Chapter 7

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Many believers emerged from the entrance of the Surv Temple. They had gathered there today to catch a glimpse of the "Holy Maiden" from a distance and to hear her sermon delivered in her delicate voice. The sermon had ended, and while they usually would have worn satisfied expressions, today their faces were different.

Indeed, some still smiled contentedly, moved by the words of the Holy Maiden. Some were even teary-eyed, impressed by the divine words she had spoken. Among them were those who were entranced by the Holy Maiden's beauty, their faces flushed with admiration. However, the most numerous were those who tilted their heads in puzzlement.

"Hey? Wasn't the Holy Maiden a bit strange today?"

"Yeah. She's usually so dignified and stern, but today... how do I put it..."

"...Wasn't she unusually seductive? You know, like... sometimes her sighs seemed to carry a hint of something more..."

"Right, right! That's exactly it! The usual dignified Holy Maiden is great, but today's version was... different."

"Hey, isn't today's Holy Maiden also acceptable? But to see her make such expressions... it must be a man, right?"

"Well, the Holy Maiden is human, and a young woman at that. It's not surprising that she might have a man she's fond of. I don't know who he is, but I'm envious."

"Speaking of the Holy Maiden's partner, there's a rumor..."

"Yeah, the 'Free Knight,' right? He does seem to match the Holy Maiden well."

"Beautiful and handsome. It's like a picture, you know?"

While exchanging such speculations, they left the Surv Temple.

Caledonia, having finished her sermon, returned to the reception room where her grandfather and Tatsuhiko were waiting. Tatsuhiko, who had entered the room after knocking, stared at Caledonia with a red face. The moment he saw her, the words Giuseppe had just spoken, "If possible, I would like you to become this girl's husband," resurfaced in his mind.

"Is something wrong, Master?"

"A, ah, no, n-no, nothing, u-um, no."

Tatsuhiko nodded awkwardly. Seeing his reaction, Giuseppe wore a mischievous grin, like a child who had successfully pulled off a prank.

"Now that Caledonia has returned, let me explain the future of the husband."

Hearing about his future, Tatsuhiko's expression changed suddenly.

Indeed, he had no lingering attachment to his original world. Even if he was told he could never return, he would feel a bit of homesickness, but not enough to be deeply disappointed.

Thus, Tatsuhiko would have to live in this world from now on. To do so, he would need a means of earning a living, i.e., a job.

Would there be any jobs available for someone who had dropped out of high school in this world? Thinking about this, Tatsuhiko's expression darkened slightly.

Giuseppe, seemingly perceiving his anxiety, began his explanation.

"I can imagine what the husband is worried about, but I will guarantee your future life."

"Master, you don't need to worry about living expenses at all."

"Wh-what...?"

"What's there to be surprised about? It's only natural to do such things. After all, I brought you here without your consent. I was prepared for this from the beginning."

Giuseppe chuckled and continued.

"Besides, the jobs available to you, who know almost nothing about this world, are limited. However, since you can communicate, you should be able to find some work."

Hearing this, Tatsuhiko realized he was having a normal conversation with Caledonia and Giuseppe, and not in Japanese.

When he asked about this, it turned out that the summoning ritual included a spell to understand the language. However, this only applied to spoken language, and reading and writing would need to be learned separately.

The language they were using was called "Continental Trade Language," a common language used throughout the Zoisalite continent. Tatsuhiko could also speak Japanese if he concentrated, which felt like switching between two languages he had normally learned.

"...I wish I could read and write as well..."

"I, I'm sorry. I followed the past records and documents faithfully, so I couldn't make fine adjustments..."

Caledonia said, looking down.

"A, ah, no, I'm not blaming you, Caledonia..."

While making excuses to Caledonia, Tatsuhiko secretly hoped that there might be other abilities granted by the transfer to another world.

"Anyway, as I said before, I would be happy if you would settle down as Caledonia's husband."

"O, oh, Grandfather!?"

Caledonia, sitting next to Giuseppe, let out a complex voice, sounding both troubled and somewhat pleased. Her well-featured face turned even redder as she looked back and forth between Giuseppe and Tatsuhiko.

"To be honest, she is already in a situation where she is considered a late bloomer. To be frank, half of the reason for this is due to you, the husband."

According to Giuseppe's explanation, in this world, particularly in the Largoferi Kingdom where Tatsuhiko and Caledonia were, one is considered an adult at sixteen, and it is common to start a household by twenty. Caledonia was nineteen, and while she wasn't considered a late bloomer by general standards, she was at an age where she was starting to feel the pressure.

"Many marriage proposals have come to her, but she has rejected all of them. Some were even from high-ranking nobles, and even royal family members with succession rights."

While complaining, Giuseppe's expression softened when he looked at his granddaughter. It was clear that he respected her romantic feelings more than political marriages.

"Wow, to receive proposals from the royal family, Caledonia is amazing. Well, given her beauty, it's only natural, I suppose."

With her outstanding appearance, high magical skills, and being the adopted daughter of the High Priest of the Surv Temple, it would be strange if she didn't receive marriage proposals.

Tatsuhiko didn't know how magic users were perceived in this world, but he assumed that higher skills were better.

When Tatsuhiko looked at Caledonia again, she was blushing and staring at him with wide eyes.

"Hehe, so, husband, you seem quite experienced with women. You just smoothly complimented a woman. Were you a pimp in your world?"

"Wh-what? A pimp!? N-no, that's not... I've never even dated a girl..."

"Hmm? Then you must be a natural charmer."

Tatsuhiko shook his head vigorously at Giuseppe's meaningful smile.

"Hehe, just a joke. Despite my appearance, I have a good eye for people."

Even if Tatsuhiko had been brought to this world unilaterally, if he turned out to be selfish or a villain, Giuseppe and the others would not take responsibility for him and might even abandon him.

"For now, let's make the husband a junior priest in this temple. Even as a junior priest, you will have a place to live and meals provided. Of course, you will have to fulfill your duties as a priest. If you have other work you want to do, you can take that job as well. Some priests combine their family business with their priestly duties."

Tatsuhiko couldn't think of any jobs he wanted to do in this world.

He should start by working at the temple and exploring the city to find a job he could do.

As a Japanese person with a weak sense of faith, he didn't think he could be a priest for life. He would eventually need to find another job, so he should first explore the available options.

While Tatsuhiko was thinking this, Caledonia, who had been blushing and silent, finally spoke up.

"N-no!! As I said before, Master, you don't need to work. I will support you! I have a decent income, you know."

She puffed out her chest confidently, but Tatsuhiko felt too much resistance to accept her offer.

"N-no, I don't want to be a freeloader..."

Ignoring Tatsuhiko's protest, Caledonia turned to her grandfather and made a bombshell announcement.

"Grandfather, I will leave this temple and live with Master from now on."

Suddenly, Tatsuhiko's eyes widened and his mouth hung open in shock. Giuseppe, however, slapped his knee and agreed.

"Yes, that's a good idea. Living together will allow you to see each other's good and bad points. You can decide whether to marry after living together for a while. Do you have a place to live in mind? From your tone, it seems you have already made preparations?"

"Yes. There is a believer who deals with the buying and selling of houses, so I consulted with them..."

"Wait, wait a minute!!"

Tatsuhiko, who had been left out of the conversation, quickly interrupted.

"Giuseppe, can you really accept your granddaughter living with a man she just met?!"

Normally, a father (or in this case, a grandfather) would oppose such a sudden arrangement.

However, while Tatsuhiko was panicking, the two of them just looked at him with puzzled expressions.

"What are you talking about, husband? I've been calling you 'husband' since we first met. That means I already recognize you as Caledonia's husband. Besides, I've been trying to bring you and Caledonia together from the start."

"But... why do you trust me so much, even though we just met?"

"I've heard about you from Caledonia for a long time. I don't even feel like it's our first meeting. Besides..."

Giuseppe, looking at Tatsuhiko's flustered face, raised one eyebrow playfully.

Caledonia, who had been adopted as a foster daughter, had told him stories about Tatsuhiko every day. Meeting Tatsuhiko in person and talking to him confirmed that he was the person Caledonia had described.

If Tatsuhiko had any ill intentions and planned to use or harm Caledonia, Giuseppe would not have encouraged their marriage.

"Didn't you live together in your world?"

"N-no, that's...! A, and in that world, Caledonia was a parakeet, not a beautiful, well-proportioned, and my type of slightly older woman!"

In his panic, Tatsuhiko blurted out things he didn't need to say.

Caledonia, surprised but pleased by Tatsuhiko's compliments, blushed.

Seeing their interaction, Giuseppe, who had officiated many weddings as the High Priest of the Surv Temple, was convinced that they would become a happy couple in the future. He silently prayed for the Surv God to bless the young couple.