1. [The Grand Duke's Eldest Daughter, Sister Charlotte] Cover View
My name is Eugene Schneider,
A fallen nobleman.
My mother passed away right after giving birth to me,
And my father left this world when I was nine years old.
That's how I became an orphan.
"Eugene, I may not be able to heal all your sorrows, but my family and I will sincerely take care of you so that Ulysses, watching from heaven, won't be heartbroken."
That's when my father's close friend, Grand Duke Antoine von Orléans, reached out to me.
For the next 12 years, I was able to grow up without any troubles in the embrace of the Orléans family, who genuinely treated me like one of their own.
Of course, the memory of my father's passing continued to haunt me.
"Haha! When you left, such a bitter winter wind was blowing, but on your return, a bright spring sky welcomes you, young master!"
As the verdant fields and wide road leading to the city unfolded before us,
Porter Uncle Hans told me with a bright smile.
True to his words, the green spring sunshine illuminates my black hair.
After three years, I am on my way back to the Grand Duke Orléans mansion.
The Pilgrim's Path,
It was when I turned nineteen.
At that point, I embarked on a pilgrim's journey to visit ancient saints and the sacred sites of the Light Goddess Religion.
The reason was that the trauma of losing my father still persisted even after 10 years.
Also, I had been quite weak since childhood, and when this continued even after puberty,
The Orléans family suggested that experiencing mysteries and miracles would be good for healing my body and mind.
The journey of training that began because of this,
I can assert that the results were significant.
'To think I was a reincarnator...'
It was because my past life memories surfaced.
It happened when I arrived at the Altar of Atlantis, the third destination on the pilgrim's path.
In that moment, I experienced my consciousness being sucked somewhere.
And afterward, memories of my past life gradually began to resurface.
'If they had all come back at once, I might have gone mad.'
Over about half a year, the memories were completed as if a gauge was filling up.
So I would occasionally space out at times.
However, it's also true that thanks to this, I was able to reconcile the memories of this place with those of my past life.
My name in my past life was also Eugene.
The difference is that instead of Eugene Schneider, it was Seo Eugene,
And as someone from an orphanage, I had no memories of my parents.
After leaving the orphanage, I lived diligently until
I met my death while trying to save a child in danger of a traffic accident.
'I thought my discomfort with using honorifics even with servants was strange, but it turns out it was because my past life awareness remained.'
Despite being a nobleman, I habitually used formal speech with people much older than me since childhood.
The Orléans family told me to correct this, saying it would spoil the servants, but I never managed to fix it.
The secret seems to have been solved through the recovered memories of my past life.
'Life here seems much better? It's not like I was abandoned by my birth parents. Anyway, there are people who fill the place of my parents.'
My personality changed a bit after recalling my past life memories.
Uncle Hans also said I had become brighter than before.
I think it's because, thanks to my past life awareness, I've started to view the dark memories of my parents' departure from a step back.
But despite such a big change,
As I mentioned earlier, because my familiarity with this world is greater, there wasn't any discomfort or sense of alienation in continuing my life.
"Young master's appearance has changed so much, I wonder if the madam and young ladies won't recognize you? From my perspective watching, it seems like it will be interesting."
"I'm looking forward to it too. I've undergone a severe transformation during the pilgrimage."
To Uncle Hans, who was looking up at me and clicking his tongue as if he still couldn't believe it, I responded with a slight smile in a joking manner.
But the transformation was no joke.
The dramatic change in my physical appearance created by the pilgrim's path wasn't just about memories of my past life.
The dramatic growth of my physique,
Before leaving on the pilgrimage, I was about 170 CM tall.
However, during the 2 years and 4 months, I grew a whopping 20 CM to become 190 CM.
I grew 10 CM during the period when my past life memories returned,
And then another 10 CM over the next year.
Moreover, from the point I turned 20, muscles started to stick to me thickly even with just a little exercise,
Exaggerating a bit, my body became like that of a macho warrior, similar to a barbarian from the western desert.
My face also changed accordingly, with slightly thicker lines than before,
I had occasionally been suspected of being a barbarian mixed-blood because of my black hair,
And I think I'll hear such comments more often in the future.
Judging from when I started growing taller,
I speculate that my past life memories somehow unblocked
Whatever was blocking the flow within my body.
"Which young lady's reaction are you most looking forward to, young master?"
"Hmm, let me see. Honestly, I'm most looking forward to the Grand Duchess's reaction, but it seems difficult to see her right away, so I'm curious about the expression and gestures of Sister Charlotte, who is most similar to the Grand Duchess."
Throughout the pilgrim's path, I imagined the Orléans family members being surprised and bewildered when they faced my much-changed appearance.
And the person I'm going to meet now is
Sister Charlotte, who has a personality most similar to Marianne Orléans, the Grand Duchess who is like a mother to me.
The Orléans family,
They are a Grand Duke noble family with the most powerful influence in the Iron Empire Elysium, which has ruled the central continent of Pedon in the otherworld Gaia for a thousand years, second only to the imperial family.
My godfather, Uncle Antoine de Sel Orléans, is the 14th head of that Grand Duke family.
Grand Duke Antoine has three daughters
The name of the first young lady is Charlotte de Sel Orléans,
The second young lady is Jeanne d'Arc de Sel Orléans,
And the youngest is Elizabeth de Sel Orléans.
The two young ladies, Charlotte and Jeanne d'Arc, are older than me
And Elizabeth is one year younger.
"Is it possible to visit the Holy See directly like this when it's not Goddess Sunday, Uncle Hans?
As Sister Charlotte was mentioned, I asked Uncle Hans a question that suddenly crossed my mind.
In Pedon, what would be Sunday on Earth is called Goddess Sunday.
Also, the first young lady of the Orléans family, Sister Charlotte,
Is a priestess of the Light Goddess Religion that created that Goddess Sunday.
In principle, unless it's for official business, even if you're family or a nobleman,
You cannot meet priestesses above a certain level inside the Holy See except on Goddess Sunday.
"Hahaha! I'll tell you now, Lady Charlotte became a High Priestess early last year! As you know, High Priestesses have no restrictions, right? That's why we were able to make an appointment."
"Sister Charlotte became a High Priestess, that is, a Bishop Nun?"
I was surprised by Uncle Hans's answer.
Priests and nuns are divided into six ranks.
Apprentice Priest, Junior Priest, then Intermediate Priest and Senior Priest, and finally High Priest and Grand Priest make up the structure.
Among them, Grand Priests are divided into Bishop Nuns and Archbishop Nuns, also called Elder Nuns in the case of nuns.
Bishop Nuns are those with tremendous divine power,
And Elder Nuns are those who have served many years as High Priestesses and have gained deep trust.
While Elder Nuns focus on advisory or political roles,
The actual divine power is handled by High Priestesses and Bishop Nuns among the Grand Priestesses.
In other words, Sister Charlotte, who is now 24 years old, has risen to the position of Bishop Nun, a Grand Priestess who can be considered a power player in the Holy See.
"Sister Charlotte said she would absolutely not become a Bishop Nun until she was 30???"
But I was surprised for a different reason.
Since Sister Charlotte is a genius among geniuses by priestess ability standards, the fact that she rose to Grand Priestess itself is not really surprising.
However, Sister Charlotte, who has a gentle personality but is quite stubborn as a priestess,
Had adamantly refused the requests from those around her to become a High Priestess, setting her stubbornness firmly.
Sister Charlotte herself believed that she was not yet the right vessel for such a responsible position.
Because of her sudden change in direction, I'm showing this kind of reaction now.
"Hmm... The times are so turbulent, and with the shortage of Grand Priestesses to command the High Priestesses, she eventually accepted. I hear there were also requests from the Madam and the Grand Duke."
Uncle Hans answered with quite a serious expression to my reaction.
"Ah, is it due to the increased number of monsters?"
I immediately understood what Uncle Hans meant.
Monsters exist in Gaia where mana exists.
However, at a certain point in the history of the Pedon continent,
Their numbers were significantly reduced.
But while performing the pilgrim's path, I had the opportunity to hear conversations between adventurers and mercenaries.
And according to them, the number of low-level monsters such as goblins, gnolls, and kobolds
Has noticeably increased recently.
They also reported that mid-level monsters like orcs, golems, and trolls were being spotted quite frequently.
'During the pilgrimage, what I actually saw was just encountering a few goblins...'
Since most pilgrimage sites are in remote or mountainous areas, I also encountered goblins.
But I didn't face a number that would feel threatening.
This was because the sacred sites had holy energy, and that holiness blocked the surrounding monsters to a considerable degree.
'If it's enough to make Sister Charlotte change her mind, it must be more than what I've heard.'
However, it's difficult to believe that Sister Charlotte's sudden decision was made solely based on the fact that low and mid-level monsters have increased.
Given the role of a Bishop Nun, who is a core force of the Light Goddess Religion,
It's unlikely that she would have only that level in mind.
Since the Holy See of the Light Goddess Religion collects information comparable to the imperial family,
I wonder if some situation has been detected that requires a Grand Priestess to directly command High Priestesses or prepare in advance on a macroscopic level.
"It seems a lot has happened while I was away on the pilgrim's path. Anything else? Elizabeth is such an exemplary child, so I imagine she's just been attending the academy well, but I wonder if Jeanne d'Arc has done something quite interesting?"
I immediately asked about the other young ladies' recent news.
A core and characteristic aspect of the pilgrim's path is
The concept of temporarily disconnecting from the secular world.
So even with the young ladies I grew up with,
During the pilgrimage, I only exchanged letters asking about routine well-being and didn't inquire about very specific gossip.
In that sense, Uncle Hans also didn't separately relay anything to me, apart from continuously receiving news from the Grand Duke's household in preparation for any situation.
"Ah! Lady Jeanne d'Arc? How could there not be? Of course there is! Let me tell you what happened!"
When I mentioned the name of Jeanne d'Arc, the second young lady of the Orléans Grand Duke family,
Uncle Hans began to speak as if he had been waiting for this.
No, beyond that dimension,
It was close to the feeling that he had been desperately controlling his mouth, which had been itching like crazy until now,
And finally could release it.
"Ahem! Well... I'm sorry, but I don't think I can tell you, young master... Lady Jeanne d'Arc told me absolutely not to tell you... She said she wants to make you fall over in surprise when you return."
Scratch, scratch,
But soon Uncle Hans switched to a position of silence.
It's clear that the temperamental Jeanne d'Arc had made quite a threat.
"Well, I have my own surprise event prepared, so I'll just counter-attack properly."
"Counter-attack? What do you mean by that, young master?"
"Oh, it means to strike back a beat faster and inflict greater damage."
"Ohhh!!! I see!"
Not wanting to put Uncle Hans in a difficult position, I responded in a very cool manner.
Then Uncle Hans had a puzzled expression as he mentioned the words I used,
This is a side effect that often occurs after gaining past life memories.
Words I used on Earth tend to pop out.
"You must be Brother Eugene, whom I've only heard about from the Bishop Nun! Nice to meet you. I am Junior Nun Circe, who is assisting Bishop Nun Charlotte! I will personally guide Brother Eugene to Bishop Nun Charlotte's atelier!"
After arriving at the Holy See, Uncle Hans waited outside the building,
And I entered the central hall after being inspected.
The one who greeted me was a nun around my age with brown hair.
"If you go straight this way, you'll reach the Bishop Nun's atelier. Then I must attend to the administrative work ordered by the Bishop Nun!"
"Thank you for guiding me, Sister Circe."
Following Sister Circe's guidance,
I stepped into the atelier, the personal space where Sister Charlotte focuses on her Holy See duties and deepens her faith in the Light Goddess Religion.
'Wow...! It's an overwhelming sight.'
Step, step, step, step,
It was beautiful.
And magnificent.
Although it wasn't large in size since it was a personal space,
The marble material, fragrance, and architectural style contained all the core technologies of the current Light Goddess Religion, as well as artistic beauty.
Appreciating the beauty and grandeur of the atelier exclusively for Bishop Nuns, I walked down the marble corridor.
And not long after, my ears, which had been intoxicated by such sacred beauty, heard
Whack! Whack! Whaaack!
A chilling, fierce whip sound that could make one's hair stand on end.
Not only that, but between the whip sounds
"Hiss...! Hnngh..! Hnnngh...!"
Faint moaning sounds mixed in, tickling my ears provocatively.