The Girl Who Wasn't a Wicked Woman Is Now Extremely Clumsy_3
I only came to do an errand, but why did things turn out like this?
(‘Tsk… So you didn't say anything? I should never have set foot in that Ragnea brat's temple in the first place. Coming to this unholy place was a mistake. Well, it's not too late now. Hurry and get out……’)
The Ragnea Temple is known for having a much larger courtyard than the building itself.
Rather than praying or offering beautiful writings to the god, they serve Ragnea by honing their martial skills to the limit.
Anyway, I found myself being shoved out into the middle of the vast courtyard of this expansive temple.
"Why the hell am I here?"
I wasn't complaining to anyone in particular.
This kind of thing has happened more than once, and I've gotten used to it over the past 10 years.
"Got a complaint? Even if I fight that pathetic woman, it won't mean anything! Come on, pick up a weapon. Sword, spear, bow, shield, hammer, mace, whatever you've got."
The one standing opposite me is Cherny.
In her hand, she already holds a sharp spear, urging me on.
"You really mean to crush me physically?"
"Yeah. In the Ragnea sect, we resolve conflicts through struggle."
"Really going to fight? We're guests at this temple. Is it okay to treat guests from other sects so casually?"
"Baren might be waiting for guests, but not for me. Especially that woman."
"…… ?"
"You pretending not to have heard? It's about the priestess Ria. That girl was treating Baren like an idiot."
"I didn't think she had that intention."
"No? She does. It's evidence that she acts in a way that would annoy him even though she knows Baren likes her."
"So, in other words, it's because of your jealousy?"
"Jealousy?! Grrr...! Who of whom?"
"………… Hmmm."
"All the men around here can't take their eyes off a woman! They can't control themselves when they see even a slightly attractive woman! No matter how much they get affection from here and there, that doesn't mean they can treat other temples like idiots either?!"
That poor girl must have been bullying Elysia all this time.
Maybe she was waiting for a sandbag like me to appear.
"That's what I heard. Ria, what do you think?"
It was my attempt to change the subject, but I didn't expect Elysia's condition to be even worse.
There was no light in her eyes.
"…… I'm envious. I saw Gray for the first time today, yet you can talk so easily."
"…… ?"
"Someone like me hasn't even given you a second glance for 10 years……"
"… Hey?"
"How can I get Gray's attention……? If I act like that, maybe Gray will take care of me?"
"Eh. Clumsy mode is not allowed."
"No way. I can't break down like this… The medicine that is my secret weapon for me… Mumbling…"
"……………"
"But if I use something like medicine and Gray starts to dislike me?"
Elysia's face, half-pale, became a mess.
I can't leave it like that. Honestly, it's scary. I sighed and raised both hands.
"Yield. If you've said what you needed to, let's go."
"What?! Hurry up and grab a weapon! You're going to spare me now, right?"
Cherny couldn't hold back anymore and thrust her spear.
No... She's too bloodthirsty.
Swaeaaaak!
The first strike was a bit weak.
It probably contained worry that I might be an ordinary person.
But that was just a moment. As my gaze followed the spear tip, Cherny swung her spear shaft with real intent.
Line rather than point.
The movement of the spear shaft sprang up elastically.
Whether they trained with spears their whole lives at the temple or not, the trajectory precisely pierced the gaps.
I grabbed the spear shaft at the end of its trajectory.
Power would have been transmitted through the spear shaft. Cherny reacted immediately and pulled.
According to her intention, my hand slid towards the tip.
I knew this would happen.
With balance disrupted, I pushed back with force almost simultaneously.
Cherny was skilled too.
She didn't get tricked and lowered her spear tip and stance.
But I never intended to compete in the first place.
Thud!
"That's enough. Let's stop."
"Ugh… This… What the…"
I didn't want to drag out the conversation long. Stomping on a spear is a humiliation for a spear user. Cherny's face trembled as she couldn't accept it.
At that moment.
Suddenly, a giggling laugh came from somewhere with no one.
"Ambushing again from there? Think it over, Cherny."
"What? Who are you giving advice to me…… Eh."
"I don't mean to ignore you, but I don't think you'll win even if you try a few times against that friend."
"What, what? Neir! Why are you here? Weren't you with Baren earlier?"
"Baren was yelling that he was chased by you? I came because I was curious what the jealous Ria would do if left alone with the priestess Ria…"
"…… Uck!"
"You didn't expect someone even bigger than that to come."
Tall and slender build. To be precise, a person close to a skinny log. A neutral appearance with no muscles, an intense first impression with a decadent look.
A man? Or a woman?
Beyond just neutral charm, a biological ambiguity that makes it hard to guess gender caught my eye.
Good or bad, the appearance and atmosphere that draws people's gazes in various ways.
Beyond that, an auspicious aura that is hard to see as just a human.
Instinctively, and from experience, I realize what his identity is.
Haa……
I thought it was strange that Astasia was warning so much, but…
Another unnecessary thing got tangled.
He asked me with a smiling face.
"Not that? You can call me Gray, right? You probably already know about me."
"…………."
"Eh? You're ignoring me like that?"
"I haven't had good results from talking to suspicious people like you."
Well, people are hard to classify even as living beings.
"Oh ho. Long experience, I guess. Yeah... I do look a bit suspicious. The priestess Ria over there, and... not as unique as you, but."
A gaze that seems to be thinking something behind the messy hair.
Since I didn't react, he approached on his own and started introducing himself.
"Currently, our temple is managed by Baren, Cherny over there, and me, three people. A modest number for a small temple. Our temple's mascot Cherny gets a bit angry. If I made you feel bad, I'll apologize."
"Neir! What mascot? And what did I do? They started bullying Baren first…!"
"Cherny, no matter how jealous you are, you can't treat guests like that."
Neir pointed at Elysia with a languid smile.
"If you're blinded by jealousy, it could turn out like that."
Elysia suddenly looked why. I turned to look at Elysia too.
"Huu. Now... I'm being pushed by men too...... If I get a wound on my arm, maybe he'll take care of me..."
…… I hope the worsening from yesterday was just my imagination.
Anyway, if I leave Elysia like this, bad things will happen, so I was thinking to get the errand done and leave.
"Eh? Already trying to go?"
"…………."
"Don't say that. Let's play a little more. 'This side' people are rare to see, so I'm happy."
Neir clung energetically, but I didn't say anything.
Baren appeared around then.
"Damn! Where the hell have you all been? I've been looking for you for a while!"
"Oh, Baren. Has the check been done?"
"That's not it! Tsk! The guy who came in the morning is back again."
Baren had a frown on his face.
"Ah, the imperial inspector who came to the temple earlier and said the priestess Ria is a witch or something?"
"Yeah! I chased him away in the morning, but this time... it's hard to just throw him out..."
"Kukuk... He seems to be a tough opponent for you too."
"Sigh... Don't say that."
"Oh ho. So, a opponent that violence doesn't work on."
"Zeke, the viscount, that is, the inspector guy, brought a letter of request for cooperation from the parish priest."
***
"……… Hmmm. Hm? Eh? Hah! Huff! Wait! You are that magician from back then…?"
"Oh, you immediately recognized me?"
"…… Y-you... Why are you here!"
"You didn't seem like the kind to fly here from the imperial capital in one night."
"Don't come this way! If you touch me this time, it won't end!"
The viscount Zeke, the guy who is an inspector or whatever, hardened his face when he saw me and shouted.
"Oh, so you two already know each other?"
Neir asked me.
"He was being annoying to the priestess Lucia and Ria."
Fortunately, Elysia had faced that person many times, so she was completely ignoring him.
"... I... I came to the Ragnea Temple today for business. I hope you don't mind."
"Do as you like. I didn't say anything."
"……… !"
"Why are you scared? I didn't do anything. Do what you want."
"K, khm! ……… B-Baren Temple Head. Don't mind that man, let's talk among ourselves."
Baren let out a big sigh as if he had been waiting.
How much he had been bothered in the morning, words poured out one after another.
"So, Viscount Zeke... no, Inspector, didn't I say it many times. Priestess Ria is not a witch, but a priest who serves the goddess Astasia. Why come to our temple and ask for cooperation while spreading such lies? Asking to investigate the priestess Ria? What investigation? Originally, the witch died 10 years ago and her body was found. Even a kid could know that by flipping through old newspapers at the post office. That... that... Elysia from the Cadeliz family...?"
"Elysia. That woman is that woman. Silver hair, red eyes. Isn't it the same?"
"If silver hair and red eyes mean all women are witches? No? Originally, if the priestess Ria is really Elysia, miraculously revived and alive, then wouldn't she keep the silver hair and red eyes? I would have dyed my hair or put ink in my eyes first."
Baren sighed deeply, looking frustrated.
I, listening to the story, suddenly became curious.
Silver hair and red eyes are one of the biggest characteristics of the witch Elysia.
Not dyeing the color was rather aiming for the effect of being dark under the lamp...
"……… I forgot.... What to do, Gray?"
... It seems I didn't make it.
I didn't think of it at all. Saying it in a whisper, huh. Impressive in many ways.
Cherny, sensing the subtle atmosphere, frowned and vented at the "inspector".
"Even in the morning, you were causing a ruckus. Whether you're an inspector or whatever, to persuade us, at least bring a photo of that woman Elysia."
"Unfortunately, the witch from the Cadeliz family doesn't have a photo left."
"Hmph! Then what can I do! It's not my problem! Whether you request cooperation or do whatever, don't gossip about this small temple and report directly to the upper levels of the sect! Originally, shouldn't this be something to talk to the Astasia sect that the priestess Ria belongs to?"
"The Astasia sect doesn't communicate well. And since it's the Ragnea sect, we came together like this. We brought the word of the parish priest who manages the nearby Ragnea temples."
With Zeke's words, a woman standing quietly beside him moved.
The parish priest is a priest who represents the local parish.
It's a special case that Boris, the parish priest in this rural city, is unusual; usually, small temples leave only managers like Baren.
If the letter she holds is really signed by the parish priest himself, it means Baren has no choice but to deal with that opponent.
"Hey... The parish priest said, 'Please cooperate with the inspector according to the words of Ragnea.'"
Since Baren didn't react to hearing it, the woman added with a slightly pale face.
It seemed to have intimidated him for a short time.
"Oh ho. Interesting. 'By the name of Ragnea'..."
Or not, Neir was the only one giggling and muttering.
Zeke.
I don't know how he could get the cooperation of the local parish priest in such a remote temple in just one day.
No, to be precise, I don't care.
If I eliminate him here, it will become a big deal, and if I send him far away, it won't mean anything like now.
Well, let him do as he pleases.
I turned my body as is and grabbed Elysia's wrist and pulled her.
"Ria. Let's just go back."
"Eh...? Eh?"
Elysia opened her eyes wide.
Her gaze was directed at her wrist as if disbelieving.
"We can just take the carriage over there, right?"
"Wait...! Hah! Let go of my wrist...! No, this isn't it! Gray! What are we going to do with these people?"
"Don't deal with them. Time is precious."
"...Huh? Ah, really...? Ehehe... From the time I helped with the luggage in the morning to the time I held my wrist... Is this a dream? A dream? Really?"
I no longer have any interest.
I took Elysia, who had fallen halfway into her own world, and changed direction.
Neir asked while holding back his laughter as if it was fun.
"Eh? Just going? We're abandoning us?"
"Handle it yourself. No matter how you look at it, your responsibility is big."
"My responsibility?"
Instead of answering, I stared at Neir.
He shrugged with a languid smile as if he couldn't help it.
"... Okay. No choice. I don't want to be misunderstood like this either. Please pass on my regards to your god."
I won't pass it on.
It seems you hate that side a lot.
"Gray Gray."
"Elysia, why."
"This is a question without any intention, but is it okay if I don't wash my hands for a day or so?"
"…………."