Chapter 2: I want to provide hospitality

“Hirune. Did you use purification magic?”

　Looking up at the scattered stardust, Saint Holly came into the dining room and sat down in front of Hirune.

　Holly is a talented saint of the same age as Hirune, a beautiful girl with long slit eyes and light blue twin-tail hair as her trademark.

　Holly plays the leading role in many of the songs sung by bards, and she is popular among the townsfolk as the saint who supports the great saint. Since it is difficult to imitate Hirune’s waist-length hairstyle, townsfolk and village girls copied Holly’s hairstyle, and it seems that it has become a trend throughout the south.

　Holly gave her a hard look and shrugged.

“Don’t waste so much purification magic. Wanda-sama just told you that last week.”

　Holly spoke in a rather harsh tone, but Hirune didn’t seem to mind and just stuffed a bite of fluffy toasted bread into her mouth.

“Holly is so kind. You’re worried about me, aren’t you? Thank you as always.”

　When Hirune smiled brightly with breadcrumbs stuck to the corners of her mouth, Holly quickly looked away.

“It’s not like… that’s what I meant.  I just mean that you always act on the spur of the moment and it’s …… annoying.”

“I see.”

　Hirune laughs, and Jeanne adds with a smile, “Holly-sama has long been concerned that Hirune-sama might be using holy magic too much.”

　Holly pouted, looking away even more.

“I told you it wasn’t like that.”

“Holly, let’s have breakfast together.”

　Hirune looked at Holly, whose ears were red, then looked at Jeanne with a smile.

　Jeanne, not needing to be told, took over as waitress and quickly prepared breakfast for Holly.

　“All I’m trying to say is that Hirune is unserious ……,” Holly muttered to herself and looked down at her breakfast. Then she began to eat to hide her embarrassment.

(Thank you my lovely friend ……)

　Hirune silently thanked the friends he had made in this world, Holly and Jeanne, and feasted on a colorful breakfast that was a stark difference from the simple fare she had eaten before.

　As breakfast was coming to an end, with Jeanne serving them attentively, the three were greeted by their instructor, Wanda.

　She’s the type of person who does not smile much and is strict with herself and others.

　The figure walking silently looks like dignity Impersonified. As a former saint, she is well known in the south for her ability and knowledge. 

　As Wanda stood there silently, tension ran high.

(Did I …… break some rule again?　Don’t tell me …… they know I went to the shopping district yesterday and ate a bunch of steamed potatoes before I went to bed?)

　Hirune looked up at Wanda, inwardly breaking out in a cold sweat.

“To celebrate the completion of the Great Church, Archbishop Zekyutos will be coming from the royal capital. In order not to cause worry to Archbishop Zekyutos-sama, please be sure not to cause any trouble. Understood.”

“Is Archbishop Zekyutos here?”

　Hirune recalled the image of Zekyutos, a tough-looking man with deep wrinkles set between his eyebrows.

　He was Hirune’s guardian, the one who had picked her up from sleeping on the side of the road when she was reincarnated into this world. His face is scarier than Wanda’s, and he never shows any weakness for even a moment. he does not smile more than a few times a year.

“Zekyutos-sama is always worried about Hirune. He always takes time out of his schedule to come to see you. Even though you have become a great saint, you must not be careless with him.”

“It’s been a while since I last saw him. I’m looking forward to it.”

　Hirune felt like she was meeting a relative uncle.

　Only she would say such a thing to the awe-inspiring Zekyutos 

“…… you pace yourself too much. Jeanne, Holly. Keep an eye on Hirune.”

“Yes, ma’am .”

“Yes, ma’am .”

　The serious Jeanne and Holly stood tall and nodded deeply.

“I must do something …… to entertain him, after all, he is coming to my great church”. 

　Hirune was talking to herself.

　Holly looked at her with a confused look, wondering if she was going to do something wrong again, but she didn’t say anything because she felt it would be rude to say anything in front of Wanda.

　Wanda, who had not noticed Hirune’s soliloquy, finally raised her eyebrows.

 “And Hirune. There have been numerous sightings of you in the shopping district last night. Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“Geez… ……!”

　Hirune was so taken aback that she unintentionally uttered an onomatopoeic sound, waved her hands in a panic, and opened her mouth.

“What are you talking about?　I didn’t eat any steamed sweet potatoes. Yes, not even a bite.”

“Nobody said anything about steamed sweet potatoes.”

　Wanda’s gaze intensified.

　“You dug yourself a nice grave,” Holly muttered.

“I’m sure I’ve banned you from going out at night many times. To receive a large amount of steamed potatoes from the citizens and leave a discarded line such as, “ I am a potato girl with a full belly and full of dreams.” ……The Great Saint, the representative of the Southern Branch of the Mephistopheles Order, should not behave like that… Ah… How embarrassing.”

“…I’m ashamed.”

　Hirune apologized profusely.

(Ever since the Goddess bestowed upon me this body… I’ve been acting honestly. It’s an act of inevitability…)

　She wondered if it was okay for the Great Saint to give in to her desires, but she couldn’t stop, she couldn’t stop, and gave up after two seconds.

“As a punishment, you will clean the Thousand-Sheets Corridor. You will also have to re-paste the scriptures.”

“Eeek…”

　The Thousand-Page Corridor is a long corridor with a thousand scriptures pasted on it, which is always built in Mephistophelian churches. It was believed to be used as a corridor for the goddess to come to the real world.

　Wanda glanced at Jeanne and gave a slight nod.

　Punishment for Hirune was meant as a warning, but since the peace of the southern city rests on her small shoulders, it was a wink that said it was OK for her to help.

　Jeanne nodded as she understood the intent.

“Then, until Zekyutos-sama arrives, I will check your attitude more strictly than ever before. Be prepared for that.”

“I understand.”

　Hirune nodded obediently and watched Wanda leave the dining hall before plopping down on the table.

“I’m in trouble. …… It seems that someone has tipped them off that I’m going out to the shopping district before bed. I must find the snitch.”

“You, you stand out even in disguise.”

　Holly calmly retorted.

“Hmm… I don’t think that’s the case. I’ve erased the aura of being a great saint, though…”

　Anyone who looks at her luxurious blond hair and her face, which is as well-dressed as an exquisite work of art, would know that she is the Great Saint. Hirune seems to think she was In a good disguise.

“Hirune-sama, that’s indecent.”

　Jeanne gently takes Hirune by the shoulders and wakes her up.

“Zekyutos-sama’s coming? I’m looking forward to it.”

　The easygoing Hirune switched the subject, and Holly’s face grew tense at her words.

“I’m a bit scared. I respect him and I’d like to meet him, but he’s so …… dignified that I’m a little intimidated.”

“I’m scared too.”

　Jeanne looks at Holly and nods her head.

“You’re right, his face is scary. Maybe he’s just tired.”

(I see… I’ll treat him to something that will help him recover from her physical and mental fatigue. Hmm… what should I do? It’s not much of a show to just use holy magic…)

　Hirune’s thoughts drifted away and she idly looked up at the ceiling.

　

“…I don’t think so.”

“I think it is.”

　Holly and Jeanne looked at Hirune, who was happily thinking about something, and thought it was a big deal after all.

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