Chapter 6: Jewelry Apple

　Six months have passed since Hirune's reincarnation.

　She and Jeanne have been sleeping together ever since, and she was happy to see that Jeanne had become less tired. Hirune was also happy as she thought this was probably thanks to Jeanne's efforts.

　Of course there was effort, but neither of them was aware that Hirune was giving her blessings while they slept.

　Holly, the blue-haired girl, also comes to Hirune's room whenever she has time.

　They practice the scriptures together.

　It has been a daily routine for Jeanne to happily watch the two Saint Apprentices, Hirune and Holly, working diligently together.

　However, it was also the case for Hirune to randomly invite Holly to sleep with her, and had been caught several times by Wanda, who was in charge of education. It was against the rules for a Saint Apprentice to sleep in another room.

“I've been scolded again. Hirune, there won't be a next time.”

“But it's so soft when the three of us sleep together, isn't it?”

　Hirune and Holly were mopping the thousand hallway corridor.

“I must admit, I wake up strangely better when I sleep with ...... you.”

“It's the goddess protection.”

　Hirune says as a matter of course.

Holly gave Hirune a curious look and shrugged her shoulders, saying that she didn't think she was wrong.

“I wonder whose fault this is?”

 “It’s because the bedding feels good.”

“It’s because you're the one who invited me!”

　Holly turned her purple eyes behind her.

　The thousand hall corridor was a long corridor with a thousand scriptures on the walls.

　It took a long time to carefully mop back and forth, as no running was allowed. It was hard work for a girl. No one wanted to do it.

"Hah ...... still half .....left?”

"Munya.......what.....?"

　　Hirune, who was about to leave for dream world with her cheeks on the handle of the mop, opened her eyes.

　Hirune had purified the left half of her area with holy magic.

　Hirune's side was now shiny.

'Hey, you're cheating.

'It's not cheating. This is also a great power. Wanda-sama didn't say that you can't use holy magic.

“Of course she didn’t. Where would she find Saint Apprentice who uses holy magic as punishment for cleaning?”

“She's right here.”

“I won’t admit it at all.”

　Holly mopped earnestly and continued down the hallway.

“I can't help it. ......”

　　Hirune bites back a big yawn and walked over to mop next to Holly.

　I'm grateful for Holly's willingness to go along with me, despite what she says. I'll help her, thought Hirune.

　Holly looked at Hirune and sighed a little.

'You really go at your own pace, you know that?

'Is that so?

“Do you know what you’re called by the people in town?”

“Do they call me anything other than my name?”

“ Sleeping Princess”

“Oh, a princess. That's nice."

　Hirune's mop was getting dirty, so she quickly used holy magic to purify hers and Holly's mops.

When Holly saw this, she looked as if she wanted to say something. But she gave up and said, "Thank you.”

“You really are a disappointing beauty, aren't you? When you pray, you use holy magic to manipulate your body and sleep soundly, and when you go on patrol in town, you chat with the owner of the futon store or the general store. And to top it all off, you're eating skewers that were given to you without permission. ...... I can't believe it.”

"Talking with the people in the town is an important exchange of information. You may be able to get a futon as an offering one day. The skewers were ...... delicious."

"Wanda-sama must be worried. ......"

　Hirune's aptitude for holy magic is outstanding, according to their educator, Wanda.

She has been working on it for six months and has memorized the scriptures.

　However, it was a pity that she was a habitual snoozer.

　The plan is to promote her after she grows up a little more by combining her with Holly, who is always paying attention to Hirune in detail. Holly is also an excellent child. Having a friend to work hard with will help her grow.

“Wanda-sama has asked me to take good care of you.”

"Yes. Yes, please take good care of me. I'm counting on you, Holly."

　She really feels that way.

(Holly's a solid girl for an eight-year-old. I'm really grateful for her help. I've been so sleepy since my reincarnation that my body automatically goes in the direction of relaxed and easygoing. ......)　Hirune looks at Holly with gratitude.

Staring into her starry, unclouded blue eyes, Holly looked away, saying, "I'm in trouble.”

    Holly had been having a lot of fun with Jeanne lately, talking about Hirune.　

“Oh, by the way...'”

　 Hirune said, returning her gaze to the mop.

"What's wrong?"

“They don’t serve fruit for dinner anymore. That was the only thing I was looking forward to. ...... I wonder why?”

“Oh, it seems the demons are getting more active.”

“Demons?”

“Yes. It seems that the southern part of the country, where there are many orchards, has been affected again. It's a big deal.”

“The south. ...... There's an important city there, isn’t there?

“Of course. There are no big cities, but there are orchards and granaries. There are Great Saints in the north, east and west, but the problem is that there are none in the south.”

"Is that so?"

　Hirune looked at Holly as she worked on the mop.

“The north, east and west are all overwhelmed.”

“The south is Jeanne's hometown, you know. I hope there will be peace. ......”

"Oh, I didn’t know that."

　Holly stopped mopping and sadly frowned.

“Anyway, we have to become saints soon and contribute to the world.”

“Yes, that's true. If the world doesn’t become peaceful, we won’t even be able to take a leisurely nap.”

“...... Whatever the reason, we're still aiming for the same thing, aren't we?”

　Holly giggled and resumed her cleaning.

“I still want to eat fruit...... .”

“That’s true.......”

　The two of them thought of sweet fruits like little girls.

　　　　　　()

   That night, Hirune secretly came to the backyard of the Saint Apprentice dormitory.

The backyard is used for washing clothes, etc. and there was a large dying jewel apple tree standing there.

　The tree was two hundred years old, and it had stopped bearing fruit about ten years ago.

　A long time ago, it used to produce sweet fruits that would make the Saint Apprentice girls smile. Wanda, the former Saint's educator, prays every morning for the jewel apple tree.

"Hirune-sama we shouldn't be out this late at night. ......”

“I'm surprised you didn’t sleep immediately.”

   Jeanne and Holly were following Hirune, who insisted on going.

　A half-lit moon hovered in the sky.

　The dormitory was asleep and quiet.

(For everyone's sake, the Jewelry Apple tree needs to get well. I want to eat fruits, too. When they say it's sweet and fragrant, I can't help but want to eat it. The food at the dormitory is really simple. ...... I'm grateful to be able to eat it, but….)

　Hirune placed her hand on the two hundred year old tree.

　She closed her eyes and diagnosed it with her life-sensing holy magic.

　It's a magic used to examine the sick.

(Hmmm ...... there isn’t much nutrients underground. The life response is very thin around the center of the tree. The cause is either the soil or the tree trunk......)

　The life of the tree is faintly reflected in Hirune's brain.

　The light extends upward from the roots and stops at the center. It doesn’t reach the branches.

　Hirune turned and looked at Jeanne and Holly.

“I diagnosed it. The soil is lacking in nutrients that’s why the jewel apple seems to be lacking in energy. I'm going to try infusing healing magic into it, like a nutrient."

　The two of them blinked several times when they heard that.

"Um, what do you intend to do?"

"You... Holy magic is ...."

　Hirune puts both knees on the ground and closed her eyes, so as not to miss the image that was forming.

　She awakens the magic that was dormant in her body, reciting the healing scriptures in her brain, and also imagining her body like a syringe.

　Then she felt a voice from the jewelry apple tree saying, "I want to live more," and Hirune gave a small nod.

(I see. ...... You want to live more. ...... Thank you for telling me. ......)

　The holy magic was activated.

　　A magic circle about 30 meters in diameter appeared at Hirune's feet, and the surroundings became bright at once. A vast of stardust begins to fly from Hirune.

　Seeing the beautiful glow, Jeanne and Holly took each other's hands mesmerized.

"Hirune-sama......."

"Wow, ...... what a big holy magic circle......"

　The magic circle was engraved with elaborate scriptures.

     A large amount of soaring stardust swirled around Hirune, waiting for its turn to act.

 (Please ......!)

　When Hirune opened her eyes, the magic circle shone brightly and stardust enveloped the jewelry apple.

　The holy magic of healing went to the tree and then dove into the ground. As the soil rejoiced, it spewed out air bubbles as if it was rejoicing and the color changed to a darker shade.

"Oh, the fruit!"

“It's growing so fast!"

　The jewelry apple moved roughly, and as if in fast forward, leaves grew, branches extended, and fruit began to appear.

　The way it grew from the size of a cherry to the size of an apple at once is a mystery to the world.

　A number of ripe red fruits were illuminated by the Holy Magic, and the branches sank under their weight.

(It's all right now ......, isn't it?)

　Feeling a certain pulsation of life, Hirune stopped the magic.

　The magic circle that had completed its function disappeared, and the stardust disappeared into thin air.

　Jeanne and Holly saw it and rushed to Hirune with excitement.

“Hirune-sama! The fruit is already grown!”

“That’s Holy Magic on par with the Great Saints!”

“It looks like it worked. ......”

　Hirune tried to stand up, but her legs wobbled and her eyes went dark.

(That ...... I can’t put in any strength. ...... No. ...... I'm just going to ...... sleep.)

"Hirune-sama?　Hirune-sama!"

　Jeanne slipped in and took Hirune in her arms.

　Holly hurriedly looked into her face.

 "Your face is all pale. ...... You have a magic deficiency."

She let out a breath of relief.

“It's a symptom of rapid use of magic power. It often happens to untrained saint apprentices. ...... you’ll be fine after you sleep."

“I'm glad. ...... I'm glad. ......"

　Jeanne hugged Hirune, almost in tears.

“I'm going to go get Wanda. I have to report this to her. You stay here and look after Hirune!”

"Yes!"

　When Holly heard her reply, she ran to the dormitory.

　As she left, the leaves of the jewel apple rubbed together. It was as if it was saying goodbye to me.

　--"Potpourri!

　Suddenly, a red fruit fell right next to Jeanne and Hirune.

"Ah, ......."

　Jeanne picked up the fruit with her small hands and looked at the lush green jewel apple.

　A half-chipped moon could be seen hidden through the gaps between the leaves of the jewel apple. A chilly breeze blew, but Jeanne felt hot with a strange excitement, and the night breeze felt good.

“Hirune-sama ...... Jewelry Apple-san seems to be pleased as well.'

　Jeanne smiled and slowly brushed the bangs of the sleeping Hirune over her ears.

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