I'm Playing as a Nun.

Giving a Vampire to a Cat (3)

At midday, warm sunlight sneaks in through the gap of the drawn curtains. It's already high noon, but the room is still dark.  

"Levi, do we really not have to worship today?" 

Aizen asked me, standing half-asleep. 

"Yes, this isn't a church. It can't be helped." 

I answer with difficulty, equally disheveled. 

I should have woken up first, but I woke up later than Aizen.

"Wouldn't it be better to do it simply?" 

"...It's okay. God won't punish us for not doing it for a day or two. Paellia is not that narrow-minded."

Aizen looked slightly uncomfortable at my blunt answer but soon began spacing out.  

I don't see a reason to worship diligently in a space other than a church. Worship is just one of the things I do out of obligation since I still don't have much faith in religion.

While I was blankly blinking my eyes in the quiet atmosphere, Rune, who woke up earliest despite going to bed last, suddenly opened her mouth. 

"Um, everyone... From what time should I guide you around the village...?"

In a neat appearance not much different from yesterday, Rune stood in the middle of the room without any sign of fatigue.

"I'm sorry, but I'll rest here until night." 

"Levi, do you really not like going out during the day?"

"Think of it as a sun allergy...."

"Then can I go around the village?"

"Do that. Since it's a rare opportunity, go see the World Tree while you're at it...."

"Alright!"

I think the children can enjoy themselves well without me.

"Rune, I'll leave the children to you."

"What? M-me...?"

"You don't need to feel that burdened. Just guide them normally like yesterday."

"Ah...!"

Moreover, Rune is a child who always does her best no matter what. No worrisome incidents will occur.

"Let's go quickly. I'm curious about the World Tree." 

Iris was already ready, standing proudly in front of the door. 

"I want to stay with Sister... I'm so tired...."

"No, Ellie. Since we came here, we should see the World Tree." 

Rune shyly chimed in.

"Ah, no...! The World Tree is not an ordinary tree… the World Tree is a tree that emits sacred energy. It's a divine existence to us elves...."

"Isn't it just a big tree?"

"Of course not! It's clearly different."

As expected of the elf I acknowledge, Rune seemed to sincerely consider the World Tree important. It was felt throughout her body that she firmly believes the World Tree is a sacred being.

"Have a good trip, Ellie. You can play with me anytime, but you don't have many chances to see the World Tree up close."

"Ugh... It's bothersome...."

At my words, Ellie begrudgingly prepared to go outside.

I'm not sending the children out because I want time alone. I've heard somewhere that you need to see and experience many things from a young age to deepen your understanding of the world and know yourself properly when you grow up.

"What will you do here alone, Levi? Won't you be bored?"

"I'll rest."

I answered Aizen's question without any hesitation. Aizen raised the corners of his mouth awkwardly with an indescribable expression. 

"I-I see...."

"Since it's a trip, have fun and come back. I'll be waiting here."

"Okay... Get some rest."

I wasn't lying. I absolutely did not have the shameless thought of wanting to enjoy my own time and leisure alone at the trip's destination. I swear on the name of the goddess Paelia.

"I won't say anything even if you come back late today, so take your time and play."

With those words, I showed the warmest smile on my face. 

The children's eyes gradually changed strangely as they saw my expression, but I waved my right hand toward the children without paying much attention.

.

.

.

- Click

As soon as the children all went out, the room was instantly filled with a lonely silence. 

After living with the children for quite a long time, I reached a point where I couldn't sit still due to some unknown anxiety, even if they were away for a brief moment.

"Snore...."

It's only been an hour since the children went out to play. Being alone like this, small habits that I had forgotten started to come to mind one by one. 

Sitting cross-legged in front of a small round table, carelessly sweeping back my hair while stretching as I please. 

I, who had always tried to keep my body upright and my attitude neat to show a nun-like appearance to the children. 

After escaping from the rules that had been holding me tightly for a while, my whole body felt much lighter.

I never thought this small freedom in daily life would permeate my heart so much...

"The tea tastes particularly delicious today...."

Sometimes, it seems quite worthwhile to fully enjoy this small freedom in everyday life.

- Clack

When I was enjoying my leisure to the fullest, the closed door suddenly opened wide, and the children who had gone out began coming in individually.

"Sigh...."

As soon as I heard the children's sighing voices, I hurriedly stretched my legs and straightened my back. But it was too sudden, so the balance that had been holding my body collapsed in an instant, and I fell limp onto the floor, kicking the table.

- Clang!!

A tremendous sound echoed as the cup and table became entangled together. 

I tried to get up belatedly, but the rapidly rising embarrassment prevented my action.

"...Levi? What are you doing there, sticking your butt out?"

Aizen's puzzled voice followed. His words made me even more embarrassed.

"......"

I somehow pulled myself together and slowly got up, pretending to be as natural as possible. 

I could feel my face turning red like an apple. Nevertheless, I faintly smiled at the children who entered the room, pretending to be nonchalant.

"W-why did you come in so early...?"

"...Ah, it just didn't seem like the atmosphere to look around."

As if sensing my feelings, Aizen answered bluntly, blinking his eyelids quietly without asking further about my strange behavior.

"What do you mean...?"

"Sister... Something is strange here...."

"Everyone is weird..."

Then Ellie and Iris ran straight into my arms and opened their mouths in a sobbing tone. 

But because I had fallen over so loudly, my whole body was a mess, so I couldn't properly hug Ellie and Iris who had run into my arms.

"They look at us strangely...."

"It feels weird...."

My head only became more complicated by the very vague explanation. 

What happened outside that caused the children to tremble in fear like this?

"Um... Should I say they had a pitiful gaze...? I don't know either. I don't know why the village elves looked at us like that..."

"A pitiful gaze?"

"Yes... At first, I thought they only looked at me like that, but when I looked closely, they were looking at all of us like that...."

Rune's following explanation made my eyes flash. 

Could it be because of the false rumor that I keep these children as food? So the elves looked at the children pitifully?

"......"

Seeing the children at a loss, my expression gradually stiffened without my knowing. 

I didn't think that far. 

If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have only sent the children out.

"I'm sorry. You got caught up in a baseless rumor because of me."

"What? Why are you sorry, Sister?"

"...I'm just sorry."

Since I couldn't explain the situation in detail, I could only silently stroke the children nestled in my arms.

"The World Tree... I was curious...."

Iris quietly muttered and buried her face deeper into my arms. 

"When the day darkens, let's all go see the World Tree together then. There's still plenty of time."

"...But Rune said the World Tree is prettier when seen during the day."

"What?"

"The World Tree's sacred energy only emanates during the day.... At night, it's just an ordinary tree...."

Iris's words made me momentarily embarrassed. 

I don't know why the World Tree emits sacred energy only during the day, making me so flustered.

"I know you hate sunlight, Sister... But can't you go with us just this once...?"

"...Ah."

"Please, Sister.... I really want to see the World Tree emitting sacred energy...."

A chill ran down my spine. 

The sun is still blazing outside.

"Y-you want to see it that badly...?"

"You said it yourself, Sister... The chance to see the World Tree in person is rare...."

I never dreamed that the words I casually threw out at that time would come back to me like this. 

I know it takes quite a long time to get to the World Tree from here... 

If I'm not careful, my body might melt like slime under the intense sunlight.

"Sister...."

Just as I was slowly blurring my focus and unable to do anything─.

"Ah, I see... I didn't know."

Rune's low voice was heard quietly as if whispering.

"Should I go out and bring something to use as shade...?"