Attack and Defense

Even though it was on its way to a spring prayer ceremony, the only people using the carriage were the gray priests, gray shrine maidens, and private chefs.

“I heard that we would meet up before entering the Gibe’s mansion today, but isn’t it about time?”

I looked up at the blue sky from the carriage window, but I couldn’t see the Highbeasts that Sister Myne and the others were riding.

It seems that there is a Gibe who they don’t want knowing that they have been using Highbeasts to travel, so they sometimes ride in the horse-drawn carriage.

“It seems more convenient to use flying animals, which means that the nobles do not often ride in the carriage. But that means we do not see them for long periods of time. I’m glad about it because meeting face to face makes me nervous.”

“It’s wouldn’t be nice if all the nobles rode in the carriage, just seeing each other when getting on and off the carriage makes me super nervous.”

Personal chefs Hugo and Ella both scrunch up their faces at the thought. Throughout this spring prayer we have been traveling by horse drawn carriages, Sister Myne is often invited to a meeting with the blue priests in their carriage so the number of times she rides with us is somewhat small, but as this is the first spring prayer since they became Sister Mynes personal chefs that they are participating. Meaning Hugo and Ella, don’t seem to realize

Fran and I couldn’t help but look at each other.

“Among the blue priests, only the high priest can use a highbeast, religious ceremonies are performed by blue priests and blue shrine maidens, so no one goes to the same place, so in a traditional spring prayer, the master is always present in the carriage.”

When I said that, Hugo and Ella widened their eyes and said, “Huh?” Fran explains to the two chefs, who, like Sister Myne, don’t know the common sense of the temple.

“This time, since Sister Myne is underaged and this is her first Spring Prayer, she is being accompanied by the High Priest and a blue priest. Normally, there is one blue priest, and several gray priests and gray shrine maidens that serve alongside them that attend the ceremony.”

Originally, underage Apprentice Blue Shrine Maidens would not be permitted to participate in spring prayer. This time however Sister Mynes is obligated to attend, despite being a commoner living in the lower city, as she was permitted to wear the blue robes of a noble due to her having a lot of mana.

…I heard that the High Bishop is harassing Sister Myne by making her visit all of the different locations for spring prayer herself.

I was told that the High Priest and another blue priest are accompanying Sister Myne in order to guide her. As it is her first religious ceremony they will assist her, and take her place in case she becomes unwell.

Honestly, if they are willing to take her place, I think it would have been a good idea to split up from the start, and I think it would have been sufficient if someone simply took her place, such as the High Priest.

I don’t really understand why the blue priest who suddenly decided to accompany us is even here. Perhaps Fran, who was originally an attendant of his, received an explanation from the High Priest, but I received no explanation at all.

While I was grumbling to myself, Fran continued to explain things to the two chefs.

“The decision to travel by highbeast rather than horse-drawn carriage was made only because Sister Myne complained to the high priest that it was difficult for her to travel by carriage for long periods of time due to her health. Please keep in mind that spring prayer being conducted like this is rather rare.”

“Heh…, the High Priest always looks scary, but he’s surprisingly kind. This is the first time I’ve heard that.”

I couldn’t help but tilt my head at Ella’s comment. I think she is being a little too honest.

…I’m sure it wasn’t a mistake that we decided to travel by highbeast based on Sister Mynes request, but wasn’t it assumed that we would travel by horse-drawn carriage until just moments before our departure? There’s also the blue priest who suddenly decided to accompany us, and the High Priest is definitely planning something.

“Normally, blue priests and blue shrine maidens also travel by horse-drawn carriage, so they cannot visit multiple towns and villages in a single day. Since some locations are far away from each other, we sometimes have to stay overnight along the way. Many masters become overbearing because they get tired from riding in a horse-drawn carriage all the time.”

“Seriously…?”

“Even the private chefs seemed to have an equally hard time. Even though they had to prepare meals in poorly equipped places, they were often criticized by their masters for the food not tasting good, and if when they arrived at their lodgings at the same time as the master, They scolded for not having the food ready…”

“Uhi! Scary!”

“That’s far too overbearing!”

Hugo and Ella are shaking, but this is what happens. Not only do blue priests and blue shrine maidens think that food should be prepared whenever they want it, but they also tend to get angry because they get tired and irritated in the carriage on route to the prayer ceremony.

“Since they are using Highbeasts this time, the master spends far less time using the carriage, and since we have permission to move to our nights accommodation first, we can prepare for their arrival in advance. Above all, Sister Myne shows an understanding for her attendants and the work of commoners, so I feel much more at ease.”

…If it was a traditional blue priest or blue shrine maiden, they would have far more attendants with them, so the personal chefs would never ride in the same carriage, but Sister Myne doesn’t understand.

This time, Sister Myne is riding a highbeast or in a carriage with the nobles, but if she starts performing ceremonies alone in the future, there is a possibility that she will ride with her personal chefs, Hugo and Ella, as there will be less attendants and luggage to accompany her.

Traditionally, apprentice Blue Shrine Maidens were told to only carry their favorite attendants in their carriage, and commoners like personal chefs were told to ride in one corner of the luggage carriage. The comfort between the two horse-drawn carriages is different, but which one would be more comfortable for the two of you?

“I was surprised when I was ordered to cook in a strange way, but I’m glad my employer is understanding…Woh!”

“Kyaa!”

Just as everything around us began to get dark, the carriage shook violently and came to a sudden stop. The outside of the window is unnaturally dark. The blue sky and green forest that I had been able to see until now were only faintly visible behind the vague black haze. This is clearly an abnormal situation.

“What happened?”

When Fran calls out to the gray priest who is serving as the driver, his panicked echoes inside the carriage.

“We were suddenly surrounded by a black mist that seemed to be alive! Please use the magic tool to save us!”

“You as well, please come inside!”

As the number of drivers entering increases, the inside of the carriage will become very cramped, but there is no other way for them to avoid danger.

Fran began to unlock the door to let the coachman in. I grab a special hammer to activate the emergency magic tool on the carriage.

“Nngh!”

“It’s dangerous! Give it to me!”

Hugo snatches the hammer from my hand, because it is too heavy for me to hold properly, and swings it at the magic tool. There was a loud sound and a red light rose into the sky from the magic tool.

“It was about time for us to join up, so I think the priests will notice the light calling for aid.”

After saying that Fran locked the door once all the coachmen had evacuated, and began to look out the window. I too look outside.

It’s very hard to see our surroundings because it’s covered in a black mist, but I can see people running towards us carrying something.

Considering the direction they are coming from, I guess they were hiding in the forest. Their target is most definitely us.

“…weapons?!”

“They are farming tools. There is no doubt they are here to cause trouble by the way they are swinging it up and running at us.”

“I haven’t heard of anyone ever attacking the carriages of nobles or priests performing religious ceremonies…What should you do in a situation like this?”

With a confused look on her face and her voice raised, Ella asked for our opinion. Fran looks out the window once and then lowers his eyes.

“We have no choice but to stay here. This black mist is probably also created by the enemy to restrict our movements. It may have been a different matter if Sister Myne was on board, but when you weigh the lives of farmers and the gray priests, the priority is to those who grow crops, the farmers who pay taxes. I hate to say it but the chances of us being saved are extremely low.”

“No way…”

Silence spread inside the carriage as Fran muttered his words as if she had already given up. Even if we got out of the carriage and tried to fight, we were severely outnumbered.

There are no usable weapons in here either. There was no chance of us winning from the beginning.

I could see people rushing towards the carriage with their weapons raised. Just when I thought it was all over, for some reason they were all blown away.

“Huh…?”

“What was that…?”

The farmers running towards us on the other side of the black mist are being blown away by something.

“Maybe this black mist is meant to protect us?”

“No. I don’t think it was meant to protect us. It was certainly meant to stop us. Besides, it looks like they are being repelled from behind the mist.”

The driver objected. However, visibility was poor due to the black mist, so it was difficult to see what was really going on.

As I looked outside, frowning, I saw a bright light outside the window. Immediately after that, there was a loud crashing sound that sounded like a big explosion.

“Kyaa!”

“What is it this time?”

I instinctively closed my eyes and braced my body. However, the carriage didn’t move or shake at all.

Curious, I slowly opened my eyes to find Hugo and Ella staring outside with their eyes glued to the window in amazement.

“The forest disappeared…?”

“The trees are gone!”

I too look out the window. As they had said, the forest had really disappeared. The shadows of the trees that were supposed to be on the other side of the black mist had all disappeared in an instant.

“What’s going on outside?”

I sympathized with the coachman’s murmurings, but as I looked outside in a daze, the black mist suddenly disappeared. The blue sky expands, and it becomes clear that the forest has disappeared, and the scenery has changed considerably.

”…High Priest”

It seems that the High Priest was the one who erased the black mist. The person being held in his arms is Sister Myne, who seems to have lost consciousness. Fran quickly unlocks the door and gets out of the carriage.

“High Priest, what happened?”

“She tried to save you all and did something extremely reckless to protect the carriage.” The High Priest told us what had happened in an exasperated voice. She prayed to Schutzaria, the goddess of wind, and created a shield outside the black mist to protect us from the attacking farmers.

“We’re going to conduct an on-site inspection, so please take Myne with you and head to the Gibe’s mansion first.”

“Sister Myne…” Fran, who received Sister Myne from the High Priest, asked how our master, who had lost consciousness and looked pale, should be treated.

“She used too much mana to create the wind shield over such a wide area. I have already given her first aid. She will wake up once her mana has recovered to a certain extent. Just let her sleep.

I will administer the recovery potion after she wakes up.”

“I understand”

We departed first, passing by the carriages of the priests conducting the on-site inspections. As soon as we arrived at the Gibe’s mansion’s side building, everyone began to move.

“Hugo, Ella. Please prepare food so that Sister Myne can eat as soon as she wakes up.”

“Okay, I’ll make something that’s easy to digest.”

“Leave it to us. Please take care of Sister Myne.”

Holding boxes of ingredients, Hugo and Ella take on the task with smiles on their faces. With Sister Myne lying in the carriage, I split up with Fran and set up a bed in her room, and immediately carried Sister Myne to her room. Hair ornaments, decorative cords, obi, etc. are all removed, and her ceremonial clothing is also removed.

“If you just take off the ceremonial robe, she will be able to sleep, right?”

“Yes it will be fine. Please carry her to the bed.”

Sister Myne is also wearing clothes under her ceremonial robe, but Fran, a male, is not allowed to take them off, and it is a little difficult for me to do it by myself.

Fran carries her to the bed, and I take off her shoes.

“I will carry in the rest of the luggage. Rosina, please stay with Sister Myne.”

“As you wish”

I keep an eye on her while cleaning up the scattered clothes and decorations, as well as the luggage being brought in.

How much time has passed? By the time she slowly opened her eyes, it was already dark outside.

“Sister Myne, have you awoken?”

She finally woke up. When I let out a breath of relief, she slowly tried to sit up. Immediately after, her head falls back onto the pillow.

“Are you okay, Rosina? Is everyone else okay? Were any of you harmed or put through any suffering?”

“You mustn’t move so suddenly. You pushed yourself dangerously far to protect the carriages from harm, correct? The High Priest was quite exasperated with you.”

…You don’t have to worry about us in such a situation!

I swallowed down the feeling of wanting to scold her. Because what makes me happy is knowing that she cares about me.

There is no doubt about it, and if Sister Myne hadn’t been so reckless, we wouldn’t have been saved. I don’t have the right to scold her right now.

“You suffered the most, Sister Myne. Only you fell unconscious, and went cold to the touch. You wouldn’t stop trembling,”

Even though I didn’t expect her to protect us, I was happy that she decided to do her best to protect us, and I was also worried that she had acted so recklessly that she lost consciousness, knowing that I didn’t feel like getting angry. I could understand the High Priest’s feeling of being exasperated.

Sister Myne probably hasn’t recovered yet. After talking for a while, she begins to doze off again. I gently put the cover back over her.

“We were only saved because of you, Sister Myne. I thank you ever so much.”