Chapter 60

“The content of the lecture is quite diverse.”

This world is different from the original one, but that doesn’t mean the ‘differences’ are fully accepted as common sense.

It hasn’t been that long since the great disaster caused by the Gate occurred. For ordinary people, knowing too much about the Gate isn’t really necessary for daily life.

Especially Hunters, who either had their childhood before the Gate disaster or were already adults at that time. No one in the association expects those individuals to have highly specialized knowledge or to have thrown out all their preexisting common sense as soon as they became Hunters.

Even if they’ve passed the licensing exam, they’re still newbies. It means they need to relearn some more specialized knowledge.

In the lecture that Ria and I attended, a point that came up particularly often was—

“—So, what’s especially important in dealings with Gnomes is the processing techniques for mana stones. In fact, we’re also trying hard to obtain that technology somehow….”

—Indeed, it was all about different races and different civilizations.

This falls within the interests of the Church.

Not all religions might be like this, but most seem to think their gods possess the ultimate truth of the world. In other words, they make the very concept of divinity into a truth.

Consequently, religions want to spread that ‘truth’ elsewhere. Whether through violent means or not, the outcome remains the same. Until recently, they hadn’t been very successful, to be honest.

But unfortunately, even if there are those beyond the Gate who think that Saint Power is the power of the gods, each person’s imagined form of the divine is different. Naturally, that complicates communication, and thus, ‘missionary work’ hasn’t been very successful until now.

…The problem is that a ‘case’ has arisen.

There’s an issue with them thinking I’m a Goddess rather than a Saintess, but for now, it seems the Church considers that a ‘great leap.’ Annoyingly so.

Perhaps these people are giving me such lectures because that’s what the Church hopes for.

“Learning the technology isn’t just about poking the Gnomes’ pride. Considering the case of Dwarves, who have quite a bit of exchange with those Gnomes, it’s probably not going to be easy for a while longer.”

Gnomes excel at processing mana stones, and in fact, the origin of that technology is the Dwarves.

It’s somewhat difficult to determine superiority between the two—but usually, Gnomes are said to be better at small, delicate processing techniques, while Dwarves shine in making large machinery.

If there’s a problem, it might be that there’s a limit to the size of the Gates.

Even if they create large equipment, if it can’t be disassembled to go through, it’s generally useless. What’s the point in buying something you can’t even use?

Furthermore, most of the Dwarves’ ‘technologies’ can be replaced with modern technology. Things like giant drills, cannons, or tanks.

Until now, those were almost monopolized as Dwarven technology according to the standards of that world, but with the opening of the Gates, the story has changed quite a bit.

“Items with runes embedded in mana stones that can delicately control energy with just a few words. Most of them have limited usage, but they’re incredibly important materials!”

Thanks to that, technology that originally should have been much more advanced—based on Dwarf and Gnome standards—is gradually being overshadowed by Gnome technology since the opening of the Gates.

Since the fields specialized for trading with each other are different, it’s difficult to catch up overnight. After all, light industry and heavy industry are quite different fields in many ways.

Thus, Dwarves’ complaints have been slowly rising recently—that was the content of the lecture.

Keep this in mind when dealing with the two races.

…Honestly, I already knew most of it.

*

The content of the class was meaningful and good.

What was just casually explained in the novel becomes a lecture as detailed as a university elective.

I’ve always been quite interested in subjects like history.

Especially stories close to these subjects tend to become just interesting ‘tales’ when you’re not fixated on grades.

“Do you find that fun?”

Once back at the Church, I was making a pleasantly happy face when Ria asked, clearly taken aback.

Ah, is that so?

You’ve just managed to escape being a high schooler.

Then again, I think you would feel a shiver just from the idea of a lecture. The time when you face exams… well, for me, it was during college, but the truth is neither of us has experienced college life yet.

“I actually enjoy listening to those kinds of stories!”

“Is that so….”

As I said that and carefully tucked away the notes with scribbles into the bookshelf on the desk, Ria looked a bit surprised.

“Didn’t I mention? Even if it looks like this, I pay pretty close attention in class, you know? My only bad grades are in Theology.”

“But shouldn’t your grades be the best in Theology since you’re a nun?”

“Looking at the other nuns’ grades, I wouldn’t be able to say that at all.”

It’s because I’m often openly atheistic that there’s a slightly hostile atmosphere, but there really are a few who have lower grades than me. Moreover, looking at the overall grades, I can’t say theirs are exceptionally high either.

I shrugged at the thought of the average grades of the nuns.

“Regardless, it’s still interesting.”

I’ve imagined it before.

The original Earth has probably already been explored by countless explorers. No matter where it is, in the end, it can’t be anything beyond a tourist attraction.

However, if it’s another world, the story changes.

If there are many worlds beyond the Gate, then each of those worlds is worth adventuring and exploring. Although my previous life didn’t involve anything related to that, just that thought is enough to stir my enthusiasm.

…Of course, that enthusiasm is just a fantasy. I can already foresee how hard it would be to actually explore myself.

So, for now, I’m satisfied just with learning.

“……?”

Huh?

For a moment, I got lost in thought and gazed intently at Ria’s face. Normally, I would have turned my gaze away, but—

For some reason, Ria was looking around as if feeling a bit uncomfortable.

“What’s up? Am I making you shy by staring at you like this?”

“Uh, no, but don’t you think people get awkward when someone stares at them directly?”

Why?

It didn’t seem like that at first. If anything, didn’t she look at me more when I averted my gaze?

Hmm.

“What? Why?”

For some reason, I felt happy.

Since I’ve usually held a submissive position, discovering something like this made me feel good.

Moving closer to where Ria was sitting on the bed, I purposely tried to make eye contact by following her face around.

If Ria had been looking straight at me, I would have avoided her gaze, but since she was now caught in my gaze, I had no reason to feel shy.

“What? Is it too pretty to look at directly? Huh?”

“Shut up, you idiot.”

“Pfft.”

In the end, unable to hold back, Ria pressed my cheeks with both hands.

However, even with my cheeks squished, I wore a triumphant smile. After all, it’s the party that’s trying to stop that usually loses.

“……”

Ria seemed to realize that too, and she said, “Your cheeks are soft no matter when I touch them. Are you made of rice cakes?”

“Do you think I’ll get angry just because you compared me to a rabbit, a deer, and rice cakes?”

When I replied in disbelief, Ria let go of my cheeks.

Like that, I went back to my spot and tidied up my belongings. There wasn’t really anything to do; I had already put the books away.

“By the way, Ria.”

Suddenly, something came to mind, and I looked at Ria.

“Huh?”

“How long do you plan on becoming a Saint Candidate?”

“Why?”

Ria blinked at my question.

“Well, I think I’ll have to stay at the Church for quite a while since things have turned out this way.”

Maybe I could quit after everything settles down and I’ve aged a bit.

By that time, I would likely be traveling here and there. Whether in this world or another, it wouldn’t matter. Whatever happens, it would probably be after everything gets resolved.

The question is, when that might be.

…Things like divine responsibilities or whatnot, it’s all just talk in scripts—this isn’t fiction.

I appreciate the sentiment of defending me. Even the part where she volunteered regarding the stalker issue.

However, that doesn’t mean I can let her be stuck in the convent for life. Spending my youth here isn’t better than leaving when it’s appropriate and returning to society.

As my leisurely moving hands halted.

“……”

Ria having a boyfriend.

This is the problem with fantasies.

If I imagine my crush having another boyfriend, I get a bad feeling. It’s a different vibe from BSS or NTR. Somehow, it just feels… off.

“……Don’t worry while I’m a Saint Candidate.”

Ria spouted that as if it was a given. And then I heard her flopping onto the bed.

While I’m a Saint Candidate, huh.

…Well, I suppose it’s not entirely impossible for me to handle it.

I let out a light sigh and shoved my bag under the desk.