Chapter 81 – Retired Guard 2
“Ferrin-sama will live in this kingdom from now on as a saint, that is, as a messenger of God.”
“I know, I told you several times yesterday.”
The woman in her reflection in the mirror, who spoke curtly, blushed faintly and lowered her head slightly. Every time the woman in the mirror passed by, people kept repeating things like ‘pretty’, ‘not human’, or ‘saint’. It’s to the point where I can feel her overwhelming beauty, to the point where I can’t feel her humanity even when I see her.
“You are so beautiful.”
“Your hair is nice, and you can digest it even if you wear clothes like this.”
Right now, a translucent white dress is attached to my body. It was similar to what we called a wedding dress in real life. It is a garment that is made by connecting several layers of translucent white fabric with transparent skin like a dress worn in Arabia. Even so, the whole back was broken. This is because the climate is slightly warmer than that of the eastern part of the continent.
For me, my back feels empty. Wearing this dress, which I wasn’t used to at all, and the word ‘stick it on’ rather than the word ‘wear’, I let out a deep sigh. This dress made for the ceremony seems to highlight my femininity too much.
“… I don’t really believe in religion.”
It was an involuntary complaint. Looking at the reflection in the mirror in front of my eyes, I couldn’t bear to say that it didn’t suit me. From her beauty and atmosphere, she overwhelms the women I’ve seen so far. When she raises her arm slightly, the woman in the mirror also raises her arm covered in white cloth. Then she realizes that the goddess is me, and her mind is confused by her complicated mind. When she tries to forget, she sighs again.
… Why did I become so pretty?
“Because even a saintess who is a messenger of God does not have to believe in God.”
“Lowell, do you really think so?”
“Even if it’s a god country, you can’t go against Damian’s words. If you say you are from the eastern part of the continent, people will understand.”
“… After.”
There is a kingdom on the eastern side of the continent of Thearesia, where I was first transferred. The kingdom has no faith. To be precise, they have faith, but they do not believe in a monotheistic god like the kingdom of God. As much as that, there are many gods, spirits, and even money in the kingdom. The cultural differences between the eastern and western parts of the continent are huge.
It’s not to the point of being treated as a miracle or heresy in a religious country, but shouldn’t you believe in God at least when you’re a saint? If there is such a big difference in religion or culture, a fight could break out, but if you reveal your origin, nothing is said. I don’t know how it turned out.
Well, it might be because it is a world full of common enemies and monsters.
“Originally, I wasn’t the kind of person who would argue about things like this.”
He whispered so softly that only those with the most sensitive ears could hear it. If I had been transferred to Fenrir, I would have lived against the culture by force, but in order to live as a weak Ferryn rather than the strongest Fenrir, I had no choice but to melt into Thearesia’s culture.
Still, sitting still and receiving feminine make-up, my patience is slowly running out. Several hours before the ceremony, that is, since I woke up in the morning and checked the stat window, I had been decorating. I get irritated every time powder powder blows on my face and is wiped off with something like a wet towel. Fortunately, it seems that time is running out before it explodes.
“It’s time to go to the temple to meet the priests.”
“Yes.”
When I got up with my hands on the armrest chair I was sitting on, my legs staggered. If Mr. Lowell hadn’t held my arm, I might have collapsed. The Holy Knight Lowell is not as good as the prince or Damian, but he has a very aesthetic sculptural face. Seeing that face, his heart suddenly fluttered and pounded.
Paladin Guard Lowell, standing in front of this person really makes me feel like I’ve become a woman. It might be because she was the only person I met when I lost my memory and lived as a woman. I don’t want to, but it comes out with respectful words.
“… No.”
“Just take one step at a time.”
“… Yes.”
The clothes Rowell was wearing were ceremonial clothes that knights would wear. To be precise, it was not the clothes that medieval knights would wear, but modern clothes, such as tailcoats or suits, with epaulettes attached. Walking while holding Lowell’s hand, I feel the atmosphere as if I have become a man and a woman having a wedding.
Just then, the flowers are fluttering over there…
“…”
“Are you feeling well? You don’t have to push yourself.”
“It’s been decorated for a long time. If a man draws a knife, he should cut a radish.”
“Iknow, right. Instead, I will hold the knife.”
“Ah? Heh…”
Cheeks flushed. My chest feels a bit heavy. A small shiver like a chill swept through my whole body at the words of Mr. Lowell, who accepted my words and mistakes.
The tail, which still had traces of the [Inma’s Curse], Swayed left and right like a dog. If it hadn’t been covered under the thick skirt, I think I would have been exposed to my feelings right now.
‘I’m a man. I used to be a man.’ I replay in my head again and again the words no one believes. I thought that my body and mind would become comfortable, but now [Yeonsim] Takes hold of my heart and wields it. I want to let go of my hand, but this hand held with Mr. Lowell does not come off.
… Yes, because of the correction.
It was only when I rode in the wagon and trudged along the unpaved but firmly fortified roads of the castle that I was able to calm my fluttering thoughts. I didn’t want to admit it, but it feels like my heart is becoming more and more like a woman. I compromised with my lustful body and gave up to some extent, but I don’t want to give up my heart.
The book that I managed to calm down was a book about the religion of the new country. Reading a book containing phrases that help me fall asleep from last night makes me feel like I am automatically [Meditating].
The carriage stopped, and I grabbed the hand of Mr. Lowell, the guard, and got off. He could get off his feet calmly without tripping or panicking in the hem of his long dress. It was because the atmosphere of the temple in front of him far surpassed that of Mr. Lowell. Maybe the bean pods my body has are not that strong.
That’s how great this temple was. It is a building twice as tall as the Great Sanctuary of the Priests in the first city of the East. In addition, there were countless crowds entering and counting how many people it could accommodate. It’s noisy enough to be close to the market. Maybe he heard rumors that I was coming.
“Really noisy!”
“Yes? I can not hear you well!”
“… No.”
Answered Mr. Lowell, shaking his head from side to side. My voice is beautiful, but not very loud. The entrance is so loud that the person next to you can’t hear you even if you shout.
This temple was also used as a job hall for priests and paladins. As much as this, the western part of the continent is a place where religion is strong. I’ve seen it before in the game, but back then I wasn’t interested in the background, so it must have been a cool thing to do since it’s a newly updated area. It was such an impression.
“Come this way!”
“…”
In case I made the stupid mistake of calling myself a man in this crowd, I kept my mouth shut. Even if I screamed, you wouldn’t hear me anyway.
And while climbing the stone steps in front of the temple, I tried to have a godly mind. It was to avoid being conscious of the man’s hand, and Mr. Lowell’s hand that turned me into a woman. Maybe it’s to the point of thinking that it wouldn’t be bad to believe in religion.
And when I stepped into the temple, the atmosphere changed 180 degrees. I saw a space so wide and brightly lit that I didn’t even notice the priest approaching us.
“Wow…”
“You are a saintess and a guard. Come this way.”
If the Eastern Continent is centered on the splendid atmosphere of iridescent light coming through the stained glass, this place just overwhelmed the visitors with its huge and overwhelming atmosphere. Thick limestone pillars supported the ceiling, and countless braziers were dyeing every corner of the hall red.
The pillars are engraved with delicate carvings with their own stories, and the floors and walls are wrapped with gold and silver bands. The many limestone chairs in the hall were packed with people, and some got up because there were no seats. Still, a heavy silence flowed between them.
We walked down the side road beside the hall. At first glance, it was not a path that ordinary people could walk. To be honest, I was really scared. I’ve never experienced such a large crowd, either in a game or in real life. Entering the small annex hall through the side road, numerous high-ranking priests were waiting.
“This person…”
“… You are the new saintess.”
“Ah, anyone can see that she deserves to be called a saint.”
“There will be infinite glory in the kingdom of God.”
The elderly priests, who looked like they would talk a lot, looked at me and each one sighed.
Because the kingdom is polytheistic, there are various gods under a strong god, just like in Greek mythology. However, it seems that there are messengers of God under the one god in the kingdom of God. It means that the saintess also becomes a messenger of God, and she is served as a kind of god-like being.
I don’t know why Damian deifies me. He is a cursed demon who succumbed to lust, but he laughed lightly, and that seems to have fascinated the priests again. Another loud sigh came out. The male priests, whose balls seemed to have shrunk with age, looked at me even with hearts floating above their eyes, but some of the female priests looked at me with suspicious eyes.
“Hmmmm, it’s a ceremony soon, so why are they so noisy?”
“The High Priestess.”
All the old priests who were talking on the spot bowed their heads. I thought it was an old person, but judging by the big ears, it’s an elf. Even for an elf, he looked older than middle-aged, so he must be at least a thousand years old. He’s probably the same age as the High Priest of Eria.
“Quietly prepare for the ceremony.”
“Yes.” “All right.”
The high priest glanced at me and passed by. He felt his chest tighten to the point where he could feel an invisible force. He stroked the frustrated stomach. He only made eye contact with me for a second, but I felt like I was being taken for hours, like bugs crawling all over my body. It was strange.
“The saintess’ guardians will go to the waiting room.”
“You can meet after the ceremony.”
“Lord Lowell, please go.”
“All right. Mr. Bearne.”
The maid and Mr. Lowell, who had come with me, left with the priests to another place. I simply practiced the rituals given by the priests in the annex with my shoulders drooping helplessly. It was a ritual practice that was useless for anything like moving fire or drinking water. The strange high priest I saw earlier was also nowhere to be seen.
“Can I do this?”
“Yes, since the ceremony is held in 30 minutes, we have some free time. Shall we do it one more time?”
“… Yes.”
The priestess who helped with the ritual was a pretty kind person. She didn’t ask for her name, but judging by the way she was dressed in a fancy priest’s garb, she seemed to be holding a fairly high-ranking position. I tried to calm my strangely excited mind by rehearsing once again, such as moving the fire or drinking water.
… For some reason, it felt like the instinct of a succubus would sweep me over again.
