Chapter 102: Clan Founding
Chapter 102: Clan Founding
After arriving at the temple, Diana and Vanessa went to handle the procedures for parking the carriage.
As Guwon waited with Sara at the entrance, they happened to run into Leia, who was just coming out of the temple.
“Leia!”
Leia was carrying a large crossbody bag and walking out with a few other priestesses.
“Oh my. Hello, everyone.”
“Hey. Where are you headed?”
“Just into town for a bit.”
Leia said, giving the large crossbody bag a little shake.
Was a crossbody bag always such a fine item?
The strap of the bag cut across the space between Leia’s large breasts, making their shape clearly visible even through her loose-fitting priestess’s robe.
“Leia, is this that Guwon person?”
While Guwon was momentarily captivated by Leia’s chest, one of the priestesses next to her chimed in.
She was a rather pussyy-looking woman.
She was clearly wearing a priestess’s robe, but it must have been modified; unlike Leia’s, it was form-fitting and decorated here and there.
Are you even allowed to do that to a priestess’s robe?
“Ah, yes. Let me introduce you. These are my party members, Guwon and Sara. Everyone, these are Jane and Chris, fellow priestesses from the temple.”
“Hey.”
“Hello.”
The sexy-looking one was Jane, and the pure-looking woman next to her was Chris.
Both of them were also carrying large crossbody bags.
“Hmm. I see. So this is the man Leia was talking about…”
Jane’s eyes sparkled with keen interest as she spoke.
What on earth did Leia say about me?
“What brings you all here so early in the morning? Have you come to worship?”
“No. I mean, we’ll worship if we have time, but we came about the Mana Pools. Who should we talk to? The High Priestess?”
“Ah, yes! I can…! Oh, what should I do?”
Leia looked down at the crossbody bag she was wearing, a troubled expression on her face.
They’re bouncing. Bouncing.
“What do you mean, ‘what should you do’? Just give that to us and go guide them.”
Chris said, taking Leia’s crossbody bag.
They’re bouncing. Bouncing.
“B-But.”
“What ‘but’? It’s fine, go guide your companions. We’ll go by ourselves today.”
“Will that be alright?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
Jane and Chris practically forced the bag out of Leia’s hands.
Nooo! The valley of temptation!
“Well, we’ll be on our way then. Good luck, Leia.”
“You can do it!”
Jane and Chris offered those sudden words of encouragement before disappearing from sight.
“Huh?”
Leia, seemingly unsure of their meaning, tilted her head in confusion.
“Well, it seems you’ve met Miss Leia.”
“Ah, Lady Diana! Hello.”
Diana returned shortly. Vanessa was nowhere to be seen, presumably waiting with the carriage.
“Shall you show us the way, then?”
“Yes. This way.”
The place Leia led them to was, as expected, where the High Priestess was.
“Hmph. So you are the High Priestess.”
“Yes. Welcome, Lady Teluna. I am Sophia, and I have been in charge of this temple for the past two years.”
The High Priestess must have heard about her from Leia beforehand, as she bowed her head respectfully the moment she saw Diana.
“So, we’d like to trade some Mana Pools.”
“Yes, I heard the story from Leia. We will have to purchase them at a slight discount, but will that be acceptable?”
“Yes, that’s fine. They’re being used to help people, after all.”
Guwon said nonchalantly.
In truth, he didn’t much care whether they were helping people or not. The important thing was that this would raise Leia’s affection level.
Besides, he had received a huge sum of money from the guild yesterday.
And he now had a steady source of income for the future.
“On behalf of the temple, I thank you. It seems I may have misjudged you.”
The High Priestess’s gaze was now noticeably softer than before.
As expected of a priestess in charge of a temple like this, despite her stern appearance. It seemed she gave high marks for acts of charity.
“Alright, we’ve settled the matter of the Mana Pools we’ve gathered, but now for the main topic.”
“Pardon? Is there something more?”
It seemed Leia hadn’t mentioned the location.
“Yes. It’s about the natural habitat of the Mana Pools.”
“What?! The natural habitat of Mana Pools?!”
The High Priestess was so surprised that she shot up from her seat.
“Hehe. You’re surprised, aren’t you?”
Leia said in a cheerful voice.
It looked like she’d kept it a secret for the surprise.
To pull such a sly little trick. How can she be so cute?
“C-Could you please tell me the details?”
“We just happened to discover a hidden place inside the dungeon, and it was packed with growing Mana Pools. We harvested some of them, and when we went back a few days later, more had already grown. In other words, it’s a place where we can get a stable supply of Mana Pools.”
“I see, so that’s how a party of only four was able to obtain so many. So, what is your reason for telling me this?”
“Wouldn’t a place like that be helpful to the temple?”
“It would.”
The High Priestess didn’t even try to hide it, staring at Guwon with fervent eyes.
Ooh. The person who was so endlessly stern when we last met is now looking at me with those eyes. For some reason, it sends a shiver of pleasure through me…
“What if I were to say we’d let you harvest Mana Pools from there as you please?”
Wanting to savor this pleasure for even a moment longer, Guwon dragged out his words slightly.
“A-Are you serious?”
“Well? Am I? That might depend on your attitude from now on, High Priestess… Ouch!”
Just as Guwon showed signs of starting to tease the High Priestess, a merciless attack landed on his side.
There was only one person here who could inflict this kind of physical damage on him.
Following the hand that was twisting the flesh of his side, he saw Sara’s slightly scowling face.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
What? I was just teasing her a little. Is there a need to attack me like this?
Ah, c-could she be jealous? Is that it, Sara?
After what had happened between them, he couldn’t help but keep entertaining the possibility that Sara had feelings for him.
Thinking of it that way, even this pain digging into his side felt somewhat gratifying.
Hmph. You cute little thing.
Not that he was a pervert who enjoyed pain, of course.
“Wh-What’s with that smile? Don’t tell me you’re…”
Sara glanced down at the hand pinching Guwon, then quickly pulled it away with a horrified expression.
“Wait a second. It looks like you’re seriously misunderstanding something…” “We get that you two are close, so could you stop fooling around and get on with the conversation?”
This time, it was Diana who spoke, a vein popping on her forehead.
Her aura suggested that any more fooling around would result in certain death.
“Ah, right. Sorry. So, we’d like to make a deal with the temple.”
“What kind of deal?”
“Before that, I’d like to ask. Does the temple have enough manpower to manage a location on the lowest level of the Dungeon’s 1st Floor?”
“Yes, of course. Our temple has not only priestesses but also Holy Knights. If we dispatch some of our personnel, it will be no problem at all.”
“Then it’s simple. We will tell you the location of the Mana Pool habitat and give you the harvesting rights. In exchange, the temple will manage the location and pay our clan a portion of the Mana Pools’ price.”
“A portion of the price? How much are we talking about?”
“Well…”
Guwon glanced at Diana.
I’m not good with this stuff. Please suggest a reasonable number, Lady Diana!
“Just give us half the price of the Mana Pools.”
“J-Just half… Is that really alright?”
It seemed to be an incredibly good deal, even from the temple’s perspective.
The High Priestess’s eyes lit up.
“Well, yes. The temple harvests Mana Pools to help people, so we can’t just pursue our own profit.”
Guwon took the opportunity to make himself look good again.
“I see. On behalf of the temple, I thank you once again.”
Hmph. Nice. This should have boosted Leia’s affection level significantly.
As a bonus, the High Priestess will see me in a new light, too.
“Then let us draw up a contract.”
Diana produced a sheet of paper from her robes.
There was no way the temple didn’t have paper, so the fact that she brought her own must mean it was some kind of magic contract. How thorough.
While Diana drafted the contract, it was decided that Guwon would store the Mana Pools in the temple’s warehouse and receive payment.
Since the quantity was so large, it was simply easier for Guwon to go to the warehouse and take them out himself.
After visiting the warehouse with Leia as his guide, he returned to find Diana leisurely sipping tea.
“Finished?”
“Yes, all done.”
“Then let’s go.”
They had received the money, and there was no more business here. At least, not for him.
Guwon tried to make a hasty exit, but a voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Just a moment.”
“Y-Yes? What is it?”
“I believe I said I would teach you some common sense?”
Damn it. Busted. I was hoping I could just leave.
“Well, about that…”
“However, if Lady Teluna is in your party, I suppose it’s not strictly necessary.”
“Right. No, yes. That’s exactly it. That’s why I…” “No. This man needs to learn some common sense. I’m glad you’re willing to teach him.”
Just as Guwon was about to agree, Diana cut him off without mercy.
Damn it, Diana… to betray me like this… I trusted you…
“Is that so? Then let’s begin at once. Please have a seat.”
It seemed there was no escape.
Guwon slumped into a chair, defeated.
“May I remain here as well? I’m curious about the lesson content. I won’t be a bother.”
Diana said with a delighted expression.
Damn it. Do you have a problem with me? If you’ve got a complaint, just say it.
What part of my suffering is so enjoyable to you?
“Yes, please do.”
“Then me too.”
And so, Diana, and for some reason Sara and Leia too, ended up watching Guwon’s lesson.
However, the common sense lesson with the High Priestess was very different from the kind of studying Guwon had imagined.
Before coming to this world, Guwon was the type to check out everything, even the official website. Naturally, he was the type of gamer who enjoyed digging deep into settings and lore.
And now, someone was explaining the common sense of this game-like world to him.
It was like listening to game lore told as a story, and he found it quite interesting.
Come to think of it, between the worship service and this, the strange things here are pretty fun.
Since the teacher was the High Priestess, a lot of the talk was related to the temple in addition to general common sense. Among those topics, what sent a chill down Guwon’s spine was the rules for priestesses.
While not forced upon the general believers, there were several doctrines that priestesses had to strictly adhere to. One of them was to never let a third party witness a sexual act.
Hearing that, Guwon broke out in a cold sweat.
I knew it. There was a rule like that.
Sara saw me and Leia in her Gumiho mode going at it orally.
It’s a huge relief that Leia doesn’t remember. If she found out, she’d probably hate me, right?
The thought made him feel a renewed sense of gratitude for Sara’s consideration.
As expected of my first companion. Sara. I love you.
The discussion about the temple continued for a while longer.
Then, a question suddenly occurred to Guwon, and he asked.
“By the way, what’s that education hall you go to after the worship service?”
“Pardon? Ah, that. It is a place you have no reason to go to, but…”
The High Priestess trailed off, her gaze suddenly shifting to a point behind Guwon.
Huh?
Guwon followed her gaze and turned around to see the three women of his party.
Leia was listening attentively, but Sara and Diana were looking away, feigning ignorance.
…What’s this?
“Ahem. That’s right. It’s a place you have no reason to go. You needn’t worry about it.”
No, I’m incredibly worried about it.
You were about to tell me. What the hell did they do behind my back to make you stop talking all of a sudden?
But the High Priestess paid no mind to Guwon’s curious expression and continued the lesson.
“Let’s end here for today. You’ve worked hard.”
The lesson finally came to a close around lunchtime.
“Not at all. Thank you for your hard work, High Priestess.”
“Last time, you seemed to dislike the idea of a lesson, but you listened surprisingly hard.”
“Ah, yes. It’s important to know common sense, after all.”
The truth is I was listening because it was fun, like game lore, but this is the right thing to say in this situation, right?
“Well then, I shall see you again next time.”
“Yes. Goodbye.”
With that, the party left the High Priestess’s office.