7 Episode 7 "Meet the Chief Priest on the Journey to Metecal".txt

Metekal, the second largest city in the kingdom, is a two-day walk from the royal capital.

I'm not used to traveling and Cecil has a small stride, so it's going to take about two and a half days.

"I'm worried about our pursuers, so I guess we'll hurry up in the first half and take it easy in the second half.

The road leading from the royal capital is wide and surrounded by grassland.

The people traveling are all moving in groups, surrounding their carts and so on.

It is said that this is to protect them from being attacked by demons.

We're the only two people traveling alone.

"Cecil.

Yes, Mr. Nagy.

Can you get them to mix in with a random caravan in a situation like this?

I think I can do it. It's much easier for them to get a good bodyguard.

A good bodyguard?

It's about Nagi.

'Cecil is a cheat character, but I'm not so sure about me.

'I don't know what it means, but "Chi-tila"?　You're the master of the "Master of the", so you can be proud of yourself.

Well, I'll see what I can negotiate.

There are two carriages on the street.

The one in front of us and the one behind us.

The one in front of us is a rich-looking boxy carriage with a dragon's crest on the wall. According to Cecil, the people using the dragon emblem are the merchants backing up the adventurer's guild. That's why they're escorted by swordsmen in armor and wizards with wands.

The one behind them is still a carriage with a roof and walls, and both have a wing-like emblem on it. It's a bit smaller than the one in front of me, and it's less decorated. It's a very practical chariot. This one seems to be the carriage of the "Iturna Order" that venerates the goddess.

That's why all the people around them are wearing the same kind of robes and carrying the same kind of staff. They all look like priestly types.

The people riding in the merchant's carriage are probably related to the guild.

If they're going to Metekal's guild, they're going to the same place we are. We can get information from the other side if we make contact, and if it's the adventurers around, it's not a bad idea to make friends with them.

The people riding in the carriage of the Iturna Order are probably the great people of the Order.

The cult is human supremacist, and while they're nice to people like me, they seem to look down on demi-humans like elves and dwarves. But it's complicated by the fact that there are many users of recovery magic, and even demi-humans are kind to the sick and weak. 'Reaching out to the weak' is what the goddess teaches.

I don't really want to be anywhere near either of them.

But it's no substitute for safety on the road.

If I must accompany you, in this case .......

'We have a choice, don't we?'

I headed for the carriage behind me.

"Nah, Nagi-sama!

What the hell, Cecil?

Isn't that the carriage in front of you?

'Why do I have to meet the guild people now? We're going to meet up with them when we get to Metecal anyway, right?

No, I'll keep you informed or introduce myself.

Cecil: "Cecil: ...... Think about it.

Cecil is smart. He has a good memory.

But he forgets one important thing.

"If the guild likes you, you have to work for them.

Didn't do anything wrong, sir!

What if they give you priority and put you on the job?　How can you refuse to be kind and tell me?

If it's a good job, I think you should take it.

We're at risk of having our skills spotted because of it.

My 'Ability Rebuild' is a nonsensical thing called Rare Skill Create, and Cecil's 'Ancient Language Chanting' is a cheat skill that turns the weakest magic into a maximum magic without question.

I don't want them to get close to me personally and pry into me and find out who I am.

That's why I want to keep my relationship with the guild members strictly professional.

If you get to know the people you work with personally, they'll think it's you and me, right?　I don't mind working all night long for at least one day. No midnight pay or anything else.　Oh, I pushed your time card twice. I don't know how many hours I've worked this way. Hahaha! And sometimes it's like.

Have you forgotten what we're here for?

''Do nothing and play under the sun,'' right?

Yeah, I mean, just take it easy and live a normal life.

So I dismissed the guild's carriage, which could be spotted for its cheat skills.

I'll ask the 'Iturna Cult' carriage if I can accompany them, even though there are some problems.

'...... but, Nagi-sama. I am .......

Cecil pinched his own ears to show them.

Long ears, and brown skin. And red eyes.

Proof of the demon race.

Well, the demon race perished, leaving Cecil behind, so I guess I can push the idea of being a dark elf.

''I don't want Nagi-sama to be looked at in a white light because of me.''

I'll be fine. I have an idea.

I won't be the only one who gets disrespected.

For starters, let's start by catching them off guard.

Let's do one thing here, let's bump into them for no good.

''The 'Iturna Order'. This is a traveler. If you are going to Metekal, may I accompany you for your safety?

I called out to one of the priests surrounding the carriage.

The eyes behind the hood looked at me and Cecil - I feel like they looked at me and Cecil - I think.

Ah, I can vaguely imagine the line that comes back to me.

'We cannot allow a lowly dark elf slave and his master to accompany us.

She's not a slave, she's a wife. She's a wife.

I say it right back.

"──!

''...... haaaaahhhh!''

Cecil turned bright red, as if he could hear a bang, and the priest made a strange noise.

''But you're wearing a collar.

That's the way it's played.

────?

But I'm a dark elf, for sure!

The power of love is cleansing your body from the inside out.

──────── !!!!

This, this, this, this for a little girl?

Dark elves don't grow at the same rate as humans. It doesn't matter how big she is. She is a full-grown woman in body and soul, and has the capacity to accept me as a human being.

────────────!!!!!!????

'I've heard that the 'Iturna Order' worships the Goddess of Mercy. Would it be contrary to the teachings of the Order to discriminate against her for overcoming her race differences to accept me and aim for the right path?

────────────── Kyu.

Cecil, whose face was red to the limit, fell down heckling.

Okay, nice assist.

Oh, Yomega, I knew you were too hard on her.

Oh, yeah, oh, ............ and the chief priest!

The priest rushes up to the carriage.

I thought he was talking about something through a small window, but he came right back.

'...... The chief priestess has sent me to put her daughter in the carriage,'

For some reason, he said in a voice that sounded like it came from the depths of the earth.

'Allow me to accompany you to Metekal. In the meantime, they will knock your nerve back, he said.

'Oh, poor, poor, poor!　It's so tiny!

Kaiguri Kaiguri.

A blonde girl is rubbing and nudging Cecil's head on the carriage.

The girl is wearing a white robe with a lot of feather-like embroidery. She wears silver accessories in her long hair that reaches her waist. She's holding Cecil, who's sitting next to her, with tears in her cherry-red eyes.

She was a beautiful girl.

Her fluffy blonde hair was like an angel in a game, and the face looking at Cecil had a soft smile on it. It's like a gentle beauty full of compassion. She also has a great style. Or rather, Cecil's head is almost tingling against her large breasts.

'What should I do?　You're gonna kill this guy?　How can I make you happy?

But what came out of his mouth was venomous.

'I thought the ...... Iturna cult was spurning non-humans ......?'

"Don't talk to me, outsider.

Glaring, the blonde girl stared at me.

...... This guy is the head priestess, right? And that's what he was called.

His name is Rita-Melpheus.

It seems to be the representative of this caravan.

I don't know why you're in the carriage too. You're making a mess on the seat. Why don't you get out?　Go walk outside. If you don't want to walk, I'll drag you out. I'll lend you a rope and you can put it around your neck. You'll wake up and we'll be at Metecal. In case he doesn't wake up.

I can't just get in the carriage and let Nagi walk by myself!

'Oh, how nice of you.　Can I call you Cecil?　You can call me big sister Rita, okay?

I thought the ...... Iturna cultists hated the dark elves ......?

The Pope and the bishops, yes. ......

Finally releasing Cecil, Rita, the head priestess, sighed.

She continued in a whisper so that the outside world wouldn't hear.

''So I ostensibly have to go along with it too. I don't care if it's a demon race, hating demi-humans is just plain outdated!''

...... This guy.

Now, he just said something so plainly terrible.

"Oh, but if you're Cecil-chan, you might as well be a demon...

I take it back.

This guy is an idiot.

'Dark Elf or Demon race, pretty girls like Cecil should be saved!　It's a mercy!　But I'm not going to allow you to wear a collar and play a slave...what the hell is this? It won't come off.

That's because they have a contract.

A contract?　How serious is this whole thing, you sick bastard?

Garuru, the chief priest bared his teeth.

Ah, if it were this world, I'd definitely be reported. I'm glad I'm in another world.

Cecil glances at me.

Come to think of it, we didn't discuss what we were going to do after we accompanied the "Iturna Order".

No, as expected, I wasn't expecting to be given a ride in a carriage.

Besides, this guy's attitude is too different from the other priests. I wonder if he's really the leader of the outside priests. There's not an ounce of dignity in him. Or maybe he's too friendly (mainly to Cecil).

'I belong to you, Nagi-sama,'

Cecil escapes from the head priest's hands and comes towards me.

'I hate people who say bad things about Nagi-sama.

.................. you outcast!

Oh, I knew you'd be pissed at me.

'You're doing this and that to Cecil-chan so you can't leave her, aren't you?　Oh, how helpless I am: ...... If I had the money, I could buy you out, Cecil. ......

I'm expensive, aren't I?

How much can I cancel my contract?

It's 12 million arsha.

............ Hey. Wait a minute.

When I took Cecil in, I thought it was 120,000 arsha when I took him in.

When did it get that inflated?

I've been made a 'new me' by Nagi's hands: ......

Poor thing!

You don't know what that means, do you?　Stop trying to get me fired up!

I'd like to say it, but I can't say it .......

The carriage is surrounded by priests.

I'm the one asking you to come with me. I can't say anything too rude.

It's not dignified at all, but this guy crying in front of me is the head priest of the Iturna Order, and according to Cecil, he's next in line after the pope and bishops.

'I'm sorry, I can't move that much money. ...... Yes, I can.

Saying that, Rita, the head priestess, took out a small ball from the luggage under the seat.

A white crystal ball. A sphere of skill.

''Cecil-chan, take this. I'm sorry for the common skill.

"Healing Power Lv 1". You can use it whenever this outsider makes your body ache.

Are you sure you want to do this?

It's the least I can do. And I'll give you this.

With that line, a transparent crystal ball flies in.

It's a skill that has no owner. I know what it is. I know what it is.

"Meditation Lv 1.

You use it to reflect on your own bad habits.

...... Let's see.

"Meditation Lv 1

The skill to 'notice' the 'five senses' with 'silence'.

...... two, I can't use it.

''And why is the Priestess Chief going to Metecal?''

"Recruiting for the faithful.

Ah. It happens all the time.

''I'm running out of recoverers for the Demon King battle. If you join the Iturna Order, you'll be able to use your sacred skills to use recovery magic. We'll dispatch a recovering person to those who need it. Humans are the most apt for sacred abilities.

Rita, the chief priestess, hmmm, snorted.

I see.

So that's why you're sticking to human supremacy.

The other world is also a pain in the ass .......

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well. It's a good idea. I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.

Can I ask you one question?

"I'm a foreigner... oh, I'm sorry!　Cecil, stop staring at me!

............ Okay, listen up.

So why does a guy in an organization that discriminates against demi-humans like Cecil so much?

You like the little one. You like dark elves?

Or so I thought, but that's not what I'm asking.

"Don't you think it's all about race-based discrimination?　Why are you the head priest of the Order?

I have no choice, I'm a foundling.

Did he pick you up?

I told you, the Order of Iturna is a cult of mercy. They take in children who have lost their parents and raise them exclusively as humans. From there, they only educate children who have the aptitude for divine abilities and make them members of the Order.

What about the unfit kids?

You know what to do at ......?

Slaves.

'Not necessarily, though. Some of them become adventurers, and some of them help out in the shop, but that's not always the case. They all have their own reasons for doing things... anyway!

With a bang, Rita, the head priestess, slapped her knees.

''I've finally been put in charge of gathering followers as the head priestess, you know?　You're a third class special!　He's going to rise to the Pope and change the Faith!　Stop discriminating against Demi-humans and allow me to stroke little Cecil with impunity!

If he's happy with it, that's fine.

I mean, I don't see a single word about faith or goddess coming out of this guy's mouth.

''Once upon a time, I had a beastly friend. If I bullied Cecil-chan, it would be embarrassing for them, right?　I've decided not to do that kind of thing.

'Ehem,' said Rita, the head priestess, stretching out her large chest.

'Besides, you know how much fun it can be to join the Order?

Fun?

The song. Iturna Order is to sing a song to the sunrise and sunset in praise of the goddess. They try to do it in a secluded place, out of sight, as far as possible. That's because it's so powerful. It is said to awaken even the sleeping gods.

I'd love to hear .......

I'm sorry. I can't let too many other people hear it. But if you're Cecil, you might want to listen to ...... oh, but if you find out that I let an outsider listen to you, you might want to listen to the Chief Priestess position ...... oh, but you might want to listen to me.

I don't really care.

I wasn't talking to you, jerk. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I talked to you, so get out of here.

I'm not going to be able to get it right. I'm not going to be able to get away from it, but I'm going to be able to get away from it in order to protect the exterior of the chief priest, Cecil.

'Oh wait, let me just pet Cecil one more time!

Rita, the Chief Priestess, waved her hand and there was a tap on the carriage door.

'Excuse me, Chief Priestess. Have you finished preaching to the infidel?

That's what I'm talking about!　Do you understand?　Dark Elf Girl. Follow the teachings of the goddess Iturna, and you will be blessed with equal human grace!　There's that boy again!　You're ...... irredeemable, so get the hell out of here (blah blah blah blah).

Yes, yes.

After listening to the discarded lines, me and Cecil got out of the carriage.

'...... Totally, the upstart is getting carried away.

I don't think you have any idea where you stand.

'You're the one who was picked up. You don't even know where you were born.

'I'm sure they took it up because we'd be embarrassed to take up the sign to gather believers at Metecal for menial work. It's certainly beautiful to look at, you know. It'll help you attract people.

You have no idea that the position of the chief priest is a temporary one. ......

The whispers of the priests surrounding the carriage.

When they see us, they quickly look away.

I'm sure they didn't hear us because they're keeping the carriage at a distance, though.

...... I guess it was a mistake to rely on the cult's caravan after all.

But still, .......

...... Rita, it's a tough job.

It's .......

I can't say anything about it because we live in a different world, though.