The Human Saint is Bored, so I was Summoned to Another World

The Seasonal Mass (Part 2)

Even though she's the captain of the Saint's Paladin Corps, the Marquise of Monfort and I weren't spared from the pushing and shoving of the people who came to see and be blessed by Her Holiness. The lines were getting messed up the nearer we get to the colossal Saint's Cathedral.

"Hey! Watch it!"

"Oof, don't you have a pair of eyes, you dolt!?"

"Make way, you damned bastards!"

"My apologies, good sirs!" the Marquise would say that line from time to time, especially if she hit someone with her cumbersome armor.

Well, for these people who were here for holy service, those words were surely ironic. Not that they could help it, but maybe they should tone down their words since this was supposedly a holy place.

Chersea and Earth have a lot of things in common, I guess...even in hypocrites.

"Man, I didn't expect that going to the mass would be this difficult!" I remarked; ostensibly to lighten the mood.

"Haha! Do you also have things like this in your land, Mister Kuro?"

"Yep, but not this chaotic. There are days where the church-goers' attendance is low, you know." I answered, half-shouting. The noise of the crowd was drowning our voices, so I had to keep up.

"Hah! Now that's what I'd like to see!" she cheerfully replied, "Your place must have a lot of bad people, huh?"

I sure heard that, but I just kept my silence. I wanted to explain to her about the existence of 'atheists', and the 'not-so-religious folks' back on Earth, but I guess it would take a long time before she's able to make sense out of it. This world hadn't got out from the connotation of 'irreligious people = bad people' just yet.

Seeing events like this is proof of the strong faith of the people of this land for their god.

----------

Anyway, we continued pushing forward. The Marquise was leading in front of me, so I couldn't fully see the people ahead. The forest of bodies and hands kept on hitting us, but we carried on. I forced my way every time I felt that the armor of my paladin escort was getting too far from me; I dreaded I would get lost the moment we separated.

"Oof!"

"Sorry!"

"Hey!"

"!!!"

I stopped the moment I hit the armor of the Marquise; apparently, she also stopped walking.

"What happened, Lady Monfort? Why did we stop?" I asked, but she didn't answer. Instead, the paladin was focused on the person in front of her, a middle-aged, balding man wearing a nice, dignified-looking dress. He had a stern look on his face, and his expression was rather scary.

Anyone can tell that he's angry.

"What are you doing, lady? You've been pushing and shoving me!"

"My apologies, Your Excellency!" the Marquise bowed, "It wasn't on purpose, I assure you!"

"Hmph!" the man glared at us, "Every change of season is getting worse than the previous one! Is this how the Paladin Corps conducts itself now? You are pathetic as a leader, Lady Monfort!"

"!!!"

My fists tightened; I could not hold my mouth any further, "Hey, look here, you—" but the Marquise of Monfort quickly stopped me from lashing out by pulling me aside. Well, you know I'm not quick to fights. But I'm tired and stressed out by this mob, so my guard was down. And when you hear someone talked down to your friend like that, especially when you just saw her efforts a few moments ago, I guess anyone would get pissed.