Ascendance of a Bookworm

Rejected without me uttering a single word, I couldn’t understand at all what the high priest was saying. I never imagined that, even knowing the miserable state of that orphanage, he would say there was “no reason to improve it.”

“What do you mean by no reason to improve it? The young children are starving and on the verge of death. It’s not an environment suitable for raising people…”

I worried that my explanation hadn’t been properly conveyed, so I tried to describe the scenes I witnessed today to the high priest.

But he lightly raised his hand, cutting me off.

“There is no extra money to spend on orphans who haven’t been baptized yet, unlike the working gray priests, shrine maidens, or apprentices. Maybe you don’t know because you were born and raised by parents like yours, but the temple does not recognize children before their baptism as people. Only after receiving the baptism ceremony and being registered as citizens are they treated as humans.”

I had vaguely considered that since they can’t work until after the baptism ceremony, there might be such circumstances. But I thought it was unacceptable to treat them that way just because they aren’t recognized as people.

“…So, does that mean it’s fine if those children die?”

“Ah, that too is divine guidance. To be frank, fewer people is better.”

I wanted him to deny it, but he confirmed it so easily. While I was stunned, the high priest began explaining about the gray priests and shrine maidens still at the orphanage.

“There used to be more than twice as many Blue Robes. The attendants and attendant apprentices were also simply twice as many. If each Blue Robe had an average of five to six attendants, do you know how many attendants were left behind when they returned to noble society?”

If a dozen or so Blue Robes disappeared, suddenly 60 to 70 attendants would remain at the temple. With the temple’s structure relying on donations and living expenses from the Blue Robes to support the attendants, it wouldn’t be surprising if it collapsed financially.

“We sold about 30 unnecessary gray shrine maidens and priests as servants to nobles, but there are still more gray priests than needed.”

“Can’t the surplus priests take care of the little children?”

“If we let them care for more children, the numbers would increase, which is problematic. Do you know why the head priest disposed of gray shrine maidens? It seems you don’t understand what I’m saying.”

Now is the time when there are the fewest Blue Robes and shrine maidens, but in a few years their numbers will increase again, so it’s clear that having no surplus at all would be troublesome. However, the high priest says the divine blessing is already insufficient, and they want to avoid increasing their numbers any further.

“…Can’t we at least do something about the cleaning? With such filth, an epidemic could break out at any time.”

“Hmm. You mean since it’s unsightly, we should just bury it all? It’s worth considering, but the reputation would be poor.”

“No! That’s not what I meant…”

Why does it always come to that!? I swallowed my anger.

The high priest and I differ completely in position and basic common sense. Though we speak the same language, our ways of thinking don’t align.

“High priest, what is the purpose of the orphanage? Isn’t it a place to raise children without parents?”

“That’s slightly different. It’s a place where children no one cares for are turned into servants for nobles through the charity of those nobles.”

Our perceptions of the orphanage differ too much. Feelings like pity or wanting to help don’t even reach the high priest.

The high priest seemed increasingly frustrated that I didn’t understand his point and let out a light sigh.

“If you want to do something for those about to die, then you should do it yourself. Would you become the head of the orphanage, which nobody wants, and take full responsibility for it?”

His unexpected words made me hold my breath. Though I want to help the orphans, I have no resolve to take on full responsibility for the orphanage. That’s too frightening.