How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Volume 4

by Yukiya Murasaki

  Lumachina placed a hand over her mouth. “Is that the church?”

  “Yes. It was closed at Laminitus’s orders, though....” Batutta answered.

  The governess labeled the Church as a bunch of “swindlers,” and granted them no special privileges.

  “Why would she order it closed?”

  “That church was constructed by the former governor in accordance with the king’s decree, so ownership of the building falls to the governor. We were told if we wanted to use it, we would need to pay rent for it. We were quoted a price at the going market rate, but...it was still too much to pay from just our donations...”

  “Which is why you don’t use it, I see.”

  “There were some townspeople who voiced their desire to let us use the church, but... Well, you have already seen what kind of person Laminitus is like.”

  “Yes, that is a problem.” Lumachina cast her eyes downward.

  “...I have never heard of a governor saying anything like that to the Church before,” Rem whispered. “I find asking them for rent to be a perfectly reasonable request, however.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Shera agreed.

  “...What were churches like back home for you in the Kingdom of Greenwood?”

  “Hm? We have the Sacred Tree and stuff, I guess?”

  “...Umm... What about sleeping quarters for the priests?”

  “They sleep back in their own homes. The priest right now works a tea house as their main job. They only do priest stuff during festivals or when someone needs prayer.”

  “...Is that enough?”

  “Yup, pretty much.”

  Since the two didn’t exactly seem to be on the same wavelength, Diablo cut into the conversation.

  “The reason they can get away with being a priest as their secondary occupation is because of how small Greenwood’s population is. That, and they don’t have many ceremonies to speak of. Elves are long-lived, but the birth rate among them is low.”

  “...I see. So that’s why they can be a priest as a side job.”

  “Churches in the Kingdom of Lyferia are not only for prayer, but can also provide services like accepting cash deposits and providing education for children. Though it may be the same in name, churches are given different functions depending on a country’s population and the systems in place for that country. It just means there is no use in simply comparing them.”

  “...As I should expect from you, Diablo, you possess a shocking amount of insight for these things.”

  “It’s only normal.”

  “...It’s embarrassing to admit, but I only know of Faltra and a few of the neighboring towns. I have never left the Lyferian Kingdom, after all.”

  “Hm, I see.”

  TV and the Internet didn’t exist in this world, and the price for books was expensive to boot. Though Diablo only possessed general knowledge of the government and the economy, the chance to have learned about them was a valuable one.

  “You can’t lead worship or do much of anything else without a church, correct?” Lumachina asked Batutta.

  “We have set up tents in the northern part of town as a replacement for a proper chapel.”

  “May I see them?”

  “It’s...a bit out of the way. Perhaps after taking a rest first?”

  “Right now, if you please.”

  “Understood.”

  If he was being honest, since he used so much MP already, he wanted to grab something to eat and dive into bed as soon as possible. But still, he understood how Lumachina felt. He stayed silent, being jostled about in his seat as the sand skimmer kept moving.

  Zircon Tower was a small town compared to Faltra. It took them almost no time at all to reach the northern part of the city. There was a multitude of small tents set up here, about one hundred of them in total.

  Lumachina made as if she were going to stand up.

  “All of these are Church tents?”

  “Only about half of them. The rest were set up by Adventurers, merchants, and the like.”

  “Even so, there are quite a lot of them.”

  “But it is still not enough... My apologies, Lady Lumachina, but it would be a problem for us to get any closer.”

  “And why is that?”

  The sand skimmer turned around.

  “That is the line for people waiting for prayer,” Batutta said as he pointed.

  There was a line of around three thousand people milling about in front of one of the tents that was a size larger than all the rest. It was composed of all sorts of men, women, and children, including Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Pantherians, and Grasswalkers.

  “There are a ton more of them at the moment because of the disturbance with the Sand Whale earlier. Usually, there are about a thousand or so waiting.”

  “Do you really have that many people of faith waiting?”

  “There are some who don’t have a chance to pray, even if they wait the entire day. It gets chilly at night, so we tell them to come back the next morning...but most of them never leave the line.”

  “But why would they do such a thing!?”

  “Not only is this the former Demon Lord’s Domain, it is not a rare occurrence for monsters like the one from before to make an appearance. There is no barrier to protect the town, either. There are many people for whom this is a necessity and because of that, we get lines as long as the one you see now.”

  “I see...” Lumachina nodded in response.

  Diablo scanned the surroundings. As he did, he spotted a tent that was a bit removed from the others, with about three people lined up in front of it. Judging by their appearances, they seemed to be rather well off.

  “Hmph... Tell me, is that also a line for prayers?”

  “...It is.” Batutta seemed reluctant to answer.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Lumachina asked him.

  “That line is only for those who make large contributions. Lady Lumachina, I ask that you do not misinterpret this. Not only are we lacking in priests, but this is a very dangerous area we live in. We cannot cater to everyone that wishes for prayer. It is only natural higher priority would be given to those that offer larger donations, since that is a sign they require prayer moreso to give such amounts.”

  Lumachina kept her head down as she thought in silence. She was smart, so she understood that she couldn’t simply judge Batutta as corrupt because of this.

  “Isn’t this kinda weird!? Shouldn’t you just start with the people who lined up first!?” Shera said with a frown on her face.

  “...If that were the case, what would you do if those who weren’t in a hurry held up the line for those who were?” Rem answered in a low voice.

  “Mmm, I mean, I would feel bad for them and all, but isn’t it more fair for them to just line up faster?”

  “...That just means people with more free time on their hands would be treated better. Would you call it fair for those who work hard and offer their money to be given the cold shoulder over those who don’t work and invest only in their time?”

  “Oh, hmmm.”

  “...The Church would be happier for people to give them larger donations rather than have them line up earlier. That’s why the people who give the most are given preferential treatment in return.”

  Rem had an accurate understanding of the matter at hand. What Lumachina was struggling with probably had to do with the incident of the mother and child from earlier. Though they requested a modest donation for prayer, there were still those among the line of three thousand who couldn’t afford to pay even that. But would it be appropriate to say that to Batutta now? The lack of priests was a fundamental issue for them; it wasn’t something that would be so easily solved by her speaking the honest truth alone. Not only that, but she had come here to ask him for shelter from the Cardinal Authority.

  —Good people really aren’t suited for managing these kinds of operations

  “This should be enough, is it not?” Diablo spoke up. “I
grow weary of staring upon these lines of believers.”

  Batutta nodded. It seemed he didn’t want to drag out the topic of the lines any more than needed.

  “You all must be tired after such a long journey. Though I can only provide modest arrangements, I will prepare food and a place to rest for you.”

  “Yay!” Shera raised her hands in the air with a cry of glee.

  The Church’s policies aside, Diablo was honestly grateful for food and a place to sleep.

  “...To have one thousand people lining up as a regular occurrence really is just too much,” Lumachina muttered.

  †

  Leaving the collection of tents behind, they returned to the center of town. They arrived at the building where Batutta and the other priests were staying in.

  “We’re renting this place at a low price from a merchant. He’s a man of profound faith.”

  The sturdy stone walls of the house were enormous. It was enough to make one think the place was big enough to use as a church...

  But there was no spacious place for worship to be found, as it was built just like a normal house. It had an entranceway and a lobby with the dining and living rooms at the center, and rooms for personal use located around it. The windows were kept closed to not let the sand in, keeping the inside of the house dark. Because of that, the oil lamps that hung from the ceiling were kept lit even during the daytime. In this town, it was easier to get hold of oil rather than candles. There were paintings adorning the walls, and a white cloth covered the table. It was almost easy to forget they were in a town in the middle of a desert.

  Ten maids bowed deeply in greeting. The one standing at the head of the group was a raven-haired beauty with a large chest. She was a stunner, and looked to be a bit older than Diablo.

  “Welcome, High Priest Lumachina Weselia. I am the head maid, Shiliu. If you should need anything, please let us know.”

  “Very well,” Lumachina responded with a nod.

  Seeing her so composed in these kinds of situations really gave the impression she was a part of the elite of society. If a maid were to ask him “if he should need anything” as a greeting, Diablo would have become a nervous wreck. Mei’s shtick back at the Peace of Mind Inn made him think of the place as more like a maid café, but that made him feel more at ease.

  Now that he thought of it, they’ve been away from Edelgard for about two weeks now, but no one figured out who she really was, right? She wasn’t causing trouble for anyone, was she? Was Edelgard doing all right with her job?

  —If only they had phones here or something...

  The head maid led them into the dining hall where Lumachina sat at the head of the table, with Batutta sitting beside her. Diablo was sure they were going to be treated as lowly guards or attendants or whatever, but they were treated as guests, to his surprise.

  Thinking back on it, Batutta pretended not to know Diablo was the Sorcerer Laminitus was looking for earlier. Maybe he was treating Diablo well for bringing Lumachina here and repelling that Sand Whale from earlier?

  —But still, I don’t know if I can trust him just because of that...

  Just as he was wondering what kind of food they would cook up in the middle of a desert...a reddish soup made from beans was served.

  —I-Is this...!?

  Lumachina and Batutta brought their hands together. Diablo did the same.

  “O Lord in heaven, we thank you for this blessing today.”

  He never prayed at mealtimes before, but it became a habit after he began traveling with Lumachina. Whenever she prayed, the rancid smell would disappear from old meat, and dirty rainwater would turn fresh and crisp, so he didn’t mind it.

  He used a silver spoon to bring the soup to his mouth. An intense tingling sensation and the fragrance of the spices reached the inside of his nose and caused his brain to go numb.

  —Th-This is really...!!

  “Spicyyyyy!!” Shera yelped.

  Rem nodded. “...Yes... But it’s quite good.”

  “This is curry!” Diablo suddenly blurted out. “And rice, too!”

  This flavor really brought back memories. It was different than the curry he had back in Japan, of course, but this was definitely curry. The soup had no thickness to it, as well as a strong, invigorating scent of herbs. It was something closer to a Thai curry. The rice was fluffy and the grains were firm; when drenched in the soup, it became the perfect texture.

  “How do you like it, Lady Lumachina?” Batutta asked with a smile. “I’m sure this must be quite different from dining in the capital.”

  “It’s delicious.” She downed her third cup of water as she answered.

  “Was it spicy?”

  “Y-Yes, just a little... But it’s still very good.”

  In the end, Shera managed to get down three servings of the curry, still making a commotion over how hot it was, while Diablo ate five.

  †

  After they finished eating—

  Diablo was kicking back in the living room drinking tea when Lumachina came over, along with Rem and Shera. Lumachina changed into the garments of the High Priest, which Batutta apparently prepared for her. It was a flowing robe that used a white and red base for its colors. The long cloth covered her down to the knees, but he could see her smooth skin from between the gaps.

  “Wh-What do you think?” she asked, a slight blush in her cheeks.

  “Hm. It suits you,” Diablo said with a nod.

  Looking delighted, Lumachina broke out into a smile. Rem and Shera were happy, too, as they had apparently helped her change.

  The High Priest outfit Lumachina wore back when she and Diablo first met had already been torn to shreds by the time he ran into her, so this was his first time seeing it like this. And while he knew he probably shouldn’t look at it that way...it was a pretty alluring outfit.

  —At any rate, who would have thought there would come a time in my life where I’d be complimenting a girl’s clothes. I thought these sort of things only happened in dating sims.

  He suddenly noticed that Lumachina was holding the back of her left hand with her right.

  “What’s wrong with your hand?”

  “Oh, it’s nothing to worry about...”

  It was scraped up and had turned red.

  “...Back when you were fighting with the Sand Whale, it seems she fell over trying to pull people back in when they looked like they would be sent flying away,” Rem followed up.

  “I see. That seems like something she would do.”

  —Oh crap... That was because of my magic! I’m sorry!

  Lumachina gave a bashful smile. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

  “Can you not use healing miracles on yourself?”

  “Ah... Actually, miracles of recovery or healing do not work on me. No matter who I have praying for me, it does not even heal a scratch.”

  “What!?”

  “Usually miracles work on priests as well, but strangely enough, they have no effects on me... I wonder if this could also be called part of God’s plan.”

  —Is that the price she pays for using such powerful miracles? That’s a pretty harsh restriction.

  “What about healing potions?”

  “I have used one, a long time ago when I was hurt, and it did heal me.”

  “I see. Then you should carry this.”

  Diablo took a potion from his pouch and offered it to her. Lumachina’s eyes opened wide. With trembling hands, she took the potion from him. To her, this was a blessing from God themself.

  “Th-Thank you so much! I will treasure this my entire life!”

  “No, use it when you need it, all right?”

  Diablo leaned back in his chair. Rem and the others sat down as well. In almost no time at all, the maid, Shiliu, brought out tea for everyone.

  Batutta led the group to four bedrooms that were prepared for them. As the most important person among them, Lumachina was allocated a special room in the innermost part of the house.
>
  —We’ve been treated pretty well so far... But if anything were to happen, it’s gonna be harder to deal with if we’re all split up.

  “Go with her,” Diablo whispered into Rem’s ear.

  With a small nod, she stepped forward. “I have been instructed to attend to Lady Lumachina’s every need. I don’t plan on interfering with any of the other maids’ duties, but may I have your permission to stay in the same room as her tonight?” she asked Batutta.

  “That’s right!” Lumachina picked up on what was going on. “I would be terribly inconvenienced if I don’t have Rem close by me.”

  Batutta looked Rem up and down. “The High Priest needs a slave?”

  “...Y-You are mistaken. This is the result of an accident when I tried using Summoning magic. I am not a slave,” Rem insisted.

  “It’s true!” Lumachina added in her defense.

  There was no way the captain of the Paladins would doubt the word of the High Priest.

  “So you’re a Pantherian... Adventurer, I would assume? Or a Summoner?”

  “...Yes.”

  “Normally, anyone who doesn’t possess the qualifications of a priest wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the High Priest... But I will make a special exception.”

  Though he seemed reluctant, Batutta allowed it. He promised to move Rem’s bed into Lumachina’s room. Diablo was relieved.

  —I guess I’ll just leave her to Rem tonight.

  Nighttime—

  Diablo had a tub and a jug of water brought to his room. By sitting in the tub, he would use the cool water to wash away the dirt from his body. It was a bit of a luxury to bathe as such in this world; usually, he would just wipe himself down with a wet cloth and that would be it.

  “I just want to soak in the tub every once in a while... Maybe I should make myself a proper bath sometime?” he thought, taking off his clothes.

  A knocking came from his door, and he started to get strangely nervous.

  “Who’s there?”

  “Ehehe... You up, Diablo?”

  “Shera, is it? Enter.”

  Diablo sat cross-legged in the tub, his back facing the opening door as Shera came inside.