CHAPTER 346: CHAPTER 346 ⤞ THE DIVINE TEXTS OF AQUABLE

{T/N: Aqua + Bible = Aquable}

I arrived at the Axis Cathedral. In terms of both elegance and size, it was the finest building in the entire town.

Pushing open the doors, I walked into the cathedral.

"Ah, welcome~"

This town was far more enthusiastic than others, which was evident even in the cathedral. As soon as I entered, someone came to greet me.

It was a pretty, cute young girl. She wore a blue and white nun’s outfit and held a broom, looking as if she’d just been cleaning the cathedral.

"My, my~ Why are you staring at me like that~ By the way, are you here to join the Axis Cathedral? Or to be baptized? Or perhaps... you want me?"

The girl’s head seemed to have issues too.

She spoke like a wife welcoming her husband, but it would have been better if she could correct her wording and tone down that extremely obvious mischievous smile at the corner of her mouth.

"What do you mean by ’want you’?"

"My~ Your expression is a bit scary. I’m joking, just joking~ Putting on such a serious face when meeting a girl for the first time, you’re quite strict, aren’t you? Is there something wrong with your head?"

"It’s your brain that has problems!"

Another problem child.

Adam realized that the people in this town all had issues, and the members of the Axis Cathedral had even bigger problems!

Even when scolded, the girl didn’t get angry. She continued fulfilling her duties and said to him:

"What can I help you with?... High Priest Zesta and the other believers are currently outside playing activities in the name of missionary work... no, I mean they’re out spreading the name of Goddess Aqua. No one is in the cathedral right now, so if you’re looking for them, please come back another day."

"I’m currently busy and don’t have time to entertain you"... Though she didn’t phrase it that way, Adam understood her meaning.

Besides, was what she just said really appropriate? Was it deliberate?

Was she expressing her dissatisfaction to Adam about the High Priest and others going out to play without taking her along?

Was she complaining?

"I’m asking, do you recruit people to the Axis Cathedral just for fun?... And don’t cause trouble for others."

"Ah, regarding that... it’s the doctrine of the Axis Cathedral, a normal procedure."

"Hey!"

"I deeply apologize. If this has caused you any inconvenience, please come back when Priest Zesta returns."

"Hey..."

Was she deliberately brushing him off, trying to use someone who wasn’t present as a shield?

Never mind. Whatever the case, they were all working for Aqua. Even if he couldn’t help due to his identity issues, he shouldn’t meddle and cause trouble.

Then he got to the point.

"I’d like to ask, have you seen a woman with blue hair?" Adam described Aqua’s appearance to her, "She’s wearing a blue dress with a pink haori, has long blue hair and clear blue eyes, with an outstanding presence... Oh, and she’s a High Priestess."

"Oh—, you’re talking about that person." The girl seemed to understand. But instead of simply pointing the way, she asked again to confirm, "Are you a companion of that person? The one who came with those two over there, the beautiful and noble wom...an."

Hmm? Something felt off about her phrasing.

But who were "those two over there"?

Following the direction she pointed, Adam looked toward a corner inside the cathedral and found two small figures huddled there.

"Megumin, Yunyun?"

The two had gone out to play together this morning, and even though it was almost evening, they hadn’t returned. He hadn’t expected to find them here.

However, judging by their expressions, he knew they must have suffered quite a bit today.

Well, let them calm down for now. Finding Aqua was more urgent.

"So, where is that person?"

"That person... ah, you mean the High Priestess? Since our cathedral’s priests are all out pla... evangelizing, I asked her to handle the confessions."

The woman pointed to the confessional on the other side, indicating where Adam could find the person he was looking for.

She had turned Aqua into free labor?

Although she might enjoy this work, did she realize the true identity of the person she had directed to work for free?

Are you always this brave? You’ll be shocked when you find out!

"...Thank you."

Despite having many criticisms in mind, now wasn’t the time for jokes. After greeting her, Adam went to the cathedral entrance.

This small room at the entrance was the confessional where one could unburden their heart and cleanse their sense of guilt.

Just as he reached the door, he unexpectedly heard a conversation from inside.

"Um... Priestess, please listen to me!"

"Speak, lost lamb... Come, tell me what sins you have committed. The Gods will forgive you after hearing your confession."

Aqua’s voice rang out after the man on the other side finished, filled with compassion and tenderness.

"I have long been a member of the Axis Cathedral who worships Goddess Aqua, however... Goddess Eris’s portrait, those full breasts, have been tempting me! Those breasts are the devil’s temptation! Ah... God, please forgive this sinful me who has been seduced by other Goddesses..."

What nonsense was this man saying to Aqua!

Give me a confession that actually needs forgiveness, you idiot! Aqua’s ears were being polluted!

But she didn’t brush him off. Instead, she spoke in a very serious tone, saying extremely gentle words:

"Rest assured, the Gods will forgive everything. Thou shalt love fullness; thou shalt love modesty. The doctrine of the Axis Cathedral is to embrace everything, be it same-sex attraction, furry preference, or other special orientations.

As long as the object of your affection is not a demon or undead, as long as there is love and it’s legal, you can be forgiven for everything."

Aqua was so accommodating to her followers that Adam couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

But she wasn’t finished yet. She then delivered a teaching Bible verse to the confessing follower.

"Thou, faithful follower, to avoid being tempted by the devil again, remember this spell — [Eris’s breasts are padded]."

"...Hey." Adam truly felt sorry for Eris.

She respected Aqua so much as her senior, yet this water idiot had exposed her... Although it was true, couldn’t she, as a fellow Goddess and Eris’s senior, be a bit more considerate?

"In the future, if your heart is tempted again, remember to chant this spell. Of course, if other believers are also tempted, sharing this spell with them would be a good thing too."

"Ohhh—Thank you, High Priestess!" The man seemed relieved, expressing his gratitude before running out with a beaming smile.

Adam noticed that his eyes still held the light of rebirth after defeating evil... Really, what a hopeless believer.

He felt a headache coming on thinking about Aqua having such followers.

Knock, Knock, Knock—

He knocked on the door while calling her name.

"Aqua, I’m here to get you."

"..."

Silence — no answer. It was as if no one was there.

But that was impossible; Adam’s Water Affinity had already sensed her presence.

He knocked again.

"Aqua?"

"..."

Still silence.

This wordless response made him wonder if she had gotten too caught up in her role, perhaps requiring him to pretend to be an Axis Cathedral member wanting to confess before she would speak to him.

Fine, he’d play along.

✧✧✧

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