Episode 24: Goddess Pudin
I left Claygate’s tent with Giliane. As I began to walk, Giliane entwined her arm with mine and pressed her body against me. A pleasant scent wafted up, and the softness of her ample chest was conveyed to my arm.
“Is ‘Lord Decade’ okay? I’ll be in your care for the next three days.” “Ah, yeah, looking forward to it. And just ‘Decade’ is fine. I’m not a noble, just a youngster after all.” “Liar. I admit you’re young, but there’s no way a mere youngster could outmaneuver Lord Claygate. I wonder who you really are…”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“You speak and act completely unlike a young person, contrary to your appearance. And what’s hard to understand is that it seems natural.” “Well, I’ve been through a lot.”
As expected of a prostitute, I suppose. Having seen the public and private faces of many men, she must have developed an eye for seeing through to the essence. Back in Japan, I visited “bathhouses for adults” several times, and there were a few girls like this. They feel it with their skin, not their heads.
“So, that means I’m no match for you at all…” “That’s not true. I think Giliane is the trickiest one here. You were the only one who withstood my Pressure back there.”
Giliane looked slightly surprised, then blushed and turned her face away. Huh, why react like that?
“Decade, surely you already know my true role…” “Well, maybe it’s better to leave it at that?” “You really are a shrewd person…”
Giliane made a face that looked troubled yet angry, then sighed.
“But compared to the beginning, your speech has become much more fluent.” “Hmm, yeah. I haven’t spoken to anyone for a long time. I’m getting used to it little by little.” “I see, you were wandering for that long…”
Giliane put on a solemn face, but let’s leave it at that. Actually, the more I speak, the more I become able to use the language. The grammar of this language has parts similar to Japanese and is quite versatile. Since meaning gets through even if words are jumbled, I can manage as long as I recall the words. Though, words with subtle nuances or historical and cultural meanings are difficult.
Walking a little, the voices of people chatting echo loudly. The night has deepened; while some are drinking more or enjoying what looks like games, others are quite drunk, rambling or walking unsteadily. Everyone seems to be enjoying a relaxing time in their own way, but it also looks like they are letting their guard down after a big battle. There seem to be a few guards, but is this place safe?
Also, walking together, I noticed Giliane’s left leg doesn’t move much. It’s hard to tell hidden by the skirt, but her movement is a bit awkward. Giliane looks at me anxiously.
“Um, putting aside being an educator, are you really okay with me taking care of your personal needs? Given your age, Decade, aren’t I too old…? There are younger girls.” “No, Giliane is good. You fit my preference perfectly. Being taken care of by such an amazing beauty is the best, isn’t it?” “Wh-! A-are you saying that seriously…?”
Giliane shows a surprised expression.
“Of course I’m serious. There aren’t many women as attractive as you.” “Wh-wh-what is that! You smooth talker! You really aren’t like a young person… but, thank you…”
She seems unnecessarily flustered and troubled. The last murmured words of thanks were quite cute with her blushing. It’s like a textbook example of tsundere, but did I say something that amazing? I just conversed with the light banter I used with bathhouse girls, but maybe they don’t do that kind of exchange in this world.
Giliane tightens her hold on my arm and looks up at me. Giliane’s scent and softness become even more stimulating, tickling my male heart. Unbearable! Getting such intense physical contact from such a beautiful Caucasian woman, I feel like I might finish just from this. If this is a honey trap, I might fall easily.
When I was in Japan, I was only 165cm tall and a potbellied old man. Normally, I wouldn’t even be considered, let alone be a partner. Yet now, I’m being looked up at with a blushing face like this. This is tremendously amazing! A miracle happened to an old man.
Huh…
Come to think of it, what happened to that boiling, explosive sexual desire? Being with such a beauty, it’s strange that I only react a little. Somehow, it’s calm now like in “sage time”… Huuh~~~…???
“What’s wrong?”
Giliane asks wonderingly, as if asking what are you doing? Well, groaning huuh~ while looking at my crotch is certainly strange.
“Um… did you perhaps get in the mood?” “Eh, ah, no… well, if you say so, I want to do it, but…”
Asked by such a beauty, naturally I answer like this, but where did that sexual desire that nearly drove me mad really go?
“Being young is amazing after all… Then, shall we go to my carriage?” “Ah, yeah…”
Is it really okay to do it?! Just as I started walking with Giliane, my stomach growled guu~, and I was attacked by intense hunger. Simultaneously, the urge to urinate welled up. Perhaps because I became conscious of physiological phenomena, various physiological phenomena suppressed by tension started to wake up.
“Oh, maybe we should eat first?” “I guess so… but before that, I want to go to the toilet.”
Giliane looks at me as if probing a little.
“Heh, toilet huh… Unfortunately, there is no toilet in the carriage here.” “Ah, is that so? Then, do we do it outside?”
Giliane nods and points to a place that has become a thicket. Good grief, this is the same as when I was wandering in the forest. Entering the thicket, several men were relieving themselves. Proceeding deeper to avoid them, I saw a woman relieving herself.
Geh!
It’s not separated by gender. The woman waved her hand shoo shoo, signaling me to go away. I apologized putting my hands together and looked for another place.
Managing to secure a place with no people, I relieve myself. But how many decades has it been since I saw a woman peeing outdoors? When I was still young, being in the countryside, old ladies used to do it in thickets around there, but honestly, I didn’t even want to get close.
Well, it’s probably natural, but women in this world seem to pee no differently from Earth.
By the way, Giliane made a face saying it’s common sense that there are no toilets in carriages. I thought there might be temporary toilets at the camp site, but is that still considered a luxury treatment? I might have caused unnecessary suspicion.
Even so, I’m starting to worry if there are proper toilets in the inns in the city we arrive at. I heard that in general households in old Europe, they threw excrement and urine from chamber pots out the window; I’d hate it from the bottom of my heart if it’s such a world…
Coming out of the thicket refreshed after finishing, I noticed something sparkling in the distance. At first I thought it was the caravan’s lanterns swaying, but the light is blinking beyond the caravan. Zooming in with my eyes, I saw a crystal floating in the air and rotating.
That is the same crystal that appeared when the “Spirit of the Spring” and “Spirit of Flowers” appeared. No, to be precise, it is considerably larger than those.
The “Spirit of the Spring” and “Spirit of Flowers” appeared immediately, but the crystal here just continues to rotate. As I kept watching the crystal for a while, Giliane came over. She seemed worried about me not returning.
“Decade, did something happen?” “Ah, no… Hey Giliane, what is that?” “That? You mean Garu taking care of the horses?”
Looking where I pointed, Giliane seemed to think I meant the man giving water to horses beside the wagon.
“No, further away, the crystal or large gem-like thing floating and rotating while sparkling beyond the wagons.” “Ah, that is Goddess Pudin’s Divine Pillar. This is Goddess Pudin’s Garden, after all.”
Divine Pillar? Goddess Pudin’s Garden?
“Eh, you don’t know? …Right, you lost your memory.”
Oh, does Giliane believe I lost my memory?
“This is a sanctuary managed by Goddess Pudin. It prevents the intrusion of monsters and serves as a place to give healing and peace to people. Long ago, when God was touring the earth, He placed a Divine Pillar at the place where He rested and ordered the Goddess to manage it. Since then, the Goddess has protected the sanctuary and given mercy to humans, His servants, who visit.” “I see, is that so…”
It was an explanation like a guide, perhaps secondhand knowledge, but that’s a myth, right? As expected, similar to the “Spirit of the Spring” and “Spirit of Flowers,” this place seems to be a kind of safe zone. However, this area called Goddess Pudin’s Garden is significantly larger, unlike those of the “Spirit of the Spring” and “Spirit of Flowers.”
The fact that the wounds I suffered in yesterday’s battle are healing seems to be thanks to that. I thought this kind of place was special, but it seems to be accepted normally in this world. After explaining, Giliane kneels toward the Divine Pillar and offers a prayer.
“Merciful Goddess Pudin. I pray that Your presence remains healthy.”
I was a little surprised by this. Giliane is quite devout. Or rather, is this normal?
However, the hands joined for that prayer had index fingers extended and clasped together, so I almost burst out laughing. Because that was exactly the pose when a grade school boy does the “Kancho!” prank. Moreover, even the thrusting out at the end is the same. Wait, that’s no good. Making religion a laughing matter isn’t good.
Thinking such things while watching the Divine Pillar, a drunk middle-aged man approaches with unsteady steps. Intrigued, I sharpen my hearing to observe. There is a pedestal (?) and altar made of marble with a radius of about 10m centered on the Divine Pillar; when the man approached it, the Divine Pillar increased its brilliance for a moment and took the form of a Goddess.
Unlike the “Spirit of the Spring” or “Spirit of Flowers,” there were no fairies, but particles of light constantly surrounded the Goddess, and her appearance had overwhelming presence and dignity compared to the “Spirit of the Spring” and “Spirit of Flowers.” And beautiful.
Also, while the “Spirit of the Spring” and “Spirit of Flowers” were about the same size as human women, the Goddess is nearly double, about 3m tall. Therefore, the drunk old man in front looks quite small.
Because the Goddess appeared and emitted radiance, the group chatting also noticed the Goddess’s appearance. Most started praying or were surprised wondering what happened, but two men ran off in a panic.
The Goddess speaks to the drunk old man.
“I am Goddess Pudin. Servant of Creator God Gryusar and Gatekeeper of Hundred Transitions. I gave you healing earlier. Now, what is your business?” “Heh heh heh… Goddess Pudin-sama~ hic, I adore you. How about it, hic, please accept my cup.”
The drunk old man tried to place his half-drunk vessel on the pedestal, but his hand slipped and he spilled the wine inside.
“Oops, my bad, hic, heh heh… sorry I spilled it. hic.” “You are drunk. And in a state of severe intoxication. I am happy for your faith in me, but since you are not in a proper state, you may leave.”
Goddess Pudin waved her arm slowly as if saying good grief, urging him to leave. However, it didn’t work on the drunk old man, and he started pestering Goddess Pudin.
“Heh heh heh… you’re cold, Goddess Pudin-sama, hic, don’t say that, let’s drink together with me. hic.” “I am telling you to leave.” “Bibibibibibibiiiii!!!!!”
When Goddess Pudin pointed at the man, a light flashed for an instant, and the drunk old man shook his whole body greatly. Apparently electrocuted. The drunk old man stiffened his whole body, then fell thud to the ground.
“Unpleasant…”
Leaving those words, Goddess Pudin returned to the Divine Pillar. The Divine Pillar started rotating while floating in the air same as before, as if nothing happened. The wine and vessel spilled by the drunk old man had disappeared cleanly.
Confirming Goddess Pudin disappeared, the two men collected the drunk old man while apologizing toward the Divine Pillar. For now, the drunk old man seems to be alive.
I was dumbfounded watching the series of exchanges. Seeing something not of this world, that kind of feeling. God and human conversing, and human receiving divine punishment. Even though it happened in front of my eyes, it was hard to believe immediately. At the same time, the Goddess’s way of responding felt terribly human.
I was also splashed with water by the “Spirit of the Spring” in the forest; I guess that is also divine punishment if you call it that. Gods really exist in this world and seem to interact with humans naturally. But something snags. Hmm? Decade’s memory starts to open.
“Good grief, he must have committed some disrespect to Goddess Pudin. Such an idiot should suffer more! Just because Goddess Pudin is very merciful, don’t underestimate her!”
Giliane raises her voice in indignation. However, she doesn’t seem to have seen what happened. Because of the distance in the dark. No wonder.
Well, for Giliane, a devout believer, it must be an unforgivable act. Pushed by Giliane’s momentum, the memory that started to open collapsed…
“He should just die…” “He seemed to be offering wine to Goddess Pudin, does that kind of thing happen often?” “Unfortunately, idiots of that type are endless. Good grief. …Wait, you have quite good eyes.” “It was necessary to survive in the forest.” “Hmm, I see…”
I managed to change the flow of conversation well. She looked like she would be angry forever. Speaking or acting to blame God in front of Giliane is strictly forbidden.
“So, can we eat? It seems the other groups are wrapping up soon.” “Ah, it’s okay. Decade will spend time in the same booth as us. I’ll prepare immediately.” “Thank you. Sorry.” “Fufu, Decade is well-bred. To be able to say thanks properly at that age.”
Led by Giliane, I was guided to a slightly narrow corner a bit recessed from where the other groups were chatting. Two tables were lined up there, and one old woman and three girls were sitting and talking. Somehow an obscene atmosphere drifts. When I and Giliane approached, the four turned and looked at me.
“Barbadar, I will be taking care of Decade exclusively. The treatment as a noble is gone, but he will take the position of guard. I request treatment equivalent to Luissa.” “Is that so, understood. I am Barbadar, taking care of the prostitutes here. Nice to meet you.” “Nice to meet you. I’m Decade.”
Taking care of prostitutes? Then, are the girls here prostitutes!
I think Barbadar is a woman about 50 years old, but she looks considerably aged compared to a 50-year-old woman in modern Japan. She wears an apron dress and is neatly dressed, but years of hardship show on her hands and skin. She looks grumpy, so maybe she looks even more so.
Bear ears sit on her gray-mixed hair, and she has a bear tail on her hips, but politely, even the bear ears and tail are made to feel old. Is there some religious meaning?
“Here, you girls greet him too.” “”” Ye~s. “””
Urged by Barbadar, the girls stood up energetically.
“I am called ‘Line’.” “I am ‘Carsi’.” “I am ‘Seamil’ su.”
The three wore costumes similar to Giliane’s and pinched their skirts to give a greeting similar to a curtsy. Western curtsies involve keeping the back straight and not bowing the head, but they bowed their heads at the end before returning to the original posture.
This seems to be the greeting of women to superiors in this world, but their legs wobbled or they pinched skirts with clenched fists, so unlike Giliane, the feeling of hasty preparation showed clearly. Beside me, Giliane is grimacing.
Probably, they don’t do this greeting usually, but were taught hurriedly hearing I was a noble. It’s somewhat heartwarming, so I return a joking male greeting, a bow and scrape.
“Thank you for the lovely greeting, lovely young ladies. I am called Decade. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” “”” Howa~~~! “””
After being captivated by me, the girls started running around in confusion, surprised. They probably didn’t think it would be returned like this, nor were they taught. Giliane was directing eyes of suspicion at me while surprised.
Ideally, I should try not to let Giliane have suspicions as much as possible, but the cool beauty Giliane’s expression becoming blank for an instant hit my funny bone strangely. By the way, two of the three girls are wearing animal ears.
“Barbadar, please prepare meals for two. You girls, that’s enough, go do your own things.” “Aye.” “”” Ye~s. “””
Giliane sighed slightly and urged each to action. Apparently, Giliane plays the role of big sister to the prostitutes, and all are said to be Claygate’s slaves.
Giliane encouraged me to sit at the table, then took a seat herself. She stares at my face suspiciously.
“I wonder who you really are… Actually, aren’t you a noble?” “That’s not it, though. Even if I say so, you won’t believe it…” “Well yeah. Though it seems certain you aren’t just a youngster… You won’t punish us later for lèse-majesté or something, right…” “I’m actually not a noble, and there’s no way I’d do that. I promise.”
Since Giliane shows a gesture of being genuinely frightened, it seems better not to let her have further suspicions.
“But, are nobles such scary existences?” “Of course. Even if we aren’t at fault, they use their power to punish us. I don’t want to get involved if possible.”
I see. Listening to the story, they are exactly the villainous nobles appearing in movies and dramas. For commoners, they must be unpleasant existences they can never go against.
“By the way, if I were really a noble, what kind of treatment would I have received?” “Who knows, I don’t understand Lord Claygate’s thoughts…”
Hmm hmm. Giliane’s eyes swam for just an instant. Her fox ears also seemed to twitch.
“If found to be on the hostile side, assassination during pillow talk, right?”
I point as if saying you would do it. Giliane’s body trembles with a start.
“W-what are you…”
She is flustered enough to be clearly understood. Bullseye, huh… I question showing it this much in attitude, though. For some reason, the fox ears also moved perking up. While smiling gently, I glare at Giliane with only my eyes sharp.
“You might not believe me, but I’ll say just this. I have no malice toward you or Claygate, and I’m not a hostile force. So, don’t do anything that would make me kill you.”
Saying so, I slam a little Pressure onto Giliane. Giliane stiffens, unable to move, and only nods her head vertically kokukoku. The girls are looking at Giliane’s change wonderingly. When I release the Pressure, Giliane loses strength, rests her chin on the table, and exhales deeply.
“Haa~… taking that head-on is tough.” “If you don’t take hostile action, I won’t attack from my side absolutely. I promise.” “O-okay… we don’t have that intention anymore either, so don’t threaten me.”
Giliane spreads both hands beside her face as if surrendering. Putting aside the retort isn’t Pressure an attack?, it turned into an unexpectedly hard-boiled development. Not my character, is it.
But, I have to give a warning just in case. I don’t know if it will be a deterrent, but if Giliane shows hesitation when about to act, there might be a way to prevent it.
Judging from Claygate and Luissa’s attitude and atmosphere, they would kill without hesitation when killing. In fact, Luissa seriously tried to kill me. Apparently, human society here is also a world of survival of the fittest. Human life seems quite cheap.
Looking at the history of various countries on Earth, including Japan, it seems it used to be similar in the past. After all, it means humans are cruel creatures. That said, it is certainly shocking for me who lived a life unrelated to such things in safe Japan.
But, I changed too, right… The old me couldn’t have done something like threatening people like this. Maybe I’ve become indifferent to death because I was only exchanging lives with beasts. Though, when the opponent is human, I don’t think I can actually kill.
Also, maybe because I took the form of Decade who doesn’t resemble me at all, or because memories revived, somehow, I have a sensation like I’m not myself, like I’m acting as someone else.
This might be because my consciousness hasn’t completely accepted Decade’s body and memories yet.
However, the atmosphere became bad. Giliane is slightly frightened and looks awkward. Even though on the surface, I was about to break the ice with Giliane. What to do…
“Amaaaazing! Sister Giliane got outmaneuvered! Lord Decade is great and amazing after all~!”
With a slightly goofy feel, the youngest girl speaks, staring at me with sparkling eyes. Age is about 15, maybe. I think her name is Seamil. She is wearing a dress with an open chest similar to Giliane, but honestly, it doesn’t suit her. It feels like she is still being worn by the costume.
Incidentally, she wears large droopy ears like a Tosa dog, and the tail coming out from the back of the dress is swaying piyon piyon, looking like it might get tangled in the chair legs. Is this tail made to move?
Come to think of it, when Giliane was surprised earlier, her fox tail looked like it stood on end. I caught it in the corner of my vision so I thought I saw wrong, but maybe not. It’s well made.
Setting that aside. The place softened at once with Seamil’s goofy voice and attitude. The other two girls are admonishing her saying “Idiot, be quiet” or “You’ll get scolded by Sister Giliane again,” so the Tosa dog ear girl Seamil probably has this character usually.
Giliane looks away frustratingly, turning red up to her ears. Even the fox ears look droopy if I imagine it. As expected, cool beauty seems to be her basic personality. Barbadar came bringing the meal.
“Here.” “Thank you.”
When I say thanks, Barbadar makes a slightly surprised face. Like Giliane earlier, is even this basic greeting rare in this world?
“Heh, so you know manners at least. You don’t look like a man who did such a thing.” “Barbadar, that’s enough about that. Decade doesn’t seem to remember, so leave it be.”
What? Barbadar is glaring at me like an enemy. Did I do something… Come to think of it, Claygate asked if I remembered what happened after defeating the Wyvern. In response, Giliane was acting embarrassed.
“It’s fine already. No one got hurt or anything.” “No, I can’t accept that. If he’s not a noble, I’ll say it. He tormented the girls I take care of thoroughly!” “Huh?”
“You, you violated Giliane and these girls thoroughly!”
Wha… what!
