A Monster That Cannot Pray

Three days had passed since we started our journey.

“Ugh… my legs hurt.”

The beginning of a journey to gather allies who would recognize me as human over the course of a year.

“We’re almost there, so hang in there a little longer.”

“Old man… how many times have you said that now…?”

“Ahaha. This time we’re really almost there, so don’t be like that, Frey.”

Due to Bernard’s words that indulging my childish whims too much would spoil me, it was turning into a march of hardship.

“This kind of journey only has meaning if you walk it with your own feet.”

It seems my expression had given me away again. Bernard patted my shoulder, telling me to hang in there.

“Really, you’re the one who’s most concerned while pretending not to be.”

“Shut up. You’ve been subtly standing behind Frey this whole time.”

Only then could I understand. That I was always in these two people’s sight. While walking, preparing meals, and even when sleeping. One of them was always by my side, watching over me.

Squeeze―.

Once again, my chest tightened. A sensation that was painfully ticklish and ticklishly painful.

I wondered if something might be wrong, as this had been happening frequently lately.

“What’s wrong, Frey? Does something hurt?”

“Does your chest hurt?”

Seeing these two people making a fuss just because I put my hand on my chest, I felt like it might be okay somehow.

“Mm-mm. It’s nothing. I’m just a little out of breath.”

“If anything starts hurting, you must tell us.”

“You don’t need to worry about us, but if any problem arises, make sure to tell us. Okay?”

I nodded with a forced smile to reassure the two who had come closer to ask again.

“Phew.”

I took a deep breath and started moving my legs.

So, whether Bernard’s words that we were really almost there this time were true… the city gate came into view not long after.

“Oh, ooh… Finally….”

Even though only three days had passed.

The city lights coming into view were so welcome that I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“Pfft.”

“Hehe.”

At the same time, hearing laughter erupting from in front and behind me.

“What? Can’t a person express some admiration, why are you laughing!”

It was the moment I shouted, feeling embarrassed for no reason.

My eyes caught Bernard’s finger pointing somewhere while he held his mouth tightly with one hand and shook with suppressed laughter.

“No, there’s something on my chest… that…”

Wondering what on earth they had seen to be holding back laughter like that, as if about to choke, I slowly lowered my head.

Flap flap flap!

“…What’s this?”

I could see my two lower arms flapping about freely, as if they were excited children.

“Hey, hey! Stop! I said stop!”

In the end, I had to restrain my lower arms, which were flailing about regardless of my will, by grabbing them with my upper arms.

Like when Bernard was holding me down in bed before, maybe because they’re body parts that weren’t originally there, they don’t seem to be well-controlled by my will.

Anyway, after forcibly drooping my lower arms, which were still resisting as if they hadn’t moved enough.

“……”

I quietly looked at the two clergy who had fallen face-down around me, pounding the ground with laughter.

“This is driving me crazy, really.”

* * *

10 minutes later.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Shouldn’t clergy act like they didn’t see anything and just comfort me at times like this? As expected of pseudo-priests.

“It’s too late to pretend nothing happened, it seems we’ve both earned some resentment. Me and the senior.”

Alice is the same. Trying to comfort me now after laughing along?

“……”

So, with my lips pursed. Making sure my lower arms wouldn’t rebel again, I tightly gripped my veil.

“…Are you done laughing?”

I called out to Bernard, who was tightly pinching his thigh, and Alice, who was just scratching her head with an awkward face.

“Let’s go quickly. I’m hungry.”

Anyway, it was clear that if we continued to argue about this topic, it would all come back to me in the end… So this was my strategy to change the subject as quickly as possible.

Growl…!

And actually, my stomach was starting to signal me too.

“…Right. Let’s go quickly.”

Fortunately, it seemed this method worked. Bernard took the lead again, patting my head.

“I’m sorry, Frey. I didn’t mean to laugh that much, but it was just too cute.”

Alice, too, having now understood what it meant when I said I was hungry. She quietly stood behind me, putting her hand on my shoulder and gently apologizing while kneading it.

“…It’s fine, so can you stop talking about that? Alice?”

“Hehe. Alright.”

So, avoiding Alice who was trying to pat my head teasingly, I ran over to stand beside Bernard.

“Frey.”

“Yeah?”

I looked up at Bernard, who called my name as if he had been waiting for me to stand beside him.

“From now on, if anyone asks if your identity is real, show them the pendant I gave you.”

“This?”

“Yes. It’s proof that you’re officially a baptized member of the church.”

With those words, he reached into his chest and pulled out a pendant that looked exactly like the one hanging around my neck.

“Got it?”

“Yeah.”

I’m not sure how they can determine the authenticity of one’s identity just by showing a pendant, but well… I guess I’ll find out when the time comes.

So, a little while later.

“Please stop. Only authorized people can enter and exit the city.”

We, who had arrived at the entrance of a city that looked about the same size as Yulentina, responded to the guards’ inspection to get permission to enter the city.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Bernard stepped forward first as our representative, slightly lifting his cloak to show his priest’s robe.

“Ah. You’re priests.”

I could feel the guards’ tense atmosphere, which had been on edge at the sight of unfamiliar outsiders, softening.

“What brings you to Arkan?”

“We’re traveling to broaden this child’s horizons.”

I bowed my head as I heard Bernard’s voice, his hand on my back.

“Haha. What a cute little nun. But, her eyes…?”

The guard asked in a slightly suspicious voice, noticing that I had my eyes closed and was wrapped in a veil despite supposedly being here to broaden my horizons.

“Actually, the child has some trouble with her eyes…”

Then, as if Bernard had taken something out from his chest, I heard a rustling sound right next to me.

“…I see you’re citizens of Yulentina. Confirmed. Welcome to Arkan, little nun.”

Soon after, the guard spoke to me in a kind voice, unlike before.

“Th-thank you.”

I was really curious about what he had shown them, but… I couldn’t open my eyes here.

“Then, are you two priests also from Yulentina… Ah.”

Ah? What’s with the sudden ‘Ah’? What on earth are you doing behind me?

“I apologize. Please come in.”

“Thank you. May the blessing of the warm flame be with you.”

So, as we entered the city, guided by the guard who had become extremely polite unlike at first.

“…Old man. What did you show them earlier?”

I carefully grabbed the hem of Bernard’s cloak as he strode ahead and asked.

“Huh? It’s nothing special. Just your citizen card and our identity proof.”

“Citizen card? I don’t remember receiving anything like that.”

“Of course you don’t. Because I never gave it to you.”

Wait, why do you have my citizen card?

“Frey, think about it. How would it look if someone with eye troubles took out and showed their citizen card when asked?”

“…Ah.”

I understood. That it’s much more natural for Bernard, who is treated as my guardian outwardly, to have it.

“Then, what did Alice and you show that suddenly changed their attitude?”

“That… I’ll show you later at the inn.”

So, after nodding at Alice’s words that it wasn’t something that could be shown on the main street like this.

“By the way, Alice? Doesn’t it smell a bit strange here?”

I tilted my head at the unidentified heavy smell mixed with the hot wind that had been blowing for a while.

“You can look forward to it, Frey. The city we’ve come to today, Arkan… is actually famous for its hot springs.”

Alice added in a voice that seemed quite excited, unlike usual.

“…Hot springs.”

“It’s a spring made from hot water that gushes from the ground. You’ll get addicted once you soak in it.”

“Senior. That’s too much like an old man… Ah, well, it’s not wrong.”

“What, you brat? I know you visit frequently too, saying it’s good for your skin.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

Apparently, the two thought I didn’t know about hot springs… They started bickering with excited voices as if trying to explain hot springs to me.

By the way, hot springs, huh… Hmm. Hot springs, I see.

“I’ve sent someone ahead to reserve an inn with a private hot spring, so let’s go in together after we unpack. Is that okay, Frey?”

Instead of answering, I quietly nodded.

…Yeah. I think it’s safe since I’m in the body of a young girl now.