Chapter 57

“…What?”

Kana furrowed her brows as she responded curtly.

Her expression was far more dramatic than when she had to eat vegetables.

“So, Kana, you—”

“Do I look like I’m asking because I don’t know?”

“…I thought so.”

Hearing the noticeably sharper tone, Joanie started sweating nervously.

Kana, who had subconsciously moved her hand to her waist, crossed her arms awkwardly when she didn’t find anything there.

Does she really hate it that much?

Joanie couldn’t really understand why.

What Celine had asked of Kana was merely to pretend to be a nun.

“Why on earth do I have to pretend to be a nun?”

“It’s not about becoming a nun, it’s just pretending—”

“Pretend or not, why do I have to do it at all?”

In response to this valid question, Celine answered,

“As I mentioned earlier, the private prayer rooms are generally only available to members of the Order.”

“So?”

“So, we have to be mindful when allowing outsiders into such a place. It’s to establish a minimum level of justification.”

Kana listened intently to Celine’s explanation, still with her arms crossed.

“Of course, it’s not like outsiders have never been allowed in before. If they’ve made significant contributions to the Order or if it’s for an exceptionally serious matter, permission can be granted.”

“An exceptionally serious matter?”

“A typical example would be cases related to the racial wars.”

If it’s that serious, then I will personally take the issue to the Holy Father.

When Celine said this, Kana fell silent for a moment.

Then, the girl’s response implicitly conveyed her refusal.

“Then what does ‘significant contributions to the Order’ mean?”

“It could be a large donation, or spreading the light of Edel far and wide…”

Does Lady Kana fall into that category?

Kana’s answer was obviously ‘no.’

With such rules, there was nothing more to be said.

In the end, Kana was the one who relented first.

From the beginning, there was no way she could win a fight when she was asking for something on someone else’s home turf.

Still, she wasn’t completely defeated.

She made one last attempt to resist.

“The Descent Festival is a huge event, so people from the Empire will definitely come. I have bad blood with them, so I can’t risk being seen.”

“You’ll see, but this convent does not allow outsiders. You two are exceptions. If any problems arise, our Edel Church will support you.”

“…If no outsiders are allowed, there’s no need to worry about being seen.”

“Attention doesn’t only come from outsiders, you know.”

“….”

Every word she said was met with a perfectly prepared answer. Kana found herself speechless in no time.

“…What do I have to do?”

To Joanie, Kana’s disheartened expression made her look like a puppy with its tail drooping.

“Don’t worry. This is just to have a plausible excuse. I won’t make you do anything difficult.”

“…You’re not lying, are you?”

“Of course not.”

Celine’s eyes curved gently as she spoke.

Kana’s body trembled as if she sensed a dark hand approaching her.

***

“Just sweep from here to there, and when you’re done, wipe it down with this cloth.”

“…Okay.”

Cleaning. seaʀᴄh thё ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“We need to do the laundry… Can you help?”

“Alright.”

Laundry.

“Oh no…? We need to organize everything, but we’re short on hands…”

“…Want me to help?”

“Oh, Sister, I appreciate the offer, but it’s alright. These items are quite heavy, so it might be difficult for someone as young as you to help.”

“I can do it.”

“Oh… No, no! If you get hurt— …Eh? How are you…?”

“I can lift this much.”

“My goodness…”

Warehouse Organizing.

Wearing the nun’s habit, I went around the convent performing various menial tasks.

Sweeping diligently, wiping, washing laundry, organizing…

Watching me move around, Joanie made a comment.

“…What the…? Why is she so good at this? I was expecting Kana to fumble around…”

Tripping over a mop and falling.

Breaking plates with a loud crash while washing dishes.

Or carrying a pile of things only to drop them and end up on the verge of tears.

“…I was looking forward to seeing her act like a clumsy novice nun!”

“….”

Isn’t that beyond clumsy? More like a complete disaster.

“And then, after a series of mistakes, she’d get scolded by a senior nun and lock herself up in her room, sobbing quietly. Then, the senior nun who scolded her would open the door, give her a warm hug and say…! Hehehe…”

“…Have you finally lost your mind?”

This level of delusion is a mental illness.

I shook my head.

Up until now, I’d lived a life completely unrelated to being a nun.

The same was true even in my past life.

If anything, I was further removed from it back then.

Because back then, due to the barriers of gender, I couldn’t even consider becoming a nun.

But the things I was doing now were closer to what a maid would do than actual duties of a nun—petty chores.

In a way, Celine had kept her promise not to give me any difficult tasks.

‘Does this have any meaning?’

‘It’s to show that even though you’re not a believer, you have enough faith to experience what it’s like to be a novice nun.’

She’d laughed while explaining that it was just for a minimum level of justification.

Because of that, I wandered around the convent handling random chores scattered everywhere.

Since the convent was quite large, there were a lot of tasks, but it was nothing too difficult for me, having experienced the trials of the unknown heavens.

If I would’ve given up on something like this, I wouldn’t have been able to live with Garid.

Living with Garid, I’d gotten used to all sorts of housework.

So, Joanie’s delusions were doomed to never come true from the beginning.

And even if I had caused all sorts of trouble and got scolded, I wouldn’t have locked myself up in my room to cry.

“If you’re going to say weird things, go away.”

“Huh? Will you be okay without me?”

“…Don’t go away. Just stay quiet.”

The reason Joanie was following me around, despite not needing to pretend to be a novice nun like I did, since she had no intention of using the private prayer room…

‘Everyone in the Holy Kingdom speaks Arkish, right? But you’re still not very good at Arkish.’

It was under the pretext of translating, as I’d struggle with communication without her.

That was why I brought her along from the start, so I had no reason to refuse.

Although I didn’t mind her just following along quietly, her constant chattering was starting to get a bit annoying.

But I couldn’t exactly get rid of her either.

What a troublesome person she is.

‘You’ll get bored. Are you sure you’ll be okay?’

‘Hey, it’s only a few days. I can endure that much for you, Kana.’

‘…Hmph.’

…Still, I’m a bit thankful.

***

Squeeze—

Splash.

When I twisted the cloth with both hands, water poured out from it.

It had already been three days since I started pretending to be a nun.

According to Celine, no matter how long it took, it wouldn’t exceed four days, so today should be the last day of pretending to be a nun.

‘….’

I really hope that’s the case.

I wonder how it’ll turn out…

“Oh, Sister! Are you finished?”

As I was finishing up my cleaning, the nun who assigned me the task approached me with a bright smile.

“…I’m not a sister.”

I repeated the words I’d grown tired of saying over the past few days.

I knew that “sister” didn’t necessarily refer to nuns.

“With how well the habit suits you, that’s a shame.”

“….”

But they definitely meant it with that implication when they said it to me.

Even though they knew I wasn’t an actual nun, just wearing a habit and working with them made them treat me like some new recruit.

…Why?

I’d asked Celine that question before, but she just smiled and didn’t give me an answer.

“You did a great job. Would you like some candy?”

“Ah—”

Chomp.

Still, I’ll take the candy.

Munch. Munch.

Instead of using my dirty hands from cleaning, I received the candy directly in my mouth and rolled the sweet treat around as I scanned the hallway.

A sparkling, clean hallway.

No one would be able to claim it wasn’t cleaned properly.

If anyone did, they’d have to fall into one of two categories.

Either they’re someone who just wants to nitpick no matter what, or their standard of cleanliness is completely opposite to everyone else’s.

The nun in front of me didn’t fit into either of those categories.

“Your cleaning skills never cease to amaze me, Kana. It’s almost a shame to even step on these floors.”

“It’s just the basics. But, what brings you here?”

It doesn’t seem like she came to check on whether I’m doing well or not.

“Oh, look at me, how forgetful.”

The nun clapped her hands together.

“Sister Celine has called for you.”

“…!”

…Finally.

Although Celine had said it before, things don’t always go the way you want them to.

I was prepared to work for another day if things didn’t go as planned.

I’m glad things worked out just as she said they would.

“That’s great! Isn’t it, Kana?”

“Yeah.”

Joanie had tried to hide it, but it was clear she’d been getting more and more bored as the days went by.

Unlike me, she didn’t even have the work to keep herself busy.

It must have been so dull that, at one point, she took up a broom and joined me in cleaning, even though I hadn’t asked.

With our rare agreement on something, Joanie and I hurried over to where Celine was.

‘…Wait a minute.’

I didn’t ask why she called me, did I?

There’s no way she called me over just to say, “Please hang in there a little longer,” right?

“Thank you for all your hard work so far.”

Thankfully, my worry didn’t become a reality.

“You may now use the prayer room… Would you like to use it today?”

“I can?”

“Yes. If you wish, you can use it right away.”

“Then, I’ll go now.”

Even if it’s already much later than I initially expected, there’s no reason to delay any further.

“I’ll be waiting in the room, so take your time!”

With Joanie’s cheerful send-off, I followed Celine and arrived at the prayer room.

It’s a place dedicated to a deity, after all, so it wouldn’t make sense if language alone made communication impossible, right?

“Then, I’ll take my leave now….”

After guiding me here, Celine left, as if her task was complete.

The prayer room became a space for only me.

Well, it is a private prayer room, so it would be strange if I weren’t alone.

How much effort did I go through just to get in here?

There was only a statue of Edel and a single cushion in the prayer room.

I couldn’t decide if it felt too barren or perhaps serene.

With a mix of emotions, I carefully knelt down on the cushion.

“Hmm….”

I awkwardly clasped my hands together, imitating the believers of the Edel Church, and hesitated for a moment.

How should I start?

I had many questions I wanted to ask, but now that I’m here, I don’t know where to begin.

“…Hello.”

After some contemplation, I settled on a casual greeting you’d give to a friend.

If my greeting bothers them enough to respond, wouldn’t that be a good thing?

“….”

No response came.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, but I was already prepared, so the disappointment wasn’t overwhelming.

I sighed and opened my eyes.

And then.

“…!”

“Hmm, are you done already?”

I found myself staring into a pair of eyes looking down at me, spinning with amusement.

…Wait a minute.

…Is that Arkish?