Chapter 8
The stew Reina made was delicious, and there was even enough for seconds.
Clael and Reina each had two bowls of stew and finished their lunch.
"This afternoon, let's go shopping for the things we need."
As they finished eating and settled down, Clael brought it up.
"Since Reina will be living at the shrine from now on, I think there are various things you'll need. Let's go buy them."
"Y-You don't need to buy anything for me..."
"I want to. You cleaned the shrine so nicely and even made lunch. Please let me thank you."
"............Okay."
Reina blushed shyly and nodded.
"Then, please change into these clothes."
"What are these...?"
"I bought them earlier on the way back. I think the size should fit."
Clael took out a girl's outfit from his bag.
Even for shopping, she needed clothes to wear, so he bought them at a street stall on the way home.
Since it was just a temporary outfit, it wasn't particularly stylish. It was a plain dress.
"Please change into this. Once you're done changing, we'll go shopping."
"My clothes... Clothes the Priest bought for me..."
Reina hugged the clothes she was handed.
"Thank you... This is the first time someone has bought me clothes since my mom disappeared...!"
"I-I see..."
"I'm so happy...!"
"............"
Seeing her so moved, he started to feel guilty, wondering if he should've bought her something nicer.
He had planned to buy proper clothes during the shopping trip, so he regretted picking something so casually.
"Then, I'll go change now."
"Ah—!?"
Reina took off the shirt she was wearing.
A completely naked little girl appeared.
Clael quickly averted his gaze to avoid seeing her naked body.
"Uh... From now on, please change in your room. Even if it's just me here, it's still improper."
"Ah, I'm sorry... I'll be more careful..."
"As long as you understand. Now then, that shirt..."
"I'll do the laundry!"
As he reached out to retrieve the borrowed shirt, Reina quickly hid it behind her back.
"I'll do the laundry!"
"Ah... Okay... I'll leave it to you...?"
Hearing the same line again with an even firmer tone, Clael tilted his head but decided to leave it to her.
Then, for some reason, Reina happily hugged the shirt and carried it off somewhere.
"Well then, let's head out, Priest."
"Yes, shall we go?"
He was curious where Reina took the shirt... but setting that aside, it was time to go shopping.
Clael left the shrine with Reina and headed toward the market.
The town they lived in was a provincial city called Eggbell, located on the eastern frontier from the royal capital.
Compared to the capital, it was a much smaller rural town, but it was still the largest in the area, with around three thousand residents.
"Oh? Priest, who's that girl?"
A familiar neighbor called out.
A middle-aged woman holding a shopping basket tilted her head curiously.
"Hello, Mrs. Lottel. She's a novice sister. She started living at the shrine from yesterday for training."
Clael greeted her with a calm smile.
The middle-aged woman was Mrs. Lottel. She was a housewife who lived in a house right next to the shrine.
Reina peeked out from behind Clael's back and timidly greeted her.
"H-Hello... I'm Reina..."
"Hello. Reina-chan, it must be tough training at the shrine even though you're still so little."
"Y-Yes... um..."
"I took her in because of family circumstances... It seems her father wasn't a very respectable man."
"Ah... I see..."
Mrs. Lottel looked at her with a sympathetic expression.
From his vague words, she probably guessed the general situation.
"If you don't mind, please continue to be kind to her. Since I'm a man, there are many things I might not understand about girls."
"Of course. If anything comes up, feel free to talk to me."
Mrs. Lottel pounded her chest confidently.
This plump woman was a gossip and a chatterbox, but she was caring and loved children. She was devout and even donated to the shrine.
Even with little interaction, Clael could clearly tell she was a good person.
"P-Please take care of me..."
"Of course. First, we should cut that hair. With such a cute face, you should dress up too."
"We're actually about to go buy clothes. As for her hair... what should we do?"
"I'll cut it for her later. Come to my place after shopping, before it gets dark."
Mrs. Lottel laughed heartily.
It was an offer too good to pass up. Clael bowed his head.
"Sorry to trouble you. Could I ask for your help?"
"Sure. Reina-chan wants to be cute too, right?"
"I do... I want to be cute...!"
Reina stepped out from behind Clael and leaned forward.
Her tone was unusually strong. She might be a bit clumsy, but after all, Reina was still a girl.
"Alright then, I'll be waiting."
"Excuse us."
"Thank you, excuse us..."
After parting ways with Mrs. Lottel, Clael and Reina headed for the market.
The market was lined with many shops, and peddlers had set up street stalls.
It wasn't as crowded as the capital's market, but there were still a fair number of people.
"Reina, be careful not to get lost."
"Y-Yes..."
Reina looked uneasy and glanced at Clael's right hand.
Without words, her feelings got across. Clael held out his hand.
"Shall we hold hands? So we don't get separated."
"Yes!"
Reina nodded happily and grasped Clael's hand.
Her small hand squeezed his repeatedly, as if confirming its warmth and feel.
It seemed she had completely grown attached to him. It felt like he had gained a daughter.
(Becoming a father at eighteen, huh... Well, strangely, it doesn't feel bad...)
"Priest, what should we buy first?"
"Let's start with clothes."
"Clothes? But you already bought me some, didn't you?"
Reina lifted the hem of her dress slightly.
"That outfit alone won't be enough. You'll need pajamas too, right?"
"If it's pajamas, I'll be fine with your shirt, Priest."
"No, that's..."
"It's very comfortable to sleep in."
Reina declared firmly... though he wished she would lower her voice a bit.
He was happy she liked it, but if rumors started that 'the shrine's priest lets a little girl wear his clothes and enjoys it,' that would be a problem.
"......Anyway, let's look around a bit."
"......Yes. If that's what you say, Priest."
Taking Reina along, Clael went to a nearby clothing store.
The store wasn't very large, but it seemed to have a good selection. They also sold children's clothes.
"Welcome... Oh my, aren't you the new priest?"
A middle-aged male clerk appeared.
Since he had gone around greeting people when he was assigned to this town, this was the second time they had met.
"Shopping today? If you're picking clothes, I'll help you choose every little thing, okay?"
"Ah, hahahaha..."
Clael gave a strained smile.
As one could tell from the way he spoke... this clerk was what you'd call an 'okama' type.
He was around forty, muscular, had slicked-back hair, and wore makeup—a very bold character.
(I can't believe this... That such a background character is hiding in the heroine's hometown...)
He was so distinctive, Clael wondered if he might actually have some important role he didn't know about.
They came here because the selection was good and the prices were reasonable... Otherwise, he wouldn't want to deal with this kind of person.
"We're here to buy clothes for this girl today. Would you mind helping us pick something out?"
"H-Hello..."
Reina peeked out from behind Clael's back, looking nervous.
"Oh my, what a cute girl. Is she your daughter, Priest... or maybe your little sister?"
"Due to family circumstances, she's a novice sister taken in by the shrine."
"Family circumstances... I see."
The shopkeeper's expression darkened slightly.
From Clael's subtle wording, he seemed to grasp the situation.
"Alright, I'll pick something for her. Come this way, darling."
"P-Priest?"
"Um... I think it'll be fine. This shop has a good reputation."
'Unbelievably...' Clael added in his heart as he watched Reina being led away like a sacrificial lamb.
"Thanks for waiting~"
"I-I'm back..."
A few minutes later.
An angel appeared before Clael.
More precisely, a beautiful girl who could be mistaken for an angel stood there.
The Reina who returned was wearing a white dress different from the one earlier.
Though it was the same color, it was adorned with lace ribbons and decorations, making it completely different from the one Clael had bought.
Her shoes were now red boots, and her hair was done up.
She was still thin from lack of nutrition, but she was a beautiful girl worthy of being shown anywhere.
"This is... quite a surprise. You look very cute."
"Cute... Me...?"
"Yes, it suits you very well."
"............!"
Reina gave a smile, as if overcome with emotion.
The confident shopkeeper came out from the back.
"This girl is amazing material. No matter what she wears, it suits her."
"I can see that."
"It'd be a waste for her to live her whole life as a shrine sister. Think carefully about her future, okay?"
"............"
Receiving advice from the older man, Clael nodded.
Even without being told... he had been thinking about Reina's future.
He wouldn't let her end her life as just a shrine sister.
Eventually, he planned to send her to the academy in the royal capital and have her end up with a proper partner as a heroine.
"Um... Priest. They also recommended me this outfit—can I try it on too...?"
"Yes, of course. I'd love to see it."
"Ehehehe..."
Reina shyly smiled and then entered the fitting room with a red dress in hand.