Ascendance of a Bookworm

The head priest and the high priest both had fierce looks in their eyes, which made me hesitant. Perhaps noticing the twitch on my face, the high priest brought over the Sacred Scripture.

I was to have the Sacred Scripture read to me until Lutz came to pick me up. It was nice being taught various things while sitting on someone's lap like before, but I felt a strange pressure—a strong urge to run away.

"A boy named Lutz has come to the gate to pick up Myne."

It was shortly after the fifth bell had rung when a gray-clad priest entered the room. I heaved a sigh of relief at the arrival of the long-awaited escort.

"Lutz has come? Then I have to go home. Head priest, high priest, thank you very much for taking care of me for so long today."

"Then, Myne, please give this to your parents."

What I was handed was an invitation. An invitation from the head priest was like a summons that could not be refused. The indicated date and time was the third bell the day after tomorrow. Swallowing my breath, I accepted the wooden tag.

"Lutz~! Thanks for coming to pick me up!"

"W-What!?"

As soon as I saw Lutz waiting outside the temple, a sense of indescribable relief spread through me. I hugged him tightly to express my gratitude, and though he staggered slightly, Lutz didn't fall and managed to hold on.

Pressing my head against Lutz’s shoulder, he sighed.

"Did you mess up again?"

"...Probably. I don't know what I did, but I feel like I caused the biggest self-explosion ever."

Lutz lightly patted my head and smiled.

"The master is waiting with a smile that makes his veins pop out."

"Eh? ...Can I go home now? I'm so tired today."

"He told me to grab you by the scruff of the neck and bring you here, and judging by your expression, you're still in a condition where that's okay."

"Aaaahhh..."

I was already mentally drained from the temple, and now I had no choice but to face Benno’s lecture. I felt betrayed by Lutz, whom I had trusted as an ally.

Being dragged like a calf to Benno’s shop, it seemed he was waiting for me, as I was immediately led to the back room.

When told to sit at the usual seat, I did. Benno sat opposite me, with Mark standing behind him, and Lutz was not beside me but closer to Benno.

"Long time no see, Myne."

"...Yes."

"Well, I have a lot to say..."

The conversation ahead seemed to be going to be very long, and I tensed up. Benno exhaled slowly and began speaking.

"Before I talk, a message from Corinna. She wanted to see the formal kimono and hair ornament you wore at the baptism ceremony. It was quite an unusual outfit and attracted a lot of attention. What were you thinking when you chose such clothes?"

"I just modified Tulli's hand-me-downs. There was no special meaning. I don’t mind showing them, but regarding taking out the clothes, I need to ask my mother who made them."

"I see. Then ask her."

After saying that lightly, Benno clasped his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and fixed me with a piercing gaze.

"Now, spill everything. Depending on what happened at the temple, I need to consider how to handle you from now on."

"Huh? Didn’t you hear from Lutz?"

Several days had passed since the baptism ceremony. I thought Lutz had already told him everything, but apparently not.

"Information passed by word of mouth always gets distorted. Since I have a chance to ask you directly, why bother with Lutz? Besides, you might be hiding something."

I quietly swallowed at the predatory look in his eyes. It seemed his questioning was going to be tough.

"...Where should I start?"

"After you collapsed at the baptism ceremony. Tell me everything without hiding anything after you separated from Lutz."

I told him about collapsing, getting lost while looking for water, accidentally entering the noble area, being picked up by a shrine maiden, and discovering the library. Benno widened his eyes in surprise.

"A library? The temple had one of those...?"

"You didn’t know, Benno?"

"Normal people don’t do dangerous things like wandering into the nobles’ area. Be aware of how stupid you are. Why would you step into danger by yourself?"