#036 True Intentions
#036 True Intentions
According to the teachings of the Church of the Azure Moon Goddess, the Azure Moon Goddess bestows a blessing that protects a woman's body only when she bares her skin.
Over the past few days, watching the women coming and going from the Adventurers' Guild, I had developed a sufficiently open-minded perspective.
'A world where stripping makes you stronger.'
Humans can do anything to become stronger.
Especially when it involved greed, revenge, or the like, humans sometimes pursued power by eliminating even their fellow humans or defecting to the Demon King Army's side.
In the present era, that had simply changed to baring one's skin.
'If you can gain power for free, showing a bit of skin is only fair.'
If the things that would normally be a problem when baring skin ceased to be problems at all.
For example, if getting scratched by branches or having flames and cold air graze your skin never happened at all.
Then baring skin was certainly worth it.
But even so, wasn't this a bit excessive?
"Excuse me, Hero."
"What is it, blasphemer?"
"I admit I'm blasphemous. I fully understand the words of the Azure Moon Goddess, but I have my own god that I believe in."
"Hmm...."
From what I had learned.
The Church of the Azure Moon Goddess did not recklessly persecute heretics.
Heretics were people to be converted so they too could hear the words of the Azure Moon Goddess; it was not a group that lopped off heads simply for believing in another god.
"Is that so. You do not follow the Azure Moon Goddess.... However, you are wrong."
"What am I wrong about?"
"Because I am not an exhibitionist, but a follower of the goddess."
Looking genuinely dejected, as if truly disappointed, she still openly displayed displeasure at what I had said.
"Correct yourself. I am different from exhibitionists. This is the optimal form for receiving the Azure Moon Goddess's grace most properly."
"If that's the case, wouldn't it be more proper to take off what you're wearing on top as well?"
"What is your complaint?"
"I'm saying it's embarrassing for others to see. No matter how much it's the goddess's grace, isn't this a bit too much?"
"What?! Too much!"
The Fire Hero, Bareness, began openly getting angry at me.
"This is to receive even a little more of the goddess's grace! How dare you say such a thing!"
"No, that...."
"Furthermore, an adventurer! Any proper adventurer should take care of their own body—"
"Excuse me, Hero."
Lucius stepped in front of me.
At that, Bareness, who had just been raging, immediately shut her mouth and stepped back.
'Could it be that Holy Sword Heroes sense something from each other?'
I was nervous.
With so many people gathered here, if she said something to Lucius like "I sense the aura of a Holy Sword from you!", the situation would become serious.
We hadn't even found traces of Zepar and Acedia yet, and if we were exposed already, they would come looking for us.
Not so much to find me, but rather to eliminate the variable that was the Wind Holy Sword.
"My master doesn't particularly like revealing the body. I fully understand the goddess's blessing, but my master is someone who believes a woman's body is more beautiful when covered."
"Hmm...?"
Both Bareness and I felt puzzled by Lucius's words.
What kind of nonsense was that?
"My master spoke of the 'aesthetics of concealment.' He said that it is precisely those situations where we cannot normally see something, but can see it at truly important moments, that allow us to truly feel beauty and charm."
"That is...?"
"Because she believes that boldly revealing oneself at a truly important moment is also part of a woman's charm."
"A t-truly important moment...?!"
Bareness's face flushed red in an instant.
"D-don't tell me you mean that moment?! I-indeed. If it's that kind of situation, I can fully understand...."
"Yes. It's something you keep hidden normally and only bring out at important moments. Boldly revealing yourself is good too, but if you show it too often, there may come a moment when its meaning fades."
"Indeed...! There is no need to always reveal it. Revealing one's true form only at important moments is certainly also important. Indeed... I understand what you are trying to say."
He must be talking about Holy Swords.
Surely, it had to be about Holy Swords.
"And...."
Lucius approached Bareness.
Bareness flinched in surprise and tensed up, and I tensed up too, worried that Lucius might cause trouble.
'Don't tell me he's going to pull out his Holy Sword and stab her in the stomach...?!'
WHISPER, WHISPER.
Lucius merely whispered something into Bareness's ear.
At that, Bareness's eyes went wide as she looked me up and down once, then began nodding vigorously with a solemn expression.
"I apologize, Mage. I, Bareness, could not contain my momentary anger and raised my voice."
"Ah, no."
What was the reason for this sudden apology?
What on earth had Lucius said?
Still, since she had bowed her head first, it would be my loss to get more annoyed here.
"I'm sorry too for speaking carelessly. I'm sure there's a reason for everything, but I spoke thoughtlessly, only considering my own views."
"Not at all. There are certainly differences in thinking, and it seems I pushed only my own way of thinking too hard."
Fortunately, Bareness didn't seem to be a woman who simply rampaged recklessly.
"However."
"...Yes?"
"If you wish to receive the Azure Moon Goddess's blessing, you should at least bare more skin on your upper body."
"......."
Now that her hot temper had subsided, the missionary had appeared.
This body of mine couldn't receive the Azure Moon Goddess's blessing, yet she kept staring at my chest with eyes that said faith was justice.
"If you have faith in the Azure Moon Goddess, it might grow larger as well."
"Excuse me?"
"I was rude. I must now go investigate the orc settlement. Ah."
Bareness made a holy sign toward us and placed both hands on her stomach.
Even with both hands clasped for prayer, they were smaller than each of the masses that flaunted their presence.
"May the Azure Moon Goddess's blessing be with you."
With those words, Bareness left.
From the regretful gaze she sent toward Lucius at the end, I thought she had backed off because she had taken a liking to him.
"Ah, before I go."
"...?"
"Still, since it could be dangerous, let me give you this as a gift."
Bareness brought her two hands together and extended them toward me.
Whoosh.
A warm energy flowed from her and began to take shape, and soon it fell into my hand as a red orb.
"This is...?"
"If you are ever in a dangerous moment, shout 'By the Azure Moon Goddess's blessing!' and a tremendous flame will burst forth from within to protect you all."
"Eh."
"I sincerely hope that the path you walk becomes a cozy road bathed in blue moonlight. Farewell."
With those words, Bareness truly turned and disappeared.
I had suddenly received a holy relic from her, and I was dumbfounded by her triumphant attitude as she walked away.
"...Why is she making a face like she won against me?"
"Don't you think she believes her missionary work succeeded?"
"Is that so?"
It was certainly as Lucius said.
"If I use this, it means I've developed faith and belief in the Azure Moon Goddess. Surely she doesn't think that?"
"She might. She's trying to turn you into a follower of the Church of the Azure Moon Goddess...."
"Ha, this is ridiculous."
It was genuinely irritating, but I couldn't just carelessly throw away a gift received from a Hero in front of so many people.
At times like this....
"H-hmph! It can't be helped. I-I'll accept it since she gave it to me."
"Master...."
"Wh-what! I-I'm only keeping it because I can't throw it away! Got it?! I said got it!!"
I just had to shout it out and move on like this.
"Oh, damn it, why is everyone looking at me like that!!"
Ah.
I want to die.
"...Tch."
After scattering people's attention enough, I pocketed the red gem and slipped away from the spot with my party.
"No one's coming to steal this."
"Because they know it's meaningless. The conversion item the Fire Hero gave is something that only works on you, Witch."
"What do you mean?"
"The Hero prayed for the Saintess. She told you to pray to the Azure Moon Goddess, but it probably has the Holy Sword's power infused in it."
"......."
So that was what she meant.
No matter how I looked at it, the power drawn from the Fire Holy Sword remained in it, so I had wondered if someone might chase us to steal it.
"Is she a good person...?"
"She's hot-tempered, but not a bad person. If anything, she's someone who's too kind for her own good."
"Hot-tempered but kind...?"
It seemed incongruous, but since I couldn't really throw it away, I decided to hold onto it for the time being.
"So, Lucius. What did you say to make Bareness quiet down?"
"...It was nothing. I just boosted her morale."
"So you talked bad about me?"
"......That's not it...."
"Hmm, well, whatever. It was my mistake for slipping up because I was flustered. Thanks, Lucius."
"......."
"What. That look. Is it that strange for me to say thanks?"
"Ah, no."
Lucius fidgeted and scratched his head.
"I'm someone who says thanks when I'm thankful. This won't happen again. Making that kind of slip because I was flustered."
I swore I wouldn't get flustered no matter what happened from then on.
Even if something worse than this happened.
* * *
At that moment, on the road heading north.
"He said, 'It's because Master is smaller than you.'"
Bareness smiled faintly and lowered her head.
"Hmm, if that's the case, it can't be helped. That's why I dress like this, so people can feel that."
Exhibitionist, was it?
"I thought I'd been found out. That witch has good instincts."
It was the truth.
Her faith was also true, but Bareness genuinely enjoyed boldly displaying her beautiful body to others.
And.
"It's also true that I dress like this to receive the goddess's power."
Grrr.
Magic Beasts began appearing one by one on the forest path.
They were Magic Beasts that had been feeding on the corpses of orcs that had died in the forest, trying to grow stronger.
"If it's for receiving more power, I can do even more than this."
FWOOSH.
Fire ignited on Bareness's body.
Her clothes blazed up in brilliant red flames as she wreathed her body in fire.
"In the name of the Azure Moon Goddess."
FWOOSH.
"Witch. Someday, you too will come to understand."
Slurp.
"...That a woman must boldly reveal herself!"
KABOOOOM!!
A massive pillar of fire engulfed the Magic Beasts in an instant.