Chapter 8: A Morning at the Temple
A Gentle Awakening
Chirp chirp!
The sounds of birds outside the window filled the air with lively chatter.
Sunlight filtered through thin curtains, its heat softened into a gentle warmth.
Basking in that cozy glow, I rolled around on the bed.
My aimless wandering in the blankets ended only when Orphe’s morning greeting broke through.
“You’re still weak in the mornings. What if someone snatched you away?”
His affection for me seeped through his gruff tone, impossible to hide.
Still lying down, I stretched both arms toward the sky.
“Why~? With you around, who’d dare take me?”
My voice was playful.
Orphe let out a small smirk.
Orphe’s smile first thing in the morning? That’s pretty rare…
“Get up already. You need to eat breakfast.”
“Help me up!”
I kept my arms outstretched.
Orphe let out a dry laugh and leaned into my embrace.
Did he train again this morning?
The warm scent of his skin tickled my nose.
Even after everything, Orphe still hasn’t put down his sword.
The novel ends with its conclusion, but this world we live in is another reality.
He’s determined not to let go of his sword until his eyes close for good.
…Still, I’m a bit annoyed that the sword’s stealing so much of his time.
Am I the only woman in the world jealous of a sword?
But that thought scattered like dust in the wind with Orphe’s sudden move.
“Eek?!”
Orphe lifted me up in his arms.
Like a cicada, I clung tightly to his upper body.
He frowned.
“You’re heavy. Gained weight lately?”
“Who’s gained weight?!”
I pounded his chest with my fists.
What a jerk, really.
Guys like this need a proper scolding when the chance comes.
Charge!
Chu!
A peck.
A kiss so light it’s embarrassing to call it one.
A soft friction echoed between our lips.
Orphe, laughing at my attack, launched a counter.
Another intense clash…
I let go of his neck and grabbed his face.
We threw ourselves into scolding each other, over and over.
Aside from Orphe’s carefully prepared breakfast going cold, it was the best morning.
A Rude Awakening
I jolted awake, startled.
A dream?
The room was as quiet as it was before I slept.
Glancing to the side, I saw Orphe’s spot on the floor was empty.
Probably off for his morning training.
The novel described him as a training fanatic, after all.
Maybe he’s doing something like ten thousand grateful sword swings a day.
Thanks to this kind-speech and good-deed curse, I can’t even sleep in, yet he’s up even earlier.
Guess that’s the secret to his instant-sleep superpower.
‘Never sleeping in, always early to bed… like my grandpa.’
The silly thought eased the shock from that dream.
What kind of absurd, outrageous dream was that?
[The dreams in the Temple of Dreams carry the power of foresight.]
Yeah, bullshit.
I’d sooner flirt up a storm than date that brainless, charge-addicted cider-pathic guy.
That’s it, I’ve decided.
At the academy, I’ll make female friends.
I’ll help Orphe only when he needs it and spend the rest of my time with my girl friends.
No matter how much of a harem protagonist he is, he can’t break through that.
[What if all your girl friends fall for Orphe too?]
Why does this god only spout negative nonsense?
Shut up!
You’re making me anxious for no reason!
Orphe’s Return
“You awake?”
“Eep!”
Orphe walked in through the door.
That dream I’d just pushed out of my mind came rushing back.
Unbelievable, even now.
Me, getting all cozy with a guy like him?
Ridiculous.
I forced a smile and offered a morning greeting.
“Did you have pleasant dreams last night?”
‘You’re up at the crack of dawn, aren’t you?’
“I don’t dream.”
Oh, really?
I guess deep sleepers don’t dream much?
This guy can sleep like a rock even without a bed.
…Still, as the Temple of Dreams’ guardian knight, saying that so bluntly feels a bit off.
Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Orphe just stared at me blankly.
“No breakfast?”
Gotta eat.
My head and stomach were empty, leaving that dream stuck in my mind.
Fill the stomach first, think later.
I gripped the bed’s edge with both hands and got up.
The corn soup for breakfast was pretty great.
Time to Leave
“Leaving already?”
Monastic Priest Bonumia asked with a regretful tone.
“Yes. Unfortunately, we need to head to the academy for enrollment soon.”
‘For real, I played with those kids for over three hours, let me go.’
We spent the morning and had lunch before leaving the temple.
The academy’s enrollment started in the afternoon.
So we stayed at the temple during the free time.
“Sister! Let’s play house, I’m the mom!”
“No, she’s playing tag with us!”
“Who are you to decide? She’s playing with us!”
“Kids, one at a time…”
“No, she’s drawing with us!”
“Rachel, you traitor!”
“Kids, please listen…”
I casually agreed to play with the kids and ended up drained.
Normally, I wouldn’t have, but maybe it’s this kind-speech, good-deed system’s fault.
The path to kindness is a thorny one.
I had to play with every group of kids before I could escape.
And what was Orphe doing?
“Wow! Black-haired brother is so cool!”
“Look at his shoulders, as big as my head!”
“Hahaha!”
Kids talked to him or not, he was quietly training in a corner of the temple’s backyard.
Some boys watched with curiosity, chattering, but he didn’t react.
Impressive focus.
We each spent the morning like that, and now it was really time to go.
Phwee-hee!
Orphe’s black horse snorted, as if urging us on.
Bonumia couldn’t hide his reluctance.
“The kids will really miss you. They don’t meet new people often.”
“Partings feel bittersweet because there’s no promise of meeting again. If you pass on my regards to the kids, maybe they’ll perk up.”
‘Whew, tough day, let’s never meet again.’
But Bonumia seemed to misunderstand.
“Oh, so you’ll visit again?”
What?
I said pass on my regards, not that I’m coming back!
Sometimes, you gotta cut ties cleanly.
Making promises you can’t keep out of pity is just cruel.
“Of course. I look forward to seeing the kids again.”
‘Bye~ forever~!’
Damn it, seriously.
Kind-speech system, you crossing the line?
Didn’t you hear my thoughts?
[The God of Justice says visiting again would fix it, no?]
Guess other gods can talk now that we’re out of the temple.
No, that’s not the point.
I’m not coming back!
A Child’s Gift
That’s when it happened.
A girl burst through the temple door, running toward us.
A flustered priestess watched from the doorway, probably tasked with keeping the kids in check.
The little girl scurried up and stood before me.
She shyly hid her hands behind her back.
I looked down at her and asked softly,
“What’s up?”
‘What’s this?’
The girl raised her head at my voice and revealed what she was hiding.
A bracelet woven from flowers.
Irises and unknown wildflowers from around the temple, braided together.
Her name… right, Marta. It was Marta.
Without a word, Marta pulled my right arm toward her.
“Sister… we made this for you.”
She slipped the flower bracelet onto my wrist as I let her guide my hand.
Her teary eyes looked up at me.
“Take this and come back to play, okay?”
Oh, that’s cheating.
How could anyone say no to this?
I gently wiped the tears forming in Marta’s eyes with my thumbs.
“Thank you, Marta. If I return, you’ll be the first I visit.”
‘Don’t cry, kid.’
“…Really? Promise?”
“Yep, shall we pinky swear?”
‘Ugh.’
Marta and I hooked pinky fingers.
Satisfied, she returned to the temple.
Bonumia pulled out a handkerchief, wiping sweat from his forehead.
“Goodness, the kids were quite rude.”
I shook my head.
How could kids be at fault?
Being loud and chaotic is just their nature.
I waved off Bonumia’s words with a smile.
“Thanks to you, the order’s future is bright. Please keep that light shining.”
‘The kids were cute, but don’t spoil them too much.’
“It’s thanks to you, Saintess. Safe travels to the academy.”
With Bonumia’s farewell, we left the temple.
Finally, the academy—the novel’s main stage.
With half excitement, half worry, I quickened my steps.