I'm Playing as a Nun.

"Levi!! Come quickly!!" 

"It's not scary at all. It's fine, so hurry and come─."

"It's safe."

While the round moon hanging in the darkening sky was dimly reflecting on the river, 

the children standing alone across the river waved their hands and called out to me.

The current was flowing faster than expected. 

Thanks to the log bridge that Rune had set up in advance for crossing here, the children were able to cross the river safely.

But as a vampire, I couldn't easily do that simple act.

"What are you doing, Levi?! Are you that scared?!"

Now, even Aizen's loud voice was not properly heard, as my mind became so hazy.

I didn't even feel fear this great when I first came into this world and saw the river.

Somehow, even looking at the swiftly flowing river had become a hardship to the point where my condition had become serious.

Moreover─.

"Heuk..."

- Thud

I barely took a step forward by forcibly moving my trembling body.

But there was something transparent that seemed to have spread a large curtain, strongly blocking my way at the boundary of the river.

When I first saw the river, this transparent curtain definitely didn't exist.

So, I was even more puzzled.

"Levi, now that I see it, you're really timid, huh?"

"Sister, try crossing with your eyes closed. If you cross safely, I'll give you a hug."

"I'll hug you too."

The children do not know I'm a vampire, so the current situation is just puzzling and frustrating for them.

But the one feeling the most frustrated right now is not the children but me.

I know in my head that it's just an insignificant river, but my body isn't cooperating with my thoughts.

"C-can you give me a little more time...? I'll try to go somehow... Don't go ahead...."

"Where would we go, leaving Levi behind? You don't need to worry about that, so calm down first."

"Y-yes...."

As time passed, instead of calming down, my breath became more suffocating.

I'm at the point where I'm confused about whether I'm looking at the log or the river.

If I drag this out any longer, even the innocent children will start to become more and more suspicious of me...

"Are you okay?"

"Eek─!!"

While I was stuck in front of the river, unable to do this or that,

Rune's voice was heard quietly right next to me.

"R-Rune...?"

"It seems it was true that vampires can't cross rivers."

"Pardon...?"

"Um, I accidentally overheard the elders talking before coming here. They said vampires can't cross rivers."

Although Rune's words were scattered due to my dizzy mind, I could still roughly understand the meaning.

"So you already knew that much...."

"Yes. But it's okay. I'm here."

"What do you mean...?"

As soon as the words ended, Rune gently raised her small hand and slowly held my hand.

"Among the things the elder said, there was also this. Vampires can only cross rivers with the guidance of the person who invited them."

"R-really...?"

"Yes. So you don't need to worry."

I couldn't help but be skeptical of Rune's words.

Among the characteristics of vampires, there is definitely a rule of invitation.

But I never thought that it would take effect even at rivers.

As proof, even at this moment when I'm holding hands with Rune, my heart is still pounding greatly.

"Ah?! When did she go there?!"

"She was definitely next to Iris until a moment ago?!"

"She's a fox, a fox."

Ignoring the children's angry voices, Rune held my hand even tighter.

I felt a strange warmth from her gaze, looking at me intently.

"Honestly, I just overheard it in passing, so I don't know if it's true, but I think it's worth trying once."

"......"

As Rune said, it's worth trying once because I have nothing to lose.

If it works, great, and if it doesn't, it can't be helped.

- Step

With that in mind, I slowly took a step forward with Rune.

I still had a strong feeling that something was blocking the way in front.

But unlike earlier, when it thoroughly blocked my way with an iron defense, I felt a strange feeling of loosening and my breath gradually opening up.

"Huh...?"

"As expected, the elder's words are never wrong."

When I came to my senses, I was already standing alone on the log bridge.

Rune's words, which I had doubted, turned out to be true.

"T-that's impossible.... There was nothing like this in the rules I knew...?"

"The elder knew a rule that even the vampire herself didn't know. As expected, the elder is an amazing person!"

My heart is still heavy.

No, it's so heavy that it feels like the strength in my legs will give out at any moment.

In an environment where nothing has changed, I was able to cross the river just because I held the hand of Rune, the inviter.

For a moment, I felt a considerable sense of emptiness rushing in.

But as it became clear that I could not cross the river without the inviter's permission, I began to feel more and more complex and subtle emotions.

"A-anyway.... I should be grateful just for being able to cross the river...."

"That's right."

As I awkwardly smiled hollowly, I tried to take another step forward.

At that moment.

────────────

【You have been invited to the party】

- Rune

- Levinia Fallen Grace

────────────

A strange notification window that I had never seen before suddenly appeared before my eyes.

"...Party?"

"Yes?"

"Ah, it's nothing. Let's go quickly."

Although the notification window raised many questions,

I had already spent quite a lot of time crossing the river, so I didn't have time to ponder for long.

To the point where I was satisfied with crossing the river for the first time.

I had no leisure left in me at all right now.

"I wonder if it will be the same when I go back...."

.

.

.

"This is my village, Roen Forest."

Roen Forest, where I arrived relatively safely following Rune.

I thought it was quite far away, but it wasn't that distant once I came.

"It's not much different from our forest."

The only difference was that, unlike our forest, where almost only beasts roam now,

Various monsters inhabited the forest without hesitation, and the area was incomparably vast.

"That huge tree that can be seen faintly over there is the World Tree called Roen."

"The fact that it can be seen faintly even after coming this far means that the village is enormously large, right?"

"Yes! Isn't it amazing?!"

As soon as we reached near the entrance of the village, Rune showed a confident look, raising both shoulders high.

That appearance was so cute that I unknowingly smiled faintly.

But the children, who had become more wary of Rune due to what happened at the river, didn't blink an eye.

"If I had known, I should have held Levi's hand from the beginning."

"I could have done it too..."

"Frustrating..."

The children who were still holding a grudge about something that had already passed.

Their appearance of surrounding me and being wary of Rune looked somehow cute and pitiful.

"I understand being jealous to some extent, but that doesn't mean you should exclude Rune. That's bad behavior."

"J-jealous?! When did I ever get jealous? I just felt like Levi was taken away from me for a moment, that's all."

"I admit I was jealous. My insides are boiling."

"Me too."

A deep sigh that was exhaled for a moment.

It's not good for the children's emotions to fluctuate so intensely just because of me.

If they go beyond relying on me and start depending on me, it's unknown what impact it will have on the children when they become adults.

I think I need some time to correct this before it gets worse.

"I don't want to scold you for this. While it's important to rely on each other, remember that sometimes you also need the room to accept new things."

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"It means isolation is not good in any situation. Cherish Rune like you cherish each other."

At my quiet words, the children glanced at each other carefully and made awkward expressions.

They seemed to have vaguely realized their mistake belatedly, but nevertheless, an awkwardness of not fully understanding was evident.

"... I'm okay. I don't mind at all."

"What are you saying, Rune. There's no way you don't mind."

"I really don't mind. So you don't have to worry too much."

I thought it was obviously an empty word to lighten the mood.

But for some reason, there was no doubt at all in Rune's expression.

"I'll go inside and bring the elder. Please wait here for a moment."

"...Ah, yes. I understand."

Leaving only those words behind, Rune ran straight to the village entrance without looking back.

"Did I... perhaps make a big mistake...?"

"We were too jealous..."

"......"

Seeing Rune's nonchalant reaction, the children finally slowly realize their mistakes.

"It's good that you realized it even now."

I had nothing else to say besides this.

Rather than adding unnecessary words now, I thought it would be better to watch the children realize and regret their mistakes on their own.

"Rune seems like... she has experienced this a lot...."

Ellie, who had shown the most jealousy among the children, opened her mouth quietly as if muttering.

"I know. She doesn't seem to be very old for an elf."

The more I learn about Rune, the more I feel a strange sense of gloom for no reason.

What kind of treatment is she receiving in the village that she accepts this treatment as natural?

- Tap, tap, tap─!!

How many minutes had passed like that?

Two silhouettes that were seen far away from the village entrance began to quickly approach where we were.

"I brought him─!!"

Eventually, a grumpy-looking old man appeared in front of me, panting.

It seems this person is the village elder that Rune kept mentioning.

"Huff, huff, huff... But how... How did this happen...."

For some reason, the elder had a very pale complexion.

As if he had encountered a situation he had never expected at all.

"Nice to meet you for the first time. I'm Levinia Fallen Grace, living in Elm Forest."

"Y-yes.... It's a great honor to meet you... My name is Revand...."

Even while introducing himself, the elder couldn't keep his body still and kept fidgeting.

His expression was also quite stiff as if he was very nervous.

"Why are you so restless? Did something happen?"

"Ah, no─!! That's not it... I mean, I...."

An awkward silence flowed instantaneously between me and the elder.

The elder's face became increasingly pale, and cold sweat flowed like rain.

It was as if he struggled to bring out the words he had only been thinking of.

"Phew...."

After hesitating for a long time, the elder exhaled a deep sigh as if the ground would cave in and barely opened his tightly closed mouth.

"B-by any chance... did you not like Rune...?"