Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: The Rabbit Lord's Arrival
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Twitch twitch.
Its droopy ears were flicking this way and that.
Though its legs were buried in its fluffy body and barely visible, to Ophelia, this was unmistakably a rabbit.
"Ooh……"
Rabbits can knock on doors too!
Thinking it was the most natural thing in the world, Ophelia’s golden eyes sparkled as she crouched down and looked at the rabbit.
"Was it you who knocked on the door?"
"Igogodon."
"I see. My name is Ophelia Translente, but……"
"Igogodon."
"The Rabbit Lord, eh? Well then, what brings you here? If you’ve lost your way and can’t find your owner, I might be able to help."
"Igogodon."
The rabbit was clearly only making "Igogodon" sounds—
Yet for some reason, Ophelia could hold a perfectly normal conversation with it.
"Not that? Then why are you in a place like this……"
"Igogodon."
"You’ve come to help me…… You want to be my companion?"
"Igogodon!"
Hop, hop!
Ophelia nodded with a smile at the sight of the rabbit excitedly hopping up to her eye level as she sat there.
"I don’t know how you found me, but the fact that you’ve come to join me makes it irrelevant whether you’re human or rabbit. Please take care of me from now on, Rabbit Lord! I may be full of shortcomings, but how about we strive together until the moment we understand God’s Plain Fact!"
"Igogodon! Igogodon!"
The rabbit blinked its sunny eyes and hopped about here and there.
"Hmm, what splendid hops……! I must step up my game as well!"
A normal person would have questioned the rabbit’s bizarre cry.
But Ophelia was the type who believed every phenomenon in the world had a proper reason.
So she didn’t bother questioning it. Even if a rabbit showed up claiming to be her companion, she took it at face value.
Her way of thinking was certainly far removed from that of ordinary people. This could even be seen as a flaw in some ways—
—But for her, it was nothing short of a blessing.
She was a woman chosen by God.
* * *
The next day.
"Good morni……ng……???"
"Good morning, Luca."
Luca, who had come to the dining hall for breakfast, froze in her tracks.
There was a white furball she’d never seen before perched on Ophelia’s head.
"Ophelia? What’s that on your circlet……"
"Oh, this one? It’s the Rabbit Lord. My new companion."
"A rabbit……?"
Luca cautiously approached Ophelia.
She was initially quite startled……
But the more she examined the rabbit on her head, the more her feelings easily shifted to curiosity.
"Cute……! It really is a rabbit? The ears do look rabbit-like as you said, but the legs are kinda short? And the fur is so fluffy……"
"Well, it introduced itself as a rabbit, so it must be one, right?"
"It introduced itself? The rabbit did……?"
"Igogodon."
"Eek……! Th-the rabbit’s cry sounds kinda weird……?"
The one grabbing the startled Luca’s sleeve was none other than Erin—the woman chosen by God, who always greeted the Holy Knights with a benevolent smile.
"No need to be so surprised, Lady Luca."
"Saintess, good morning."
Erin immediately offered a prayer.
Erin boasted a sparkling beauty that effortlessly captured everyone’s gaze just by walking, but her beauty shone brightest in the moment she prayed to Lord Igugwoden.
"The Rabbit Lord is the 'Divine Messenger' personally chosen by Lord Igugwoden."
"The Divine Messenger? That cute…… no, ordinary-looking rabbit?"
That pure white, round rabbit?
That plump and adorable creature?
"Since you’re here too, Lady Luca, I’ll explain. The Rabbit Lord descended to earth to aid Ophelia, who was chosen by God. Naturally, it’s on a completely different level from ordinary animals. This is the grace of Lord Igugwoden……!"
With that, Erin clutched her ever-present Holy Scripture to her chest as if burying it in her Divine Power Pouch, her face flushed with emotion.
"Lord Igugwoden…… has answered our prayers. He cherishes us……!"
Erin’s expression as she spoke was incredibly complex. Gratitude mixed with a sense of unworthiness, perhaps.
"I see……!"
"So, I ask the three of you to please look after God’s messenger who has descended upon this world. I too shall fulfill my duties for Lord Igugwoden. Then……"
After Erin left.
The next to speak to Luca was Linea, who had been quietly eating beside them.
"If you listen closely to that cry, it sounds like it’s saying Lord Igugwoden’s name."
"Huh? Now that you mention it, yeah?"
"The existence of such a rabbit, plus thinking about my mother or sister…… It seems God really does exist."
She was saying 'God exists,' but Linea’s expression was quite subtle.
It wasn’t the face of a believer, but of a researcher. The face of someone demanding clearer evidence.
Knowing full well this wasn’t a virtue befitting a Holy Knight, Linea gave a wry smile and stood up.
"Lady Luca. I’ll scout near the dungeon today, so you can handle some lighter tasks."
"Yes? But—"
"No. You’ve been working so hard these past few days."
"……Thank you."
"Not at all. Then, I’ll take my leave first. Good luck to both of you today."
"Mm. Take care, Linea."
"Ah, Line……"
Luca sighed again as she watched Linea vanish before she could say anything.
'Fortunately, I got close to Ophelia easily, but getting close to Linea is proving tricky……'
Unlike Ophelia, who had been incredibly warm despite being strangers, Linea felt like she had up a wall.
Of course, it wasn’t the kind of wall that rejected or dismissed others. She was impeccably polite and even helped Luca, who was still adjusting to Holy Knight duties, during work.
It was more like she was wary of becoming closer than fellow members of the Dish of Holy Knights.
Moreover, she didn’t use religious phrasing. She wouldn’t say things like 'May Plain Fact be with you.'
From that earlier conversation too…… She must harbor doubts about Lord Igugwoden’s existence?
From Luca’s perspective, as someone she’d be seeing long-term, she wanted to get closer……
'Someday she’ll open up.'
Linea too was chosen by Lord Igugwoden.
His decision couldn’t be wrong, so there must be a reason she was selected as a Holy Knight.
Surely, one day they’d engage in deep discussions about Lord Igugwoden’s Plain Fact together.
Well, putting Linea aside—
What was really on her mind now was the 'Divine Messenger' demurely sitting atop Ophelia’s head.
"Um……"
"Yes? What is it?"
Luca was quite weak to cute things. Back at the orphanage, even when she barely had enough to eat herself, she’d share bread crumbs with stray animals wandering the streets.
She’d started doing it because she believed 'God is watching,' of course…… but before long, she’d come to love the animals themselves—
"Um, c-could I…… p-pet it……?"
—So it was only natural for such a girl to gaze sparkling-eyed at the rabbit.
"Igogodon."
"It says you’re fine. Aren’t you also a Holy Knight chosen by God?"
"Y-Yes……!"
—Stroke stroke.
The plush texture started at Luca’s fingertips, caressing the 'vessels of the heart' deep within every corner.
'Cute……!!!'
So cute.
The texture feels so good…… So warm and cozy.
There was something in this toasty little animal that warmed people’s hearts.
"She seems to like your touch too, Luca."
"Huh? This rabbit is a girl…… I mean, a lady……?"
No matter how cute, using casual speech with the 'Divine Messenger' endorsed by Saintess Erin felt wrong, so she naturally switched to honorifics.
"Indeed. She’s a very proper lady. Can’t you tell at a glance?"
"I-I see……? Not sure, but anyway, she’s cute……"
At that moment.
Hop!
"Ah……!"
The rabbit hopped right into Luca’s arms.
Luca stared into the two pure white, blinking eyes of the adorably lovable Divine Messenger nestled warmly in her bosom…… and her face visibly flushed.
'Too too cute……!!!'
"Rabbit Lord. Luca needs to eat, so it’s about time to come back here."
"Igogodon."
Hop!
"Ah, you could stay longer……!"
"No, no need to worry. I have to head out soon anyway, and I can’t take up any more of your precious time."
"It’s kinda disappointing…… Sniff."
"Isn’t it the disappointment that makes the next meeting something to look forward to? Alright. Shall we go share God’s sticky pipip with everyone today?"
"Igogodon."
"Hm? Ah…… right. It was Plain Fact. Thanks for the reminder, Rabbit Lord! Without you, I’d have disappointed the priests again."
'She can communicate……'
It was incredibly fascinating, but whatever.
Compared to the miracles of God so far, this was nothing.
"Um…… Rabbit Lady. See you next time……!"
Hop, hop.
Instead of crying out, the rabbit hopped a few times atop Ophelia’s head in greeting.
"See you at dinner then. Luca. Let’s work hard today too and spread God’s Plain Fact to everyone."
"Yes!"
Luca couldn’t tear her eyes away from Ophelia’s retreating figure for a long while.
* * *
The rabbit infiltrated Ophelia’s life far more swiftly and deeply than she’d imagined.
It became her constant companion during various tasks, and its cute appearance drew favorable attention from many during outreach activities.
For a Holy Knight whose key role was securing the populace’s favor toward the Igugwoden Church through such activities, this was a huge advantage.
The greatest help of all—
Was that the rabbit kept reminding her of the phrase 'Plain Fact.'
For Ophelia, who struggled inexplicably to memorize that phrase despite her status as a Holy Knight, it was a merit that hit the bullseye.
Moreover, whispers about Ophelia among the religious circles had died down.
The halo of being chosen by the Divine Messenger had swallowed up even the inevitable talk caused by her repeated flubs with 'Plain Fact.'
With Saintess Erin herself vouching for her, discussions of her qualifications were unlikely to arise among the faithful anytime soon.
So passed a relatively peaceful time, until one day.
"Her Majesty the Empress wishes to……?"
"Yes. Word is she’s just now heading to the cathedral, desiring to offer prayers to Lord Igugwoden."