𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎: 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭, 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐲? 𝐎𝐫 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞?
―What’s next for us?
One night at a luxury hotel, I had a discussion with Kami-sama about our future.
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Returning to the church as a saint is out of the question.
Leaving the country is also unacceptable. At the same time, I feel uncomfortable living in a luxury hotel without paying for meals.
I’m curious about how much the country will be affected after the departure of the leading saint.
Even though I was forced into the position of leading saint, I currently feel irresponsible for leaving halfway through. Even if I can’t clean up the mess, I can’t turn my eyes away from the results.
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“There’s also the matter of the people who tried to kill me. . . . . .”
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According to Kami-sama, the Guard Knights, who tried to kill me, didn’t smell like humans born in this country.
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“There’s no way I would let Charlene be killed. I can sense the souls born in this country.”
“T, That’s right. . . . . .”
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So, were they foreigners? That line of thought is harsh. The Saint’s Guard Knights is a profession that only healthy noble boys with a confirmed identity from this country can join. I wanted to investigate their identity, but I couldn’t approach them recklessly after leaving the church.
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“Charlene. There’s something I’ve been wondering about. I killed them.”
“Don’t be so blunt.”
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Next to me, who was taken aback, Kami-sama muttered while looking at his palm.
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“I didn’t sense a human life.”
“What do you mean?”
“Their souls might have already. . . . . .and what was inside. . . . . .”
“. . . . . .What was inside?”
“I can’t pinpoint it yet. There are various possibilities. It could be interference from other countries, or it could be a magical tool or magic that was set up. There might also be a monster lurking that consumes hearts. . . . . .We need information.”
“I see.”
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Unusually, Kami-sama fell silent with a stern look on his face. If even Kami-sama doesn’t know, it’s not just a flashy assassination.
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“Kami-sama. Let’s hide in the city for a while and gather information. . . . . .If we don’t know who’s targeting us, I can’t rest easy either. I think it’s a valid option for what to do next.”
“. . . . . .I’m sorry. I can’t solve it right away.”
“The discussion isn’t simple. But if you figure out something, share it with me too. If we’re going to worry, let’s worry together.”
“Yes. I won’t hide anything from my wife.”
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Kami-sama took my hand, looked at me seriously with his eyes as black as ink, and said,
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“I won’t let anyone lay a finger on Charlene. . . . . .No matter what I have to sacrifice, I will protect her.”
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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And so, a month had passed since our visit to the gravesite.
Kami-sama and I decided to set up a temporary fortune-telling shop in Makeido. Makeido is a bustling port city with a nearby mine, connected by land and sea routes. It’s a place that readily welcomes drifters and newcomers alike, and anyone can open a stall with a business permit issued by the Chamber of Commerce.
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The location where we got the permit was in the urban area of Makeido, in one corner of the open-air market along the canal that flows on both sides of the central island.
. . . . . .How did we get the business permit, you ask? Well. . . . . .we relied on Kami-sama’s power to some extent.
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Our mornings start in the bed of an inn for peddlers, crawling out from Kami-sama’s arms. After washing my face and changing clothes, I have breakfast next to Kami-sama, who’s idly lying on the bed, having received bread and milk from the innkeeper. Despite not sleeping, Kami-sama is strangely slow in the morning, perhaps due to his original cold-blooded nature.
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For the record, Kami-sama registered under the name Kainz.
His real name is Kai, but he said he didn’t want to write it.
“When my name is called, it tickles. It feels good when Charlene calls me, but I don’t like it when other people do.”
That’s what he said.
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“Kami-sama. I’m sorry, could you tie the ribbon of my apron?”
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I turned my back to Kami-sama with my apron over my newly arranged dress from the thrift store. My outfit consists of a knee-length dress that’s easy to move in, and an apron with many frills that’s easy to wash even if it gets dirty.
As he carefully tied the ribbon, Kami-sama murmured.
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“Your previous outfit was cute, but this one is also charming.”
“I couldn’t work in that flashy get-up. This one is more comfortable for me.”
“. . . . . .Cute.”
“Hey, don’t pull me close. Don’t hug me and nuzzle me like a cat. This is not the time for that.”
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With the dawn, we leave the inn and head towards the tent we rented along the canal. We set up the tent, clean up, prepare, share notes with our peddler colleagues while chatting, and it’s quite busy.
As we do this, the sun rises completely and it’s time to open the shop.
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Publicly, Kami-sama plays the role of a fortune teller, and I handle the miscellaneous chores.
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“Excuse me. . . . . .is it okay?”
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When Kami-sama, dressed in a black robe, sits in front of the glass orb we acquired at the antique market, customers are spontaneously drawn in. Today’s customer is a young woman.
After taking the fee, I sit behind the screen where I can hear the customer’s words.
The woman who sat down started her story right away. Until the overturned hourglass ends, it’s the time for one consultation.
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The woman is pouring out her troubles, mesmerized by Kami-sama, who is listening with a serious face.
When Kami-sama starts speaking without permission, he give advice on things that are too advanced for humanity, like saying:
“Do you dislike the people at your workplace? Why not just not go there?”
“Do you have someone you like? Why not confess? The human breeding period is short, isn’t it?”
Because of this, they are being silent and letting him talk.
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Today’s woman seems to be troubled by workplace issues. Her thick fingertips, appearance, and word choice unmistakably suggest she’s a barmaid. It seems to be a squabble among the women, not related to men. Probably a dispute over the number of orders.
As I observed her closely under the guise of serving tea, I sent a message to Kami-sama at the back.
(Kami-sama, tell her, “It must have been hard. But as your sales increase, your worries will start to resolve.” Please say it as gently as possible, look into her eyes and smile.)
(Understood)
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When Kami-sama conveys exactly what I said, the woman’s eyes widen.
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“How did you know? That’s right, ever since my sales started to increase, it’s been troublesome. . . . . .”
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I shall continue to answer through the mouth of Kami-sama. The woman listens, nodding through her tears. Even if I am not a fortune teller, by seriously analyzing the other person’s story and appearance, I can derive a convincing appraisal. It’s the same job I did in the confessional during my time as the leading saint―making them feel better and more positive is the most important thing.
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“I’m glad. So I’m not wrong in the way I do things! My body is feeling lighter too. And this herbal tea is delicious.”
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I appear from the back with a smile.
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“Is it tasty? Ehehe, I’m glad.”
“Oh, you cute little poster girl. Did you make this?”
“Yes, we sell it at a reduced price to those who have had their fortune read. Would you like some as a charm for today’s appraisal?”
“Fufu, I feel healed, I might as well buy it as a charm.”
“Thank you!”
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The woman leaves with a spring in her step.
The schedule of our business is written on the bag of tea leaves, so she should come back if she has any problems. Even if she comes to buy only tea, I’d be happy.
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“I want tea too.”
“Huh? Can you drink, Kami-sama?”
“If it’s tea brewed by Charlene, I’d like to taste it.”
“O, Okay. . . . . .”
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I make the tea. Kami-sama drinks it carefully, as if he’s grateful.
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“Hey brother, can you do fortune telling?”
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Without much time to rest, the next customer, who seems to be a businessman, arrives.
When I’m working like this, I can make a fair bit of money by the afternoon.
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I hand over the contract money from the day’s sales and head towards the inn.
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“There are better inns, though.”
While holding me close in the narrow bed after I finished bathing in the public spiritual spring, Kami-sama grumbles.
I close my eyes, leaning my face against Kami-sama’s chest.
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“If we stay in a too good inn, we’ll stand out. In a place like this, even a suspicious man with a child won’t stand out.”
“I’m not with a child, I’m with my wife.”
“. . . . . .Well, if we are suspected of eloping, it would be a hassle if we were reported.”
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We fall asleep while talking like this, and when morning comes again, we go out to work.
This modest but peaceful life was a luxurious freedom for me.
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