haase along with the other Harvest Festival carriages.

Through Charlotte's letter to Richt, we secured his agreement to provide assistance with the birthing effort.

Nora, who was at the small temple, had indeed witnessed births before — she confirmed the necessary supplies, estimated the expected delivery date based on Lily's condition, and was a tremendous help.

"I believe the birth will likely come around the end of next spring. So please bring additional priestesses when the Dedication Ritual is held. Men are not permitted in the birthing room, so they won't be particularly needed."

…I see. If men are barred from the room, then what Turi and Lutz knew must differ from what we'd been told.

Having left Lily and the others in Haase, I departed to continue with the rest of the Harvest Festival.

Thanks to the generous cooperation of Wilfried and Charlotte at the Harvest Festival, we were able to gather the supplies needed for Winter Preparations.

Through Gil, we placed orders, and just as the year before, pork processing was carried out in collaboration with the Gilberta Company. As autumn neared its end, with the temple bustling through its own Winter Preparations one after another, Benno of the Plantan Company was summoned to discuss expanding the printing business with the Chief Priest. Apparently, Lady Elvira, Lady Rozemyne's mother, wished to establish a workshop in the territory of her birth family.

"It is utterly impossible to accomplish on such short notice. That land is so cold that the rivers freeze in winter. If we headed there now without being able to produce even a single sheet of paper, who would guarantee the food and livelihood of those of us trapped in Haldenzel by snow and ice?"

"The Giebe of Haldenzel would guarantee living expenses, but the fact that we can't produce anything is problematic."

The Chief Priest frowned as Benno desperately insisted, wearing an expression of extreme distress, that it could not be done right away. If Lady Rozemyne had been present, Benno would surely have felt a bit more at ease.

"Any workshop requires preparation, and we must align with the commercial guild before we can put anything to market. Forcing things through with noble authority will only leave bitter roots and cause trouble down the line. Nobles have their rules, merchants have theirs, and craftsmen have theirs. Surely, Chief Priest, and surely Lady Elvira, you understand the necessity and importance of groundwork and advance preparation."

"Then prepare a detailed list of what preparations are needed, to be submitted before the winter Baptism Ceremony. It must be thorough enough to demonstrate that we cannot begin guidance unless this much is completed."

"Understood."

As Benno exited the Chief Priest's office and headed toward the main entrance, he was holding his head in his hands.

Under the Chief Priest's supervision, as the head of the printing workshop, negotiations were conducted between Lady Elvira and Benno.

Lady Elvira insisted that she absolutely needed certain materials printed for the winter social season and therefore needed a personal printing workshop built immediately. Benno managed to have his position accepted through the compromise of having Mine Workshop take on the printing for the time being.

As a result, we were forced to set aside our Winter Preparations and frantically run the workshop.

"I'm sorry, but I need to ask this of you."

Benno came to the workshop in person and appealed directly to the gray priests. We had received much support from the Plantan Company, so everyone nodded, resolved to do whatever they could.

Benno produced Lady Elvira's manuscript. The sheer thickness of it made Gil and Lutz furrow their brows.

"Typesetting this many pages with metal type would take far too much time. The word count hasn't even been organized."

"We should do woodblock printing this time, right?"

The two nodded in agreement, then grabbed woodblock printing paper and tools and raced to the orphanage. Those who heard about the woodblock printing immediately began preparations.

Fritz approached Benno, who was exhaling in visible relief upon seeing all this activity.

"Benno, we will do everything in our power to cooperate. But what are we to do about Winter Preparations? We can't go into the forest anymore, so there are many things we're lacking."

"For the time being, I've purchased what we need at rush-order prices and been gouged accordingly. The majority of Winter Preparations will have to be settled with money."

"Then if you could approve it, I'll compile a list of everything needed?"

"Fine. I'm the one who imposed this work on you at the last minute. The least I can do is handle that much."

With Benno taking responsibility for the Winter Preparations, the workshop was able to continue working right up until the eve of the winter social season.

"If it wouldn't trouble you, then Benno, please return to the shop. You have arrangements to make beyond just this, don't you?"

"That's a relief. Thank you, Fritz."

Benno turned on his heel and left the workshop.

"Fran, as you can see, we are requesting the High Priest's office handle the orphanage's Winter Preparations."

"Understood."

After Fritz pressed the Workshop-related Winter Preparations list into my hands, I headed to the orphanage. We needed a list for our own preparations as well.

In the orphanage dining hall, I could see Gil and Lutz laying out tools on a table.

"May I ask Rosina, who has beautiful handwriting, to handle the lettering, and Vilma to handle the image carvings for the woodblocks?"

"If there are others with nice handwriting, please ask them to help with the carving as well. …It shouldn't be a problem if the text varies slightly from page to page."

"I came to the orphanage to teach music, but I suppose I have no choice."

Rosina shrugged lightly and picked up the manuscript.

"Oh my? This handwriting is quite elegant. If I carve the woodblocks exactly as written, there shouldn't be any problem."

"Good, then we can increase the number of people carving. Carve the blocks exactly following this handwriting."

While Lutz and Gil busily went around calling out to everyone, I approached Vilma and asked her for the Winter Preparations list — the one Lady Rozemyne had prepared in the first year, where completed items and pending tasks could be seen at a glance.

"I've been asked by Fritz to take charge of the Winter Preparations. Vilma, please focus on your own work."

"Fran, thank you."

I split up with Zaum and Monica and began compiling the list of items to order from the Plantan Company. The supplies needed for the High Priest's office, the orphanage, the Workshop, and general Winter Preparations were quite numerous.

For food items received at the Harvest Festival that required processing, I entrusted the task to Hutz, Ela, and Nicola in the kitchen. Everyone was running around with more work than they could handle.

Working as one — with no capacity even to assist the Chief Priest — we completed the printing job Lady Elvira had commissioned just in time for the start of the winter social season.

It's done! In the workshop brimming with joy, I flipped through the finished books.

"…Excuse me, Benno. From what I can see, it appears to have the Chief Priest's illustration attached. Has the Chief Priest actually given his permission for this?"

Knowing how Lady Rozemyne had grumbled about being scolded and having it forbidden, I tilted my head in confusion. Benno, haggard and looking somewhat rough, glared at me.

"The Chief Priest gave the order to print it, and I received the manuscript from Lady Elvira. What more is needed? If I start nitpicking and it all gets scrapped, who's going to cover the losses? Huh?"

Glaring at me with those gleaming reddish-brown eyes, I fell silent. I had no desire to say anything more to an irritable, sleep-deprived Benno. Besides, he was right — the one who had said "Just print whatever it takes to satisfy Elvira" in such a fed-up manner was the Chief Priest.

…What on earth would become of the winter social season?

The Chief Priest had said that although roughly a year was approaching, Lady Rozemyne's awakening would be delayed even further. I couldn't fully understand it, but it seemed her Magic Power had been compressed so much that unravelling it would take an extraordinary amount of time.

The Chief Priest grumbled as he asked me to swap out the magic stones and went to check on Lady Rozemyne. "How could she have been alive with this much Magic Power stored inside her?" he muttered, and as I stacked the completed books on the table, I couldn't help but wonder whether Lady Rozemyne's existence was itself the will of the gods.

When the winter social season began and the Chief Priest departed for the castle, we once again had to begin preparations for the Dedication Ritual. We were already well accustomed to working without anyone to guide us, and everyone performed their tasks methodically.

Unlike the year before, the Chief Priest returned once during the interval before the Dedication Ritual to check on Lady Rozemyne's condition, then headed back to the castle.

And once again, the Dedication Ritual was concluded with magic stones infused with Lady Rozemyne's Magic Power.

Following Turi's advice, the winter printing project became a book compiling etiquette, manners, and the particular expressions used by nobles. She had said that even if it wouldn't sell to nobles, it would likely sell to wealthy merchants and prominent figures in towns and villages.

Lady Rozemyne showed no significant changes, and spring arrived.

While the Plantan Company was bustling about, unsure when Lady Elvira's next request might come, Benno came to attend the planning meeting for the Dedication Ritual.

The meeting was held in the Head of the Orphanage's office. Three gray priestesses to be taken from the orphanage and Vilma were to listen in on the discussion. Since the Plantan Company was entirely male, Turi — who was familiar with etiquette — attended the meeting out of consideration for the priestesses. It was Benno's thoughtfulness, reasoning they might find it easier to voice their opinions.

"By the time of the Dedication Ritual, both Lutz and I will likely have gone to Haldenzel. To make coordination easier, I'll be leaving Mark in charge this time, so please direct any day-of arrangements to him. And with Turi at the Gilberta Company, there shouldn't be any concerns."

Turi smiled and nodded. The fruits of her etiquette training were clearly showing — even her posture while sitting had improved remarkably.

"The priestesses who will be brought along to assist with the birth — are these four here sufficient?"

"No, that's not right. I…"

When Vilma shook her head in a panic, Benno raised an eyebrow.

"Are you not the manager of the orphanage and Lady Rozemyne's Attendant? That's how you introduced yourself earlier, was it not? Then you should leave the orphanage's management to someone else and go witness and assist with the birth. There are many things one cannot know without trying."

"That's true, but…"

Vilma trailed off, shaking her head, and looked to me with a pleading gaze for help. She was probably terrified of even speaking with Benno. I explained Vilma's situation to him.

"I see. So since that blue priest tried to force himself on her, she's been so afraid of men she can't leave the orphanage. …Don't be childish."

Benno's normally mild expression darkened with anger, and his voice dropped sharply.

"Eh?"

"You're the one managing the orphanage, aren't you? Who knows how many more expectant mothers like this there'll be going forward. How can the person in charge not know anything about childbirth!? Don't assume you can rely on Haase every single time. Burn into your mind that next time, you need to learn enough to handle it yourselves."

Vilma, exposed to Benno's fury, shook her head with tears streaming down her face.

"…But I…"

"Rozemyne isn't here, and there's nobody I can rely on, so I'm helping you out despite being incredibly busy because you came begging. And yet you, the one asking for help, want to shut yourself away in the orphanage and say you don't want to do it!?"

"Th-that's not what I meant…"

She clearly hadn't expected such harsh words, and Vilma stared at him with wide eyes.

But Benno continued to glare straight at her and roared.

"Then what exactly is your plan, leaving everything to others while you lounge about doing nothing!? Stop being so spoiled! Managing the orphanage is your job! Do your job! I have no patience for helping someone who doesn't even have the motivation. If you won't go, then no carriage will be dispatched! It's only half a day's journey. Walk there!"

"Benno!?"

He declared that while Lady Rozemyne had arranged money, hired guards, and prepared carriages so that the sheltered gray priests wouldn't have to face danger, ordinary commoners would walk half a day's distance.

"I'm not going to waste my time on someone with no drive or backbone. I have preparations to make for Haldenzel, so excuse me."

"Please, wait! I'll go. I'll go, so… please, I need your cooperation."

Vilma tearfully begged, and Benno, still frowning, sat back down. We discussed the items needed for the Dedication Ritual and adjourned.

After Benno left the room, Vilma collapsed on the spot and broke down sobbing. I looked down at her with slightly cold eyes.

"…I understand the terror of being forced into something against your will, Vilma. But were you not rescued unharmed? There are those who are never rescued, who continue to be coerced regardless. Even so, one has no choice but to survive and overcome, little by little."

"Fran?"

"Is Lily, who is about to give birth right now, someone who wanted a child? Even if not, she is about to face childbirth while fighting her own fear."

Vilma looked up as if struck by a revelation. Still looking down at her, I spoke quietly.

"How many years has it been since Lady Rozemyne began protecting you? Vilma, your words inspired Rosina to overcome her difficulty with written paperwork. Lady Rozemyne herself worked hard to acquire her education. I believe you, who gave them that advice, should overcome your own weakness as well."

Gutenberg's departure coincided with the Giebe of Haldenzel's return to his territory. Along with the Gutenbergs, Gil and several gray priests headed for Haldenzel.

Not long after, the day of departure for the Dedication Ritual arrived.

Turi came to see off the haggard Vilma and was visible encouraging her with great earnestness.

"Don't worry, Vilma. The soldiers heading to Haase with us are our fathers, after all."

"Our fathers…? Oh."

Having recalled the connection between Turi and Rozemyne, Vilma compared Turi with the concerned-looking Gunther.

"There is no one among them who would be rough with or tease Lady Rozemyne's precious Attendant. So please rest assured."

"I am most grateful."

Encouraged by Turi and shown consideration by Gunther, Vilma took a trembling step forward and climbed into the carriage.

At the end of spring, just before summer, word arrived from Vilma that a child had been born at the small temple in Haase. I had Mark dispatch a carriage for the return journey during the favorable weather at the start of summer.

Returning from the small temple in Haase were Vilma, the gray priestesses who had gone to help, and Lily — now a mother — along with her newborn baby.

Vilma, having experienced life outside the orphanage, had a brighter expression, a new strength in her eyes, and looked far more resilient.

Just as with Dirk's birth, a rotation system began at the orphanage where everyone took turns caring for the baby. Vilma and Lily were perpetually looking tired.

At the end of summer, even after Monica came of age, Lady Rozemyne did not awaken. However, midway through autumn, as the Harvest Festival drew near, the Chief Priest announced that her awakening was approaching.

He said that seventy to eighty percent of the treatment was complete, and her eyelids and fingertips had begun to move.

According to Zaum, who remained at the temple during the Harvest Festival, the Chief Priest flew back on his riding beast every few nights during the festival to check on Lady Rozemyne.

"She must be truly precious to the Chief Priest."

"…I think I understand. The only one who ever tried to lighten the Chief Priest's workload was Lady Rozemyne."

Was there any other superior besides Lady Rozemyne who would earnestly worry about the Chief Priest's health and go so far as to petition the Lord directly about the dangers of overmedication?

"For the Chief Priest's sake as well, I do wish Lady Rozemyne would wake up soon."

…Though once she did, the Chief Priest would likely face his own share of headaches.

Shortly after that, the Chief Priest called for preparations for her bath, signaling that signs of awakening had been detected.

The gray priestess's pregnancy and birth. And Vilma's overcoming of her weakness.

I hope Mama's pushiness isn't going to work Benno to death?

It'll be fine. The Gutenbergs won't lose.

This concludes the long side story.

Next, we finally enter Part 4. It's a prologue from the Chief Priest's perspective.