Chapter 1 - This, too, must be the Goddess's will (1)
This, too, must be the Goddess's will (1)
Translator : Elizabeth
Clatter
An abandoned church where acrid dust scatters in every direction.
Pale moonlight seeps through the large, broken stained-glass windows. Inside the church, it is ruined to the point where no trace of human presence remains. Deep cracks run along the walls and ceiling, and as the wind whistles through the gaps, fragments of old stone fall away with a thud.
Clatter, clatter
In this gloomy space, where one wouldn't be surprised to see a ghost, I am silently sweeping the floor.
If possible, I didn't want to use a place like this as a temporary shelter. Even among abandoned buildings, there is such a thing as "atmosphere." However, no matter where I looked in the vicinity, there was nowhere better than here. The private houses were all brutally destroyed beyond recognition. Even the remaining structures had been neglected for so long that they weren't spaces where anyone could live.
"What a mess this is..."
It has already been a little over a month since I was transported to this other world. At first, I was truly happy. After all, something wondrous, the kind of thing you only see in comics, had happened to me. But that joy didn't last as long as I expected.
──────────── 【 Vivian Faustina 】 ────────────
Because I realized late that I hadn't been transported in my original body, but had possessed the game character I used to play.
Swish, swish
To be honest, I didn't have any major complaints about the gender being female. In exchange for that, I gained a strong body and powerful skills. In a world governed by the law of the jungle, power means survival. I couldn't complain just because my gender had changed.
Besides, there was a far more serious problem remaining...
──────────── 【 Vivian Faustina 】 ──────────── [Race] Demon ────────────
My race is "Demon."
Ultimately, I set out to find an empty land untouched by human eyes. After wandering through various places, I somehow ended up here at this abandoned church.
Swish, swish
Holding a broken bamboo broom awkwardly, I endlessly sweep the floor. Sweeping the dust with such sincerity isn't going to make an abandoned church clean overnight. But I couldn't just leave it neglected, either. Regardless of the state it's in, I've chosen this place as my temporary shelter.
"Ugh... my back..."
It’s uncomfortable in many ways, but it’s better than causing unnecessary trouble for the people nearby. I’ll think about what comes next later. It won't be too late to think once I’ve grown accustomed to living here.
"I guess we have no choice but to spend the night here today?"
Just as some time had passed and the interior cleaning was roughly coming to an end, a person's voice suddenly drifted in from behind the firmly closed doors.
"Huh? Are you being serious right now...?"
"Then what else can we do? It's better than camping in a forest where you don't know what kind of monsters might jump out."
"Even so, spending the night in a place that's wide open like this..."
"I checked on the way here; there were no signs of monsters passing through this area."
I thought this land had been abandoned for a long time and would be relatively safe, but I was completely wrong.
"I had a feeling this would happen, which is why I said we should move fast..."
"There's no point in regretting it now. Just accept it."
"It's because Mr. Daren dawdled that we’re late..."
Holding my broken broom, I pricked up my ears. Fortunately, I could only hear the voices of two people—a man and a woman. Listening to their conversation, they seemed to be adventurers by trade.
"Anyway, let's just spend the night here today and head out early tomorrow morning."
"I guess we have to—."
To me, using this place as a shelter, their conversation was like a bolt from the blue. Of all days, they decided to camp here today. Cold sweat began to pour down like rain, but I told myself it was fine. There was no reason for them to actually come inside the abandoned church. Surely they wouldn't think of sleeping inside a filthy place like this?
Therefore, if I stay as quiet as a mouse, this will pass without incident. There is no need to worry.
"Ah, Mr. Daren!! Look over here, there’s a church!!"
As soon as I thought that, the woman's energetic voice rang out. For a moment, I doubted my ears.
"...Churches are everywhere."
"That's not it!! Rather than that, you should focus on the fact that there is a church in a place like this."
"What?"
An increasingly ominous conversation continuously flowed in from beyond the closed door. My chilled skin was soon drenched in lukewarm sweat. My eyes shook violently, and my heart pounded with urgency as if it were about to explode.
"I am a priest. I cannot simply pass by a church."
"...Don't tell me you're going inside?"
"Yes."
"It's an abandoned church, though?"
"So what? As long as I can pray, it’s fine."
I repeated to myself over and over that it couldn't be, but the situation reached the absolute worst-case scenario, making my mind go distant. Of all things, the woman’s job had to be a priest... and a devout one at that... It was so absurd that a hollow laugh escaped me.
"You should do it with me, Mr. Daren."
"...I'm good. I'll be waiting in front of the door, so take your time."
"It would be nice if we did it together..."
"I don't believe in things like Goddesses."
Eventually, the firmly closed church door rattled open, and a long shadow stretched into the church.
"......!!"
My mind snapped back to attention. I forced my stiffened body to move and managed to hide in an unidentified space, but my heart was still racing like crazy. My body felt heavy as stone, and the tension reached such a peak that I couldn't even tell if I was breathing.
"Oh? The inside is surprisingly clean...?"
It was dangerous to reveal myself recklessly. If things went wrong, the situation could become much more complicated than it already was. It would be an hour at most. She wouldn't be praying for hours on end.
"O Most Precious Goddess, I pray that your mercy and grace fill the whole world..."
As the woman began her holy prayer, I finally caught my breath and calmly looked around.
"......."
It was a mysterious, cramped space covered in dust, just like the main hall. It was narrower and more humid than a one-room studio. Furthermore, an odd-looking window was placed abruptly in the middle of the wall, and an old wooden chair sat lonely in front of it.
"...Ah."
It seemed I had entered a confessional. No wonder there were three identical doors installed side-by-side...
"Goddess, let your will be carved into our hearts, and grant us the courage and wisdom to realize that will..."
Well, anyway, I’ve hidden myself safely in a suitable spot, so isn't that enough? Fortunately, as a demon, I'm not greatly affected by dust or humid air.
"Phew..."
I was flustered because several unexpected situations happened in a row, but I think I've avoided it fairly well. No matter how devout a priest she is, she surely wouldn't come into a confessional.
. . .
Several dozen minutes later—.
The woman's prayer, which had been flowing into the confessional without pause, finally ceased. It felt as though at least an hour had passed. I thought it might take about an hour, but I didn't think she would actually fill that entire time.
Rustle
I finally forced my body, which had been crouching for an hour, to stand up. Holding my breath, I slowly opened the confessional door. The door creaked with a bizarre sound for a moment, but fortunately, there was no reaction from outside.
"Phew..."
Only after confirming that no one was inside did I let out a deep sigh of relief, shedding the tension remaining in my body.
"I guess I can't stay here..."
I had chosen this place after much careful consideration, but to think a dangerous situation would occur before even a day had passed... I worked hard to clean it, but since there’s no guarantee a similar situation won't happen again, it’s probably right to leave, even if it's a shame.
Slide
Dragging my heavy feet along, I naturally picked up a worn-out veil that was sitting alone on a rotting wooden bench.
Tap, tap, tap
White dust scattered from my fingertips as the worn surface of the veil was slowly revealed. For something found by chance, it looked quite decent. The veil was quite generous in size, and since it was made of thick cotton, it seemed like it would be good for covering my face. Of course, it wasn't in great condition, but it was better than nothing.
Thud, thud
Wearing the veil over my head, I walked toward the inner part of the church. Since quite a bit of time had passed, I figured I didn't need to move like a cat anymore.
"......."
"......."
But I was mistaken. As soon as I approached the altar, I suddenly saw the back of a woman. Hearing my presence late, the woman slowly turned her head toward me and wore a dazed expression.
"...A nun?"