"—What?! < > has been defeated?!"ExterminatorGrim Reaper
In the heart of the holy city of Granflose stands the cathedral, which could be called the central institution of the organization under which Wolka is currently being cared for. It boasts a magnificent and awe-inspiring appearance that is no less impressive than the royal castle, a symbol of the glory of the capital city, and truly overwhelms those who visit it .Holy ChurchKriscleshemosquitosolemnShingen
That makes sense. Because this cathedral is also a sanctuary where the four saints who reign supreme in the holy city—in other words, the incarnations of God—live.
If you can deceive the eyes of over a hundred devout worshippers, slip past the watchful eyes of the formidable knight order that misses not a single rat, and finally defeat the three most skilled holy knights in the holy city, you will be able to step into the sanctuary where the incarnations of God reside.
Just now, a loud voice, far from that of a saint, rang out from that room.
"Whoa, seriously? It's been years since we successfully defeated this guy. Oh yeah, last time it was those bastards from the royal capital. They taunted us for a while saying we couldn't do the same in the holy city, I wish they'd all just die."Seven Flower Law CodeSevens
Speaking in a manner far removed from that of a saint, a young girl was half-excitedly reading a certain report. The magnificent and splendid liturgical robes that loosely covered her entire slender body indicated that she held an extremely high position in < >. At the center of the tiara adorning her pure white hair was an intricate emblem featuring a snowflake.Holy ChurchKriscles
The snow girl continued, showing her teeth in a grin that was far from saintly,
"And to top it all off, it was an A-rank party that defeated it... Wow, our adventurers are pretty capable too. Alright, I'll get back at those bastards later. ...Hey, did you hear that,
"Yes. I'm surprised... It's been four years since we defeated the Seven Flowers Codex."
Beside the Snow Girl stands another girl, known as the "Heavenly Sword." She too is clad in a magnificent, flawless ceremonial robe, and a sword-shaped emblem adorns the center of her tiara. Compared to the Snow Girl, her demeanor exudes a dignity and purity befitting a saint.
"There's no need to address those guys with honorifics. After all, it took seven of us to finally defeat a monster that even our A-rank members could handle, and now they're acting all cocky."
"Lady Hakua, the Life-Sacrificing One is not a monster that an ordinary person can defeat..."
"Shut up, shut up, I'm definitely going to provoke you into a pulp."
The girl of the snow—that is, the one called "Chalk"—turned her eyes back to the rest of the report.
"Hmm, the party is < >, huh... Huh? Wait, what's this?"Silver-gray journeySilvery Gray
"Isn't this Lord Wolka's party?"
"Oh, Lord Wolka, you're safe...! That's a relief. It looks like we can disband the search party we formed the other day."
"I haven't formed a new group or anything like that. I rejected it right in front of your eyes, have you had your memory altered?"
"Seriously... I told you, you worry too much. You're a man, it's no big deal if you're not home for two weeks."
"To Hakua-sama"
The words of the somewhat weary "Chalk" were sharply cut off by the "Heavenly Sword."
"I once let Lord Wolka die because of that... Of course I'm worried."
"..."
"...You're pretty messed up yourself, aren't you?"
"...I am simply praying for a safe journey for Lord Wolka."
"Even Lord Wolka probably never dreamed that he would be in the good graces of a renowned saint throughout the land."
"..."
The smile that
"Alright, alright, then when he gets back, make sure you give him a big celebration. After all, defeating the
"Yes! I'd love to see a triumphal parade involving the entire holy city!"
"You're going too far, you idiot. That's exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about."
I chuckled at the fact that the Heavenly Sword had recovered its strength in an instant, and continued reading the rest of the report.
"But these 'Death-Takers,' how many dangerous dungeons have they ventured into—"
The words that were supposed to follow were abruptly withdrawn.
silence,
"Mr. Hakua?"
"...Ah, no, the name of this dungeon seems familiar. Wasn't it the one that was conquered the other day?"
"Something like that..."
"Oh, I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this."
Hakua suddenly straightened his posture and leaned slightly forward as he read the contents of the report. He turned the first page and read to the end of the second page with an intense gaze that seemed to penetrate the very back of the paper.InspectArata
"..."
He pulls his face away for a moment and takes a shallow breath, groaning, "Ss
I'll look at the report again.
He groans again with his breath.
The Heavenly Sword tilted its head.
"Mr. Hakua, what can I do for you?"
"...Hey, Heavenly Sword."
Hakua had a look on his face that could only be described as heartbreaking, as if he had stumbled upon a terrible bomb.
It wasn't the content of the report itself, but rather the expression on his face towards the "Heavenly Sword" based on that report.
"Listen, let me preface this by saying this: Listen to this calmly. Seriously, listen calmly. I'm being completely serious."
"? got it"
"You don't understand, do you?"
"Even if you say that, I am always calm..."
"Yeah, yeah, that's right, that's the kind of person you are, damn it."
There was another pause. Hakua's eyes crumpled up as she struggled, "Ah
"That Mr. Wolka, ah... he was seriously injured and lost one eye and one leg."
"--------teeth?"
"Hie"
"Hey, Heavenly Sword, I understand how you feel. I know you can't just sit around like this, you probably want to fly there right now. But I don't think there's any normal person who would actually try to fly off in a second. I mean, we're not in a position to just leave the Holy City whenever we want, and it's quite far, so if we're going, we need to pack properly, right? If we don't get our food and clothes sorted out, we'll be embarrassed when we finally get to meet Lord Wolka, right? So please, just calm down for a moment, I'm begging you, if you're going, at least let us adjust our work schedules, it's really a problem if you just suddenly leave, it'll mess up our whole schedule, oh nooooo, damn it, someone stop him!!"
That day, the sanctuary in the cathedral was said to be much noisier than usual.
This happened two days ago.
/
"How is it? Does it feel strange?"
"Yes, it's disgusting."
"Hehe, everyone who wears that prosthetic leg says the same thing. Just bear with it, that's about the best prosthetic leg we can get in this little town."
I started rehabilitation.
Since it was rehabilitation, it meant practicing walking, and since it was practicing walking, it meant that the prosthetic leg to be fitted to my left leg was ready. So I immediately borrowed the rehabilitation room at the church and tried it on while receiving instructions from an elderly nun, but—
Yeah, this is awful.
Just look at it. It has a very simple and refined appearance, consisting of nothing more than a slightly thick rod attached to which the "stump"—apparently that's what they call the remaining part of the leg after it's been amputated—is inserted. I remember seeing a prosthetic leg like this in some manga or anime. Ultimately, all it needs to do is provide support for the body relative to the ground, so perhaps this cane-like form is the same in any world.jointsocket
Well, it looks good. The problem is how to attach it to the stump.
It's a slime.
...It's a slime.
The inside of the socket is coated with a slime-like material, and it seems to adhere to the skin when magic is applied to it. At first, I was very skeptical about whether something like that would work, but when I actually tried it, I was amazed by its incredible adhesive power; at least when I lightly lifted my leg, there was no sign of it coming off at all.
However, it is a slime.
It's a slime.
What I'm trying to say is—it's incredibly slimy.
"Whoa..."
"Wolka? Are you okay?"
"Ah, yes. But this...it looks like it'll take some time to get used to."
I must have looked quite grim, because my mentor is already starting to become overprotective. I know I can't let him worry just because I'm wearing a prosthetic leg, so I tell myself to stay focused and compose myself.
"Hey, Rizel, you're getting in the way, so why don't you sit over here?"
"Hmm. Rizel is a worrier."
"Ugh. But..."
Yuritia and Atori were also gathered in the rehabilitation room. I don't think it's anything particularly special to show off in front of everyone, but I was grateful that they were looking after my master.
Looking at it this way, I think the most fitting arrangement for our party is with kind and reliable Yuritia as the eldest daughter, the always calm Atori as the second daughter, and our Master, who can't shake off her childlike appearance, as the youngest. I'm sure our Master would be furious if she heard this, though...
"Of course, I'm not using those materials just because I have a weird hobby."
Anyway, returning to the old nun's explanation, she said:
One of the issues that cannot be ignored when it comes to prosthetics is the stress on the stump. In short, if the stump and the prosthetic leg rub against each other, rub, or compress with every step, it can cause pain and swelling. ...Is it like getting blisters from wearing shoes that don't fit your feet?
Slime prosthetics reduce the load on stumps in every way. They adhere tightly to the skin, so they don't shift even when you move your leg, and they act as a cushion between the prosthesis and the socket, distributing the load. Putting them on is also easy, requiring only three steps: slip your leg in, tighten the strap, and apply magic. They are also easy to use, as you only put them on when needed in daily life and take them off the rest of the time.
"But this is strictly for everyday use. Don't think you can go on adventures with this."
On the other hand, although the slime provides adhesion, it's essentially just your foot stuck in, so strenuous exercise like running or jumping is not recommended. The prosthetic leg itself is made of a lightweight material so as not to exceed the slime's adhesive strength, and is said to be more fragile than other types.
Also, the slimy texture is disgusting.
...That's really disgusting.
Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. If I can't walk on my own, returning to society will remain a pipe dream, and I'll never be able to help everyone achieve a happy future. If getting used to this slimy feeling is the first step, then I'll gladly do it.
"Wolka..."
"It's okay. I can't sleep forever."
I gently patted my master's head, who seemed extremely worried.
For the first time in over two weeks, I stood up on my own, without anyone's support.
/
The nun was sweeping the area in front of the church as usual.
She is a young, inexperienced nun who has only recently started working here. Dressed virtuously in her black nun's habit, the girl stops sweeping and stretches out in the sunlight.
"Hmmmm... ah, peace is the best after all."
The sigh she let out towards the blue sky contained a strange sense of reality and emotion that was unexpected for a newcomer. And for good reason. About two weeks earlier, the girl had been grabbed by the collar by a senior nun and forced to attend to the treatment of a young man who had been brought in with serious injuries.
To be honest, I don't really want to remember what happened back then.
Even now, when I think about it, I can almost smell the blood. I feel so sorry for the young man who miraculously survived, but at that moment, the girl instantly gave up, thinking, "This is impossible." Almost all the sisters who were there had lost all color in their faces and turned pale. Only one old sister remained.
"This child is still alive. If we do nothing and give up, it will be the same as if we had killed him."
...It was a day that painfully made me realize what it truly means to work at the Holy Church.
Since then, no serious injuries or illnesses have been brought in. I feel that this is incredibly precious.
This is a world where, once you step outside the city, it wouldn't be surprising to encounter a terrifying monster anywhere.
I hope these peaceful, uneventful days continue for as long as possible.
"...yeah?"
I noticed them a little while after the girl resumed cleaning. I saw two figures coming straight up the slope connecting the town center and the church.
The girl was wearing the same black nun's habit, and a well-worn silver light armor that wasn't particularly unusual.
"Who is that...?"
Although she was a newcomer who had only just begun to learn to distinguish right from left, the girl was still a member of the Holy Church. It was immediately clear that those were a nun from the church and her subordinate knight.Holy KnightsChris Knights
But could there have been a nun that beautiful, even from a distance, in this town? If she was a colleague, she should be memorable, and it's hard to believe that they've never even crossed paths, even though they work at the same church in town.white blondePlatinum Blonde
I stared intently for a while, scratching my head, wondering who it could be.
"--picture,"
When she got close enough to see his features, the girl was speechless.
"Hello"
"--..."
By the time they greeted me right in front of me, I was completely frozen and unable to move.
Well, um...
Wait, wait, wait, wait a second.
Why, why is it here?Takashi・woman・Mr.・
Even though she was a newcomer who had only recently started working at the church, it was precisely because she was a newcomer that the girl was able to understand exactly who the nun before her was.
Coming back to my senses. My knees buckle in a spinal reflex.
"Oh, please stay that way. I'm not such a great person."
"Well, but... no, however..."
The girl, gently restrained, became extremely flustered. "Well, if you weren't such a 'great person,' then everyone in this world would be nothing more than insects."
"Nice to meet you. My name is Anze."
"Huh? Oh, Anze...sama?"
It was immediately obvious that it was a pseudonym. Or rather, a nickname... perhaps? The girl tried to think of a reason why she would bother using such a name.
I tried to think—but everything was happening so suddenly that my mind couldn't keep up at all. The sister who introduced herself as Anze chuckled softly in a beautiful voice,
"Please don't call me 'sama,' just call me Anze. I'm just an ordinary nun."
Gas no no no no no"
There's no way that's possible! What are you talking about? What does this even mean?!
The girl's mind was in utter chaos, as if the world had been turned upside down. She desperately tried to suppress the urge to run away from the scene right then and there, and pleaded for help with her eyes to the knight standing behind the sister. "What in the world is this a joke? Please forgive me, there's nothing to gain from playing with someone like me, so please have mercy!"
My prayers reached heaven.
"Anze, that's enough small talk. It seems you're confusing her."
"Oh... I'm so sorry. We came here incognito this time."
"Hmm—well, but you two were just walking around town like normal..."
"Yes, we use a little magic when walking around town so as not to stand out. To the townspeople, we probably looked like a perfectly ordinary sister and knight."
"I see..."
Come to think of it, that makes sense. Otherwise, this church would be surrounded by fervent people and descend into chaos right now.cruciblecrucible
"So, what can I do for you today—"
"Yes. I have come to meet with Lord Wolka."
--Wolka?
It took me a little while to search my brain for information from church officials, but I managed to remember it in under five seconds.
That's the young man's name. The one who was brought in near death, miraculously survived, and with his incredible resilience, started rehabilitation with his prosthetic leg today.
"Oh, that person, I believe they're currently in rehabilitation."righteousness・feet・
That was as far as the girl could answer.
I suddenly felt my breath catch in my throat, and I couldn't say anything more.
She couldn't breathe. It wasn't fear. Her body wasn't even trembling. At that moment, the girl remembered the sacred, solemn atmosphere she had felt in the cathedral of the holy city, a place her parents had taken her to as a child, an atmosphere so profound it made her body shrink.
That feeling of becoming pure and clear when you step into a sacred place, when you offer a prayer before a divine statue—that's the kind of emotion people feel, the kind we call awe and reverence.Divine powerShin'i
The girl quietly understood—ah, when a person touches a truly sacred being, they can't even breathe.
"—Oh, I apologize for my rudeness."
It vanished. The world that was about to be dyed pure white disappeared in an instant, and the original blue sky, the original cityscape, and all the original sensations returned to the girl.
It was as if, after finishing a deep prayer, they suddenly opened their eyes.aweUnderstood.
"I'm sorry to have surprised you."
"no--"
Because it happened so quickly, the girl doesn't really understand what that feeling was.
"Well then, I'll intrude for a moment. ...May the Lord bless your most noble devotion."
In the end, before the girl could regain her senses, the nun entered the church with the knight.
"---..."
The girl gazed blankly up at the blue sky. What exactly had she seen and heard? Perhaps it was just a daydream brought on by the bright blue sky and cheerful weather. She thought that even if it was, she had had an experience that made it entirely plausible.
I never imagined that such a person would appear before me, speak to me, and even though it was only for a brief moment, I felt like I wanted to prostrate myself before them.
for now.
"Welcome to the Holy Church, what kind of—to!? Ughh
Hearing the screams of her colleagues that shook the church, the girl thought that maybe it wasn't a dream after all.
/
"...Hey, honey. I'm just asking to be sure, but this is your first time walking with a prosthetic leg, right?"
"? That's obvious..."
It had been a little over an hour since I started rehabilitation. After practicing with a handrail and then with a cane, I was finally able to walk on my own, albeit very slowly.
No, let me be honest. —I could only walk very slowly. Even after practicing for an hour straight, all I could do was wobble across a flat surface like a fawn.
It's completely different from moving your own legs. What I find most difficult is that a prosthetic leg is, after all, just a prosthetic leg, and you don't feel any of your own sensations through it.
If these were my own feet, I would clearly feel the sensation of stepping forward the moment I put them down, and I would instantly know whether the ground was soft or hard, or whether it was an unstable place or not.
However, it's different with a prosthetic leg. Even if you put your foot forward and step on the floor, it's difficult to accurately perceive that sensation. You have to wonder if you're really stepping properly, if it's safe to put your weight on it, or if you'll lose your balance at that moment—there are certainly sensory and mental difficulties involved.
To be honest, I thought I could do a little better. I guess my body just gave . ...Seriously, if my grandfather were here, he'd be yelling at me for being lazy and spoiled.Dullraw
But it seemed different for the elderly nun.
"She's a quick learner... no, it's more than just quick. Normally, it takes several days just to be able to walk without support."
Oh, really? ...Well, I guess it would take about that long for an ordinary person who isn't an adventurer. So, until I can walk properly... it'll take a month?
No, no, I'm not going to be that laid-back. There's a saying about a newborn fawn, but even that fawn starts walking around on its own within a few hours of being born.
I'll be able to walk around inside the church without any problems by the end of today. That way, I won't need my masters' help just to get a glass of water.
And frankly speaking, even if something were to happen, all you'd do is fall over.
If you're afraid of falling, nobody would pick up a sword in the first place, and nobody would become an adventurer. Compared to the training I used to do, rehabilitation where everyone is careful not to let me fall is nothing.
Personally, I don't need any consideration whatsoever; I'd be fine with just being given a rough quota like, "Be able to run by the end of today. Do it." But I'm holding back because I think my mentor would come running over with tears in his eyes if that happened.
"Thank you for your hard work, senior."
"Oh, thank you."
As I sat down for a short break, Yurtiaya immediately brought me a glass of water. Then my master said,
"Wolka, are you pushing yourself too hard? You don't have to try so hard, you know? Just take it little by little, little by little is fine..."
By the way, my master is being held tightly on Atori's lap like a little girl. This is because he was so restless and anxious the whole time I was training. Every time I stumbled even a little, he would try to rush over to me in a panic, so Atori, seeing his plight, dragged him away.
Atori stroked her master's head,
"Rizell is such a worrier. She needs to calm down a bit."
"B-But..."
That's not the point.
"Honestly, I think it's fine to go a little slower. I wonder if there's a reason why you want to be able to walk that fast?"
Actually, the only reason I want to be able to walk faster is... It would save me from putting unnecessary burden on my masters, and I could get back to the Holy City sooner—and besides, my body would finally be able to move properly.
Perhaps because I only half-heartedly resumed practicing sword swings, I've developed a kind of obsessive need to get back to training as soon as possible. It might sound a little exaggerated, but I feel like I'll lose myself if I don't swing my sword.
...I've deliberately avoided thinking about it deeply since I got my current body.
For me, swords are...
Perhaps it's more than I realize...
There was no warning whatsoever.
"--Huh!? Ughh
A sudden scream came from outside the rehabilitation room. However, it wasn't a scream filled with fear or pain, but rather a bewildered cry of someone faced with something completely unexpected.
To use a past-life analogy, it's like a super famous celebrity suddenly appearing right in front of you.
The screams were spreading from one nun to another, seemingly coming from the entrance. An elderly nun frowned somewhat sternly at the commotion, which was so unbecoming of a sacred church.
"...What on earth is going on? It's so noisy."
The commotion was gradually getting closer. Faintly, I could hear a strangely pretentious man's voice saying, "Oh, mademoiselles, please calm down!"
I instinctively leaned my arm for support and bowed my head straight down. ...That voice, was it him? Was it him? Why would an elite knight from the cathedral be in a place like this? I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on—
"—Lord Wolka!!"
However, contrary to my expectations, it was a young nun who burst in.
I recognized that refined, pure face and hair that seemed to absorb the light . In fact, there's only one person in this world who would address me, a mere adventurer, with the honorific "sama."platinum colorPlatinum Blonde
< > is a place that could be called a second home for adventurers who are constantly getting injured. And we < >, especially since becoming a group of four, have been operating from the Holy City as our base. In other words, there are several familiar faces at the central church building that the Holy City is proud of—commonly known as the "Cathedral"—who we usually rely on.Holy ChurchKrisclesSilver-gray journeySilvery Gray
Among them, the nun who is in charge of our treatment... or rather, the nun who is exclusively in charge of my treatment,
"...Anze?"
"Oh, Lord Wolka—!"
The moment she saw me, she rushed towards me with a look of despair on her face—it was Anze.
"Mr. Wolka, Anze has arrived."
"Oh, uh... no, why are you here?"
Anze respectfully knelt before me, and after a quick glance at her prosthetic leg and eye patch,
"When I heard about Lord Wolka's injuries, I couldn't just stand by. I'm so sorry, I had no idea that Lord Wolka was suffering...!"
"Oh, I see. Sorry to have worried you."
— Anze is an exemplary sister, full of innocence and compassion, and a very good girl.
There's no doubt she's a good kid.
There's no doubt about it, but on the other hand, the scale of the emotions he harbors is so large, or rather, it's a bit too exaggerated—
"But there's no need to worry anymore."
Even in this small town far from the holy city, Anze's big heart remained unchanged.
Anze clasped my hands in her own pure hands, and with a radiant, loving gaze, she declared so clearly that it could be heard outside the room:
"Let's go back to the Holy City right now and live together in the Cathedral from now on!"
"""----WHAT?"""
It felt like it was the first time I'd heard my comrades' menacing voices since the party was formed.
Tips 'Anze':
A nun who was exclusively in charge of treating Wolka in the holy city. She is a devout and compassionate person with incredibly strong emotions. Just what kind of saint is she...?