The Baptism of Beddhism

Regarding lending the divine beddings, Maiodoru said she wanted to see the church.

… It still doesn't have a caretaker, though… Oh, but maybe if I play this right, I could get them to send someone without having to spend DP?

With that ulterior motive in mind, I guided Maiodoru to the church.

Niku and Ichika came along too. As did Maiodoru's attendant maid.

"So this is the church of Beddhism… It's quite different from a church of the White Goddess Faith."

"It's embarrassing that it still lacks substance since it's so new, but… Oh, how about it? Would you like a holy symbol?"

"No, I am a follower of the White Goddess Faith, so I won't convert."

"What, you can believe in Beddhism as a subreligion. There's nothing you'll be forced to do by believing either."

"S-subreligion? What is that?"

Oops, I need to start from explaining that.

I explained "supplementary faith" and "taking the good parts" to Maiodoru.

By the way, having a holy symbol isn't required to be a believer either. As a subreligion, it's perfectly fine to hold another religion's holy symbol while praying. I told her that as long as you love rest, you're a believer.

"… I see. In other words, I could join Beddhism while still following White Goddess-sama."

"Well, I won't force you. Rather than pushing the religion, Beddhism would say to just sleep instead."

"Oh, that's nice. The Holy Kingdom's Church of the Light God's proselytizing is so pushy that it gets tiresome… By the way, does Kuro-sama also follow Beddhism?"

"Yes, the same as Goshujin-sama."

Looks like Niku will join Beddhism too. Rather, I'd be dejected if she didn't.

What about Ichika? She seems like she'd worship the Food God Ishidaka.

"Then I'll join too. It's important to share the same faith as one's fiancé, after all."

"Oh, thank you very much."

Alright, got a believer!

"Then please baptize me… Oh, but will there be a priest coming?"

"Ah, if you'll allow me to be so bold, I'll take charge of that."

"Kehma-sama, do you have priest qualifications as well?"

"Only for Beddhism."

Priest, you need such qualifications, huh.

… Well, in Beddhism, I am the rule. If I say it's OK, then that's what Beddhism says.

In other words, there's no problem with me claiming to be a priest of Beddhism. If you think I'm lying, feel free to inquire with Beddhism. The contact is me.

"Ni… Kuro hasn't had a baptism-like thing either, so let's do it now. Please repeat after me… I am Beddhism."

"I am Beddhism."

"I am Beddhism."

"I'm Beddhism too."

Ichika snuck hers in.

"Alright, now you're Beddhists. Sleep well. Oyasuminasai."

"… Eh? Th-that's all?"

Maiodoru looked bewildered while Ichika casually joined in.

Hm? Is something else needed?

"Is it different in other religions?"

"Well, things like sprinkling holy water and reciting holy verses… or ceremonies where you wash your hands and feet."

"… Hmm."

I thought a simple initiation would be better, but maybe believers would prefer more ceremonial performances?

In that case, maybe I should do something based on the Beddhist Scriptures…

"Then let us pray. I'll use my Sleepsword Siesta."

"Is it a holy artifact?"

I drew my beloved sword, Siesta, from my waist. Maiodoru's maid instantly tensed up when I suddenly drew a dagger, but I continued without paying it any mind.

"This is a holy sword that bestows sleep. When given magical power, it has the effect of bringing sleep to the surroundings. Ah, Maid-san, if falling asleep would be problematic, please move a bit further away… Yes, that should be far enough."

"I see. So you must endure the sleepiness while praying?"

"No, you don't need to endure it. Rather, feel free to sleep. That is Beddhism."

Since it would be dangerous to fall asleep while standing, I first had the three of them take their seats.

"Now then, let us recite the holy verses from the Beddhist Scriptures. Please close your eyes and repeat after me… Hitsudi ga ippiki."

"""Hitsudi ga ippiki."""

"Hitsudi ga nihiki."

"""Hitsudi ga nihiki."""

The three of them perfectly copied my slightly rolling pronunciation as I counted sheep.

Could it be that they're hearing it as Japanese sounds? Did I just discover a hole in Translation Function-san?

"… Um, Kehma-sama. What does this holy verse mean?"

"This is a spell for peaceful sleep. 'Hitsudi' is a 'creature that brings sleep,' and its form is generally considered to be that of a sheep. 'Ga' is a connective, and after that you count 'one,' 'two,' and so on. Normally, the proper practice is to continue counting until you fall asleep, but for now, let's just count to ten and end there. As long as the meaning is the same, you can recite it in words easier for you, so counting normally is fine too."

"I see… Then, three hitsudi, four hitsudi…"

I'll have to write about hitsudi in the still 99% blank scriptures later.

… By the way, since I made the scriptures with [Create Golem], I can rearrange the page order or insert pages later like a binder.

Right now it's like a notebook thick enough to use as a pillow. Some might call it a bluff or a sham, but in Beddhism, having the right thickness to use as a pillow for comfortable sleep is what matters. A comfortable sleeping thickness is important!

… Oops, I should use Siesta soon. I'd used it yesterday to fall asleep too, so it was out of magical power. I poured magical power into Siesta… Fuaah, I'm sleepy. It's taking effect.

"K-Kehma-sama. I'm starting to feel sleepy…!"

"Me too… Fuaaah, ah, sleepy…"

"Five hitsudi… six hitsudi…"

"Zzz…"

Niku and Maiodoru continued counting hitsudi.

Ichika had fallen asleep. She was using her arms on the desk as a pillow.

"Mm, very good. Oyasuminasai."

"Kehma-sama, what does Oyasuminasai mean?"

Hm? That got excluded by Translation Function-san too? I guess it did sound spell-like.

"Oyasuminasai is a greeting used before sleep, a word of prayer. It means 'have a good rest.'"

"I see…"

"The meaning is what's important, so an ordinary bedtime greeting can also serve as a word of prayer."

"Hmm, so you can pray effortlessly in everyday life…? Oyasuminasai."

"Oyasuminasai… Zzz…"

Ah, Niku fell asleep too.

I want to sleep too… But as the priest, I need to stay awake for now, so let me get Maiodoru to sleep quickly so I can sleep too. I secretly turned [Faint Resistance] ON… With this, I shouldn't be able to fall asleep despite feeling drowsy.

But seriously, feeling sleepy yet being unable to sleep is hell, isn't it? [Faint Resistance] really is a terrible skill.

"Nine hitsudi… nn, mm… Zzz…"

"… Oyasuminasai."

Maiodoru fell asleep too. She couldn't even make it to ten against Siesta, huh… I'll sleep too.

I took a seat somewhere, turned OFF [Faint Resistance], and surrendered my body to this irresistible drowsiness.

The Beddhism church was filled with warm, comforting light. Since I handled everything from design to construction to supervision, it really was a space with excellent sleeping comfort.

Well then, good night. Zzz.