◆ Chapter 2: Hot Springs with Friends
“IT’S the Priestess! Priestess Mizuha has returned!”
“Look at all the people she saved! Our Priestess never ceases to amaze!”
“Ahh, I want her to smack me around again!”
“I can’t forget her Holy Slap!”
A large crowd welcomes us in the streets when we finally return from our three-day expedition. Most people lavish praise on me, with the occasional perverted remark tossed in.
“A-Ahaha…thanks…” I wave to the people as I walk in step with the Royal Knights.
“Lady Mizuha?” Lex cocks his head and peers at my face. “You look unwell. Is something wrong?”
“No. I’m just surprised they come out into the streets to welcome us back every time. Aren’t they sick of it yet?”
“It just goes to show how much they adore you, Lady Mizuha.”
“I’m glad they like me, but this is a little much. Besides, I’m not the only person who saved people. Every soldier fought for their lives to make it happen, so I wish they could share in the glory.”
“Lady Mizuha…”
It might be unavoidable that my contributions stand out the most because of my title as Priestess, but I wish they would lavish some of that praise on the other people who are fighting for the same cause.
At least that’s what I try to do.
“Your sentiments alone are enough to keep us going,” says the knight to my left.
“Indeed. I can abstain from food for the next ten days sustained solely by your words!” agrees the knight on my right.
“Don’t do that! I can’t have you passing out, so please eat,” I insist.
I can make an endless supply of apples—there’s no need not to eat.
“S-So many people.”
“I’ve never seen so many humans before.”
“They’re all so big…!”
I hear several awed voices behind me. Following the knights marching with me are the people I purified yesterday. There are a greater number of Lucors than humans with us this time.
After initially saving them, the Lucors wanted to remain in the forest. But I persuaded them to come with us by explaining the high risk of rezombification. It was decided they would temporarily reside in Grantz’s capital.
The Lucors seem overwhelmed by the people of Grantz Kingdom. I’m sure the sea of humans is a piece of it, but it might have more to do with the sheer height difference. Then again, the one tall Lucor—Nady—seems equally frightened.
I slow down until I’m walking beside Nady. “Pretty alarming, isn’t it?”
Nady gasps when she notices me. “I-It is. Y-You are very popular…” She nervously looks away from me before stiffly adding, “I a-apologize for the other day… I did not know you are the Holy Priestess.”
“I’m not as grand as they make me sound. I’m just a schoolgirl who purifies zombies with the powers the Goddess randomly chose to give me. You don’t have to pay me any extra respect.”
“But…it is a fact you are constantly taking on zombies.”
It’s still scary to run into zombies even with the ability to purify them. I can tell Nady respects me because she understands that. For some reason, that makes me happier than usual. My gut instinct was right: Nady and I could become good friends.
“Hey, Nady? How old are you?”
“…Pardon?”
“Mm, it’s a question about how many years you’ve lived,” I explain. “Seventeen for me.”
“Me…too...”
“I knew it! I thought we seemed close in age!” I had no way of knowing how long Lucors lived for, but I had a hunch she was around the same age.
“Big Sister!”
A girl comes running from the castle following that adorable squeal. With her turquoise gown and jewel-adorned golden hair fluttering in the wind, Cia Greenfield charges straight for me. This princess plans on jumping into my arms at breakneck speed.
That won’t end well.
I thrust out my left hand and shout, “STOP!”
“AGH! B-Big Sister?!” Cia moans, her forehead coming in contact with my palm. Her watering eyes look up at me with the unspoken question of why.
I would love nothing more than to squeeze my adorable Cia right this second. After all, she is one of my few oases in this zombie-infested world. But…
“Sorry! We can’t hug yet.”
“Wh-Why not?”
“Uh, well, you know. I just came back from running around slapping zombies and a three-day expedition.” I can’t help being put off by my own body odor.
“Don’t be that way… There is nothing for you to be ashamed of, Big Sis.”
“Would you like to pass out again today?”
“I-I promise I will withstand it today for sure!”
“But you don’t have to suffer through it.”
The sentiment is enough for me. Or rather, I can’t help feeling as if she’s swooning because of my natural body odor, and that’s honestly a huge blow to my self-esteem.
“Um, um...I had the bath prepared for you.”
“That’s my Cia! You know what I like!”
Since she knows my love of a good bath, she always has one readied for me when I return from expeditions. I couldn’t have asked for a better “younger sister”.
“Oh yeah, can I bring someone else with me?” I ask.
“I don’t mind, but…is it Miss Iris?”
“Nope. Never her.”
Iris is a woman with a few screws loose who worships me as the Goddess. She always goes overboard with things and constantly causes problems. She isn’t bad at heart, but…I don’t feel safe around her, so I avoid bathing together as much as possible. I fear the water will turn red with her nose bleeds.
“It’s a girl I just met. Her name is Nady,” I say as I turn toward Nady. Her eyes go round when they meet mine. She looks behind her, to her left, then her right before pointing to herself in disbelief.
“Y-You mean me…?”