Chapter 60

The Hidden Room
… White. It is a white space extending endlessly.

I can't believe it's inside a wall. Where is this place...?

I looked back, but there was no exit. There too, a white space continued infinitely.

Can I return from this? As expected, wouldn't it have been better to say something to everyone...?

… I'm tingling with excitement. What is this. Feeling like an adventure, my chest thumps.

When I placed a hand over my pounding chest, the fairy sitting on my shoulder poked my cheek.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

(.........)

Since I wasn't using the skill, as usual I couldn't hear their voice.

But from the gestures, I understood they were telling me to move forward.

It seems I can't go back, so... right now, I have no choice but to advance as told.

I followed the other fairy leading the way.

Endless white. The sky and the ground were both white.
Not even a sound, there was nothing. Even my footsteps didn't echo.

Because the boundaries weren't clear, it makes one mentally anxious.

But surprisingly, I was maintaining my composure.
It's probably thanks to the blessing that Eleriana cast on me. Thank you, Saintess-sama.

At that moment. The fairy flying ahead stopped and held up a hand toward space.
What is it...ah.

Ripples floated in space. Just like a pebble thrown onto a calm water surface.

As I waited, space was pushed aside from the center of the ripples, and something like ruins was visible on the other side.

This was a passageway, huh.
That means, is there some treasure ahead...?

Following after the fairy, I entered inside the ripples too.

There, several hundred... no, several thousand clergy were kneeling and offering prayers.

"... Hah...?"

Wh-at... is this...?

At the bottom of a floor hollowed out into a square, there were Saintesses and Saints with still fresh and youthful skin.

Both old and young... they did not twitch in the slightest. Closing their eyes the entire time, they clasped their hands and prayed.

As if protecting them, a barrier like a membrane of light was erected.

What is this place...? Could it be, literally a graveyard...?

Suddenly in front of my eyes, letters of light surfaced.

The calligraphy was so masterful that I didn't know what was written, but... I was barely able to read "Skill Usage" and "Speak".

That means... it probably means it's okay to use skills.

I'm a bit nervous, but if permission was given...

"N... nice to meet you."

((((((Ohhh~!))))))

Whoa, that startled me.

(I thought perhaps, but to think you could truly converse with us.)

(You were bestowed a very fine skill from the Goddess, young one.)

(A postmortem spent praying is fine, but being able to talk with a living child is quite charming after all, isn't it.)

Clamor clamor. Chattering and chattering.

S-Several hundred people started talking all at once.
I'm sorry. Since I'm not a superhuman, I can't distinguish what you're saying.

"Umm... you all are the predecessor Clergymen, right? Several hundred, several thousand years should have passed already, so why are your bodies...?"

(This barrier is a barrier cast by the Goddess. Inside here, the flow of time is slowed down to the utmost limit. As proof, the first ten generations have already crumbled to sand, you see.)

Can you call that proof...?
I don't know how many years ago the first generation of clergy lived, after all.

"Why did... no, why was I called here?"

Sorry, but I can't be idling away my time here.

I can't imagine I was called just to be someone to talk to, and...

(We only pray, so we are bored, you see?)

(We wanted to have a chat once in a while.)

(We were bored enough to create fairies because we were so bored, you know.)

It really is just as a chat partner?! You aren't old men and women sitting on a park bench, you know?!

((((((It's a joke.))))))

"Ah... I, I see..."

Please stop with the hard-to-get jokes...

I somehow swallowed the curse that almost came out to the tip of my throat.

Dangerous, dangerous. The people here are the predecessor clergy. Abusive language is completely out of the question.

(Ohh.)

(You held back well just now, hoho.)

(For a young person these days, he is quite well-composed, isn't he?)

(If someone said the same thing to me, I feel like I'd say 'shitty geezer' or 'shitty hag'.)

(Shamefully, me too.)

… Eh, what? Was I tested?

Just for what purpose...?

(Young man, what is your name?)

"Y-Yes. I am called Dyrel."

(Dyrel, it is a good name.)

I was suddenly praised. It's flattering.

While scratching my cheek and putting on a bitter smile, one Saintess raised her voice.

(Dyrel-san. To you such as that, we have a request.)

Here it comes, the main topic.
I knew there was something, after all.

"Wh-what would it be?"

(This is terribly distressing to ask, but... could you stroke our heads?)

................................................................ Hm????