32 Episode 32 "Extra Part 1" Festival of Nagi, Cecil and White Knot "Part 2".txt (1/2)
Kelpana, the otherworldly crepe I held between my index finger and thumb.
Cecil bristles at it. Gently, so as not to hurt my fingers.
Looking up at me with red eyes, he chews it carefully and then swallows it.
Then he looks at the remaining pieces of Kelpana in my hand and...
...... Excuse me, Lady Nagy.
snappingly
Cecil took my index finger in his mouth.
As it is, her little tongue licks away the pieces of Kelpana.
When it's all cleaned up, Cecil takes my hand and places his lips on my thumb and palm. Like a little bird pecking away, she licks and sucks away the sauce and the dough powder.
Holding her silver hair with one hand so it doesn't get in the way, Cecil is trying hard to press her little head against my hand - and I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I don't understand what's happening.
Is this what it means to be a slave and a wife?
Don't shout at me, members of the Iturna Order!
This is your wife? A slave wife? Oh, my God!
Did you really think that was real?
That's the kind of play...... that lets a little girl like this do this every morning and every night.
I didn't let you. It's just another day.
”Your soul must be tainted to the depths!
I don't care if it's dirty or not. I mean, isn't this a ritual for a festival?
A festival? You don't mean ...... 'The White Knot Festival'?
The men of the Iturna Order look at each other as if they are seeing something unbelievable.
'Are you saying that you are conducting the Festival of the White Knot according to a formal ritual?
Yes.
Without the power of the ring?
'You wouldn't be enslaving your slaves if you used them, would you?
...... Impossible. A dark elf girl and a human boy are ...... how envious, no, dirty - no, still envious - no, still envious - no. Um, well, you know.
Try to understand it, no more than 20 words.
'...... Together you will be burned by the explosive flames of the underworld, you heretics, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
The men of the Iturna cult unexpectedly started running with their backs to us.
Then, in a flash, he was out of sight.
What the hell.
The priest stopped, out of breath.
I couldn't believe it.
The reason why the Festival of the White Knot was no longer held was because it was terribly difficult to carry out to the end.
No master has that level of trust with a slave.
If there is one, it's a relationship that goes beyond trust. For example...
Ack! No! No!
I am a priest in the service of the goddess Iturna.
Forget that cloak of envy and that filthy boy!
Let's get to the Faith Branch now.
I have to report back to you about the monster fish attack and the treatment of Rita-Melpheus.
...... Why did you do that, Cecil?
I didn't know what to do. ......
He didn't seem remorseful.
You shouldn't have done it rather than turn bright red.
'The Third Rite.
'Thank God that master and slave can be together, together before the temple of the God of the covenant.
This is like going to a shrine or temple on a company trip.
I matched Cecil's stride and headed for the 'Temple of the Covenant'.
The Temple of the Covenant is similar to the church in my world, and anyone can enter it.
Inside, there was only a large statue of a goddess at the back of a bulky room.
It was a statue of a young woman with a gentle smile on her face, holding a lock and a bunch of keys in her hand.
'You can ask for the usual favors here, Nagi-sama.
”Even if it's not a 'contract' relationship?
'Yes. 'The God of Covenants' is said to be the 'God of Binding'.
A contract is a promise that binds people together.
It means it has a power to connect your current self with your future self - the one who made your dream come true.
At any rate, I wished that I would be able to live without working.
I thought Cecil was saying next to me, ”──the blood of the demon race──to the future──with Nagi-sama,” but I didn't hear him well. I mean, it's bad manners to ask someone's request.
In the temple, there was a bronze plaque on which the origin of ”The Covenant” was written.
The 'God of Contracts' made the rules of 'Contracts' in this land out of good intentions.
People's desires are unstoppable.
In order to stop it, God created demi-humans such as elves and dwarves as equals to humans.
But even that was not enough to stop the desires of man.
That is why the God of Covenants created the force of the Covenant.
As long as you make a 'covenant', you can satisfy your desires.
But you should be satisfied there.
One's desires cannot be suppressed.
That's why the God of Contracts decided to limit and release them...
I heard that was the rule, but ...... doesn't serve much of a purpose.
It's not that I can't complain about it, though, because I'm an otherworldly person.
It's a good thing that there is no written contract of employment in my world, and I was made to work in good faith.
The God of Contracts - I treat my slaves with as much respect as possible.
I won't become a black employer.
Please make life easier in this world. Pan.
”It's unusual for a master and a slave to visit the Temple of the Covenant together.
An old man with a long beard and robes appeared from the back of the temple.
A priest in this temple.
Masters sometimes force their slaves to come here. Will you be able to do the same?
We're on a company trip.
A company trip?
Every now and then I have to reward Cecil with a little something.
That old priest is looking very disappointed.
”At a time like this? Don't tell me it's the Festival of the White Knot?
So why do you always have that reaction?
I'm starting to get nervous. I should stop doing this.
''There's nothing wrong with doing this festival, right?
Unless you have any objections.
Could this ...... be a magic ritual?
I don't know, but it is said that this ritual was started by demons.
Demons?
Pikun, Cecil's ears moved.
He's watching us in silence, as if he's trying not to interrupt me and the old man's conversation.
It is said that this ritual was born from the study of the rules of the 'God of Contracts' by the demon race. It fell into disrepair because no one was able to perform it until the end. All that remains is that it strengthens the bond between slave and master.
Strengthen in what way?
'If we had a real trust in each other, we could prove it,'
Anything else?
Who knows much about the effects of the Demonology ritual?
That kind of discrimination is not good. Cultural heritage is so important.
...... Nagi-sama.
Cui, Cecil tugged at my sleeve.
I want to play this festival to the end.
Hmm.
For my part, I think it's a good idea to stop here.
The story is getting a little weird.
Can't we do some more research and come back next time?
'If you say so, Nagi,'
So don't make a face like you're about to cry.
I know, I know, but for Cecil, something related to the demon race is special.
Anyway, ...... so far the information is ”This ritual strongly binds master and slave. The only thing I can think of is ”this ritual strengthens the bond between master and slave”.
If it's due to a 'contract', I should be able to terminate it eventually.
'Alright Cecil, let's finish it.
I put my hand on Cecil's head.
I stroked her silver hair with a cooing stroke, and Cecil finally smiled at me.
The Festival of the White Knot is like a company trip for Cecil.
Let's do as Cecil wishes.
But ...... the last one is quite a hurdle.
The old priest was in his room, running his pen on parchment.
I saw something unusual today.
Both the master and the slave came to this temple. And a slave had come to this temple of his own accord.
How could that be possible? No, I'm sure he's joking.
A slave prays to the God of the Covenant who binds him or herself, etc. .......
The White Knot Festival was created when the God of the Covenant descended on the land and interacted with the demon race.
He said that the Covenant does not bind those who are subjected to it, but is a hope.
I've heard that it was created with the hope that the master and the slave would be able to demonstrate new strength through a deep connection - to open up a future that they could not reach on their own.
But what is the timeless bond between master and slave in ...... lore?