Chapter 89 - New Nightwear
I woke up long after the sun had risen.
Last night, Adolf-san rented out the Bird's Head Tavern for us, so we made quite a ruckus. Even after returning to the Ghost Mansion, we had another little party. Everyone is off work today. Feeling like there was no need for restraint, I ended up overdoing it a bit.
Dune is sleeping beside me.
The furnishings in my room have become quite substantial; I have a large bed, a chest, a table, and about two chairs. There's even a carpet on the floor. It's enough for one person to stay over.
I open the green curtains to let the sunlight into the room. The wind shaking the red-stained leaves feels a bit chilly, typical of autumn.
On the floor sits a basin filled with water. She said she wanted water because her skin gets dry, so I fetched some before going to bed last night.
Despite being able to cause a massive flood with her immense power, she worries about dry skin and wants a basin of water... I can't help but let a smile slip. It's hard to imagine that side of her from the way she looks sleeping with her eyes closed.
Her eyes snapped open.
"Good morning."
"Is it morning already? No, maybe it's noon."
She sat up and stretched. Since she didn't have any nightwear, I had her sleep in my work clothes. They're a plain gray with a dark brown belt and covered in patches, but since she was someone who got drenched in holy water during the Water Splashing Festival, she liked them, saying they felt clean. I should buy her some dedicated nightwear and soak it in holy water for her.
"I'm hungry."
After eating and drinking that much last night, doesn't she have any indigestion? I wonder if her stomach is connected to a lake.
"There'll be something in the kitchen, so let's eat there. Change your clothes first."
"Can I have these?"
"Sorry, I don't have any spare clothes myself."
The only priest garments I own are one set of ritual robes, two sets of clerical robes, two sets of work clothes, and one black winter coat. Other than that, I only have a few sets of undergarments and the two types of camouflage gear—Black-Purple and Green Marble—that I wear for monster hunting.
"Do you have time today? Shall we go buy some new nightwear for your stays while we sightsee around town?"
She nodded with a beaming smile. That settles today's plans.
I went out sightseeing with Beowulf as well, but it turned out to be quite a task. Dune was so excited she tried to enter every single shop.
Come to think of it, this is her first time in a human town. I suppose it can't be helped.
"Hey, hey, what's that shop?"
"That's a bathhouse. We have one at home, so we don't need to go in."
"Oh, that. Humans are so inconvenient, aren't they? Having to get into something that hot just to get clean."
"It's not just about getting clean. Keeping your body warm makes you less likely to get sick, and it makes your skin smooth. You sweat, drink clean water, and replace the moisture inside your body."
A water spirit probably wouldn't understand. After all, her body is made of water. If the temperature rises, she'd just evaporate.
"Replacing the bad water in the body? Shall I do it for you?"
She suddenly started patting my cheeks.
"Eh? What?"
"Try touching your own skin."
What on earth is she... wait, whaaa?! It's smooth? And it feels so hydrated.
"Jeanne. Your skin is glowing."
"Amazing, right?"
With a flick of her fingertip, a single drop of water flew off.
"Skin needs moisture. Don't get careless just because you're young."
"How did you do that?"
"It's simple. I replaced the dirty water in your skin with clean water. I added a tiny bit of extra moisture while I was at it."
"You can do something that incredible!"
"Well? Do you understand the power of water a little better now?"
"I'm moved! You are the ally of women all over the world!"
Beowulf had it done as well, but she got scolded to take better care of herself. She's in the town guard. It's only natural she's a bit rough around the edges.
I suppose you could call it a power of purification; apparently, she can heal not just skin, but injuries and illnesses to some extent. However, unlike recovery magic, it supposedly takes time. She probably heals the body gradually from the inside. I bet she could get rich just from this alone.
"That sort of thing is no good. If I get tainted by the secular world through money-making, my power will drop."
"Is the fluffy stuff (T/N: referring to sweets/snacks) okay?"
"Earning enough for snack money is fine."
I don't really understand her criteria.
Dune stopped in her tracks.
"Hey, hey, what's that shop? It's decorated so intensely."
It's a brothel. I don't know how to explain it.
"That is... a place where beautiful women sell 'spring' to men. So, they don't sell anything we can buy." (T/N: 'Selling spring' is a Japanese idiom for prostitution.)
Her expression went blank. Was that too much stimulation?
"Selling spring in autumn? What amazing magic! We must go see it!"
Oh no. The idiom didn't translate to a spirit. I tried to pull her hand to stop her, but instead, I was the one dragged all the way to the entrance.
"It's fine. It's a social study."
"Beowulf! Just because your colleagues use it often doesn't mean you should be so easygoing!"
"Hello—"
Ah, she went inside. I don't want to know what happens next.
"We're closed while the sun is high. Come back after dark. Oh, wait, Priest Jeanne-san. What's the matter? What's going on?"
The madam came out. She was wearing a dress made of thin red fabric—or rather, thin fabric in the shape of a dress. Being a former prostitute herself, she was quite alluring.
I briefly explained that I was guiding a young lady who was an acquaintance of Adolf-san, and she burst out laughing.
"Jennifer-sensei and Mary are here, why don't you join them?"
I looked at Dune, and she was nodding with a smile. If she's okay with it, I guess it's fine. Whatever happens, happens.
When we went to the room at the very back of the first floor, many of the ladies were gathered there. Since attending morning sermons at the church is difficult for the ladies who work late nights, the teachers from the orphanage take turns coming for 'on-site prayers.' I've been here many times, so I know my way around.
"Oh, Jeanne, what's the matter?"
I was asked the same thing as the madam. It was the seventh member of the Class of 175, Mary. She's scheduled to graduate and join us as early as tomorrow. She's a mage aspiring to be a pharmacist. She's already apprenticed to one of the town's pharmacists and is set to hunt monsters with us when gathering medicinal herbs.
When I gave the same explanation, she laughed loudly as well. Since we were here, I introduced Dune. They'll likely be eating and drinking together in the future.
There are circumstances. I'll tell you the details later.
Keeping secrets is a violation of our group's rules. When I signaled her with my eyes, she nodded with a serious face.
"So, what about you?"
"I brought some medicine for the ladies."
"Medicine?"
"For drinking too much alcohol."
"I see."
Mary's mother was a prostitute at this brothel, and her father is unknown. Her mother died of an epidemic, and she came to the orphanage from the brothel where she was born and raised. The reason she became a pharmacist is likely because she often saw the ladies at the brothel suffering from illness and wanted to help even a little.
Perhaps because she grew up watching the ladies' gestures that tickle a man's heart, she is incredibly popular. She has a cute face and a great figure. Even to me, a woman, she has a surprising amount of sex appeal. If Beatrix is a 'middle-aged man charmer,' Mary is a 'man-killer.'
When she was looking for a job, the number of male customers would increase just by her tending the shop, so there was a scramble for her among the town's pharmacists. After moving between various pharmacists, she settled on a place run by an old woman alone in a back alley. Apparently, the old woman got so busy due to the increase in male customers that she 'rejuvenated' herself, saying she couldn't afford to be senile anymore.
"Shall I go with you?"
"Is that okay? Thank you."
She gave me a tight squeeze. The soft, gentle sensation, different from Beatrix, almost made me daze out.
"Oh, Jeanne. What's the matter?"
It was Jennifer-sensei. I got the same reaction. When I explained the same way, she laughed loudly too.
"You can leave that young lady to the madam. I'm just about to examine someone who's feeling unwell; would you mind helping me?"
"Ah, yes, understood."
Following Jennifer-sensei and Mary to the room of the sick lady, I saw a woman in a light blue silk dress lying on the bed. She must have vomited quite a bit; she was pale and panting.
While I was soaking a towel in a basin and wringing it out to wipe her face next to the teacher who had started the consultation, Dune poked my shoulder. When I turned around, she was pointing outside the room. She wanted to talk outside.
"Is that girl sick?"
"It seems she drank too much. Apparently, she finished a whole bottle."
"Heh, humans are weak, aren't they?"
A spirit who drinks while hugging a barrel probably wouldn't understand the pain of someone weak to alcohol.
"Shall I lend a hand?"
"Can you cure it?"
"Detoxification is a specialty of water spirits. I can fix that much in an instant."
"I'll handle the reward somehow. Please, lend us your strength."
"Then, if you grant me one request, I'll help. But it'll be a pain later if people find out I used spirit power, so explain it well, okay?"
This sort of thing is usually Beatrix's territory. For now, let's ask Jennifer-sensei.
"Jennifer-sensei."
"What is it?"
"Could I have a moment?"
I had her come outside the room and asked about the condition; it seemed quite bad.
"Actually, there's this daughter of a pharmacist I know..."
"I'm Dune. Nice to meet you."
"Hello, Dune. I'm Jennifer."
"I think I can cure her with the medicine I have on hand. It'll be fine if you leave it to me."
Jennifer-sensei looked at Dune and then at me.
"I understand. What shall we do? Would it be better if you were alone with the patient?"
"Yes. Could you do that? Jeanne, wait a moment."
As Dune entered the room, Jennifer-sensei's face turned serious.
"You've made a very significant friend, haven't you?"
She took my hand and looked at my ring.
"Um..."
"You don't have to say anything. That girl is your pharmacist friend, right?"
"Ah, yes. She's an acquaintance of Adolf-san and my new friend."
"She seems to be an extremely excellent individual, but you shouldn't talk about her too openly to others."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
She gently let go of my hand.
She's completely figured it out. I wonder how she knew? But if it's Jennifer-sensei, it should be fine.
The door opened and Dune came out.
"She's fine now."
Looking inside the room, the lady whose color had returned was sleeping peacefully.
"Thank you. You're a very skilled pharmacist."
Being praised by Jennifer-sensei, Dune looked quite pleased. I hugged her, saying "Aren't you amazing?" and she smiled, stroking my head.
The treatment fee would be paid to Dune. It wouldn't be money. When I asked Dune, she said she wanted the dress the sick lady was wearing.
"If something like that is fine, I can give you two or even three. But compared to the price of medicine, it's a cheap item."
"It's fine. I like it. Since we're at it, maybe I'll take two in light blue."
"Are you sure that's enough? Then, come this way, I'll find some that fit you. Priest Jeanne-san. While we're at it, shall I explain what kind of place this shop is?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you. Please do."
It seems she found her target nightwear. But if she wears that in my room, I might not know where to look.
"Now, we shall begin the prayers. Jeanne, will you help?"
"Ah, yes. Beowulf, Mary. Please look after Dune."
"Got it. Leave it to us."
After the prayers were over, the madam beckoned me.
Did something happen?
"Your companion is amazing for someone so young."
Did she get her skin rejuvenated too?
"I've been in this business a long time and seen all sorts of people, but I've never met someone like your companion."
Uh oh. Has she seen through the fact that she's not normal?
"No, you see, I explained the work here to her. Then she said she's seen it done outdoors all the time, so she knows. On top of that, she asked why people do it inside a house like this in the middle of the night. She said we're not animals. I don't know what country she's from, but there are some very open-minded places in the world. It was quite a learning experience."
"I... I see."
Behind the madam, Beowulf was stifling a laugh. Most likely, what Dune knows is the mating of wild animals living around the lake. She probably thinks there's not much difference between humans and animals.