Suematsu-san got a promotion.
He’d been treated as a stray Shinto priest who just happened to hold the credentials until now, but then a mysterious organization called the Outer Space Shinto Association sprang into existence. A shrine with a truly venerable history recommended Suematsu-san as its Official of Shinto Affairs.
He was appointed to a position called Third-class Official of Shinto Affairs.
I didn't even know that rank existed!
When I inquired with a chamberlain of the Galactic Empire because I was so out of the loop, they told me it was the equivalent of a Major in the Imperial Army.
To be honest, neither Wifey nor I knew much about the specifics of religion. A specialist gave us lectures a few times a month, but it all went right over my head. The state managed religion to prevent cult religions from cropping up, but since I didn't understand it, I took a strictly hands-off approach. Looking at the accounting alone, it didn't seem like there was any room for power-tripping or corruption.
I suppose it would be Shinto for weddings and Gaming Buddhism for funerals. A Shinto-style ceremony while wearing a wedding dress—that’s how Amada’s lot did it, too.
I decided to stop overthinking it.
That was the state of religion in the Galactic Empire, but the Gaming Monks were actually more influential because they managed the graveyards. Plenty of people never got married, and many didn't even bother with wedding ceremonies, but everyone needed a grave eventually. Since there were so many different sects, the organizations hadn't become stagnant or corrupt, but the scale was large enough that you had to be selective.
Occasionally, a Gaming Monk would actually get arrested for something.
Perhaps because they thought, "No way are we letting her go!" Gaming Buddhism put forward a recommendation for Tatiana. Now, a massive tug-of-war had broken out over her between the Chronos Religion, the Latarnia Religion, and several other outer space religions.
Good grief... Tatiana-chan is like some kind of harem protagonist. Her big brother is truly moved.
And so, the religious issue was temporarily resolved with Suematsu-san's overwhelming victory.
In Parcion, the dispatched Gaming Monks and their cemeteries were a massive hit. When you thought about it, since I’d funneled subsidies into grave management, the burden on the residents wasn't actually that high. The monks were paid a salary for managing the graves, so they didn't have to squeeze people for money over posthumous names.
To begin with, the people who came all the way out to outer space weren't temple heirs, but hardcore Buddhists. Once you filtered out the ones with behavioral issues, a lot of them turned out to be scholars. Most of them came out of academic interest rather than a plot to make a fortune.
It wasn't just limited to Buddhism, either; science researchers from Buddhist universities specializing in biology, geology, and meteorology were applying one after another. Furthermore, we were getting people who were masters of Karate, Judo, or ancient martial arts who happened to be monks as well. There were even former soccer players and former baseball players.
On the stranger side of things, there were novelists, illustrators, and manga artists. It seemed they wanted to pursue their creative work while relying on the steady income of a monk. Culture has a way of blossoming from those kinds of arrangements. After all, Japan once had people like Lafcadio Hearn.
"Sure, why not?" I thought.
With that mindset, I took my pets and went to visit Zashiki-warashi-chan for the first time in a while.
Wait, isn't Himorogi-chan... a bit huge?
In fact, hadn't the grounds gotten larger without me noticing?
I locked eyes with Suematsu-san, who was busy sweeping the shrine grounds.
"Your Majesty. It has been quite some time."
"It's been a while? Suematsu-san, you were literally with us on the expedition to Parcion."
To begin with, there was a small shrine for Zashiki-warashi-chan on the ship, and we even had potted versions of Himorogi-chan that we’d increased in number. We had been planting them all over the various planets in Parcion.
"It is a matter of the spirit, Your Majesty."
I guess that's one way to look at it.
"By the way, has the shrine gotten bigger?"
"I wonder why it turned out this way..." Suematsu-san said, a distant look in his eyes.
Well, since Zashiki-warashi-chan's divinity in the Galactic Empire had risen, I suppose they’d decided to expand the shrine to a fitting size. Looking toward the back, I could see construction work in progress. Furthermore, workers wearing armbands that read "Arborist" were carefully observing Himorogi-chan.
Man, this is really costing a fortune!
Peering even further back into the thicket, I saw an older guy in work clothes with a bug net.
"That gentleman is the Chief Priest of a nearby temple. Apparently, he used to teach biology at a university."
Oh, I see. When I narrowed down the researcher slots, the researchers just started coming in through the monk slots instead. Well, I suppose it's better than having money-grubbers around.
More importantly, bugs.
"Are there any rhinoceros beetles?" I asked, approaching with a smile.
The man smiled back. Rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles—mysterious creatures that, for some reason, only Japanese boys seem obsessed with. On some planets, they’re treated as nothing more than pests.
"The beetles will be out in about a month." He gave me a thumbs-up.
"Glad to hear it. I'm just a humble guy named Leo who acts as the King around here."
"Hahaha! Your Majesty is exactly as the rumors described!"
Suematsu-san brought over a bottle of barley tea for us.
"The Chief Priest is also the director of the Ghoul Research Institute," Suematsu-san added.
Then he was a very important person indeed.
"Hahaha, I'm on good terms with Berger-san as well," the priest said.
"Have you discovered anything?"
"It is mostly things I do not yet understand. However, I have discovered that they have a habit of moving in a certain direction when subjected to a specific type of electrical signal."
"Wait... Suematsu-san."
"It is likely... the Mainland they were talking about," Suematsu-san replied.
"Initially, I thought the technology for exterminating Anisakis could be applied," the priest continued. "We are still at a stage where nothing is fully understood, so I was collecting samples to try the same experiment on microorganisms in the soil. I just happened to be indulging in my hobby of insect collecting at the same time. Collecting butterflies is going much better than the soil samples! Hahaha!"
This guy was incredibly entertaining.
"I will support you with everything I have. What do you need?"
"Thank you. I am not particularly skilled at discussing finances, but... if you could provide a budget..."
"Of course. I'll set a budget and dispatch a representative from the Kamishiro Group, so please order whatever supplies you need."
Jackpot! I got a lead on the Ghouls from the most unexpected source!
And so, we took a step forward.
Ah, that's right, I’d brought sweets for Zashiki-warashi-chan. When I went to the worship hall, she was sitting there primly.
"Yo. Here's a souvenir."
Ingredients from Parcion had reached a point where they were safe to eat, but they hadn't reached the grade required for offerings yet. These were sweets from the Kamishiro Group and strawberries harvested from my own field. Oh, and some wasabi and nori, too. It was the stuff we were finally able to ship out after cultivating it on Magellan and Ozen.
I laid them out as an offering to Zashiki-warashi-chan.
"Thank you!"
"Be careful, they're spicy."
"I'll give them to Uncle Suematsu~"
Whoops, her manifestation had become even stronger than before. She’d become a very distinct presence. Soon, she might become visible even to people without any spiritual aptitude.
"Himorogi-chan has grown, hasn't she?"
"Yeah. You know, she wants to grow big because she wants to keep the Arimitama away."
"Huh..."
Supernatural talk. Well, I suppose my memories of a previous life, which nobody believes, fall into that same category.
"The God of the Stars is approaching. Be careful, big brother."
"O-Oh! Right! I'll do my best!"
Zashiki-warashi-chan just kept on smiling.
Could it be that Zashiki-warashi-chan really is a high-ranking deity?