Chapter 182: The Saint of Another World-4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 182: The Saint of Another World-4
I spent a good while idling on the soft bed, savoring its touch, until it was finally time for lunch.
Maria, whom I had selected as my attendant, was to accompany me starting tomorrow. Until then, the priest who had brought the barber was to remain by my side.
Knock, knock.
"Saint, I am coming in."
It seemed the priest had come to announce lunch.
Since the fatigue from the previous night hadn't fully dissipated, I was sprawled face-down on the bed. Before I could even react, the priest pushed the door open and entered.
And so, I ended up showing him the perfect image of a student who desperately didn't want to go to school, lying flat on the mattress.
"Ah, my apologies."
As I sat up, scratching my messy hair, the priest turned his gaze away with an awkward expression.
I suppose it would be a bit of a disillusioning sight. A 'Saint,' who one would expect to be sitting primly at a desk reading a book, was instead glued to his bed, killing time.
"No, it’s fine. What is it?"
I climbed down from the bed and spoke while straightening my clothes.
"It is lunchtime, so I have come to escort you."
"I see. I was just starting to get hungry, so that's perfect."
I really was hungry. I made my way toward the door.
The priest and I walked down the hallway. As we walked, I felt several gazes lingering on me. They didn't feel like surveillance; there was no malice or wariness behind them. It felt more like people staring at a celebrity.
"I seem to be drawing quite a bit of attention."
I almost wished I hadn't noticed...
Perhaps the training I did with my Master hadn't gone to waste, as my intuition for reading my surroundings kept feeding me information.
"Pardon? Oh..."
At my remark, the priest looked around with a flustered face. However, the people had already turned their eyes elsewhere; there was no way he would notice.
"It's nothing. Let's go. Are we headed to the dining hall?"
When I asked while pointing in the direction we were walking, the priest regained his composure and started moving again, looking a bit dazed.
"Yes, it is just ahead."
I wanted to ask what was on the menu for lunch, but I held it in, fearing I might develop an image of someone obsessed with food. In the world I came from, gluttony was considered a sin, so it wouldn't hurt to be careful.
Judging by the delicious aroma wafting toward us as we approached the dining hall, I felt I could look forward to the meal.
*
The moment I stepped into the dining hall, I was met with so many stares that the ones I felt earlier seemed like nothing.
True to the description that it was a place where everyone in the Solarium Church gathered to eat, the hall was incredibly spacious. It didn't quite feel like a school cafeteria; it was more reminiscent of the Great Hall from the Harry Potter movies I’d seen long ago. Long tables were arranged across the wide hall, and people sat there eating food they had brought.
In a well-lit area of the dining hall, separate tables were set up. It looked like a place for high-ranking individuals, similar to an officers' mess in the military.
The so-called 'Special Seats.'
"The Saint’s seat is over there."
The priest pointed toward the special seating. Several bishops dressed in luxurious robes were sitting there, looking our way.
"If it isn't a problem, I would like to eat here."
I wanted to avoid the special seats. If I sat there, the bishops would likely bombard me with all sorts of questions. My lack of knowledge would be exposed in no time. That was why I had to sit here in the 'General Seating.'
The people sitting here might steal glances at me, but they wouldn't dare strike up a conversation.
"Ah... that is no problem. Instead, I shall bring the food to you."
The priest replied while scratching his cheek and went to fetch the meal.
"Hmm..."
A reverent silence fell over the dining hall, which should have been at least a little noisy with the sounds of people eating. I took a seat in a reasonably empty spot.
The stares were pouring in.
I wondered if I’d even be able to swallow my food properly. Ah, do they serve bread here?
Fearing I might accidentally make eye contact, I closed my eyes and waited for lunch, signaling that I didn't want to be disturbed. After a short while, food with a delicious scent arrived.
"Thank you."
I spoke as I opened my eyes, hearing the clatter of a plate being placed in front of me.
"It was nothing."
The priest sat down across from me.
On the plate were two small loaves of bread, a thick cream, and some unidentified meat. The piece of meat was quite large. Wondering if I was the only one who received such a portion, I glanced at other plates and saw that everyone had been given a similar amount.
So, it wasn't special treatment for the Saint.
"Well then, let's eat."
As I picked up my knife and fork, the priest across from me looked at me strangely.
"Huh? Uh... Saint?"
He had an expression as if he wanted to say something but was barely holding back.
"Yes? Is something wrong?"
I asked back, wondering if I had made a mistake.
"By, by any chance... the pre-meal prayer...? My apologies if you have already done it."
He seemed more flustered by my question. His eyes darted around, and he asked me in a very low voice, with a truly apologetic heart.
Ah, I forgot the prayer.
That was a close one.
*
"Ah, of course. The pre-meal prayer."
I smiled nonchalantly to hide my embarrassment and folded my hands.
This is how you do it, right?
I racked my brain, trying to recall anyone I knew who went to church. I closed my eyes and bowed my head slightly.
But how many minutes is a pre-meal prayer supposed to last? I’ll just say whatever comes to mind first.
"Father in heaven. Thank you for providing this daily bread."
I retrieved prayer phrases I had heard somewhere from my memory bank and spoke them aloud.
"Please remember the sweat of all those who labored to prepare this food, and bestow your blessings upon them."
"May we become people who can bring even greater glory to the Father after eating this food prepared with such devotion."
This should be enough.
I slowly opened my eyes and picked up my fork. The priest across from me had kept his eyes closed, but he opened them the moment he heard the sound of me picking up my utensils.
Well, there wasn't much of a time difference in our prayers, so I must have done it right.
"Let's eat."
I stabbed a piece of meat with my fork and put it in my mouth. Sweet juices filled my palate. I quietly chewed away and looked at my dining companion.
He was staring at his food with a dazed expression.
"What is the matter?"
When I asked, seeing as he was neither praying nor eating, he looked at me with eyes brimming with tears.
"N-no, it is nothing. It is just that the Saint’s prayer was so deeply moving."
...What did I even do?
Just in case, I looked around, only to see the people nearby had also put down their utensils and were wiping away tears.
Ah...
My head is starting to ache again.