Chapter 81

"Ah, Theodor. Good morning. I've been waiting for you."

While I was at the adventurer's guild, trying to sell some magic potions, Heather came out from the back and greeted me.

"Good morning. Is there something you need?"

"Theodor, when you arrive, the temple wants you to come over. I have a message to deliver."

"Ah, I see."

From the temple, huh. I think it's most likely about the sealed door.

"Still..."

Heather glanced at the vials of potions lined up on the counter for sale and smiled wryly.

"You've brought quite a lot again."

"I've been stockpiling them for a while."

I brought a total of 85 magic potions. As a producer, I estimate that I can make a profit of about 12 kirigs per potion when the guild buys them. I don't feel much burden in the production process, so it's a pretty good side income when I explore the dungeon. The profit margin is high because the raw materials don't include magic stones.

However, there are expenses like the cost of gathering materials and payments to the party, so it doesn't directly become personal income.

Still, it helps everyone's finances, so it's a pretty good deal. I try not to spend too much unnecessarily, as I might need it later.

"Here is the price for this batch."

I received a bag of silver and copper coins from Heather.

Well, then. I've finished my business and packed up. Before heading to the dungeon, I need to go to the Moon Temple and hear what they have to say.

I entered the temple in the same way as when I go to the dungeon. Instead of heading to the vertical shaft that leads to the dungeon entrance, I walked to the altar for visitors at the back of the temple and called out to a priest.

"Excuse me. My name is Theodor Gartner. I was called to the temple."

"Hmm, please wait a moment."

The priest nodded and went through a door next to the altar.

The stone statue of the Moon Goddess Shuas, located behind the altar, was, as usual, quietly seeing off the adventurers heading deep into the dungeon.

In this world—called Runegard within the BFO—polytheism is practiced.

Depending on the deity, they don't tend to suppress the people, and the general population is relatively relaxed about the rules. It's fine to worship different deities based on the blessings they provide and the fields they oversee.

The worshippers also tend to confuse deities with spirits and don't pay much attention to it. However, priests and priestesses are said to be quite strict about such matters.

The Moon Goddess Shuas, like the Sun God Elteks, is considered a major deity and is widely worshipped... but she can also be seen as a representative of the more relaxed deities. She is beloved by the general public as a familiar deity.

"I kept you waiting. Please come this way."

The priest returned and led us to the back of the temple.

We walked through a narrow corridor made of black, glossy stone and climbed a long staircase.

At the top, there was another altar room. Unlike the large altar downstairs, this one was much smaller, but it also had a statue of the goddess.

The room had no windows and no sunlight, illuminated only by a bonfire. The air was cool, as if some kind of magic was in effect.

And there were priestesses lined up in the room. In front was a beautiful woman with long hair, holding a crescent-shaped staff.

"Thank you for coming. I am Penelope, the head priestess."

The beautiful woman in front bowed and spoke quietly.

Penelope, the head priestess. I've heard she dotes on Princess Marlene... so I don't think she's a bad person.

"I am Theodor Gartner."

When I introduced myself, Penelope smiled gently.

"I have heard of your fame. Please, this way."

Penelope led us to a room further back.

The priestesses live in the back of the temple, so this area is likely their living space.

Penelope handed me a copy of the relief I had given to King Melvin some time ago.

"I have also heard from the castle. I immediately called in experts familiar with the stars and had them conduct observations and calculations using the temple's observatory and past records."

She handed me another piece of paper.

"To put it simply, I believe the idea that the movement of the planets is linked is correct."

"Um, do they match?"

"Yes. It took some time to convert the flat diagram into a 3D model, but the information was clearly written in the diagram."

The relief was a perfect copy made by Caduceus, so it's no surprise that the details were accurately reproduced.

"According to the report, the seal on the door in the Twilight Forest will be broken this winter. Otherwise, it would be over 200 years from now. The details are written on this paper, so please read through it."

200 years...

Considering the long orbital cycles of the planets, that makes sense.

In other words, if we can get through this winter, the seal will remain intact until then, but in that case, it's necessary to pass on the information to future generations.

"I understand."

"As the head of the Moon Goddess's priestesses, I will do my best to assist. If there is anything I can help with, please let me know."

"Thank you. I imagine we will need your blessings to counter the miasma on the day."

I need to prepare for the door opening this winter, without being overly optimistic. Even though it's a bit in the future, I can't afford to be complacent. I need to train everyone as much as possible by then.

"Ah, Princess Marlene. What brings you here?"

When the conversation paused, Penelope looked at the doorway and said with a gentle smile.

I also turned to look and saw Princess Marlene peeking out from the doorway, just like Marian used to do.

When our eyes met, she seemed to want to smile happily but held back at the last moment, giving a somewhat awkward reaction.

This reaction... I can understand.

This is probably the second time I'm meeting her as Princess Marlene.

As Marian, she—along with Ophelia, the daughter of the Marquis—has been visiting the workshop frequently since then.

From what Alfred has told me, when Princess Marlene goes out to play in the city, she is seen as distancing herself from the power structure, which makes her relatives—likely Rosemary—happy.

Marian herself seems to enjoy being at the temple and the workshop. So, when she is Princess Marlene, she is often at the temple, and when she is Marian, she is often at the workshop.

However, like Prince Albert and Ophelia, since she is in disguise... she probably doesn't know how to act when she meets me as Princess Marlene.

Alfred and the others are quite clumsy in this regard. Princess Marlene might still find it difficult to switch her mindset smoothly.

"It's been a while, Princess Marlene. How have you been?"

While pretending not to notice, I greeted her. She finally smiled happily and nodded, indicating that she is doing well.

"Please come over here, not just standing there."

When Penelope invited her, Marlene smiled and shook her head slightly, retreating into the back of the temple. She might be worried about being discovered if she stays too long.

The transformation magic in the ring not only deceives the visual senses but also the olfactory and auditory senses. However, the overall atmosphere and mannerisms cannot be completely faked.

Most importantly, both Marlene and Marian have the characteristic of not speaking. It's possible that she was just shy from the contact.

I glanced at Sheila, who had a slightly puzzled expression. Hmm. She has sharp senses. I think it's fine as long as everyone is considerate and cautious about not mentioning things if they sense something is up, but just in case, I might talk to her a bit more subtly when the opportunity arises.

"Sir Theodor, you know Princess Marlene?"

"Yes, once at the castle."

"Is that so? It seems the princess is quite fond of you."

"Does it look that way?"

"Yes, she seemed very happy."

Penelope smiled.

"The princess wants to enter the temple in the future. She is training as an apprentice at such a young age."

"That sounds promising."

"Yes, I think she will become a great priestess. However, if she has a place elsewhere, I don't think it has to be the temple."

There was a hint of self-mockery in Penelope's words.

In other words, she genuinely cares about Princess Marlene's well-being. She thinks it's more pitiful for her to be forced into the temple by her environment than to gain an excellent priestess.

As the head priestess, she can't say this openly, but Penelope seems to be a very trustworthy person.