24. After the Festival and the Church, Part 2
The priest was on his way. I couldn't just lie there in bed, so I sat up.
For starters, I got out of bed. No pain in my back anymore.
"Fam, mind if I have Cecily and Ira sit in the chairs?"
I checked with Fam.
"Yes."
Hearing that, Mizuki went to grab some chairs. Cecily and Ira, relieved from their seiza positions, stretched their legs and staggered to their feet, leaning on each other. They were completely numb. Beers had already left, but he'd seemed fine. Probably used to it.
Mizuki returned with the chairs at the exact same moment Myra came back with the priest in tow.
The priest was a tall man in his late fifties, his hair and beard streaked heavily with white.
"Lord Mash, if I may, I'd like to see your character sheet right away."
The priest said. There was an air of inevitability—you couldn't say no. No choice, then. I displayed my character sheet, showing only the bare minimum like an ID for resistance's sake.
"Please show the full status."
"Master Mash, please. Let me see it too."
Fine, whatever. No getting out of this. Grudgingly, I revealed the full status.
Full Status Displayed
Three Ten'ei blessings. One is Goddess Summon...
"Three Ten'ei blessings. One of them is Goddess Summon..." Myra and the priest muttered to themselves. They exchanged glances and nodded.
"...Thank you."
The priest dropped to his knees, striking the same prayer pose Fam did every morning toward me. Guess that certified me as the real deal. Not sure what to do with this.
"Lord Mash—no, Mash-sama. The church would like to offer its assistance. We've prepared a room in the temple. Would you stay there?"
The priest radiated that same unyielding aura. But no thanks.
"Uh, no, even if you say that, it's a hassle. I'd rather keep adventuring quietly on my own."
"...Understood. Then, might we at least assign a servant to attend you?"
"A servant?"
"Myra here."
The priest patted Myra's shoulder.
"It's me. I won't get in your way, I promise. Please, keep me by your side."
"The church will provide aid through Myra."
The priest bowed his head.
They hit you with the impossible demand first, then push for compromise. It had all flowed seamlessly since the priest arrived. Probably his plan. He's the absolute authority here. But now a real goddess and her proxy had shown up. He didn't want to lose power but couldn't ignore them outright. So he plays the ally, shoves it off on Myra. Keeps church influence minimal while still "helping." Something like that.
"You cool with that? Tomorrow or the day after, we're heading to Migurutto."
"Of course. It's sudden, but I'll prepare too." Myra beamed.
The priest withdrew.
"What about Cecily and Ira, though..."
Mizuki said, shooting me a suspicious glance. I was getting fed up. It was pitch black outside now.
"Sorry, like I said earlier, we're going to Migurutto. No idea how long it'll take, but we'll free you from slavery there. That work?"
I told Cecily and Ira.
"...That okay with you?"
I nodded at Cecily's question.
"Got it. I was thinking I couldn't stay in this city anymore anyway. I'll serve you until Migurutto."
I turned to Ira.
"Could you leave Ira to me? I'll take her along to Migurutto, of course, and have her play me for some naughty service."
Myra cut in.
"...Myra-san, sorry. Forgive me."
"Yeah, we were really shocked back there. But we can't let her stay Mash's slave forever."
Mizuki said. Why paint me as the bad guy? Well, I'd jump her if she gave an opening.
"Yes, but she's a priestess serving the gods too. This is a good opportunity, I think."
"That okay with you, Ira?"
"I want to stay in this city with Lead. Somehow get him out of prison."
Of course. Made sense. Convincing her sounded like a pain. She looked ready to cry.
"Fine. We'll leave Ira behind."
"No." "That's not okay." Fam and Mizuki shot back.
"I object too. Order her to come with you to Migurutto, Master Mash."
Why dump the dirty work on me?
"It's fine. I'll come along even without orders."
Ira said, her voice flat.
"Master Mash, order Ira to forget about Lead."
"Nah, I don't like that. I'll decide how to use the slave crest. Don't tell me what to do."
"My apologies."
Myra bowed. When she looked up, she seemed pleased I'd refused. Probably to keep Ira from getting spoiled. Or to show who the leader was in this group. With Myra around, Ira might only listen to her. She wanted to nip that in the bud, make sure they didn't treat me like I didn't matter.
This big-tits priestess.
Still, Ira was the one who'd helped me when I collapsed that first day. Thinking back made my chest ache.
"You got any money?"
I asked Cecily and Ira. They shook their heads. All their stuff was in Lead's storage, apparently. They'd pick it up tomorrow.
"Let's plan for Migurutto. You two can head to the inn first."
"Asuka-tei," Cecily answered.
"Nah, the inn where Beers' predecessors stayed should be fine."
They looked utterly defeated.
"Kidding. You two okay sharing a room?"
They nodded, so I handed over some silver coins and sent them off.
"Won't you head to the inn too, Mizuki-san?"
"Hmph, I get that you three are getting along. But you don't have to exclude me..."
"Sorry. We just want a little time to talk among ourselves. We won't keep you waiting."
Myra bowed politely.
"...Fine. I'll wait outside the room."
Mizuki left.
"The thing you mentioned earlier? What is it?"
"I wanted to tell Fam more than you, Master Mash."
"I've been meaning to say—drop the 'sama' already." Might as well now.
"Hee hee, got it. So when it's just us two or with Fam, call me Myra. You call me Myra too, Mash. And Fam, you call me Myra from now on. 'Big sis' works too."
Good. Easier to deal with than Fam.
"Anyway, Fam. Mind if I become Mash's lover too?"
"Eh?" Fam blinked in surprise at Myra. I was shocked too. Wish she'd confessed to me first. Of course I'd say yes.
"Don't ask me. If Master says yes, that's fine."
"I want your answer too, Fam. I like you."
"I-I like you too, b-big sis... B-but... N-no, it's okay if I date Master."
"Gyaaah, Fam-chan! Love love! You were so cute all mad earlier! I wanna hug you forever!"
Myra glomped Fam and shook her back and forth. Lucky. I wanna bury my face in those tits too.
"Hmph, I'm not mad anymore. Master and I are close."
Fam mumbled from between her boobs.
"Hey, Myra. Aren't you supposed to want to be my lover? You gonna leave me out?"
"Ah, sorry. Ira won't call me big sis."
Myra let go of Fam.
"I've spent most of my time at the temple, serving the gods. Read tons of myths and legends featuring them. I admired it all, but so much seemed suspicious... no, like massive embellishments. Myths are myths, legends are legends—fiction. But today, I saw Lady Rakushel. I trembled with awe and emotion. Shame it got aimed at Ira, but Mash proved myths and legends aren't fiction. I'm standing at the center of it all now. I was born to serve you, Mash. I want to devote everything to you."
Way too heavy for me to handle.
"Gotta hunt the Demon King. You'll get dragged into fights."
"Yes! I'll help with all I have!"
Myra's eyes sparkled. I wanted to dodge that entirely.
"I'm just a regular old dude, so no crazy expectations, okay?"
"But you like me enough to have Ira pretend to be me for fun, right?"
"Urk." Yeah, that's gonna haunt me forever.
"Then no problem. You'll be my lover, right?"
"Fam's number one, though?"
"Yes, I know."
"Am I your type as a guy?"
"I like your way of thinking, Mash. If you're asking my preferences, I lean toward younger over older. Honestly, if Fam were a boy, it'd be perfect."
"Too blunt. Fam, you've got a shotacon here. Watch out."
"Yes, Master's the only one for me." Fam looked a bit put off too.
"Harsh. I was just honest 'cause you asked. But I really do wanna be your lover."
"Fine. Let's date."
"Ah, thank you! No happier day than this. Thanks, Lady Rakushel."
Wondering if "fine" was the right response to a love confession, but whatever. Thanking Rakushel was weird too. But those tits were gonna be mine to grope, so I kept quiet.
Mizuki returned to the room.
"..."
She sensed the weird vibe, her eyes demanding an explanation. But I had none to give. Myra brought dinner—simple fare of bread, ham, salad, and stew. We ate in her room.
"Why Migurutto?"
Mizuki asked. Might not have explained. I told her about needing the church there to fully lift Fam's curse.
"Plan for about a month to Migurutto. Stagecoaches are normal, but taking a caravan escort quest could work too."
"Caravan quest, huh. I'll ask Mateo Company tomorrow."
Stagecoaches had fixed departure days. Caravans? Who knows when or if they needed guards. Starting to think walking might be easier. Just wanna leave this city.
"Escorts mean combat. Your job priestess, Myra-san?"
"It was before. Now I'm a shrine maiden. Level 34."
Higher than me, as expected.
"Leveled up killing monsters? Oh, and Mizuki, Myra's fine now. We just became friends."
"Right. 'Friends,' yeah. As a priestess, I did dungeons, but now as shrine maiden, I stick to that."
You get XP from job experience even without fighting? Myra grinned at me. Kinda embarrassing. But no real sense of her being my lover yet. I'd confirm later while groping those tits.
"Party's bigger now, so we need cash. Bit of a pain."
Me, Fam, Mizuki, Myra, Cecily, Ira—six now. Somehow everyone but me's a girl.
"About that—the treatment fees for Ira and the others today, I'll return them. From the priest. Should cover to Migurutto."
Gold coins back. Over 30, probably.
"Master can use my share, no problem."
"I'll chip in too."
Fam and Mizuki offered.
"Church won't take donations from us, huh. Wanted a clean slate."
"...Yeah. Sorry, Myra."
"Apologies. I have to say this upfront—Migurutto probably won't take offerings for Fam's curse either. Already got a letter from the priest for their church."
When she brought dinner? Too prepared.
"Just don't deliver the letter?"
"That's why I'm telling you all. It'd ruin my position."
"Fair. Sorry."
Mizuki apologized to Myra.
We agreed tomorrow was for travel prep, then split—me, Fam, and Mizuki to Asuka-tei; Myra back to the church.
Thank you for reading.
To everyone who bookmarked and rated—truly grateful.
It motivates me. I'll keep at it.