Chapter 670 - Backyard Of Stray Priest ㉖
This is the afterword for Chapter 25.
Finis Kingdom interior. A temple on the shore of the lake where the Water Dragon lives. This temple has the only function on the White Island. If the Demon Lord is to revive, an oracle is given in advance to the Priestess serving here.
A new resident has increased in that temple. A black cat. To be precise, a black cat and a low-level Demon Race member possessing that cat.
"Poppy, it's breakfast time."
"Nyaun."
While I was patrolling the warehouse to catch field mice trying to sneak into the temple in the form of a black cat, I was called by the Priestess in charge today from the doorway. When I approach her feet, I rub my head against her legs. When possessing a cat, most humans won't harm you if you do this. I don't know why a real cat does this kind of thing. Since the main body does it on its own when I'm just spacing out without thinking while possessing it, I learned it before I knew it.
"Poppy is really cute, isn't she? Good girl, good girl."
Saying so, she strokes my head and back. She picks me up just like that and carries me to the dining hall. In the dining hall, fresh goat milk is poured into a dish, and I can enjoy it to my heart's content. Milk in the morning, a reasonably sized fish for lunch, and fish for dinner too, but sometimes it's chicken or wild boar jerky that's been boiled soft and cooled. Sometimes it's a grilled fillet of trout caught in the lake. And a dish full of wine or fruit liquor and fruit cut into easy-to-eat pieces are provided. Since the food expenses are paid by the royalty of this country who brought the cat I possess, there is no lack.
Once a week, Gwyn, the Crown Prince who owns this region, and the Crown Princess, and sometimes the King and Queen appear and bring Highway Cookies and fruit.
The low-level Demon Race member named Poppy was enjoying an unexpectedly comfortable life to the fullest.
When Poppy first started living here, she spent time exploring the forest by the lake or riding on the Water Dragon's head to go to the small shrine near the ruins where the Ancient Priestess lived. When in such places, she returned to her original Demon Race form or possessed field mice or wild rabbits. However, as she became accustomed to interacting with humans, the time she spent inside the temple possessing the black cat increased. Above all, it was safe, and the humans were kind to her without ulterior motives. During the good weather seasons, there were times she went to the ruins of the Ancient Priestess by boat, taken by the Priestess. While the Priestess was offering prayers, she spent time on the island. She can use the small shrine freely. Since the Water Dragon appears, she spent time chatting. On the way back, she sometimes returned while looking at the lakeside riding on the Water Dragon's head separately from the Priestess.
Day by day, the time she spent inside the temple increased.
Sufficient meals are served three times a day at fixed times. She can sleep slowly in a safe bed. She is not exposed to the danger of her life every day. She had never sent such a blessed life before. Perhaps it's her nature, she was suspicious and wary that a day would come when everything would be overturned, but the Water Dragon encouraged her, saying there was no problem.
The humans around here greatly respect the person called the Ancient Priestess who once lived in the ruins in the lake, and they worship the Water Dragon she lived with as the guardian deity of the lake... not just the area around the lake, but also including the downstream areas... which brings great blessings, as a nation. In addition, a temple for the Priestesses serving the Water Dragon is built on the shore. The Priestesses regularly receive oracles at the temple, which helps the villagers' lives. On top of that, since even significant oracles concerning the whole White Island, starting with the revival of the Demon Lord, are given, the temple, the lake, and the Water Dragon were given special treatment as a set. In fact, the checkpoint on the highway entering the lake area is strictly monitored by the Finis Kingdom, and no one can enter the village except for traveling merchants whose faces are known. Except when the Royal Family approves, entering the village in large numbers at once is prohibited. Once, after receiving a life-threatening curse from the people of the Ruined Town, the Finis Kingdom Army began to be stationed at the lakeside fortress, and they had laid out a strict security system, including patrols.
"Were you cursed by humans?"
"That's right. But it was an undead who came from far south, and he came to steal the Priestess's treasure. I was in the way. Protecting the ruins where the Priestess lived and the treasure she left behind is my duty."
"Is that a contract?"
"No. I decided it on my own."
"Why? For humans?"
"Hmm. Rather than for humans, I guess it's for myself and the Priestess. The fact that I can live leisurely here is also thanks to the Priestess."
"Hmm."
"And Jeanne, too."
"Jeanne is the user of light magic, right?"
"That's right. She brought the water spirit to break my curse."
"T-The water spirit?"
"Yes, she's amazing. She's on good terms with the Four Great Spirits and also with dragons of other species."
Come to think of it, she was on good terms with that rough Fire Dragon too. She said all dragons are kind, and the Water Dragon is especially kind. Normally, dragons are enemies of humanity, just like the Demon Lord and high-level Demon Race. Despite that, she said they are kind. Thinking about it, the Fire Dragon, who would immediately come to kill you if you offended it, never once harmed her. I felt surprised, but it might be because that Jeanne was involved.
"You came with Jeanne, didn't you? What kind of person is she to you, Poppy?"
"That person..."
Poppy thought for a bit.
The one who proposed to live here and serve as the Water Dragon's interpreter is a royal named Eleanor or something. Jeanne, when I cried, let me drink wine and let me eat cookies... those were sweet and delicious! ...and jerky to comfort me. What she offered was a water flask, but I didn't think it had poison in it. Somehow, I thought she wouldn't do such a thing. I don't know the reason. However, it was also a fact that the presence of her softened the wariness toward the party. She's not just a kind human. I felt like she was a more significant existence. In fact, all the humans seemed to hold Jeanne in high regard. I've never seen him, but she might be an existence like the Demon Lord-sama I've heard of.
"I don't know. A special human, you say? I know she's in a different position from other humans, though."
"The Ancient Priestess was like that. Somehow, Jeanne resembles the Ancient Priestess."
Of course, Poppy has never met the Ancient Priestess the Water Dragon speaks of. The Water Dragon says she's a person from a long time ago. Undoubtedly, she's a human from before I was born. Even if they were the same, the region they live in is fundamentally different. I lived further north.
The Water Dragon originally lived here. And then humans came. Humans feared the Water Dragon and did not set out on the lake by boat. As long as they hunted on the lakeshore, the Water Dragon didn't mind. Even if ten or twenty humans made a settlement, it was no threat to his life. Sometimes, a wine barrel was placed on the lakeshore as an offering. The Water Dragon drank it, and the humans were happy to see the Water Dragon drinking the wine they offered.
Eventually, the number of humans increased, and the plains by the lake became a battlefield between humans. From around then, somehow, disputes began to occur. I think the trigger was something trivial. In any case, the Water Dragon and humans came to fight, and armed soldiers came to subjugate him on boats. After all, it's the Water Dragon. One-sided damage occurred on the human side. And then, the Ancient Priestess came.
The Ancient Priestess was strong. And she was wise. She boarded the island on a huge ship made by freezing the lake water with magic.
"Impudent for a human." The Water Dragon was angry and tried to attack, but that was the Ancient Priestess's plan. Just as he put half his body on the island, ice magic was fired in succession, and his retreat was cut off. On the contrary, even his lower body was trapped in the ice. Just when he thought he was finally going to be killed, the Ancient Priestess poured the wine she brought into a tub and smiled. Just like that, it became a drinking party. For the Water Dragon, it might have been desperate drinking. And he was persuaded over a long time by the Priestess who tried to convey things with gestures while showing pictures. I will suppress the actions of humans. So let's stop fighting.
Since then, the Priestess built a small shrine on the island and lived with the Water Dragon, becoming the guardian of the village. She fought against humans and monsters who invaded and protected the village. Sometimes the Water Dragon also cooperated. The Water Dragon became the guardian deity of the lake and the village by the lake. That continued even after the Ancient Priestess died.
"I think Jeanne is the reincarnation of the Ancient Priestess."
Unlike high-level Demon Race who revive even if they die, for low-level Demon Race, after death is immediately nothingness. She didn't even have the concept of reincarnation. The Water Dragon knew from hearing from the Black Dragon Child that humans have such a thought. The Water Dragon understood human language a little as a result of spending a long time with the Priestess. However, as expected, he doesn't understand difficult things or details. Since his vocal organs are different, he cannot speak human language. And because he is wise, he makes sure not to let it be known that he understands.
What is reincarnation? Poppy, who heard from the Water Dragon, asked why Jeanne is the reincarnation of the Ancient Priestess, regardless of whether reincarnation really exists.
"There's no reason. I just thought so."
The dragon thinks so. It must be right. Poppy was convinced.
"At least, while she is alive, I think Poppy's safety is guaranteed."
"But humans, you know, have short lifespans. Since their bodies are weak, they die immediately. That girl is young, probably not even twenty, so at most, she has about fifty or sixty years left, right?"
"Jeanne is over twenty."
"She has a baby face, then."
"No. It's because she wears the Dryad's Stone."
The Dryad's Stone. Poppy knew the effect of that stone. Trees are long-lived. There are individuals that have lived for thousands of years. The stone in which the Dryad sealed the life force of that tree. It enhances the recovery power of the wearer. As a result, they always become youthful and become long-lived for a human.
"Is that girl on good terms with Dryads too?"
"Not just that."
The Water Dragon listed the names of the spirits that would be involved with Jeanne within the range he knew. It's what he heard from the Black Dragon Child. The Black Dragon Child trusted and adored Jeanne as if she were his sister. Why? There's no reason. The dragon adores her. There's no mistake.
"The Ancient Priestess was like that too, wasn't she?"
"That's right. I think there was no distinction of species."
"But that girl, she does monster extermination daily, doesn't she?"
"That's probably like a hunter. You hunt too, don't you? I eat fish too."
"That's true too."
While talking with the Water Dragon, Poppy gradually learned how lucky she was. Low-level Demon Race females use Charm to enchant human males and small animals. That is a technique they learned to survive because of their low combat power, and it's not a technique to kill humans. In fact, she has used it to earn time to escape, but she has never killed a human. Because she doesn't eat humans. Besides, unnecessary killing is the source of disputes. If you were to kill someone poorly, humans would come for revenge in a group. Despite that, humans try to kill you without question as soon as they find you. I think the behavior of the high-level Demon Race is the cause, but for her, who is originally of a completely different species, it's extremely unreasonable. Wise Demon Race can interact in human language. However, even if they appeal their position, most humans won't listen. She met a human who not only overlooks her existence but also enters into a contract that guarantees her daily life and safety. What else can you call this but luck? It's like the Water Dragon meeting the Ancient Priestess.
"I've understood why you are on good terms with humans."
"That's a good thing. A time might come when their attitude changes, but they won't suddenly come to kill you. If there were such guys, they are completely different humans."
"Yeah, I understand. I just need to be careful of humans I see for the first time."
"Yes, I think that's fine. Well, if anything happens, let me know immediately."
"Thank you. I'll do that."
She never thought a life where a dragon backs her up would come. Moreover, she is being provided with meals and a bed by humans daily. What she returns to the Water Dragon and humans in return is accurate interpretation. She can do it without problem. Poppy finally gained the feeling that she had obtained a place of peaceful residence.