Ascendance of a Bookworm

Let my weeping eyes heal, and I will go out of the workshop with the chief clergyman. Everyone in the Cleric Chief's room was on duty, Roderich was desperately making calculations while watching Philine and Darmuel, and Haltmoot was seen talking to Justkus and the Clerical Chief's sidekicks in some way.

And Brother Cornelius and Brother Eckhardt and Angelica and Leonore are coming together to talk, and it's Eudit guarding them in front of the door.

... What happened to Angelica giving way to the door?

"Oh, are we done talking?

The first thing I noticed here was Justkus. The chief cleric nods, "Ah," and heads to his desk.

"Everyone, attention"

The clergyman slapped his hand lightly and began to explain to his sidekicks that he was leaving Aerenfest and that Haltmoot would assume office as a substitute clergyman.

"By order of the Lords, Haltmoot will hold concurrent civilian duties and clergy chiefs. Side servants will be assisted in taking over."

"Yes, sir."

I guess the reason I'm less upset with the sidekicks is because Haltmoot was already talking. I was beginning to prioritize the paperwork I had to take over.

When the word of the Chief Cleric is finished, it is business time as usual. Angelica and Eudit take turns as escorts, and everyone starts working silently.

"Chief Cleric, you can also increase my work. That would be too much of a burden for Haltmoot, wouldn't it?

"No, I'm not willing to add any more of your work"

The chief cleric shook his head gently. I pointed my lips in the shape of being jerked off my nose where I was in the mood to help at all.

"Why?

"Your tenure is up to adulthood. Apparently, Aub Aerenfest then intends to entrust Merhior with the position of Temple Chief. He wants to make sure that the Temple Chief's important job is to supply magic and supervise blue clerics and orphanages, and not to add too much paperwork. Instead, I want you and Haltmoot to take over from the Blue Clerics as their main task."

Although the chief clergymen understand the work they do, it is difficult for the gray clerics to force the blue clergymen to do the work. For this reason, they make it their main task to see if they are doing the assigned work accurately or if there are any problems.

"Of course, you have to have knowledge of all the operations to make sure. Be busy, but start preparing Rosemaine to take over with Merhior without a problem."

"Yes, sir."

The clergyman then began discussing with Haltmut how he intended to do clergyman work in the temple. Whether to stay in the temple, pass from the house of the aristocratic city, need a new room, use the clergyman's room as it is, etc.

"We can't bring the furniture here to Arlensbach, so we're going to leave everything behind. If you prefer not to use it, you should use it as is. It will also save you the hassle of carrying out paperwork, etc."

"I'm afraid so. Now, thank you. Let me use it as it is. Is there a problem with the side service in the same way you use it? Because it is most reassuring to be familiar with the work of the Chief Cleric."

"Oh, I don't mind. My side of the line can do most of the work. Those who try to take up the job to be left to the gray clergy will have no particular problem with it"

Since Haltmoot will be a concomitant with civilian work, he basically will be as passing from the aristocratic district as before. When the Cleric Chief is gone, he says he can use the Cleric Chief's room as it is and stay in the temple during the service ceremony, etc.

Four bells rang as we talked in detail. Everyone starts cleaning up together with the sound of the bell. With his gaze around it, the clergyman informed him of his plans for this aftermath.

"Then perform the ritual of Haltmoot's vows in the temple chief's office in the afternoon. Get ready."

"Yes, sir."

Back in the room, the altar was somewhat ready. It seems Gil, Fritz and Vilma worked hard while we were at the clergyman's.

"All you have to do after is bring in the god's equipment. We have lunch ready in a separate room to prepare for the ritual."

That's what Monica said and usually led me to the room where the neighbors were eating. Since the meal will be every identity, I and my senior aristocrats in the vicinity, Haltmut, Brother Cornelius, Leonore and Angelica, will eat first, and Eudit, Rhoderich, Darmuel and Filine, intermediate and lower aristocrats, will eat later.

"Speaking of which, it's unusual for Angelica to walk out the door in the clergyman's office, isn't it? What the hell were you talking about leaving the door to Eudit?

Over lunch I turned my gaze to Angelica, remembering the sight when I left the clergyman's workshop.

"Mr. Eckhardt is going to Arlensbach with Mr. Ferdinand, so we're going to talk about it."

Apparently, the two men who gave their names to the Chief Cleric will accompany Arlensbach. Apparently, it's based on the companions Aurelia brought. Since we are in a different position in senior aristocracy and lord candidates, maybe we can take some more, but I think there are few clergy chiefs who can be trusted.

"Master Justox is a civilian, isn't he? Is it okay if I accompany you?

"Good civilians are wary of spilling information and are rarely allowed to accompany them," he said.

Eudit, who is on escort duty, and Philine, who is waiting, said that anxiously behind me.

"I tend to forget that the usual Justkus only do civilian work, but Justkus is a clean aspect of serving. He also graduates as a sidekick in the public records of the House of Lords. Civilians are just a hobby for Justkus."

"... did you take two courses in your hobby?

"I'm something like that."

Because I want to be a clerk, I plan to take a civic course at the same time, and I'm very comfortable with having ancestors like Justkus and the Clerical Chief.

"Angelica, what happened to Brother Eckhardt's story?

"I was told to choose whether I was going to marry and follow you because you were engaged or whether you were going to dissolve your engagement and stay in Aerenfest. They respect my opinion."

Sure, Angelica and Brother Eckhardt are engaged, so it's natural, and very important, that we get to talk about that. But there was no fiancé-like air at all, so it also feels somewhat strange to have such a conversation.

"So did you decide on Angelica's answer?

"I'll cancel my engagement and stay in Aerenfest. I am Lord Rosemaine's escort knight."

"... but that would scratch Angelica's background, wouldn't it?

Angelica says so in the face that there is nothing to it, but if you stay disengaged, it will be a lot of rumors, and it will be very difficult to find the next friendship. As I was worried about Angelica, Brother Cornelius laid down his shoulders lightly.

"I think my uncle and mother will move so that Angelica's background won't be scratched. Because Angelica's engagement was originally mentioned by her uncle."

When Brother Cornelius said so, Angelica looked down sadly and sighed.

"I very much admired Mr. Eckhardt for being so strong and for accompanying me in my training, so very... very..."

The words break, the sad look of losing love turns and Angelica's gaze swims a little. And the hand then stroked the Devil's Sword, Steinluke. Stynrook speaks the same voice as the chief cleric.

"It's heartbreaking, Lord"

"Yes, it's heartbreaking. So I can't think about the next story or anything right away. I'm going to tell Master Elvira that if possible, please leave me alone...... What do you think?

That's what Angelica says with a serious face, so I take it seriously, too.

"Right. I'd like to admire Master Eckhardt for a while, adding that Mother would be grateful and softened. You'll buy yourself time until Brother Eckhardt and Angelica's sad story becomes a book."

It's important that Angelica remembers without mistake, but advised, Angelica nodded cocklessly as she touched the demonic stone of Stynrook.

"I'll do my best"

And at the end of lunch, it is a vow ritual. For the first time since I became head of the temple. Can it be done well without mistake? I will recollect the streams and words of the vows that Fran has written to me until the critical moment when the chief priest comes.

In the meantime, the sacred artefacts were brought in by the side servants. It's probably because I don't see the artifact very close, the proximities stare at it intriguingly.

"The black cloak at the top is the symbol of the Dark God that means the night sky. The crown of gold means the sun, and as it is a symbol of the goddess of light, even if we know each one, we have never seen the real thing this way."

"You can also understand that Master Rosemaine's shield will be round."

"Can Master Rosemayne deform all the god's artifacts here in Starp?

I shook my neck beside the words of my closest friends.

"If you don't know the spell, you can't let it deform. I don't know how to crown the goddess of light."

"Really?"

The chief cleric must have finished his meal, too. I brought the sidekicks. Make sure the altar is ready with no problems and stand next to me to teach me how to use the incense furnace.

If you grip the chain as you can be taught and shake the incense furnace slowly, the incense that burns every ritual slowly spreads to the room.

"Now, say the word of the oath"

Inspired by the chief cleric, I kneel on the carpet and stand on my left knee. Then I crossed my hands in front of my chest and drooped my neck. Haltmoot takes the same position, prompted by the clergyman.

"Haltmoot is like repeating Rosemaine's words"

"Yes."

I breathed in slowly. I feel completely different from when I was in my own vow ritual, when I had no faith in the existence of God. Surprised by my change, I opened my mouth.

"He presides over the high pavilion sky, the supreme god presides over the land of the couple gods of darkness and light, the great god of the five pillars is the goddess of water Fruitlène, the goddess of fire Rydenshaft, the goddess of wind Szczeria, the goddess of earth Gedurliech, the goddess of life Aeviliebe"

"Let the power of the Supreme God shine wider than the great sky of the pavilion, and let the power of the Great God of the five pillars shine, and let not the bounty of that noble divine power that brings forth and feeds all that is in the wide and wide earth of Ho Ho."

"I pledge to pray, thank, and devote my heart to the gods of nature, who have righteously chosen my heart, set my heart, and worshipped and believed that I am God for generations to come."

When he finishes his vow words, the priests' sidelines quietly advance and dress Haltmoot in a blue costume. The belt of the adult haltmut was golden, as was the chief clergyman's belt of leather with lowered healing pills and the like. Wearing a blue costume makes Haltmut's hair look more like a pearl stand out.

"Then let us pray to God"

That is what I say, I pray to God with Haltmoot. Unlike me, Haltmoot was able to offer a proper prayer from the start.

"Good. From now on, Haltmut will put together a blue coat in the temple. Fran, ZARM. Let them not forget to give the blue priests a touch about the inauguration of the new chief priest."

"Yes, sir."

Then the Chief Cleric moves on to the annual events and descriptions of the Divine within the Temple. The closest divine matter is spring mitzvah, then a summer baptism soon after.

"As I leave as cleric chief for this mitzvah and baptism, Hartmoot will accompany me as one of the blue clerics. To get a good look at what the Cleric Chief's job is like. And in summer mitzvahs and autumn baptisms, Haltmoot is asked to work as a clergyman. At that time, as a blue cleric, I'm going to see if I can perform the duties of chief cleric on Haltmoot."

I said that prayer ceremonies and harvest festivals would not be a problem because it would be possible to do so to Vilfleet and Charlotte as well if they were sidelined. Haltmoot laughed happily when he finished his conversation about general divinity.

"Now you can join me in divinity and accompany Master Rosemaine. I'm so excited."

Haltmoot, previously denied entry into the prayer room, seems to be groaning, but I think he forgets what's important.

"Um, Haltmoot. It's bad that I'm happy, except Haltmoot and I are heading there at prayer ceremonies and harvest festivals, right?

The blue priests go around in unison, except for me and Hartmoot. I can't help but go to the same place. Hartmoot solidified his eyes lightly on my allegations.

"What do you mean? Now, may we not see the divinity of Lord Rosemaine?"

The clergyman shook his head in exhalation, ridiculous at the appearance of Haltmut, who dropped his gaggly shoulder and was completely unmotivated.

"The service ceremony and the baptism ceremony are together. Do we need to mourn that much?

"Right. We can burn Rosemaine's appearance in this eye during the ritual, so let's make it good."

It was the day of the inauguration, while letters of call were sent to the guild chiefs and the Plantan Chamber of Commerce to report on the results of the Lords' Conference during the takeover operations, and Burma was called for Haltmut, who said he wanted to greet the orphanage as well as the blue clergy.

The inauguration ceremony is an inner circle ceremony in the temple, which I also did when I took office as head of the temple. It is an unveiling ceremony in which all the blue clerics and their sides are served in the prayer room and all the gray clerics and gray witches whose baptismal ceremonies are over are collected.

The facilitator is the chief cleric, who briefly states that the marriage led him to head to Arlensbach, and that the Lord's instructions determined the next chief cleric.

"The new clergyman, by the Lord's will, Haltmut was chosen by senior nobles, not blue clerics. In fact, the Chief Cleric will take turns when I leave the temple. However, in order to enter and leave the temple for a period of one year or so, disclosures will be made."

The word of the chief cleric opens the door. I received the sight of the chief priest and said, "Let us pray to God and welcome him all. Pray to God!," he called out on the stage.

"Pray to God!

Haltmut, dressed in a blue cleric costume, smiles as gray clerics and gray witches lined up to pray. And he went up on the altar, and lined up next to me.

"You've gathered well. On a good day, guided by the sober currents of the water goddess Fruitrène, I was entrusted by Aub Aerenfest with a new minister, Haltmoot."

Haltmoot laughs at Nicole, looking in turn at the blue clerics lining up in a row.

"The term of office of my clergyman, close to Lord Rosemayne's side, expires on the day Lord Rosemayne resigns from the Temple Chief. In the short period until then, of course, the clergyman will take over all temple duties to the Blue Clergy. In order to eliminate the need to annoy the hands of Rosemayne, the Virgin of Aerenfest, all clerics and witches are asked to do their utmost to work, and Rosemayne's useless waste is the presence of shredding down more and more as assistant priests."

A hell of a statement of determination came. I became stunned, but did the Chief Cleric anticipate, without even showing a shard of agitation at all: "As you can see from listening to the Word, the new Chief Cleric is a proximity to giving the Temple Chief the highest priority. Follow his word to be chief clergyman, so that each and every one of you may work as hard as you can," he chases. I knew perfectly well that the blue clerics of the former Temple chieftaincy, who could not say that their attitude towards me was good, had turned bright blue.

... I didn't make you say that!

I wanted to scream that way, but it would only look like Haltmoot made me say more than he said it was near my side. I don't know how to hold Haltmoot's reins.

"Let us now offer our prayers and thanks to Aevileebe, the goddess of the five pillars, the goddess of water, the goddess of Fruitrene, the goddess of fire, the goddess of the Rydenshaft-style Szerian earth, the goddess of Gedurleich, the goddess of life, who presides over the high pavilion, the great sky of the high pavilion"

Haltmoot tightens his words with prayer and gratitude. I just didn't like the fact that a hell of a chief cleric was born. But I found out.

Incidentally, Haltmoot also said a similar word to the statement that shook the blue clerics into terror at the orphanage. "Let us do our utmost for Lord Rosemaine, the Virgin of Aerenfest, in the papermaking and printing industries," he said.

This one seemed accepted with a natural face, and Haltmoot looked very satisfied.

And it became a day of discussion with the merchants in Lower Town. Today's discussion will take place in the conference room of the aristocratic district. That is also due to the presence of the Chief Cleric.

Alliance chiefs, Frieda, the side-serving Ottomar Chamber of Commerce, the Plantan Chamber of Commerce of Benno and Marc, and the Guilberta Chamber of Commerce of Otto, Theo and Touri came. Rutz went to Risegang and I'm afraid he's not back.

Exchange a long greeting to each and take your seats. And we will report back on what was decided at the Lords' Conference.

"Gustav, at the Lords' Conference, the deal this year was set at 8 in the center, 6 in Crassenburg and 6 in Dunkelferger. The number of merchants will increase over last year, so it will be difficult, thank you."

"I will do everything in my power to meet Master Rosemaine's expectations."

I could see that the guild leader exhaled softly as he relieved himself. I guess we are horrified that we were kept to the number we asked for and there was no lack of helplessness from the lord.

"It was very helpful that a cook was dispatched by the Ottomar Chamber of Commerce at the Lords' Conference. Thank you, Frieda."

"It also seemed like a very exciting environment for the cooks. I swapped new recipes with Dear Rosemaine's cook and went back with my arms up a lot. The Italian restaurant is very vibrant with requests from the aristocrats regarding the purchase of recipes"

Frieda would love to take you to an Italian restaurant too, smiles. If you have time, you might want to go eat with the Cleric Chief for a little breath.

From the Guilberta Chamber of Commerce there was a delivery of hair decorations for the summer, which Touri showed us two luxurious decorations, like the one he usually uses in his hair decorations and rituals.

"It's Touri who makes Rosemaine's hair decorations, but other craftsmen grow up a lot"

According to Otto, there seems to be a few artisans who can now make hair decorations for nobility. He's in a state of push desperately making it for both civilians and nobles now because the merchants will be buying in a lot in the summer.

"Touri's arm is enough to carry out royal requests, so no other craftsmen have yet."

When Touri was praised, I bought out the hair decorations with joy. And when I get back to the castle, I'll tell him I'll call him again to cover his costume.

"The Plantan Chamber of Commerce will ask you to prepare for next year. If you leave it to Benno, it won't be a problem."

When I said so, Benno laughed furiously.

"If I leave it to Master Rosemaine, I'm not worried about selling next year's book. Be prepared to meet your expectations."

I knew they were telling me to sell well because I was going to prepare a lot, but rather, I felt pressure from this one.

At the conclusion of a single street report, the clergyman opened his mouth, "There is a report from me too". The merchants stretch out their spines to pay attention to the clergyman.

"It was decided that I, the lord's brother, would join Arlensbach as son-in-law. Arlensbach is not in the trading framework at this Lords' meeting, but there will probably be more interaction with Arlensbach on other occasions"

The words alone changed Benno's complexion. Look at that, the chief cleric raises the edge of his lips slightly.

"It was an Arlensbach nobleman who attacked Rosemaine a few years ago. With that in mind, I want you to do business and gather information."