No matter the reason, it’s not a bad thing that the people of the area I’m visiting are welcoming me. Regardless of how I’m feeling, it doesn’t restrict my actions. Plus, I don’t need to seek out some high-ranking person to complain.
Even though the Gnome District has a smaller average physique, the buildings that government officials must frequent are mostly large enough to not be uncomfortable for other races. However, it seems that most of the workers are Gnomes, so the desks where they work look small compared to the size of the building.
In fact, the Gnome district representative’s office had two types of sofas. But the bookshelves and desks were sized for Gnomes, making the room look a bit empty. Not just the furniture, but most of the items used were sized for Gnomes as well, with the books being roughly the size of a palm-sized notebook. Should I buy a few as souvenirs when I leave?
It wasn’t just government buildings. Most places under the central government’s laws were spacious enough for other races to use comfortably. The streets passing through the district were wide enough for regular vehicles, not just Gnome-exclusive ones, to navigate without issue.
“The bigger the vehicles coming in from the outside, the more they can carry at once,” said the district representative with a hearty laugh.
…Yeah, there seem to be a lot of large trucks driving around with warning stickers on them.
However, not all the roads were this wide. The main central road running through the district and important paths leading to various places, like the way to the Wall, had to be used by the central government in emergencies, hence their spaciousness. But the lesser roads leading to the corners of the district were thoroughly Gnome-only lanes.
They weren’t exactly half the width of regular roads, but if a vehicle were to come in from the Human District, a mid-sized car could just barely fit into one lane.
The houses lining these roads were quite small, and even taller buildings were much shorter compared to those in other districts.
Humans don’t usually build structures with ceilings that are close to head height. After all, while some may be of average height, there are also very tall individuals over 2 meters!
It’s the same for Gnomes—they build buildings much taller than their average height. However, if an ordinary human were to enter, it would certainly feel cramped to the point of suffocation.
At the end of such a street, there was a small cathedral.
“If someone from a different race comes in, they might feel quite cramped, but are you okay with that?”
To be honest, I had considered it.
But at least from the outside, it didn’t seem like the kind of small cathedral where I’d get stuck upon entering. It just had a low ceiling and appeared oddly narrow. As I mentioned, even if Gnomes make their buildings much taller than their average height, a person under 170 centimeters like me should have no problem fitting through the door.
“I received an official invitation, so I can’t leave without visiting the cathedral in this area.”
Honestly, my curiosity was even greater. Maybe it was because the Gnomes treated me favorably, but unlike in other regions where different races just wanted to finish their tasks and leave, I wanted to explore Gnome life a bit. Moreover, the height difference between Beastmen, Elves, and Humans isn’t that significant.
Even though each region has its unique characteristics, with Beastmen, the feel isn’t much different from that of Human society due to similar living standards. As for Elves, it felt too unrealistic, like visiting a theme park.
Above all, there wasn’t even a place that could be called a cathedral in the Elven District.
On the other hand, the Gnome District felt both familiar and strange. Most of it resembled what I knew, just in smaller dimensions. It was like looking at slightly larger miniatures.
And everyone around was so friendly, there was no reason not to enjoy myself.
“Well then, I understand.”
The person accompanying me said that, seeming to have coordinated things in advance, considering I was a Saintess.
Well, that’s good for me.
“…It feels like I’m on a complete tour.”
“Of course—”
As I turned to answer naturally at the voice coming from behind, I suddenly froze upon seeing Rina, with her arms crossed and an intimidating expression on her face.
She looked like a character straight out of a cartoon, probably with muscle lines above her head. There was even a black aura behind her.
…Wait, no, it wasn’t just a feeling—I could really see it!
“—Of course, as a Saintess, you are obligated to observe how the church in another area operates and to meet the local parishioners to gather their opinions.”
I suddenly recalled that Rina was here on her weekend off because I suggested we make a holy bomb, so I quickly adopted a serious tone and said,
“Isn’t it true that you’ve never actually met any of the parishioners from the 21st District? Besides, where you’ve been wandering around the 21st District is overwhelmingly near the Academy, mostly just popping out to grab snacks after school.”
“Um…”
As Rina hit me with that undeniable fact, I struggled to find a retort. She smirked, raising one corner of her mouth.
“Or is it that from now on, you plan to visit every place and listen to each of the parishioners’ opinions one by one?”
“Um…”
If I denied that here, it would be crossing several lines as a Saintess, wouldn’t it?
“Alright then, I’ll make sure to pass that message clearly to your cathedral side. They’ll definitely appreciate it. The Saintess is finally demonstrating some Saintly behavior!”
“Ah…”
All of the points she raised were entirely valid, so I found myself at a loss for how to respond.
Not knowing what to say, I turned to look at Linea and Aurora, only to find both of them avoiding my gaze. It seemed that Rina’s comments were so spot on that they couldn’t think of a way to help me.
No, more than that, Linea needed her tone lowered to converse with me.
…Did I go too far last night?
Ultimately, the only winner in this exchange was Rina, who now looked at me with a smirk.
…I’ll remember this.
Just wait until I make a slip of the tongue someday.
I thought to myself, grinding my teeth internally.
*
As I expected, the inside of the cathedral was reasonably accessible. While cathedrals tend to be built tall and spacious, this one was narrower than those in the 21st District but still wide enough not to be uncomfortable for my visit. However, all the furniture inside was meticulously tailored for Gnomes, making it quite difficult for me to use.
So rather than trying to sit somewhere, I opted to do a quick round of the cathedral led by the Priest and stand for a brief while to listen to him speak.
I initially thought the Priest was one of the taller Gnomes, but upon inquiry, he turned out to be human. So, technically, he’s a short human elder, not a tall Gnome.
“Is the furniture uncomfortable for you?”
I asked in surprise, and the Priest broke into a big smile, laughter filling his weathered face.
“I’ve been short since I was young, so I didn’t feel much inconvenience. As I got older, I think I shrank even more, but now, I feel completely comfortable here.”
As he spoke, he gently tapped the nearby prayer chair with his hand. Sure, it felt a tad small compared to his size, but it was far from unusable.
“In fact, living in this area has given me a sense of pride. I was always told I was short while living in human society, but after coming here, I’m now the ‘tall uncle.’ Though now, it’s more like the ‘tall old man.’”
He chuckled as he mentioned that, appearing as if he had no complaints whatsoever about his situation.
“Still, the furniture for the Priest’s office could have been made to your preferred size.”
“Gnomes dislike waste; efficiency is paramount. Of course, they’re also wonderful people who know how to find joy in the right places, but there was no need to tailor all the furniture for someone like me, just a passing Priest. After all, many others will follow behind me.”
With that reasoning, I had nothing left to retort.
…I quietly regretted having seriously considered if such a respected individual might be a master bomb-maker. This man was probably respected due to his genuinely admirable character.
“Religion is not just about coercion for people to believe. Instead of hoping the other party adjusts to us, if we adjust to them and help in various ways, gradually more people come to trust me. By building trust first, the number of parishioners naturally grows… Oh dear, I didn’t mean to preach in front of the Saintess. My apologies.”
As he unwittingly started speaking in the style of a weekend service Priest, he suddenly remembered that this was the Saintess before him and smiled ruefully.
“Not at all; that’s a good lesson. I’m still young and have much to learn. If it’s advice that can aid my growth, I should listen gratefully.”
At my words, the Priest looked up at me with a gaze as if seeing something remarkable.
“The Saintess is already acting that way. Rather, I seem to be the one who needs to learn from you. People are beings who learn throughout their lives until their last moments.”
“Ah, no…”
I shyly diverted my gaze, then quickly opened my mouth again.
“By the way, is there anything you might need? If it’s something necessary for the operation of the cathedral, I can relay it to the Church.”
“Hmm…”
The elderly Priest closed his eyes for a moment, considering.
“There’s nothing particularly lacking. We collaborate with the regional government for welfare matters, and the facilities here are adequate. If I were to bypass standard procedures to receive support, it might lead to shortcomings for other churches.”
“R-Right.”
That makes sense. While there’s no way the Central Church would refuse my request, if I really managed to have support come from here just because of one phrase from me, it would prevent another church waiting for assistance from receiving it. No matter how much wealth the Church possesses in this world, it’s still less than the government budget. Given that the Church is responsible for welfare in this country, they cannot meddle with it lightly.
As I realized that belatedly and blushed from embarrassment, the Priest suddenly appeared deep in thought before speaking.
“Oh, speaking of which, we’re almost out of Holy Water. May I request some from the Saintess?”
“Holy Water, you say?”
“Yes. Gnomes… No, the residents from different parts of this world often have less Holy Power compared to Humans. There is a limit to the amount of Holy Water we can generate in this cathedral. If you could assist, I believe it would be a great help.”
I couldn’t tell if he genuinely lacked and needed it or if he was just politely addressing my embarrassment, but having more Holy Water is never a bad thing, as it can be used everywhere.
“Of course, I’ll do my very best to create the best Holy Water I’ve ever made.”
I responded with a bright smile.
*
“Oooh, this is…”
The glee around me was not only from the Priest who marveled at the Holy Water I created. The Gnome public officials who accompanied me and even the district representative, who had taken a vacation to follow me, looked on with shining eyes at the Holy Water I had produced.
Hmm… but why do I get the feeling their gazes on the Holy Water are somewhat impure?
No, it wasn’t covetous eyes. It was more like someone who was obsessed with a specific field, staring at the best results produced within that field.
Of course, these people aren’t fixated on Holy Power; they’re likely more interested in the level of explosion that could be generated from the bombs made with it.
It seemed they recognized that while I had previously made Holy Water, what I had now created with genuine effort was something completely different.
“…”
Sighing as I observed the people alternating their gazes between the Holy Water and me, suddenly I heard a buzz— the sound of a phone vibrating.
It was from one of the public officials accompanying me. Judging by the few strands of his hair turning white, he appeared to be quite older. That official hurriedly took the call and dashed out of the room, as if something urgent had come up.
“Thank you, Saintess.”
While I paid no mind to what was happening outside, I heard a voice and turned to see the elderly Priest bowing respectfully to me.
I followed suit and returned the bow, saying, “No, thank you for your service on behalf of the Church.”
When I lifted my head moments later, I noticed the Priest’s eyes were moistened, which took me by surprise.
*
After bidding farewell to the Priest, I exited the cathedral to find the official who had hurried out earlier running back towards me, almost tripping over himself. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then noticed me and quickly closed it.
Looking as if he didn’t know how to handle the situation, he dashed towards the district representative nearby and grabbed their arm, dragging them off somewhere in the distance.
…What’s going on?
“Something’s off.”
I commented with my eyes narrowed as I watched the two off in the distance, and Rina muttered in response.
“Well, if it’s related to local government, then it might be something we don’t need to concern ourselves with.”
It wasn’t really my position to say while I was the one squinting in their direction. Considering the Gnomes’ mindset I had witnessed so far, it wouldn’t be anything hostile to me. If they were really trying to steal the Holy Water I created and use it to their advantage, then I could understand that.
Yet, in a region where they set up their own cathedral and opened their doors to human priests sent by the Church, they shouldn’t be that rude. They certainly recognized what it would mean to steal something I had sanctified.
Despite that, they kept glancing over here.
“Could it be that there’s something going on?” Aurora pondered, tilting her head.
“Who knows? Maybe they suddenly need more Holy Water.”
A bomb isn’t just a completed product after one creation. It often requires several attempts, explosions, and balance between optimal explosive power, operational stability, as well as safety when storing or transporting.
I mean, considering there are many delicate parts in the Holy Power bomb, it wouldn’t be strange if there were multiple failures through the process.
If they had used up all the Holy Water I had given them, then it makes sense they’d be acting all shifty.
Once their conversation seemed to end, both the district representative and the official hurriedly ran back over towards me.
Stopping right in front of me, the district representative took a deep breath before saying,
“I’m sorry. We suddenly have an urgent matter…”
Seeing him panting like that, I felt relieved that the Holy Water didn’t seem to be running out yet.
Well… I could certainly make more if they asked, but if I made it too easily, I wouldn’t know when they would come back for more.
“I think we’ll need to excuse ourselves for now. The rest of the schedule will be guided by the attendants.”
The public official who followed closely behind finished for the breathless district representative.
“What’s going on that’s making you so rushed?”
Since I was truly curious, I asked, but both of them exchanged glances. The district representative shook his head ever so slightly, while the public official nodded.
…Alright, it’s definitely clear now. These two are suspicious. It must be related to that call the official received earlier.
“Ah, um, it’s about something concerning the district, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to bother the Saintess with the details.”
“That’s right! The Saintess should enjoy her time here until dinner!”
“…Is that so?”
“Absolutely.”
…Hmm, well.
I wouldn’t be entirely truthful if I said I wasn’t curious about some deep-seated secrets in local society, but then again, I also had no desire to dig too deep.
Up until now, every time I visited regions of different races, I ended up embroiled in incidents related to witches.
…But surely three times would be too much. Plus, if it involved a witch, that would entail them notifying me about it anyway. Judging by their current attitudes, there seemed to be no reason to hide anything.
“Well then, I’ll go along with that. It’s truly a shame it had to be cut short after taking a leave.”
“No, no! We’re already satisfied with what we’ve experienced so far! Please enjoy your time here, Saintess!”
“Thank you for everything thus far.”
The district representative bowed politely and then hurried off with the public official to where the vehicles were parked.
“…Should I be worried?”
“Most likely, it’s nothing.”
As I casually commented, Rina looked at me with a disbelieving expression.
Why?
What?
Why?
Just because I’m not the type to bring chaos everywhere I go doesn’t mean that’s the case every time.
…Wait, maybe it is?
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