Yesterday, the minotaur steak cooled down a bit, but I was able to finish it.
Dash said, "I'll make it again! I was pleased with the taste, even if it had cooled down a bit.
When I thanked Dash and Himika, they were horrified at the opposite.
The fact that they found out that I was a lord made my concern worse, but I managed to calm down by asking them to deal with me as they had before.
The lords have found out, but it's only some of the people who were there, and as for the guards, they're fine.
After being allowed to stay in my usual luxurious room, I ate breakfast at the Cat's Wami Pavilion and thought about what I was going to do today. As for the Adventurer's Guild, I was able to meet with the guild masters last week, so the next step would be the church. Cain knew that he had to do something about the recovery magic, which was more expensive than that other city.
''Thanks for the meal. Breakfast was good too.''
Cain finished his meal and called out to Enak, who was working in the hall.
'Brother Cain, are you going to go back?'
Enak asked with a forlorn expression on his face.
''Yeah, I have to do some work for my lord today and tomorrow. I'll come back for dinner.''
Cain patted Enak's head lightly before telling him. Enak looked like he was feeling good.
Dash and Himika also came out of the kitchen.
''My lord, thank you for yesterday. Thanks to you, Enak didn't get injured either.''
They bowed their heads and thanked him, but Cain told them it was fine as ever.
'That being said, ...
Dash chuckled, but nodded at me.
'I'll make sure there's something good ready for you again. Come back again if you like.
Himika replied next to him. Cain nodded to that.
''I'll try to come back next week to stay or have dinner with you. And Enak-chan, another time.''
After greeting the three men, Cain left the inn and headed for the lord's residence.
At the gate, as soon as he saw Cain, one of the guards went to call for Elaive, and one of them bowed his head.
''Welcome back, my lord.''
Yeah, I'm back.
He walked straight into the office of the lord's mansion, raising his hand to the guards.
Soon after, Ella Eve entered the room.
''Sorry for the delay, Viscount Cain, is there anything you would like to examine today?
Cain nodded in response to Ellaib's question.
''Not right away yet, but the Internal Affairs Officer is coming. We need to change the state of this city, and I'm going to have to get someone from my father's Garum Frontier Domain to come out. I need your help at that time.
'You're the ... internal affairs officer?' ... I get it. I'll see if I can find a place to stay.
'Also, on the agenda for today, do you think we can meet with the priest at the church this afternoon? I have to ask some questions.
Cain had to ask the church about some things, including the cost of expensive medical treatment. Health care is important to the future development of the city. It's useless if everyone can't get it.
The priest, Lord Stagg, doesn't come from the church very often, or rather ... something like that.
Ella Eve is puzzled by the sweat on her forehead as she explains.
'That's fine, I'll go to church on my end. I haven't been to church lately, and I need to pray once in a while. I'll be on my way in a little while.
Cain hadn't been to church since he became a lord. If he prayed again, he would meet with the gods, but he wanted to go as well to report back.
Cain looked over the documents he had received from Elaive and stamped the settlement as he read through them. As it was, he ate lunch in his office and changed into his slightly superior plain clothes and headed to the church.
Ellaib was going to prepare a carriage, but since I hadn't been a lord yet, I wanted to see more of the city with my own eyes, so I refused and headed on foot. Ellaib had said he would at least have an escort, though.
I confirmed that the church was located a little south of the central square, and I walked from the lord's mansion, leisurely checking out the streetscape. There was a good amount of traffic, and the shops seemed to be thriving in their own right. There is also an adventurer's guild hall in the central square, we passed through it and headed south.
I recognized the church right away, for it was a church that was too big to fit the size of this city.
''Do we really need a church the same size as Gracia's territorial capital in this city? ...
Cain opened the door of the church as he thought about it. As soon as he entered, the receptionist was sitting there.
'Are you praying today? Or maybe it's a cure - it doesn't seem to be a cure.
The receptionist approached Cain as he walked in.
'I would like to pray today, and also to see the priest here.
Cain politely tells the receptionist.
In response, the receptionist wrinkles her forehead.
'Your prayers will be for one silver coin. Also, I'm a priest, but we won't be meeting with anyone who doesn't have an appointment.'
Prayers in church are an offering, not a fee. Cain wondered why the church here set an amount of money, even though the amount should be decided by each individual. Moreover, a silver coin was 10,000 yen, which was too much for a single prayer offering.
Does this church even specify the amount of money to be offered when praying? In other cities, though, the amount of the offering would be left to each individual.
As it was a bad habit, Cain said to the receptionist forcefully.
''I don't want you to say that to me. I'm just following the instructions from the priestess. If you can't pay, then please leave.'
A couple of church knights came out from the back of the room, as their voices were getting a little louder.
The church has its own knight system, and they are sent from the church in the royal capital to the churches in each city. They are dressed in white armor in a circle and are easily recognizable by looking at them.
''You seem to be making a lot of noise, what's wrong with you?''
One of the church knights came to ask the receptionist.
'This kid has been stingy with his fee to pray.
After listening to the receptionist, the church knight turns to Cain.
The church knight comes up to Cain's eyes and kneels down to meet his gaze.
''You're from another city, aren't you? That's the way it's done in this city. By the authority of the priest. I'm sorry, but will you follow me?
This knight didn't seem to be a bad person. However, the command of each city is basically in the hands of the priest. It seems like this knight is just obeying.
''There's no problem paying the silver coins. However, isn't silver coin too expensive for ordinary people to pray? I've heard that they are also taking exorbitant amounts of money for treatment. I'm here today to talk about these fees. I am the new lord here, Cain von Silford Drintle. Please go and speak to the priest.
""Ewww, ..."
The three church knights and the receptionist were surprised to learn that Cain was a lord.
'If you can prove anything: ...
One of the fearful knights asked him a question, and he held out a dagger, the proof of his lord, and showed it to him.
The knight who saw the dagger and confirmed that it was the lord paled in the face.
''My apologies. I'll go and check with the priest immediately. Please wait for a while.''
One of the knights ran and disappeared into the back.
After a few minutes of waiting, the knight returned.
'I apologize for the delay. Priest Stagg will see you now. Please come this way so I can show you around.'
The church knight led us into the reception room. The reception room here was decorated with gold and silver jewels, and several paintings were mounted on the walls, and it was very much like a church reception room, but it was made with so much gold.
The same goes for the sofa I sat on. It was an expensive piece of furniture that was so soft that my hips sank into it. The sisters offered us tea, which was fragrant and tasty and not something you could find on the market. Then, after a short wait, someone who appeared to be a priest came in. No, it was a man, or rather a fat priest who could have been mistaken for an oak.
''Sorry to keep you waiting. I've been busy with a lot of things. ... I'm Stagg, I'm the priest here. Viscount Cain, it's a pleasure to meet you.
Priest Stagg sat down on the couch, shaking his heavy body. It's so heavy that the couch creaks just by sitting alone.
Moreover, his mouth smells of alcohol. The smell is so strong that Cain wrinkled his forehead.
''I'm the new lord of this city, Cain von Silford Drintle. I have come to ask you some questions about the church here in the city. First things first: ....
Thus began the battle in the conversation between Cain and Priest