Whether You Call Me a Guardian Dragon or Not, I’m Going to Sleep

"The Temple of Life in Armen... is quite large."

"To accommodate such a large population, the temple must be large as well."

Honestly, the temples in the countryside are small. Moreover, they enshrine several gods simultaneously.

Since the number of villagers was not large to begin with, there was no need for it to be big.

Anyway.

"Let's go inside first."

"Huh? Right away? Without any preparation procedures?"

"Is that necessary?"

At my words, Maybelle tried to say something but closed her mouth again.

Well, I plan to conceal my identity outwardly. But I can subtly hint to a priest who would understand.

"Are you really sure it's okay?"

"Just trust me. I'll take care of everything."

So I confidently entered the entrance of the temple.

"An audience with the high priest? Did you make a reservation in advance?"

"I didn't make one."

"Then you should make a reservation. If you make one now... you'll get a time 3 weeks later."

"3 weeks?!"

"Yes. The high priest of the Temple of Life is an extremely busy person."

I was blocked by the staff sitting at the information desk at the temple entrance.

"Well, this is really an urgent matter."

"People who say that while trying to get an audience with the high priest are not one or two. You must follow the proper procedures."

Hmm. Should I complain that I'm stuck, or should I appreciate that they don't make exceptions to the procedures?

I can feel Maybelle fidgeting behind me. Hmm.

I can't help it. I subtly released my divine power.

"Just because you look cute doesn't mean anything goes."

The information desk staff didn't seem to notice the divine power I released at all.

Well... yeah. Not everyone who works at the temple needs to be a priest.

But.

Clang! Thud!!!

"Wh-What was that just now!!"

The priests inside are different.

"Huh? Priests? Why suddenly..."

"What divine power was that just now?! That momentary but immensely dense divine power...!"

"Di-Did a god descend?!"

Hmm... They noticed the divine power I briefly released to this extent. They seem quite skilled.

Well, anyone who can't sense it is unqualified to be my priest. Especially since I released it intentionally.

"May I go in for a bit to talk?"

The priests looked at me, exchanged glances with each other, and all nodded in unison.

Yeah. That's right. That's how it should be.

The temple can be considered the home of the enshrined gods, so if that gods says they want to enter, they shouldn't be stopped.

"Since it's resolved, let's go in."

"Ah, yes..."

And so, Maybelle and I headed inside the temple with the priests.

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"If I may ask..."

"Don't ask about impertinent things."

If I said I came to my own temple but couldn't meet the high priest because I was stopped at the entrance, how embarrassing would that be?

"I will also forbid asking about my identity. Just roughly guess in your mind. Whatever you think, that will be correct. Don't voice it out loud."

"Y-Yes, I understand."

The priests' attitude towards me was extremely deferential.

So deferential that if I told them to lie on the floor, they would immediately prostrate themselves.

"So, may I ask why the honorable one has come here? Could it be... to choose a new hero...?"

"Don't guess such things."

"Ah, yes."

I took a sip of the dried flower tea in front of the priests.

Phew. Humm. The scent of the flower tea is nice.

"The reason I came here is nothing special, I'm just looking for someone."

I subtly gestured to Maybelle, who was fidgeting behind me, and she came forward in front of the priests.

"This child's mother sent a letter through the Temple of Life, does anyone know about it?"

"This child is...?"

"A child I happened to meet, there are circumstances, so I won't go into details. Her mother, who she was separated from as a child, sent a letter from here to the countryside where she is."

"A letter?"

Maybelle took out a neatly folded piece of parchment from her pocket.

"My mom who I was separated from as a child sent me a letter. Since the place the letter was sent from is here, I came to find clues."

"Hmm... A letter..."

One of the priests looked at the letter and spoke.

"There are not just one or two people who send letters through the Temple of Life, so how can I remember them all?"

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"The letter was sent about a year ago, but is there anyone who remembers it by chance?"

"There are dozens of letters sent every day. There may be records somewhere, but how would we know whose letter it is."

Hmm... So there are that many letters?

"Is there no way to do something? I'm a mouse beastman with gray hair like me..."

"A mouse beastman... Hmm..."

Then, one of the priests raised his hand, as if he remembered something.

"Come to think of it, there was a person who seemed to be a mouse beastman who came a year ago..."

"Really?! Do you remember?!"

"I didn't look into it deeply because I was busy, but I think it was a mouse beastman, with a small build and large, round ears."

Maybelle clung to the priest desperately.

"Please! I beg you, even a little, please give me a clue about my mom!"

"I don't know much either! I just noticed the unfamiliar appearance..."

"And? Is there nothing else? Think of it as saving a person's life!"

Maybelle cried out while clinging to the priest. I pulled her away from the priest and said,

"Maybelle. Calm down first."

"But..."

I gently infused divine power into the anxious Maybelle to stabilize her emotions.

"Ooh..."

"Such divine power..."

"As expected..."

Ignoring the priests' reactions,

"Is there nothing else you remember about the mouse beastman that appeared a year ago?"

"Huh? Ah, yes. Since beastmen are rare in Armen, it seems to have left a strong impression."

"Hmm... Anything else? Can't you remember anything else?"

At my words, the priest thought deeply, then said in a small voice, as if he had remembered something.

"Come to think of it... the person had a strange smell."

"Smell?"

"Yes. It was a musty smell that is hard to find in Armen."

A musty smell? Hmm...

"No other clues?"

"No, nothing else particularly..."

No other clues. Hmm.

At the priest's words, Maybelle slumped her shoulders in great disappointment.

"Is there really no other way? Is there no way to find my mom?"

"Even though there's nothing right now, one thing is certain."

"What?"

I looked straight at Maybelle and said,

"That a year ago, the one presumed to be your mother came to this temple. That is a fact, isn't it?"

"But..."

"I don't know if that mouse beastman was your mother, but at least it seems that a letter was sent from here."

In the worst case, the letter itself could have been a trap to lure this child.

No, the mouse beastman who sent the letter may not have been this child's mother. But that's another issue to be put aside.

For now, it seems a letter was sent from here.

"The clue would be... the smell."

If there were other clues, that would be good. Hmm.

"Anyway, thank you, Maybelle. Let's go back."

"What? The clues about my mom are still lacking!"

"We've heard everything we can for now. Let's try other methods for the rest."

At my words, Maybelle's face showed a slight dissatisfaction, but she had no choice but to nod.

I need to go back and organize the information.

Watching us, the priest in the best clothes approached and spoke.

"Excuse me, where are you staying, esteemed one?"

"Uhm. I've booked a room at an inn."

It was a decent inn recommended by the guards, though a bit pricey. But a few silver coins are no big deal.

"I see. If you haven't decided on a place to stay, we were actually considering offering accommodations at our temple's lodging..."

"I've already secured a suitable place to stay, so it's fine."

"But... I wanted to accommodate you in a better place."

I shook my head slightly.

"It's enough as it is. So don't worry too much about me. And keep my identity a secret."

"However, your reappearance in the world... the power of a hero is needed, does it not?"

"That's not the case. It has nothing to do with a hero."

I'm just trying to take a look around the world, that's all.

So,

"Just erase me from your mind. Understand?"

"Understood, esteemed one."

The priests nodded their heads slightly at my words.

Well, even if I say that, it will probably leak out somewhere, but it's better than not saying anything.

And so, Maybelle and I left the temple.