Why Are We So Familiar...?_4
I slipped out of the reception room the moment confusion hit me.
There was no other reason. A signal had come from Astasia.
“What were you doing to leave the seat for so long?”
‘Sorry… Haa. I didn’t really want to say that.’
The goddess’s message trembled with fatigue.
“…Was something wrong? Maybe Lagnea… no, Ragnea came looking for me right away.”
‘……….’
That was the answer.
No matter how much the temple was sealed, that dopamine-addicted god still refused to show his face.
Where had he gone? It seemed he had ascended to Celestia.
‘…… That persistent guy! Came straight into my territory, made Elaim and the angels suffer, and took my… my precious telescope hostage…!’
“What is the telescope? The one to look at stars? A hostage?”
‘Yeah! Not a kid, and the god who came to play with the telescope is the first one I’ve seen in my entire life!’
The god who stole the telescope and pouted to play together, and the god who pouts after just one telescope is stolen.
If a devout believer like the Saintess had learned of this, it might have been the shock that broke her faith.
… I would have to keep this secret for the rest of my life.
‘When that guy’s divinity eventually falls to the ground, I want to watch from the highest place and drink wine…’
“…… Yeah, whatever. You guys do as you please. Did you hear any news?”
I hadn’t contacted her to hear Astasia’s complaints.
Astasia’s one-step-late correction came because of my blunt reaction.
‘About the red-eyed kid? Of course. But please understand this. Elaim didn’t do it on purpose either. From what I heard, she said she was trying to give the red-eyed kid some face. She didn’t think it would be promoted to Saintess, so she asked us to pass on the apology on your behalf.’
“It ended up like that. I thought it would be.”
‘Elaim descending to the lower world is very rare, so she lacks awareness of what kind of being she is in the lower world.’
“Neare also said the same thing.”
‘Aaah… Lagnea…… again Lagnea… Please, I hope you don’t call that guy by name for a while.’
“It’s not hard. Instead, I have a favor to ask.”
‘So, shall I give a divine message directly to the Saintess?’
“As you know, the church people consider your words as the final authority. Even if it’s an opportunity to raise the church’s honor, if the goddess gives a direct message, they’ll cleanly give up.”
‘It’s because of my angels’ stupidity, so of course I have to do it. After the Saintess returns to the headquarters, I’ll give the message in front of many children watching.’
“Thank you for understanding.”
‘Huhu… Living like this, you receive thanks all the time.’
“… Ah, this time, please only give divine messages from the sky. No mischief.”
‘Of course.’
… I still couldn’t believe it.
I sent a short thank-you and turned to return to the reception room to deliver the news.
The message hanging at my feet stopped my steps.
‘By the way… At this time of year, the daily ritual I used to do… What if it was canceled because of Elaim’s incident?’
“Ritual? Suddenly…? … I don’t know. Is that important?”
‘Of course, I know the situation for you humans might be serious. Omitting the ritual is natural. But… that… um… hah, it’s embarrassing to say.’
“Say it. Since you granted the favor, I’ll try to get whatever is needed.”
‘Really! Then…… hah, let me see… Around this time, the wine offered in the temple is exquisite.’
“Wine?”
I tilted my head.
“It’s a drinking alcohol?”
‘Wine is something you drink.’
“Of course I’ll drink it, wine. I asked because I wondered if it’s available in Celestia.”
‘Wines made in Celestia all taste the same. Because they have no basic understanding of grapes.’
“Hmm. That’s a troublesome reason.”
‘………!!!!’
“Joke, I get it. Then, setting wine aside, is the ritual process also necessary?”
‘Of course, when holding a joint ceremony with sincerity, I look down with a pleased heart, but this time, no need to bother. Just giving wine would be really appreciated.’
“If only wine is needed, I’ll talk to Lucia priestess separately. After all, the wine and food we planned to use is still there.”
I answered that way and changed my steps.
Since the most annoying thing was resolved, it was priority to inform the people.
***
I returned to the reception room and immediately conveyed the conversation I had with Astasia in brief.
… Of course, I excluded the telescope or Lagnea stories that could damage faith.
After saying that I would give a message when the Saintess returned, Elysia’s expression softened a bit.
She forgot the stiffness in front of the unfamiliar Saintess and approached me in one step, asking again.
“… Then, is it okay if I stay here?”
“It was a joke. You’re still worrying about that alone?”
“…… No, just. I was surprised.”
Elysia smiled bashfully.
If she had this much in her heart, I might have done something seriously wrong. Like fainting, the problem is she’s weak in strange parts.
Fortunately, the Saintess didn’t run in chattering.
“Unnie, unnie, you smile really well in front of Teacher?”
“… Yeah?”
“Unnie is mean only to Teacher!”
“… Me?”
“I want to be friends with unnie too! Or was my story not fun?”
“Saintess? I usually smile a lot. Like this.”
Elysia pulled her lips with her finger, thinking even she couldn’t convince with words.
But she tried hard, though the Saintess wouldn’t believe even if she pulled her lips.
I lightly poked Elysia’s forehead and said.
“You don’t know, but Elysia only smiles at people she lives with. Like Lucia priestess or Tina.”
“Eh. Does Teacher think I’m stupid? Then it sounds like Teacher and unnie live together?”
“………….”
“Eh?”
“………….”
“Really?! Eh? Do the two of you live together?”
“For now? I was staying at Lucia priestess’s house for a few days.”
“Is that really true??”
I didn’t add the somewhat misleading part that they might separate.
But since it was already good bait, the Saintess suddenly drooled and ran to them excitedly.
“Teacher Teacher. During the time we lived together, uh hehe, was there any event like that?!”
“…… What?”
The Saintess’s eyes sparkled.
“Eh, Teacher can’t say there was none?? It’s a romcom! For example, opening the door to go to bedroom but wrong way, opens bathroom door by mistake, sees Sister who just finished bathing, or wakes up, confuses room, climbs on Teacher’s bed and sleeps all morning unaware, then discovers under blanket next morning and screams! Such situations!”
“… Do you think I’m like you? Losing way at home…?”
“When man and woman live under one roof, these things always happen! I read it in a book!”
“What book? If temple people know, they’ll burn it.”
“Th… I saw it in a novel at the bookstore… I didn’t really read it, recently went to buy stamps and by chance……”
The Saintess still not convinced, told Elysia with a flushed face: “We’ll talk alone later, Sister! Secret story between girls and Teacher~.”
Alone talk.
What was she planning with Elysia.
Meanwhile, Lucia watching us asked Gray.
“By the way, Gray. You said ‘favor’? Did the goddess personally say it?”
“Ah… what were we talking about…? I’m distracted because of that friend.”
“The goddess made a request?”
“Ah, right. Asked to bring a few bottles of wine. … for the ritual.”
Lucia nodded at Tina who was dozing at the word ritual.
“Right. I must bring it immediately. Then open the temple to only the minimum personnel needed for the ritual…”
“No, she said no need to do that. Just buying time until the archangel’s matter gets a message…”
“Can’t just bring wine. Shall we do a simple one among us?”
I thought why bother, but everyone accepted Lucia’s suggestion as natural.
After all, these are priests of the Astasia church.
They want to do as much as possible for the goddess, even bringing one bottle of wine.
“As you wish. The goddess will like it. Since the Saintess is here now, it will look good together.”
“I’ll do it! Please! Teacher Teacher! I’ll do it too!”
The Saintess raised her hand excitedly.
But then hesitated: “Ah… but I need to hurry back to receive the message about Sister, right?”
“Eventually, even if rumors spread more for a day or two, it’s over with the goddess’s message. And you said you took vacation? If return is late, I’ll teleport you as last resort, no worry. Though it won’t happen.”
“……… Teacher….”
The Saintess held both hands, eyes sparkling.
“Almost fell in love…”
“Don’t joke, hurry and help Lucia priestess.”
“Yes~”
The Saintess, Lucia, Boris, and Tina who was rubbing eyes from napping left first.
I was about to follow naturally.
Pull.
“.........?”
Pull pull pull...
“…… Elysia?”
“...........”
Elysia pulled the hem of my shirt anxiously, head down.
“…………………… Why, no denial?”
“What...?”
“…… Just now…”
“Just now…?”
What was just now?
After recalling, I understood it was the joke about the Saintess falling in love.
“We know it’s a joke. Just a moment, but Saintess is really a nice person. I get it. Gray. I get it too… but… but… still…”
Elysia bit her lip, pulled the shirt without expression.
Once.
Twice.
Once.
Twice again.
Then, belatedly checking my expression, she realized and stepped back with a deflated look.
“Are you angry at me now?”
“Ah, yes.”
But I didn’t say it.
“No.”
“Really?”
“A bit… humid?”
“Moist? Eh?! Do I sweat? Or does my clothes smell of sweat?”
Elysia panicked and started taking off her clothes…
No, what?
Don’t take off!
“Ya! Elysia! Taking off suddenly here, what do I do?!”
“Bu… but rather than smelling of sweat to you, it’s less embarrassing to stay in underwear!”
“That’s more embarrassing, so please put clothes back!”
I desperately closed my eyes, picked up her falling clothes and threw them at her.
I also mulls over being careful with words for a while.
Haa……
It can’t be the situation the Saintess meant…?