I'm Playing as a Nun.

My defeat was all but confirmed the moment the leaf was torn to pieces.

To think that I, who had never lost to anyone before, would kneel to a mere piece of firewood─.

There probably couldn't be a greater humiliation than this.

"I'm not following them because I don't trust the children. I was just curious about how they would do things."

The World Tree gently shook its branches at my curt words.

"And this isn't overprotection. I think it's what any guardian should naturally do."

-Rustle

"It's only natural to worry about children who have just started taking their first steps."

-Rustle

As my conversation with the World Tree lengthened, an inexplicable sense of self-loathing gradually overwhelmed me.

Although it clearly showed responses by shaking its branches and occasionally dropping things to my words,

I felt embarrassed in many ways about conversing with a tree that wasn't even an animal.

Moreover, having lost the argument made that discomfort absolutely indescribable.

"...I'm going to use the portal for a moment."

I muttered softly while weakly rising from where I had sat dejectedly on the weeds.

The World Tree slightly shook its branches in response, expressing confusion.

"It's inconvenient in many ways without that large leaf. I'll just quickly visit the Roen Forest to get that leaf and come right back."

-Rustle

"You could have just resolved this amicably through conversation instead of needing to tear it. Why did you have to shred it..."

-Rustle

"...Tch."

I roughly brushed off the dirt on my clothes and calmly stepped toward the portal opened in the center of the tree.

As I entered the portal and set foot in the Roen Forest, where I thought I wouldn't need to visit for a while.

I felt a cold sensation on the top of my foot. I made eye contact with a bewildered elf resident who was blinking blankly with a confused expression.

She held some kind of water pouch in her hand, with clear water trickling down as its opening pointed toward the ground.

"Huh...?"

A situation beyond bewildering, reaching the point of embarrassment.

Moreover, with numerous elves lined up behind her, I couldn't help but tilt my head to the side even more.

"I-I'm so sorry...!! Please forgive me...!!"

Suddenly, the female elf prostrated herself flat before me, bowing her head deeply.

I wondered what this situation was about, but only after seeing the water that had coldly wet my feet did I gradually understand the current situation.

"Ah, were you watering the World Tree?"

"Y-yes... But we hadn't expected Lady Levinia to come at all..."

"I'm fine, so please get up. It wasn't even intentional, so it's nothing."

"N-no... I have committed an unforgivable sin..."

"What? No, what are you suddenly saying...? How is wetting my feet an unforgivable sin..."

"If you must punish me, I'll accept it gladly... but please spare my children..."

"Look, I said it's fine. Why are you..."

No sooner had the female elf finished speaking than all the elves lined up behind her simultaneously prostrated themselves before me and began speaking in unison.

"We have committed an unforgivable sin. Please forgive us─."

The fear and terror clearly felt in their voices were truly overwhelming.

Like people who had committed some great wrong begging for forgiveness with their last chance, this ridiculous scene that was desperate to the point of being pitiful immediately made my mind go blank.

"What...?"

The time was too short to grasp all the situations.

I could only stare blankly at the elves, who were all bowing their heads in unison, my body frozen stiff.

It seemed that the events of that day when I purged the evil elves had left an indelible shock on the residents here.

"I just came to get one of those giant leaves that the elves here use as umbrellas..."

"What...?"

"As you know, I'm a vampire, so I can't walk around during the day. I'm sorry for suddenly coming with such a request, but could you help me get one of those giant leaves?"

As the situation seemed increasingly burdensome rather than improving, I spoke as gently as possible to the elves.

But despite my efforts, the elves continued to tremble like aspen trees.

"Y-yes...!! I'll get it right away...!!"

"Haha... Thank you."

Soon, several elves broke from the line and began quickly heading somewhere.

Looking at that, it seemed I wouldn't need to wait too long here.

While that part was fortunate─.

"...By the way, how long are you planning to stay prostrated?"

"We will remain prostrated until Lady Levinia forgives us..."

"......"

The fear of me deeply rooted in the hearts of the residents here showed no signs of disappearing.

I had to realize that no matter how gently I acted in this situation, it would only instill greater fear in them.

Therefore, the only thing I could do right now was to leave this land as quickly as possible and not show myself to the elves.

"I forgive you. Happy now?"

"Eeeek─!!"

Therefore, I planned to roughly wrap up the situation and quietly wait somewhere hidden until the giant leaf arrived.

But it seemed my sincerity hadn't reached the elves at all.

Rather, it had the opposite effect, making the elves tremble even more.

"...In the name of Goddess Paelia, I warmly embrace and forgive all the young lambs who have committed discourtesy to me. You are without sin."

Only after I spoke quite elaborately did the elves finally begin to raise their upper bodies one by one as if saved, clasping their hands together.

"Ah... Thank you... Thank you for showing such great generosity to us worthless and useless beings..."

"Demon chosen by the World Tree... eternal loyalty to Lady Levinia..."

"Please be a bright light for us ignorant and foolish ones..."

The mysterious words of the elves that soon followed.

They seemed to come from sincere hearts rather than being forced out by fear and terror.

"......"

How is it that the elves, who, until just now, had clearly recognized me as an object of fear and, couldn't even meet my eyes?

Their attitude and behavior are as if they revere me.

I couldn't understand the reason at all.

Everything was just confusing.

"Lady Levinia, we've brought the giant leaves you mentioned..."

"Ah, thank you. I'll make good..."

Just then, as I was looking around repeatedly with a dazed expression.

The elves who had rushed out to get the giant leaves returned momentarily, putting me at ease.

But as soon as I saw the numerous leaves in their hands, I immediately let go of my relief and let out a helpless laugh of disbelief.

"One would have been enough..."

"We brought as many as possible so you wouldn't have to make unnecessary trips here."

"Ah, so that's why."

They clearly brought as many as possible, so I wouldn't have to come to the Roen Forest often.

While I didn't have any particular ill feelings toward them and wasn't planning to come often anyway, so I tried to brush it off.

But the uncomfortable feeling that came over me somehow wouldn't go away.

I don't think I did anything to deserve being so thoroughly unwelcome...

Is it unavoidable because my race is demon─?

"Well, thank you anyway. I won't show myself here for a while, so please be at ease about that."

Just as I was about to calmly enter the World Tree's portal again with my hands full of the numerous leaves the elves had gifted.

"No!! We rather hope that Lady Levinia will come here often...!!"

An elf's voice rang out loudly, making me doubt my ears.

"...?"

"Please, we earnestly request that you come to this Roen Forest often and take care of us..."

"Wasn't I making you uncomfortable by coming?"

"How could that be?! Lady Levinia is a noble one chosen by the World Tree..."

"But I'm still a demon?"

"The World Tree never bestows power upon those who are not righteous... We merely believe in and follow the World Tree's choice..."

Fear and terror, faith and trust.

In this confusing situation, four ideas that could never coexist were mixed strangely.

My brow furrowed increasingly at the peculiar feeling of being revered even more than the Great Elder.

"No. I won't be coming often."

I dumped all but one of the leaves piled in my hands onto the ground.

The elves standing straight and assuming prayer postures all showed shocked expressions at once.

Then they immediately pressed their foreheads to the ground again and began speaking loudly in tearful voices.

"We're sorry for displeasing you─!! Please forgive us─!!"

As soon as I saw that creepy sight again, I pushed myself straight into the World Tree's portal without looking back.

Whether they feared me or worshipped me...

Their expressions showed mixed emotions which made it more confusing.

"All this trouble just to get one leaf..."

When I returned to the church, the day was already beginning to fade.

A belated sense of emptiness washed over me.

The suddenly quiet atmosphere around me felt somewhat unfamiliar.

"...I wonder what the children are doing now."

I muttered to myself while gently placing the giant leaf I had brought from the Roen Forest on the ground.

At this point, what worried me most was whether the children had managed to build their base camp well on their own.

If they built it shoddily, they would surely suffer in the early morning...

"......"

I kept pacing in the same spot repeatedly while worrying about all sorts of things.

Suddenly, someone's footsteps rustled at the church entrance.

"Sister─!!"

A familiar voice rang very clearly in my ears.

It was Ellie and Rune.

"We can't build the house─."

"P-please help us─."

Although it completely went against the purpose of this camping trip, they came straight to me asking for help without much thought.

While the thought crept up that if it was going to be like this, they should have just gone with me from the start.

I didn't express it outwardly.

After all, they're still children.

"Hehe, oh my... It can't be helped. Since I need to go to the children for a moment, World Tree, please just guard the church here."

As I said that softly to the World Tree with a pleased expression, a rather large fruit suddenly dropped with a thunk onto my head.