Heretic? No Way (4)
Karen, who had suddenly awakened, spoke with dark circles that had faded but a face still streaked with tear tracks.
“Yona. You truly must become a priest.”
“No thanks.”
Proselytizing. A hassle. Just like when I was cursing out Those Who Swallow the Twilight, the refusal slipped out without a moment’s hesitation.
The faith that had hardened Karen’s gaze wavered for an instant.
“Please reconsider. I’m not asking you to become an inquisitor like me.”
“Still no. Living while clinging to complicated doctrines sounds annoying, I’m not kind enough to spend my life helping others, and above all, starting over as an apprentice priest at this point… absolutely not. I have things I need to do with that time.”
A perfect statement of immaturity. But every word was sincere.
People on the Pan Continent, where gods actually exist and religion is as natural as breathing, might not understand… but for someone like me, who came from an irreligious Earth, the job of priest held zero appeal.
More than anything, I didn’t want a profession that would bring me too close to the Goddess of Love. Setting aside the fact that I cared about her, the idea still felt off-putting.
Just think about it. One day you write a novel, and one of the characters grabs you by the hair and drags you into the book. How terrifying and horrifying is that? No wonder so many authors go bald. Of course, I still had a full head of hair!
Karen listened to my explanation, nodded, then took my hand firmly. Seeing her cling to me so desperately while still in that reverent prayer posture almost made improper thoughts cross my mind.
As I stared down at her in a daze, Karen continued in a confident voice.
“Doctrines are merely guideposts to help understand the teachings the Goddess has bestowed. For someone like you, Yona, who already understands and practices her will, they are nothing but empty formalities.”
“Eh.”
“You don’t need to help others or live a particularly good life. Compassion is one form of love, but it is not the only form. Since you’ve received the rations, you already know this, right? The distribution is always handled only by those who give it. That’s why only those devoted to compassion at the temple take on the task.”
“So it wasn’t because you got demoted…?”
“You don’t need to start over as an apprentice priest either. With my recommendation letter, you could complete basic training and immediately become a full priest. Whatever work you plan to do, the title of priest won’t be a disadvantage.”
“The priesthood isn’t some kind of certification…”
It wasn’t a license, but she had a point. In this world, a priest was basically a guarantee that someone had passed a basic character test and received a certain level of education.
Yet despite all those merits, I still didn’t want to get entangled with the Goddess just yet. Maybe later. But not now.
In the end, I once again sent a pleading look toward Elly and Rydia. With my hand still caught, though, I couldn’t hide behind anyone like before.
“…Ugh.”
Elly, who had frozen up unable to keep up with the sudden shift, finally snapped back to her senses. On the other hand, Rydia was—
“Nobility… revenge… Those Who Swallow the Twilight… distortion. The Goddess… but even so, in the end…”
She was muttering something with a grave expression, making it hard to rush her.
Why did she suddenly break down like this? I had no idea, but Rydia was out of commission too.
While I sighed inwardly, Elly strode over and grabbed Karen’s hand, pulling it away.
“Enough. Yona said he doesn’t want to.”
“But didn’t you just see? This person must walk the path of the priesthood!”
“All I see is a big woman grabbing a little boy who clearly said no and trying to force him.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Karen seem to calm down a little and release my hand. I immediately darted behind Elly with a shashash and peeked out my head.
“Thank you for the offer, but I have things I need to do.”
“…Is that so. May I ask what those things are?”
“Of course. First, I owe Elly and Lady Rydia a debt, so I have to repay that before anything else, right?”
“If it’s money, I can pay it on your behalf.”
“No. It only means something if I repay it myself. In Elly’s case, it’s the kind of debt that can’t be settled with money.”
“What kind of debt could it possibly be?”
Karen looked puzzled. Elly initially tilted her head too, but then her ears and tail suddenly stood straight up as if she’d realized something.
…I had no idea what she was thinking, but that reaction that made her look like she knew something was helpful. I could use it.
Karen’s eyes could only see emotions. So rather than how cleverly I lied, what mattered was how fitting the emotion I displayed was.
I slightly lowered my gaze and captured the right feeling. What I recalled was a joke we often shared, mixed with a bit of sincerity. The relief of meeting the first trustworthy person in this world. The goodwill I received when I was at my most pathetic. And the gratitude that came from all of it.
I opened my mouth, letting those feelings color my words.
“The truth is… when I was really struggling, Elly helped me a lot, you know? Even now I’m freeloading at her place for cheap, getting meals, receiving all sorts of conveniences, and she even took on a request from Lady Rydia to teach me how to be an adventurer…”
“Rydia?! You told Yona about that?!”
“Temple… conflict… knight… the oath is absolute… and even voluntary…”
Of course, Rydia was still completely out of it, so Elly’s voice didn’t reach her.
Karen glanced over the two of us and nodded.
“They seem like good people.”
“They are. So I thought about it carefully. How I could repay this kindness. And then Elly said…”
I trailed off deliberately and looked at Elly. As if checking whether it was really okay to say it. Naturally, Elly—who had received no prior warning—simply stared back at me with wide, innocent eyes.
I covered my mouth with my hand and whispered like I was sharing a secret.
“She told me not to worry, that I could repay her with my body once I grew up. And I thought, well, that much seems fine, so I said okay.”
“…Pardon?”
“I…?”
Karen tilted her head like someone who couldn’t process what she’d just heard, while Elly looked genuinely panicked.
Before Elly could explain, I quickly added,
“I’m sorry. I already belong to Elly, so I cannot return to the Goddess’s embrace.”
“……!”
Karen’s eyes widened as if she’d been struck by lightning. Then she slowly turned to look at Elly.
“W-what?! It’s not like that! Hey, Yona! Why are you suddenly saying weird things?! You’re causing a misunderstanding!”
Her yellow eyes shook restlessly and her tail drooped limply. I didn’t have the same divine grace as Karen, but even I could tell what emotion Elly was feeling right now. Panic. And anxiety. The classic reaction of someone caught doing something bad.
Karen’s expression twisted in various ways before she glanced at me, let out a sigh, and said,
“…I understand for now. You have a great debt of the heart and want to focus on that first, correct?”
“Yes!”
“Then I will step back for the time being… but please remember that my offer remains open at any time.”
Karen nodded, then took out a small heart-shaped ornament from her pocket. It gleamed with a silvery light and looked quite expensive.
“If you show this at the temple and give my name, you will receive the treatment you deserve.”
“Thank you! I don’t know if I’ll use it, but I’ll cherish it!”
“…That is enough.”
With a complicated expression, Karen called over Ian, who was clutching his head in an attempt to understand the current situation.
“Ian. The mission is over, so we return immediately. We already have so much work; we cannot afford further delay.”
“B-but…”
“No reversal. Let’s go.”
“…Understood.”
Ian reluctantly followed Karen but turned back once to give us a polite bow. I waved lightly in response, and soon the two disappeared into the crowd.
That’s right. Even though Elly had instantly snatched up a perfectly fine orphan, gaslit him, and turned into trash while raising him! And even though I had fallen for it completely and become a pitiful victim utterly smitten with Elly!
Anyway, I had successfully fended off what seemed like a persistent attempt at conversion.
It seemed like she had seen something resembling priestly qualities in the way I approached the world… but life isn’t something that works out just because you have talent, right? Results only come with proper effort.
In the case of priesthood, that effort is faith. And faith can only come from the heart. Since it looked like I still couldn’t sincerely accept the Goddess, she must have decided to take a step back.
Of course, she probably hadn’t given up completely. I didn’t know what realization she’d had, but Karen had suddenly awakened. Having experienced it firsthand and seen something, she’d probably keep pursuing me quite persistently.
For example… instead of dragging me straight to the temple, she might try to gradually win over my heart and recruit me.
Well. Even if that’s the case, that’s a problem for later! For now, I could purely enjoy being freed from that annoying situation!
“It worked out well, Elly! You don’t have to send me off to the temple, right? That’s a relief!”
“…Considering I sacrificed my social reputation, it doesn’t feel like I gained anything.”
“Aww! What do you mean you gained nothing! You got me, Yona! That’s definitely a profitable deal!”
“It was a forced sale…!”
Elly looked like she was about to cry.