Chapter 12. Honor and Sacrifice (5)

Returning to the room, I suppressed the urge to jump onto the bed and thrash around.

In fact, the process of returning felt so embarrassing I thought I might die.

What on earth was I thinking?

You know how sometimes people’s emotions escalate as they talk? Just like ‘gradual anger’, I was the same when I was talking in front of Sister Maria.

At first, I just intended to lightly defend Ria.

No, really, at first, I just intended to go in alone and listen, but let’s set that aside for now.

However, in the process of defending Ria, my emotions gradually became more involved, and I ended up rambling about my personal philosophy in front of a nun directly under the Vatican, who probably studied theology more diligently than I did.

Moreover, it was in front of Ria and the Nun Superior.

I ended up putting on a huge act in front of Ria. That’s why it was so embarrassing.

But I couldn’t show those feelings. Thrashing around on the bed would be like explaining to Ria with my whole body that I was incredibly embarrassed right now.

“…Well, don’t worry too much.”

Ria spoke first.

Fortunately, she wasn’t saying anything to tease me.

“She said it herself, didn’t she? That she can’t do anything significant to you.”

“It’s not that I’m scared of that.”

I was a little annoyed that Ria spoke so nonchalantly.

Honestly, isn’t saying something like ‘I’ll protect you so that doesn’t happen’ also a bit embarrassing? Honestly, it’s cool in manga, but in reality, it’s a bit ticklish, isn’t it?

No, I often say things like ‘You are my knight’ to Ria, but still, you say it so naturally?

“Well, well, no matter what happens, Ria will protect me.”

I deliberately said something a bit embarrassing like that and turned my head towards Ria while lying on my stomach on the bed.

Ria paused for a moment at my words, then grinned and lightly punched her chest with her fist.

“Of course. I’m the knight who protects you, right?”

Ah, come on.

I desperately wanted to shout at her to be a little embarrassed, like a fish flopping on the ground, but I held it in.

“…No, wait a minute.”

Then, a strange thought occurred to me, so I sat up slightly and said.

“Hey, Ria. If that situation happens, I won’t be a Saint candidate or anything anymore.”

“Huh? Well, yeah?”

Ria replied with a truly nonchalant expression, so I frowned slightly and asked.

“Then, won’t you have no obligation to protect me then?”

Yes, if she helps me in that situation, Ria will become an enemy of the church.

I don’t know how the future will unfold.

But somehow, among all the possible futures, I found it very difficult to imagine Ria betraying me.

“…”

Ria stared blankly at me, who had asked such a question.

Honestly, it was a little scary.

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you saying that? Are you afraid I’ll betray you?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

I’m afraid she won’t betray me.

No, even if I desperately begged her to leave, for some reason, I felt like she would still be by my side.

I was afraid of that.

“Isn’t it a little late to be worrying now?”

Ria said with a smile, but she was probably thinking the complete opposite of what I was thinking.

“I’m not worried.”

Ah, I was wrong.

No matter what I say here, I won’t be able to refute what Ria says.

It was me who first called Ria my knight and said I trusted her-

Right. The current Ria is all my fault.

Whether in a good way or a bad way.

*

Sister Maria, who I thought might show up as early as the very next day, didn’t come back for quite some time.

Even the Vatican. I didn’t receive any separate contact.

Even though the Vatican sent someone to me directly, there should have been some talk from our Archdiocese, but nothing happened.

What is it, really?

I had prepared myself for it.

Every few days, Emelie would inform me about the progress of her research. Actually, she didn’t need to inform me that often, but I didn’t think there was a need to stop someone who informed me every day.

Ria and I, as a pair, spent our time diligently at the church.

We cleaned diligently, and prepared for services and anniversaries.

Many people died in the Gate incident. There were so many heroes and hunters who died then that if we made every single death anniversary a memorial day, we would be mourning every day for the rest of our lives.

Ultimately, each country, or region, created a day to commemorate all those spirits. In this country, it is September 10th.

The day the Gate incident occurred.

As the date approaches, the atmosphere throughout society becomes quite somber. On this day, even atheists cannot prevent people’s religious prayers or commemorations.

…Well, I did too. Even if someone doesn’t believe in the existence of souls, they can’t dismiss commemorating the deceased as meaningless. How can you fault the act of remembering precious people you can never meet again?

“…”

Ria also didn’t say such things to me, even as a joke.

The usual Ria would casually wear a veil on her head like me, and she didn’t pray very diligently during prayer times. Although she didn’t doze off openly like me, she also didn’t seek God with all her heart like other clergy.

However, today is different.

Ria’s mother also passed away due to the aftermath of that incident. She didn’t die on September 10th, but she quietly prayed along with everyone else, who were offering white flowers and praying silently.

Both Ria and I, for today, hide all our hair under our veils. Regardless of the name of religion, we pray with our clothes as neat as possible.

A faint white light emanates from the clergy. It’s holy power. This would be a common sight in churches around this time. I haven’t been to other churches-

“…Ah.”

Someone made a sound like that. People looked up at the sky.

From there, a white light was descending.

…It’s a light I’ve never seen before at a time like this.

It’s probably because of me. My body has become a little more connected to the place above, making it easier to receive this kind of holy power.

I could feel some of the people’s gazes glancing at me, but I just sat still, blending in with the other nuns as usual.

*

Things happened the next day.

“Sister Maria.”

September 11th, the day after the commemoration.

Someone came to find us.

No, to be precise, they came for Ria.

“We have a guest.”

At the Nun Superior’s words, we, who were sweeping the yard with brooms, looked at each other for a moment.

“For me?”

I don’t really have any guests expected either. In the original work, Han Yu-ri and Lee Si-yoon would often visit for various reasons, but in this world, the reason for them to do so has disappeared.

Instead, Ria and I, along with Gloria and Dabi, who are still staying in the same convent, are periodically attending classes at the association.

However, even so, there aren’t that many guests visiting Ria. Ria’s acquaintances are often encountered when going to the association, so there’s no real reason to visit. Moreover, most requests for visits to the convent are usually rejected.

Perhaps because of that, Ria, looking a bit bewildered, approached the Nun Superior, and I followed behind her-

“…It’s a guest for Sister Maria.”

The Nun Superior shook her head.

We looked at each other once more.

“…Ah.”

Ria’s expression became as if she knew who had come.

“If it’s Dad, please tell him he can leave.”

“…”

As if Ria’s words were correct, the Nun Superior let out a light sigh.

“I’m more comfortable here.”

“…Ria?”

I stared blankly at Ria for a moment.

In the original work, Lee Chae-eun was described as if she was deliberately staying at the convent, but she was still a character who said she was tired of such places and wanted to escape quickly.

Still, she wasn’t a character who said this place was more comfortable for her.

“Um… Ria?”

I called out to Ria cautiously.

Ria’s gaze, which had returned to sweeping with the broom, turned towards me.

“Still… since they came, wouldn’t it be better to see them?”

…Although I also have parents I don’t particularly like, there are times when I miss my family.

“I am-“

Ria looked up with an angry expression, but then her eyes met mine, and she closed her mouth. Her expression rapidly crumbled.

What was my expression like?

“…”

Ria seemed to be contemplating for a moment, her lips closed.

After a moment of thought, I carefully spoke.

“Ria, if it’s really difficult, shall I go with you?”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know why Father came, but I have a feeling it might be related to me.”

“…”

Ria looked at me blankly as if my words were absurd, but

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

Sensing that from my expression, she burst into laughter as if it were absurd.

“Yes, okay.”

Ria said.

“If you really want to, go meet him. Why, did you hear some prophecy again?”

“No, not exactly, but…”

Why could that be?

…I just wanted to help a little. Just as I gain courage for certain things, I wanted to give Ria courage too.

“Let’s go once.”

Seeing Ria regain her smile, I felt a little relieved.