32 – The Priestess in New Clothes
The dressing room was on the second floor. Although occasionally the sound of impact was heard, it couldn’t be helped because the training grounds were right next door. According to White Rabbit, “It’s good that the dust flies away.”
In my previous life, I had memories of just nodding along, saying it was pseudo-science or pseudo-magic.
White Rabbit opened the curtain.
Light flooded into the room, revealing a long line of clothes. There were occasional white, beige, and blue clothes, but most of them were as black as the Black Thorn Guild’s name.
White Rabbit gestured to Lucia and the others, pointing to the deepest part of the room.
“Here it is.”
On the clothes hanger, only rabbit ears and a hand, slender and standing, are visible.
As the black rabbit follows through the passage between the display racks, the figure of the black rabbit, examining one garment after another, comes into view.
After inspecting the clothes for a while, the rabbit seems satisfied, pulling out a plain-looking garment with an expression as if sipping sweet juice.
“How about this?”
It’s a garment Lucion used to wear in the past, familiar except for the reversed color scheme. Unlike the black rabbit, Lucion tended to handle requests during the day, head-on.
Usually, Shadowclaw wears black clothes even for missions, but Lucion preferred to move during the day.
“Go for something brighter.”
The black rabbit hesitated.
Actually, there was no need to think as the suitable garment was right beside, but the black rabbit just wanted Lucion to wear the symbolic black clothes of Shadowclaw.
“Hey, wouldn’t that one work?”
“Tsk.”
The black rabbit clicks its tongue.
As if resigned, Kanan pulls out a garment larger than himself and offers it to Lucion.
A well-maintained white robe that radiates a sheen. Black claws surrounding the neck area.
Lucion reaches out to receive the garment from the black rabbit. However.
“Hmm?”
Kanan hasn’t let go of the garment. He still wants Lucion to wear black clothes.
Lucion lets out a sigh.
“A robe will do.”
“A robe?”
In white conquest, adorned with a black clawed robe.
The black rabbit, without donning conquest, wore a black clawed garment like a jumper over its inner armor.
If that’s the case, the clawed robe must fall within the permissible range for the white garment.
“Well….”
They should be satisfied with each other.
The black rabbit could only nod its head in agreement.
Lucion asked out of courtesy.
“But, is it okay to borrow something like this? What if we damage the clothes?”
“Don’t worry! Just deduct it from my salary!”
They didn’t say they would give it for free. In fact, the black rabbit was meticulous with calculations. They were one of the people who demonstrated that there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world. Yet, despite having so much money, they tirelessly bestowed it upon their guild members.
“Otherwise, they’ll all run away….”
There’s a reason why their salary and welfare are generous. It’s a place where lives are at stake. Failure in a mission means death or social disgrace, indicating just how dangerous the black clawed robe is.
Lucion nodded as if to acknowledge this.
“Alright. Take care of it and wear it.”
After all, they weren’t in a position to complain.
They just need to wear the same size they wore in their past life.
The problem was Lucia.
Lucion didn’t know the measurements of a woman’s body. Even in their past life, they had spent a long time fighting alone in borderlands, so their understanding of measurements was limited to what the maids, who were experts in dressing, had taught them.
In this life too, I should find a maid. Time is precious, after all.
The black rabbit glanced at Lucia with a discerning look from head to toe. After scrutinizing her delicately, it suddenly recalled something and clapped its hands as if struck by inspiration.
“Well, you happen to have clothes that would fit you. Shorty!”
Who was calling whom shorty? Though there was considerable contemplation about whether to refute it, thanks to the black rabbit’s age, Lucia found herself nodding with satisfaction, following the black rabbit.
“But I’m not a shorty.”
“Who cares? I don’t know your name. Shorty, just wear this.”
Most of the conversation was between Lucia and the rabbit. Lucia initiated and carried the conversation, worrying that the rabbit might ask something strange.
The black rabbit was adept at deduction, capable of pinpointing their weaknesses with just a word. Caution was necessary.
The black rabbit took out a white priest’s robe from the hanger. A plain priest’s robe, but being the priest of the Black Claw, it had short claws arranged on the white belt.
Lucia turned her head, assessing Lucion’s reaction.
Lucion nodded.
“He’s not an official priest yet… shouldn’t be a problem.”
Lucia’s skills were unmatched in the Panachia region. Criticizing her for the claws on her robe would be trivial.
It would be an issue when she reached the central Eiras sect and acquired a position. Of course, it couldn’t be enforced. If you insist on having claws, attach them in white. Use feathers. That’s the extent of the pressure.
Lucia cradled the priest’s robe carefully in her arms.
New clothes.
She thought it wouldn’t be so thrilling.
Like eating cake for the first time since birth, the anticipation of wearing new clothes couldn’t be concealed, causing a subtle tremor.
The black rabbit chuckled, observing Lucia lifting her hand.
Is this the same kid who stood up against that terrifying White Rabbit?
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Anyway, since I liked the clothes, I decided to put them on first.
“Great! Just go in there and change into the clothes!”
There were many rooms.
#
After putting on the clothes, I followed the Black Rabbit to the guild.
There were quite a few people.
It must be because almost all the adventurers in the area had gathered.
To report that they had completed their tasks, to register as adventurers or to report their promotions, and so on. There were around 3,000 people visiting the guild in just one day.
It’s not just adventurers who come.
Knights from the territory and wizards from the magic tower also come. Traders who have taken on outsourcing tasks also come, so the guild is always bustling.
Among the bustling crowd, the Black Rabbit’s uniform shines even more.
When the Black Rabbit moves, when the members of the Black Rabbit uniform move, the people there quickly make way and move aside.
Lucia glanced at that sight with curiosity. Mostly, she looked at the empty space around the Black Rabbit.
“The Black Rabbit must be a really scary person.”
It was a joking remark. But the Black Rabbit took it seriously. He knows he’s a bad person too.
“Oh, I’m a really scary person.”
Lucia felt slightly annoyed by the tone that seemed to be talking to a younger sibling. But right now, Lucia felt like she was about to fly. The new clothes were so beautiful and she liked them so much.
A pure white dress. Unlike the robe, the dress had folds, making her reflection in the occasional mirror much more prominent.
Even seeing it with her own eyes, it was beautiful.
Lucion…
How shall we see?
Lucion, in particular, was preoccupied with looking ahead.
The black rabbit went to the reception table and turned around.
“Here.”
“I see.”
The surroundings, as noisy as they were, quieted down enough to be suspicious.
Because there was considerable interest in the black rabbit.
Lucion smiled subtly.
“Thank you.”
If he had come alone in his worn-out robe, he would have waited for hours.
Thanks to coming with the black rabbit, adorned in conquest, his turn was immediate.
The black rabbit shrugged his shoulders.
“What! Just endure a bit of hardship ahead. Oh, and treat me respectfully.”
“…That might be a bit difficult.”
He answered seriously.
The black rabbit seemed somewhat offended but didn’t care much.
“Hmph. It’ll be like that anyway, right? Anyway, hurry up and come out.”
The black rabbit waved his hands, descending to the lobby.
Only Lucion and Lucia remained here.
It was the adventurer guild’s 3rd-floor new adventurer registration counter.
—
Note: The line breaks have been preserved as instructed.
#
“How do I do it?”
“The guide will tell you.”
“I see.”
Lucia clasped her hands and fidgeted.
She seemed quite nervous.
Lucion whispered in Lucia’s ear.
“Don’t be nervous. And… don’t mention if you can see the divine power.”
It tickled.
“…Got it.”
Whispering, of all things.
Lucion seemed to be trying to keep it a secret.
‘Everyone is just looking at us two…!’
Embarrassed to death, Lucia couldn’t help but bow her head deeply.
#
Lucion,
In truth, had no particular thoughts.
What mattered was survival.
Only survival.
And Lucia’s happiness.
The evaluation process in the Panachia region is unknown to me.
In the northern region where Lucion stayed, in Velvet, Lucion himself conducted the evaluation. By inflicting a wound on his own palm and healing it, he demonstrated his ability to handle the divine power as a priest.
This was possible because the population was not large.
On the other hand, it was believed that the examination methods in Panachia would be more advanced.
Nevertheless, it is common to design the registration evaluation to simply meet the minimum criteria.
“I have to register as a wizard. It’s separate from here.”
“Understood.”
I debated whether to advise him to conceal his strength. But I thought there was no need to worry. Tests of divine power are mainly aimed at purification and healing. Once the purification is complete, the test is over, and it is difficult to know its true power.
Lucion quickly completed the paperwork. Then he followed the guide to the testing area.
“Just hit it with a fireball.”
Level 1 magic.
A stage to truly test whether one can manipulate magic.
The magic test was a basic assessment.
To confirm if one can be called a wizard.
Lucion immediately created a magic fireball and hit it on target.
Crack!
A brief sound of impact.
The fireball pierced through the center of the trajectory.
The guide conducting the test calmly checked off on the board in their hand, without changing their expression.
It’s a tool I’ve never seen before.
‘Panachia had used an artifact.’
He groped for memories. In his previous life, having started as a jack-of-all-trades, he had no recollection of undergoing such an advanced test.
“You’ve been confirmed as a wizard. I’ll proceed with the registration right away. If you wait outside, we’ll issue your rank.”
Mechanical in speech, but a smile adorned the face of the female guide.
Whether it was due to wearing the Black Thorn Conquest or not, the registration process was expedited.
Lucion followed the guide.
People he occasionally encountered in his past life, whom he didn’t know by name even then. Just exchanging greetings as they passed by each other.
It was the same this time. They were just connections to briefly encounter while walking the path.
Back in the waiting room, Lucion waited for Lucia to return.
10 minutes, 20 minutes passed, but Lucia didn’t return.
‘It’s worrying.’
Eventually, Lucion couldn’t stay in his seat.
He inquired with guild employees and headed towards the priest test site.
And he saw it.
That Lucia couldn’t manipulate even a slight amount of sanctity.