"Mm~"
"What a comfortable sleep."
On the soft bed in the inn, the well-rested elf squinted her eyes and stretched contentedly.
"As a teacher, I can't always show that lazy side in front of my disciple."
"Occasionally, I should get up early."
The elf yawned as she climbed out of bed, her pale feet touching the inn's floor as she walked into the washroom to begin her morning routine.
While leisurely brushing her teeth, she examined her long hair in the mirror to see if it had gotten messy from sleeping.
Picking up the water cup beside her to rinse her mouth, looking at her white teeth in the mirror, Serie nodded with satisfaction.
Such leisurely morning time was truly pleasant. Previously with her disciple waiting outside the door, although the necessary washing steps wouldn't be reduced, there would inevitably be some haste, even making her feel anxious during washing.
Though for an elf's concept of time, this "anxiety" was rather weak.
But it ultimately wasn't as comfortable as being able to freely waste time like now.
After "dawdling" in the washroom for quite a while and washing her long hair once more, the elf hummed an ancient melody as she emerged from the washroom.
Taking advantage of the interval while using magic to dry her hair, she kicked the blanket that had been kicked to the floor during last night's sleep back onto the bed.
The poor blanket had to endure the elf's jade feet trampling it constantly during the night, and couldn't escape the same fate in the morning, lying scattered in a heap on the bed as if lamenting its tragic encounter.
As the sunlight outside gradually intensified, shining into the room, it cast another layer of dazzling soft light on the elf's already fair skin.
Also bathed in sunlight and emanating a misty glow was the elf's waist-length golden hair.
Under magic's influence, the freshly washed wet hair was quickly dried to be completely smooth and soft.
Lightly running her hand through it, she felt no resistance from root to tip.
After putting on her outer coat, the elf used her now-free right hand to cast an extremely skillful folk magic at the messy sheets and blanket.
Magic to Make Housework Tidy!
As the glowing magical light faded, the originally messy blanket was folded extremely neatly, and even the few small wrinkles on the sheets were smoothed as if they'd been ironed.
"Mm~ That's how it should be."
Looking at this scene, the elf nodded with satisfaction, acknowledging her labor's results.
"That was quite hard work."
"Next, I'll sit in the chair and slowly wait for my disciple to arrive."
"But isn't this morning's sunlight a bit too intense?"
After Serie sitting in her chair posed this soul-searching question, she turned to look at the street scene outside the window...
"Oh no!"
At the same time.
Holy Capital Cathedral
"May the Goddess's protection, mercy, and blessings be upon us all." Heiter, dressed in clerical robes, stood at the front, loudly reciting the closing prayer of the morning ceremony.
According to procedure, the believers below should respond by bowing and then leave the cathedral in an orderly fashion after responding.
However, today the believers' actions all stopped at the response. After bowing, they lingered in place, reluctant to disperse for a long time.
After all, the Goddess had just bestowed a miracle. As bishop, Heiter could understand the believers' current emotions, so he quietly stood aside without urging them to leave.
Until a certain sneaky figure in the back row entered Heiter's sight.
Earlier when the Goddess bestowed her "miracle," Bishop Heiter had noticed the "miracle's" flight trajectory was heading straight toward Gut's direction.
Therefore, after morning prayers ended, Heiter's gaze had never left the back row.
Only this way could he immediately notice Gut's sneaky movements.
At this moment, he had already climbed over the chair back, crouching low behind the believers, apparently wanting to take the side passage and slip out through the small door that wasn't sealed during the ceremony.
Clearly he could wait a bit longer for the main passage to open; clearly they had already agreed to have a detailed conversation after the ceremony.
Yet he insisted on leaving in such an awkward manner now...
Gut, there really is something wrong with you.
Heiter reached up to unfasten his clerical robe, taking it off and folding it neatly, then signaled with his eyes for his deputy to come forward and replace him.
After handing over the clerical robe, Heiter immediately gave chase.
Fortunately, the only unsealed side door was some distance from the back row, plus some believers' bodies blocked the way, so Heiter running at full speed barely caught up with Gut who had left first.
"Mr. Gut, won't you stay to chat a bit more?"
"Let's go outside and find a coffee shop to talk."
Hearing this familiar voice behind him, Gut didn't stop walking or turn back as he replied.
Then he lowered his head and just strode forward.
After walking quickly for quite a while after leaving the Cathedral, only when he reached a coffee shop very far from the Cathedral did Gut finally stop, taking a menu from the waiter at the entrance and finding a chair to sit down.
However, this forced march was quite difficult for the old man following behind him.
When the heavily panting Heiter caught up, even with his good-natured personality, he couldn't help but complain a few times between breaths.
"Tsk—"
"I say, please at least consider this old man."
"Not all old people have stamina as good as Himmel's."
Across the table, the absent-minded Gut nodded and handed Heiter a menu, saying apologetically:
"Sorry about that. This meal is on me."
"There are quite a few types of beer on the menu. Would you like some?"
"Of course!"
Moments later, the coffee shop waiter successively brought their orders.
One aromatic coffee, two richly filled sandwiches, and five large beer mugs filled to the brim plus drinking snacks.
From this quantity, Heiter's resentment toward him was quite substantial.
Gut, who had run out early due to the Goddess launching an attack on him, picked up his coffee cup and only took a light sip.
Watching Heiter across the table grab a beer mug and down nearly half in one gulp, Gut really couldn't keep his composure.
This size beer mug was at least 1L.
That meant Heiter's gulp just now was at least 400mL.
Yet while Gut was marveling, this devout monk took another gulp and directly finished the remaining golden liquid in the cup.
Gut: ...
Looking at this monk whose complexion became comfortable after drinking, with even his breathing no longer irregular, Gut really didn't know what to say.
The "wine and meat monk" evaluation from the hero party was truly fitting.
However, Heiter seemed to only like drinking - he apparently had no great interest in meat.
Whether in his sandwich filling choices or the drinking snacks paired with beer, he chose purely vegetarian options.
After drinking one beer to quench his thirst, Heiter didn't forget his purpose for chasing after him. Taking this opportunity, he began questioning item by item.
"Gut, do you remember that paper slip you gave me when we first met?"
"Time Journey · Chapter of Birds - the magic that can return to the future, Fiaratol?"
"That's right, exactly that." Hearing Gut didn't deny it, a trace of joy flashed in Heiter's clear eyes.
"Heiter, I can guess what you want to ask. I guarantee this magic is correct, but regarding its source, please forgive me for being unable to answer."
"I see." Heiter nodded, not very surprised.
After sipping the foam on his beer mug, he continued asking, "Then what about the 'miracle' the Goddess directed at you just now?"
"Similarly, no comment."
Gut's denial carried a trace of surprise - he hadn't expected Heiter to notice this detail.
"Alright, perhaps my questions were somewhat presumptuous."
Heiter said with considerable regret, his words carrying a trace of apology. After speaking, he drank an entire beer in one gulp as "punishment" for his overstepping questions.
Seeing Heiter like this, Gut said nothing and similarly finished an entire cup of coffee as compensation.
At this point, Heiter completely gave up hope of getting any answers.
Gut wasn't to blame for keeping silent - these two matters were truly difficult to answer.
One involved his fundamental secret of being a transmigrator, while the other was even more inconvenient to answer.
Why would the Goddess's "miracle" target him? Because he'd been peeping at the divine being his faith worshipped?
Why would the Goddess scatter her "miracle" into light rain? Because he'd tried to steal the underwear of the divine being his faith worshipped?
Gut would have to be crazy to say such things in front of a devoutly faithful monk.
Stealing the Goddess's underwear was better left unknown to anyone.
Seeing the atmosphere at the table gradually becoming cold, understanding he couldn't get any answers, Heiter simply switched to some light topics, and the casual chatting atmosphere returned to normal.
Gut also took the opportunity to ask about Hero Himmel's whereabouts.
"Himmel, you mean."
"A few days ago the Royal Capital commissioned him with a task to subjugate a great demon. He set out the same day he accepted it."
"Calculating the time, if things go smoothly he should return next week."
"However, this old friend of mine always likes taking detours, so even if he doesn't return for another two or three weeks, it wouldn't be surprising."
"Indeed so."
Thinking of the hero party's journey, Gut agreed quite readily.
"Oh right."
"I remember Himmel mentioning you know some basic Goddess Magic."
"Although it's regrettable I can't understand how you deciphered that magic, you did help greatly. As thanks, if you're willing to continue researching Goddess Magic, you can come find me."
"Mm." Gut nodded seriously, his heart stirring.
His current self was no longer restricted by the Atheist trait.
Although he still had no faith in the so-called Goddess, he had already copied the strongest talent for practicing Holy Magic - that is, Goddess Magic - from her.
Relying on the various enhancements brought by Holy Magic Affinity, as long as he invested appropriate effort, his achievements would definitely not be below Heiter's.
Probably sensing the interest in Gut's gaze, Heiter further supplemented:
"The Cathedral also has many old monks proficient in herbalism, as well as some insights left by predecessors. If you want to study, you can visit anytime."
"That's not necessary." Thinking of that holy light emerging from the painting, Gut felt lingering fear and immediately declined Heiter's kindness.
"The Cathedral is after all the temple of you believers. As a non-believer, I shouldn't disturb you too much."
A trace of surprise flashed in Heiter's eyes. "Is that how you think..."
"Very well, I'll have someone send you a practice notebook later. When you encounter problems, just come find me individually."
The conversation had reached a very harmonious atmosphere.
In good spirits, Gut also accompanied Heiter for two drinks. Who would have thought this encouragement would spark Heiter's interest, leading him to drink cup after cup with Gut.
Often before Gut finished half a cup, Heiter had already finished two.
"Drinking really needs company after all."
"It's been so long... since I've drunk this happily..."
Seeing Heiter's posture becoming somewhat unsteady, and having drunk two large beer mugs until his stomach was bloated, Gut simply ended this drinking session at the coffee shop.
Standing up, looking at the dozen-plus large empty cups piled on the table, Gut couldn't help shaking his head.
Excluding the two cups he drank, this wine-and-meat monk Heiter must have drunk fourteen or fifteen cups, definitely over 15L.
"Bro, drinking like this, liver pain means it's growing muscle."
This would be enough for alcohol poisoning in a normal person.
But Heiter, who treated this as daily routine, only showed a gray Alcoholism trait on his status panel.
Calculating from his death time in later plot events, Heiter with such heavy drinking lived past one hundred.
Although he quit alcohol in his final years, being able to live long despite such abuse showed the Goddess's favor had probably helped considerably.
Waving his hand to call the waiter, Gut followed him to the front counter to pay.
This drinking spree cost quite a lot, even requiring Gut to pull out a gold coin to pay, though fortunately the change was also substantial - nearly half a pouch of silver coins.
Gut pulled out a few coins to give the nearby waiter, asking him to look after Heiter a bit, then walked toward the Continental Magic Association.
They'd stayed here for over an hour, and during such a long time the Goddess hadn't launched another attack, showing that manifesting Her power was quite troublesome, so he was relatively safe.
However, what Gut didn't know was that shortly after he left, a small remnant of holy power caught up and hovered in the coffee shop.
At this moment, Heiter with hazy, confused eyes was still lying on the table, mumbling intermittently in barely audible whispers.
"Still able to practice Goddess Magic... means his heart hasn't fallen into darkness... hasn't been abandoned by the Goddess."
"But why... fleeing in haste and afraid to return to the Cathedral again..."
"The 'miracle' the Goddess bestowed... could it not be 'reward'... but 'punishment'?"
"Hmm, how should I decide..."
<·Ignore all illusory bubbles, follow my true heart, walk to the other shore·>
"This is... a sentence from Spell book Chapter of Warm Light..."
"You're telling me not to worry about it... I understand."
The light orb gathered from weak holy power dimmed considerably after guiding the believer.
After circling in place several times, as if making some decision, the light orb no longer continued following traces to pursue Gut and teach him a lesson, but slowly descended, merging into the believer's body.
If Gut were observing here, he could see Heiter's status panel changing at this moment.
Talent trait Alcoholism (Gray) was removed.
Talent trait Longevity (Blue) effect was enhanced.
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Powerstones?
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