Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: At the Temple
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It's white.
Even clad in her black nun's habit, the first impression that came to mind upon seeing her was white.
Snow-white hair, porcelain skin, a fluffy white tail quivering delicately, and white cat ears to match.
Every part of her was white.
Except for those ruby-red eyes that gleamed like drops of blood.
Why is she here? Was she with the temple all along?
The white priestess before me, Seriph Adelrine, looked exactly like the wand-wielding beastkin I'd met after tripping into the Labyrinth.
She'd stopped that sword-wielding beastkin who was hitting on me and the shield one trying to hold him back.
Back then, dressed in ordinary explorer gear, I hadn't recognized her. But she was with the temple.
And a pretty high-ranking one at that.
– This time, Seriph Adelrine has graciously agreed to appraise your blessings. She's making a rare appearance for this joint event with the Explorer's Union. Normally, junior explorers like you wouldn't even catch a glimpse of her. Meeting her is a great honor, so please, do not commit any faux pas.
The apprentice priest Sorvel had repeated variations of that warning the whole way to the appraisal room.
In short, Seriph was a big deal in the temple.
"Nice to see you again, cat beastkin. Or should I say, Seriph Adelrine."
Last time, a silly misunderstanding had made me snap at her, but now I had no hang-ups about beastkin.
And she was a cleric who even shut down creeps throwing advances?
From the perspective of someone like me with n near-misses from assault attempts, she was basically Diana-level safe.
BZZZZZZ!!
"Eek?!"
"...?"
And just like that, my thoughts drowned in an enormous vibration and the startled moan that followed, vanishing into the ether.
What the hell was that? That airy moan.
Seriph's fluffy cat ears twitched. Her swaying tail shot straight up in surprise.
Above all, her face flushed with utter embarrassment.
Her pupils shook wildly, like an earthquake, locked straight on me.
"Th-that noise... isn't that 'that thing'?"
"I don't know what 'that thing' is, but please don't say it to me! I don't know anything about women's toys!"
"Oh right. Sorry, slipped my mind. Anyway... even this lofty priestess is just a perverted bitch in heat deep down, huh? Makes me feel pretty impressive for surrendering to my lust ages ago."
I heard Kakchi and Jermi whispering behind me.
The wording was enough to make me lose my mind. What the hell are you saying in front of a high-ranking lady, you uncultured—
"N-no, it's not like that! D-don't get the wrong idea!"
Seemingly hearing her tiny voice, Seriph yelled, her skin turning beet red from head to toe.
She hurriedly unclasped her necklace and gripped it in her hand. It was still buzzing away.
Thwack!
"Nyah!"
"Sorry. My party's a bit lacking, so we were rude."
I flicked Kakchi's forehead and bowed to Seriph. Felt like I was the one losing out more with every hit.
"...Ahem. No, no. I showed an embarrassing side myself. Nice to meet you properly. Yes. So. You're here to have your blessings and curses appraised, right? All three of you?"
Seriph accepted the apology with a smile, fumbling her words, her face still faintly flushed.
"Yes."
"Good. Who wants to go first?"
"M-me first! That okay, Big Brother?!"
"Uh, sure. Go ahead."
Jermi looked desperate. Understandable.
"...To appraise blessings or curses, I need to touch the spot closest to the heart."
"Ah. Got it."
Jermi faced Seriph.
"Wait, Jermi..."
"Yeah, Big Brother?"
"L-look down."
"...? ...Oh."
Staring at the hefty new tits on his once-flat chest, Jermi quietly turned away, tears welling as he gazed at the sky.
"Anya... Anya... I'll... push through..."
Yeah. It's not your choice, but it's your fate now. Think of your girlfriend and tough it out.
"Then, let's begin."
A strange hum echoed as dazzling light poured from Seriph's hand against Jermi's back.
"G-good heavens... this curse—no, how is this a blessing..."
"..."
Seriph seemed genuinely shocked by the blessing's content, no malice there—just pure astonishment anyone would share.
Yeah, you wouldn't be human if this didn't floor you.
"Appraisal done. Please wait a moment."
Shing. Like drawing a sword from ether, Seriph pulled out a wand and swung it. Paper and pen flew in from nowhere, scribbling the details.
She handed the paper to Jermi. He read it and went dead silent, like a confirmation kill.
"What, what's it say? Can I see?"
"...Yeah. Here."
Kakchi, super curious, peeked and—
"Pff—!"
"..."
—immediately turned away to stifle a laugh.
"...You can see it too, Big Brother."
I checked the paper, wondering if it differed from my Status Window.
"...That's it?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. That's all it wrote."
Pretty sparse explanation. My Status Window had four lines plus level-up efficiency.
Doesn't make sense they'd hide it on purpose. No reason to.
Maybe the temple's appraisal couldn't reveal as much as the Status Window?
"Next, my turn. I felt a zap when we left the Labyrinth! ...Probably? Anyway! This is definitely a blessing."
Kakchi confidently turned her back to Seriph.
"Alright. Appraising."
Light enveloped them again.
"Whoa..."
Kakchi's mouth hung open in wonder.
"...Phew. Done. Here's the paper."
Looking drained, Seriph wiped sweat from her brow and handed it over.
"Whoa! Master, look at this! I got two blessings!"
Kakchi beamed and trotted over, waving the paper.
Kakchi's were sparse too. At this point, the Status Window must be superior.
For reference, mine showed hers like this:
"The second one is new from this expedition. The first was probably from a prior Labyrinth run—you never got it checked."
"R-really?!"
Kakchi clutched her neck, unaware she'd had one.
True. No NEW on Wind Blessing before, but yes on Thief's Footsteps.
Probably no NEW on older blessings.
Jermi's first had it, and mine did too right after getting the Status Window.
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, it hit me—I'd missed something.
No NEW on the question mark blessing when I first checked...
So when did I get it?
Right after tripping into the Labyrinth?
No, Blessing of Adversity was around then and had NEW.
When the Status Window synced?
Would've had NEW then too.
...Only one answer left.
...Back on Earth?
No way, that's insane...
"Master's turn next!"
"...Ah. Yeah. Right."
Kakchi's voice snapped me back to reality.
"...You okay? You look awful. Feeling unwell? Want a recovery potion...?"
"...I'm fine."
I stopped Kakchi from opening a potion vial.
Pushing aside the swirling suspicions, I faced Seriph.
"Alright, then..."
Seriph reached mechanically—then froze like stone.
Her eyes vibrated intensely, fixed on my chest. Tail and ears twitched.
"...? What's wrong?"
"...Ah. T-turn... turn around!"
Face crimson, she yelped.
"Okay."
I'd assumed no issue since I'm male, but apparently not.
I turned without protest. Soon, a warm hand touched my back. A mystical sensation filled me, like my body glowing inside.
"...Wow..."
A soft gasp from Seriph behind me.
Hard to tell if it was from touching my back or the blessing.
How many minutes passed? Five? Ten? Longer than the others.
Her hand stayed on one spot, heating it up. Sweat prickled oddly.
"That bitch... that scheming bitch..."
"..."
Glancing back, Kakchi glowered at Seriph, arms crossed.
Jermi pitied me with his eyes.
The blinding light faded.
Complex blessing Status Window can't see, so maybe more involved.
I waited patiently. Another ten minutes; I had to speak.
"Um—"
"Phew. Just finished. Here's the paper."
Seriph thrust it at me like she'd been waiting.
Her face—and even her hands—were flushed. Sweating buckets, tail twitching.
I nodded casually and read.
Not like Wind, but about what I expected.
"That's it?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. Tricky one. Only triggers near death... These often form from Labyrinth ordeals. You must've been through hell."
"Eh, something like that."
Yeah, right after getting it, I nearly died post-Labyrinth trip.
Even now, without that armored knight, I'd be dead.
She didn't notice the question mark one.
Not maliciously hiding it—just didn't detect it.
What the hell is this blessing...
"You're all lucky. Pure blessings are rare for explorers, especially juniors."
"Luck... yeah..."
"When you leave, find the apprentice priest who escorted you. Report your blessings for five silver coins each."
"Yay!"
Still no reveal on the question mark.
But gains: creepy theory and five silvers.
No big incidents despite caution. Modest profit.
...Not bad.
Mute Jermi and beaming Kakchi hurried out. As I followed—
"Wait."
Seriph's voice halted me. Not my will—my body locked rigid.
What the fuck.
Instinct screamed for my axe, but nothing moved. Not a finger.
Chills raced down my spine. Peace shattered—what now?
Creeeak—
Thud!
Door shut. Kakchi and Jermi were gone. Just me, trapped.
"I have one question for you."
Sweet, sticky voice. Not the ditzy one from moments ago.
I rolled my eyes to her.
Red tongue wet plump lips.
Ruby eyes bored into me.
Tail swaying, she crafted a mechanical smile and approached my stone-stiff form.
"Care for some... private time, just us?"
BZZZZZZ!!