Dangerous Things, Safe Things

Vanessa's fingertips began to tighten gradually... I felt a suffocating pressure along with pain creeping into my face.

"...Sister, it... it hurts."

"!!"

At my words, she startled and let go of her hand. Only then could I gasp for breath and rub my mouth gratefully.

"Sorry! Did it... hurt a lot?"

"...Ugh, a... a little... h-ha, but I'm okay now."

"Sorry..."

She bowed her head and swallowed a sigh. As my breathing steadied a bit, Vanessa cautiously opened her mouth.

"...Did you see it?"

"Yes."

I answered honestly right away. I couldn't bring myself to lie.

"...Th-that, Teresa. Th-think carefully about it..."

"Y-yes?"

"What I was reading wasn't... what you're thinking, like some... dirty... e-erotic novel or anything weird like that."

I hadn't even mentioned erotic novels yet.

"Then what was it?"

"Well, it's... like, a normal romance novel. It might ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be a bit odd for a nun to read something like a romance novel... but it's not a big deal or anything."

I glanced up slightly, and her eyes seemed to be spinning. Her face was flushed red like a beet.

"Then, what about that picture?"

"...Ugh!"

"Two men and women in a weird position..."

"Th-that! That was... um, you see... Ah! Right... that was a scene of them practicing some martial art!"

"Naked?"

"...The, the reason they were... naked... Yeah! They were sweating a lot, so it was hot!"

Did she think she'd fool me with that?

"It's not an erotic novel, but the protagonists strip naked, rub their bodies together in weird positions while practicing martial arts... If it's not an erotic ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠novel... that sounds even more dangerous."

"Eek...!!"

These days, even seven-year-olds know everything... though my case is a bit different.

"It's okay, Sister Vanessa."

"What?"

At first, I had screamed like a little girl out of surprise without thinking... but

"You're an adult too, so it's fine."

Thinking about it, she was an adult. She could look at naughty stuff sometimes. I understood.

Just...

I glanced at the title on the cover of the book she was holding.

『Bishop... This Won't Do~』

A bishop... wasn't that a really high position in the church?

A nun and a bishop's... that kind of story, huh...

It did seem a bit risky, but... everyone has their tastes.

"This... you see, Teresa. Um... keep it a s-secret..."

"You want me to keep it secret, right?"

Vanessa gulped and nodded cautiously.

"Of course. I won't tell anyone."

"Really? You'll really do that for me?!"

As a gentleman, there's nothing worse than blabbing someone else's secrets.

"Of course. I promise."

I mimed zipping my lips. She grabbed my hand tightly and shook it up and down vigorously.

"Thank you so much! Teresa, you're such a good girl! I'm saved because it was you, someone reasonable. If it had been anyone else, I would've been in huge trouble... ha, just imagining it is terrifying..."

She still seemed not fully relieved, turning her head to scan the garden here and there. Then she gently helped me stand and brushed the dirt off my shoulders and knees with her nun habit sleeve.

"But... what are you doing here? It's lunchtime."

"I came to find you, Sister."

"Me? Why?"

"I have a favor to ask you."

At those words, her eyes narrowed sharply for a moment. Like she was on guard, wondering if I was going to make some unreasonable demand in exchange for keeping her secret.

"A favor...? What kind of favor?"

I took a breath and spoke clearly, word by word.

"Could you... maybe cast Restia's Blessing on me?"

"...Restia's Blessing?"

Vanessa's gaze swept over my face steadily. It held suspicion, wariness, and a pondering look as if chewing over any hidden meaning in my words. But seeing no ulterior motive no matter how she thought about it, her shoulders slowly relaxed.

"A blessing? That's all?"

"Yes. Restia's Blessing."

A relieved breath escaped her lips.

"I thought it was something big... That's easy."

Without any preparation, she immediately placed her hand on my head.

"...Huh?!"

Maybe because of our height difference from Marie's time, I didn't need to take any particular stance.

"——Lord of Light, like the first dawn that cuts through darkness..."

As her lips began to move, a soft golden haze rose from her fingertips. A clearer, gentler light than Marie's flowed over my body like an embrace.

I checked the status window in sequence.

'8 hours!?'

I almost yelled out loud without thinking. And the effect was stronger than I'd imagined.

...Marie wasn't lying when she said she was elite...

Vanessa suddenly seemed cooler again.

'This should be enough for the field trip!'

'Huh?'

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glanced up at Vanessa, and she winked with a mischievous smile.

"And this is service."

I cautiously opened the status window.

"...A-amazing..."

I'd gotten... way stronger somehow.

"...Whew, doing it all at once is tough... Is this enough?"

Vanessa looked a bit tired, but not upset.

"Yes! Thank you so much! You're amazing, Sister!"

"Seeing you so happy... I'm the thankful one."

We stared at each other blankly for a moment, then she continued.

"...Well, not like this every time, but I can always cast one or two buffs, so come find me if you need it."

"Really!?"

"Yeah."

Without thinking, I hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"I love you, Sister!!"

"!?"

"You're the best, Sister! Thank you so much."

As I pulled away, Vanessa, frozen stiff, called me in a suddenly serious voice.

"...Teresa."

I looked up at her face.

"Yes?"

Her face was rigid... For a moment, I tensed, wondering if I'd done something wrong.

Did I... kiss her cheek too much?

No, kids can show that much affection...

She wouldn't get mad over that, right?

Fortunately, her words weren't a scolding.

Just...

"Won't you be my daughter?"

...a really weird question.

"Pardon?"

I could only stare at her face blankly for a moment. Looking again, her expression seemed a bit scary.