Me, a priest? How could that be!

Chapter 43 A Narcissistic Boy Won't Dream of an Idiot Goddess

Mikage Hibiki felt as if she were bathed in warm sunlight, just like when she first met Aqua, and she felt the sacred and gentle aura emanating from her.

Slowly opened his eyes.

"Hibiya! Are you alright!?" x2

With tears welling up in their eyes, the two women quickly hugged him from either side, and Charlotte, having finished casting her healing magic, also reached out to him.

"Oh, you're awake."

"Well……"

Mikage Hibiki subconsciously touched her face, but instead of the expected pain of a bruised and swollen face, she felt smooth skin. She opened her mouth and said with difficulty, "I lost. You healed my injuries, right? Thank you."

"……You are welcome?"

Charlotte blinked.

I never expected to get thanked for beating someone up.

However, this should teach Miken Hibiki a lesson, making him realize that he shouldn't underestimate anyone, even the high priest who is stereotyped as having no combat power, he's still a force to be reckoned with.

"Yujian, you..."

"Alas, I am indeed not suited to be a hero; I have failed the goddesses' trust."

"...What?"

"I promised Goddess Aqua that I would successfully defeat the Demon King, and Goddess Eris placed high hopes on me and gave me inspiration, but I suffered one crushing defeat after another. I'm still too weak."

Wait, wait!

Why are you suddenly feeling sorry for yourself?

Of course, teenagers are often sentimental and easily discouraged after setbacks. A good example is Kazuma Sato, who lost his childhood friend and subsequently became a shut-in NEET.

Thanks to the magic sword he wields, Mikami Hibiki has had a very successful adventure, and coupled with his considerable swordsmanship, he is considered the third strongest adventurer in the country.

What should have been a smooth and successful adventure for the brave has turned into a series of setbacks, likely damaging his confidence.

That won't do!

Eris clearly had high hopes for Mikami Hibiki, which is why she gave him the inspiration. If Charlotte makes the Demon Sword Hero doubt himself and stop embarking on the adventure to defeat the Demon King, he will probably be the next one to appear in the goddess's dream.

no way.

Let's solve this using the priest's method.

"Listen to me, losing while using a sword is perfectly normal," Charlotte said. "There are many reincarnated beings in this world, and they possess all sorts of divine artifacts and abilities. If you're careless, you'll lose miserably, and no one is an exception."

"So, you have the same special privileges that came with reincarnation as I do?" Mikami Hibiki seemed to remember that Charlotte hadn't told him what the divine artifact or ability was, and he desperately needed some reassurance.

"How could that be? I don't have that kind of thing."

Charlotte shook her head.

He told him about his reincarnation bonus, "100 times magic power," but this bonus wasn't very important to the high priest.

"And to be honest, you are better than me in every way, Yujian. There is nothing about me that you can learn from."

"...Don't be modest."

These words seemed to sting Yūken Kyouya. He became somewhat dejected and said dejectedly, "What you're saying is like me losing to someone who isn't even that good."

"I'm not being modest; you didn't lose to me in the first place."

"……Um!?"

"If you feel you've lost, it's only to 'the Lord as God' and her 'believers,' not to 'me.'"

Charlotte is clearly using a fallacy of misrepresentation.

You know.

It's like when believers of the Church of Eris donate money to distribute relief meals to people who are starving, those people only thank the goddess Eris for her grace and sincerely believe in her.

He scoffed at the idea.

They don't acknowledge their own achievements, nor do they accept their own failures. Instead, they unilaterally attribute everything to the goddess, believing it to be a blessing and a test from her.

But this argument is surprisingly effective.

Priests often use the same words to comfort those who are unwilling to accept their fate, and it usually works.

Yujian Xiangye was also slightly surprised.

"You mean, that move you just used was taught to you by the goddess Aqua?"

"Hmm?...That's right, Aqua did teach me a move."

This is a white lie.

Charlotte just used the Toad Fist technique that she had mastered herself, but it's true that Aqua taught her a Divine Light Fist, so she wasn't lying.

"I see."

Mikage Hibiki seemed to have let go of something, letting out a sigh of relief and saying, "Since it was taught by Goddess Aqua, there's nothing I can do about it. That move, although it looks disgusting and makes one feel uncomfortable, is really powerful. As expected of Goddess Aqua!"

Your filter is way too thick.

Charlotte twitched the corner of her mouth.

Also, isn't it a bit much to say that someone's moves are disgusting?

This inevitably brings to mind the much-debated Toad Style Kung Fu.

Then, the Demon Sword Hero spoke up rather unwillingly, "But why didn't Goddess Aqua teach me even a single move when I was reincarnated? I'm so envious."

"……Um?"

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong? Am I wrong? Didn't you meet the goddess Aqua during your reincarnation and receive this technique from her?"

"Oh right, you didn't know that... Actually, Aqua was brought down to the mortal realm not long ago."

"What did you say?!"

With his eyes bulging, head tilted forward, back bent, and mouth wide open, he looked no different from a giant toad hunting its prey.

After a detailed explanation.

"Wait, wait a minute." Mikami Hibiki was sweating profusely, his voice trembling as he asked, "You mean, there's a guy named Sato Kazuma who brought Aqua down to the mortal realm with him when he reincarnated... You're kidding, right? You're kidding, right? How could an idiot do something so stupid and lacking in common sense!?"

He wasn't this emotionally unstable even after losing, so it seems Aqua truly holds a special place in his heart.

"That's right, I've already seen her." Charlotte suddenly realized and said, "Now I remember, no wonder something felt off from the beginning. I forgot that I was just on a mission with Aqua and the others."

"Doing...doing a mission? The goddess is doing a mission!?"

"Yes, it's a lake not far from the town of Axel. Aqua was put in a cage and left in the middle of the lake to purify the water, and she's being torn apart by a brutal alligator right now."

"Ah... Lady Aqua... Lady Aqua—!!"

The sword sang through the night with a howl.

He broke free from the embrace of his two female companions and hurriedly ran towards the outskirts of the city.

"Hibiki, Hibiki-ya————" X2

The two people who had been abandoned stared at him in bewilderment.

then.

Charlotte unconsciously swung her arms, using the unsettling Toad Fist technique as she approached the two women. Their expressions changed drastically; they clung to each other, frantically retreating, and trembling against the wall.

"Hibiki, Hibiki!!"

"Help me—"

They ran away crying and screaming.

Seeing the two women, who had just been so arrogant and haughty, flee in panic, Charlotte, feeling quite pleased, couldn't help but let out a soft hum.

Just then, the saleswoman peeked out from the back door.

"Mr. Charlotte, do you have a moment?"

"...Big sister, what's wrong?"

He looked at the other person with some confusion.

The older sister said with a rather serious expression, "Regarding the Demon King's army in the Hill Castle, I have already gathered some capable adventurers, but in order to obtain more accurate information and avoid unnecessary trouble, I hope you can help me."

"Of course, I'd love to."

Charlotte was more than willing to help until she received payment for the information, so she followed him briskly.