After calculating the profits from the recital, the net profit came to 12 large gold coins, 8 small gold coins, and 6 large silver coins. After deducting all the expenses, the remaining net profit still exceeded 10 large gold coins. Seriously, the Chief Priest is incredible.
I genuinely regretted having my illustration sales banned. I begged him to let me sell the pictures, offering to pay a portion of the profits, but he flatly refused, saying, "I'm not short on money, so this is a categorical rejection."
The Chief Priest receives not only the budget distributed to blue priests at the
...I'd love to say a line like that just once. Ugh, rich people!
"More importantly, the end of summer is approaching. Have you memorized the prayer for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony? Once autumn begins, the
"I have. It's almost the same as the Star Binding Ceremony, so it wasn't much trouble."
My duties as High Priest consist of bestowing blessings during religious ceremonies and offering Magic Power. Normally, there's a variety of work—approving tasks performed by other blue priests, dealing with nobles who come to present flower bouquets, negotiating with the families of blue priests to collect Donations, and so on—but the Chief Priest handles most of it on my behalf. I should at least handle the blessings properly.
"The Nobility's Baptism Ceremonies are held at each noble's estate, just like the one you conducted at Lord
"Understood."
The Chief Priest explained that while conducting a noble's Baptism Ceremony earns you a fee similar to a gratuity, when you factor in the obligation of forming connections with other nobles and the time the ceremony takes, it's simply not worth the effort. His policy was to assign that kind of work to blue priests who said they wanted money. Since I was already swamped with workshop-related matters, I had no objections.
"Also, if you don't already have one, order a hair ornament that incorporates the noble color for the autumn Baptism Ceremony.
"Yes!"
I replied in an upbeat voice. Ordering a hair ornament meant I'd have an excuse to meet Turi.
I had
"Lutz, Lutz. Today, tomorrow, the day after—any time is fine. Just call Turi."
I lunged at Lutz with a whoosh, but he shot his hand out and stopped me just in time. "Wait!"
"Don't leap at me! You'll get ink on expensive clothes!"
"Huh!? Wait—"
I hastily pulled back and looked at Lutz, noticing ink splattered all over him here and there. No wonder he was dressed the same way he wore when going to the forest. Rubbing his hands on his pants, Lutz asked: "Sure, I can call Turi, but what's the sudden rush?"
"I'm ordering a new hairpin. I need one incorporating the autumn noble color for the Baptism Ceremony. The Chief Priest told me I'm allowed to place an order. Tee-hee~ I get to see Turi."
To my words, Lutz muttered, "A product order, huh... That might still be too early." Apparently, Turi hadn't yet finished the education needed to be properly presented before nobles. She might manage the scripted greeting, but she'd quickly be found out after that.
"...If the Master is with her, it might work out. I'll ask, just in case."
"Tell
Lutz accepted with a laugh. Then, after a moment, his expression clouded over slightly.
"Oh, by the way,
"...Got it."
We hadn't been close with the neighbors, Mine's funeral was already over, and the distance between the altar and the congregation meant I didn't think anyone would recognize me. But if by chance someone did find out, the neighbors might get "evidence eliminated" by the Chief Priest. I didn't want to think about something so terrifying, so I'd better take precautions in my own way.
"It's a good thing
Zasha, Lutz's eldest brother, had apparently come of age at the spring Coming-of-Age Ceremony held in my absence while I was receiving education in the Noble District. Even so, if the girl who was supposedly killed by nobles had no body at her funeral, and then a girl with the exact same appearance immediately showed up as the Lord's adopted daughter serving as High Priest, that would definitely have been noticed.
"Sig is next to come of age, right? When?"
"Two more years, so if you've grown a little more by then, it should be fine. Maybe you could pass it off as 'this is what Mine might have looked like if she'd survived'... But, uh, will you actually grow?"
"I have grown a little, thank you very much! How rude!"
After securing Lutz's promise to call Turi and handing over the financial report documents, I pulled out my writing board and lowered my gaze. Going through the items I needed to discuss with Lutz, I checked them off as we finished each one.
"Hey, Lutz. Should the orphanage start Winter Preparations early this year too? I have to attend the Harvest Festival this year."
"...If we were making glue, the smell would've been a problem, but if we're not making glue this time, couldn't we just do it after the Harvest Festival? We could ask the Master to handle it alongside the store's Winter Preparations..."
Honestly, I wanted the glue. But if possible, having it done together with the
"I'll ask Benno to handle this orphanage's Winter Preparations. The
"It sounds like they've mostly finished moving in the daily necessities. Food, firewood, materials for Papermaking—that sort of thing has all been transported there, and
The Gray Priests and Shrine Maidens to be sent to Hasse had already been selected on our end and were receiving training in cooking and workshop management.
"My father also got called up and has to go to Hasse. Even with their dedicated craftsmen and the Hasse townspeople, they don't have enough workers, so the Master seems to be going around recruiting more from wherever there's woodworking or construction going on."
Because it took so long to get the initial funding, they'd apparently been rushing to finish the chapel. They'd already blown past the agreed-upon one-month deadline, but they were stalling for time by dangling other recipes and extending the chef's contract.
"Then let me know when the date for moving the Gray Priests is decided."
Since we had the opportunity, why not unveil the Lessar-bus and use it to transport the Gray Priests? I asked the Chief Priest, and he said, "It would be cruel to the passengers, so I can't allow it." My driving had gotten pretty stable by now, but whatever. Harsh.
Two days later, Turi arrived with Benno and Lutz. Benno gave the greeting on their behalf, and the three of them from the Gilberta Company, along with
Once inside the room, Benno fixed Turi with the stern gaze of a teacher.
"Turi, no one will fault you if your composure slips a little in this room. But I won't tolerate any slackness from you. Think of this as a practice space where small mistakes are forgiven, and learn how to interact with nobles."
"Yes."
Turi nodded with a serious expression. Just one season had already brought remarkable changes to her attitude and manner of speech, but she was still far from ready to work as a craftswoman dealing with nobles. Even Lutz hadn't passed the test yet, which was why he couldn't come to the Noble District.
"Rosemine, if you want to keep ordering hairpins from Turi in the future, then cooperate with her education. She is nowhere near ready to be sent out yet."
"I understand."
I gave a big nod and took my seat across the table from Turi and the others. Turi began taking flower ornaments she'd made from a wooden box and arranging them on the table.
I reached out and stopped her.
"There's no need to rush. Take your time—just stay calm. ...I'll show you a demonstration, so watch carefully and remember how I handle things, the way I was taught by a high-ranking noble's wife."
I demonstrated the refined gestures of high-ranking nobility that Lady Karstedt had drilled into me up until the Baptism Ceremony. Remembering how I'd been corrected down to the movement of my fingertips, I carefully opened the lid, took out the contents with both hands, and unwrapped the cloth.
"...When you do that, you really do look like a high-born lady," Lutz murmured. Benno also voiced what sounded like admiration.
"It's impressive that she improved this much in such a short time. The teacher may have helped, but without her own effort, she never would have reached this level. You all understand this too, I think—correcting movements that have become second nature is incredibly difficult."
"The Chief Priest gave me the key to the Library as a reward, so I was highly motivated."
I answered with a smile, and everyone let out small laughs.
Turi imitated my movements and took out the flower ornaments as carefully as she could. Colorful flowers lined up across the table.
"For ceremonial hairpins, larger and more showy flowers are best. How about this flower?"
Turi repeated Benno's words back to her. Opportunities to be taught so directly, one-on-one, were surely rare. Not just Turi, but Lutz and Gil were also watching with serious eyes.
"The size of the flower is fine as it is, but I'd like flowers with moving petals, like the ones I received last time."
"It's an honor that you were pleased with them. The noble color of autumn is yellow, but what other colors should we incorporate?"
The decision had already been made to make the stamen a deep yellow and the petals a pale yellow, but when asked about the other decorations, I tilted my head slightly.
"Let me see... Since it's an autumn hairpin, decorations like acorns or nuts might look charming. Please include decorations that evoke the bounty of autumn."
"...The bounty of autumn? Understood. I'll think on it."
Turi was using the same writing board I used. Her handwriting was still rough and hard for anyone but her to read, but she was definitely improving.
"No matter how much money you're willing to spend, it's hard to find a teacher who will teach you noble manners. Today's lesson was an invaluable experience for them. I'm sure they will all grow tremendously from this. I offer my heartfelt gratitude to Lady Rosemine."
Even though we were in the hidden room, Benno gave a proper, formal bow. Lutz and Turi followed suit, mimicking his gesture.
While I was working on the text for the third picture book—about the Fire God and his divine retainers—the day of the Summer Coming-of-Age Ceremony arrived.
The Coming-of-Age Ceremony didn't differ much from the Star Binding Ceremony. When called, you enter the chapel, speak of the summer deity—the Fire God
I had my ceremonial robes put on and was decorated in the noble color of summer. Growing slightly irritated by the hem-threateningly long dress, I walked to the chapel and stood before the door.
"High Priest, enter."
As the Chief Priest's voice rang out, the doors opened. The blue priests lined up before the altar shook the rods in their hands, and a sound like a multitude of bells filled the chapel. Through them I walked, carrying the large and heavy Holy Book, advancing with slow steps.
Blue priests lined my right side, while the new adults of age lined my left.
A Magical Tool was being used to suppress voices, so I could barely hear anything, but even so, fragments like "Is that the rumored tiny High Priest?" and "Is she okay? She's not gonna get crushed by that book, is she?" reached my ears.
At the altar, I handed the Holy Book to the Chief Priest, lightly lifted my hem, and ascended the steps.
The new adults were wearing Festive Clothing—the same garments worn at weddings. As a result, everyone was dressed in the noble color of the season, turning the chapel interior a sea of blue.
Just as with the Star Binding Ceremony, the Chief Priest began to recite the mythology in a clear, resonant voice. However, most of the new adults weren't listening. During the Star Binding Ceremony, you could at least sense the couple's excitement as they set out on their new life together. At my own Baptism Ceremony, too—perhaps because it was my first time in the Temple—everyone around me had listened seriously despite not understanding the mythology.
But the new adults, who had experienced a Baptism Ceremony once before and had been out in the world as apprentices, mostly wore expressions that screamed "Hurry up and finish," and hardly anyone was facing forward.
Whether it was because I could now use Magic Power to bestow God's blessings, or because I now knew that Magic Power sustained daily life, their attitude annoyed me. I wanted to tell them to take a page from the rural prayer ceremonies. Even I was here, busy as I was, specifically to give them my blessing.
"Now then, let us offer prayers to God. Pray to God!"
Even after the call, only a handful actually prayed earnestly, while the rest did so halfheartedly—it was painfully obvious. This lack of faith might need to be addressed. The Temple was already considered useless by the townspeople, and having a child like me as the High Priest only made them take it even less seriously.
The Chief Priest then announced, "We shall now bestow upon you the blessings of the gods," and instructed the new adults to kneel.
I channeled just the tiniest amount of Magic Power into my ring.
"O Fire God, Leidenschaft, hear my prayer. Upon the birth of these new adults, grant Your blessing. What we offer You are their thoughts—their prayers and their gratitude. Bestow upon them Your holy divine protection."
Blue light rose upward, but compared to the Star Binding Ceremony, it was a rather pathetic blessing. They had probably heard about how the Star Binding Ceremony went. The new adults were making faces and mouthing words.
"...This is quite different from the Star Binding Ceremony, isn't it."
I said this while looking up at my own blessing, then slowly surveyed the new adults in the chapel.
"It seems your prayers didn't reach Leidenschaft very well. Did you pray earnestly?"
The interior of the Temple buzzed with quiet murmurs. Even with the Magical Tool suppressing voices, the commotion filled the chapel.
I spoke sternly to them, still stunned at having received no blessing.
"Pray to God with sincerity. Vow to continue working hard, to continue growing, and ask for His protection. Those who do not pray will never receive a blessing."
I could feel the Chief Priest glaring at me, but I deliberately ignored it and had them pray once more.
"Pray to God!"
This time, most of them wore serious faces and prayed earnestly. Satisfied with that, I channeled Magic Power into my ring again.
"O Fire God, Leidenschaft, hear my prayer. Upon the birth of these new adults, grant Your blessing. What we offer You are their thoughts—their prayers and their gratitude. Bestow upon them Your holy divine protection."
This time, the difference was striking. Blue light spiraled upward toward the ceiling of the chapel, then descended like sparkling dust, raining down upon them.
The slack expressions and attitudes of the new adults transformed in an instant. Their faces flushed with excitement, and they looked brimming with motivation.
"As you have sworn before God, do not forget to keep striving without rest."
When the new adults were exiting, I spotted the families gathered at the entrance, as expected. A small wave and a brief meeting of eyes—it was precious time all the same.
"Rosemine, just what were you thinking, doing something like that?"
Once all the new adults had filed out and the doors were shut, the Chief Priest looked down at me with a fearsome expression.
"Just a small 'demonstration' to instill some faith. If we don't gradually change how the townspeople view the Temple, it'll cause problems down the road."
I was planning to eventually open temple classrooms or a school to raise literacy rates, but if people only distrusted the Temple, that would be a real problem.
"...At least consult with me beforehand next time."
"I'll handle it appropriately."
After the Summer Coming-of-Age Ceremony ended, autumn arrived almost immediately. At the beginning of autumn came the Baptism Ceremony.
Turi was supposed to bring the hair ornament for the autumn Baptism Ceremony, escorted by Benno and Lutz. But to my surprise, this time my mother was with them.
"Huh!?"
Seeing me cover my mouth with wide eyes, Turi and Lutz both wore grins like mischievous pranksters who'd pulled off their gag.
"She is the craftswoman who regularly works with me on hairpins. I've brought her along today to pay her respects."
Benno said this and introduced my mother as a hairpin craftswoman.
"I always treasure the hairpins from your workshop. May we see the new hairpin in that other room over there?"
With that, I headed into the hidden room. The moment the door closed, I glared at Lutz.
"You didn't tell me, Lutz! I almost died of surprise!"
"Uncle
"Sorry. I was just startled—I'm happy she came. If the timing works out, please bring her."
I could speak casually with Lutz, but I wasn't sure how far Contract Magic allowed me to go with family.
My mother seemed to feel the same way—she opened her mouth, closed it again, and searched for words.
"...You look well. That's a relief."
The reason my mother had insisted on coming along with Lutz and Benno was that the autumn Baptism Ceremony was for Fey's little sister, which meant family members couldn't come past the entrance. Even if we stayed silent, any exchange with family would give us away completely. It was unfortunate, but there was nothing to be done.
"Turi, present the hairpin to Lady Rosemine."
"Yes."
Turi nodded softly and produced the hairpin with careful, practiced movements. She must have rehearsed what I'd taught her many times over—her motions were much smoother now.
"Here is the new hairpin."
It was a hairpin adorned with a large pale yellow flower, orange-tinted leaves, and charming little red berries.
"May I have you put it on me?"
I turned my back slightly toward my mother, and she slipped the hairpin in with trembling hands. Her hand moved gently, just barely, as though stroking my head.
Fighting back tears, I asked without looking up.
"How does it look?"
"Yes, very much so. ...It suits you perfectly."
My mother's voice sounded thick with tears. I turned around and looked up at her. She was smiling, but tears were floating in her eyes.
Wearing the hairpin my mother and Turi had made for me, I took on the autumn Baptism Ceremony.
Word had spread through town that you had to pray earnestly at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony or you wouldn't receive a blessing, and now children not much different from me in age were praying with serious expressions. As I bestowed blessings, I hoped they would keep building their faith at this pace.
Since I didn't even get to meet my family, my spirits remained a little low as the autumn Baptism Ceremony came to an end.
A hairpin that lets Rosemine feel a small connection to Turi and her mother
And with that, the plan to boost faith among the townspeople has been set in motion. The Chief Priest, who has been planning his own version of a saint legend, is the only one unaware that it's already accelerating.
Next time: the Harvest Festival planning meeting.