Chapter 12: The Temple and the Bathhouse
The air in this other world was delicious.
Jin strolled through the streets, savoring the crisp freshness of the morning. Many of the shops along the way had already opened, their clerks busy sweeping and making preparations for the day. Out on the main street, food stalls catering to workers on their way to their jobs stood out—selling everything from sandwich-like fare to deep-fried treats that looked positively mouthwatering.
Although Jin was still full thanks to the generous breakfast the inn’s hostess had served him, the novelty of it all kept drawing his eyes.
"Maybe I’ll come back here for lunch," he murmured.
Since he couldn’t eat another bite right now, he decided to save it for later, tore his gaze away, and continued walking toward the temple.
Why the temple? For Jin, this was, in a way, his "moving-in greeting." Back in his working days, a senior colleague had once told him: When you move to a new place, it’s proper etiquette to greet the local shrine. By leaving the protection of the gods who guarded his old home, he was now seeking the blessing of the deities who presided over his new land. To be protected without even offering thanks or greetings—that would be rude indeed.
Ever since he’d learned this, Jin had made it a point to visit shrines whenever he moved. And this time, too, he intended to do the same.
From chatting with the inn’s hostess, he had also learned something fascinating: in this world, countless gods existed. But temples here didn’t belong to any single deity. Instead, they enshrined all of them together. Of course, the gods venerated by warriors and those honored by merchants weren’t exactly the same—but everyone still came to the same temple to pray to their chosen god.
Because, in truth, the blessings people received weren’t thought to come from one god alone, but from all of them together. This was a form unique to this world, where the gods’ power could be more directly felt.
To Jin—who had grown up in Japan, land of eight million gods—this felt strangely familiar.
Perhaps someone from a monotheistic culture would find it bewildering, but for Jin, who had lived in a society where Shinto, Buddhism, Christianity, and many other religions coexisted, this easy acceptance of many faiths was second nature.
"Ohh, that’s quite the building."
Checking his map along the way, Jin finally arrived at the temple. Unsurprisingly, considering it was meant for the entire town’s worshippers, it was enormous. Its appearance reminded him of the Parthenon in Athens—a grand structure of gleaming white stone that could only be marble. Jin couldn’t help but let out a word of admiration.
Inside, the temple was quiet. At this early hour, there were only a handful of worshippers and a few priests sweeping the halls.
At the center altar stood a statue about three meters tall. Also carved from what looked like marble, its pure white form gave off a soft, gentle impression. Its round, stylized features seemed to depict, depending on how one looked at it, either a long-haired woman cradling something precious—or a man standing protectively over something dear. No doubt, each person who gazed upon it would see something different. Truly, a statue fitting for a temple that enshrined all gods.
"Magnificent, isn’t it?"
Jin, who had unconsciously been staring up at the statue in awe, was startled when a voice addressed him.
"My apologies. I am Clark, the high priest of this temple. I didn’t mean to startle you."
The speaker was an elderly man in a blue priest’s robe, his hair a snowy white.
"No, I should apologize. How shameful of me to stare so long without even offering my prayers," Jin replied.
"Not at all. I understand the feeling. Besides, you were looking at the statue with such a kind expression that I couldn’t help but speak up. I’m the one intruding—please forgive me."
Clark spoke with a warm smile.
"You’re right, though—it really is wonderful. I’ve never been so captivated before."
The kindly, grandfatherly air about the man put Jin at ease. By age, perhaps they were even close to peers. Jin’s mood softened until he felt almost like he was chatting with a fellow elder.
"Ah, pardon me for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Jin. I only arrived in this town yesterday, and I’ll be registering as an adventurer today."
Catching himself, Jin hurriedly offered his name.
Clark chuckled.
"Fufufu. Think nothing of it. Still, if you are to be an adventurer, I imagine we may meet again in the future. Consider this fate. Should the need arise, I hope you will allow me to assist."
"Yes, likewise. I look forward to it."
Just then, another priest who had been waiting behind Clark gave Jin a polite bow before speaking up.
"Forgive the interruption, High Priest, but it’s nearly time."
"Oh, already? Well then, Jin-san, until we meet again. May the blessings of the gods be upon you."
"Thank you very much."
They exchanged bows, and Clark withdrew deeper into the temple with the other priest.
Jin felt lucky to have met the temple’s head priest and even more fortunate to have glimpsed his kind personality. Remembering his original purpose here, he turned his attention back to the worshippers around him, carefully observing how they prayed. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Straightening his posture, Jin faced the statue. He sank down onto one knee, pressed his left fist into his right palm, raised his clasped hands before his face, lowered his head slightly, and closed his eyes. Then he prayed:
To the gods of this world, thank you for accepting me. I know that I am different, but I will strive to live quietly as just another citizen, never to cause confusion to this world. Yet should an emergency arise, please allow me to act with all my strength. I will respect the ways of this world and live with the awareness that I am now one of its people. Please continue to watch over me.
And if my voice might somehow reach the world I came from… then let me say once more: thank you. Thank you for granting me this new life. Just as you told me, I will do my best to be happy. Truly—thank you.
Jin was not especially devout. Why the gods had shown him such kindness, he did not know.
Like many ordinary Japanese, he visited shrines at New Year’s, temples during Obon, and even churches for weddings of friends and relatives. His home had both a kamidana and a butsudan; he refreshed the water daily, offered rice whenever he cooked it, and gave a simple prayer each morning. He believed in the existence of gods and Buddhas, but never thought of them as beings who granted wishes. Surely, they had more important duties. Merely being listened to was enough to bring peace of mind, and Jin was grateful for that.
He saw himself as just another Japanese with nothing unusual in his religious views.
And yet here he was, living in another world. He didn’t know the reason—but he was grateful all the same.
As he prayed, a light fell upon his body. Was it from some high window? No—it seemed instead to shine upon him like a blessing.
But Jin, his eyes closed in prayer, naturally didn’t notice a thing.
The mysterious light that had briefly filled the temple lasted only for a fleeting moment, and so hardly anyone had seen it—except for a young priestess, who happened to lift her head from her cleaning just in time.
Finishing his long prayer, Jin rose to his feet and slipped five copper coins into the offertory box. The coins weren’t denominated in yen, but he chose five as a play on the Japanese phrase "five yen (ごえん/Goen), good fortune (御縁/Goen)." After bowing once more to the statue of the deity, he turned to leave.
Of course, he didn’t forget to bow again on his way out of the temple.
Having properly paid his respects to the gods, Jin stepped out into the streets feeling refreshed. He was completely unaware of the priestess’s gaze following his back.
"Not a bad place at all," he muttered, savoring the afterglow of the temple visit as he turned toward his next destination. It was just past ten o’clock. If he killed a little time shopping, he could head to the guild afterward.
(If I remember right, there was a stall around here…)
He recalled spotting a general goods vendor on the main street on his first day in town. Rather than searching for it on his map, Jin decided to find it himself. He had time to spare, and right now, enjoyment took priority over efficiency. So, watching the streets and the people bustling by, soaking in the atmosphere of another world, he strolled along. Before long, he found the stall without any trouble.
There, Jin purchased ten towels, two sets of underwear, and undershirts, as well as a toothbrush and a small bottle of tooth-cleaning salt. He was grateful to see toothbrushes existed here, even if their design was a little different, though toothpaste did not. Instead, people applied a pinch of fragrant salt, specially blended by each shop. The scent really was refreshing.
Next door, at a clothing shop run by a brother and sister, he bought two sets of casual clothes and pants. Jin rarely bought clothes and didn’t trust his own taste, so he left the selection up to them. Though the shop wasn’t especially large, the outfits they picked out suited his modest preferences: plain and subdued in color. The total cost, with a little discount, came to just two silver coins.
"Man, I want a bath and a change of clothes now…"
He sighed once he had everything. He no longer had to worry about old-man smell, but he still didn’t want to reek of sweat.
"Why not go take one?"
The shopkeeper suggested.
"Huh?"
"I mean, head to the bathhouse. Pretty sure it’s open around this time of day."
Jin had assumed such luxuries didn’t exist in this world, so the information lit him up. According to the man, there were several public bathhouses in town. Thanking him, Jin immediately pulled up his map, located the nearest one, and made his way over.
The bathhouse was reminiscent of an old-fashioned Japanese sentō. Soap was a luxury item, so it wasn’t available, but by scrubbing with a damp towel first, Jin could wash away the grime before soaking in the hot water. He couldn’t linger too long if he wanted to make it to the guild on time, but even a short soak left him feeling refreshed.
By the time he arrived at the guild, it was a little past eleven. He was running slightly later than planned, but still early enough not to inconvenience the receptionist. What’s more, he was relieved he wouldn’t have to show up sweaty and dirty.
That relief made him realize something with a start.
"Shoot! I prayed while still filthy!"
Traditionally, you were supposed to cleanse yourself before making offerings. Back in his old world, Jin would at least take a bath and change clothes before visiting a shrine. How far one went was up to the individual, but at the very least, you should be clean. He hadn’t known there was a bathhouse, but to him, it still felt like a grave mistake.
"I’ll come back tomorrow and do it properly,"
Jin resolved, bowing his head in reflection.
"Alright, reflection over. Won’t happen again!"
Shaking away the gloom, he lifted his eyes to the guild building. With thoughts of adventurer registration and his very first request filling his mind, Jin stepped through the doors, his spirits buoyed once more.
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