Chapter 55

Joanie knew that, unlike the religions she was familiar with in reality, priests and nuns of the Church of Edel were considered to be of equal status.

Therefore, the authority and abilities granted to the two positions did not differ.

“…Then, is there really a need to differentiate them?”

This was Joanie’s question, to which Celine replied:

“Although the positions are the same, the genders are different.”

“Is it because it’s a distraction for training?”

“That’s partly true, but it’s mainly because we have different roles. For example, caring for orphaned children is a job typically assigned to nuns like me.”

“Ah, I see…?”

“However, it’s true that the boundaries have become a lot less strict compared to the past. So, like you said, maybe it’s better not to draw a distinction. I should propose this when I return…”

“Th-that was just an offhand comment, so you really don’t need to do that…! Please, I’m begging you, don’t do it!”

Joanie waved her hands frantically in panic, which made Celine chuckle softly.

“I was just kidding.”

“…If you joke around like that again, I might get accused of heresy.”

“That’s impossible. Edel is merciful.”

“I really hope so.”

Joanie sighed and hugged Kana, who was sitting in front of her, tightly.

“Hehe, soft and squishy Kana is the best….”

“…Let go if you don’t want to fall off the horse.”

“Just let me stay like this a bit longer. Sigh, ha… Ah, it feels so nice—Ouch!”

Joanie screamed as she attempted to rest her chin on Kana’s head.

Kana, who had landed a surprise blow on the unsuspecting Joanie, scoffed.

“When I say don’t do it, don’t do it.”

“A-all right….”

Joanie, who had assumed Kana was just soft and squishy, found herself sticking out her tongue in pain after being struck unexpectedly.

Although Celine was open to conversing, she rarely initiated conversations. On the other hand, Kana almost never started conversations and spoke only minimally when engaged.

Thus, unless Joanie was playing pranks or engaging in light chatter, their journey was generally quiet.

As they rode their horses, they occasionally encountered other travelers.

Sometimes, they ran into intimidating mercenaries; other times, it was a merchant group with wagons full of goods, or even a noble from a nearby small kingdom.

Those who initially regarded them with wary eyes dropped their guard and greeted them warmly as soon as they recognized Celine’s attire.

How many days passed like that?

Narrowing her eyes and looking far into the distance, Celine suddenly exclaimed in a bright voice:

“Ah, I can see the Holy Kingdom…!”

“Wow! Finally!”

Joanie perked up and responded excitedly to Celine’s words.

Indeed, as Celine had said, a massive wall gradually began to appear on the horizon.

Joanie was left speechless as she took in the majestic grandeur of the structure.

“Hehe. Is this your first time visiting the Holy Kingdom?”

“Huh…? Ah, yes…! I’ve only ever heard about it before, but seeing it in person… it’s truly amazing.”

The Holy Kingdom was more like a city centered around the sacred site rather than a typical country.

In reality, apart from Sedeth, there were no other cities within the Holy Kingdom.

It’s just that the size of this city alone was so enormous that it could dwarf most fiefdoms.

“Is that some kind of holy magic?”

“Yes. It’s a holy barrier created by Edel’s divine power radiating from the sacred site.”

Instead of building walls to protect itself from foreign invasions like other cities, Sedeth Holy Kingdom used a massive holy barrier to serve the same function as a fortress wall.

For such a large area to be enclosed by a barrier…

Hmm, I suppose it’s quite impressive, though I’m not entirely sure how impressive.

Joanie looked up at the holy barrier in the distance.

On the other hand, Kana’s reaction was slightly different from Joanie’s.

Although it was unclear what she was thinking, Kana gazed at the barrier with an expression full of weariness.

Though they were sitting together on the same horse, their reactions were worlds apart. Watching them, Celine chuckled softly.

***

Entering the Holy Kingdom was a simple task.

“Is it really okay to let us in so easily?”

Joanie was so surprised that she couldn’t help but ask.

In fact, calling it “simple” seemed like an understatement.

All they did was exchange a few light greetings with the Holy Knights standing at the entrance before passing through the barrier.

“That’s because you’re traveling with me. I vouched for your identities, which is why it was so easy to get through.”

Celine’s answer was straightforward.

“Then, does that mean it’s more complicated for others?”

“Of course. Didn’t you see the group in front of us?”

Joanie recalled the merchant group that had entered the Holy Kingdom just before them.

“Ah… I thought they were just being thorough with the inspection because they were merchants. To prevent them from sneaking in anything that’s not allowed or something like that…”

“Well, border control is handled by the Holy Knights, so I’m not sure either. But I’m certain that others don’t get through as easily as we did.”

“I see… Wait, if it was really that easy for us to get through, then does that mean…?”

“Yes?”

“Is it because Celine is actually someone really important?”

“…Hehe.”

Joanie was stunned by Celine’s enigmatic smile.

“It’s true?!”

“No way. I’m just an ordinary nun.”

“People who say that usually aren’t ordinary at all…”

“I’m serious. Even if you were traveling with another priest or nun, it would have been the same.”

Celine deflected Joanie’s suspicious gaze and changed the subject.

“By the way, do you two have a place to stay for the night?”

“No. Neither Kana nor I have ever been to the Holy Kingdom, so we don’t know where anything is. Can you recommend a good place to stay?”

“Hmm… The inns are probably already full since the Descent Festival is coming up.”

“It hasn’t even started yet, and it’s already packed?!”

“That just shows how significant Edel’s descent is.”

“….”

Joanie was momentarily at a loss for words, hearing Celine’s devout response.

Now that she thought about it, it was like trying to book accommodations or transportation during the peak season in reality—it was nearly impossible.

When she thought about it that way, it wasn’t hard to understand.

Joanie nodded, accepting the situation.

“…I see!”

But the person she was conversing with was distracted by something else.

Celine crossed her arms and narrowed her brows slightly.

“An empty inn…”

“Um… If we look around enough, I’m sure we can find at least one place, right?”

“I can’t guarantee it. Even if there is one, you’d have to do a lot of searching.”

“Ugh… What should we do? Should we just sleep outside…?”

“The church does have temporary accommodations for those who can’t find a place to stay…”

“Really?!”

“It’s literally a temporary shelter, so it might be a bit uncomfortable. Are you okay with that?”

“…That doesn’t sound very reassuring.”

Joanie hesitated to say she was okay, given the ominous tone of Celine’s words.

Seeing is believing, after all.

Joanie and Kana decided to follow Celine’s guidance and headed to the temporary shelter provided by the church.

After finally seeing the place for themselves, Joanie spoke up.

“This is not going to work.”

She then turned to Kana for her opinion.

“What do you think, Kana?”

Kana shook her head.

She didn’t even want to speak, simply shaking her head in disapproval.

The temporary shelter was a massive tent large enough to accommodate dozens of people.

While it could keep out rain and wind, it offered no place to wash, and there wasn’t even a minimal privacy screen for the individuals staying there.

Neither Joanie nor Kana wanted to spend the night crammed into such a space with so many others, so they turned away from the tent without saying a word.

“It really is a ‘temporary’ shelter.”

“The free lodgings for pilgrims have also filled up already.”

“Well, I guess we have no choice but to keep searching for an empty inn…”

Even if I have to rough it myself, I should at least find a proper place for Kana.

Joanie clenched her fist with determination.

She could handle a little debuff from sleeping on the ground, but she couldn’t bring herself to have Kana, a resident of the world of Silia, sleep under such conditions.

“Kana is like a precious child. I must protect her.”

If I run around until my feet are sore, I should be able to find at least one place.

Just as she was steeling herself to say goodbye to Celine and start searching, Celine, who had been deep in thought, clapped her hands.

“Ah, how about this? If you two are okay with it, I can offer you an empty room at the church. There’s only one room available, so you’d have to share, but…”

“Of course it’s fine!”

Hearing Celine’s offer that came at just the right time, Joanie nodded vigorously, worried that Celine might change her mind.

“If anything, we should be asking you if it’s okay. Thanks to you, we got through the checkpoint easily, and now you’re even offering us lodging. We feel like we’re imposing too much on you.”

“Hehe, imposing? Not at all. I’m the one who should be thankful to both of you. I was able to return comfortably thanks to your company, and you even put up with some inconveniences for me.”

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Celine’s gentle touch made the horse snort softly. Seeing Joanie get a nod of approval from Kana, Celine said, “Then I’ll lead the way,” but then she suddenly stopped.

It was as if she remembered something she had forgotten. With a slightly awkward voice, she spoke up.

“Oh, but there’s something you should know first—”

***

“Sigh….”

I looked at the neatly folded item in front of me with a complicated expression.

It’s not that I’m wary because I don’t know what it is.

The problem is that I know exactly what it is.

As I stared down at it, reflecting my complex emotions, Joanie, who was humming as she wandered around, poked her head in.

“Kana, aren’t you going to wear it?”

“…”

… I have to wear it.

… I know I have to wear it, but…

“A nun’s habit on Kana—this is going to be amazing…!”

Drumroll.

I ignored Joanie’s strange sound effects and sighed again.

Yes, the item in front of me was clothing—a nun’s habit.

Why am I, who isn’t even a nun, being made to wear a nun’s habit?

“Why, you ask? It’s because staying here comes with the condition that you wear the habit while you’re here.”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

“It’s written all over your face.”

At her words, I instinctively raised my hand to touch my face.

Of course, there was nothing on my hand.

“Ahaha! Did you really think something was written there?”

“No.”

I was just checking to see if my expression was that easy to read.

That’s what I said, but Joanie didn’t look like she believed me at all.

I gave up trying to persuade Joanie, whose face was plastered with an irritating smile, and instead fiddled with the habit in front of me.

Let’s rewind time a bit. When we saw the temporary shelter, which looked impossible to stay in, and were about to lose hope—

Celine made a suggestion.

She offered us an empty room in the temple.

However, the available room was in the convent, and the condition was that we had to wear a nun’s habit while staying there.

At the time, I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal, so I agreed. But now that I have to wear it, I’m not so sure…

It’s not that it’s revealing or cutesy to the point of being cringe-worthy, but why do I feel so reluctant?

Knock, knock.

“Are you two still not ready? It’s almost mealtime.”

“Ah, just a moment! Kana hasn’t changed yet! Kana, it’s almost time to eat. If you don’t hurry, you won’t get to eat. Or should I help you put it on?”

“Ugh…”

In the end, unable to resist Joanie’s urging, I squeezed my eyes shut and reluctantly picked up the nun’s habit.