Kousuke and his companions were led to a guest room within the temple.
Kousuke and two others sat on a three-seater sofa, with Laurel seated opposite them across a table.
Tea, brewed by a shrine maiden, was served on the table between them.
Kousuke excused himself and took a sip of the tea. “Ah, this is delicious tea.”
“Really? Thank you. This is one of my favorite teas as well.” Laurel drank her tea with a joyful expression.
“So, what is it that you wanted to ask enough to go to such lengths to get me away from prying eyes?” Kousuke initiated the conversation.
“Oh? You noticed, did you?”
“Of course… or rather, it wasn’t me who noticed, but Kouhi.”
Kouhi, unfazed by Laurel’s attention, was earnestly sipping her tea. She seemed intent on obtaining this tea for Kousuke later on.
“Fufu. You have wonderful companions, don’t you?”
“They are companions to be proud of.” Kousuke nodded seriously at Laurel’s smile.
“…What do you mean by that?” Silvia interjected into their conversation, her voice filled with doubt.
“Silvia, do you really think Laurel, the Temple Head here, called us here just for a casual chat?”
“…Eh!?” At Kousuke’s words, Silvia involuntarily glanced at Laurel.
“It reassures me to see that you haven’t changed at all, Silvia,” Laurel said, her gaze fixed on Silvia. “On the other hand, Kousuke, you’re quick to get to the point, which is helpful.” Laurel smiled at Kousuke, who returned the smile.
“I refuse.”
“…Isn’t that getting to the point a bit too quickly?” Laurel sighed, sounding exasperated.
“I can figure it out without you even telling me. It’s either an invitation to join this temple, or you want Silvia’s sacred artifact, or perhaps both?”
“…You truly are quick to the point, which is helpful.”
“Well, it’s hard to think of anything else in our current situation.”
“Oh, but there might be something else?”
“Is there?” Kousuke asked. Laurel fell silent.
Her silence was the answer. Kousuke’s display of zazen-like meditation and Silvia’s creation of a sacred artifact were things that clerics would desperately want to see, or even learn. This could be seen from the behavior of the priests and shrine maidens who had been observing them earlier.
Laurel let out a sigh. “May I ask why?”
“We have too many other things to do, and no time to get involved with the temple.”
“You truly are direct.”
“I find it less troublesome to be upfront than to beat around the bush.” Kousuke believed that a clear and firm refusal would leave no room for future complications.
“Is it absolutely impossible…?”
“Yes, it’s impossible.”
“…I see. In that case, what about the pendant? I’m prepared to spare no expense.” Realizing the recruitment was impossible, Laurel shifted her focus to the sacred artifact.
“Ah, that’s a simple matter. It can only be used by Silvia. Or perhaps you’d like to take Silvia along with it?”
“Eh!? Is that so!?” Silvia, the subject of the conversation, was surprised. Laurel, on the other hand, wore a skeptical expression.
“What do you mean?”
“There’s no ‘what do you mean.’ It’s designed to react only to the divine power that Silvia possesses. In essence, Silvia’s divine power itself is the key to its operation.”
“Divine power… So that sacred artifact is a divine tool!?” Kousuke’s casual confirmation left Laurel speechless.
In this world, while magic and holy power were understood, divine power had never been confirmed. There were enchantments and holy arts, but it was believed that no human could wield divine arts. While powerful magic was likened to that of a god, or healing arts described as god-like, the common understanding was that divine power itself, the power of a god, could not ordinarily be used. Occasionally, items referred to as divine tools were discovered, but most of them were unusable by present-day individuals.
“You… Do you understand what you’re saying?” Kousuke could only offer a wry smile at Laurel’s tone. After all, ever since arriving in this world, he had spent most of his time dealing with matters related to the tower. He hadn’t really interacted with others. He was well aware that he deviated from the common sense of this world.
“Well, I am aware that I am out of sync with others.”
“I see. …As I thought, you don’t truly understand.”
“What do you mean?” Kousuke frowned at Laurel’s words.
“What you did there, and what you’ve just said here, are things that individuals like us cannot overlook.” Hearing these indirect words, Kousuke knew what Laurel was trying to convey. More accurately, he had been told by Kouhi through telepathy.
“…Ah, I see what you mean. However, that would be a bad move, Laurel-san.”
“…What do you mean?”
“First. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve told you that the sacred artifact can only be used by Silvia. Of course, there will likely be those who try to use it by force… but I wouldn’t recommend it. If you wish to incur divine punishment, you might consider experimenting.”
“…Divine punishment?”
“Why are you surprised? I told you it’s a divine tool. Its creation even borrowed the power of the God Elisamil. Do you think a god would stand by idly if their directly created divine tool were tampered with?”
“…”
“Furthermore, the one attempting this is someone affiliated with the temple that bears that god’s name. …Considering that god’s personality, wouldn’t it be stranger if divine punishment *didn’t* occur?”
“A god directly intervening… especially the God Elisamil…” In all of history, the God Elisamil had directly intervened in the world only a handful of times. This was common knowledge among Elisamil’s believers.
“Well, if that’s what you believe, then so be it. …Silvia, what do you say? If you’re willing to hand it over, I suppose we can accept it?”
“I would never do such a thing!” Silvia, who had spoken directly with Eris, considered handing over the divine tool to someone else a betrayal of the god.
“That is why. …And second. Are you planning to use the people outside to forcibly capture us?”
“…What!? What do you mean!?” Silvia voiced her confusion. Laurel, on the other hand, maintained a composed expression.
“It’s a misunderstanding. They are merely here for guard duty.”
“I see. Guard duty.”
“That’s right.”
While it was clear they had another purpose, Laurel simply maintained her smile. Kousuke decided not to press the issue further. At this point, if they denied it, there would be no recourse. Therefore, he chose to attack from a different angle.
“By the way, can they handle the Apostles of God?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“No, no. It’s just a question out of pure curiosity. …Kouhi.” Kousuke suddenly called out to Kouhi, who had been completely silent. Even just being called by name, Kouhi seemed to understand what Kousuke wanted, her expression showing slight surprise.
“…Is that alright?”
“Yeah. It’s just the minimum required, but could you do it?”
“Of course.”
Laurel and Silvia couldn’t understand the sudden exchange between the two. However, the moment Kouhi nodded at Kousuke, she was enveloped in light. When the light faded, Kouhi reappeared, her form transformed. A pair of white wings emerged from her back.
“\”…What!?\””
As the two stared in shock, Kousuke smirked and said to Laurel, “That’s why I said it was a bad move, Laurel-san.”
With no words from Laurel, Kousuke continued, “Let me ask again. Can they, or rather, can you, attack the Apostles of God?”
Kouhi’s wings have finally been revealed to the public. Mitsuki… will be in the next chapter. I’m sure of it. The Apostles of God will be explained in detail in the next episode.
May 11, 2014 – Typos corrected
June 9, 2014 – Typos corrected
