Chapter 21

Multiple thoughts crossed my mind.

But I shook them off.

‘It’s a messy truth, but it’s not like knowing it will change anything now.’

This applied not just to the previous Main Admin’s story, but also to the reason he himself had ended up here.

“The Saintess is probably coming for that reason too. If you want to close a door, you have to find the one that’s open. She intends to catch the Demons herself and find the open spots.”

Priest Margaret finished her business and left with those as her final words.

But I couldn’t leave my seat even when quitting time came.

‘The world’s gate opened and became fixed.’

A sudden sense of déjà vu washed over me.

‘…A fixed Dungeon?’

Then I recalled the Dungeon I’d fixed not long ago through certain means.

I thought I understood why the Sun Church’s Saintess would come to Millers first, skipping over other places.

‘Maybe it’s not because of the Demons. Maybe she thinks it’s connected to that incident.’

…

By the time I left work, the moon had already risen.

And the number 5 that had been etched into the moon until yesterday had already changed to 6.

It sounds ridiculous, but it was this world’s way of marking that June had begun.

In other words, spring was over and early summer had started.

‘Time sure flies.’

Time flowed on like that, and the promised fourth day arrived.

The city was buzzing with anticipation from morning.

The whole city was cheering for the arrival of the Sun Church’s Saintess.

Considering this city was the Earth Church’s turf, it was quite a sight.

“Saintess, please look this way!”

“You’re beautiful, Saintess!”

The city’s residents lined the streets and shouted.

With every step the Saintess took, flower petals scattered overhead.

But I couldn’t watch that sight with pure joy.

‘So the neighborhood kids kept pulling up flowers—this is why.’

I recalled the church’s flower bed, now patchy like it had bald spots.

I wasn’t happy about it.

After watching the Saintess’s long procession from afar, I slipped away.

‘Guess I should start preparing too.’

Once the procession ended, the Saintess would be guided by the Lord and come to my church.

There was still some time, but considering the preparations for hosting, it was tight.

‘She looks about the same age as Priest Malza, so a cake should be fine.’

-Cake! I want cake!

At the mention of baking a cake, I heard the cheers of Goddess Iris.

My agreement with the Goddess was only three meals a day, but I didn’t mention that.

‘I think it was something like this.’

Right after returning to the church, I recalled past memories and put the dough into the wood-fired oven.

I wasn’t confident it would turn out well without an electric oven, but I inwardly trusted the food-loving Goddess to help.

-Huh? I’m not the goddess of bread, I’m the goddess of flowers?

‘It’s rising nicely.’

Whether the Goddess’s cheer had power or not, the cake baked without issue.

I was spreading strawberry jam instead of the cream I lacked when—

I suddenly sensed someone in the yard.

And it was the unsettling kind of presence.

‘What is that.’

I poked my head out the window.

In the church yard stood a stranger.

If it were just that, there wouldn’t be a problem.

The problem was the axe he was holding.

Of all things, he was about to swing down the axe a laborer had left behind onto the tree that had just begun to bloom.

‘So now they’re not just pulling flowers, they’re trying to chop down the whole Flower Tree.’

My judgment was quick.

I crept up and choked the scoundrel from behind.

“Ghk..?”

Just as I was applying pressure to knock him out—

“Priest Flawi! Stop! He’s with the Saintess’s party!”

A urgent shout burst out from behind me.

I turned my head to see Charlotte, who still couldn’t get my name right, and the Saintess I’d seen in the procession, both staring at me with bewildered faces.

‘Hm.’

I looked down at the person in my arm, who was pale-faced and tapping my arm.

I hadn’t noticed because of the dirt and dust, but his clothes were embroidered with the Sun emblem.

‘I messed up.’

My first meeting with the Saintess was a disaster.

Realizing the situation, I released the pressure in my arm.

The priest, barely freed from the brink of unconsciousness, gasped for breath and staggered.

“My apologies. I saw you about to chop down the tree and mistook you for a thief.”

The priest couldn’t speak yet and just glared at me with resentful eyes.

But that didn’t last long.

The moment he saw my flower-patterned shirt, he shut his mouth.

I couldn’t tell why, but he was looking at me like I was a madman.

“…You must really love flowers.”

The priest finally caught his breath and spoke.

Meanwhile, the Sun Church priest muttered in fright that it made sense my eyes would roll back if someone tried to chop down a Flower Tree in front of me.

“But do you realize that channeling divine power into a tree is a taboo even the gods frown upon?”

His tone was quite stern.

Now I understood why the Sun Church priest had been trying to chop down the sapling.

“I think I understand what you’re getting at. But it’s fine.”

At that, the Sun Church priest’s brow furrowed.

But the follow-up words made his furrowed brow freeze in place.

“I already received permission from Goddess Iris herself.”

“…Is that the kind of thing you can get permission for?”

“Yes. Apparently it is.”

“???”

A question mark floated across the priest’s face.

He looked like he wanted to argue, but since I’d said I’d already reached an agreement with a god, he seemed to have nothing to say as a priest.

That was when the Saintess, who had been quietly watching the situation, spoke up.

“If the Goddess herself has given permission, then it’s not our place to object.”

Her voice was young, but her tone carried no hesitation.

The Saintess glanced at the sapling, then gave a short bow.

“We should have checked beforehand. That was rude of us.”

“No, not at all. I also grabbed your man’s neck without properly checking, so I was the one being rude.”

It hadn’t been long since I started acting as a priest, and I still often acted with my hands before my mouth.

And since Priest Margaret even encouraged it, it was a hard habit to break.

“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Priest Flawi, serving the Goddess of Flowers, Iris.”

-I’m his goddess. Ahem.

The attendant priest, who had been rubbing his neck, also let out a sigh and straightened his posture.

“I am Patch, a small hearth fire serving the exalted Sun, Sola.”

‘That name sounds like it’d betray someone easily.’

Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.

“Well then, let’s head inside. I’ve prepared a welcome of sorts.”

The Saintess tilted her head curiously but obediently followed behind.

She seemed to find it strange that I didn’t ask her name and guided her straight inside without any formal ceremony.

But she seemed to like it, as her calm expression gradually softened.

And that change was most pronounced when she spotted something on the table.

“What’s that..?”

The Saintess’s gaze locked onto the table.

“It’s a cake I made myself, though my skills are rough.”

The Saintess’s eyes widened a little at that.

-Me too, me too!

-Hurry!

I offered a slice of cake to the Goddess as an offering as well, then waited for the Saintess’s reaction.

The Saintess looked to be only in her late teens, so I figured the reaction wouldn’t be bad.

But even though the Saintess couldn’t take her eyes off the cake, she couldn’t bring herself to eat it either.

It was like she’d never even seen a cake before.

-She probably really hasn’t.
-People at the rank of Saintess usually live with constant abstinence.

‘Goddess, don’t you think you should learn some abstinence from the Saintess?’

-I’m fine because I’m a baby!

A 1,400-year-old baby wasn’t easy.

Still, I couldn’t help but see the Saintess differently after the Goddess’s words.

Abstinence at such a young age was usually determined by one’s environment rather than one’s own will.

‘So even religion isn’t all good.’

I added more persuasion for the Saintess to eat.

“This was prepared for you, Saintess. If you don’t eat it today, it might go bad and have to be thrown away.”

Only then did she bring her hand to the cake she’d been staring at.

And then—

“Saintess, no matter how much it’s a courtesy, consuming sweets is how one falls into the sin of gluttony.”

It was Priest Patch who stopped her.

At those words, the Saintess reacted as if she was used to it.

‘I should have just knocked him out earlier.’

Just as she was about to put down the fork she was holding, this time I spoke up.

“But throwing away food that was made with effort is also a sin. I’d appreciate it if the Saintess could help me avoid committing one.”

The life returning to her eyes came after she had an excuse she couldn’t refuse.

During that exchange, Priest Patch looked displeased, but that wasn’t important.

‘She eats well, so it’s a good look.’

The Saintess, who had been quiet, finally spoke after finishing one slice of cake.

Of course, despite opening her mouth, she didn’t say anything.

“Have another slice. There’s plenty left.”

After eating two more slices and pleading that she was full, she finally got to the point.

“Priest Flawi of the Flower Goddess Church, I hereby conscript you under the authority of the Sun Church’s Saintess.”

“..?”

I repaid kindness with betrayal.