Chapter 229: Morning of Departure

Having started living in the Temple of the Chief God in the Holy Capital, there was something I noticed upon seeing the priests of this temple.

That is, the distance between the priests and the believers is close.

Usually, when you think of priests, they have a more condescending, high-and-mighty feel, but the priests here were a bit different.

“Alright, your treatment is finished.”

“Thank you very much, Priest-sama!”

“Please don’t push yourself too hard from now on, and come immediately if you feel unwell.”

“Understood!”

How should I put it, their perspective is the same as the believers.

Of course, the believers hold a sense of respect toward the esteemed priests, but the priests showed no signs of putting on airs.

That might partly be because the Temple of the Chief God is in decline in this Holy Capital.

However, seeing even the Temple Head, the highest-ranking person here, operating from the same perspective as the believers made me feel that wasn’t the only reason.

“They really are different from the priests of other temples.”

While living in the Holy Capital, we were also checking on our rivals, the priests of other gods.

However, I just couldn’t harbor any good feelings toward the priests of the mainstream gods.

How should I put it, they felt exactly like the clergy I know all too well.

“Yes, next person please~”

Yeah, we can’t afford to lose to this!

“Alright! I’ll do my best this afternoon too!”

◆ Tracy ◆

Late at night, when everyone had gone to sleep, I was talking alone with the Temple Head.

Along with a certain resolve.

“Are you serious?”

The Temple Head looked at me with worry.

But my resolve will not waver.

“Yes, those girls have worked so hard for the sake of this temple. Despite that, I cannot just leisurely remain protected by the temple!”

Yes, Rakushi-san and the girls worked incredibly hard for the temple.

They renovated the temple, treated the believers, expanded the back field further, and even subjugated the monsters around the Holy Capital, protecting the safety of the people.

Moreover, they even stood up to the tyranny of the War God’s priest who came aiming for a time when we were away; I truly cannot raise my head to them.

Even though they are doing so much for us, if we do nothing, that would truly be inexcusable to the Chief God.

“I understand. I shall respect your wishes.”

The Temple Head gave a troubled, wry smile, but seeming to respect my wishes, she gave me permission.

“But please be careful.”

“Thank you very much, Temple Head!”

◆

“Alright, then shall we get going!”

The morning of the pilgrimage had finally arrived.

Having finished our preparations, we exited the temple to set out on the pilgrimage.

“Huh?”

There, we saw the figures of the temple priests, including the Temple Head and Tracy-san, as well as the believers who had been frequently visiting the temple.

“Good morning, everyone.”

It seems the Temple Head and the others came to see us off.

“The pilgrimage ritual is an extremely arduous journey. Please be careful not only of the harshness of the journey and attacking monsters, but also of your competitors. If you think it’s truly dangerous, it’s fine to withdraw without worrying about us.”

She must have been very worried about us. The Temple Head told us it’s fine to lose if it gets dangerous, so just return safely.

Honestly, I didn’t expect to be told such a thing.

Thinking that even though she coordinates the temple of such a large city, the Temple Head is an incredibly kind and considerate person, my heart felt warm.

To think there are such splendid people even among high-ranking clergy. It’s a huge difference from my past-past life and previous life.

In my previous life, it was full of people trying to make me work for free by saying things like ‘working for the gods is a wonderful thing, so demanding a reward is shameful’, or conversely, people trying to use me to raise their own fame and line their pockets.

But this is a request we accepted.

We can’t just run away from it.

Above all, we have taken a liking to the people of this temple.

These good people who face us and the believers properly from the same perspective in the politically swirling Holy Capital.

That’s why I also thought I wanted to do my best for these people.

“It’s fine. Leave it to us!”

“Is that so… You girls are certainly amazing, but please be careful not to be overconfident in your strength and not to let your guard down.”

” ” ” ” ” “Yes!” ” ” ” ” ” “

Worrying about us to the very end, the Temple Head admonished us not to let our guard down.

She truly is a good person.

“Well then, we’ll be going.”

“Yes, please be careful.”

When I announced our departure to the Temple Head, Tracy-san stepped forward.

Huh? I wonder if Tracy-san has something to say too? Or so I thought…

“Then shall we get going, everyone.”

To my surprise, saying that, Tracy-san showed her intent to accompany our journey!

Looking closely, Tracy-san was carrying a bag on her back, and in her hands she gripped a long mace with a chunk of metal attached to the tip. She’s completely in outing mode.

“Eh!? Tracy-san is participating too?”

Never expecting Tracy-san to participate, we were taken aback.

“Huh? Did you not know? The pilgrimage requires at least one person affiliated with a temple in the Holy Capital.”

“Eeeh!? Is that how it was!?”

What’s that!? I didn’t hear about that, Foka-san!?

“Yes, the pilgrimage simulates the pilgrimage of the myth. Therefore, someone who has served in a temple in the Holy Capital for at least 5 years must be present in the role of the young man who began the journey. In exchange, officials with less than 5 years of service or external cooperators are recognized as the comrades who joined later in the myth.”

“If we don’t do that, the participants of the pilgrimage would just become skilled mercenaries and adventurers from the outside, and it would cease to be a sacred ritual, you see.”

The Temple Head supplemented Tracy-san’s explanation.

“I-I see. Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

Indeed, if all the participants of a sacred ritual were outsiders hired with money, the meaning of the ritual would be lost.

“Until now, I have participated as the representative, but because of my age my body no longer moves as I wish, so I was thinking of withdrawing this year.”

The Temple Head revealed that she had originally intended to withdraw from the pilgrimage.

“But, you see, Tracy said it. She said that if there are people willing to dedicate their strength for the sake of this desolate temple, she wants to lend them her strength with all her might.”

At the Temple Head’s words, Tracy-san straightened her posture and bowed her head to us.

“Originally, I did not have the ability to go on a pilgrimage. But if you all are willing to lend your strength to the temple to this extent, I want to be of use to you as much as I possibly can!!”

I feel no falsehood in the figure of Tracy-san bowing her head and speaking desperately.

“Everyone, I might cause you a lot of trouble, but please lend me your strength! I want to be of use to you too! Please, I beg you!”

That’s why I, no, we decided.

“Tracy-san, please raise your head.”

I patted Tracy-san’s shoulder and asked her to raise her head.

“Then…”

“For us to go on the pilgrimage, we need you, Tracy-san, who has earnestly offered prayers at the temple. So you’re not a burden at all.”

Yes, the people of this temple had faced the believers with earnest sincerity.

It’s ironic that the number of believers drastically decreased because of that, but even so, Tracy-san and the others are sincerely fulfilling their duties as clergy.

Otherwise, a declining church would disappear immediately.

“Yeah! If we can’t participate unless you come along, it stands to reason we’d be the ones asking you to come!”

Jairo-kun also seemed to like Tracy-san’s resolve, welcoming her with a hearty laugh.

“Well, that’s how it is. Besides, we both wanted to go on the pilgrimage, so we should just consider ourselves lucky our interests aligned.”

“Everyone… thank you very much!”

Being accepted by us once again, Tracy-san raised her head, her eyes shining.

“Alright, then it’s departure for the pilgrimage!”

” ” ” ” ” “Ooooohhh!!” ” ” ” ” ” “

” ” ” “Do your best, young ladies! If it gets dangerous, come back!” ” ” ” “

And so, our war cries and the cheers of the believers echoed through a corner of the town.

◆

“So that’s the starting venue for the pilgrimage.”

As we approached the venue of the starting point where the pilgrimage is held, we could see that many people had already gathered.

“Yes, all participants will begin the pilgrimage from here. Following the model of the pilgrimage from the Holy Capital, those who advance through several towns and villages and arrive at the pilgrimage site in the sanctuary will be recognized as the victors.”

Listening to Tracy-san’s words, we arrived at the venue.

Even so, that’s an incredible number of participants.

And all of them are participants gathered for the divine ritual.

They must have gathered incredibly skilled people.

“Wow, there’s so many peop—”

However, looking closely, that sight was somewhat strange…

“Ohoho, the victory will be taken by our Temple of the God of Commerce.” (Gruff voice)

With bulging, steel-like muscles,

“My, my, that would be our Temple of the War God.” (Deep, husky voice)

With rigorously trained, steel-like muscles,

” “Ohohohohohoho!” ” (Noisy, low-pitched voices)

They were scattering sparks.

Yes, the venue was overflowing with countless, unkempt Amazons.

” ” ” ” ” ” “…Uwaah.” ” ” ” ” ” “