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“Say, Tatsumi.”
“What’s up, Barse?”

Tatsumi pulled a bucket of water up from the well and poured it into the bucket he had brought with him.

Then, he tossed the empty bucket back into the well. After making sure it had sunk beneath the surface, he began pulling up another bucket.

Behind him, Barse, who had been waiting his turn at the well, asked Tatsumi as he laboriously repeated the same motion.

“Why are you doing menial work like this?”
“Why, you ask…? Isn’t this our job?”

The task assigned to Tatsumi and Barse today was to carry the water drawn from the well.
When they stopped by Bogard’s place, just as they had the day before, Bogard smiled at Tatsumi and assigned him the job of carrying water.

“Judging by how you handled things yesterday, you should be fine with some heavy lifting, right?”

After Bogard explained the procedure, Tatsumi took the water bucket and the pole used to carry it, then headed for the well in the temple’s backyard.

He ran into Barse on the way. Apparently, he was on water-carrying duty today as well.

“I mean, your wife… or rather, the woman you’re going to marry—she makes a pretty good living, right? If that’s the case, you shouldn’t have to do such grueling manual labor… In fact, wouldn’t you be able to get by just fine even if you didn’t work at all?”
“No way. I can’t make Chiiko do all the work while I do nothing… I have absolutely no intention of becoming a kept man.”
“A kept man?”
“Oh, right. In this world… I mean, in this country, you don’t call a man who makes a woman work while he does nothing, a kept man?”
“No, we don’t use that term. It’s true that men who make women work while doing nothing themselves are often looked down upon here, but it’s different if the woman is a mage. Just being a mage makes you a special case.”

According to Barse, in this country, being a mage alone is enough to ensure you never go hungry.

For example, even with small ignition spells like lighting candles or a hearth, neighbors rely on that magic and leave money, daily necessities, or groceries in exchange.

In this world, unlike the one Tatsumi came from, where it’s not possible to easily start a fire with a lighter or similar device, simply being able to create a flame with magic makes you highly valued. Furthermore, if you can cast the “Light Orb” spell, you can apparently earn a considerable amount of money in a single night by selling magical lights as a “light vendor” at street corners in the evening.

As he listened to the explanation of a mage’s standing in this country, Tatsumi splashed the water he’d hauled up back into the buckets with a splash.

“Well, there’s really only so much I can do… but even so, I want to help Chiiko as much as I can.”
“I see. Well, I don’t mind that sort of thing. Do your best to help your wife out.”
“Yeah.”

Responding to Barse’s encouragement, Tatsumi steeled himself and hoisted the pole onto his shoulders.

With two fairly large water buckets hanging from it, the pole was, naturally, quite heavy. However, just like when he was splitting and carrying firewood yesterday, Tatsumi didn’t feel the weight that much.

Finding it rather strange, even though it was his own body, Tatsumi diligently set to work carrying the water.

Watching Tatsumi’s back recede into the distance, Barse, now drawing water himself, suddenly felt a pang of curiosity and tilted his head.

“Come to think of it, why does that guy Tatsumi call the Holy Maiden ‘Chiiko’?”

.

The water bucket he hoisted onto the pole should have been quite heavy.

Yet, Tatsumi barely felt the weight. He carried the water effortlessly, as if the bucket were empty.

The water was destined for places like the kitchen and the bathhouse. The bathhouse, in particular, required a massive amount of water, so those on water-carrying duty had to make countless trips back and forth.

While the junior priests on water-carrying duty alongside Tatsumi and Barse struggled to carry the water, the other junior priests watched in amazement as Tatsumi made trip after trip with ease.

Tatsumi himself, just as he had felt the day before, found it utterly baffling—even though it was his own body.

Speaking of mysteries, the intense fatigue he felt after yesterday’s work was another one. According to Calcedonia, it was similar to what happens when a novice mage overuses magic, but of course, Tatsumi had no memory of using any magic. In fact, he didn’t even know how to use magic in the first place.

At first, he thought it might be an increase in physical ability due to his “Isekai Bonus,” but it didn’t seem to be that.

He tried to think it through, but no matter how much he thought about it, there was no way he’d find the answer to this question. Having come to that conclusion, Tatsumi continued carrying water while his mind wandered elsewhere.

“I’m going to live with Chiiko… j-just the two of us…”

Tatsumi muttered to himself, not really speaking to anyone in particular.

What came to mind was the image of a delicate woman with platinum-blonde hair.

She was tall and slender, yet her body was soft and well-proportioned. Her features were exquisitely beautiful. Her voice was clear, like the ringing of a bell.

And above all, what was etched into his memory was her bust—never too large, yet ample enough to be called “big breasts”—a size that was exactly to his liking.

The reason that left the strongest impression was, of course, because he was a teenager at an age when such things were of the utmost concern to him.

And Tatsumi was about to start living together under the same roof with her. He was aware of this fact—though he felt he’d been somewhat swept along by the momentum of those around him—but it would be a lie to say he wasn’t feeling a bit intimidated.

The fact that several people, starting with Giuseppe, were convinced that he and Calcedonia were getting married was weighing on his mind.

Of course, if asked whether he dislikes Calcedonia, the answer would be no.

It seems certain that she is the reincarnation of Chiiko, and there’s no way he could dislike someone who shows him such devoted affection.

Moreover, her appearance is exactly his type. As a man, it would be impossible for his heart not to flutter in this situation.

Still, the reason he feels so intimidated is likely because the reality of marriage is suddenly looming right before his eyes.

Just a few days ago, Tatsumi had nearly lost the will to live. Honestly, the idea of marriage doesn’t really register with him.

Moreover, regardless of her past life, he has only known his intended spouse for a few days in this one.

If anyone were suddenly forced into an arranged marriage and then told just a few days later that the wedding was set, they would surely feel the same way Tatsumi does right now.

That said, Calcedonia is already family to Tatsumi.

Chiiko was the last family Tatsumi had left. And Calcedonia, who is Chiiko’s reincarnation and retains so much of her past life’s mannerisms and aura—even if her appearance has changed, to Tatsumi, she is still Chiiko, his family.

But there are other things weighing on his mind.

Namely, the fact that Calcedonia holds a position akin to that of a top idol in this world.

She is a saint whose name is known not just in this city, but throughout the entire country. If that saint were to suddenly marry a man whose identity and background are unknown, all sorts of speculation and wild rumors would surely spread.

Tatsumi worries that this might eventually damage her standing and reputation.

“…Still, as things stand, I have no choice but to rely on Chiiko and Giuseppe-san to survive…”

He had secured a social standing in this world, but that alone wasn’t enough to survive. And even that status was a gift of Giuseppe’s goodwill.

“……Well, since Chiiko herself seems so happy about it… it must be okay, right?”

Yesterday, when he went shopping with her in town, Calcedonia looked genuinely happy as she stocked up on household supplies.

If that had been an act for some reason, Tatsumi would undoubtedly have lost all trust in women.

It would be a different story if Calcedonia herself didn’t want to marry Tatsumi, but she seemed quite positive about the prospect of marriage as well.

In that case, he won’t overthink it. He’ll live with his family, Chiiko, supporting her at times and being supported by her at others. After all, “husband and wife” is just one form of family.

And this time, he would protect his family—no matter what happened, he would defend his precious family to the very end.

With that renewed resolve, Tatsumi hoisted the pole onto his shoulders once more and set off for the bathhouse with a spring in his step.

At that moment, he was completely unaware that someone was watching his back intently from the shadows.

.

With her usual stern expression, Calcedonia was walking quietly down the temple corridor.

But suddenly, a familiar voice called her name, and Calcedonia stopped and turned around.

There, just as she had expected, stood the person she was looking for. At the sight of him, her previously stern expression softened slightly.

“I have a few questions I’d like to ask you… Do you have a moment right now?”
“Yes, of course.”

Deciding it wasn’t appropriate to talk standing there, the two of them made their way to the temple courtyard.

The temple courtyard also served as a gathering place for the devotees. Here and there, small groups of believers had gathered, enjoying lighthearted conversation.

When Calcedonia, renowned as the “Holy Maiden,” appeared there, the believers’ gazes naturally turned toward her.

Moreover, she was walking arm-in-arm with a man. Seeing this, the believers began whispering among themselves, exchanging various speculations.

Of course, there were also some who simply gazed at Calcedonia in rapt admiration.

Amidst those stares and whispered conversations, Calcedonia walked with her chest held high, as if accustomed to it all.

Then, spotting an empty chair in a corner of the garden, she sat down beside the person who had accompanied her.

“So, what is it you want to ask?”
“…I hear you’re leaving the temple soon to set up your own home?”

Calcedonia offered a gentle smile to the person who had broached the subject with a hint of hesitation.

“Yes, it’s true. Did you hear that from my grandfather?”
“No, I didn’t hear it directly from His Eminence, but…”
“It’s true. And… I’ll be living with a certain gentleman.”

Calling to mind the image of the young man she would be living with, Calcedonia looked bashful yet genuinely happy.

When he saw that radiant smile, the heart of the man seated beside her beat painfully, and he distinctly felt something dark and sinister stirring deep within his soul.

“T-that man you’re going to live with… is it him…? The junior priest who came to the temple a few days ago and has been doing menial work since yesterday or so…”
“Yes, that’s right. You’ve met him too, haven’t you? It’s him… He is the one I’ve been searching for all this time.”

Caledonia said this with a cheerful smile. Seeing that smile, his heart twisted even further.

“……Are you serious…?”
“Huh?”
“A woman like you… a woman who’s gained the Holy Maiden epithet… to be with a lowly priest like that… do you really think you’ll be happy!?”

It was a harsh tone, unlike his usual gentle self. Noticing how uncharacteristic it was of him, Calcedonia, without letting her happy smile fade, replied firmly.

“That’s not quite right. No, actually, maybe it is. It’s not that he’ll make me happy—I’m the one who will make him happy. And… and if he can be happy, that will be the greatest happiness for me as well.”

Tatsumi had endured a painful past. Calcedonia had summoned him to this world to guide him toward happiness.

If Tatsumi had been living a fulfilling life in his original world, Calcedonia would never have summoned him. While reuniting with Tatsumi was indeed her deepest wish, she knew it wasn’t worth destroying his contented life to make it happen.

“Living together with him is the greatest happiness for me.”
“I see… So your resolve hasn’t changed…”

While Calcedonia wore a smile as radiant as a large flower, he turned his face toward the ground and covered it with both hands.

His shoulders slumped heavily—no, his entire body began to shake violently.

“Wh-what’s wrong…?”

Seeing him begin to exude such an eerie aura, Calcedonia instinctively furrowed her brow.

She had first met him when Giuseppe took her in. They had known each other for quite some time since then, but in her memory, he had always been a quiet man with a gentle smile.

That he would now be exuding such an eerie aura… Sensing that something was amiss, Calcedonia reached out toward his violently trembling shoulders.

At that moment, Calcedonia finally noticed that he was still facing the ground, muttering something under his breath.

“………Cal……you…………mine…”

An eerie voice that seemed to echo from the depths of the earth. Calcedonia pulled her outstretched hand back and stood up abruptly, acting on reflex.

“…You……don’t tell me……”

A trembling voice slipped from Calcedonia’s delicate lips.

As if responding to her voice, he lifted his face, looked at Calcedonia with eyes filled with madness, and flashed a sticky, leering grin.

“Calcedonia… I won’t let anyone have you… You… You’re mine…”

In his eyes, which stared intently at Calcedonia, there was a red glow that no human could possess.