We arrived at the church.
The building was white, pointed, and had a cross on top, at least, that’s what I imagined a church to be like. But in reality, it didn’t match any of those traits, and I wouldn’t have realized it was a church at all if Father hadn’t told me. It could have easily passed for an ordinary house.
As we approached the church doors, I noticed a relief mounted diagonally above the entrance, depicting a great tree. It was probably meant to represent the World Tree, indicating that this was a church dedicated to the Forest and the World Tree.
While I stood there absentmindedly staring at the relief, Father opened the door without hesitation and stepped inside, greeting someone as he went. I hurried after him.
The interior did, admittedly, have something of a church-like feel to it.
Long benches were lined up on either side of a central aisle, which led toward a pulpit at the far end. Above the pulpit hung a larger version of the great tree relief I’d seen outside.
I’d never been inside a church in my previous life either, but this gave off the kind of atmosphere I’d seen in TV dramas and movies.
「Hello… Huh? Laudette-saaan? Are you here…?」
Father walked down the aisle, calling out to someone named Laudette.
Looking around, I couldn’t see anyone. There was a door beyond the pulpit, so perhaps she was in that room.
「Doesn’t seem like she’s in the chapel…Ah, there she is…」
Following Father’s gaze, I spotted her.
A woman, lying down on one of the benches.
Even though her mouth hung open in a sloppy, unrefined way as she slept, she was still beautiful. It really drove home just how naturally attractive elves were.
Was she a sister? A nun? Her clothing was the same as any other villager’s, and she wore no veil. Her silky golden hair spilled down from the bench to the floor.
Still… sleeping away in the holy chapel when no one’s around? Bold move.
She was using a book as a pillow, though hopefully it wasn’t something like a Bible…
「Ano…Laudette-san? Laudette-saaan」
「Hya!? Ah… oof!」
Laudette-san seemed to wake at Father’s voice, but immediately lost her balance and tumbled from the pew to the floor.
「Uh…? Ah, yes. Good morning, Oh? Sergent-san? What a surprise, meeting you in a place like this」
Brushing the dust from her clothes, Laudette-san stood and greeted us.
Wait, did she just say “in a place like this”…? For someone working at a church, she sure gave off a pretty relaxed vibe about religion.
「Yeah. Today, I came to have my son, Alec, appraised」
「Nice to meet you, I’m Alec. I look forward to working with you today」
「Ara, what an adorable child. Your future will be exciting, no, more like frighteningly so, with how cute you are…」
She complimented my looks, or rather, she seemed slightly intimidated.
Well, I am the product of Father and Mother’s strongest genes, plus I’ve received Deis-san’s divine beauty treatment.
Though from Laudette-san’s perspective, Deis-san might be more of a heretical god… Wait. Could it be she feared me because she sensed that? Laudette-san might be sharper than she looks…
「Could you not say strange things to my son out of nowhere, Laudette-san?」
「Ah, sorry. Nice to meet you, I’m Laudette, a nun of the “Forest and World Tree Church”, Meiyu branch, and the one managing this chapel. Pleased to work with you」
Laudette-san greeted me with an oddly drawn-out tone, giving a polite bow. She had been beautiful even in sleep, and awake she was just as striking. With her slightly drooping eyes and gentle features, she had a warm, cheerful air about her.
…But she’s the one who sensed the heretical god Deis-san, so I can’t let my guard down.
Even the name “Forest and World Tree Church” sounds suspicious somehow… Well, maybe that’s just my past life talking, but still, whenever I hear the word “religious organization”, you know?
By the way, “Meiyu” is the name of this village.
In other words, Laudette-san was probably dispatched here from the headquarters of the “Forest and World Tree Church” to serve in our village of Meiyu.
Yes, that’s right. There are plenty of other Elven settlements besides this one.
When I first learned I was an Elf and that this place was an Elven settlement, I was shocked, and on top of that, I remember worrying, 『Are Elven villages this small? Isn’t the population way too low?』
But apparently, Meiyu is just one of many villages scattered throughout the vast Elven forest.
「So then, um, this is for Alec-san’s appraisal? Of course, I don’t mind. I can do it right away, you know?」
And so, it was finally time for the appraisal.
According to Laudette-san, it could be done immediately… but despite saying that, she made no move to start, instead sneaking glances at Father.
What was that about? Hm… Ah, I see…
「Ah… Please accept this」
「Well, well, I’ll gladly hold on to this…」
Father took a few coins from his pocket and handed them over to Laudette-san, who received them with a beaming smile.
Even in a small, rural village like this, a proper monetary economy exists.
Still, that was a rather blatant way of asking for money…
「Well then, I’ll go get the magic tool right away, 」
With the coins in hand, Laudette-san headed toward the door in the back. I could hear her cheerful voice drifting behind her: 「Looks like dinner’s getting an extra side dish tonight」
「Even a lie like, 『This will be used for the Forest and the World Tree』 would’ve been nice to hear…」
「…………」
Then again, priests love to say lofty things, but in the end they still spend it on themselves.
If anything, Laudette-san might be more likable for being honest about it…
…No, probably not. The only reason her favorability with me rose even slightly was because she’s a warm, gentle beauty.
If there were a priest who, after receiving a funeral offering, said 『I’ll use this to buy a clock』, I’d knock him flat.
Next Chapter: Sword Saint
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