I had assumed this area was our destination from the moment we arrived…
Kent and his companions finished lunch and arrived in front of the old temple in the residential area. This building had served as a temple until a new one was built next to Marie’s Bakery.
“Still, the food at that diner earlier wasn’t bad, and the prices were very reasonable. It’s no wonder it was so crowded.”
After that, Marc didn’t bother Kent and his companions, and they simply finished their meal and left the shop. Otsupain was in a very good mood, seemingly satisfied with the taste, the portion size, and the low prices.
“The two people at the shop seemed to get along very well. Seeing them made me realize that while I can’t forgive what happened to my mother, I no longer feel like saying anything.”
Catherine, unlike before entering the shop, seemed to have no intention of getting involved with Marc any further. Seeing Marc, Becky, her mother, and the other three working hard together must have made an impression on her.
“They seemed to have turned over a new leaf and were working diligently. Josette introduced Marc to that shop, so perhaps that was part of her consideration.”
Kent was impressed by Josette’s keen eye for people, wondering if it was a coincidence or a calculated move, but it had certainly worked out well.
“So, this is our next destination, but today we’re supposed to prepare for the soup kitchen. I haven’t told them I’m coming, so it feels like an unannounced inspection.”
Catherine announced their next objective. This time, it was to inspect the soup kitchen that was held irregularly a few times a month at the old temple.
“It looks like preparations have already begun,” Otsupain said. Children from the district were gathered in front of the old temple, carrying ingredients and cooking utensils to help with the setup. Cindy, a priestess from the temple, was directing them.
“It seems they’ve been doing this soup kitchen as part of their temple duties, but I wanted to see firsthand how they do it.”
Catherine apparently wanted to confirm for herself how the soup kitchen actually operated.
“Priestess, thank you for your hard work. How are the preparations coming along?”
“Ah, it’s the Captain. Are you on patrol? Thank you for your hard work. Um, and… from the bakery…? Oh? Are you perhaps interested in the priest’s work and have come to see? That’s wonderful! Let’s hurry, hurry.”
“Huh? Wait a minute.”
Cindy’s face lit up when she saw Catherine, and she grabbed Catherine’s hand, pulling her into the building.
(This has happened before.)
Kent remembered when Al was taken away during a previous soup kitchen. With Al’s power, he should have been able to escape, but he was unable to resist and was led into the temple. Kent felt that the situation was similar to that time. However, since Catherine was Cindy’s superior, he reasoned that Cindy wouldn’t do anything to her and didn’t immediately follow them.
“That Cindy still thinks Catherine, who works at the Saintess’s and the bakery, is a different person.”
“What?”
At Otsupain’s words, Kent began to feel uneasy.
“Kent…”
“She made me wear a priest’s robe.”
A little while later, Catherine emerged, dejectedly wearing a priest’s robe. Behind her was a very satisfied-looking Cindy.
“Well then, as part of a priest experience, you’ll help with the work. Could you prepare the ingredients?”
“Okay!”
“The response isn’t ‘Okay,’ it’s ‘Yes.'”
“Yes.”
Catherine was led by Cindy and began helping with the ingredient preparation. Kent and Otsupain, overwhelmed by Cindy’s energy, couldn’t say anything.
“It seems I have to help with this too… What about you, Kent?”
“We have no choice but to help.”
Reluctantly, Otsupain and Kent also decided to help with the soup kitchen preparations.
“Knights are amazing! They’re lifting such heavy things as if they weigh nothing.”
“Well, I do train every day.”
“Knight! Knight!”
At first, the children helping with the soup kitchen seemed nervous when the knight Otsupain arrived, but as they worked together, they became more comfortable, and many children gathered around Otsupain.
“It’s a heartwarming sight to see,” Catherine said.
“Indeed,” Kent replied.
Catherine, who was preparing ingredients nearby, said to Kent, who was working next to her.
“Alright, you two, stop talking and get to work.”
“Yes!”
“It’s not ‘Yes,’ it’s ‘Yes.'”
Although they were talking, their hands were still moving, but they were reprimanded by Cindy.
“Now, let’s put these ingredients into the pot and heat it. Thanks to the increased budget, we have more ingredients this time, so everyone should be happy. This is all thanks to the Saintess. I must thank her properly later.”
Cindy stirred the large pot filled with ingredients and turned to the temple to offer words of gratitude. The person she needed to thank was right beside her, but it seemed she didn’t realize Catherine was the Saintess until the preparations were finished.
“Alright, now it’s going to get busy.”
With the preparations for the soup kitchen complete, Cindy announced to everyone helping. The sun was beginning to set, and a long line of people had formed in front of the old temple, eagerly awaiting the distribution to begin.
“Now, please take your positions as planned.”
At Cindy’s call, everyone moved to their pre-arranged spots. Kent, Catherine, and Otsupain were divided into different teams, working with the children who were helping.
“Thank you for waiting. We will now begin distributing the soup for this event. Please do not push and proceed slowly through the line.”
At Cindy’s signal, people surged forward. Kent and his companions began dishing out the hearty soup and handing it out.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
“Please be careful, it’s hot.”
“There are a lot of ingredients in this one. Thank you.”
The staff responsible for preparing the dishes, dishing out the soup, serving it, organizing the line, collecting used dishes, and washing them—each team was incredibly busy with their tasks.
“Finally finished.”
“It was more strenuous than I expected.”
“I was surprised by the number of people in line at first, but we managed to finish.”
It took about an hour to distribute the soup to everyone in line. Considering the preparation time, it was quite a strenuous task. However, the children who helped participated without complaint.
“Good work, everyone. But it’s not over yet. We still have to clean up.”
The work wasn’t over after the distribution; they naturally had to clean up afterward. Kent and his companions mustered their remaining strength to help with the cleanup.
“Thank you all for your hard work today. Now, let’s all share the soup we set aside and call it a day.”
Once the cleanup was finished, everyone who had helped gathered in the sanctuary. There, containers of soup, set aside for everyone, were lined up. The children seemed to have assigned seats, as they sat down without any squabbling for spots. However, Kent, Catherine, and Otsupain, unaware of such rules, remained standing.
“Ah, I’m so sorry. You three, please come over here.”
Cindy noticed them and beckoned them to come next to her seat. Three portions of soup were prepared there.
“Captain, as a noble, this might not be to your liking, but would you mind eating with everyone else?”
Perhaps out of consideration for Otsupain, a noble, Cindy said in a quiet voice.
“Ah, I don’t mind at all.”
Otsupain replied, and sat in the designated seat. Kent and Catherine followed suit.
“Let us offer a prayer to God before we partake.”
When everyone was seated, Cindy said this, clasping her hands together and striking a praying pose. The children followed suit, clasping their hands and bowing their heads towards the statue of God placed on the altar.
(They teach the children in this district about the existence of God from such a young age.)
Seeing this scene, Kent realized that the soup kitchen was not only a relief for those in need of food but also a way for the helpers to serve others and a lesson in teaching the existence of God from childhood. After everyone offered their prayers, they began eating the soup.
“I will handle the rest of the cleanup, so you are all free to go home. We will post the date of the next event in front of the temple as soon as it is decided. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Yes!”
(Despite telling them ‘Yes’ earlier, she’s quite lenient with the children.)
Kent watched Cindy smile as she saw off the children.
“Well then, we should be going…”
“Wait a moment.”
As Catherine turned to leave the temple, Cindy called out to her.
“You came to see the priest’s work, didn’t you? Then you must stay until the cleanup is finished.”
“Oh, come on…”
Since Catherine was to help until the very end, Kent and Otsupain, unable to leave her behind, also decided to help with the cleanup.
“Thank you for your hard work. We will inform your shop when the date for the next event is decided, so please help us again. Thank you for your hard work today. And thank you, Captain and Kent, for staying until the end.”
Sensing the difference in Cindy’s attitude towards Catherine, whom she considered a priest trainee, and towards Kent and Otsupain, who she recognized as guests, the three left the old temple after being seen off by Cindy.
“I’m the one who decides the date for the soup kitchen, but if it’s going to be like this, I might just cancel the next one,” Catherine muttered with a tired expression on her way home, having been made to help with the soup kitchen work until the very end.
