Richelieu smiled sweetly. "Commander, shall we pause the introduction to the cathedral here?"
"Ah? Oh… okay." Levi forced himself to respond.
What he hadn't expected was that Richelieu had actually given him a full forty-minute lesson.
Levi felt a strange sense of déjà vu, like he'd been transported back to his school days.
Except now, Richelieu wasn't the Cardinal of Iris—she was a sultry female teacher.
A teacher…
Levi watched as Richelieu stepped close and lightly pressed her lips to his.
Being kissed by a stunning, sexy teacher…
"Commander?" "Commander~"
"Ah, sorry." Levi shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Sorry, I'm just a bit tired."
He wasn't in a school classroom—he was in the world of Azur Lane.
And standing before him wasn't a teacher, but a shipgirl.
…Someday, he thought, he might try seeking out a few shipgirls who liked playing teacher, just to fulfill a tiny dream from his school days.
Though, of course, he couldn't say that out loud. Otherwise, the whole port would be full of teachers by tomorrow.
"Hehe…" Richelieu smiled softly. "Even if Iris shipgirls were to give this lesson, it might feel a little dry. With a commander like you juggling so many tasks, feeling tired is only natural."
"Mm…" Levi carefully followed her lead down this gentle path. "Where were we?"
"Where I teach you how to pray~"
Levi braced himself. He knew this was coming.
"During prayer, you can stand, sit, or even kneel," Richelieu said softly. "Commander, since you've been so busy, shall we stick with the seated position?"
"Sure."
Levi nodded. Kneeling felt uncomfortable; sitting was perfect.
Richelieu rolled a soft cushion in front of them. "As for me, I'll demonstrate the kneeling posture for you."
Levi sat on the sofa, noticing the height difference between them, and a faint unease crept in. "Even a Cardinal has to kneel?"
"Even a Pope can kneel while praying," Richelieu said with a smile. "I'm just showing you an example—besides, kneeling before my Commander is no trouble at all~"
Of course it isn't…
Maybe it's even your favorite position… Levi thought wryly.
He tuned out the teasing and listened as Richelieu continued:
"Next is hand position. Usually, you either clasp your hands together or open your palms upward—one represents acceptance, the other, offering~"
"As your shipgirl, I should dedicate everything to my Commander, so I'll use the clasped-hand gesture of offering."
"And since my Commander must accept my offering, you will open your palms upward~"
Richelieu carefully instructed Levi on the correct posture, correcting his hands with precise, almost ceremonial movements, looking like a pure, devoted Cardinal.
Yet Levi's previous sense of… suspicion… only grew stronger.
This position…
Is this really a prayer posture?
Especially with the two of them together…
It felt more like…
"Now, close your eyes and begin your prayer~" Richelieu's eyes closed, and she whispered softly.
Levi didn't catch her words.
It was probably something simple—wishing for his health and well-being.
…And yet, he felt it.
In this world, where the fusion of intellect and shipgirl tech was so advanced, even prayer could have tangible effects—it wasn't strange at all.
"Since this is just a demonstration for you, Commander, we'll skip this part and move on to the next."
Richelieu's smile widened.
"Next comes meditation and silent reflection. Typically, this lasts at least three minutes; sometimes up to ten or more."
"Commander, why not give it a try?"
Meditation alone… that should be fine, right?
Everyone else closes their eyes in calm reflection; there's no way I can lose here!
I refuse!
Levi obediently closed his eyes.
He held the posture Richelieu had taught him, completely still.
"Now, Commander, I will guide your meditation. Remember—do not open your eyes, okay?"
Richelieu's voice whispered at his ear, and Levi realized just how close she had moved.
"If you open your eyes, something very scary will happen~"
Very scary…
Levi shivered instinctively.
Then a thought hit him.
There were only two people in this small room, and the door was locked from inside. If the "Cardinal in red" decided to pin him down… he wouldn't be able to do anything.
…Well, he could.
If it really came to it, Levi had confidence in himself.
But then the mission reward would be gone!
Steeling his resolve, he decided not to give Richelieu any chance.
"Now, imagine that a very heavy object appears in your hands," Richelieu murmured in his ear.
Levi felt the Cardinal's scent brush against him, making his ears tingle.
He tried to ignore the distractions and focused on her instructions, curious to see what this "meditation" was really about.
"In your left hand, there is a very heavy object… it represents your past mistakes…"
Richelieu's voice became solemn, almost as if she were truly the Cardinal.
…Wait, she is the Cardinal!
It was just that Levi had been anticipating a different kind of attack from her, and this thought was ridiculous in contrast.
Past mistakes?
I haven't really made any…
The only "mistake" would be giving in to the shipgirls' temptations.
But that was their fault, not mine.
As his mind raced, Levi truly felt a weight appear in his left hand.
Levi: !
Not only weight—he could sense a shape, faintly spherical…
And even temperature—not as warm as his own, but close…
He instinctively pinched it with his fingers.
Nothing special.
A bit like dough.
This is supposed to represent my past mistakes?
…Quite tangible, actually.
Richelieu's voice shifted to his other ear.
"…In your right hand, there is also a heavy object—it represents the good deeds you've done…"
Levi sank further into Richelieu's guidance.
…Good deeds I've done…
There were too many to count.
Buying skins for the shipgirls so they could dress comfortably in all seasons.
Using his warmth to equally care for every shipgirl in the port, making sure no one felt neglected.