Ascendance of a Bookworm

Chapter 107: Why Do I Need Artistic Cultivation (1)

Before the bell rings 5 times, I put the bedclothes on my bed, and looks for a place to store the musical instruments and tools for maintenance of musical instruments. After I managed to tidy up my room, I give the wooden cases and cloth to the attendants.

As soon as the bell rings the fifth time, the Head Priest comes and Arnaud follows him. I meet and greet the Head Priest as Fran taught me. "Though it feels not quite sure, you've remembered it anyway," the Head Priest makes comments on my behavior.

"Sir, thank you very much for the comfortable futon."

"You, just…"

Then we go upstairs. I show the bed and thank the Head Priest, but he holds his head.

"Is there anything wrong? I just said thank you, right?"

"… Yes. You just said thanks. But you didn't have to say anything about the exact gift. From now on, when you say thank you, you should only use the vague expression like ‘nice gift’ or ‘my long-wished-for gift’."

"Ok."

I repeat in the heart that the contents of the gift should not be spoken. The Head Priest put on a weird look as if he is chewing a bitter insect, and lowers his voice,

"Besides, don't tell others that I present you with bedclothes as a gift."

"Huh?"

"Usually, bedclothes are prepared for a mistress of a family or for … a fiancee. It can cause misunderstanding."

"Huh?! "Why, why did you do the thing that might be misunderstood?"

The Head Priest is not as careless as me. He knows it misleading, but still presented bedclothes to me. I don't know the reason.

The Head Priest answers my questions with sharp eyes.

"It's your fault this time."

"What?"

"You are weak and have fallen down in a faint in the temple several times, but you still leave your bed unmade," says he. "That day, when you fainted and Fran carried you, I could not believe my eyes when I saw the bed."

The Head Priest doubts when I will have my bedclothes prepared if he does nothing at all. I do have a memory like a sieve. So he ordered the futon. I haven't thought about this in my mind, and I turn my eyes softly.

"… Well, I am very sorry."

The Head Priest coughs deliberately, and glances at the table. Remembering that I have not offered the seat, I invite the Head Priest to sit down.

"D-ampleur is Head Priest's favorite. Do you like today's tea?"

"Well, it has been long time since I had the tea made by Fran last time."

Today’s guest is the Head Priest, so I ask Fran to make the tea, instead of Delia. There is not one drop wasted. Delia watches Fran serving the tea in a skilled way. Although the same water and tea leaves are used, Fran's tea tastes totally different.

"Hm, it still smells good."

The Head Priest narrows his eyes, intoxicated. Seeing his expression of enjoying the tea, Fran seems to be a little relieved.

Delia takes the plates from Gil and places them on the table.

"Please have some sweets. It's cookies. The sweetness is modest for the gentlemen who do not like sugar so much."

The Head Priest takes a mouthful of crisp cookie, widening his eyes slightly. After the Head Priest tastes one of the cookies, he takes another. According to his response, I don't think it tastes too bad.

"… Maine, where do you get this?

"I just made it in my kitchen," I answer. "Could I have your comments? I'm going to sell it.

It will be prepared for Italian restaurant as tea cake after meal, or sold in small package as a souvenir."

"… You not only make paper and essence in person, but also food, right?" says the Head Priest.

"Eh, I'm going to have a tasting party before the store opens," I reply. "So if your schedule permit, please come, too. I'm going to run a restaurant to serve food which the nobles often eat. Fran can guarantee the taste, but I wish to experience a real noble meal."

I gave him a hint gain and again with an expectant look. The Head Priest is good at reading the expression, and drops his eyes as if he gives in upon my tenacity.

"… I see. I will invite you for lunch soon."

"Ok! I'm honored."

Now that one of Benno's tasks has been fulfilled, I would like to confirm the materials, the taste and the service of the Head Priest's lunch.

After tasting the tea and cookies, the Head Priest cuts to the chase.

"So, do you mean that you've had a talk with Wilma?"

"I want Wilma to live in the orphanage after becoming my attendant. May I ask for your permission?"

"Why?"

The Head Priest frowns in confusion. The attendants as the name implies, shall serve the master by their master's side. There are some people who wish to leave the orphanage, but none wishes to stay.

"Wilma herself wants to stay," I explain. "Because she thinks that children of the orphanage need someone to take care of. Usually, the little children who have not received the Baptism should be looked after by the grey-robed priestesses who have ever been delivered of a baby. But there is none of them at present, right? So, by my authority as the orphanage director, I want to make Wilma stay in the orphanage to take care of the children."

"Sir, I also beg a favor of you," Fran adds. "There is no one to take care of the children now. They may get sick and sometimes have a fever during the night. Wilma is very worried about the children."

"Hmm," on Fran's words, the Head Priest strokes his chin.

"Anyway, it is a plausible excuse…, but if Wilma still lives in the orphanage, please take Rosina as your attendant as well. I've prepared the musical instruments for you. Thus, there would be no problem, right?"

The Head Priest looks at me with his sharp eyes.

"Sir, why do you insist that I should get artistic cultivation? As I said before, I don't have any chance to perform at temple ceremonies, right?" I ask.

"There is no need to perform in the temple at all. There will be blue-robed priests who have no hobby in music," the Head Priest explains.

"Then why?"

The Head Priest takes out a small magic tool. It's a magic tool to prevent eavesdropping. I know it by sight. We hold it in our hands together.

"You will definitely be involved with nobles in the future."

"… But I am not going to leave my families."

Because of this, I join the temple but still live at home. The Head Priest knows I possess great mana, so he is supposed to understand my relationship with the families to some extent. He says, "It is not open to doubt", so anxiety creeps up on me.

"Maybe you don't know, if mana is not balanced, people can't have babies," he continues. "You are alright even after you offer 10 small magic stones, and your mana is great enough to get in my secret. That is to say, you can have children with no one other than a noble. So I don't think you will get married in the Civilian Area."

Speaking of this, I recalled that Delia did talk about magical balance before. Only the couple with equal mana can have babies. I was angry at the blue-robed priest's inhumanity, so I was not aware of at all that the law surely applies to me.

However, I don't think it will bring any effect on me.