Chapter 14
Title: Common Knowledge of the Continent: Religion Edition
The meaning of each word.
.
.
Subtitle: In modern Catholicism, a deacon is a stage one passes through before becoming a priest, as well as a priest who performs a service role.
However, deacons have a different meaning on the present-day continent.
Unlike in modern Catholicism, a deacon here refers to a disciple who studies under a priest, like a squire under a knight. For this reason, it is not uncommon for someone to be both a priest and a deacon.
In some religions where marriage is forbidden, deacons are effectively treated as godchildren, so one must be careful not to offend them.
…
I fell silent at the girl's request to make her my deacon.
Although the Flower Goddess Church did not forbid marriage, that did not make the role of a deacon insignificant.
‘I probably won't be caught dealing with this naive girl, but as a priest impostor, I can't possibly have a deacon.’
Even if I were caught, it wouldn't matter that much to me.
At worst, I would run away, and I was confident I could escape without being caught.
But a deacon was different. Even if she herself knew nothing, the moment I was exposed, there was a high chance my life would become extremely difficult.
“I'm sorry, but I can't do that.”
Therefore, refusal was the only answer I could give.
“I haven't heard all the circumstances, but I hope you'll understand that I have circumstances of my own and am not in a position to take on a deacon.”
At this outright refusal, the girl lowered her head.
The sight of tears welling in her eyes weakened my resolve, but since this was a choice made for her sake, I didn't change my mind.
Leaving her behind, I went up to my room at the inn.
‘..But what circumstances could have brought such a young girl all the way here alone?’
A sudden wave of curiosity swept over me.
But I soon put the thought aside.
Knowing the answer wouldn't change the outcome.
Besides, if she had some pitiful story, it would only leave me feeling troubled.
However, sometimes something gets forced into your mouth even when you don't want to eat it.
Just like now.
“Um, Priest.”
Sean, the innkeeper's son, cautiously knocked, called out to me, and then glanced around nervously before speaking.
“About that priestess from earlier.”
…
What Sean told me was more than enough to unsettle the heart of a certain priest impostor.
…
“I told you to get plenty of rest, but I guess you didn't rest very well.”
Priest Margaret, whom I encountered on my way to work, clicked her tongue.
“Looks like it shows.”
Apparently, the fatigue was visible on my face.
“Is it because of the young Flower priest who came to town?”
“..Why do rumors spread so quickly around here?”
“It'd be strange if rumors didn't spread in a small neighborhood. What reason would a city gate soldier have to keep quiet?”
Of course, this wasn't really enough of an event for rumors to spread this far.
If only the girl hadn't been a Flower priest.
“Well, now that you're famous, the young girl who is also a Flower priest has drawn attention along with you.”
“? What could I possibly be famous for?”
I was puzzled by Margaret's incomprehensible remark.
“..In my view, you lack objectivity. No matter that you're a Flower priest, just look at the tacky shirt you wear day in and day out.”
This beautiful shirt was tacky? I wondered whether it was Margaret, rather than me, who lacked an eye for beauty.
But arguing with an elder didn't seem appropriate, so I kept my mouth shut.
“So what's troubling you?”
When she poured me some tea and asked, I moved my lips a few times before finally opening my mouth.
“She asked me to make her my deacon.”
“And?”
“I told her I couldn't accept because of personal circumstances.”
“And that's it?”
What should I call the look in Margaret's eyes?
They were the eyes of a mother who had witnessed her son's pathetic behavior.
“..I heard later that the girl had been living with her grandmother, who was a Flower priest.”
Perhaps that lukewarm reaction put me at ease, because I poured out the circumstances like a confession.
“Then her grandmother, her only guardian, died, and just as she was losing her place because of another church that had newly arrived, she came to me.”
In other words, I had been a sort of hope for the girl.
After listening carefully, Priest Margaret scolded me for worrying over every little thing.
“Your church is about to be built anyway. Why not just bring her to the church? I don't know her circumstances, but as long as you don't make her a deacon, I don't see the problem.”
“..How could I do that? In the end, if there's only a single priest beneath me, everyone else will see her as a deacon.”
They called that covering one's eyes and pretending not to see.
It meant there was no real difference.
“If that's what's troubling you, I'll serve as a witness.”
But Priest Margaret solved the problem as though it were nothing, making all my worrying seem pointless.
After a brief pause, I bowed and expressed my gratitude.
“Then I will gratefully accept your kindness.”
“You don't refuse this time?”
“Doesn't that mean I regard you as a reliable support, Priest Margaret?”
“Flattery.”
For the record, it was a fact, not flattery.
Since Margaret could even speak bluntly to the lord, I thought she could prevent the damage from spreading even if my impersonation were exposed.
“Then I'll take today off.”
With my worries resolved thanks to Margaret's kindness, I set down my teacup and left.
“You haven't even been working here for a week.”
I pretended not to hear Margaret's incredulous muttering echoing through the clinic.
…
“Ah, the priestess left earlier..”
But perhaps the timing hadn't worked out, because the girl had already left the inn.
‘Looks like I'm too late.’
I even checked toward the city gate, but the soldiers standing guard—perhaps they had finished their shift—only shook their heads and said they didn't know.
“I'm sorry, Priest. If it's important, I can call the previous shift so you can ask them.”
“..No. I can't call back people who've already finished their hard work. Your consideration is thanks enough.”
Even if she had left, I had no way of knowing which direction she had taken, so finding her would have been difficult.
‘This is leaving a bad taste.’
In the end, I gave up on finding the girl.
I had no hobby of stubbornly clinging to things that couldn't be done.
Instead, I returned to the inn.
Since today was the last night of my stay, I intended to at least move out my belongings.
“Are you leaving for somewhere else?”
“My stay ends today.”
“If it's you, Priest, you could just stay.”
The innkeeper, who was in the kitchen, said it regretfully, but I only shrugged.
“If you give things away so freely, you won't have anything left.”
“I don't think a priest should be saying that.”
What a ridiculous thing to say.
There probably wasn't anyone more money-minded than me.
But there was no need to deny the good image I had built, so I smiled amiably and finished my farewell.
“By the way, Sean and Evie will be sad.”
‘Was the girl's name Evie?’
Come to think of it, I hadn't even known her name until now.
I had an excuse in that I was busy, but the truth was that I simply hadn't tried to take an interest.
“Partings are always sad. Since I'm not leaving the city, next time we can meet as neighbors.”
Accordingly, there was no long goodbye.
Since we'd be neighbors from tomorrow onward, a long farewell would only have been awkward.
‘Is that the church?’
The place I headed after packing my belongings was a church.
However, it wasn't the Earth Church, but the church that was technically my own, obtained through the lord's favor.
‘They said it was almost built, and I guess they were telling the truth.’
The church looked quite respectable from afar.
The weeds had been cleared, and the exterior walls appeared to have been newly painted. At the very least, it didn't look shabby.
“Judging by the noise, it seems only the chapel section isn't finished yet.”
Then every area except the chapel must already have been renovated.
Swish, swish.
As I approached the church building, I could hear the sound of someone sweeping the courtyard, which had been drowned out by the noise from inside.
I was just wondering why anyone would tidy the courtyard while the chapel was still unfinished.
“..What are you doing here?”
The young Flower priest who had come looking for me was sweeping the courtyard.
“Ah..! Priest Flawy! Hehe, I-I was sweeping the courtyard!”
I had assumed she had left through the city gate and gone home, so I never imagined I would find her sweeping the courtyard here.
The time I had wasted looking for her suddenly felt like such a shame that I unconsciously spoke in a curt voice.
“As I said, I won't take on a deacon.”
…
The girl's expression visibly fell.
“But I will allow you to stay at the church.”
Her face, which had looked ready to burst into tears, froze as though she had heard something unbelievable, then soon brightened.
‘They say if you cry and then laugh, you'll grow hair on your butt.’
What a terrible joke.
“Come to think of it, I haven't asked your name. Now that we're members of the same church, let's at least hear your name. For the record, as you already know, I am Flawy, a wretched servant who worships Iris, the Goddess of Flowers.”
It was only after she calmed down and stopped crying that I heard the girl's name.
“A tiny little leaf serving Iris, the Goddess of Flowers..”
And when I heard the girl's name.
I couldn't help but be confused.
“Kim Malja.”
“..?”