Chapter 482

False Priest

Please allow me to introduce myself once again, my name is Kuroe. On this occasion, Im filling the role of the Priest of the 202nd colony. Im officially a temporary successor of Priest Nicolay, I pledge to do my best at executing the Holy duties?. Thank you all.

Our introduction began in a big way, in front of the great number of people who had gathered at the church.

Thats right, Im actually hiding at this village as a priest when in reality I killed a lot of the Crusaders soldiers, had sex with the Seventh Apostle Sariel, and I even have the Demons King protection.

However, I cant help but do this. To be honest, I couldnt think of any better idea.

Im now pretending Im a priest dressed in a pure white priests robe. It seems that the priest Nikolay who died during the raid was a person of advanced age and large build, and fortunately, he wore a size that fits me perfectly.

Im wearing those Coloring eyes that change my eye color and make me look more intellectual, I hope they do. Please dont call me an intellectual gangster.

Besides, I cant calm down. I can relax my body more than when Im using my cursed equipment, but I must get used to the Cross Church that symbolizes this white robe.

While hiding that bad feeling I had, I managed to finish without hesitation the greeting I had planned frenetically. Even I noticed that I was nervous as I expressed myself. Itd be hard to show a calm smile on my face, its complexion makes it physically impossible.

And now, the villagers reaction

Oh, that person was the Priest

Then, have you passed Gods judgment on those violent Crusaders?

Priest Kuroe, thank you.

Were counting on you, Priest Kuroe!

They tried to sully Gods name. It appears that my slaughtering of those Crusader Soldiers delivered benefits, as the villagers seem to be relieved and satisfied.

Moreover, Im pretty sure Randolph has already laid the groundwork in advance.

This

Im Yuuri. I devote myself as a nun along with my brother.

As you can see, Yuuri has lost her limbs and is disabled, but she has never lost faith in God. Shell definitely carry out her duties as a nun sister.

Shell appeal to the hearts of those who dont have faith in God. With Sariels beautiful face and her pitiful condition, it turned into a moving atmosphere, very easily.

Getting to the point, I think we should hold a ceremony for the victims of this raid. Randolph, do you agree?

Yes, the arrangements for the cremations have already started.

This had already been decided since the start.

In order to further introduce myself as a priest and increase my persuasiveness, Ill start with my first task as soon as possible.

But thats not only for that reason, its necessary to hold funerals for the villagers that were killed and to bury the Crusader soldiers. Its better to dispose of the bodies quickly, as it may become a cause for monsters, undead, or plagues.

And so, we hurried the preparations on the outskirts of the village and carried everything to the graveyard.

Even though its a graveyard, what I see in front of me is the Fairy Garden, nothing but a snowy field. And in the middle, there were lined up a large number of remains covered with cloth, along with the firewood for the cremation in their surroundings and the wooden crosses instead of gravestones for their graves.

In this soon new graveyard where many sad villagers gather, starts my first task as Priest Kuroe.

Oh, our Father in heaven

God has never received a more heartfelt prayer in history.

That thing almost all those hateful Crusaders said, a prayer to God. They shouted that just before killing me previously, as they asked for salvation.

I was now speaking those lines that were the most foreign to me.

May God give you his Blessing!

However, there wasnt any lightning falling on top of my head or wrath coming from the White God from this cleared up winter sky,

Nothing is going to happen, after all, this is all about words.

Aha Gods Blessing

May God bless us!!

However, at least for the Sinclairs, these words do have a magical effect that may cause miracles, so I can see its purpose. You say those words and theres a real meaning to it.

Thats right, back when their family and close ones died, their lover, their friends, their acquaintances, and neighbors, no one said any of these lines when they had to part ways forever.

They are crying as they pray these words to their God.

I managed to somehow swallow a sight that was about to slip out.

I must calm down and remain silent, this is just my work, I must concentrate on my acting.

The actual preparations were already managed all by Mayor Randolph himself, I just have to pretend to pray and read the Bible in my hands as it is, a very simple job.

Gospel of Levier, Chapter 5, verse four. Page 1 until the 12th line.

We are all sad. However, Gods love will surely comfort us

Besides, Sariel will only listen to me and point me to what I have to read. Shes a perfect support.

Even though the meaning of everything written there is pure gibberish, Ill solemnly read aloud this other worlds alphabets citation with all Ive got.

I have a family sobbing in front of me, and the others were all wearing grief expressions. I cant even tell if they heard that Im going to read aloud the Bible, but even so, Sariel stated that I must think of it as BGM required for the Cross Church funerals, so I started reading.

Despite all that, the funeral went on smoothly.

This pure soul will certainly be led to the paradise of Eden in heaven, may you reach our God

I spoke those lines and the great number of villagers piled up, and the remains of the 27-man Crusader Army I killed myself were being carried into the fire.

It seems that for the Cross Church, burial is ideal, but if the church doesnt take responsibility for the aftercare, the risk of them becoming undead tags along. Therefore, cremation is chosen in those situations. Its not as if cremation was prohibited in the Cross Church doctrine, so as long as the funeral is held, theres no problem at all.

Sacred song, chant in unison.

It seems theres a custom of singing aloud along with the roaring flames. As you would expect, theres no way I can improvise a song, so this is where Ill leave it to Sariel.

I carried Sariel like a ventriloquists dummy and shifted my posture as the acapella song began.

From Sariels mouth came out an elegant singing voice. It is a chant in unison, but no one is noticing Im not even singing. The villagers reunited here only stared at Sariel as she sang alone, wearing an expression as if they were seeing a real miracle, and held their hands in prayer.

I wonder what they are thinking about when hearing this sacred song sang so beautifully. Perhaps its feelings help them clear up their minds, or do they feel as if they were being saved by it?

And then, I wonder what Sariel feels when she sings this praising song for God, the same God that left her alone and she has already abandoned.

Im no telepath, so I couldnt know about anyones feelings.

Even more so, the only feelings I can understand are mine.

Just like them, I had once stood in this very place, grieving over the burning bodies of Nyareko, Nino, and the others, and those of the villagers of Ils, swearing revenge against the Cross Church for what they had done.

And now Im here dressed as a Priest of the Cross Church, mourning along with the Sinclair people, merely for forms sake, but what the heck went wrong in this world for this to happen like this?

In my surroundings, theres not a single trace of truth, as if I were in a world where everything is coated with lies, where every corner is filled with emptiness.

Ahh, damn it. I wonder what Im actually doing I kept listening to Sariels sacred song while suppressing those self-deprecating feelings at the bottom of my heart.

After the funeral ended without incident, we gathered again in the church for another fake sermon, another passage of the Bible I have to read out loud, that kind of ceremony. At last, a greeting from Mayor Randolph. And this day of work is finally over.

How should I put it? It was a very tiring day. Itd be even easier to fight against Crusaders all day than doing this. Pretending to be a priest gives me a lot of mental fatigue.

Anyway, with this, I was released from the pressure of the first day. I went to the chapel of the church and took a breath, completely relieved that it went smoothly. Huh.

Sariel and I are Priest and Nun, so of course, this church is our residence now. Theres no reason for traveling one hour to repair Lilys hut.

If we are the only ones here, the church would be a completely private and perfect residence and that would help us relax but to be honest, theres another person living with us.

Hey, Kuroe, its me, Reki! Im counting on you!

One of them is a girl that speaks like a foreigner for some reason.

Her kinky, short, blond hair resembling dog ears bounced left and right with energy, she talked as she wore a bright expression on her face, she gives me an impression of being extremely lively.

A glaring girl with red hair that resembles an elf, thats Reki.

Im Ursula, nice to meet you.

The other one is a girl that acts more grown-up.

A gentle light fills her blue eyes, although shes a kid, she wears a mysterious expression. She has an exotic dark indigo skin tone which enhances her mysteriousness even more.

Ursula is a silver-haired dark elf with two ponytails.

Kuroe, thanks for helping me yesterday!

Thank you.

Yes, those are the girls I helped at the beginning.

Theyre wearing the same deep blue habits I saw them in yesterday. In other words, I hear from Randolph that in this church reside the sisters, those that are apprentices.

Priest Nikolay made them both move to Pandora. It seems until the end there wasnt any caretaker so they had to bring someone for the orphanage out of necessity. Poor kids, I wonder if thinking like that is disrespectful, in this situation. Anyhow, theres no doubt that they had to go through hard times.

Dont worry, I did what had to be done.

Speaking of which, I hadnt seen Ursula back in that storage shed, but perhaps Reki was hiding her. I can only remember that, back when Reki was running away, I remember there she was there too, making for a memorable black-and-white pair.

Even though they had to go through all these things, they express their gratitude in this way, so Im sure theyre good girls.

I reflexively matched their line of sight while bending my knees, and stroked their heads.

Huh-huh-huh, Kuroe, you dont have to act in front of Reki!

W-what are you talking about?

Wait, Ill protect the village, if you talk to me in that way its okay! You dont need to hold back, no more!

Rekis voice sounded embarrassed but, still, her thoughtfulness reached me.

Kuroes true form, Reki and I know it already Thats why, now that were going to live together, you dont need to act in front of us.

Ohh, they sure are good children. Ive been struggling to put on an act as a priest, I must look like an idiot.

I see, thank you Reki and Ursula. Im counting on you from now on.

And this is how our residence at the church with our lovely roommates started.

Well, after all, we have to sleep together

The bedroom is the same as the one that Priest Nikolay used to use. The size is about four and a half tatami mats, there is a bed and a closet, and then a small desk with a chair, it truly feels like a bedroom that was only used for the purpose of sleeping.

During the apprenticeship of Reki and Ursula, they use the same room. Its a small one like this one and the bed already occupies most of the space of the room.

Every room is small, as this is a small church in the remote countryside, so it cant be helped.

In other words, we cant have separate rooms with Sariel. Moreover, if you line up two beds in a room, there wouldnt be any space left.

Im okay even on the floor.

So you would have the little sister on the floor while I take the bed all for myself? What a devilish big brother.

If by some chance someone sees that scene, I wouldnt have any excuses. At the best of times, itd look like thin-ice trust, thatd certainly crack and collapse.

Im sorry.

Dont worry, I dont really care that much about it.

I showed courage by saying that, to be honest, I have rational reluctance to sleep together with Sariel. Of course, I can say for fact that I wouldnt get carried away with lust for Sariel ever again, but I cant say that I dont feel anything at all.

If we huddle together in bed, and I end up getting get sexually aroused even a little bit, Id feel that horrible disgust again.

However, avoiding Sariel more than necessary would be unmanly. Its a single room, and theres only one bed. So, Ill just go along with that. As long as I can resist my natural urges, theres nothing to worry about.

Alright, then lets sleep.

Okay.

Sariel, dressed in a simple white robe lay, down with a flop on the bed, I joined too and covered myself with a blanket. When I turned off the lights, the room became completely dark.

Its a quiet night, I cant see or hear anything. Thats why I can feel even more the warmth that Sariels body transmits.

Hey, Sariel.

I said so while staring at the ceiling in the middle of the darkness.

Yes?

Starting tomorrow, teach me more about the Cross Church. At least as much as you can without getting us exposed.

Yes.

The only thing that came back as a response was that single cold word. She cant say no.

I hate the Cross Church, but I dont pretend to keep away from it for that reason. I should learn more about my enemy, otherwise, Id be acting like a fool.

Im Sariels ally although Im still unsure, we are together and above that, I probably need to learn more about the Cross Church by now.

I have heard that United States studied about Japan during the Pacific War. In short, study your enemies and learn more about yourself, that kind of cycle.

However, itd be good to leave it there for today. Its not that late at night yet, but Id rather sleep early today. Im gonna do my best tomorrow.

And I closed my eyes with those half-hearted feelings.

Theres also something that Id like to learn from you too.

It was unexpected from Sariel.

What would be that?

About you.

Why would she ask? Such a stupid question. Thats something she doesnt even need to know. Especially For her, who let me live and I didnt let die.

Where should I start

From when you first came to this world. Anything about you when you lived in Japan, I still can see in Shirasaki Yurikos memories.

But I dont recall talking to Shirasaki-san.

The Kurono from high school, Shirasaki Yuriko already knows Kurono Mao really well.

She really is honorable.

It seems that Shirasaki really liked me back then. She might have heard about me in the literary club. Maybe she asked that Saika guy about me No, he wasnt the type who could keep a secret.

Thats why I want to know about the you of this world.

Except for the final battle in Galahad, Ive only met Sariel twice. That time when I escaped from the laboratory and when I climbed Daedalus wall. And I didnt have any spare time to talk a single thing about me in either of them.

Sariel doesnt know a single thing about me.

Theres one condition.

What is it?

Tell me about you.

I dont know about Sariel either. I had a glimpse of her memories because of the Back Door, but I could only see fragments. I dont know any details.

Alright.

Sariel didnt have any objections. As for me, I cant say there isnt any reluctance.

Still, if Im going to be with Sariel this much, Id better get to know her better. And I should tell her more about myself.

If we do that, will we understand each other better?

Would I be able to forgive Sariel? And would she forgive me?

I dont know, but thats something I must do.

But Im going to sleep today. Im tired of everything.

I said so one-sidedly and finally closed my eyes. The sleepiness immediately began taking my consciousness to another world.

Alright, good night.

Sariels calm voice echoed comfortably.