The New Member Is a Tiny Priest! (1)
The New Member Is a Tiny Priest! (1)
The Numina Order's tent.
"Brother Ian? Brother Ian Blackangus?"
The priest inquired.
Ian flinched slightly.
The man's intensity was unsettling.
"Yes."
Things had improved lately, but most people still furrowed their brows the moment they heard his name.
What sort of contemptuous glare would he get this time?
But as if to prove his worry unfounded, the priest's face lit up with delight.
"Ah, Brother Ian, had I known you were interested in the teachings of Lady Numina, I would have sought you out sooner!"
"?"
"Please, come right this way. Once again, a most sincere welcome."
"??"
A sudden warm reception.
How long had it been since someone had treated him this kindly after hearing his name?
He didn't show it, but Ian was genuinely touched.
At the same time, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine.
'...Are these guys some kind of cult?'
Even before the possession, the only strangers who'd ever welcomed Ian with open arms were cultists.
However.
"We are well aware of your heroic exploits. May the blessings of Deus be with you always!"
The priests of the Numina Order had their own reasons for welcoming Ian.
Namely, their fundamental stance as an anti-Saintess faction.
Ever since Ian had dealt a blow to the Saintess Candidate before the disciplinary committee, an unspoken sense of high regard for him had blossomed among their ranks.
On top of that, he had recently exposed and helped bring down the Northern Grand Duke himself as a Blood Rock Sect devotee!
To the doctrine-centric Numina Order, heretics like the Blood Rock Sect were objects of intense loathing and eradication.
Unbeknownst to Ian, he was practically an idol here.
Even though the Numina Order's priests were only a tiny handful, when Ian returned to Lichten after a long absence, they were the very people who first approached him.
In any case.
For such an idol-like figure to personally walk into their order's tent!
"It's humble, but please, have a seat."
The priest's smile grew even more benevolent.
Naturally, Ian couldn't deduce their circumstances. It was a luckless fate that forced him to suspect anyone's kindness. Subtly noting the exit, Ian sat at the table the priest indicated.
"Elena, could you bring us some tea?"
The priest called out to a female priestess who was nodding off in front of the order's symbol in the distance.
"......"
No answer.
Was she deep in prayer?
Just as he was about to marvel at her impressive devotion—
"Hweh?"
The priestess's head jerked forward and back roughly before she startled herself awake.
"Elena?"
"I... I wasn't sleeping!"
The priestess tried to hide her face in her hands.
The priest let out a small sigh, as if this were a familiar sight, and spoke.
"Yes, I see. Could you serve tea to our guest here?"
"A gu-guest...? Yes, yes!"
When the priestess returned with the tea, Ian blinked. He felt like he'd seen her face somewhere before.
She was short, with hair that mixed gold and brown, a rather prominent wide forehead, and timid movements. Shyly averting her eyes, she clutched the sleeves of her priestess robes—far too large for her frame—and scurried over to pour the tea.
"Sister Elena is remarkably skilled at brewing tea. So much so that the Student Council specifically requests her services. The fact that we can maintain this tent at all is largely thanks to Sister Elena."
The tips of the girl's ears flushed pink at the priest's praise.
Only then did Ian recall who she was.
The newest rookie among the Student Council trio who had come for the club audit.
She looked so different in priestess robes that he hadn't recognized her.
"Ah, you were the Student Council's food taster back then...?"
At that, the girl finally met Ian's eyes.
Her eyes widened into circles.
"E-he-hek?"
She pointed a finger and shouted.
"You're that, that super delicious fruit vendor mister from back then?!"
...Just what do you remember me as?
"...Chuurrp."
Reflexively, her drool dripped right into the guest teacup.
◆
"...So, Brother Ian, who brought the Saintess Candidate's transgressions to light in such a manner! And now, having distinguished yourself once again in the North, we priests of the Numina Order cannot help but look up to you!"
This was the priest's answer to Ian's question about why he was being treated so warmly.
In short, his landing blows on both the Saintess Candidate and the Blood Rock Sect had pleased them greatly.
"So that's how it was."
"Yes. Some of our priests have even been praying for you lately, Brother Ian."
Frankly, Ian was moved.
'There were actually people praying for me!'
Since the possession, this was arguably the first time he had received such treatment from people he barely knew.
It was also proof that his reputation was slowly beginning to shift.
But just because someone was singing his praises didn't mean he could sit there grinning like an idiot!
Social life dictates that any praise received must be returned in kind.
"As expected of the Numina Order. You remain unswayed by public opinion and pierce straight to the heart of the matter—surely, this is all thanks to Lady Numina's teachings."
Arguably, this was just self-praise wrapped in flattery—congratulating them on their keen eye for recognizing him—but regardless, the priest was overjoyed.
"As expected of Brother Ian! I knew we would see eye to eye! Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
Ian laughed heartily along with the priest.
Sitting at the edge of the table, Elena watched them and trembled.
She could sense a hint of madness from both men.
After about a minute of laughter, the priest rose from his seat.
"It is truly an honor that you came to form a team with a priest of the Numina Order. However, our order's only new student here is Sister Elena."
"Father, I'm sorry but..."
"Hm? Elena, do you have some other objection?"
"I am a body devoted solely to Deus and the teachings of Lady Numina. I have no, no intention of taking the promotion battle seriously."
"Don't be so shy, Elena. Brother Ian will take good care of you."
"Th-that's not i-it...!"
Heave!
The brother priest bodily lifted the chair of Elena, who was trying to inch away, and placed it right in front of Ian.
"Then, I shall excuse myself for a moment so that you may have a thorough conversation with Sister Elena."
"Ehh? I, I... um. Father...?"
"Sister Elena. I entrust our Brother Ian to your care."
Elena's bewildered gaze followed the priest briefly.
"Hahaha!"
The priest laughed as if something wonderful had happened and walked out of the tent.
◆
An awkward silence hung in the air for a moment.
Ian could tell the priestess was wary of him. Just what was she so cautious about? He didn't think he'd ever done anything to offend her. If anything, of the three Student Council members, she was the one who enjoyed the Snow Blossom Fruit the most.
"Y-you are putting me to the test."
Elena squeezed her eyes shut and cried out.
"Test?"
"That sugared fruit you gave me back then was so delicious... I lost all dignity and even moaned while eating it. Despite being a priestess who must not indulge in pleasure. It was all because that sweet and sour fruit was too delicious!"
...You were the one moaning.
Ian felt wronged but simultaneously pleased.
It felt like receiving the highest form of praise, akin to 'This game is X-like shit.'
"I e-even had to lie. I said I needed to investigate it further because I wanted more... I'm truly a failure as a priestess."
...Didn't she just now also lie about not sleeping when she was dozing off?
Pointing that out seemed like it would make the priestess before him go 'poof' and crumble, so Ian decided to change the subject.
"But wasn't your name Sophia? Everyone in the Student Council called you Sophie."
"So-Sophia is the name my mother gave me. Elena is the name given by God."
"I see. In that case, may I call you Elena? It feels like it'd bring us closer."
Elena nodded without a word.
Indeed, despite her somewhat clumsy demeanor, she was closer to a devout believer.
And typically, the more devout a priest, the more exceptional their abilities.
Ian felt an even stronger urge to win Elena over.
"As I told the male priest earlier, I need a priest to be on my side for the promotion battle."
"I'm sorry, but I think that will be difficult."
Elena delivered a firm rejection in a small voice.
"I have little interest in promotion. Serving Deus alone and following Lady Numina's teachings—that is my path."
A resolute refusal.
Ian wasn't the type to back down from a mere rejection like this.
He was, after all, a body forged through countless confession rejections.
Rejection was practically an energy source for Ian.
"But Elena, think about it."
"Huh?"
"Ultimately, you too will have to spread those teachings to others someday. If you hold the title of Aether Class, more people will lend an ear to your voice. And isn't our team the only one that splits cores from dangerous monster hunts exactly into n equal parts?"
It must have sounded quite plausible, because Elena listened attentively. But her expression quickly hardened.
"We are taught to refrain from excessive competition and greed. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can join you."
Elena shook her head even as she kept clutching her slipping priestess robes.
She was as firm as an iron wall.
'Still, a priest is essential.'
Ian couldn't give up.
Given the Numina Order's reaction, he would certainly never be able to get a priest from the Saintess Candidate's Celeste Order.
Which meant Elena was the only priest he could possibly recruit.
'Honestly, I never expected her to have no interest in Aether promotion.'
The basics of negotiation lie in grasping what the other party wants.
Ian had naturally assumed even a priest would desire Aether promotion.
Lichten's 'Aether' was itself a brand akin to a luxury certification. The mere fact of having held Aether status for even a single semester guaranteed significant opportunities after graduation.
'But she doesn't want that...'
Ian's mind raced.
What did Elena want most?
After a brief pause, Ian opened his mouth.
"How about this."
"?"
"Ten Snow Blossom Fruit vouchers."
"?"
A momentary silence flowed.
A beat later, Elena spoke in a resolute voice.
"I-I am a priestess who serves God. I will not be swayed by mere desserts."
But Ian didn't miss it.
A storm of guilt and desire flickered in Elena's eyes before vanishing.
"Hmm... Then, never mind. I'll let you eat one a month, for life."
"...Eh? F-for life?"
"Yes. For life."
"D-don't think I'll fall for such temptation! Devil! O Lord, help me escape this temptation."
Even as she began reciting her prayers, Elena's body was honest. Her lips began to glisten with drool.
The corner of Ian's mouth curled up.
"What, that's not enough? Then one a week, for life."
Quiver.
Elena's lips trembled.
"Protect me from this desire...chuurrp."
Her prayer was never completed.