𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖: 𝐀 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬
“Goodness, to think that I’d meet Charlene-sama once again. Yes, her form and figure were recognizable even as a child. Her divine words, her face, her voice. . . everything was just as Charlene-sama. . . . . .The fact that she healed my foot in the capital city is a secret known only to her and me. Ahh.”
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With no trace of the scowling face from before, the old man Zain quickly rambled on as he briskly stood up, swiftly leading me to the back of the church.
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As we walked into the backyard of the church, a thick heat with a strong humidity wafted over us. A small chapel, like an open-air gazebo without a door and made of brick, came into view. In its center was a spiritual spring, gushing up like a fountain.
“The amount of water is. . . . . .quite small.”
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After offering a prayer before entering the sacred grounds, I inspected the spiritual spring. The spiritual spring, which normally should be gushing up to the height of an adult man’s head, was only reaching the eye-level of an 8-year-old girl like me. This must be affecting the whole city.
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Kami-sama licked the spiritual spring. . . . . .In a quiet voice, I asked.
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“. . . . . .How is it?”
“It tastes like me.”
“I thought as much.”
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While pretending to inspect it, Kami-sama discreetly dropped a small snake from his sleeve into the spring source. As the snake energetically burrowed into the hole――whoosh! The spiritual spring surged with full force!
The two priests, who were watching from behind, screamed.
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“U-uh-oh!”
“Eek!”
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I took the full brunt of the spiritual spring’s water, I was completely soaked.
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“It’s warm and comfortable, but now I’m drenched.”
“No problem. I’ll dry you.”
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Kami-sama, who should have been splashed by the spiritual spring at the same distance as me, was not wet at all. When Kami-sama held his hand over me, I felt a sensation of warm wind, and instantly my hair and clothes were completely dry.
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“Thank you.”
“It must be inconvenient and difficult for humans to wear clothes.”
“Yep. . . . . .”
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――Hold on, what’s that fancy black outfit you’re wearing, Kami-sama?
I thought so, but now’s not the time to inquire deeply.
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As we came out of the chapel, the two exhausted priests held hands and bowed their heads as they looked up at us and let out a “haaa.”
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“Truly impressive, Charlene-sama’s divine couple! The spiritual spring has a volume of water like I’ve never seen before!”
“I’m so in awe I might lose myself!! It’s the best! Ah~~~ Charte-chan~.”
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Hey, hey. You guys are priests, right? Instead of a little girl, show your gratitude to the god.
I thought so, but I didn’t say it out loud. Instead, I offered a polite, embarrassed smile.
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“Please. . . . . .raise your heads. We just made it easier for the gift from Kami-sama to come out. If you wish to pray, please direct it towards Kami-sama.”
“Haa! As expected of Charlene-sama’s divine envoy! You’re so humble!”
“Thinking of Kami-sama at all times. . . . . .! Impressive!”
“Umm, it really is Kami-sama’s power though. . . . . .”
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While moving from the back of the chapel to the parlor, I gave a small apologetic gesture to Kami-sama.
ㅤ
“Sorry. It seems like I’ve taken the credit.”
“It’s Charlene’s achievement. You should be proud. . . . . .I’m not interested in humans other than Charlene. The reason I even bothered to take care of the spiritual spring is for Charlene.”
“. . . . . .Thank you.”
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I couldn’t help but chuckle as I thanked him.
My Kami-sama really only sees me.
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Afterward, in the parlor of the church, on a sofa.
From time to time, with Kami-sama as my proxy, I conveyed [Charlene-sama’s words] to the church.
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The Spiritual Spring provides temporary recovery when visited by pilgrims, but a fundamental resolution cannot be achieved without visiting the Spiritual Spring at the cathedral that enshrines the Land God Kai in the royal city. We’re going to visit churches all over the place, so if something happens, we hope you can help us.
Then I added the crucial part at the end.
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“Actually, Charlene-sama has said [become the saint and enter the spiritual spring of the cathedral].”
“Then, wouldn’t it be better to go directly to the cathedral in the royal city without making stops? If you’re Charlene-sama’s emissary with healing powers, you should be able to get into the saint’s dormitory right away.”
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This is where I need to act. I cast a shadow over my face, put my small hand over my mouth, and looked down. The two priests lean forward toward me, who has suddenly become gloomy.
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“Um, Charte-chan, are you okay?”
“I’m sorry, I’m scared of what I heard from Charlene-sama.”
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I lowered my eyelashes and pleaded in a trembling voice.
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“Charlene-sama told me to [be careful of the saint’s dormitory] but didn’t elaborate. . . . . .she seemed to have experienced something very scary. . . . . .and maybe that’s what angered Kami-sama. . . . . .”
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Kami-sama, sitting next to me, strokes my back, which I cover with a face full of surprise.
In front of the confession of an innocent 8-year-old who’s trying her best, the two priests look at each other.
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“Elder Zain, Charte-chan’s words may be hard to believe, but I. . . . . .”
“Don’t go too far, Heath Samaya. I also believe Charte-sama’s words. From the beginning of our conversation, there were many things that couldn’t be understood unless one actually entered the saint’s dormitory. I also served in the saint’s dormitory when I was young, so I’m convinced that there is no lie or deception in Charte-sama’s words.”
“That means, the problem lies with the cathedral in the royal city, which has lost the protection of Land God Kai. . . . . .”
“Yes, it seems so.”
“Thank you for believing in me. . . . . .”
“No, no, no, of course.”
“Huh, I support Charte-chan.”
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When I tearfully thanked them, they both beamed.
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“Our church will support you two. If we get any new information, we’ll be sure to let you know.”
“Thank you! We appreciate your cooperation!”
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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“It worked out well, didn’t it, Kami-sama.”
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After leaving the church, we were walking through the city of Keinigaunis. Sitting on a bench in a park lined with stalls, watching children chase pigeons and play. When trying to cross my legs, the chair is deep and I almost roll back. Kami-sama laughed a little and said,
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“Are you going to go as planned from now on, Charlene?”
“Yes. I will go to various churches in the territory of Margrave Mosey and repair the spiritual springs. But I don’t plan to hurry. If I rush too much and lose the great cause for staying in the Margrave territory, it’s meaningless.”
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The goal is to be recognized by the queen.
If I couldn’t get results after staying for a month, I was planning to use the connections that Trias had connected and go on a journey to repair the spiritual springs in various territories.
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“Well, so there’s nothing more to do today. . . . . .right, Kami-sama?”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s go on a date.”
“A date?”
“Yes. I’ll suffocate if it’s just about roles.”
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I stood up and reached out to Kami-sama. Kami-sama, while looking surprised, took my hand.
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“Let’s take a walk together, look at the city, and eat something delicious.”
“If Charlene wants to.”
“It’s settled then.”
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I laughed and started walking, pulling Kami-sama along.
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“Then let’s go to that clock tower. Tell me how the scenery you know is different.”
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――After that, it went by in a flash.
Excited by the good view from the clock tower.
Enjoying the atmosphere of the winding cobblestone streets. For the first time, I entered a café and enjoyed an afternoon tea filled with small sweets.
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“I wanted to entertain Kami-sama, but it seems like I’m the only one having fun.”
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As I dissolve a sugar cube shaped like a flower into my tea, I shrug my shoulders a little. Kami-sama, leaning on one elbow and watching me, was smiling with a gentle face.
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“If Charlene is happy, then I’m happy.”
“Really? If there’s something you want to do or a place you want to go, just say it. I’ll go along with you if I can.”
“Really. . . . . .through Charlene, enjoying life as a person. . . . . .understanding that it is enjoyable. . . . . .I’m glad to be married to Charlene. You are fascinating.”
“. . . . . .Hehe. As long as that’s the case.”
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I’m getting used to Kami-sama’s straight words and accept them with a smile.
Kami-sama pauses for a moment. Then he covers his mouth slightly with one hand and turns his eyes away.
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“What’s the matter? Are you mesmerized?”
“. . . . . . too dazzling.”
“Then it’s all the better, Kami-sama.”
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When I say it in a cute way, Kami-sama returns to a blank expression.
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“You don’t have to make a face for other men. I just need to see Charlene’s true smile.”
“. . . . . .You’re so troublesome.”
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Feeling embarrassed about my flirtatious behavior, I drink my tea to cover it up.
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
After a day full of fun and games, we returned to the hotel before dusk, had dinner, and slept soundly.
For about a week from the next day, we healed by checking the spiritual springs of various small churches, using this hotel as our base.
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We had also thoroughly enjoyed the city, our ribbons had slightly increased, and we had more to talk about with Kami-sama. Before going to bed at night, we started making plans for what we wanted to do the next day. As we scattered brochures of delicious restaurants we got in the city and notes of the schedule of outdoor performances of singers on the bed and talked about this and that, Kami-sama murmured as if pondering deeply.
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“I’m happy that we’re like a human couple.”
“If we were a human couple, we couldn’t just play like this all the time.”
“Is that so? I’m glad we’re not humans then.”
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Kami-sama smiled faintly and kissed my hair.
The snakes that had appeared many times also twined around my hand as if seeking affection.
Our happy days felt as though they would go on forever.
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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And on the morning of the 8th day. Our modest vacation days came to an end.
Early in the morning, the important manager of the hotel came to our room.
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“I’m sorry to disturb you suddenly. . . . . .Kainz-sama, Charte-sama, a letter calling for you has arrived.”
“From where?”
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I stretched and took the letter. Kami-sama and I peered into the letter and nodded at each other.
The bright red wax seal on the letter unmistakably signified that it was a letter from the Queen.
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