Chapter 80 – Head Shrine Maiden Penelope

“Ah, Theodore-san. Good morning. I’ve been waiting for you.”

As I was going through the procedures at the Adventurer Guild to sell my Magic Potions, Heather came out from the back and spoke to me with barely a greeting.

“Good morning. Is something the matter?”

“I have a message for you – when Theodore-san arrives, you’re requested to come to the Temple.”

“Ah, I understand.”

From the Temple, huh. I’m almost certain it’s about the Sealed Door.

“But still…”

Heather glanced at the potion vials I had lined up on the counter for sale and gave a wry smile.

“You’ve brought quite a lot again.”

“I’ve been stockpiling them for a while.”

The total Magic Potions I brought was 85 bottles.

As the crafter, I estimate that selling them to the Guild would net me about 12 kiligs per bottle. Since I don’t find the crafting process particularly burdensome, it’s quite a nice side income to earn while exploring the labyrinth. The fact that the materials don’t include Magic Stones helps boost the profit margin.

Though there are expenses like gathering fees and payments to the Party, so it’s not all personal income.

Still, it does help fill everyone’s pockets quite nicely, so it’s all good things. As for me, I’m trying to avoid unnecessary expenses in case I need the money later.

“Here is the purchase price for this time.”

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

Well then. My business here is done and my luggage is sorted. Before heading into the labyrinth, I should probably go to the Moon Temple first to hear what they have to say.

I entered the Temple the same way I would when going to the labyrinth. Instead of heading toward the central vertical shaft that leads to the labyrinth entrance, I walked toward the visitor’s altar in the back of the Temple and called out to a cleric.

“Excuse me. My name is Theodore Gartner. I was told to come here from the Temple.”

“Hmm. Please wait a moment.”

The cleric nodded and went through a door beside the altar into the back.

The stone statue of the Moon Goddess Shuas behind the altar was, as always, seeing off adventurers heading deep into the labyrinth with a serene expression.

This world—called Runegard in BFO—is polytheistic.

Depending on the god being worshipped, they generally don’t tend to oppress the people, and most have relatively relaxed commandments. It’s so lenient that it’s fine to worship different gods appropriately depending on the blessings they grant or the domains they govern.

Even among worshippers, gods and spirits often get mixed up, and people don’t seem to care much. Well, I hear it becomes much stricter for clerics and shrine maidens though.

The Moon Goddess Shuas, like the Sun God Eltex, is treated as a main deity and has many worshippers… but she could also be called a prime example of a god with relaxed commandments. She’s beloved by common people as an accessible deity.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. This way please.”

The cleric from earlier returned and guided us deeper into the Temple.

We passed through a narrow stone passage with a black, glossy texture and climbed a long staircase.

At the top, there was indeed an altar chamber. Much more compact than the large altar below, but it also had a goddess statue.

A room with no windows where sunlight couldn’t enter. The interior illuminated by torchlight. Perhaps some kind of magic was at work, as the air felt chilly.

And there, shrine maidens were lined up. At the front was a beautiful woman with hair longer than her waist, holding a khakkhara modeled after a crescent moon.

“We’re glad you could come. I am Penelope, the Head Shrine Maiden,” said the beautiful woman at the front, speaking quietly and bowing her head.

Head Shrine Maiden Penelope. I heard she’s fond of Princess Marlene… so I don’t think she’s a bad person.

“I’m Theodore Gartner.”

When I introduced myself too, Penelope smiled gently.

“I’ve heard of your heroic reputation. Please, this way.”

Penelope led us to an even deeper room.

I heard the shrine maidens live in the back of the Temple. So these facilities around here must be their living quarters.

What Penelope presented to me was a copy of the relief that I had given to King Melvin some time ago.

“We’ve also heard from the Royal Castle. I immediately contacted those knowledgeable about celestial movements and had them conduct observations and calculations using the Temple’s observatory and past records.”

She handed me another sheet of paper.

“To get straight to the conclusion, I believe your theory about it being linked to planetary movements is correct.”

“Um. Did they match?”

“Yes. It took some effort to convert the flat diagram into three dimensions, but the information was clearly written within the shapes as well.”

That’s because I had Caduceus make a perfect copy of the relief. It’s precisely because it reproduces even the fine details.

“We’ve received reports that the seal on the door in the Dusk Forest will likely break this winter. Otherwise, it would be over 200 years from now. The details are written on this paper, so please take a look.”

200 years, you say…

Considering the movements of stars with long orbital periods, I suppose that’s how it works out?

Conversely, if we can get through this winter, the seal should be fine until then, but in that case, we’d need to properly pass it down to future generations—what’s called a handover.

“Understood.”

“As one who leads the Moon Goddess’s shrine maidens, I will do my utmost as well. If there’s anything I can help with, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you. I imagine we’ll need blessings to resist the miasma on the day itself.”

As for me, I shouldn’t worry about such distant future matters and should prepare on the assumption that the door will open this winter.

I can’t afford to be optimistic and unprepared, and even though it’s still some time away, I don’t have the luxury of taking it easy. I’ll train everyone as much as possible until then.

“—Oh, Your Highness Marlene. What brings you here?”

Just as our conversation reached a pause, Penelope looked toward the doorway and spoke with a gentle smile.

When I also turned my gaze that way, Princess Marlene was there. Just like she did with Marian, she was peeking at us with only half her face visible from the doorway.

When Princess Marlene’s eyes met mine… she seemed about to break into a happy smile but stopped herself at the last moment, giving a subtle reaction.

This reaction… well, I can understand it.

This would be the second time meeting her as Princess Marlene, I suppose.

As for Marian—since that incident, she’s been visiting the workshop frequently along with Ophelia, the Marquis’s daughter.

According to what Alfred told me, when Princess Marlene goes out to play in the city, it keeps her away from the authorities, so her relatives—probably Rosemary—seem quite pleased.

Marian herself also seems to enjoy being at the Temple or workshop more. Therefore, as Princess Marlene, she’s at the Temple. As Marian, she’s often at the workshop.

However, just like Prince Albert and Ophelia, she’s in disguise… so when meeting me as Marlene, she probably doesn’t know what attitude to take.

In this regard, Alfred and the others are quite smooth about it. Perhaps it’s still difficult for Princess Marlene to switch her feelings nimbly.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness Marlene. Have you been well?”

Making it clear I hadn’t noticed anything while greeting her, Princess Marlene finally showed a happy smile and nodded. It seems she’s been well.

“Don’t stay out there, please come in.”

Though invited by Penelope, Princess Marlene kept smiling but shook her head slightly and retreated back into the Temple. Maybe she thinks if she stays too long, she’ll be found out.

The transformation magic spell formula embedded in that ring is high-performance enough to deceive not just vision but also smell and hearing… but you can’t fake the overall atmosphere and mannerisms.

Above all, both Princess Marlene and Marian share the characteristic of not speaking. Though with just that much contact, it could also be interpreted as her just being shy.

When I glanced at Sheila, she had a slightly puzzled expression. Hmm. Her senses are sharp. Not just Sheila, but everyone has enough consideration and caution not to mention things if they seem suspicious… I think it’ll be fine, but just in case, I should find an opportunity to subtly bring it up later.

“Theodore-sama, you’re acquainted with Her Highness Marlene?”

“Yes, once before at the Royal Castle.”

“Is that so. It seems the Princess is quite fond of you.”

“Does it look that way?”

“Yes. She looked very happy.”

Penelope narrowed her eyes.

“The Princess has expressed her wish to enter the Temple in the future. She’s been training as an apprentice at such a young age.”

“Sounds like she has a promising future ahead.”

“Yes, indeed. As a shrine maiden, I believe she will surely achieve great things. However—” As she said this, there was a somewhat self-mocking tone mixed in Penelope’s voice.

In other words… she’s genuinely concerned about Princess Marlene’s situation and feelings. Rather than gaining an excellent shrine maiden, she pities that the Princess might be driven to the Temple by her circumstances.

As the Head Shrine Maiden, she probably can’t state it too clearly publicly, but Penelope seems to be quite a trustworthy person.