From today, I'm a shrine maiden apprentice at the
I was told it would take time to prepare the Blue Robe, so compared to
That said, I wasn't exactly sitting around doing nothing. I went with Turi to
I was incredibly busy with all sorts of things, but just being locked out of the Library alone made the days feel agonizingly long—an eternity of waiting. But as of today, that waiting is finally over.
At last, at last, I can read books! And not just any books—those books chained to the shelves! Ah, just thinking about it sends shivers of excitement through me!
"Mine, Lutz is here to pick you up."
Turi came to call me as I was spinning around in circles in my room, shrugging her shoulders in exasperation.
"Thanks, Turi. I'm heading out!"
"Mine, try not to get too excited, okay!"
Yeah, right!
Answering silently in my mind, I dashed out of the house.
Since the Temple is on the north side of the city, I wore the finest outfit I owned—the apprentice uniform from the
"Hee hee hee, hmm hmm~..."
As I skipped along humming to myself, Lutz furrowed his brows and yanked my arm hard.
"Mine, you're getting way too carried away. You'll have a fever before we even reach the Temple."
"Ugh... That would be a problem."
I reined in my legs that wanted to bounce ahead on their own and forced down the urge to hurry even a little faster, all while cursing this frail body that wouldn't let me enjoy even a simple moment of elation. Holding Lutz's hand, I walked toward the Temple at a leisurely pace.
"Mine, are you really gonna be okay?"
"I'll just be getting the robe and meeting my attendants today, so I'll be fine."
It had basically been decided that my workdays would fall on the same days as Lutz's. Since the attendants assigned to me at the Temple couldn't manage my health the way Lutz did, the family and Benno had agreed it was best for Lutz to keep watching over me until then.
But I doubt anyone else could ever manage my condition at Lutz's level, no matter how much time passed...
Maybe they were thinking of keeping Lutz by my side indefinitely? Everyone—my family, Benno,
But if I kept relying entirely on Lutz, then there would have been no point in me becoming a merchant apprentice in the first place. I didn't want to be dead weight. When I complained to Benno about it, he just huffed through his nose, and Mark gave me an awkward smile with a troubled expression before explaining.
Apparently, Lutz would be receiving hands-on training directly from Mark for opening an Italian restaurant and establishing a paper-making workshop in another city. Since I was the one who'd come up with the idea and Lutz would be serving as the liaison between us, they said his training program would be rather unorthodox.
He'd be involved in launching the new business from the very start, thrown into practical work from day one, and have the job details hammered into him through experience.
That's basically on-the-job training for new hires, isn't it? The thought slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it, but Lutz himself was thrilled at the prospect of being able to travel to another city far sooner than expected.
If Lutz is happy with it, then that's all that matters.
Hang in there, Lutz!
When we arrived at the Temple, a single gray priest was waiting at the gate. The relatively sturdy-built man spotted me, straightened up, and crossed both hands in front of his chest.
"Good morning, Lady Mine. I will escort you to the Chief Priest."
"Lady Mine!? Pfft, ahahaha... That doesn't suit me at all."
Lutz burst out laughing at the gray priest's refined demeanor, comparing me to the priest and cracking up.
I noticed the gray priest's brow twitch with displeasure, and in a panic, I pushed the still-laughing Lutz back toward Benno's shop.
"Lutz, you're laughing too much!"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry, sorry. Mine, when the fourth bell rings today, I'll come to pick you up, so wait for me."
"Got it."
I waved Lutz off and watched him go for a moment before turning back to the gray priest.
"I'm sorry for causing you discomfort."
"...There is no need for you to apologize to me. More importantly, the Chief Priest is waiting."
The gray priest turned his back on me, refusing my apology, and began walking. The clacking of wooden shoes echoed through the white stone corridor. With no sound other than footsteps breaking the heavy silence, I followed quickly behind the gray priest.
The moment we turned the corner of the corridor, I heard a sound beyond the shoe steps. I looked up vaguely in the direction of the noise and caught glimpses of gray priestesses cleaning the corridor.
There were several gray priestesses who hadn't been present during the Baptism Ceremony, but their appearance was far from clean. It wasn't because they were cleaning or because their clothes were dirty—it was more like the number of baths they took, or their general grooming habits. They had an entirely different atmosphere from the gray priest walking ahead of me.
As soon as they saw the gray priest, the priestesses and apprentices who were mid-cleaning stopped what they were doing one by one, stepped to the side of the hallway, lined up, and lowered their eyes.
Could this be a show of respect?
Given that I was small and practically hidden behind the gray priest—and one of the priestesses later looked at me with surprise—it was clear this gesture wasn't directed at me.
Seeing the class hierarchy among even the gray priests who had all come up from orphanage life, a sense of unease crept through my heart. I had stepped into a world with completely different social strata than anything I'd known before.
In my life up until now, I'd never had to deal with nobility. I'd essentially lived among people in similar circumstances, and even when I'd started doing business with wealthy merchants, the value of my products had earned me relatively equal treatment.
Am I going to be okay? I know nothing about a class-based society—what if I make some terrible mistake?
My uncertain footsteps echoed through the silent, opulent corridor. Including my time as
"Chief Priest, I have brought Lady Mine."
The words "Lady Mine" reaching my ears still sounded foreign—I didn't feel like they were referring to me at all. Being addressed with an honorific by adult gray priests, despite being neither a child of importance nor anyone of high rank, was deeply unsettling and uncomfortable.
However, in this Temple, once I received the Blue Robe, I would be treated as a member of the Nobility. There was no way I could ask to be addressed casually. I would just have to get used to it.
"Excuse me."
Habitually giving a slight bow as I spoke, I entered the Chief Priest's room and found a makeshift altar set up straight ahead. It was clearly a simplified version of the enormous tiered display that had stood in the prayer room during the Baptism Ceremony.
On the topmost tier of the three-tiered altar lay the black mantle and golden crown that had adorned the statue on the main display at the ceremony. The middle tier held a staff, spear, Holy Cup, shield, and sword. The bottom tier held flowers, fruit, incense burners, and bells, and at the very edge, I could see the Blue Robe neatly folded.
A blue carpet was laid out before the altar, inevitably reminding me of the prayer during the Baptism Ceremony.
The last time I'd come to the Chief Priest's room, there had been no altar like this. As I stood frozen at the doorway, searching my memories, the Chief Priest set aside his paperwork, rose from his desk, and walked toward the altar.
"Mine, come here."
"Yes."
Walking with slightly quickened steps, I stopped in front of the Chief Priest. He looked down at me with his orange-tinted eyes that seemed to shimmer like gold, let out a soft sigh, and then indicated the altar with his gaze.
"You intimidated the High Priest with your Magic Power. He is afraid of you—and he dislikes you."
"...Well, yes, I suppose that's about right."
Thanks to the emotional outburst that had sent my Magic Power into a massive explosion—all because I'd snapped at the High Priest's arrogant attitude and words—my anger and frustration had largely been vented along with the excess power. But I knew well enough that the High Priest, having been on the receiving end of that uncontrolled surge of Magic Power, now hated and resented me.
On top of already being looked down on as a poor person's child...
"Under normal circumstances, the oath to serve the gods and the Temple would be made before the altar in the High Priest's room, followed by the bestowing of the robe. But the High Priest doesn't seem to want you in his room, so an altar was hastily constructed here."
"...I'm sorry for the trouble."
It seemed I was thoroughly hated. Being hated beyond repair by the most powerful person in the Temple right from the start—that couldn't possibly be a good situation.
Sensing the looming obstacle to my future life at the Temple, the Chief Priest shook his head slowly.
"To avoid pouring oil on the fire, it would be best to avoid crossing paths with the High Priest whenever possible."
"Yes."
Since the Chief Priest knew the High Priest far better than I did, I should follow his advice and keep my distance for now.
"Now, let us proceed with the Oath Ceremony."
"Please take care of it."
The Chief Priest picked up an incense burner and grasped the chain attached to it, swinging it gently back and forth like a pendulum. In time with the motion, the burning incense danced and swirled, filling the room with a calming fragrance reminiscent of frankincense.
Then, in his low voice, the Chief Priest began a careful explanation of the divine instruments enshrined upon the altar.
The black mantle at the highest tier represented the night sky and was the symbol of the Darkness God. The golden crown represented the sun and was the symbol of the Light Goddess. As these two deities were the supreme gods who governed the heavens, they occupied the highest position.
The staff on the middle tier was the symbol of the Water Goddess, who washed away snow and ice. The spear was the symbol of the Fire God, who encouraged long and tall growth. The shield was the symbol of the Wind Goddess, who prevented the arrival of harsh winter. The cup was the symbol of the
The bottom tier held offerings to the gods: plants symbolizing breath and life, fruit celebrating the harvest, incense representing peace, and cloth expressing faith, I was told.
"The noble color of spring is green. The color of young life sprouting forth after enduring the harsh winter. The noble color of summer is blue. The color of the high sky that all growing life strives toward. The noble color of autumn is yellow. The color of wheat heavy with rich bounty, bowing its head. The noble color of winter is red. The color of the hearth that softens the cold and grants hope."
The colors revered at the Temple apparently changed with each season. The cloths and carpets decorating the altar, as well as the ornamental colors worn over the Blue Robes by priests and priestesses, were adjusted accordingly.
"Now, the words of the oath."
As he spoke, the Chief Priest knelt upon the carpet, resting on his left knee. He crossed both hands before his chest and bowed his head.
I assumed the same position beside him, and once the Chief Priest confirmed I was ready, he opened his mouth.
"Repeat after me."
"Yes."
Trying hard not to make a mistake, I stared intently at the Chief Priest's lips. His thin mouth moved slowly and clearly as the words of the oath flowed forth.
"The supreme god who governs the tall, majestic heavens—the divine couple of Darkness and Light."
"The five great gods who govern the vast, boundless earth—"
"The Water Goddess,
"The Fire God,
"The Wind Goddess,
"The Earth Goddess,
"The Life God,
"From the tall, majestic heavens across the vast, boundless earth, may the supreme god's divine power shine forth."
"With the power of the five great gods, may all things upon the vast, boundless earth be brought to life."
"May we repay the blessings of that sacred power."
"With righteous hearts, with composed hearts, with resolute hearts, we shall worship and believe in the just gods for generations without end."
"Together with all the gods of the great natural world."
"With single-minded devotion, we pray, give thanks, and offer our tribute—this we solemnly vow."
I repeated every word precisely, and when I looked up at the Chief Priest, he gave a slight nod of approval and turned his gaze toward the gray priest standing by the wall. The gray priest closest to the altar moved without a sound, picked up the neatly folded Blue Robe from the edge of the altar, and handed it to the Chief Priest.
"Blue is the noble color of the Fire God, who encourages and supports growth, and the color of the tall, majestic heavens governed by the supreme god. We bestow this upon you, a devout apostle who has come guided by the divine hand, and who vows to place your faith in the supreme god and to continue growing ever forward."
Once I received the Blue Robe, an apprentice priestess waiting by the wall helped me put it on. The robe was simple—pulled over the head from above and cinched at the waist with a belt. I would adjust the layers underneath depending on the season, and during ceremonies, I would add various god-related ornaments on top.
"Mine, a devout apostle who has arrived through divine guidance. We welcome you."
The Chief Priest gave a slight bow while crossing both hands before his chest. I mimicked the gesture and crossed my own hands.
"I am truly delighted to be welcomed."
"Now, offer your prayers."
"Huh?"
It was so sudden I didn't understand what was being asked of me. Still holding my hands crossed, I tilted my head in confusion, and the Chief Priest furrowed his brow slightly, as if exasperated by my slowness.
"You were taught during the Baptism Ceremony, were you not? Offer your prayers to the gods."
Oh right, the prayer pose. That's right—entering the Temple meant doing that on a regular basis.
...I hope my core muscles can handle this.
Shaking the memory of the Baptism Ceremony—when my core had completely given out and I'd nearly retired on the spot—out of my head, I tightened my stomach with all my might, determined not to laugh.
I could feel the Chief Priest's piercing stare practically screaming, "Don't tell me you've forgotten," as I offered my prayer.
"I-I pray to the... the gods! ...Huh!?"
Maintaining the pose with perfect form was surprisingly difficult. It required a sense of balance and the leg strength to support your entire body weight on one foot. Unlike the priests at the Baptism Ceremony, I couldn't achieve their elegant posture, and I wobbled unsteadily, barely keeping my balance.
"Mine! That is not an acceptable prayer. Before long, you will have to attend the Prayer Ceremony before the public. What good is a shrine maiden who cannot pray? You had better learn to pray properly before then!"
"Mmph... I will earnestly do my best."
The Chief Priest sighed and shook his head lightly, then turned his gaze to the gray priests lined up along the wall.
"I will now introduce your attendants—gray priests and apprentices.
The gray priest called Arno issued instructions, and from those standing in the corner of the room, three figures—two gray priests and an apprentice—stepped forward before the altar. One was an adult male gray priest, and the other two were a boy and girl who appeared to be roughly the same age as me.
As it turned out, the gray priest who had escorted me all the way here was one of my attendants.
He had a relatively solid build, about as tall as my father. He had wisteria-colored hair and dark brown eyes, and gave the impression of being serious and quiet.
When he had guided me here earlier, he'd had the same reserved, stiff expression. Perhaps because his lips were pressed so tightly together, he seemed somewhat difficult to approach.
"
"The pleasure is all mine."
I tried to return a polite greeting, but a rebuke came flying from the Chief Priest.
"Mine. You are one who wears the Blue Robe. You must not speak so deferentially to a gray priest."
"I-I'm sorry. I'll be careful."
I didn't understand class society. I had no way of knowing, through my existing common sense, what was right and what was wrong. Just as when I'd first started living as Mine, I would have to fumble my way through and learn the rules as I went.
Standing before my anxious gaze was another attendant who looked like a potential source of even more anxiety.
Whether it was poor nutrition or something else, despite being about the same height as Lutz, this boy had a mean look about him and was scrawny. He had light blonde hair and eyes that looked black at first glance but, upon closer inspection, were actually purple. His overall first impression was that of a scrappy little troublemaker.
Ugh, not my type at all.
During my Rozemyne days, I'd spent all my time indoors reading books, and now, with this frail body that was constantly laid up with illness, I was a dyed-in-the-wool shut-in. Rough... no, mischievous, energetic boys with foul mouths were exactly the type of person I instinctively wanted to avoid.
I was thinking that we'd probably never get along, when I noticed the boy eyeing me up and down with the same sizing-up look, appraising me insolently before finally opening his mouth.
"I'm
"Huh?"
Wait, is it okay for attendants to act like this?
I was shocked by his condescending gaze and incredibly rude manner of speaking, and stood there with my mouth opening and closing like a fish. Sure enough, another rebuke came from the Chief Priest—but this time it was directed at me, not Gil.
"Mine, Gil is your attendant. When his behavior is inappropriate, it is your responsibility to correct him."
"Me? You want me to do it?"
"If you won't, then who will?"
He said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, but how exactly was I supposed to correct him? I didn't think my words would have any effect on someone like this.
"Um, could you maybe improve your language a little?"
"Yeah, right! Are you stupid or what!?"
...Can I request a replacement?
The Chief Priest was shaking his head as if there were nothing to be done, but this was clearly a failure in personnel selection. The moment I thought, "Could this be harassment?" everything clicked into place.
This selection was definitely harassment. There was no way Gil was suited to be an attendant. He'd been foisted off on me, a Commoner, because he was too much trouble for anyone else.
Once I'd figured that out, the idea of being overly polite suddenly seemed ridiculous. I might as well treat him the same way I dealt with the rowdy boys in class. Basic policy: ignore.
I raised my hand to cut Gil off mid-sentence and turned my attention to the only girl among the attendants.
Deep crimson hair and pale blue eyes. She had a strong-willed, somewhat severe face, but it was a beautiful one. Not cute exactly—more striking and elegant.
In a word, she was the kind of girl who understood her own attractiveness and knew how to use it around men. As women, we tend to pick up on those things instinctively.
"I'm Deria. Eight years old. Let's get along."
Despite saying "let's get along," Deria's eyes weren't smiling at all. Sensing that she'd clearly already decided we couldn't be allies, she seemed to have entered an offensive posture.
Still, Deria wore a pleasant-looking smile on the surface, so apparently the Chief Priest didn't see her as a problematic selection. There was no rebuke this time.
None of the attendants radiated even a shred of friendliness, and I really didn't feel like I could manage any of them. Just having them around seemed exhausting.
"Um, Chief Priest. I haven't had attendants before, so if it's not strictly necessary—"
"It is not optional. All Blue Priests are required to have attendants. These attendants were chosen by the High Priest and myself. As long as you wear the Blue Robe, you must conduct yourself as befits their master."
"...I see. Understood."
So I couldn't just say I didn't want them?
And I didn't even have a say in the matter?
On the very first day of becoming a shrine maiden apprentice at the Temple—and of having made my sacred vow—I was already on the verge of defeat.
The vow has been made, and the attendants have arrived.
Mine still hasn't made it to the Library.
Next time: The work of a priest and donations.