Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: The One Who Must Protect Chastity
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"Well then, everyone, take care."
Diena hurried out of the village after wrapping up our brief adventure together.
"You could've stayed longer."
"Yeah, kinda feels unfinished."
"Please come say hi next time you're in Dredys."
The three of them—whose bond with her had grown over that short time, escaping prison together and sharing drinks—waved goodbye with reluctant expressions.
"Sure, and if you four ever visit our hometown, make sure to look me up. I'll treat you right."
Diena was heading back to her rural hometown on the southern outskirts of the Lillias Kingdom.
The reason for her rushed departure was undoubtedly me.
After what happened in the temple's underground boss room, it was only natural she'd want to put distance between us as quickly as possible.
Even now, whenever our eyes met, she'd avert hers apologetically.
Yet her cheeks would flush faintly, as if some other emotion lingered.
'Well, our faces do look alike.'
My female form was surprisingly similar to my male one.
The features were just a bit softer, more feminine.
Diena probably pictured me as a woman whenever she saw my face.
"Ken too... take care."
"Yeah, we'll swing by your way next time—all four of us."
"Hehe, that's a solid two weeks by carriage, you know?"
At least in the end, we smiled, shook hands like friends, and parted ways.
She looked me straight in the eye, giving a proper farewell befitting a friend.
After seeing Diena off...
"Hmm..."
"Feels like a roadblock?"
"Nah..."
I immediately pulled out the demonic sword blueprint I'd obtained from the temple underground and began examining it.
Completing the demonic sword via this blueprint marked the end of the mission Adrian had entrusted to me.
Having secured the blueprint, my next step was to craft the sword itself.
'But this... from the description, it reads more like a holy sword than a demonic one.'
Most of the required materials were luckily already in my possession.
High-rank rare weapons like demonic swords typically incorporated dragon parts.
And conveniently, I'd recently slain the ancient dragon Tarros, boss of Tarros Tower, securing the top-tier dragon materials.
Thus, I had nearly everything needed for the sword itself.
Nearly.
'Temper it in the Goddess's Tear...'
I froze at one specific part of the blueprint's instructions, clutching my head.
It was the page detailing the blade's forging process.
It called for combining premium ores and a Dragon Heart, then tempering in the Goddess's Tear.
But it omitted what exactly the Goddess's Tear was.
I resented the lack of detail, but it was probably for security.
This blueprint was hidden deep in the temple, passed down in utmost secrecy.
No way they'd list every material so helpfully.
They'd only hand it to a successor who already knew the basics.
"Goddess's Tear?"
"...Emily, you know something?"
Emily peeked over my shoulder as I groaned over the blueprint in our inn room.
She reacted knowingly upon reading the part that had me stumped.
"Kinda? Not really, but a high-ranking palace official who visited me once mentioned something similar."
"Really? Who?"
"Dunno... Definitely someone important, though."
Emily pressed her temple, lost in thought at my question.
Recalling that person, probably.
"Ah! They wore a necklace like priests do, so definitely a cleric! And their robes were super fancy."
"A cleric?"
"Yeah! One of the palace folks who looked like a priest mentioned something like it! Makes sense since it's the Goddess's Tear—they'd know, right?"
"I see..."
Emily's guess rang true: the Goddess's Tear had to be something tied to the goddess.
I had no clue what it was or where to find it, but a priest might.
'Head to the palace, then?'
The palace official who visited Emily was likely one of those heralding the Child of Prophecy as saint.
Not a mix-up—real palace heavyweight.
'But the palace is far from here... Plus...'
Rapne was there.
Sure, Rapne wasn't the demonic Child of Prophecy anymore, nor cursed.
But problems remained.
She was an 'escaped convict.'
One who'd busted out with a state traitor.
'I'm back to male form, so I'm fine.'
Rapne's appearance was etched in the recording magic stone.
Adrian said wiping the records would take time, so the palace area was risky for a while.
"Alright, let's check out a local church tomorrow."
"Helpful?"
"Yeah, you gave me a lead."
Thanks to Emily, I had direction on tracking the Goddess's Tear.
She blushed bashfully at my gratitude, beaming.
"Hehe, then as a reward for the praise..."
"Reward?"
Rapne and Mary had gone shopping in the market for travel supplies.
So the inn room held just me and Emily.
Gulp.
Maybe something naughty?
As that impure hope flickered...
"Haa~ This hits the spot. They always get mad when I do this."
What Emily wanted was simply to sit on my lap and snuggle close.
Seizing our alone time, she rested her head on my shoulder and hugged my waist tight.
"Sorry for being trash..."
"Huh? Why, Ken?"
"Nothing, just..."
Disappointed in myself for that brief dirty thought, I gently stroked Emily's hair.
She purred contentedly in my arms, like a cat, letting out a pleased laugh.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, I left the inn alone and headed to the village's small church.
Our current spot was Riverible, a modest village with a decent market and adventurers' guild—surprisingly well-equipped.
Hence, it had a small church dedicated to the goddess.
"This the place?"
I lifted my hood slightly, peering up at the church building.
Small or not, it was still a church.
Two stories tall, with a little clock tower bearing a tiny bell.
I wore the hood and came alone for simple reasons.
Ditch the hood, and my refined looks drew village girls lingering nearby.
Some even stalked me to the inn.
After one such incident, I made a habit of hooding up in unfamiliar villages.
And leaving the three behind?
Similar issue.
'They're too vigilant.'
Especially Rapne.
If some unknown woman approached, she'd bristle fiercely, ready to snap.
My fault, of course.
I'd... proposed to all three at once.
Her wariness about more women made sense; I couldn't argue.
All my own doing.
Emily and Mary were subtler but eyed outsiders warily too.
The resulting mishaps had me in the habit of handling important errands solo.
'Hope they get it.'
I approached the church, praying to the goddess for answers.
If the priest here knew nothing of the Goddess's Tear, I'd hit a bigger city's church next.
Travel time aside, bigger cities upped risks for wanted Rapne.
Best to get intel here and done.
With tense steps, I pushed open the church door.
Creak.
The old wooden door's groan echoed through the high-ceilinged space.
The sound drew the gaze of someone cleaning inside.
"Oh? What brings you to the church?"
The cleaner was a woman in priestess robes.
Her long, deep purple-black hair swayed against the black fabric.
She greeted me with a warm, gentle smile.
'Crap, a woman...'
I instinctively pressed my hood down and bowed slightly.
"Uh, I, well..."
Never imagined running into a woman even here.
Figured a kindly old grandpa priest in a tiny village church.
"Hmm...?"
She tilted her head at my demeanor while mopping, then approached cautiously.
"Confession, maybe?"
"...Pardon?"
"...You've sinned, right?"
Her eyes were earnest.
'Ah, yeah, hood down, head low—looks suspicious.'
Creeping in hooded makes one look like a criminal anywhere but church.
...Though I was an escapee.
"N-No, that's not—"
Obviously a misunderstanding, so I waved to correct her.
"Hehe, everyone says that. Don't be scared—come this way."
But she clung to the assumption, grabbing and tugging my hand.
"Wait, no—!"
"Looking for a man? Hoo, I'm a proper priestess, you know. Got my certification from the palace archbishop himself. Leave it to me!"
Seemed she'd faced rejection for confessions due to her gender; she puffed her cheeks indignantly.
Ignoring me, she dragged me along urgently.
'What, chasing quotas?'
Like a salesperson gunning for bonuses, she hurried to not lose me.
No bonuses, probably.
Likely a habit from clients getting snatched despite her skills.
I tried to clear the misunderstanding by placing a hand on her shoulder.
Then.
"Whoa!"
"Kyaa!"
She lost balance on the freshly mopped slippery floor.
Thud.
She tripped over her own feet, tumbling.
I caught her, but my feet slipped too, sending us both down.
"Ow ow... S-Sorry! I forgot I was cleaning...!"
"No, it's—uh—"
"You okay? C'mon, up you—"
Fortunately, sprawled atop me, she seemed unhurt and quickly rose, offering a hand.
My enhanced physique shrugged it off; I reached for hers.
"......"
"......Oh."
My hand brushed my bare head—the hood had slipped.
Revealing...
"Ah, aaa..."
The priestess extending her hand froze, pupils dilating wildly as her pale cheeks flushed crimson.
"Ah, ky..."
"Ky...?"
Her lips quivered as she struggled to speak.
Finally, she yanked her hand to her chest, turning away, and shrieked.
"Kyaaaaah!! A demon appeared to tempt meee━!!"
She doused my head with holy water from her pouch.
"I'm a priestess devoted to the goddess━!! I won't fall to temptation from the likes of youuu━!!"
Soaked.
'Not gender bias on confessions, huh.'
I realized why people avoided her.