I Became a Fake Priest the Saintess Is Obsessed With

13 – Peaceful Market Street, Meowing Cats

I escaped from the cathedral of the Heavenly Church after meeting with Lesia.

It was late morning.

There might be things to do if I really looked, but it wasn’t a time for leisure or diligent work.

Still, since I was out, and I needed to become a high-ranking priest as soon as possible, I had to find something to do.

Since work doesn’t fall from the sky, I decided to take a stroll in the market street.

As expected, the market street was bustling.

People selling and buying goods created the unique atmosphere of the market.

“Fresh leather from the North! You need to stay warm this winter!”

The general store merchant pushed his wares.

“Freshly baked bread for sale~ It’s the delicious bread baked this morning!”

The friendly bakery owner wafted the smell of bread.

“These are the carpets brought from the Kingdom…”

The slave of Matap tends to the weary guests in the obscure inn.

Oh? The last line seems less energetic, doesn’t it?

Ahem, let’s consider that as an exception.

Anyway, I wandered through the market streets in search of any opportunity for service, but surprisingly, there was nothing at all.

Usually, there would be fights between pedestrians or clashes between shops.

But today is unusually peaceful, with nothing to do.

“Wow… It’s the first time I’ve had such an idle day… It’s already lunchtime and I’ve just been wandering around…”

I found myself buried under the weight of peaceful times.

[Goddess asks if peace is a problem]

“Of course it’s a problem. If it’s this peaceful, what do the priests even do?”

[Goddess suggests living by praying to the gods]

“Oh, come on. Will money fall from the sky if I pray?”

…

“…Oh? Come to think of it, maybe it will.”

I was about to argue with the Goddess’s words, but I remembered that religious people don’t just earn money by healing.

Consider the pseudo-religions too, those who believe in their leaders often donate money to the religion.

The most important thing here is faith.

Although the methods used by these pseudo leaders to deify themselves are all amateurish, those who have hit rock bottom are willing to grasp onto anything and believe in such leaders.

Making money through faith… That’s another complete hustle, isn’t it?

I should seriously consider becoming a pseudo-leader if I retire from the priesthood.

[The goddess suggests that she should go to hell as well]

“Oh, come on, that’s just a joke. I can’t bring myself to do such a thing, it pricks my conscience too.”

[The goddess seems nonchalant]

Well… if that’s what the goddess wants, I guess I could do it, but I really can’t bring myself to do something so cruel.

People who believe in cults already lead such difficult lives, and taking money from them is just…

[If the goddess doesn’t decide, she advises to do the main quest]

“Befriending that kid? Hmm… there’s nothing to do, so should I?”

I didn’t want to go too often for fear of reducing my favorability, but since there’s nothing else to do, I guess I’ll have to go find the kids in the back alley.

If I’m going to visit, it might be good to bring a gift to raise my favorability, right?

“Welcome!”

“Give me this and that.”

After purchasing a few items from the miscellaneous store, I headed towards the alleyway.

Most of the items were dolls and snacks.

When I arrived at the entrance of the alley, I met the gaze of someone who was crouched down playing with cats.

She was wearing a thick, black nun’s habit, but the contours of her body were unmistakable.

“Oh, Sister…”

It was Sister Amelia.

…Why is she here?

“Sister? Why is a sister like you in a place like this…?”

There were no knights around the Holy Maiden.

Could it be that she snuck out again?

“Well… I followed because the cats were meowing loudly and I got curious.”

I touched my forehead without saying a word.

After the Holy Maiden ran away without permission to chase Silly last time, the other high-ranking priests, including Sister Selena, punished her by forbidding her from leaving for two weeks.

But for the Holy Maiden to escape for such a ridiculous reason, she’s not even a rebellious teenager in her teens…

“Let’s go back to the monastery together… They’ll worry if they find out that the people of the sect have quietly left…”

“T-then what about the butterflies…”

The Holy Maiden looked at me, tears welling up in her eyes.

“…The butterflies?”

“It’s what the cats said… We only met less than an hour ago, and they started clinging to me…”

Just as she said, the cats were nestled in her arms or stuck to her.

One on top of her head… Another on her back… One lying on her lap… In total, seven cats, including the ones on her chest and feet, were pressing against her.

“…Aren’t cats supposed to be hostile creatures?”

The dictionary clearly stated that cats were hostile creatures.

In fact, when I approached them, attracted by the cats’ cute appearance, they became cautious and ran away.

But why is the Holy Maiden so popular?

“I’ll give the cats some treats later, so let’s go together for now.”

“Ah… Yes… But why did the priest come here? This should be the entrance to the back alley…”

I was about to say that I came for volunteering but quickly covered my mouth.

I often visited the back alleys, and I got caught off guard. It was a crime for a priest to go to the back alley.

“……Is that so? I was on my way back to the monastery, but I must have taken the wrong turn.”

“Then what about the toys and food you have in your hands…?”

Hmm, there’s no excuse for this.

Explaining that I’m going to donate them to an orphanage won’t work. The nearby orphanage is quite far away, and the toys I have in my hands would be considered creepy by girls who like doll-like things.

“To be honest, I was going to volunteer in the back alley…”

No matter how I explain it, I’ll be misunderstood, so I honestly confessed.

“Really…? Isn’t the back alley dangerous? Volunteering in a place like that…”

“In our doctrine, Mother teaches us to seek out and care for the sick wherever they may be. Even if the back alley is a dangerous place, there are lambs there that need care. I’m just following the teachings to care for the lambs in accordance with our doctrine.”

“Ah…”

Perhaps my explanation got through, as the nun opened her mouth in admiration.

Being part of the Jimosin Church, which enforces the spirit of a living saint, even if my actions are not understood by others, mentioning a few religious doctrines usually brings understanding.

…Come to think of it, I’m rolling around like a dog because of that goddess’s affiliation, right? It really makes me want to convert…

“Then, I’ll go too!”

“What? Sister, you’re in a penance period. It would be better to go back quietly…”

“I am a disciple of the Great Jimosin, and I must lead by following Mother’s will. Besides, going to the grand cathedral won’t change anything…”

No matter how much I try to force it, it won’t work.

It’s already a notorious and dangerous back alley, and am I really going to drag the most important person in the church inside?

I firmly decided to refuse, sticking to my principles.

“I’m sorry, Sister. Your safety within the church is prioritized above all else. I cannot allow you to enter a dangerous back alley against that principle.”

“Then I’ll do it…”

The Saint lowered her head and muttered when I bluntly rejected.

“Yes?”

“The priest is going to the back alley, breaking the rules, to see Sister Selena!”

She’s not just any chance, but a chance to see a nun.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the clever Saint’s remark.

“hahahaha… You must be joking, saying that to a nun…”

“It’s not a joke, it’s true. If you don’t go to the back alley with me, I’ll tell Sister Selena that the priest has been going to dangerous places.”

Her expression showed determination.

Is she really serious…?

As I looked at Amelia with that gaze, the Saint tilted her head.

“I’m serious.”

If I don’t become friends with that brat within a month, I’m doomed.

But if Sister Selena finds out that I’m going to the back alley, no matter how hard I try to persuade her, she will stop me.

Avoiding the piercing gaze of the Saint, I scratched the back of my head nervously.

“Alright, alright… It’s a good thing to do something good together. Let’s go together.”

“…! Yes! Let’s go together!”

Sigh… Why do I feel like I’m being pushed around by others these days…

In my past life, I lived proactively and had fun, but these days, I feel like a slave to fate, busy enough to be slapped by a graduate student.

What can I do… It’s my fault for displeasing the Goddess.

I was about to wrap up the things I had brought when a cat started rubbing against my leg.

“……?”

Meow.

I tried to give it a hint not to follow me, but it kept trying to follow.

Its gaze was fixed on the bread bag in my hand.

“Hey! Are you telling me even animals are treated better than me?!”

I threw away a piece of bread and led the lady into the alley.

Just you wait and see.

Once I become a high-ranking priest, I’ll make those who have looked down on me so far regret it…

With such determination, the lady and I wandered through the alley.