What the Gray Priest led me to wasn't the relief room for commoners—it was clearly a guest room. Moreover, it was a well-furnished, clean room. Given what I'd seen of the waiting area at the Gate, I guessed it was meant for the wealthy merchants and traders that nobles referred here.
The reason was probably this outfit…
You could roughly gauge a family's income by how much fabric went into their clothing and whether they could afford colored embroidery thread. For everyday clothes, it didn't matter much, but today's outfit was unusually frilly and fluffy, with embroidered flowers stitched from woven thread along the hem—genuinely luxurious. The hair ornament was special too. At a glance, anyone would assume I was on Frieda's level of wealth.
But… there was no need to correct them by announcing I was poor, right? The priest had made that judgment on his own, and if I overturned his expectations, I couldn't imagine what kind of treatment I'd receive. There was no need to be so honest as to tell the whole truth.
"Excuse me."
While I was frowning and pondering, the Gray Priest gently guided me onto a long bench.
Almost simultaneously as I caught myself against the armrest to keep from wobbling, my hair ornament was smoothly pulled out, and my shoes were carefully removed.
Wha—!?
I was startled by how natural and effortless his movements were. It was just like when Yutte had waited on me at Frieda's house. The Gray Priest was clearly used to taking care of people.
Too stunned to even protest, I watched wide-eyed as the priest stood, straightened the bed, and then carried me to it in a princess hold.
"U-uh, really, I'm fine—"
"It is not good to lie before the gods. This is a temple."
But I wasn't lying…
I was laid on the bed and carefully covered with the blanket. After that, the priest set the hair ornament by the bedside and lined up my shoes in front of the bed. He wasn't so much acting like a priest as a seasoned attendant, which only deepened the sense of unease.
"Rest here. I'll come check on you later."
"…Yes."
The priest left the room with a soft click of the door.
It was true that my body still hadn't recovered much strength, so I remained lying on the bed, waiting to regain my energy.
My family would definitely ask what caused me to collapse, but I couldn't say I'd laughed so hard I'd passed out.
After rolling around for a while, strength gradually returned to my body. I tested my grip by clenching and unclenching my hands.
Now then, what should I do? I was starting to feel the urge to go pick some flowers.
There was a chamber pot right beside the bed, but without knowing where the water facilities were, using it now would leave me stuck with the cleanup. People who stayed in rooms like this probably had attendants with them, so they wouldn't have to clean up themselves—but I didn't have any attendants.
And having a priest I'd just met deal with my mess was out of the question. At the very least, I wanted to ask someone where the water was, get myself into a state where I could handle my own cleanup, and then do it quietly.
Slowly sitting up, I swung my arms and legs lightly. It didn't seem like I was going to collapse again right away. I gathered my hair with the hairpin that had been placed at the bedside. At Frieda's house, there had been a bell for summoning people at the bedside, but there was nothing like that here.
This was an emergency, so I'd have to go find someone.
I had no idea how long it would take to find a person, and I wanted to act before things became truly urgent.
I got off the bed, put on my shoes, and slipped out of the room.
The corridors were made entirely of white stone, with carvings and reliefs on the pillars and walls. My footsteps echoed loudly off the walls as I walked, but aside from my own, I heard no other steps—no sign of anyone else. I decided to head back to where the baptism ceremony had been held.
…Huh? Did I take a wrong turn somewhere?
Even though I was inside the white temple, splashes of color were appearing here and there. The carvings and statues were becoming progressively more refined and opulent. This was no longer just my imagination—I must have wandered into the area where nobles came and went.
The blood drained from my face. If a noble found me, the only outcome I could imagine was being interrogated and dragged into some horribly troublesome situation.
This is bad. I need to go back right now!
I whipped around and hurried back down the path I'd come, walking briskly with my heart in my throat. I wanted to escape the noble zone as quickly as possible. Pointing at distinctive landmarks as I went, I made sure I wouldn't miss any turns.
I've seen this carving before, right? That fabric looks familiar too…
While I was searching for the right corner to turn down the corridor leading to my guest room, I heard the measured click of approaching footsteps. If I'd already been outside the noble zone, I would have welcomed the sound with open arms, but right now, the last thing I wanted was to be found. I needed to avoid whoever it was.
A priest would be fine, but if it was a noble— I looked around in a panic, but there was nowhere to hide in the corridor. I was spotted and caught immediately.
"Who are you!? What are you doing here!?"
The sharp voice belonged to a female priest with her hair neatly tied up. Her face had a brisk, capable look, yet there was something subtly alluring about her—like a secretary from some story.
She was wearing a gray priest's robe just like the one my carrier had worn, though the design was different. I wasn't sure whether the difference was between men and women, or between ceremonial and everyday wear. Come to think of it, I hadn't seen any female priests at the baptism ceremony, I realized vaguely.
I let out a sigh of relief that she wasn't a noble and immediately apologized for straying into the noble zone.
"I'm sorry. I collapsed during the baptism ceremony and was given a room to rest in. My name is Mine. I don't have an attendant and there was no summoning bell, so I went looking for someone. I must have gotten turned around, and before I knew it, I was here…"
She stared at me from head to toe, then sighed as though there was nothing she could do. She propped one cheek against her hand and exhaled wearily, yet I found myself unable to look away.
"I'll take you back to the chapel where the baptism was held once I finish my errand here. Can you wait a moment?"
"Yes, thank you very much."
The priest narrowed her eyes ever so slightly and walked off, her footsteps echoing crisply. I trotted along behind her, but if she covered much more distance, I was going to collapse.
"Wait here for a bit. I'll finish up and come right back."
Fortunately, she had only gone about one room's distance before stopping, so I managed not to collapse.
"H-ha…"
Gasping for breath, I nodded, and the priest looked at me with a faintly worried frown before pushing through a door and disappearing inside.
I steadied myself against the wall to catch my breath and glanced through the open doorway into the room she had casually entered. The moment I did, I sucked in a sharp breath and froze.
"…!? Is this… the Library?"
It wasn't a particularly large room, but bookshelves lined the walls as far as the eye could see. Most of them appeared to be stuffed with paper and wooden tablets, but some were locked with no way to see what was inside—I could only assume they held precious books.
In the center of the room, two long reading desks with angled tops had been placed face to face for convenient reading. They looked like the kind of connected desks and chairs you'd find in a university lecture hall, long enough to seat about five people side by side.
And hanging from the upper part of the desks at nearly equal intervals were heavy, sturdy chains, each one connected to a thick book. Six volumes in all, lined up in a row.
"…It's a Chained Library."
Visiting a historic library in a foreign country had been a dream from my time as Reoné. This wasn't abroad—it was a library in a temple in another world—but surely this counted as that dream coming true too? Foreign libraries, locked bookshelves, Chained Libraries—these were all things I'd read about in books and learned about through library history, and as Reoné, I had desperately wanted to see them with my own eyes.
My fingertips pressed against my chest were trembling. My heart was hammering, and I could feel blood surging through my entire body. The miracle of seeing something I had wanted for so, so long standing right in front of my eyes overwhelmed me, and tears spilled one after another.
"I-it's my first time seeing…"
Not just a Chained Library, but even a room full of enough books to warrant one—this was my first time seeing that since coming to this world. The room wasn't that large, but for someone like me who had gone so long without finding even a single book, it was a treasure trove of happiness.
This library was truly the paradise God had created. My God was right here!
"I pray to God! I give thanks to God!"
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Having discovered a library—a Chained Library, no less—I followed the customs I had witnessed, striking the Googol pose, then prostrating myself on the floor to offer my gratitude to God. I was a little wobbly, but I wanted to believe that my excitement and gratitude had come across.
I wiped my face and hands vigorously with my sleeves, checking over and over to make sure nothing was dirty.
Confirming my hands were clean, I set off after the priest who had gone ahead of me, striding eagerly toward paradise.
"Excuse me—mph!?"
It was like hitting an automatic door that wouldn't open—I smashed face-first into something hard. The impact was forceful enough that spots were flashing in front of my eyes.
"Oww…"
I sat down on the floor, clutching one hand to my face while the other groped around the entrance. My hand couldn't proceed past a certain point. Sure enough, there was an invisible wall. I tapped at it, but it showed no sign of opening.
"Wha—? Wh-why?"
The female priest had walked right through. I couldn't understand why I alone was being refused. A dark feeling crept over me, and I pounded against the transparent wall with all my strength. The invisible wall didn't budge an inch.
Paradise was right in front of me, and I couldn't get in. So many books right there, and I couldn't even touch them.
How could such cruel torture be allowed? After coming all this way, to be denied entry—this was too much. God, you fool! Give me back my gratitude!
"No—let me in! Let me in tooooo!"
Books were expensive and rare—so much so that only nobles really possessed them. They had even used a Magical Tool to keep children quiet during the baptism ceremony. It would hardly be surprising if there were mechanisms in place to protect valuable books.
I knew that, but it was still too cruel. The disappointment of seeing paradise but being unable to enter, the tears streaming down my face—there was nothing I could do to stop them.
"I want to read them…"
Having finished her errand, the female priest emerged carrying several bundles of documents. She looked down at me, sitting on the floor and sobbing against the invisible wall, and took a startled step backward.
"…What are you doing?"
"Whyyyy…? Why can't I go in?"
I asked between taps on the transparent wall, and she glanced back at the library, then let out a small "Ah."
"Because there are precious books inside. Only temple personnel are permitted to use it."
Her words sent a beam of hope flooding into my mind. If only temple personnel could enter, then I just needed to become temple personnel. God hadn't abandoned me after all.
I rubbed furiously at my tears and snot, then shot my hand straight up.
"I have a question. How can I become temple personnel?"
"…The easiest way would be to become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice, wouldn't it?"
Apparently, for women, the term wasn't priest but Shrine Maiden. If so, then this woman before me would be a Shrine Maiden, not a priest, since she was already an adult.
"Then I'll become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice at the temple! How do I do it?"
"You would need the permission of either the Chief Priest or the High Priest. Now, let's go to the chapel—"
As the Shrine Maiden tried to end the conversation, I shook my head vigorously.
"Where is the High Priest right now?"
"He's already finished his duties for the baptism ceremony, so he's in his room, but… you want to go there now?"
It was obvious from her face that she was taken aback, but I couldn't afford to let this valuable source of information slip away.
"Yes! I can't go home like this!"
"…I suppose I could ask the High Priest."
Whether she had grasped my unshakable determination, or was simply making a judgment based on my outfit, I wasn't sure—but she sighed with resignation and led me to the High Priest's room.
It turned out I had wandered considerably far inside, because the High Priest's room was quite close by. I was told to wait in front of a magnificent door until permission was granted.
Looking around, I noticed ornate decorations and paintings hanging on the walls. It was a reminder that religious leaders were, indeed, wealthy.
"High Priest, there is someone who wishes to become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice…"
"Someone who wishes to?"
From the slightly ajar door, I could hear the exchange between the High Priest and the female priest. The tension of a job interview washed over me, and I straightened my posture behind the door, quickly checking my appearance. One spot on my dress was a little stiff with dried tears and snot.
"Yes, it appears to be the child who was at today's baptism ceremony."
"Hmm, I suppose I'll meet with her."
"Come in."
I had wanted to enter smoothly and elegantly, but the door was heavier than expected and wouldn't budge easily. With no other choice, I threw my whole weight against it, pushing hard while sliding through the gap that opened.
"Pardon the intrusion."
The High Priest's room was similar in layout to Frieda's room. A table and chairs were set up near the door, forming a reception area. In the far corner opposite the door stood a grand canopied bed, and in the other corner was a workspace.
The workspace held a substantial desk and two bookcases. There was also a display shelf, where a statue of a deity about thirty centimeters tall, the Holy Book I had seen at the baptism ceremony, and candles were arranged in near-perfect symmetry around the Holy Book.
The High Priest and the Shrine Maiden were in the workspace, so I walked toward them, trying to maintain the best posture I could. I could feel the High Priest's gaze cutting into me.
I took slow, deep breaths and steeled myself. This was a job interview. Whether I could enter that library would be decided by this meeting.
"Your name?"
"Mine. High Priest, please—I want to become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice. Please grant me permission."
I clasped both hands before my chest and made my plea. The High Priest showed an amused smile and set down his pen.
"Then, Mine—tell me, what made you think you wanted to become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice?"
"Because there's a library here."
When I answered, the High Priest seemed surprised by the unexpected reply, his eyes widening slightly.
"…A library? Can you read?"
"Yes. There are many words I don't know, but the more I read, the more words I learn. So, for as long as I live, I want to read every book in here."
The High Priest pressed his temple and sighed. He let his shoulders droop deliberately and shook his head.
"You seem to be under some misconception. This temple is a place to pray to the gods. Priests and Shrine Maidens serve the divine."
"That's exactly right. I understand completely. The thick Holy Book you read from at today's baptism ceremony today—it was about the gods, wasn't it? To me, the Holy Book is God itself. I want to read everything there is to know about the divine. I want to know God completely."
"Are you a Holy Book fundamentalist?"
The High Priest's eyes glinted. I wasn't sure if I should affirm it or deny it.
After a moment of deliberation, I figured that the other children who had participated in the baptism ceremony probably wouldn't even know what those words meant. When you don't understand something, the safest course was to let it pass without bringing further attention to it.
"I've never heard that phrase before, so I'm not sure what it means. But my desire to read the Holy Book and learn about God is absolutely pure and without a shadow of doubt. Please believe in the passion of one who has received the blessing of the Fire God. My prayer and wish to become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice and read every book here to know God—surely, High Priest, you can understand that?"
I pressed my case with rapid-fire intensity. The High Priest, looking somewhat taken aback, studied me from head to toe, then nodded several times.
"I understand your passion. If you truly wish it, there is nothing preventing you from becoming a Shrine Maiden Apprentice."
"Really!?"
"However, for a child from a family like yours to wish to enter the temple, a donation befitting your passion will be required. Do you know how large a donation is necessary?"
I was wearing clothes that suggested I had money, so he was probably sizing me up. If I wanted to enter the temple, I would need to pay a suitable price.
I knew well enough that religion wasn't made up entirely of beautiful things. If money was what it took to get in, then I just needed to offer what I could afford.
Come to think of it, I'd heard that even a single book cost several small gold coins. If I could use the Chained Library, I could easily read at least ten of those thick volumes.
I only knew Japanese rental libraries, but judging by rental book prices, I figured the cost of one book's worth of money would let me read everything in the library. And if I could read all the reference materials packed onto the shelves for as long as I lived, then even considering what I wanted to leave for my family, a single large gold coin was something I could offer without hesitation.
"I don't know the usual rate for donations, but… I can offer up to one large gold coin from my personal funds."
"A l-large gold coin!?"
The High Priest's eyes bulged as he practically spat out an incredulous exclamation. The Shrine Maiden also covered her mouth with her hand, eyes wide as saucers. Their reaction told me I had named a sum far higher than expected.
"Huh? Was that too much? But that's my maximum—I can't offer more than that."
The High Priest and the female priest exchanged glances, then cleared their throats in a forced, dignified manner and fixed me with serious stares.
"Ah~—the temple is truly delighted that someone with your kind of passion wishes to become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice. However, since you participated in the baptism ceremony, doesn't that mean you already have a position lined up? Aren't you affiliated with somewhere?"
It was true—if I already had a job, I couldn't just become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice out of nowhere. But since I had been planning to stay home, I had no employer.
"I have a temporary registration with the commercial guild, but no work has been assigned yet. Since I'm physically frail, I was planning to work from home."
"From home? Are you a merchant's daughter? You can't become a Shrine Maiden Apprentice while affiliated with another organization. You'd need to withdraw from the commercial guild and become an apprentice. What do your parents think about this?"
"I was going to discuss it with them starting now, but…"
I paused there. I couldn't immediately answer regarding the commercial guild. Joining had been mandatory for buying and selling goods.
"Could I even withdraw from the commercial guild? What would happen to the money I've saved so far and the products I'll make in the future?"
I hadn't meant to speak those thoughts aloud, but the High Priest's eyes widened as if he'd caught the muttering.
"Money you've saved? Products? Aren't you helping your parents with their work?"
"No."
This was my chance to sell myself for temple admission. While recalling the key points of a good job interview, I described what I had accomplished up to now and what I had gained from it. In about a minute.
"Hmm, if it's not a household-helping position but a more independent arrangement, it might be better to negotiate with the Guild Master directly—perhaps you could become an apprentice without formally withdrawing."
I had clearly made a good impression. The High Priest smiled, looking impressed.
Having those in charge settle matters between themselves was a tremendous relief. I thanked him and left the negotiations with the Guild Master in the High Priest's hands.
"I'll start by discussing it with my parents."
"Yes—if your parents oppose it or you have any concerns, come talk to me right away. If you want to read books, come to this room. You can't enter the Library, but I can let you read the Holy Books I have here."
"Really!? Thank you so much! I pray to God!"
The instant I struck the Googol pose, my body lurched to one side. A cold sensation washed over me as the blood drained from my face.
Oh no. I'd gotten too excited.
With Lutz absent, there had been no one to rein in my excitement and keep me from overdoing it.
Having unknowingly exceeded my limits, all the strength drained from my body in an instant. In its place, I felt a familiar heat stirring inside me, trying to run wild on its own.
"I've done it…"
Thud!
After collapsing, I couldn't move. At least I was conscious—being awake instead of blacking out was something. Lying on the floor where I'd fallen, I focused my willpower on suppressing the small amount of Self-Eating heat building within me.
"What happened!? What's wrong!?"
The High Priest stared at me in shock, having collapsed right before his eyes. He shot up from his chair with enough force to nearly kick it over.
The Shrine Maiden gazed at me with a dazed expression, then murmured softly to herself.
"…Come to think of it, I heard someone collapsed at the baptism ceremony?"
"What did you say!?"
The High Priest glared at the Shrine Maiden, who tilted her head slightly as she'd spoken.
Still unable to get up, I apologized to the two of them.
"I'm sorry—I got too excited. I can't move, so please bear with me for a little while."
Discovering the temple library.
Next time: parental objections and persuasion.