CH 2

“You are probably hiding her!”

“But you have been checking every day for half a year now.”

“It has been half a year since the last Saintess passed away. And the Miasma from the Shadow World only increases.”

“But there have not been any reports of health concerns yet.”

“Perhaps for the human territories. But unlike your lands, our elven territories are directly facing the Shadow World. The Miasma is on a completely different level to this country!”

“That being said, it is up to the Creator to summon a Saintess from other worlds. Just because the Temple happens to be in human territories, does not mean that our country has the means to do anything.”

In a place that looked like an office, a blonde haired man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties was shouting at a silver-haired elf who appeared to be a similar age. The scene was being witnessed by a beastman who leaned against the wall and a red-headed dwarf who sat by the table and drank ale. This scene had repeated itself nearly every day for the past six months.

This was the Sun World. It was said that the Creator made the world out of boredom. The world was largely split into two. The Sun World and the Shadow World. While they faced each other, there was no communion between them, as the Shadow World offered nothing but Miasma. It was believed that when God created the Sun World, he pushed everything he didn’t need to the side and sealed it into the Shadow World, which became the Miasma.

The Miasma would flow through mountains and enter the underground dungeons and give birth to monsters. Monster formed from Miasma would turn into magic stones, which enriched the Sun World. As long as the dungeons were properly managed, the Shadow World was nothing but a resource for the Sun World. However, Miasma would also leak into the Sun World through the sky. If this became too thick, people would become ill and crops would die. It was up to the Saintess to purify the world of Miasma.

Unfortunately, there were no Saintesses with such abilities native to this world. And so they had to be brought from other worlds. One each time. As long as that person was here, then the Miasma could be purified.

However, the previous Saintess was dead for six months now. And there were no signs of a new one appearing in the Temple. According to historical records, even the longest stretch had been three months.

While people weren’t falling from ailments just yet, the thicker Miasma caused people to become irritable, and there was a rise in criminal activity. What would happen if this continued for another six months?

It was the king of the humans who sighed with exasperation. Why couldn’t the Creator have made his own Saintess along with this world?

“Also, every time you keep the Saintess in human territories. The purification would have been much faster if she came to our lands. Our lands become thicker with Miasma every time there is a new Saintess. What do you say to that!”

“You may think that way, but it is not as if we are keeping them here. What are we supposed to do if she says that she is afraid of riding an airship?”

The king was reminiscing. The previous Saintess had been a quiet person. She had made a small fruit garden and vegetable field inside of her shrine in the royal palace. There she had lived, rarely speaking to anyone. But when she did greet visitors, she would offer delicious sweets and tea. It was not as if she disliked the company of others. However…

“And then she said that she was afraid of beastfolk. But she did show an interest in trains fueled by magic stones. She even visited the Dwarf kingdom.”

“Hmm. They say that she really enjoyed the Dwarven food too. But she did not stay that long.”

The old dwarf chimed in with a slow voice. The elven youth walked around the room irritably.

“Why does God always summon from the same country? Every single time it is a timid person. I’m sure the next one will visit the Dwarves but refuse to ride airships as well. But the only other option is to cross through the mountains…”

“Ladies tend to hate the mountains and its bugs.”

The beastman muttered. Perhaps he was in the canine family. His almost white, ash-colored ears grew from the top of his head, his hair was long and flowed down to his back. He also had a tail that swayed quietly behind him.

“I know! That is why we use airships!”

“The beastfolk are just as troubled as you. Their people have become restless. If she is so afraid of them, maybe we could put her in a cage and take her there…”

“Are you stupid? As if she would want to visit their kingdom in such a state!”

“Well, it’s the same with the elf country too.”

“Right?”

The king of the humans said as he furrowed his eyebrows.

“There is no point in complaining now. Unlike you lot who have retired, I am still the king of my country. So please allow me to do my job…”

Out of nowhere, a sudden sharp ringing could be heard. The atmosphere in the room changed in an instant.

“That is…”

“The coming of the Saintess!”

“Quickly! To the Temple!”

The elf and the beastman rushed out of the room. Their servants shortly followed after them with exasperated expressions.

“There is no need to rush. People are stationed in the Temple at all times…”

The king said tiredly. The dwarf laughed and said:

“But they have waited so long. And also, something feels different this time. This Saintess must be quite powerful. We should go and see her as well.”

“Well, nothing good will come from leaving everything to those two.”

At the same time, Chiharu and Maki were slouching with crossed arms.

“What? What?”

“Just now, my stomach felt like how it does when you go down a slope in a car.”

Chiharu seemed frantic, but Maki replied to her lazily.

“I guess so? But Maki-chan, look at this place.”

“Hmm?”

They were supposed to have been at the bar only a moment ago. They had opened the door and went outside. So why were Chiharu and Maki now sitting down on a hard stone pedestal? Why were they in a cathedral-like place with such a high ceiling? Why were they surrounded by so many foreign people?

“Two Saintesses?”

“Which one?”

That was what they heard.

“Is this a film set?”

“Their Japanese is very fluent. Maybe they are extras. We’re probably in the way, let’s move.”

Maki slowly stood up but immediately sat down again.

“Nope, my legs have gone.”

“Yeah, let’s just drag ourselves off then.”

They held on to each other as they slowly descended from the pedestal.

Just then, there was a screeching sound as a door was opened. A large person held the door open as a man with long hair came running into the room.

“Where is the Saintess! Ohh! Oh?”

He froze. Behind him, the larger man followed as he walked slowly. Huh? Dog ears? When they looked down they could see a big furry tail wagging behind him. As drunk as they may have been, they were modern people. This situation was impossible.

“Another world…summoning…”

As Chiharu mumbled in shock, Maki began to walk towards that man with her wobbly legs.

“Rasche!”

No! That’s just a human with dog ears and a tail! Maki slipped through Chiharu’s fingers and would not be stopped. By the way, Rasche was the name of the Maki’s family’s golden retriever. Chiharu had seen pictures before. But didn’t he have folded ears?

“It’s short for Patrasche.”

“Do you want him to die?”

Chiharu couldn’t help but make a joke, but Rasche was 12 years old this year and would likely live a long life. Maki had been so fond of the dog that she said parting with him was her only regret when moving into her own place.

Maki swayed as she approached him, her arms stretching out to his ears. The man with dog ears looked both a little concerned and a little happy as he stared back. Then he picked Maki up as he would a child and lifted her into the air. High. High. Maki giggled like a little girl.

Oh, this was bad! Chiharu frantically ran forward to make him put Maki down, but something tripped her. Yes, it was her right leg that had tripped her left. Oh, right. I’m so drunk…

She thought as the ground came closer to her face. Just then, someone rushed from the side and caught her. It was the other man.

Ah, such long ears. Smooth white hair. Blue eyes. What a pretty older man.

But, I’m sorry. No one should ever pick up a drunkard with hands around their waist and lift them in the air like that.

Obviously, she puked.

The Temple went dead silent. Then there was pandemonium. The dog-eared man and the long-eared man could not move from shock for quite some time.

Translator’s Note:

Patrasche is the dog from The Dog of Flanders.

Also, isn’t this chapter’s title the best?