It was entering fall, but the Briton Kingdom’s capital was still warm.
Rhodan is in the middle of the continent.
Snow doesn’t fall during the winter, and the region is warm.
After cla.s.s ended, I was s.p.a.cing out, and the priest Iris approached me.
“If you’re free, can I have some of your time?”
“Sure, what is it?”
It’s rare for Iris to call out to me alone.
“It’s about you being from an eastern village, but are you a believer of the G.o.ddess Bridget?”
Iris is a priest.
Is this something like a solicitation to her religion?
This world has three main religions.
The Daguza Faith, which reveres Daguza as their chief G.o.d.
He’s a G.o.d of justice and war, a wild male G.o.d.
One of the major powers to the west, the Island Kingdom has made this their national religion.
The Bridget Faith, which reveres the G.o.ddess Bridget.
She’s the G.o.ddess of love and good harvests, and is mainly worshipped in the eastern region.
As she’s a G.o.ddess of good harvests, her popularity in farming districts is high.
Finally, there’s the Angas Faith.
They revere the G.o.d of commerce and production, Angas.
This is the national religion of Scottyard.
Briton is evenly split up between their believers, and has no national religion.
Since it’s the country in the middle of the continent, its citizens beliefs are split up.
“No. I guess I don’t really have any religion I believe in……”
While getting a bad feeling and telling her that honestly, Iris wrinkles her forehead.
“I thought that would be the case. If you feel like it, would you like to come to the church?”
I knew it.
I won’t say that there aren’t people who don’t worship G.o.ds, but they’re the minority.
Gathering believers is one of the jobs of a priest.
People like that are searched for and marked on.
“I think your problem with women, and your shameless lifestyle is one of the reasons that you can’t believe in any religion.”
“Shameless lifestyle……”
That’s a mean way to put it.
However Iris had a serious face when she said that.
“You can choose to pray to G.o.d, and calm your heart.”
I guess trying it out once is fine.
I reluctantly accept, and Iris took my hand and transferred.
The Bridget Faith’s Church.
It was a considerably large building, and the main building served more than one function.
Iris is from a countryside village to the east.
Not only from her environment but also from her personality, it was only natural that she was a believer in the Bridget Faith.
Iris and I offer a prayer in front of statue of the G.o.ddess.
Honestly, I was wondering if it was fine for me to pray or not.
Well, Bridget is a G.o.d of love.
Even if the Evil G.o.d prays to her, she’ll be open minded about it and forgive me.
I look at the girl prayer right next to me.
One of the members of the hero party, Iris.
She has a reserved personality, so she doesn’t stand out.
Since she’s in the middle of praying, I couldn’t see her round blue eyes.
Her loose priest’s garment can’t hide her voluptuous body figure, big chest and b.u.t.t.
Her well-featured face charms men.
As soon as Iris entered the church, the men got noisy.
When Iris prayed, the men in the back began to pray as if to match with her.
Even if these guys are believers, they’re still filled with worldly desires.
This is proof that nothing will be resolved even if you pray to G.o.d.
“You’re enthusiastic, aren’t you?”
I heard a voice call out to us from behind.
It was a 50 year old priest.
However, from the golden embroidery on their clothes, you could tell they were of high status.
“Supreme Priest Azulyla.” (TLN: アズライラ. Any suggestions?)
Iris finished praying, and lowered her head.
The men couldn’t just bear their desires right in front of the supreme priest either.
In low spirits, they moved to the distance.
“Are you someone who wishes to join our faith?”
“Ah, no. He says there’s no G.o.d he believes in.”
“I see.”
Azulyla understood with that short comment.
They spoke with a smile from beginning to end, and soon left.
Of course, the Supreme Priest must be busy.
This brings up the question of why the Supreme Priest of the Bridget Faith was in this city in the first place.
The Bridget Faith is widespread in various countries to the east, and there are many mountainous countries to the east.
Naturally, there’s nothing that can be called a large city.
Therefore, it was decided to make the head office in Rhodan.
On top of that, since they didn’t have a country that made them the national religion, they based themselves in Rhodan, which has a diverse population, to get an edge in the compet.i.tion for believers.
One of their strong points is that their head office is here, and so is their Supreme Priest.
Although they understand that the head office is moved to Rhodan for practical reasons, many eastern countries didn’t wish for it.
Religion is such a thing that when one tries to change a long standing rule, you’ll be faced with violent resistance.
Overcoming that resistance, the one who decided to move to Rhodan was the current Supreme Priest.
The results of that have unmistakably appeared.
Although by just slightly, the Bridget Faith has the highest number of believers in Rhodan.
The one who gleefully explained that to me was Iris.
No, well, it’s sort of ‘cause asked her for it though.
“Is there anything that newcomers have to do to enter the faith?”
“For newcomers, there’s nothing like that. There are a few things you need to do to go high than that though.”
“I don’t have any interest in that. Iris, are you one of the higher ups?”
“Tentatively, I have the status of a high priest.”
As if to not get to boastful, Iris prudently answered me.
“Isn’t that pretty high? Is it something that’d make you excited?”
“You have to have high talent for magic and combat ability, then you can become one. If you don’t have either of those, it’ll take time.”
This theology has its own peculiar way of grading people.
Gaining more believers. Contributions towards the faith.
It seems that they’re decided based on things like that.
The main magic of priests is restoration magic.
It can heal not only injuries, but illnesses too.
This doesn’t include strange or incurable diseases though.
People with high magical abilities are highly valued.
Thus, they’re treated well.
Like that, I ignored all kinds of explanations.
I don’t have that much interest in religion.
However in the future, I would end up being caught in a religious strife.