chapter 22
Religion (1)
Ethan, who had arrived in Findel, talked about investing right away after resting and grooming himself.
Anyway, it was like he didn’t hesitate when it came to work.
Thanks to this, the investment transaction went more smoothly than I thought.
Hearing from Edan, who saw Rize in the process, that ‘Your daughter is very clever and cute’ was a great gain. I knew better than anyone else that it wasn’t just a greeting.
Could it be that he said something he didn’t mean to because of the deal?
“Are you really okay?”
After escorting Edan away from Findel, Irina looked at him with concerned eyes and asked.
That’s because the investment he decided to hand over to Ethan was equivalent to three years’ worth of living expenses.
Irina, who is in charge of housekeeping, couldn’t help but worry when she said that she would invest a large sum of money in a place that wasn’t even a famous company.
“I still have eyes to see people. At least you won’t lose, so relax. They said they brought Rize presents too.”
“… … Is that inexplicable knowledge again?”
At that, all I could do was shrug my shoulders.
It’s my money anyway, what can I do?
Irina knew that too, so I didn’t want to mention it anymore, and I quietly smiled and added.
“Even if the money is eaten, don’t worry, I will find it and pay off the interest. And I still have some money saved up.”
“no. I believe that Irvin did it. He said he would offer his sword, but he made a mistake.”
“No, reasonable questions and doubts are welcome. I am also human, so I can make mistakes, so I want you to look at me from a different perspective.”
“All right.”
After we finished talking, we went to the backyard together and saw Lize wielding a wooden sword concentrating.
how to say
To be honest, even though it was my daughter, it gave me goosebumps.
Does it make sense to show such a rapid growth in a few days without seeing each other?
Even though it was the same movement, the momentum carried by it was completely different. As expected, he was proving with his body that he was a sword genius.
I almost laughed at the thought of the first time I was learning the sword.
I was even worried about whether I would be able to properly teach Rize, but I immediately shook my head.
Even if it wasn’t limited to swordsmanship, there were many things to teach Rize.
For now, let’s just rejoice in our daughter’s growth.
They say that kids grow up quickly if you don’t see them for a day, but it seems like they’ve grown a lot since I’ve been there.
“dad!”
Seeing me, Rize came running with a big smile, and embraced me with open arms, gently wiping away my sweat with the towel I had prepared.
“Have you finished playing today?”
“Yeah, since I’m still less tired, can I do more? I think I can wield it a little more even after I’ve done everything.”
“Well, I can definitely do more. Our Rize, you worked really hard even while Dad was gone, didn’t you?”
“Hi-Hi.”
Rize smiled happily as she tousled her hair while holding the towel.
Like that, he wrapped Rize’s head, met his eyes, and added another word.
“Shall we take a break today and go on a picnic with Dad?”
“really?! Oh yea!”
If he reacted this far, the corners of his mouth would naturally rise.
After stroking Rize’s hair for a while, I turned around and saw Irina holding a water pitcher.
“Do you want to go with Irina?”
“I will be guarding the house.”
“Let’s go together, sister. huh?”
“is it so. Let’s go together.”
If I have anything to ask of Irina in the future, I’ll do it through Rize.
The obvious discrimination made me feel uncomfortable, but I forgot about it in an instant when I saw Rize, who was ready to go out after washing up.
“oh my god.”
I closed my mouth and couldn’t speak.
what the hell is this
what am i watching?
“… … dad?”
When I even started to cry, Rize tilted her head with her eyes wide open.
I’m sorry, Rize.
Daddy can’t speak right now.
Rize looked at the clothes she was wearing after putting her expression on her face as if she didn’t understand.
Overall, it was a blue dress similar to Rize’s eyes. The ruffles everywhere and the part that splits the middle of the skirt like a wave were in white.
The blue dress, perfect for outings, literally made Rize shine even more.
Neighborhood people!
Come and see my daughter!
I just wanted to pick up Rize right away and show off to the neighbors.
“Am I weird? I said that Irina unnie is pretty… … .”
“No no no, it’s so pretty! cute! Our Rize, how can we get along so well?”
“lol… … .”
When I hurriedly poured out compliments, Rize smiled slightly shyly avoiding her gaze.
Irina, who was next to her, also covered her mouth, then straightened her shoulders and spoke in a confident tone.
“I bought a few pairs while you were away.”
“We went out together and Irina-unnie picked it for me!”
“good job. I will give you a raise.”
“no. I did it because I liked it, so you don’t have to.”
“When you buy Rize clothes, you don’t have to spend money, take them out of your living expenses.”
I also pay attention to Rize’s clothes, but since it’s my first time raising a child, I’m ignorant about girls’ fashion.
But I never dreamed that Irina would find clothes that would suit her so much.
Also, let’s raise the salary a bit.
I wanted to rub Rize’s cheeks right away, but I couldn’t ruin the long-awaited pretty decoration, so I lightly stroked her cheek.
Yes, sooner or later, I will call a painter and leave a picture of Rize.
It wasn’t that I was lacking in drawing skills, but I couldn’t possibly draw the picture to the end.
It took me a while to calm down and finally leave the house.
“Dad, where are we going?”
“Is there a place you want to go?”
“From that place to that place!”
“I have a lot of greed.”
Holding Rize’s hand tightly, he swayed back and forth and exchanged meaningless conversations.
Findel was full of energy as usual. As the city is still growing, the number of people coming and going seemed to increase more than before.
Among them, there were those who were mesmerized by the appearance of our newly renovated Rise.
It’s not an illusion, it’s real.
is it so. Please look at my daughter a lot and brag on my behalf.
As I looked around for a while, I remembered a topic I had put off for a while because of my conversation with Ethan.
“Have you thought about learning magic?”
The question I asked before setting out for the mountain where the black dragon sleeps.
At that time, Rize replied that she didn’t know, and I didn’t rush for an answer either.
However, since the tutor had been confirmed by the owner of the mage tower, it was necessary to clarify Seullije’s answer.
“Yes, I want to learn magic.”
I was a little worried that she would only learn the sword, but Rize nodded so coolly.
“Irina unnie says there are times when you can’t cut with a sword. At that time, it would be better to use magic.”
It was very complicated for me that the reason I had the fight in mind was extremely complicated, but once I learned it, there would be nothing wrong with it, so I decided to accept it as a good thing.
“Dad talked to the Wizard’s Tower and promised to send you a good teacher? Are you confident to learn hard?”
“Wizard’s Tower? really?”
“Because this dad is a little bit.”
“and! What a real daddy! It’s a great place over there. Wow!”
As if Rize was familiar with the reputation of the Wizard’s Tower, she stretched her arms out in admiration, and Irina, who was behind her, also looked at me with a slightly surprised face.
I wanted my dad to know that he could do this much if he put his mind to it.
Well, if you’re not talented in magic like me, it can’t be helped.
But since it was Rize and no one else, that would never happen. He must have far greater talent than the cheeky little boy from the Mage Tower.
“A tutor will come soon, but if I am not there, please respond.”
“all right.”
Instead of the maid outfit she used to wear at home, Irina was wearing clothes that were easy to move in, and she was wearing a large sword on her back and several daggers on her waist.
It must mean that he will completely focus on escorting.
It wasn’t that I was going to such a dangerous place, but I decided to let it do what it wanted.
After walking for a while while talking like that, the destination came into view, and Irina also set her eyes toward it.
“Rize, can you see it over there?”
When I pointed at one spot, Rize, as if she couldn’t see it, pulled her head straight out and followed my finger.
There were several spiers jutting out from above the building.
Irina seemed to notice, but thankfully she kept her mouth shut, and Rize, who seemed to think for a moment, answered with her eyes sparkling.
“ah! Is there a church over there?”
“answer!”
“Hee hee, got it right.”
So, shaking hands with Rize, we moved excitedly and arrived at the plaza where the church building was in full view.
That place is the Findel branch church of the Lu Nera Holy Church.
The church building itself was large, as if Findel expected it to become a major city, but the statue of Lunara in the square was also large.
Perhaps thanks to this, the number of believers gathered in the square was also significant.
It was the state religion of the empire, and because it was popular because the doctrine was not strict, it had the most believers in the empire.
Seeing that Irina also made the sign of the cross toward the statue of God, it seemed that she had faith. Rize, who saw that, also made the sign of the cross with exactly the same motion.
Of course, I didn’t believe in God, so I just nodded my head and headed to the church.
There were people praying in the square, but it was a free atmosphere, and I felt a solemn atmosphere with the priests who were visible as I went up the stairs.
Entering the wide open entrance, a paladin approached and spoke to Irina.
“The possession of weapons is prohibited inside the church. We would be obliged for your cooperation.”
Was there such a rule?
I didn’t come to church very often, so I didn’t remember it. It was usually a position where you had to carry a weapon.
Irina looked at Rize with worried eyes, then turned her gaze to me, and when I nodded, I took off the greatsword from my back and handed it to the paladin.
“Ugh?”
It must have been heavier than expected, so Irina looked very sullen when she handed over the daggers she was wearing to the staggered paladin.
After all, even at home, if I didn’t have a weapon on my body, I felt anxious.
I moved my steps again, and when the eyes disappeared, I secretly held out the dagger I had stolen earlier to Irina.
“Don’t get caught.”
“… … thank you.”
I’m fine with bare hands, but Irina seems to have enough power with a weapon.
I wondered what would happen at church, but there’s nothing wrong with being careful.
Also, if you’re sullen, it’s like Rize might care about you.
Passing through a long hallway and entering a wide open door, I saw a large chapel lined with chaise longues.
The chapel, illuminated by soft light, was creating a solemn atmosphere with ordinary people praying and priests wandering around.
He sat down Rize and Irina on the empty chairs and spoke quietly.
“Dad, I’ll talk to the High Priest for a while, so please pray with Irina.”
“like this?”
Rize also lowered her voice in response, then followed the people around her with both hands intertwined, standing upright and slightly bowing her head.
I smiled and lightly stroked my hair, then approached the middle-aged high priest muttering the Bible on the podium.
“May the road ahead be full of light. Good evening, High Commissioner.”
“Thank you, Shinto. May the path ahead be full of light.”
When I greeted him with my last name, the High Priestess also greeted me politely with my last name.
As you can see from the greeting, Lunara was the god of light.
Originally, it was not enough to be promoted as a state religion, but the number of followers rapidly increased due to the Lord of Darkness, and since then, it has become an immovable church.
There were other denominations that believed in other gods, but from my point of view, there was not much difference.
“Do you have any business?”
The High Priestess looked at me with eyes full of benevolence and asked, and I answered gently with a smile that was as friendly as possible.
“I want to get some holy water containing Lunara’s grace.”
“Oh, I see.”
The high priest called the priest who was waiting next to him and asked him to bring holy water, and soon brought bottles with holy water in advance.
After picking up two of them, she crossed herself again and bowed her head slightly.
“I am deeply grateful for Lunara-sama’s kindness to the young leaves.”
It was very awkward to greet the High Priestess politely, as if she were wearing clothes that didn’t fit her body, but her movements were perfect.
Then, he calculated the value of the holy water and put it in the offering box next to him.
Officially, holy water was not for sale. It was the superficial reason that God’s grace is priceless.
However, as much money is needed to run the church, it is being received through offerings. It was literally blindfolded.
I understand, but it was a cumbersome action to me.
When I returned to my seat after a non-transactional transaction, I saw Rize, who was still bowing her head as if she was praying so hard.
“What are you wishing for?”
“Ah, um, Irina said you shouldn’t tell anyone other than Lunara-sama… … .”
“are you okay. It’s okay if you tell Dad so Lu Nera can’t hear you.”
“is it… … ?”
Rize, who had learned about prayer from Irina while I was gone, mumbled for a while, then put her hand in my ear and whispered in a low voice.
“I prayed that I would live happily ever after with my dad.”
I couldn’t stop my mouth from opening wide.
I quickly covered it with my hand, as I thought it would not look good for others to see, but Irina, who had already seen it, looked at me with mischievous eyes and changed her gaze.
“What holy water is that?”
“Holy water?”
Rize tilted her head at the first word she heard, and Irina also gave a suspicious look.
Originally, mercenaries almost never used holy water.
I shrugged my shoulders as if it was no big deal and answered roughly.
“I need something.”
Shall we drink some holy water after a long time?