A Nun's Forbidden Pages
The inside of the secret cafeteria belonging to one of the nuns was still bathed in morning sunlight, filled with the light clink of spoons here and there mingling with the children's casual chatter.
"Come to think of it... how've those Marco jerks been lately?"
"Ever since Teresa beat them down last time and they fell out of favor with the abbess, they've been behaving because the nuns are watching them... but who knows. They might be bullying easier kids behind the scenes. They're good at that stuff."
I fiddled with my spoon, listening to the kids' conversation, but one corner of my mind was already crammed with thoughts about the possible village festival today and how I could attend it.
Is there... some good way to make this work?
But no matter how much I racked my brain... nothing good came to mind.
...Hmm, but encountering a monster is all about probability, right? It might not even show up.
But if a monster did appear?
...Ugh.
What could I even do about it right now?
I've gotten a little stronger, sure... but there's no way I could fight something like a monster.
Not to mention the damage to those around me—no telling who might get caught up if they were with me.
"...Anyway, Teresa, you be careful too."
"Huh?"
I'd vaguely noticed the kids had shifted from festival talk to something else, but apparently they'd gotten to talking about me.
"I was gonna tell you—they're going around badmouthing you behind your back."
"...I, I see..."
They must be pretty pissed...
"Those guys might try to get revenge on you. Just in case, stay on guard."
"Yeah, I'll be careful."
Even if they said to be careful... What's a bunch of little kids gonna do at this point anyway?
I let out a deep sigh and glanced around.
"...?"
That's when my eyes met Marie's—she was looking at me with worry.
...Right! Marie! Maybe ask her one more time... for Restia's Blessing? That might work somehow?
But I quickly snapped out of it and shook my head.
...No.
The effect was negligible, and the duration was a measly 15 minutes...
This isn't gonna cut it.
...Time passed before I knew it... Morning classes ended, and I was heading back to the cafeteria.
I'd spent the whole morning trying to figure out a way to go, but... the conclusion was the opposite.
At this point, it wasn't even "how can I go?"—it was "how do I avoid going?"
Thinking about it... I might need to fake an illness or something to skip today's practical session, but I couldn't think of a convincing excuse that would fly in the monastery.
Would something like a cold get healed with recovery magic?
If so... a plain old "I'm sick" probably wouldn't work.
"...This is tough."
As I walked the corridor lost in those worries... Marie, who had been silently walking beside me, suddenly placed her hand on my forehead.
"Marie?"
"Hmm, no fever..."
Come to think of it, her expression hadn't been great since the cafeteria.
"You've looked pale all day. Are you sick?"
She'd beaten me to the punch with exactly what I was about to say.
"Nah, it's not that."
"...Then, are you worried about those Marco guys?"
"Not that either. I'm fine, Marie."
I said that, but... my mood wasn't improving.
"Got it... Still, if there's anything you want to ask me, just say it."
I glanced at her and cautiously broached the subject.
"In that case, Marie... could you cast 'Restia's Blessing' on me one more time, like last time?"
"...It's not hard... but like I said before, it's just a ceremonial divine spell. It doesn't give any real power or boost abilities."
"It's okay. Please?"
"...Alright, since you're asking."
I got into position like last time.
"Here goes..."
Soon her hand rested on my head, and a yellow haze seeped into my body.
Restia's Blessing (Marie)
Category: Blessing
Effect: Rejects all unclean things. (Duration: 15 minutes)
Detailed Description: A blessing granted by Marie's earnest prayer to the Goddess of Light. The effect is minimal depending on the caster's ability, merely weakening unclean energies temporarily.
A ding rang out, and I checked the blessing status... but as expected, nothing had changed from before.
Yeah... figures.
So I'd have to find some way to skip the practical session no matter what.
Break a leg or something?
Recovery magic could probably handle that. No, even before that... with my Immortal trait, it'd heal right up without magic anyway.
Then... cause an incident? Like last time, if I get punished with the Room of Silence, I'd naturally skip the practical.
None of the options were appealing.
"I don't know what it is, but... my divine spells just aren't enough, huh?"
Seeing my disappointed face, Marie asked worriedly again.
"It's not that. Nothing for you to worry about, Marie. Don't stress."
But her expression only darkened.
"Well, then—how about asking someone else if I can't do it?"
"Someone else?"
"There are plenty of other clergy here."
I knew that, but would they really bless me just because I asked?
But... seeing how easily Marie did it, maybe it wasn't such a big request.
"Who's the strongest in holy power in the monastery?"
"Obviously the abbess."
Yeah... figured.
But even so... asking the abbess directly felt awkward. Especially after getting scolded last time—I felt this distance from her.
"Next?"
"Next... hmm..."
Marie hesitated a moment, then spoke as if she'd sorted her thoughts.
"Excluding the abbess... it'd be Sister Vanessa."
"Sister Vanessa? One of the childcare nuns... you mean the one I know?"
"Yeah."
It was a bit unexpected.
"...She doesn't seem that impressive..."
"Sister Vanessa graduated from the academy and even worked in the holy city—she's an elite nun."
"Why's someone like that working in a backwater monastery like this?"
"From what I heard... she grew up here."
"Here?"
"Yeah. Probably wanted to look after kids in similar situations, so she gave up a bright future in the holy city and came back."
"Hmm..."
"She's one of the people I respect."
If it was Sister Vanessa, I'd talked to her a few times... maybe she'd help.
Nothing to lose... worth a shot.
...I wolfed down lunch and left the cafeteria.
She sits on the monastery garden bench reading during lunch, right?
I headed to the garden where Marie said she'd be.
Sure enough, there she was on a bench softly lit by sunlight.
Found her!
Vanessa sat demurely with a small book resting on her neatly folded hands. The hem of her pure white habit fluttered lightly in the breeze, her long lashes casting shadows over the pages. Like the subject of a holy painting—pure, pitiable, radiating sacred grace.
Maybe because I'd heard she was an academy elite... she suddenly seemed impressive.
I approached cautiously and called her name softly.
"...Sis-ter Van, essa..."
But she was too absorbed in her book to hear.
Looking closer, her cheeks seemed faintly flushed.
What're you reading that's got you missing someone right next to you?
It wasn't a bible, judging by the thickness.
...
I decided to sneak around behind her.
Part of me worried I'd get in trouble... but curiosity won out.
I tiptoed behind her and peeked at the page.
Among the text, weird words jumped out: "Fallen Nun," "Secret Hobby," and what sounded like a woman's moans... phrases that wouldn't appear in bibles or normal books...
And the moment she turned the page—right there was a heavily colored, high-level erotic illustration.
My face heated up instantly. I didn't know exactly how a 7-year-old girl would react, but the response was natural.
"Kyaaah!!!"
But at that moment, "!?!?"
Vanessa whipped her head around, saw me, and clamped my mouth shut with lightning speed.
"Mmph!—"
She glanced around, then scooped me up effortlessly and carried me into a nearby bush, laying me on the ground.
"...Y-you... you're... T-T-Teresa...?"
With her hand over my mouth, I couldn't answer, but I nodded to confirm.
"Wh-what are you doing here!? Ugh, uwaaaah... Ah, it's still lunchtime!?"
Sweat beaded on her face, her eyes darting wildly.
She asked cautiously.
"...D-did... did you see it?"
Her voice mixed desperate pleading for "no" with terror, but I nodded honestly.
I just couldn't lie.