Chapter 45 - Visiting Selen.

  After chatting with Cire for a little longer, mainly listening to her rey the test gossip in lieu of my sisters, I finally stood up to leave. "I'll come by when I get a chance."

  "Thanks," she replied zily, waving me off and looking ready to return to sleep. "My sister has been really annoying, and mama Mari wants you to scratch her ears again; she says you have blessed fingers." As for the ears, it was a habit formed from interacting with cats and dogs, and her ears felt just as soft, reminiscent of a cat's fur.

  With one final wave, I exited the shop and stepped into the bustling street, which was livelier now than when I had entered. Not spotting my sisters immediately, I gnced at my mini map and saw them a few shops down, near one we often visited before heading to the church to see Selen.

  I made my way down the street, careful not to disturb the still-sleeping Alice, until I reached a small candy shop we occasionally visited. The shop wasn't as fancy as some of the rger ones but offered some candies with unique fvors that Sakura and Alice enjoyed, though I will never understand their appeal.

  Inside, the shop was bustling with mothers and their children browsing through candies, many packaged in small boxes beled with names that wrapped around multiple times. If the name was too long for the designated space, a small illustration of a happy little girl running would show the text continued on.

  Each batch of candy was quite distinctive due to the randomness of the owner's Blessing, and she believed each one deserved its own name, a task that likely took her longer than making the candies themselves. I suppose when you're a few hundred years old, as she reportedly is, such details become important.

  I spotted the two browsing through new stands dispying the shop owner's test creations.

  [Troll Teeth - Crunchy, rock-shaped candies resembling troll teeth. They start off hard but soften into a chewy, juicy burst of sour and sweet fvors, leaving shards that dig into your gums.]

  [Whirls - Colorful hard candies that change fvors as you suck on them, each swirl offering a unique combination of tastes. Some are less than ideal but make the subsequent fvor even more delightful.]

  The candies they were examining seemed more intense than the usual offerings here, with a stronger kick to their fvors. However, I doubted they matched the overwhelming explosion of tastes I had experienced at a stall run by a goblin woman. Nothing else I had tried had ever been so intense as to make me faint or even come close.

  As I approached, Sakura was the first to spot me, dropping her candy and running over. "You're back already?"

  "Brother, you should have taken more time," Angelica said, after pcing Sakura’s candy back in the correct container and joining her.

  "It's okay; we had plenty of time to talk," I replied with a shrug. They should understand my meaning. "Come on, let's finish shopping or the kids will be mad, not to mention Alice once she wakes up."

  Seeing the sleeping Alice, the two ughed. She had been confident when she entered but ended up sleeping through my two meetings. Or perhaps she knew when she wasn’t needed and chose not to get in the way, much like the love fairies in the stories.

  Joining my sisters, we went around buying the usual candies that the kids at the church particurly liked. Some were sold out, so we chose the closest alternatives after Sakura taste-tested them.

  After checking out, we exited the shop and navigated through the back streets to the main road, then started our journey to the massive church, a long walk through the now very crowded street.

  After the long trek, we finally could see the imposing structure as well as the many mothers who were bringing their toddlers to the main entrance to meet the sisters. We went around to a side entrance, primarily used by the sisters, to avoid the crowd.

  Entering the church, we were warmly greeted by Sister Eloise, a freckled sister with a tan complexion and bck hair. She looked exactly the same as the st time I was here, and her dark nipples could be clearly seen through the sheer bck fabric of her habit. Despite her exposed body, she maintained an innocent smile, creating a captivating contrast.

  Sakura pinched me, snapping me back to reality. Back on Earth, I had a penchant for nuns, and it was embarrassingly obvious now, as I struggled to keep my gaze in check.

  "Hello, you three. If you're looking for Sister Selen, she's in the back pying with the children," the familiar nun said. It had been years since we were all here together, but Angelica and Sakura still visited occasionally.

  "Hello, Sister Eloise. Would you mind showing us the way?" Angelica asked, stepping in for me.

  "Of course," she replied, setting aside the staff-like object she was holding, and led us deeper into the church, to the back and then to the right side where all the dispced children were cared for.

  Some pces have orphanages, while others have community care for orphaned children. Our city relies on the church. From what I understand, the nobles used to take care of them but stopped after the incident involving the st queen and the subsequent loss of trust from the people. This is also where Selen grew up, and where we used to visit her when she was younger.

  The door opened to reveal Selen sitting on the floor, legs to one side, with three little boys crawling over her, all between one and three years old. She wore a peaceful smile as she watched the kids py around the room, even as one boy used her hair to pull himself up.

  “Recollection date starto!”

  They were seated on a py mat with interactive elements. Pressing certain areas would project a 3D image, while running over others triggered sounds. The mat included built-in slides, swings, and monkey bars, arranged like an obstacle course. It was all crafted with a Blessing that prevented the children from getting hurt during py, even if they fell from heights. The most they would experience was a brief pain, a deliberate design to help them learn from their experiences without suffering any real consequences.

  Looking around at the more than two dozen children, they all swarmed around Selen as they pyed. Some ran in circles around her, while the three aforementioned boys climbed on her—one on her back, another on her front, and the st one bancing his belly on her head. It was not surprising that they were the only three boys in the group.

  This was a pce Selen had advocated for and succeeded in building a couple of years before I left. It was even more complete than when I st visited. She believed that children needed experiences like these to grow up properly, contrasting with the dull life she had known as a child.

  It seemed that this church was retively new to this area of the world and had prioritized many other concerns before considering a py space for the children.

  The girls, too, were active, though not as rough-and-tumble as the boys. Some pyed house, while one girl tried to fly with her thin, bug-like wings, jumping from the slide.

  Selen gnced at us as we entered but quickly returned her attention to the children, pyfully lifting them through the air and expertly catching them when they tumbled off her or stepping in to prevent any fights, using her whip to gently redirect any wayward child. The kids ughed joyously as they sailed through the air.

  Skara, a familiar girl with her still small stature, approached us with a commanding presence, imitating Selen, extending her hand as if demanding candy.

  Sakura ughed and pulled out her candy-filled bag, handing one to Skara, who persistently held out her hand until Sakura relented and handed over another.

  Alice, now awake from her nap amid the noise, fluttered from my head and snatched some candy before taking the rest of the bag and diving into the swarm of excited children. After distributing the sweets, she flew leisurely around, allowing the children to chase her, expertly gauging when to evade and when to let herself be caught to delight the kids.

  Sakura approached the girl attempting to fly, effortlessly tossing her into the air and using her repel ability to help her soar. The delighted girl squealed as she fpped her thin wings, gliding slowly through the air. Soon, other children rushed over, eager for their turn. Though cking wings, they tried to imitate her, fpping their arms with varying degrees of success.

  Angelica helped by using her barriers to extend the ptform, giving the children more space to climb and unch themselves, aiding Sakura in managing the kids.

  I sat down on the ground, and a group of familiar-looking girls, along with many new faces they had brought along, came running to sit with me after getting their share of candy. I was ready to share some of the popur stories from back home, though I had adjusted them to fit this world. One tale was about the hero of York City, part spider, who dashed around saving those in distress. Another story featured a man from far out in the stars, raised in an Octave and as strong as a tier 50 before he even reached tier 1, who protected the city to which he had moved. I made sure to include all their love interests since that was the part most captivating to the girls.

  We spent a few hours with the children until another sister entered the room to round up the kids for their chores and lessons for the day.

  Finally, Selen rose and approached us. "You are back, I see," she said, taking a moment to scrutinize me before adding, "and even more full of sin than ever." Her finger lightly traced across my chest, sending a searing pain shooting through me as it followed her touch.

  Despite the pain, my eyes couldn't help but wander. As she moved, her nun's attire slipped off in tantalizing ways, offering me fleeting glimpses. Unlike the other nuns, her outfit wasn't as transparent, but her movements would occasionally expose a peek of her pink nipples before her clothing would settle, leaving me yearning for more. I cursed myself for believing that I was making progress.

  Though now that I think about it, I was so preoccupied with thoughts while with the princess that I didn’t have time to let my mind wander. That was something, at least.

  "And with wandering eyes, you exhibit at least one normal trait," she said, moving in such a way that her dress slipped down slightly, giving me another brief glimpse and confirming that the first time was no accident.

  "Good morning, Sister Selen," Angelica said, while Alice waved as she settled back onto my head.

  "Hello, my dear sisters. I see today's visit is more than just casual, and I also have something I wish to discuss. Follow me to my office," she said, turning and walking away without checking to see if we were following. The sound of her heels echoed as she gracefully sashayed, her hips dancing back and forth.

  As we moved through the children's section, the other sisters quickly made way for Selen. It was amusing to remember how she used to shyly step aside for others in the past.

  After a ten-minute walk, we reached what appeared to be the administrative section of the church—my first time in this area. We approached an office near the back. Selen opened the door and entered a smaller office, which featured a thick white stone desk and a throne-like bck chair. On the desk, a set of candles burned without melting the wax; instead, it was absorbed back into the wick. They cast a soft yellow light into the dim room.

  The walls were adorned with sigil-like stones that reminded me of a more advanced version of what Angelica could do with her Blessing. On the desk was a magical item that dispyed a map of the area with routes that matched those shown on my mini map, at least for the parts I recognized.

  "So you have your own office now?" Sakura commented, looking around for a seat. Other than the one Selen had cimed, there were none. Selen settled into her chair behind the desk, crossing her legs, one over the other, with her back perfectly straight and hands neatly folded on her p.

  "Yes, I've been promoted and am now in charge of our outreach to the Octaves in the surrounding area. Something I was going to discuss with you and your adventurer group upon your return," she expined. Noticing Sakura eyeing the sigils on the walls, she added, "They have a nasty rebound effect, but if you want to try them, be my guest."

  "You want us to help guard you as you move?" I asked, watching Angelica pull Sakura back as she seemed to actually consider the offer.

  "Yes, I will be setting out every few years to a different location and would like your team to accompany me," she eborated, pointing at the floating map. The locations marked were primarily on the northern side, areas I had never visited.

  "Why us?" I asked, knowing she had access to people far stronger than us within the church.

  "You are affordable, have relevant experience, can fight well above your tier, and you make some nice faces when in pain," she expined, her smile taking on a business-like quality. I wondered if the st comment was necessary, but reading my expression, she added, "I would say that one is the most important."

  "We'll need to discuss this with Ellie and Lucy. Their moms are quite protective," I said with a shrug, not opposed to helping Selen.

  "I'm sure they'll fold if you're the one asking," she replied confidently.

  "Is that everything you wanted to discuss?" I asked, a bit puzzled.

  "Yes," she responded.

  "Couldn't this have been discussed in the py area?" I asked, noting that the walk here took longer than the discussion itself.

  "Business should be conducted in the appropriate setting," she stated, though I suspected she just wanted to show off her new office more than anything.

  "Now that my business is concluded, for what purpose did you seek my presence?" she inquired, adding a tease, "If you're just looking to py, I've heard tales of husbands who enjoy being whipped."

  I'm not into that; I've never understood the appeal. "Actually, I wanted to show you something."

  "Go on," she prompted, watching me intently.

  I shifted into Love Land, reappearing in front of the cottage. It wasn't exactly a typical setting for a nun, but if it met the princesses' standards, it should suffice for Selen. I navigated through the menus and pulled her into the scene. I couldn't help but smile, recalling how she had been sitting.

  She caught herself before straightening up, foiling my pn to see her fall ft on her butt. She took a moment to survey her surroundings, then bent down to run her finger across the ground. After rising, she looked unimpressed. "This pce doesn't suit you. It's dirty, yet it somehow cks your... let's call it charm."

  "You don't seem impressed," I remarked, feeling a hint of disappointment. I hadn't seen her surprised face in many years, since she was younger, and I had been looking forward to it.

  "And you look disappointed, at least one of us got what we desired," she said with a coy smile.

  "So, what's wrong with it?" I asked, puzzled since everyone else, including the princess, had been impressed.

  "A dominion is a reflection of you and your faith in your Goddess, made manifest in our world. Yours does not suit you," she expined in an overly simplistic manner, as if I were a child.

  "What do you think mine would look like?" I asked, recalling the stories of dominions from the tales my mother had told me, and the legends of ancient beings who lived in their dominions like demigods.

  "Something that would be an affront to our Goddess," she said thoughtfully, looking around. "Then again, maybe it's just not mature. You are still tier 1," she added as she walked past me, nonchantly opening the cottage door as if she owned it. I was sure there was some slight in her words which just wasn't transted. "Hurry along, we have much to discuss."

  She found a seat on the sofa, sitting right at its center, clearly expecting me to sit beside her.

  "Yeah, I think I'd rather not be in pain during our entire conversation," I remarked. It wasn't just physical touch; even being close to her caused me discomfort.

  "Then come, little Alice," she said in a commanding tone, patting her p. Alice happily obliged, allowing the woman to use her fingers to gently massage the small girl.

  "Just to check before we start, you're not under any contract to report everything back to your leader, are you?" I asked, remembering earlier in the morning. I should have asked sooner, but I got caught up in the moment. Regardless, I would have told her anyway, just perhaps a less detailed version.

  She ughed. "No, the only thing that binds us Sisters is our faith in the Goddesses. Though it's a bit of a foolish question because if I were, I would be under no obligation to tell you that I was."

  "That’s good," I said, feeling relieved. I sat down across from her and shared pretty much what I had told Cire, though I managed to omit most of the snder about the goddesses, though some slipped through despite my efforts. Selen listened quietly, not adding much until I finished.

  "I see, then nothing has changed. I was pnning to help you anyway," she said, with Alice giggling under her touch.

  "Just like that?" I asked, surprised by her receptiveness, simir to Cire’s.

  "Yes, helping you helps myself," she replied. "Our church has a rge influence, much grander than just this small city. It’s an influence you will need in the future. And it’s one where I would like to position myself."

  "I would rather not," I said, uneasy about the idea of dealing with the church. People here were naturally even more zealous than back on Earth, and while the sisters who managed the daily operations were pleasant enough, I had no desire to engage with someone aggressively promoting their religion in a world where their deity actively responded.

  "It seems to me you have little choice in the matter. It is time for you to go from boy to man and face these challenges head-on. That is why you chose to finally confess to me, is it not?" She was right; I couldn't just run from all this, not without putting those I cared about at risk. "If you require extra motivation, I am trained in such methods."

  I didn't know all the specifics of what she did at the church, but it involved guiding people back to the right path, and given her penchant for inflicting pain with just a touch to those who defied the goddesses, I had a good idea of her preferred methods. I had no intention of finding myself in such a predicament.

  If I hadn't known Selen since she was young, I probably would want nothing to do with her, but despite her sadistic tendencies, she is fundamentally a good person.

  "I think I'll pass on that. We can discuss the details after I complete my adventurer's assessment and consult with my team," I said, skirting around the issue.

  "I am in no rush; it will be a few years before I depart. I have three girls coming who will be permanently assigned to me," Selen expined before setting Alice aside and standing up. "Now, take me back. I have much work to do."

  I did as she requested, shifting us back into her office. Selen acted as if nothing significant had transpired and stated she had work to attend to so we said goodbye.

  [Date end]

  [Selen Affection restored.]

  [+27 Selen Affection points.]

  'Another girl gaining affection again,' I think to myself, 'years without anyone going past five hundred, and now they're starting to without me even trying. What changed? It's something I'll have to think about ter.'