Chapter 8. The Saint and the Knight (6)

The story that followed was, well, a bit predictable.

They praised my achievements in the gnome territory and talked about the benefits the church could gain from it.

The most significant advantage was securing many means to store holy power. It seemed the lake itself had become somewhat sacred because I had poured too much holy power into it while purifying it.

Even if not to the extent of the gems in my ring, it became possible to obtain items that could store the holy power of ordinary clergy members.

“…”

I listened to such talk silently.

The Cardinal wouldn’t have rushed all the way here to wait for me solely for that reason. It was something much more important- and it was clear he was going to say something I wouldn’t particularly want to hear.

“Anna-jamae-nim.”

The Cardinal called me in a rather kind voice.

“…Yes, Cardinal-nim.”

“Do you still not have much thought about the position of Saint?”

“…”

Seeing me press my lips together, the Cardinal nodded his head coolly.

However, that didn’t mean he completely understood me or gave up on persuading me.

“However, many church members also witnessed this event. Of course, there were no people from the Vatican, but the fact that other races witnessed that scene is quite significant.”

“Uh, um…”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry. It doesn’t mean you’ll be designated as a Saint immediately. Government officials were involved in this journey, so the lawyer couldn’t accompany us. At least, that person didn’t see your power.”

Holy power does not appear on cameras. It is a power that can only be seen with human eyes, and therefore it is considered sacred.

I don’t know if it’s fortunate or not that the lawyer didn’t see it. However, I was relieved that it wasn’t yet ‘confirmed’.

“However, the procedures will be followed. The report will be submitted. Perhaps people will be dispatched directly from the Vatican.”

“…”

That might be unavoidable.

“Cardinal-nim.”

As I stood there unable to retort, Ria called out to the Cardinal in a polite voice.

“Maria-jamae-nim.”

“May I say something?”

The Cardinal’s eyes widened as if slightly interested, and he looked at Ria before nodding.

“I understand that the church’s criteria for a ‘Saint’ are still ambiguous.”

“That is correct. Unlike the Pope, who is elected, the position of Saint is simply a position bestowed by God.”

“Then, I believe it would be best to establish those criteria accurately first.”

“Is that so? Certainly, it is something to consider.”

However, it’s unlikely that what Ria is saying now hasn’t been discussed in the church. There were even people who opposed the very concept of a Saint.

The Pope is chosen by people, but a Saint is chosen by God.

If a Saint has no interest in power at all, it’s a different story, but if there’s even a slight intention to participate in politics, it could become a cause for the church to split.

In the worst-case scenario, a Saint could even establish a new sect and leave. In that case, the remaining side would face significant problems in many ways. It would mean being abandoned by someone they themselves declared as ‘chosen by God’.

The current church is maintained solely by legitimacy. Otherwise, this organization, which has no history at all, would collapse in an instant.

“However, the current Saint candidate, Anna, holds the opinion that God does not exist in the world.”

The Cardinal’s gaze briefly turned to me.

“The one who most naturally accepts holy power says so, and that statement is somewhat detached from the ideology the church has taught so far.”

The Cardinal listened to Ria’s words silently.

“What if the current education has been confined to a certain framework, and therefore has been a hindrance to accepting holy power?”

“Does that mean that by accepting Anna-jamae’s opinion, the power of all other clergy members can become equal to Anna-jamae’s?”

I blinked.

Does it work like that?

But regardless of my doubts, the Cardinal seemed to be thinking quite seriously.

“…”

Cook.

As I stood there blankly watching the Cardinal, Ria, who was next to me, poked my arm with her elbow.

When I looked at Ria, she whispered to me.

“Pray a little.”

“…Yes?”

“Every time you use holy power, show me that light that shines on your face.”

No, that’s not my power!

Besides, in a situation like this-

But before I could say anything, light fell on my face. …Honestly, so unnecessarily cooperative. Even though I’m acting so openly irreverent, the power is still being given.

The Cardinal looked at me with an exclamation mark forming above his head.

And then, while the Cardinal was looking at us like that, Ria confidently waved her hand in front of my face.

The light that was falling on my face instantly turned into smoke and disappeared.

The knights who accompanied me, having seen that scene several times, showed no particular reaction.

However, those who were seeing that scene for the first time all gasped.

Because Ria was doing the ‘act of touching holy power,’ which I had thought was only something I could do.

“Even I, who have been constantly influenced by Anna-jamae’s side, can touch holy power like this. Can’t this also be seen as a possibility?”

“…”

The Cardinal’s expression changed slightly.

I don’t think the things Ria said would have never come up in the church. It was common for church people to spend all day discussing such matters.

However, it must have been the first time they were seeing the ‘results’ of that.

“Could you tell us more details next time? Both of you, sisters.”

Ria and I nodded and agreed.

“…You must be tired from your journey, having just returned. I hope you can rest your bodies and minds for a while. The story Maria-jamae-nim told us is very important, and it will take some time to be accepted.”

“Thank you.”

Ria replied with a slight bow.

We were able to leave the spot like that.

*

On the way back to our room down the hallway.

Ria was lost in thought with a rather serious expression.

Unlike Ria, I felt a little good.

Although not completely free, thanks to Ria, a possibility had opened up. Moreover, I had bought myself quite some time.

“Ria.”

“…”

“Ria?”

But even when I called her name, Ria just rested her chin on her hand and remained lost in deep thought with a serious expression.

“Anna.”

With that same serious expression, Ria looked at me and called my name.

“Yes?”

Is she worried about something? Is she seeing something because she’s the daughter of a hero?

As I waited for her words with a bit of tension-

Anna said to me with that serious expression.

“You don’t have a swimsuit, do you?”

“…”

I stopped walking.

And then, with an incredibly serious look, I started thinking hard and stared intently at Ria.

Usually, when I look at her like that, Ria would be the first to look away, but not this time.

“Why? Is there something you need to do in the water? Are you trying to go into that lake?”

I asked, just in case.

I can’t swim.

Ah, of course, if Ria teaches me, I’ll learn, but I’m not sure if I can learn that quickly. Besides, to go down, don’t you need to know how to wear a diving suit, not just swim?

But Ria completely dismissed my thoughts.

“It’s June now.”

“…”

“It’s summer.”

“Hey.”

“You haven’t forgotten your promise, have you?”

“Uh, I remember, but wait a minute.”

I showed my palm to Ria and said.

“Isn’t June too early? It’s starting to get hot, but-“

“If you’re going to learn to swim, you need to allow plenty of time. What if something happens in the sea?”

“…The sea is just the sea, right? Even if I’m not a good swimmer, I can just ride a tube, and can’t I just go in wearing these clothes?”

If it were a swimming pool, maybe, but I have no memory of wearing a swimsuit separately when I went to the sea. I just splashed around and played.

“As expected, you’ve never been to the sea before.”

Ria said with a sigh, as if to show me.

“Anna, listen carefully.”

“…”

“70 percent of the Earth’s surface is the sea.”

“…So?”

“Assuming a gate appears, is it more likely to appear on land? Or is it more likely to appear in the sea?”

“…Ah.”

“It’s like that. And it’s similar for most other planets. Naturally, Earth’s marine ecosystem has changed a lot since gates started appearing in the sea.”

“Are you saying monsters might come out of the sea?”

“There’s no guarantee they won’t.”

I stood there blankly with my mouth open and then said.

“Then, isn’t it better not to go to the sea?”

“It’s summer.”

But my pure question was cleanly refuted by that one sentence.

“We have to go to the sea.”

“…”

How should I put it.

It’s not that I don’t understand her feelings.

“So, tomorrow, let’s go out for a bit. To buy swimsuits.”

“You’re using the authority of a Saint candidate for personal gain now.”

“Personal gain? As a knight, I’m simply teaching survival methods to someone who might become a Saint in the future.”

Once again, I was speechless at her words.

It’s illogical, yet absurd.

…

Well, fine.

If we go to buy swimsuits, I won’t be the only one wearing one.

Ria gets more embarrassed than I do, right?

With a slightly mischievous heart, I followed Ria back to the room.