249 - - CHAPTER XXIV -- THE LEGEND OF THE Saints

On that day, many people gathered on the main street of the Holy City.

The purpose was to see the saint they had heard so much about.

"Oh!　Here they come!"

someone shouts, and a large carriage appears at the entrance to the Holy City.

The carriage has neither walls nor a roof, and inside there are chairs that look like luxurious sofas.

There was only one girl in the carriage.

Yes, that's Tracy.

This parade was not only to celebrate the temple's victory on the pilgrimage, but also to spread the word about the saint who had revived the sacred artifact.

"......!"

Ms. Tracey has a strange expression on her face, like she is smiling or not smiling, and waves to everyone.

"So that's the saint. What a strange and mysterious smile!

"Thank you, thank you, thank you."

The people of the Holy City were moved by the sight of Tracy and worshipped her.

"I heard that the saint has awakened a sacred artifact that no one has been able to handle for a long time."

"I know. The priests in my temple are always talking about the same thing.

I guess they are talking about the control device that Tracy raised at the sanctuary.

We were there, so we know it well.

After her pilgrimage was over, Tracey, who had illuminated the sacred device, was canonized as a saint by the priests of the Holy Land.

They can't think of her as anything but a saint, since she activated the sacred artifact that had not been activated for many years at the moment of her touch.

Well, in reality, the sacred artifact is a magic item that I made in my previous life to manage it, and the light was only reactivated by my pouring magic power into it.

I just never pointed it out.

I didn't point it out, because Tracy's saint status is very useful for the request we have received this time.

Mr. Phoca feared that the decline of the main temple would cause a major shift in the balance of power among temples and start a war.

That is why he hired us to help the main temple win the pilgrimage, which could shake the balance of power among the temples.

In light of this, the fact that Tracy was recognized as the saint who awakened the sacred artifact was very convenient to restore the authority of the temple of the Lord God.

I was worried that the current temple of the Lord God would get into trouble after we left because of the decline in faith, but with a clear symbol of a saint chosen by God, it would be much harder, if not impossible, for people to think of doing bad things.

We'll be able to defend ourselves once the congregation of the Temple of the Lord God grows, so until then, let's let the magic item I gave to Tracy do its job.

"But still, the priestess of the Temple of the Lord God who had been in decline is a saint, isn't she?

"I guess that's what the temple of the Lord God is all about."

Well, aside from the sacred artifacts, I think that Tracy's heart in choosing to go on a pilgrimage for the sake of the temple, knowing the risks involved, is definitely what makes her a saint.

As was the case in my previous life and two previous lives, a true saint for battle was never a person with power.

"I'm a follower of the god of business, shall we go to the temple of the Lord God?"

"Oh, me too."

We turned our backs to Tracy, who was welcomed by everyone, and left the place.

"Good luck, Tracy!"

◆

After watching Tracy's celebratory parade, we came to the Adventurers' Guild.

A staff member led us into the private room where we had come before, and there was Phoca, who had already arrived.

"We've been waiting for you, Mr. Raksi," said Lex.

"So I guess this means you've completed the request, right?"

When I confirmed this, Mr. Foca nodded his head in satisfaction.

"Yes, it went as planned, if not better.

By "more than that," you mean you, Tracy.

"I never thought there would be a real saint like me, not just a title to show off the authority of the temple."

"......, yes."

Yeah, well, you don't have to tell the truth.

Besides, if they find out that the control device glowed because I put magic power into the sacred artifact, they will surely ask me how I knew such a thing.

So, let's not say anything about this.

More than that, ......

"So, can I have the detoxification potion to get back to normal soon?"

""Mm-hmm.""

"Cue!"

Yes, in some ways this is more important than the reward.

""""What?　Are you going back already? """"

Mr. Foca says that with a disappointed look on his face.

I mean, why are you and Liliela with us?

"It would have been fine if you had just left it like that for a little while longer."

"""Yes, yes, yes."""

""""I'm going back!

"Cue!"

"Oh, what can I do?"

Phoca-san sounded reluctant and took out three small vials from his pocket.

"These are the detoxification potions you need to get back to normal.

After receiving the potion from Phoca, we drank it in one gulp, and Mofumofu licked the remaining liquid from the bottle.

After a little while, the same heat that I had experienced before rushed through my body.

Ugh!"""Ugh!"""

"Cuuuuh!"

And when all the heat is gone, the things I encountered under my eyes disappear and a different sensation returns in their place.

"""......"""

We silently move to the corner of the room and check it out.

""""It's there!

"Cue!"

We looked at each other and shouted.

I'm back!

We hugged each other in a deep emotional embrace.

"We're finally back together!"

It's been a long time!"

"Now we don't have to feel awkward anymore!"

"Cuff cuff!"

We were so happy to be back in our bodies.

"......The sight of boys dressed as girls hugging each other ......is indescribable."

"This is also ......."

"I didn't know this was a thing."

"It's quite interesting."

While we were rejoicing like that, we heard such a voice behind us, and we were forced to regain our composure.

"...... brother, give me a change of clothes."

"Me too, please."

"Uh-huh."

Gently taking our clothes out of the magic bag, we start to change in the shadows.

"You could have left them on."

"Hey, don't look at me, Mr. Megli!

I'll finish changing my clothes while Mr. Norbu is still in trouble.

After we managed to finish getting dressed before Mr. Megli came over, we went back to talking about rewards.

I don't want this topic to be dragged out any longer!

"Here's your reward of 1,000 gold coins and all the expenses you'll need for this trip."

The gold coins on the table were obviously more than what was originally paid.

I wonder if it is double, or even triple the amount of gold.

"Excuse me, isn't this too much?"

When I asked for confirmation, Mr. Phoca shook his head and said that was not true.

"This amount is reasonable considering the cost of transportation to the Holy City and the expenses incurred in carrying out the request. After all, we renovated the temple of the Lord God, didn't we?

"Oh, sure, it must be a lot of money considering they renovated the temple."

"Well, big buildings cost a lot of money to renovate. My mother used to worry about the additional budget and the cost of security.

Liliela and Megli nodded at Phoca's words.

I wonder if Megli's mother is an accountant or something?

"And yes, thanks to you and your team's advancements, we managed to complete the ordeal with the help of you. Thanks to you, we have managed to gain some face within the temple as followers of the Mother of the Earth.

Well, to be honest, I don't think Foca, an S-rank adventurer, would struggle with such an ordeal. ...... Oh well, it's just an excuse.

I guess it's an extra reward for our hard work on Tracy's case.

However, it's a bit aggressive to reward them just for showing us how to attack a training facility for beginners.

But maybe that's the kindness of Mr. Phoca.

"If it were true, I should pay you more, but this is the limit of the amount I can move freely and without people getting suspicious. In exchange, if there is any trouble with the Church of the Great Mother of God in the future, I promise to lend a hand to the extent of my authority.

I understand. I'll be very grateful for your reward.

Yes, thank you.

Okay, now that you've received your reward, the job is done.

It was a lot of work, but after all, it was a great opportunity to see the Holy City and the Holy Land.

"By the way, Lex. By the way, Mr. Lex, since you are here in the Holy City, you might want to do this baptism: ......"

Well, I guess we're going home!

Sensing that I was about to get into trouble, I immediately get up and leave the room.

"What?　Oh, wait a minute, Mr. Lex!"

"Wait a minute, bro!"

The next thing I know, everyone rushes to their feet and chases after them.

"Kana?　I'm not finished with you yet!

I could hear Phoca's voice coming from behind me, but I could only smell the trouble of a baptism at a time when the Holy City had just given birth to a new saint.

I want to live a quiet and sober life, so I don't want any more trouble!

"Oh, he got away again."

I tried to invite him to the baptism since he had come to the Holy City, but he was gone in a flash.

I thought he was the one who deserved to be a saint.

I feel disappointed, but I cannot stay depressed forever.

After all, there is no doubt that we will be doing more and more work at the temple in the future.

I am, after all, a saint of the Temple of the Mother of the Earth.

Even if that title is just an inscription to applaud my success as an adventurer, being called a saint will certainly allow me to be associated with the saints of the temple of the Mother of the Lord God.

That meant more troublesome work for the temple to keep its face.

"If it were possible, I would have liked those girls to work with us as saints..."

I return to my room in the temple with a sense of disappointment.

After my pilgrimage, I have been given permission to rest for a while, and I intend to take it easy for a few days.

"You're late, Foca!"

And yet, for some reason, I had an unexpected visitor in my room.

However, he is not a crook, quite the contrary. Well, in a way, I am a crook.

There was a man I knew well, the head of the temple of the Mother of the Earth.

The head of the temple!　Why are you here?

I mean, this is my room!

Why are you having tea so elegantly?

And you've even prepared some obviously expensive-looking tea cakes!

"Well, don't just stand there, sit down."

"Ha, ha. ......"

This is my room!　Why is the temple director acting like it's his room?

I wouldn't say such an impolite thing even if I had my tongue in my mouth!

Here, have a cup of tea and calm down."

"Oh, thank you very much."

I receive a cup of tea brewed by the chief priest and fearfully take it into my mouth.

"What are you afraid of? It is not poisoned!　Well, I'm sure you can detoxify it yourself, so it would be fun to try."

I want you to stop him, because he's really going to do it.

I guess the uninformed members of the congregation and the novice priests would have envied this scene, but knowing his true nature, I could only wonder what he was up to.

And the fact that the tea tasted so good made me feel frustrated again.

"So what can I do for you?　I've already submitted my report."

After all, a new saint has appeared. I was asked the same questions over and over again, and finally obliged to submit a report, so there's nothing I can tell you now.

"Hey, I'm just trying to reward my subordinate for a job well done."

No way.

"Oh, no."

"You're showing your true feelings, little girl."

"I think you heard me wrong, Temple Chief."

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was just being careless.

"You know, you're the only one who could openly admit that you misheard me. I wish you'd stop playing around out there and take my place.

"You must be joking. I'm not sure I'm up to the task of taking over as Temple Master.

No, really, please don't do this. His successor will surely be forced to take care of all the troublesome things he's been putting off.

That's what he does.

That's the reason why he can continue to be the head of the temple, the highest authority of the congregation, for decades.

"Well, I'm not saying right now. "Well, not right now, but before I die or you become an old woman."

What?　Is this guy planning to live until I become a grandmother?

Could it be that they are not human?

"Well, let's cut to the chase."

Here they come!　He gets to the point so abruptly.

"These days, countries are involved in extraordinary situations. Not only in neighboring countries, but even in faraway foreign lands."

The chief priests would list the names of nations not only in the vicinity of the Holy City, but also those located far away or across the sea.

"In such a situation, the invocation of the sacred artifact and the descent of the saint. Everyone is worried about what might happen."

Yes, I know what you mean, Temple Master.

I have not forgotten the adventure in the underground facility that the Adventurers' Guild asked me to go on.

"What bothered me more than anything else was when you said that the trials in the Holy Land suddenly became heinous in difficulty to coincide with the descent of the saints."

"Oh. Is that it? ......"

That was really tough. To be honest, if we hadn't seen Lex and his team's strategy, we would have dropped out just like the rest of the temples.

"After discussing it with the heads of the temples, we agreed that it was probably caused by the appearance of the saints.

"What?"

Consultations with the heads of the temples?　The highest authorities in the temples, who are said to be on the verge of an all-out war whenever they meet face to face, are exchanging sarcasm?　When did this happen?

You seem surprised. We don't always use our brains to line our own pockets. We return to the apostles of God as soon as we are needed, that's what temple leaders are for.

...... How is that different from a monk-breaker who says what is convenient?

"In view of the current situation and the advent of the saints, we have decided to head the Temple of the Lord God and to unite our opinions in case of emergency. In other words, it's business as usual."

Good, I'm surprised at all the surprises, but it seems to have worked out.

"I'm glad you got what you wanted, little Phooka."

"What?

What?　What do you mean, "as you wish"?

"If you invite a bunch of S-rank adventurers from other countries, you'll get what you want. You're going to have to do better than that in the future, little girl.

"Ha, ha ......"

So you're saying you saw through all of this.

I guess they missed it.

But just before he closed the door, he said this.

"You paid me out of your own pocket, and I'm getting all this for free!　Thank you, Foca."

"Huh?

As if to say that I had said everything I wanted to say, the door to the room was closed, and a disgusted voice was heard behind the door, hissing and hissing in the distance.

"Oh, you little b*tc*!"

I didn't miss it!　He only used me because he didn't want to spend his own money!

I was just using you because you didn't want to spend your own money!

We had returned from the Holy City and life was back to normal again.

The Church in the country is not showing any strange behavior, so it seems that our pilgrimage has been successful in ending with the victory of the Temple of the Lord God.

"Whew, I'm tired!"

The ladies are out today, so it's just the guys and me working out.

"I guess training with Lex is tougher than training with just us.

"Ha-ha-ha, let's have dinner after we work up a sweat."

Meat!

Back at the house, I hear a familiar voice coming from the living room.

"I knew it was ......."

Ah, so Liliela and her friends came back while we were concentrating on our training.

"So is this ......?"

"No, ...... is hard to throw away."

"What are you doing?"

I walked into the living room, and there were a number of clothes laid out on the table.

They were wrinkle-free, and I could tell they were brand new.

"Oh, you've been shopping?"

"What's with all the food?"

"Didn't you do your grocery shopping yesterday?"

But you've bought a lot of stuff.

There must be at least ten pieces of clothing.

"Yeah, so, you know, just ......."

Lilieira and her friends turn to us in a strangely good mood.

"To Mr. Lex."

Gyros.

"To Nolbu."

The three of them looked at us, then slowly stood up and said, "We're going to have a great time.

"""I found some clothes on sale that would look good on you."""

What about """......?"""

It looks good on ...... What?　What do you mean?

"Would you like to be a girl again?"

Liliela took out a bottle of the potion.

"What's that in here?

That is exactly the s*x change potion that Mr. Phoca made us drink!

"Mr. Phoca gave me the rest as a souvenir."

What kind of a thing is Mr. Foca giving away?

"Don't worry, we'll help you get dressed."

I'll take care of your makeup.

Liliela and the other girls quickly grabbed their dresses and accessories and started to imitate them.

"squeak, squeak, squeak!"

Fluffy laughs happily at your feet.

"Of course, there's one for you, Fluffy."

"Cooooooooooo!"

Come on, let's change your clothes.""""

No, thank you!"""""" Cue cue!

Wait!

We came back from training and ran out again as fast as we could.

I can't be a girl anymore!