Volume 7 - CH 3.5

Part 5

Having become naked, Rafleisha extended a hand to Rem.

「Since we will be praying to God, isn’t cleansing the body only natural.」

「……Th, that’s true.」

「Since there is a handed down tradition for the sake of the ceremony, could you do the same as me. First, from the left hand.」

「……In undressing?」

「Like this.」

Rem breathed a sigh.

「……Fuu……I understand.」

Diablo thought about making it so that he didn’t see them, but Rafleisha said something outrageous.

「If you enter the 《Altar Room》, you are a ceremony participant. Since you will be standing before God, you need to similarly cleanse your body.」

「Fuah!?」

This time, Diablo let out a voice similar to Rem from just a little while ago.

「Ahh, I seeー」

Shera nodded, and placed her hands on her clothes without any hesitation. She smoothly started to take her clothes off.

Elves were a race with a prideful nature, but do they surprisingly have no opposition to being nude?

Rem blushed.

「……Shera……aren’t you embarrassed?」

「Just a bit. But I bet my life and swore to God after all.」

「……Th, that’s true. For me of all people to feel like that……This magic ceremony is needed for the sake of my own future……As well as for the peace of the Races. Shera had promised a large compensation, and even bet her life on it. I should not be feeling bashfulness!」

「Ahaha……It’s just like bathing after all.」

「……That’s true. And it’s not like we’re being seen by some unknown person.」

Rem also started to undress.

Diablo also resolved himself.

In this situation, he alone couldn’t say “I won’t participate since I’m embarrassed”. He might have selfishly refused if it was his past self though……

He had always acted together with Rem and Shera ever since he came to this other world after all, and even a sense of comraderie had sprouted.

「It cannot be helped. I suppose I will accompany you as well.」

There was also a problem in terms of fighting power. When Rem didn’t have her summon crystals and when Shera didn’t have a bow and arrow, they couldn’t fight. At a time where an accident happens when they don’t have equipment, only Diablo could use magic.

He stored his War Scythe in his pouch.

He took off his mantle, as well as his top.

His heart beat accelerated.

Taking off his clothes in front of women, it really was embarrassing. He had a relationship where he went into the bath together with Rem and Shera, but it was not something that he got used to.

──Above all, it would be embarrassing if they figured out that I didn’t have a normal presence of mind! At times like this, I’ve got to use math!

By filling his thoughts with numbers, he could concentrate blood from his lower half to his brain.

The value of pi, 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419……

「Ugh……Next is, what was it……7? Or was it 1?」

「……What’s wrong, Diablo?」

「Well then, let us head to the altar.」

Rem blinked twice, and asked a question as if to check something.

「……U, um……What about our clothes?」

「Hohoho……What are you saying? Even though you went through the trouble of cleansing yourself, there would be no meaning if you wore impure cloth once again.」

Rafleisha opened the door.

Wind came in.

It was the outside.

The Dark Elf village.

Since it was the back of the castle, it was a different direction from where they came with the carriage, but several buildings with similar structures were lined up.

The sky had already become madder red, but it was still plenty bright.

There were Dark Elf women that were either preparing dinner at the hearths, cutting firewood, or doing maintenance to their bows.

「……We’re going to walk……through here?」

Rem raised a dry voice.

Rafleisha took the lead and went outside.

「Let us hurry. This Ceremony Magic needs to start before the sun sets after all.」

「……Ah……Uu」

Not just her face, Rem was dyed red as far as the nape of her neck.

As expected, even Shera’s eyes were spinning in bashfulness.

「Fuwahー!? Are we going to go while naked!?」

「If you’re having second thoughts, I don’t mind if only Rem-san comes along, you know?」

Giving off a nonchalant air, Rafleisha looked over her shoulder. Since it seemed that cleansing one’s body at this place and then walking to the altar was a custom, she was probably used to it.

Rem asked a question with a voice that sounded like she was squeezing it out.

「……In, in this village……there are only, Dark Elf women, right!?」

「Yes, of course. The men, when they reach the age where they can hold a bow, their fathers or older brothers take them away as trainees after all.」

「……Is that so.」

Rem resolved herself and went outside.

Immediately near her, there was a Dark Elf woman carrying a bundle of branches on her shoulder.

「Hyah!?」

No matter how much of a custom it has become, as expected, being completely naked on the roadside is surprising.

That woman saw the appearance of the rest of the group, and seeming to have understood that it was for the sake of the Ceremony Magic, she made way after making a bow.

Rafleisha started walking unashamedly.

Having turned red, Rem and Shera followed after her.

──This sure has turned into something mean!

Since he couldn’t turn back now, Diablo also moved his feet forward.

The village woman dropped her bundle of branches and a *gashan, bara bara* sound was made.

「Hii!?」

They arrived at the east end of the village.

In a floor-raised building, it seemed that it was used as a granary. Climbing up a ladder, the second floor was an 《Altar Room》.

A purple carpet was spread out, and several mysterious tools used in rituals were lined up.

At the back of the room, there was an old silver holy symbol placed down.

In addition to sweat, tears and other things, Rem had suffered various terrible things but……

「Haa……haa……」

「Now then, Rem-san, go to the center of the magic formation. Could Princess Shera and Diablo-san sit behind her? Try not to doze off.」

「Of course……I will, be fine.」

Rem made a deep breath.

Rafleisha turned to the symbol and started to offer her prayers. Although solemness could be felt, in short, she was reciting the scriptures. He had gotten bored with just five minutes.

Shera groaned.

「This, is it going to continue until morning, Diablo?」

「So it would seem. Do not fall asleep.」

「I might be hungry.」

「Endure it.」

「I, I need to pee.」

「!?」

Thinking “this has turned into something terrible”, Diablo and Shera went pale.

Although various things had happened……

The Ceremony Magic was held without incident.