Holy Relic and Shrine, Paul Is Allen's God

## Chapter 15: The Holy Relic and the Shrine, Paul is Allen's God

Paul didn't look at his wife; he looked up at the ceiling again, thinking of Allen's situation and what he had once said.

Allen had said he would protect Rudeus's future, so it seemed Rudeus truly didn't need to overly refine his Swordsmanship. With their current abilities, they could even perfectly adapt to being adventurers in a dungeon. But still, it felt a little unsatisfying. How could his child have no talent for Swordsmanship?

"Well..."

"Lord Paul, this is undoubtedly feasible. Because I'm completely clueless about Magic, if Rudeus specializes in Magic and I specialize in Swordsmanship in the future, we can compensate for each other's weaknesses. And compared to a teacher-student relationship, I'd rather be friends or partners with Rudeus."

Paul was stunned. He looked at Allen, who had suddenly straightened his back, pulled in his stomach, and was sitting upright, staring at him seriously. He instinctively felt that Allen was right.

"...You're right. Then let's shorten it by an hour."

Allen turned to look at Rudeus, who quickly blinked and gave Allen a thumbs-up under the table.

"Thank you, Teacher."

In Rudeus's room, Allen looked at the slightly upturned brown hair on Rudeus's head and still felt a wave of unreality wash over him.

I worked my butt off to gain your favor, and it was useless. But now that I'm almost giving up, playing dead, content to be a slacker, how did this favorability suddenly appear?

Does this make sense?

"Reasonably guiding my father's words and actions is something I often do. I didn't expect you, Teacher, to be a kindred spirit."

"Ah, right."

"Please, keep up the good work. In the future, please make sure I don't have to learn Swordsmanship anymore. As you've probably seen, I prefer Magic to Swordsmanship."

"Ah, right."

Allen paused.

Wait, no, this kid is practically wishing I'd lose my job and disappear from his sight.

Rudeus looked at Allen's dazed expression, a corner of his mouth curving into the benevolent smile he usually wore when Paul was being silly.

Then, seeing Allen look his way, he suddenly became serious again.

"My father told me you met Lokkishi on the road?"

Allen blinked.

"Yes, I suppose I owe her a favor."

Rudeus nodded vigorously, then his face scrunched up in a conflicted expression, as if he worried he wouldn't get the answer he wanted if he asked, but he'd regret it if he didn't.

"Did she... mention me?"

Allen glanced at Rudeus.

"She did mention you."

Rudeus immediately brightened.

"What did she say??"

"She said you're glib and lecherous."

Rudeus's smile dropped.

"Huh?"

"She also said you stole her underwear."

As the last syllable of "underwear" fell, Rudeus immediately turned to look under the bed, then realized something, stiffened his neck, and slowly turned to look at Allen.

Allen narrowed his eyes.

"I didn't expect you really did steal her underwear..."

"I can explain! Please don't tell Father or Mother!"

"Oh, please."

Allen walked to the bed amidst Rudeus's trembling expression and bent down to look.

A small white pair of underwear was tucked into the gap under the bed frame.

Although I was mentally prepared, seeing this scene still made me realize again what a pervert this Rudeus B really is.

Allen's mouth twitched. He turned to look at the blank-faced Rudeus.

"Where's the Shrine? Isn't it usually kept in a Shrine?"

Rudeus looked bewildered.

"What?"

Allen raised an eyebrow.

"There isn't one?"

Wait, it seems it hasn't been put into a Shrine yet at this point in time. I misremembered.

He blinked, preparing to make up an excuse.

The result was a loud shout from Rudy that made him jump.

"Genius!"

Rudeus looked at him with an expression of adoration, holding Allen's hands in his.

"Genius! Yes! Holy Relics should be enshrined in a Shrine! Teacher, you truly are a genius!"

Allen's face twitched as he looked at him.

I'm numb. I've been certified as a pervert, professionally speaking.

Rudeus's favorability has increased again. It seems success is no accident; the host's abilities have been verified multiple times.

Go to hell! Can't you do something normal?

Rudy then blinked, looking suspiciously at Allen.

"Is 'Shrine' a term used in your hometown too?"

Allen pursed his lips.

"Ah, yes, my hometown is quite remote, so there are some strange spiritual beliefs. Every household worships the gods they believe in."

Rudy asked curiously.

"…Gods?"

"For example, the god of clarity is Ou Hao, the god of contracts is RNG, and the god of abstraction is Zhi Yin."

Rudeus's expression was somewhat bewildered.

"…Those gods' names sound a bit strange… Is it your local dialect? Um… So what god does Teacher's family believe in?"

Allen glanced at Rudy.

"My family worships the Three-Colored Goddesses: Blue Mom, White Mom, and Red Mom."

Rudeus scratched his head. This time he understood, but still couldn't quite grasp it.

Why is this person speaking nonsense?

Allen, looking at Rudeus, thought of Sylphy when he mentioned the Three-Colored Goddesses, and then asked, "By the way, I've seen you running out a lot these past few days. Have you made any friends? If you really have friends, you can invite them home for a meal or something. I'm sure both your father and mother would be happy to see you making friends."

Rudeus's expression turned blank.

"Friends? No, I'm just surveying the terrain."

"Oh, I see."

Allen scrutinized Rudeus's face, thinking that he might not be feigning ignorance. In his previous life, he had been kicked out of his home, so in this life, playing outside was truly about training his wilderness survival skills, just in case he was kicked out again.

In the original story, after Lokkishi left, Rudy soon met Sylphy, but there should have been a time gap in between, during which he was doing this.

As for meeting Sylphy, it was probably in the summer, and now it was only late March, almost early April.

It seemed Sylphy would still be bullied for a while. Sylphy was bullied because of her green hair, so it was very likely that she had been bullied ever since she was old enough to remember running around outside.

White Mom's gray childhood had a profound and lasting impact. Her servile qualities in the wedding arc were directly related to this.

Allen silently sighed in his heart.

Guiding Rudy to rescue Sylphy early shouldn't cause too many butterfly effects… Based on my deductions, related events won't change otherwise; it's just meeting half a year earlier.

"…Don't you play with the other kids in the village?"

Rudy tilted his head upwards, scratching his face.

"That… we probably don't get along."

Allen looked down at Rudy.

"Tell me… do you think we're friends?"

Rudy's mouth twitched.

I thought this fierce-looking kid was more mature, but it turns out he's still like a child who likes to constantly talk about friendship.

Rudy showed his signature innocent child smile.

"Of course! After all, Teacher just got me an hour less of Swordsmanship class today!"

The next moment, Allen poked his face with a finger.

"Don't be so hypocritical. I genuinely want to be friends with you."

Rudy was startled.

Allen glanced at him, turned, and started walking out. As he left the room, he turned his head and said to him, "I'll help you make a Shrine tomorrow, and I'll also keep quiet about the underwear thing."

Rudy's eyes lit up.

"Okay!"

Dust appeared before Allen's eyes.

Free Instant Quest – Gain Sylphiette's favorability. Available to publish.

Quest Reward: Barrier Magic Slot, Unlocked.

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