Ascendance of a Bookworm

Volume 6 Chapter 17: The Annoying and Out-of-control Blue Priest

After I made my recovery, we continued the Spring Prayer for the remaining noble mansions. The rest of the trip went on smoothly and we returned to the temple in one piece.

“Welcome back, Sister Myne,” Wilma greeted me with a smile.

“Glad to see that you could do your job after all!” Delia teased me.

“Thank you all for looking after my chambers during the time I was gone. Is everyone well?”

My whole body relaxed when I saw Delia and Wilma in my chambers. This was where I was the most comfortable

Fran and Gil were going in and out of my chambers, bringing in my luggage. On the other hand I went to my room, and was assisted by Delia out of my noble clothes for travelling and into my usual shrine maiden robes.

“I’ll go prepare a warm bath for you.”

“Thank you, Delia.”

Delia, Wilma, and Rosina all tried their best to work together to unpack the stuff in my luggage and organise them neatly, but my luggage was gathering in my chambers at a greater speed. Soon enough, my chambers looked just like the mess it was in before my departure.

“Sister Myne, please forgive me for disturbing you, I am here to convey the High Priest’s message that he needs you in his quarters now. It is regarding you returning home,” Fran took a break from unloading my luggage to quickly report to me on the second floor. He sounded a bit worried when he said this.

I was waiting for the day I would finally get to return home with bated breath since I had finished my job for the Spring Prayer. The High Priest calling me over to discuss it literally made me spring up from my chair with anticipation.

“I will meet him now.”

“Rosina, may I have you accompany Sister Myne? I must return to unloading the boxes.”

As I made my way down the stairs, I noticed that Fran and Hugo were working together to carry some luggage; they appeared to have gotten closer over the Spring Prayer. Ella was carrying the large bags with ease, she was quite strong because she had to handle heavy pots as a chef. I was surprised at how strong Gil was despite his small stature, he must be a lot stronger now that he got to eat more and did some laborious work in the workshop and forest.

“I will be leaving my chambers to meet the High Priest. All the best on your work everyone.” I said before taking my leave.

Just outside the noble section of the temple there were a couple of carriages parked there. I saw many gray priests unloading of luggage, and some of the priests from the workshop were there too. I recognised one of them carrying a large box.

“I’m back. How is the orphanage doing?” I asked the gray priest and he looked surprised before giving a gentle smile.

“Welcome, Sister Myne. The children have been learning lots. I’m sure they will be glad to welcome you at the orphanage.”

“I will be happy to see them too.”

After that the gray priest stepped aside to let me through, I nodded back to express my thanks and walked away as quickly as possible so that they could get back to work.

“High Priest, I am here because you called. Huh… Brother Sylvester?”

“Finally, you’re here Myne.”

Sylvester was acting so unrestrained in the High Priest room like this was his own home. He was lying on the long couch and eating the fruits that were meant for guests. But the High Priest acted as though he wasn’t there and just continued ordering the gray priests who were moving around his luggage.

“Um, High Priest. You called for me, right?” I asked him.

The High Priest turned around and I saw his dead tired face, he then told me to sit down. I walked to the table and sat down. Sylvester shifted towards me.

“It was me who called for you. I want to go on an excursion and you have to accompany me Myne, you’ll be my guide.”

“…What on earth are you talking about?”

I turned towards the High Priest to ask for an explanation, but Sylvester interrupted him before he could say a word.

“Of course a guide will guide me, right? The first stop will be the orphanage, then your workshop and finally I want to take a look around the forest the orphans frequent,” he listed his demands so nonchalantly.

Whatever he said made me anxious.

None of the blue priests had expressed interest in the orphanage or the workshop until now. And the High Priest himself only read the reports about them without setting foot inside. Now there was an odd one, called Sylvester, who wanted to pay a visit. I couldn’t figure out his intentions.

I tugged on the High Priest’s robes for help.

“Calm down, Myne. I will be there too. I felt like this would be a good time to see the all the work you have done.”

I sighed out of relief and placed my hand on my chest. Sylvester probably won’t go crazy with the High Priest there.

“Except the forest though…” the High Priest continued. “The Noble’s District one should suffice for you.”

He gave Sylvester a sharp glare, but there some exhaustion mixed in there, he was probably tired from the trip.

“Na-ah, I want to go to the forest. I want to see her restaurant too.”

Sylvester made another addition to his itinerary.

“The restaurant is not done yet. I previously mentioned that the chefs are still being trained. But if you don’t mind me asking - High Priest, are blue priests even allowed in the lower city’s forest?”

Going to the Italian restaurant by a carriage and a blue priest entering the lower city’s forest were two completely different things. The Noble’s District has its own forests, reserved only for the nobles. It was heavily guarded that any commoners that trespassed it would be executed on the spot. Just like the High Priest said, Sylvester could just go to the one in the Noble’s District.

“I would like to see what the commoner’s forest has. Nothing will happen. A commoner can’t recognise a noble anyways. And even if I do, I’m confident that I can protect myself, so no issue there.”

Sylvester flexed his arm and slapped it, giving a proud grin. He was really excited about it, but there was no way we were going to do whatever he wants.

…High Priest, I’m relying on you to watch him.

I turned my gaze to the High Priest with an expecting look, but he just rubbed his head he was in pain.

“…Fine, you’re free to do so. Myne, you just need to report his every move.”

Sylvester and the High Priest’s energy were on two completely different levels; Sylvester was awfully energetic, while the High Priest looked so exhausted that it seemed like he didn’t want to think anymore.

I was shocked by the difference in these two, and that I had been assigned as Sylvester’s guide without any other say.

I feel more like a ‘babysitter’, seriously.

“Please take your leave, both of you.”

The High Priest had dismissed us, but I clinged onto his sleeve tighter.

I came here because I heard that I could return home soon, did I not? I didn’t just come here to be forced to become a guide.

“High Priest, I heard that you wanted to discuss the details about me returning home. When will I be able to leave the temple?”

I noticed that the light in the High Priest’s eyes shook before he looked back at me.

“Yes, I did… It hasn’t been long since you passed out. Since your family would be unable to provide you with the proper care if you were to fall ill, you will rest here for three days. If you manage to get by without collapsing, you can leave the next morning. Do tell this to your family. And rest well for our sake.”

“Ok!” I roared with joy.

I was about to take my leave with Rosina when Sylvester suddenly stood up and approached me with the gray priest who was probably his attendant.

“Ok, let’s go, Myne.”

“Brother Sylvester?”

“We’re going to my room.”

“Um… But how about my rest…?”

I shifted my gaze to the High Priest, signaling him for help. But that was futile because just gave me a shrug and shook his head, telling us to leave. Sylvester was glad to do so, but I wasn’t.

Rosina and I exchanged looks of defeat, and we had no choice but to follow him.

“Hurry up, it’s right there.”

Apparently Sylvester’s room was next to the HIgh Priest’s. I was surprised when he opened the door to his room. It was almost barren, it only had the bare minimum of furniture. I was expecting an man-child like Sylvester to flood his room with the things he liked or things related to his hobbies.

“Myne, I know you’re going to the forest with the orphans too. You probably wouldn’t want the High Bishop to know that, hm?”

Sylvester gave a haughty smile, he was totally trying to blackmail me.

The reason why I was avoided by the blue priests was because of the High Bishop’s obvious disdain for me. I frowned, feeling suspicious about Sylvester’s intentions.

“Why are you so determined to go to the forest…?”

“To hunt.”

I was surprised by his answer.

“To hunt? Where did you hunt previously?”

I still didn’t understand why he insisted on going to the forest in the lower city.

“Of course the one in the Noble’s District.”

“Then just do your hunt there again.”

“No way, it’s so boring.” Sylvester complained about all the problematic things he had to go through in the Noble District’s forest.

First, you needed to seek an approval from the overman prior to the visit, and you could only enter at the fixed time assigned to you. You couldn’t just walk into the forest whenever you felt like it. Though there was an important hunting competition held annually, there were limitations to your hunt because of the noble hierachy. The forest was basically a means for the nobles to praise and suck up to the archduke, there was no real fun there if you wanted to hunt seriously.

I had to agree that the nobles’ forest was much too strict with its rules for Sylvester to enjoy. He was a child stuck in a man’s body, he desired a place to challenge himself, and people who would sincerely praise him, and of course somewhere to enjoy hunting.

“I understand your sentiments, but it will be difficult for you to enter the lower city’s forest with such clean clothes.”

“Then you shall get me some dirty clothes from the lower city.”

“…I’m assuming that you will have your attendants with you, will you make them wear dirty clothes too?”

It was an easy feat for me to get some cheap clothes from a thrift shop, but I didn’t know how many sets he required. But it seems like Sylvester was confused from my question.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking how many people will accompany you.”

“No one. I need attendants in the temple but not in the lower city.”

My gaze shifted to the empty space between Sylvester and his attendant who was pouring the tea for us.

“…Is the High Priest aware of this?”

“I don’t need Ferdinand’s permission, do I? It’s true that you are a commoner he is protecting, but it’s not like I need his permission for this.”

He ended off with a confident statement of “Everyone knows that.”

My head dropped down. Of course, it’s not like a blue priest needed the High Priest’s permission for everything.

Even so, I couldn’t help thinking that just like me, someone needed to watch this Sylvester person constantly for his own sake.

“Well then, our first stop will be the orphanage, then the workshop. We’ll meet again in two days.”

“…Um, Brother Sylvester. If you don’t mind me asking, will you be going to the orphanage to seek flowers from a shrine maiden?” That was the only reason that popped to mind why a blue priest would want to visit the orphanage.

But my question made Sylvester’s expression change to one of ire and disgust.

“Myne, children shouldn’t talk about that. So you want to start chirping ‘poowee’ that badly again?”

“No, I didn’t mean anything bad. It’s because I’m the orphanage director…”

I was going to hide away the shrine maidens old enough to offer flowers, if Sylvester was going to ask for flowers. Thankfully, based on his reactions, it didn’t seem like he was going to do that.

“Do you seriously think I’m so desperate for a woman that I would turn to the orphanage?”

“Huh? Don’t blue priests usually do that?”

It would appear that the whole time I was under the false belief that the blue priests targeted the gray shrine maidens because it was difficult for them to leave the temple.

I tilted my head, interested to know more. Sylvester paused for a moment and bit his lip, before clearing his throat.

“…With my charisma and looks, a man like me can easily find a woman in the Noble’s District.”

“Sure.”

As long as he wasn’t harbouring some licentious thoughts towards the gray shrine maidens, I had no issue listening to Sylvester boasting how attractive he was to women in the Noble’s District.

I gave him my assurance that I would get him a set of dirty clothes and departed with Rosina.

~~~

After I was back in my chambers, I told my attendants who were busy with my luggage to gather. I needed to tell them about the plans with Sylvester and the High Priest.

“The High Priest and another blue priest will be visiting the orphanage and workshop in two days.”

“In two days?!” My announcement made everyone shout in unison.

It was no surprise that everyone acted this shocked. But only Delia remained unbothered because she didn’t go to those places.

This had been a very abrupt plan from a noble. Normally such plans would have been told in advance because a lot of things needed to be prepared. But the problem now was that Sylvester had fixed the date way too soon.

“Please make sure the orphanage and workshop is spick and span. Other than that, everyone will continue with their daily routine.”

There wasn’t anything secretive in the workshop that we needed to conceal. Even if there was, I knew myself best, that I was bad at hiding things and things always turned for the worst. So it would be a wise decision for me to be honest from the start.”

“Sister Myne, if a blue priest is visiting the orphanage…” Wilma didn’t finish her words as her face flushed pale.

I reassured her with a shake of the head.

“Don’t worry, Wilma. They will not be going over to demand for flowers. They only wish to look around the workshop and the newly restructured orphanage.”

Though Wilma nodded back, she still looked very frightened. Even more so now that she was trembling.

I couldn’t bear to see her like this, but there was little I could do since Sylvester had put his foot down on this. There was no way to avoid his visit.

“Wilma, I do understand your concerns, but you cannot avoid this as you are the overseer of the orphanage, you need to be there as they might have questions.”

“I understand.”

Wilma clasped her hand, knitting them together tightly.

Disappointment overwhelmed me for not being able to help Wilma.

“Gil, is Lutz or Leon around? If either one of them are, please call them over. I would like to tell them to notify Gilberta Company about the upcoming visit.”

“They’re both in the workshop. I’ll go over and see if they’re free now,” And hence Gil left for the workshop.

I walked downstairs to the first floor’s hall to meet Lutz and Leon. My attendants dispersed and proceeded to pack away the empty boxes into the male attendant rooms across so that the room would look more spacious and presentable.

~~~

“Hi, Myne. It’s nice to see you again.”

“Lutz! It’s been a while!”

I dashed up to Lutz to give him a big hug. This was the longest I had gone without seeing him because of the Spring Prayer.

“So much has happened I don’t know where to begin,” I lamented. “I feel so drained.”

“Sounds like you’ve been through a lot,” said Lutz, but before I could lament the details about what I had been through, someone called out behind me.

“Can you both leave the talking for later and tell me why I was called over too?”

“Oh, Leon is here too.”

“I have been the whole time.”

Leon was the Ieherl that the Gilberta Company requested to be trained as a waiter under Fran over the winter. Though his coming of age ceremony was around the corner, he looked quite small for his age, which made him look like a kid trying to act like a grown up. Benno reassured me that he was a well-trained Ieherl he hired, but I didn’t see him in a good light because he was quite rude whenever I came looking for Lutz for comfort.

“You don’t need to be here, Leon. You can go back.”

Lutz patted my head.

“Myne, calm down. You need to tell the Gilberta Company about something important, right?”

I nodded my head and looked up to Leon while clutching onto Lutz.

“In two days, the orphanage and workshop will be visited by the High Priest and another blue priest. And the blue priest had expressed interest in the Italian restaurant too. Please inform Benno about this. He will surely want the opportunity to meet more nobles.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

Leon knelt on the floor and raised his arms across his chest smoothly. Though he always got annoyed whenever I acted clingy to Lutz, he was still very serious when it came to work affairs.

“That is all I needed to tell the Gilberta Company. I only need to tell Lutz another personal request,” I said.

Hearing this Leon stood back up and gave me an annoyed look and left after saying “I’ll take my leave first.:

“What do you need me to do?”

“The High Priest told me to rest here for three days and that I can return the next morning if I don’t collapse in the meantime. Do you mind telling this to Mum and the rest of my family?”

“No problem. But really… it’s been a while, huh?” Lutz’s voice dipped, I could hear the tremble in his voice as he tried to hold back his emotions from pouring out. I hugged him back.

The only reason why I was able to survive not being able to go home was because Lutz and Tuuli still visited me and I could hug them for comfort.

“I also need some worn clothes the size of Died. Something that a muscular and slightly tall guy can wear.”

“…May I ask who it is for?” Lutz was curious.

I didn’t find his question odd because anyone else would have asked the same too. But I didn’t know if it would be a good idea to say it aloud, so I stood on my toes and stretched myself to whisper it into Lutz ear’s as discreetly as possible.

“It’s for the same blue priest who is visiting in two days.”

Lutz gave an odd expression that I didn’t know how to describe. After a moment of silence he muttered out a “He’s a weird guy, isn’t he…?”

“Yep, really weird. He wants to go to the lower city forest to hunt.”

He was so weird that he would wear dirty and worn clothes just to hunt in the lower city’s forest.

Lutz’s face scrunched up when he realised that he would be one guiding Sylvester to the forest, and I did feel bad for him. I wouldn’t want to do it too.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now,” he let out a sigh, “I’ll go buy the clothes tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Lutz.”

After settling that matter, we proceeded to discuss the progress the printing press with Johann’s letter pieces were making. We also had more paper in stock because the Myne Workshop had resumed business.”

“I plan to start production again soon. Do you know if the Ink Guild has made some yet?” I asked.

It didn’t matter if you made enough paper to fill the world if you didn’t have the ink to print. If we couldn’t outsource them we would have to gather soot and make them ourselves.

“They have. Master Benno told me that they have hired the craftsmen to make the plant-based ink. Oh, the head of the Ink Guild has changed.”

“Yeah, I heard. The High Priest told me of the previous head’s passing,” I replied, there was a silence after that as I clinged onto Lutz tighter. I wasn’t going to tell him that he was killed by the nobles that were after me. No way.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nobles are scary.”

“Huh? You mean like the blue priest who is coming over tomorrow?” Lutz asked in shock, and that earned him a giggle from me.

Nobles after me were scary, but Sylvester was scary in another way.

“I guess so, he’s kind of a weird noble. I can never tell what he’s thinking, and that scares me. The first time we met he poked my cheek and made me chirp ‘poowee’.”

“What even?”

I told Lutz everything Lutz had done, like how weird he was when we first met and all the crazy things he did during the Spring Prayer. Lutz found this hilarious and kept laughing. He suddenly gave a cheeky smile and poked my cheek.

“C’mon, Myne. Give me a chirp.”

“Lutz, you’re such a bully! Poowee”

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