LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 36
According to the teachings of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess, the Moon Goddess grants her blessing only when women expose their skin to protect their bodies.
In recent days, observing the women entering and exiting the Adventurer Guild, I’ve developed quite an open-minded perspective.
“A world where stripping makes you stronger.”
Humans can do anything to become stronger.
Especially when it involves greed, revenge, and the like, humans sometimes even eliminate other humans or switch sides to the Demon King’s Army in their pursuit of power.
In this modern age, that desire has simply transformed into exposing skin.
“If I can gain power for free, then exposing a bit of skin seems fair.”
If what happens when you expose your skin isn’t problematic at all.
For instance, if getting scratched by branches or having flames and cold air brush against your skin never happens.
Sure, there’s enough value in exposing your skin.
But still, isn’t this a bit excessive?
“Hey, Hero.”
“What is it, you blasphemer?”
“I acknowledge that I’m irreverent. I fully understand the words of the Moon Goddess, but I have another deity I believe in.”
“Um….”
Upon investigation,
The Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess does not hastily reject heretics.
Heretics are those who come to convert and hear the words of the Moon Goddess, not a group that immediately beheads anyone who believes in another god.
“I see. You don’t follow the Moon Goddess…. But you are mistaken.”
“What do you mean I’m mistaken?”
“I’m not an exhibitionist; I follow a god.”
She appeared genuinely disappointed, yet still showed her displeasure toward my words.
“Correct that. I am not like the exhibitionists. This is the optimal form to receive the blessing of the Moon Goddess most correctly.”
“If that’s the case, isn’t it more appropriate to just strip everything off?”
“What are you unsatisfied about?”
“It’s indecent in the eyes of others. No matter how much it’s the goddess’s blessing, isn’t this a bit excessive?”
“What? Excessive?!”
The Flame Hero, Bearnes, started to openly get angry with me.
“This is to receive even a little more blessing from the Goddess! How dare you say such things!”
“No, I—”
“Moreover, as an adventurer! Indeed, as an adventurer, one must cherish their own body—”
“Excuse me, Hero.”
Lucius stepped forward.
At that, the enraged Bearnes promptly shut their mouth and retreated.
‘Could it be some kind of resonance between the Heroes of the Holy Sword?’
I felt uneasy.
With so many people gathered here, if I were to say to Lucius, “I sense the energy of the Holy Sword from you!” things would get serious.
We haven’t even found traces of Zephar and Asydia yet, and if we get exposed now, they will come looking for us.
Not so much looking for me, but rather, to eliminate the variable known as the Holy Wind Sword.
“My master doesn’t particularly like body exposure. I understand the goddess’s blessing well, but my master believes a woman’s body is more beautiful when covered.”
“Um…?”
With Lucius’s words, both Bearnes and I felt puzzled.
What nonsense is this?
“My master spoke of ‘the aesthetics of concealment.’ While we can’t see it regularly, in truly important moments, being able to see it is when we can genuinely feel beauty and elegance.”
“What does that…?”
“She believes that proudly revealing oneself in a truly important moment is also part of a woman’s elegance.”
“T-That truly important moment…?!”
Bearnes’s face instantly flushed bright red.
“Are you perhaps referring to that moment?! Truly, in such a situation, I can understand well….”
“Yes. Usually kept hidden, but brought out only in important moments. While proudly revealing it is fine, doing it too often can diminish its significance.”
“Indeed…! There’s no need to be exposed all the time. Revealing one’s true self only at important moments is definitely important. Indeed…I understand what you’re trying to say.”
It must be a story about the Holy Sword.
It definitely has to be a talk about the Holy Sword.
“And….”
Lucius approached Bearnes.
Bearnes flinched in surprise, and I tense up, wondering if Lucius might cause trouble.
‘Don’t tell me he’s going to pull out the Holy Sword and stab himself?!’
Whispering.
Lucius only whispered something in Bearnes’s ear.
Then, Bearnes’s eyes went wide as they scanned me from head to toe, and soon began nodding their head emphatically with a serious face.
“I apologize, Sorceress. This Bearnes couldn’t control a momentary anger and raised my voice.”
“Ah, it’s okay.”
I wondered what the sudden apology was about.
What on earth did Lucius say?
Since she bowed her head first, it would be to my detriment to get more annoyed about it here.
“I also apologize for speaking carelessly. There must be a reason for it; I shouldn’t have just thought of myself and spoke out carelessly.”
“It’s nothing. There are surely differences in perspective; I may have solely enforced my own way of thinking.”
Fortunately, Bearnes does not seem like a random woman who just charges around.
“However.”
“…Yes?”
“If you wish to receive the blessing of the Moon Goddess, at least your top must reveal a bit more skin.”
“…….”
Now that her temper had cooled, the proselytizer showed up.
This one couldn’t receive the blessing of the Moon Goddess, yet continued to glare at me with eyes that seemed to say belief is justice.
“If you have faith in the Moon Goddess, perhaps it can grow a bit more.”
“Yes?”
“I apologize. I need to go investigate the Orc village now. Ah.”
Bearnes made the sign of the cross toward us, placing her hands upon her belly.
Even with her hands clasped in prayer, the size did not seem to match the presence each chunk displayed.
“May the blessing of the Blue Moon Goddess be with you.”
With that, Bearnes finished speaking and left.
As she cast a lingering glance toward Lucius, I thought she must have a crush on him and was retreating.
“Ah, before you go.”
“…?”
“Since it could still be dangerous, I’ll offer this as a gift.”
Bearnes clasped her hands together and extended them toward me.
Whoosh.
A warm energy began to flow from her, taking shape and soon falling into my hands as a red orb.
“What is this…?”
“If you happen to encounter a dangerous moment and shout, ‘Blessing of the Moon Goddess!’ a tremendous flame will soar from within and protect you.”
“Eh.”
“Truly, may the path you walk upon be a cozy one illuminated by blue moonlight. Then.”
Bearnes ended her words and truly turned to leave.
I received a sacred item from her out of the blue, and her triumphant demeanor as she walked away left me dumbfounded.
“…Why does she look like she just triumphed over me?”
“Maybe she thinks she succeeded in proselytizing?”
“Is that so?”
Certainly, Lucius was right.
“Using this means gaining faith and belief in the Moon Goddess. Surely she doesn’t think like that, right?”
“She might be thinking of trying to turn your master into a follower of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess….”
“Hah, absurd.”
Despite my irritation, I couldn’t simply toss away the gift received from a hero in front of so many people.
At times like this….
“Hmph! It can’t be helped. I’ll, I guess I’ll just accept it since she gave it to me.”
“Master….”
“What, what! It’s only because I can’t throw it away! Got it?! Do you understand!!”
Just need to rush through it like this.
“Ugh, why do they all look at me like that!!”
Ahh.
I want to die.
“…Tch.”
After scattering the people’s interest a bit, I stowed the red jewel and left with my party.
“No one’s coming to steal this.”
“They probably know it’s meaningless. The thing the Flame Hero gave is a gift that only works for the Witch.”
“What did you say?”
“The Hero prayed for the Saintess. While they told her to pray to the Moon Goddess, it’s likely that it has the power of the Holy Sword within.”
“…….”
That’s what you meant.
No matter how I looked at it, there’s power left from the Flame Sword, and I was worried someone might come after us to steal it.
“Is she a good person…?”
“She can be hasty, but she’s not an evil person. She might actually be too kind for her own good.”
“Hotheaded yet kind…?”
It seems contradictory, but I couldn’t just throw it away, so I’ll hold onto it for now.
“So Lucius. What did you say that made Bearnes quiet down?”
“…It was nothing much. I just boosted her spirit.”
“You slandered me, didn’t you?”
“……Not really….”
“Hmm, well, it’s fine. It’s my mistake for rambling in my fluster; thanks, Lucius.”
“…….”
“What’s with that look? Is it that weird that I’m saying thank you?”
“Ah, no.”
Lucius fidgeted and scratched his head.
“I normally say thanks when I’m grateful. Next time this won’t happen. I won’t make a slip of the tongue in a fluster.”
From now on, I won’t panic no matter what happens.
Even if something worse were to occur.