第１０１３堀：まだまだ見習い (Part1)
**Chapter 1013: Still an Apprentice**
**Side: Enola**
"Waaaaah!"
She clung to me, letting out a sob that sounded suspiciously performative.
"...Enola. What happened to Lady Hairen?"
"How should I know?"
Yes, the one currently clinging to me and crying is none other than Lady Hairen, the supposed main deity of our Haire Church.
"For starters, how did things end up like this?"
"I don't know, it was just a normal day today, wasn't it?"
I had been performing my usual duties at the Haire Church in Weed since the morning. When the time for morning confession arrived, I waited to see if anyone would come to repent or confess their sins, but for some reason, Lady Hairen walked into the confessional.
I was a bit confused about what was happening, but the moment I started listening to her, she ended up in this state.
"I really have no idea what the reason is."
"Yeah. But usually, Lady Hairen is busy with her duties at the Lilishe Church at this hour, so let’s try contacting Lady Lilishe. She might know something."
"That’s a good idea. Wait, what about lunch?"
That’s right. Lady Hairen’s situation is important, but I had plans to have lunch with Kagura and the others today.
Just as I remembered today’s plans, Mikos and Solo, who were supposed to join us for lunch, arrived.
"Yahoo! Kagura, Enola, sorry to keep you waiting! ...Hm?"
"Sorry for the wait. Wait, what’s going on?"
The moment they saw us, they tilted their heads in confusion, just as I had expected.
"What’s wrong with Lady Hairen?"
"Did something happen to Lady Hairen?"
They asked the same question as Kagura.
"I don't know. We’ll just go in circles talking here. And it’s lunch break at the Lilishe Church right now... For now, let’s just take her to get something to eat."
"...That’s true. Let’s hear what she has to say while we eat. Come on, Lady Hairen. Shall we go get some lunch?"
"Sniff... Hm, food?"
Oh, she stopped crying.
Honestly, for a goddess, she’s so simple-minded.
Well, it’s a hassle if she starts crying again because I said the wrong thing, so I signaled Kagura and Mikos to push the issue.
"Yes, it’s lunchtime. What would you like to eat?"
"What? Something delicious..."
"In that case, Mikos-chan recommends this! There’s an article about enjoying some yakiniku for lunch!"
Mikos pulled out a flyer for a newly opened all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurant from somewhere—I have no idea where she was hiding it—and showed it to Lady Hairen.
"...Domestic Weed Beef, exquisite Dragon meat! And all-you-can-eat parfaits too!!"
"Yes, exactly! It’s all-you-can-eat, including dessert!"
"Alright! Let’s go! I’m starving after crying so much!"
Good grief. I offered a wry smile at Lady Hairen, who had instantly recovered once food was dangled in front of her, and we headed off to the yakiniku restaurant.
*Sizzle...*
The smell of meat grilling was wonderful.
"Come to think of it, weren't we at a yakitori place just the other day?"
"We were. Well, that was a face-to-face meeting for the New Continent members, so it was partly work."
"That’s right."
"Eh? Something like that happened? I haven't heard anything about that!?"
"Heh, a yakitori place, huh? Let’s go sometime. Oh, it’s cooked. Mmm! Delicious!"
It seems Lady Hairen’s mood has completely returned to normal. She’s eating the yakiniku with gusto.
Still, if I try to ask about what happened earlier, she might revert to her previous state... so for now, I’ll just keep her in a good mood with some small talk.
"Do you like yakitori too, Lady Hairen?"
"Yes, I do. I go to eat with Lady Lilishe and Lady Hifie."
" " "Ohhh." " "
Unlike Kagura and the others who were nodding in understanding, I was the only one inwardly shaken by my main deity’s words.
Technically, the Haire Church doctrine includes abstinence from alcohol to train oneself... well, it’s not exactly a forbidden taboo, and some people drink, so I suppose it’s fine.
However, if it were known that the goddess herself takes the initiative to go to taverns and drink, it would certainly send shockwaves through the entire Haire Church.
If things went poorly, some fools might start claiming that since it’s the goddess’s will, drinking alcohol is actually a form of ascetic training.
So, I’ll just pretend I didn't hear that.
To begin with, the fact that the goddess of the Haire Church is helping out a priestess of the Lilishe Church—even if the person inside is also a goddess—is already a bit of a strange situation...
"Lady Lilishe and Lady Hifie are a bit surprising, but Lady Luna makes sense, doesn't she?"
"It might sound disrespectful, but honestly, it suits her perfectly. Lady Luna, that is."
"Ahaha. But she’s a very friendly and nice person."
Following Mikos’s comment, the conversation shifted to Lady Luna.
Indeed, as the three of them said, Lady Lilishe and Lady Hifie are a bit unexpected, but there’s no problem with Lady Luna frequenting a tavern.
In fact, it feels completely natural, with no sense of incongruity. It’s as if she were a long-time resident.
We were just having idle chatter, but then...
"...That’s right. Lady Luna. Lady Luna... *sob, sob*"
Wait, is she starting to cry again!?
Does this mean there was some kind of trouble involving Lady Luna!?
If that’s the case, isn't that a massive problem that we have absolutely no way of handling...?
Just as I was anticipating such a terrifying development, a voice called out from the aisle.
"Oh my, I thought I saw a familiar face crying. Hairen, are you still worrying about yesterday?"
"Now, now, Dressa. It was an important matter for Lady Hairen, you know."
"Big Sister Hairen. Lady Luna told you that you lacked training, and while she told Hiiro and the others the duration of the barrier's effect, she didn't tell you, right?"
"Waaaaah!"
With Dressa’s merciless exposure of yesterday’s events, Lady Hairen started crying again.
Wow. But I have no idea how to comfort someone who was told they lack training by Lady Luna.
Kagura and the others seemed to be in the same boat, just frozen and looking at each other, but Dressa and the others didn't seem particularly concerned.
"Yes, yes. Stop it, you’re bothering the people around you. That kind of behavior is exactly why you’re told you lack training. You want to be relied upon more than Yuki, don't you?"
"Ugh! That’s right! I will absolutely become a magnificent goddess who is more reliable than Yuki!"
"Then, you shouldn't be crying just because you were pointed out for lacking training."
"Ugh!? Th-that is..."
"Big Brother wouldn't care about something like that. Big Sister Hairen should do the same."
"...That’s true. There’s no point in being impatient."
Finally calmed down by the three of them, Lady Hairen settled down.
Phew, that was a real relief. If she had kept crying like that, there would have been nothing we could do.
"Say, Dressa. If you know the circumstances, will you tell us?"
"Yeah, sure. Let’s sit at the next table."
"Yes."
"Yay. Yakiniku."
Oh, right. We are at a yakiniku restaurant.
Of course, the three of them came here to have lunch too.
Once they finished ordering, Dressa spoke up again.
"Regarding why Hairen is crying, you know that Yuki and we went outside last night, right?"
"Ah, that happened. You were back quite late, was that a dangerous contact? Mikos-chan is actually more curious about that."