The Priest Wants to Retire

EP.186 They say words become seeds

”Welna. Did you do well?”

”Of course! Really! You did really really well!”

”Welna. Are you proud?”

”Of course! So proud!”

Even after some time had passed, the praises directed at the Saintess showed no signs of stopping.

I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by this tidal wave of emotion.

It felt as if all the hardships and adversities I had faced until now had finally been rewarded.

Had I ever felt this level of accomplishment in my life?

At the very least, I could boldly say I hadn’t in this lifetime.

Like a father stumbling home drunk, I rubbed my face against the soft cheeks of the Saintess and playfully petted her flowing white hair.

At first, my assertive display of affection seemed to bewilder the Saintess, but that was only for a moment.

By now, she sat quietly beside my knee, seemingly savoring the current situation.

”May I ask how much you remember from that time…?”

”I’m not sure… At first, when the puppy tried to do something bad to you, I was going to scold it. But then I heard a loud cry. Suddenly, my vision blurred, and my body moved before I even knew it…”

”S-Saintess…!”

After hearing the series of events from her mouth, I covered my mouth in awe once again.

A bit embarrassed, I felt tears brimming in my eyes.

Her cheeks, whiter than first snow, were tinged with a lovely peach hue, and her shyness as she occasionally fidgeted with her lips was indescribably adorable.

While she had some character flaws, there was nothing to criticize about her appearance.

Now, having overcome those shortcomings, the Saintess was truly someone I could proudly present anywhere.

She was the pride of this world. No, she was my pride.

For a moment, I could deeply empathize with those who hang big banners with their child’s name in rural towns.

My reckless child had achieved something no one else could accomplish through sheer effort.

Who could resist bragging about that?

”So, so beautiful… Welna…”

”…Heh, hehehe.”

As I tightly embraced the Saintess, overwhelmed with tears of joy, she suddenly broke into a radiant smile.

Seeing the previously emotionless expression of the Saintess melting away was so heartwarming that my own heart soared.

It was at that moment I realized I had started calling the Saintess in a familiar tone.

Recently, I had been trying to temper my language towards her, switching from formal to informal, but unfortunately, I couldn’t muster any restraint at that moment.

”Ha!”

Just then, someone’s annoyed laughter echoed loudly in my ears.

”S-sorry, Hero. Did I make too much noise…?”

The instant I locked eyes with the Hero, who had been watching my behavior up close, my wandering consciousness abruptly snapped back.

Oh no!

No matter how much the Hero allowed a certain level of skinship between the Saintess and me,

It was generally the case that the Hero was absent when I was making contact with the Saintess.

In an unusual situation like this, where the Hero was watching our actions, I had to exercise caution a hundred times more than usual.

It was reckless behavior to display such intimacy with the Saintess, whom the Hero regarded with suspicion, especially considering how he would react if I casually spoke to an unknown woman.

”Hero… This is…”

”No! Priest! You don’t need to worry at all! It was just a little giggle!”

”…?”

The response I got was completely unexpected; a question mark popped up in my mind.

Thinking about it, it was strange.

Even if it was a form of treatment, the Hero was calmly watching me hug the Saintess.

No, it was unnatural for the Hero to even be here right now.

”Hmph!”

In a tone I had never heard before, the Hero cleared his throat.

Given the absurd expression on his face, it seemed like he thought he was scoffing, but not even knowing how to scoff made me suspect that he had just imitated one.

He had even crossed his arms in a delinquent style, but it looked like his legs were perfectly straight and together, so his upper and lower body were out of sync.

I thought of pointing that out, but since he seemed somewhat pleased, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

”Hmph!”

”Uh…”

”…?”

I was momentarily at a loss for words due to the Hero’s ongoing odd behavior.

The Saintess appeared to share my thoughts, tilting her head curiously like a cat.

Then, out of nowhere,

The Hero cheerfully glanced over at us after inserting his finger into the collar of his shirt, as if he were enticing customers.

While it could be considered somewhat risqué to expose his collarbone to the world,

Facing the Hero’s confident expression left no room in my mind for any such improper thoughts.

”Ah…”

It finally clicked that the Hero probably wanted to show off the various marks around his neck to the Saintess.

I understood that feeling, but if he displayed his chest without context, it would only lead to confusion and no jealousy!

”Hehe! Whoops! That’s enough!”

With that, the Hero closed his collar again.

But that wasn’t all.

He caught the stunned Saintess’s gaze and, with a chuckle, sent me an awkward wink.

”Huff─!!”

Since he had closed both eyes instead of just one, I wasn’t entirely sure if it should be classified as a wink, but vibes said it was probably accurate.

”Well then, I’m off! I’ll follow Apis! We need to help rebuild the lodge! Priest, you enjoy playing house with the Saintess! Yeah! When you’re done, come join us! Haha!”

Bang!

If that wasn’t a storm sweeping through the place, I didn’t know what was.

After the Hero crashed out, the awkward silence between the Saintess and me underscored just how impactful his presence truly was.

”Brother. Is the puppy sick…?”

”I… don’t think so…”

I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t answer immediately.

Even though I secretly knew the reason, I chose to ignore it.

”Ah, right. By the way, where is Sister now? Saintess? I noticed she wasn’t in the room earlier…”

”Hmm? Sister?”

Now that my mind was clearer, I decided to ask the Saintess about Sister, whom I had been delaying asking about.

When I opened my eyes, it was eerie that, unlike our other comrades who were busy helping to rebuild the place we’d disturbed, Sister’s whereabouts were still a mystery.

Of course, since there had been a note from Sister saying she would return soon, it might have been needless worry.

Still, I couldn’t help but be concerned about Sister.

”If it’s about her, I think after waking up, she rolled around in bed for a while, holding her head, then went out asking someone if there’s a nearby church?”

”Uh…”

”She said she needed to apologize to the cross for all the wrongs she did.”

”…”

We decided to call that repentance.

I couldn’t help but brush my hair back.

The image of Sister’s pitiful figure, struggling through her pain and ultimately seeking the church, became vivid in my mind.

Now, how did I face Sister after all this?

The refreshing mood I had just moments ago vanished, and I felt a sudden sickness in my stomach.

Lately, it seemed my emotional upheavals had become quite excessive.

Could this be what they call menopause?

Knock knock.

”Huh?”

In that moment, a faint noise from outside the window pulled my attention.

”!”

The source of the sound was an emergency contact bee kept by the Vatican.

From the color of the letter tied to the bee’s neck, it appeared to be an urgent matter of the highest disaster level.

Could something have happened to the Vatican?

As a member of the clergy, I thought it might be irreverent to think this, but I hoped for it nonetheless.

”─!?”

The moment I received the letter, my eyes went wide.

The tragedy contained in the letter far exceeded anything I had anticipated.

I had heard the saying that words can bear fruit, but I never imagined that thoughts I hadn’t even voiced yet would become reality.

”T-There’s something wrong with the Vatican…”

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