"I'm Sylvia Ghoulshine. Eighteen years old. A level 70 Spear Knight. I'm
acting as the bodyguard for this childhood friend of mine in her travel."
"I'm Sylvia's childhood friend, Claire Goldmary. As you can see I'm a nun
of Romalia Church."
"Err, you can call me Eriol. She is my party member Allie."
"...Nice to meet you."
After the poison was treated, we introduced ourselves to each other (I used
fake name like usual though).
The female knight was called Sylvia-san. She was a beauty with a serious
and dignified look.
The nun's name was Claire-san. She was an extraordinary beauty whose
distinctive traits were her beautiful blonde hair that reached her shoulder
and her gentle look.
I listened to their story while helping with pushing up the toppled carriage
back on its wheels. Apparently their destination was also Vestal Village just
like us, so we ended up traveling to the village together seeing that we had
the same destination.
Fortunately the two horses that pulled their carriage were safe. They were
only surprised when the Spotted Snakes appeared and caused the carriage to
topple. Sylvia-san was driving the carriage while Sister Claire was sitting
on the back. The carriage was going through the road in a leisurely pace.
Alicia and I were walking beside the carriage to guard it. We were having
idle talk with the two women who became our travelling companions
through the course of event but――
"Puhaah! As I thought the honey mead is the best when drank in afternoon
together with the gentle shaking of the carriage! It taste even better after
that narrow escape from death! It's unfortunate that there's only dried meat
available as snack but... this is my thanks for saving Sylvia and me!
Have a glass too Eriol-sama and Allie-sama!"
In the middle of our chat.
Sister Claire suddenly brought out alcohol that was among the luggage that
was safe even after the carriage toppled. It astonished both Alicia and me.
"Eh, wait, Claire-san!? Is it okay for a sister to drink alcohol!?"
This country――Spermaria Kingdom's national religion was Romalia
religion, which didn't forbid its follower from drinking alcohol.
But it was a different story for the holy knights who belonged to the church
and the priests and nuns who directly served the god. There should be a
very strict discipline for them.
"And beside, I'm guessing that Claire-san and Sylvia-san are in the middle
of
harsher than normal... shouldn't alcohol and also meat be
forbidden..."
There was a rite called
in Romalia Church.
There was a legend that when demons colluded to destroy mankind in the
past, the leader of Romalia Church at that time went to all over the places to
unite the heroes all over the land and led them to victory. Pilgrimage was a
harsh journey where pilgrim went to visit the holy places that were
scattered all over this continent in accordance to this legend.
The nun's combat ability must be low even though she had a level 70 knight
to guard her. The only reason I could think of why two women like them
were travelling on their own was that they were in a pilgrimage.
And yet this nun was gulping down alcohol like a pro. My eyes were wide
open in astonishment.
"Aa, no no, Sylvia and I aren't doing anything stiff like pilgrimage
y'know"
"Eh?"
"Actually I ran away from the Holy Theocracy Romalia together with
Sylvia."
"Ee!?"
Running away from Holy Theocracy Romalia.
I froze from the shock of those words.
Holy Theocracy Romalia. Just like the name said, it was the headquarters of
all Romalia churches everywhere.
It was also one of the biggest nations in the continent. If we talked purely
about its national strength, it was even more powerful than this Spermaria
Kingdom.
I heard that its influence toward the countries around it was powerful as the
country that produced the hero who led mankind to victory in the battle
against demons. There were many pious followers of Romalia religion who
followed the religion dogma with devotion.
These two were running away from such country. Just what in the
world...?
While I was feeling bewildered like that,
"No no no no, that country isn't a good place like that. That place is just
horrible."
Sister Claire hugged the alcohol barrel with reddened face. She leaned out
from the carriage "Listen to meee" and grabbed my sleeve.
"I was dumped to the church as an unneeded child of a low ranked noble,
but in that place there's nothing but rules, rules, rules. It was so rigid there.
Not only alcohol, they also banned gambling, and even forbid having a tryst
with man. It was unbearable. What's more even though they forced all kind
of lip services like that to the followers on the surface, the behind the scene
is just filthy. The corrupt priests abused their authority and do whatever
they pleased. Like corruption, fraud, assassination, it was a market of rotten
apple."
"E-eee"
I couldn't hide my shock from hearing about the infamy of the
church――the holy theocracy for the first time.
Eh, is she really saying the truth... Maybe it's just a joke of a drunk
nun... but it feels like Claire-san's eyes are too serious for that...
"And then you knowww, I couldn't endure it for even a second longer
anymore and stole the church's money and skipped the country."
"Eh"
I froze completely this time from an even more shocking truth.
This person really isn't a nun just as I thought!?
"Eh, no, please don't misunderstand okay? That money is dirty money that
the church officials hoarded from unjust deeds. I could give them back to
the citizens but, if I do that then the church will definitely attack the people
to get the money back... so I thought it's better to used the money for my
travel expenses."
How did you call that better!
Eh, wait, is her story really true, seriously?
"And that's why I ran away from the rotten holy theocracy, and in
accordance to god's doctrine I'm fixing the world in a way that is within my
capability while living as I pleased and going in a journey in order to find a
lovely husband... Well, the world fixing is secondary, while my number
one purpose is to encounter my destined man who is suitable for me. Oo
god, I beg you to give me an encounter with a strong, kind, and lovely
gentleman."
W-what's with this person... she seemed like a dangerous person of
different type than Rainy-san...
"Err, I also asked this about the alcohol but, umm, is a nun really allowed
to go out with men and marry...?"
"Eh? Ahaha, it's fine, it's fine. The big shots at the church are just like
cherry boy getting their knickers twisted in a knot and before they realized
it they would say something like {having sex is a repulsive act}, but
fundamentally even the god's teaching said be fruitful, increase in number,
fill the earth you know. Without that the followers also won't increase and
god will also be troubled, so it's all right!"
I-is this person alright? In various senses...
Or rather, just how serious she was in saying that?
Not only she said that holy theocracy was rotten, she also stole money and
behaved like she was picking a fight with the church. I couldn't imagine
that a mere nun would be able to run away until this far after doing all
that...
While my mind was sent greatly reeling like that by the drunkard nun,
"Aa, you look like you don't believe me."
Sister Claire puffed her cheeks and pulled my hand.
"Heeey Sylvia, tell him I'm speaking the truuuth. Sylvia also hate the
prudish rules in the theocracy and accompany me your childhood friend in
order to meet your ideal man aren't youuu?"
"...... W-well, yes."
Even the serious looking Sylvia-san!?
Eh, what the nun said was really, really true!?
No but...
"Fufu, your surprised face is also adorable. And you also saved our life
without hesitation without asking for anything back... how very lovely."
Sister Clair was looking at me with moist eyes.
Eh?
"But it looks like there's no hope here. Perhaps Eriol-sama and Allie-sama
are already in a romantic relationship with each other?"
"...Correct. I'm Eriol's wife Allie."
Alicia said such embarrassing words with a straight face.
Then Sister Claire's expression turned serious.
"Oh my... that is contrary to my expectation... No, wait a second,
adultery will also get me fired up, rather the mistress position would allow
me to indulge in pleasure without reserve, so that way could even be said as
the more correct one couldn't it...?"
"Claire-san!? Umm, I'm from a family that follow Romalia religion so, it
really won't be a laughing matter at all if I get into that kind of relationship
with a nun!"
Well, I already got disinherited, and although there was force majeure I had
already gotten along with a demon too. At this point I had already fallen
quite far but...
But still, even so.
I hurriedly retorted back at Sister Claire's remark. Her eyes were half lidded
perhaps because of the alcohol.
Like that.
We arrived within that same day to our destination, Vestal Village while I
was getting toyed around by the drunk nun's remarks that I couldn't judge
just how much truth there was in them.