Love Is Fleeting by Nature

Love is fleeting by nature.

"So, in my opinion... Oh! Elray. Delivery again?"

The old man had been excitedly explaining his poker hand when he spotted the woman moving something in the corner. His face lit up with a welcoming smile as he greeted her.

"Ah, yes! I just finished grinding some flour. By the way, who are those two outsiders?"

The woman named Elray approached with a sociable smile, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She was a beauty with an androgynous charm. Her short-cropped brown hair gleamed with luster, and her brown eyes were so deep they almost looked black. In contrast to her androgynous features, her voluptuous figure was so striking that even the stoic Alkai couldn't help but glance her way.

"This one is a converted barbarian. That gentleman over there is the priest who helped with the conversion."

At the old man's words, Elray flinched for a brief moment.

"I see... So you're a priest."

But she quickly regained her composure and introduced herself.

"I'm Elray. I run the mill here."

Jenkinson took the hand she offered and smiled.

"My name is Jenkinson Beckett, a priest."

"Alkai... it is."

Alkai, who had nearly slipped into casual speech, quickly corrected himself to a respectful tone after catching Jenkinson's glance. Elray reacted with visible fascination.

"Heh... It's my first time seeing a barbarian act this tame. By the way, what brings you here, Father?"

Elray asked with eyes full of curiosity. Jenkinson answered in a relaxed manner.

"It's a mission. I'm afraid I can't speak freely about clerical duties, so please understand."

"That's right. The priest is correct. One shouldn't go around blabbing about holy work."

The old man nodded in agreement and turned to Elray.

"Since you're here, why don't you stay for a drink?"

"Oh, should I? Are you treating, old man?"

Elray sat down with a sly grin. The old man nodded.

"Of course! I won big this time, didn't I?"

"Well, that's true. By the way, Elray, what did the lord say? He came for an inspection recently."

The shop owner asked with a worried expression. Elray took a big gulp of beer before answering.

"Nothing much. The military provocations at the border have gotten worse, so he told us to be careful. There are still those who come up here occasionally."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

It really wasn't anything serious. The shop owner laughed as he spoke. Then he called out to the innkeeper, who was slowly waking up.

"Hey! Bring me another beer."

"Hey, Mackin. Is it okay to leave your shop like that?"

It's already morning? The innkeeper muttered with a tired face as he looked at the still-energetic Jenkinson, the old man, and Alkai—who had been playing poker all night.

In response to that question, Mackin answered confidently.

"The priest healed me."

"Well, it wasn't that difficult."

At Jenkinson's shameless reply, the innkeeper looked utterly dumbfounded.

"Priests do things like that?"

Was it acceptable for a priest to restore someone's stamina after a night of gambling and drinking? It was completely different from the priests he knew. For starters, since when did priests join in on card games? That alone felt strange.

"Heh heh! If you're up, then hurry up and bring some snacks, you lazy Loki!"

The innkeeper—Loki, that is—grumbled at the old man's nagging but still headed into the kitchen.

"Ah, I should open the shop soon. I'll take my leave first."

As it was time for Mackin to open his store, he left. Alkai then asked Jenkinson.

"By the way, Lady Asa hasn't returned yet."

"Well... she's probably working hard. I told her not to come back until I gathered information."

Chew. Jenkinson munched on the snacks Loki had brought and spoke to Elray.

"By the way, Sister Elray."

"Y-yes? What is it?"

Elray tensed up when the priest suddenly looked at her with serious eyes.

Damn, he's ridiculously handsome.

She wasn't particularly interested in men, but even she had to admit he was exceptionally attractive. It felt like a feast for the eyes. The longer she looked, the more she began to understand why women were drawn to men.

While she was thinking that, Jenkinson smiled and said,

"It seems we'll be seeing each other again soon. You, Sister."

Thump. At that moment, Elray's heart began to race. But it was by no means a pleasant flutter.

What does that mean?

Fear. The emotion making her heart pound was none other than fear. Just how much did this priest know? And if he knew, how had he found out?

Elray broke into a cold sweat, unable to tell how much the smiling priest before her actually knew.

And at that moment...

Jenkinson said,

"I'd prefer it if it were you next time as well. The way I address you."

"...Y-yes. Of course."

Is this just pressure interrogation?

Yes, he couldn't possibly know. There was no way a priest who had only been here for a day could know about her relationship. Elray tried ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to calm herself with that thought.

"Yes, that would be good."

Fortunately, Jenkinson simply smiled and said that. Seeing his expression, Elray felt a wave of relief inside.

Yes, she hadn't been caught. She convinced herself of that.

"Sorry for imposing on you even for a place to sleep."

Asa smiled awkwardly as she prepared to leave. She was truly grateful for their kindness, but... sadly, she hadn't gained anything from her stay here.

Should I head back...?

Listening to the grandmother's farewell, Asa prepared to return to the city. The ranch was quite far from town, after all.

I'll continue my inquiries once I'm back in the city...

She paused. It was then, on the road back to the city, that Asa caught a scent from a passing woman and froze in surprise.

What is this?

It was strange. Why did this short-haired woman smell like...

Lina's scent?

It was such a faint trace of body scent that only Asa's magically enhanced senses could detect... but it was definitely there. How was this possible?

Well... she's heading toward the ranch, so they must just be close friends.

Asa tried to brush it off. Since the woman was going toward the ranch, she was probably an acquaintance. The scent was a bit strong, but maybe they hugged often. With that thought, Asa tried to let it go without much concern.

"Oh? You're actually conducting a proper investigation."

Yes. If she hadn't run into Jenkinson, who had been secretly following her, Asa would have dismissed it as mere coincidence.

"Huh?"

"...Looks like it was luck. Still, I won't deduct points for this case."

At her dazed reaction, Jenkinson sighed as if he'd expected too much and said,

"That woman. She also carries another woman's scent, doesn't she?"

Asked that, Asa blinked stupidly and asked back.

"...Yes. But is that a problem? The way she was visiting, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they just seemed like close friends."

They're both women, after all? That was Asa's reaction. Jenkinson wondered whether he should get angry at such a naive response or start from the very basics.

"Why do you assume that people of the same sex wouldn't commit adultery?"

"Eh? Well, b-because they're both women...?"

At Asa's answer, Jenkinson let out a deep sigh. She dismissed her suspicions just because of that? She was disqualified as an investigator. Thinking that, Jenkinson asked,

"Hmm, then why do you think Goddess Yuno forbade same-sex relationships?"

Asa pondered for a moment before answering.

"...Um, because there are people who do it?"

Ah. Seeing her realize the implication only after saying it herself, Jenkinson sighed again. Of course. The very act of forbidding something implies that people are doing it. Anyway, Jenkinson wasn't too disappointed in this clumsy holy knight. After all, the fact that she'd found this place meant her luck was good. Perhaps for a holy knight, there was no talent more necessary than earning the goddess's favor.

"Well then, shall we go, Lady Asa?"

Thus, Jenkinson asked her to follow him. He'd left Alkai at the inn since he'd grown friendly with the people there. There was no need to bring him along and risk raising suspicion.

"In this case... how will you punish her?"

"Hmm."

When Asa asked with a worried face, Jenkinson pondered how to explain it to this tender-hearted holy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knight. Had she grown attached after staying there?

"If someone is a sinner, showing them mercy by guiding them to redemption is the kinder act, Lady Asa. You must understand that."

Jenkinson spoke with a sympathetic expression.

"If you leave a sinner alone, they'll only become an even greater sinner."

"...Yes."

Asa nodded at those words. The priest was right. Feeling pity for someone who had already sinned and leaving them be... would only turn them into a bigger sinner. With that, Asa steeled her resolve.

"Then let's go."

She shouldn't hesitate just because she'd grown close to them. That would only cause them greater suffering in the end. Perhaps sensing Asa's determination, Jenkinson's expression changed.

"...You're still far from becoming a father, though."

"Pardon?"

When Asa tilted her head in confusion, not understanding the remark, Jenkinson chuckled softly.

"Never mind. Let's go, Lady Asa."

What kind of reaction would she have if he told her he suddenly felt like he was raising a daughter? With that thought, Jenkinson walked ahead. It seemed the time had come to wrap up matters in this place.