Chapter 12. Honor and Sacrifice (9)

I can no longer deny it.

I like this world.

As long as I’m alive, saying I don’t like it is meaningless, but in another sense, I’ve come to feel that I want to act for this world.

If Ria, who acts to protect me, gets hurt, I will surely be in immense pain. Not just a nagging feeling, but a deep wound in my heart.

I can’t say it’s only for myself, but I’m quite selfish for someone who appears this way, so I can’t tolerate such pain well. It was the same when my mother, who used to suffocate me, died.

“…Sister Anna?”

As I was spacing out, lost in a past memory, the Cardinal called me.

“Ah, yes.”

I am currently in Myeongdong.

“Your story was interrupted.”

“Ah… yes, so, I was thinking it would be good to strengthen the defense facilities in various parts of this country.”

“Defense facilities, you say?”

The reason I came here wasn’t because the Vatican people summoned me. If anything, I said I would come. I wanted to have a conversation with the church people.

“Yes. I want to add the… items I created as facilities throughout this country, especially in this city.”

At my words, the Cardinal blinked.

“Is something big about to happen in this city?”

The Cardinal had good instincts. Yes. Something will happen.

Especially centered around me.

However, I don’t know how that event will unfold.

In the original work, the gate worshippers who came through the gate attacked the Saint. Of course, Lee Si-yoon blocked them, and the Saint survived with only minor injuries, but from that point on, things started to escalate seriously.

An enemy appeared, claiming the church of this world had a false faith. They also claimed the Saint’s power was being misused and declared they would take her away somehow- naturally, this led to various controversies.

Incidental damage occurred during the attack on the Saint. They claimed it was damage caused ‘because of the Saint.’ They were threatening in a literal terrorist fashion.

Most people thought it was bullshit, but some argued that the Saint should be moved far away.

…I came to this world before I could read the rest.

“…I thought it would be good to prepare in advance.”

However, I couldn’t tell them everything. This time, there was nothing certain.

The enemy’s plans were disrupted by previous events. Whether they would act more cautiously or more aggressively in the future was literally in the hands of those acting.

Therefore, I became unable to feel completely at ease or certain in either direction.

That was unsettling.

Light slowly settled on my head. As always, people let out faint gasps as they looked at the light.

This time, I didn’t bother to wave it away with my hands.

It’s just that I didn’t feel like doing so.

*

In fact, I had been consistently making holy items even before this. However, I had few acquaintances and faced some restrictions in moving around extensively, so I couldn’t distribute them.

Most importantly, the church seemed somewhat wary of too many holy items circulating.

“It’s impossible to completely avoid financial issues.”

Sophie, whom I met while volunteering, said that.

“If people start thinking that holy power is a power that exists everywhere, their perspective will lower.”

“…”

Her words weren’t meant to blame me. Rather, they were meant to encourage me, but it made me think deeply.

I’m afraid that I have no idea how much impact everything I do will have on the world.

“Oh.”

Seeing the light pouring down on my head, Sophie smiled faintly.

“You don’t brush it away with your hands anymore.”

“…Because there might be a need for it.”

“…”

At my answer, Sophie closed her mouth.

Seeing Ria watching us from the side, Sophie smiled wryly.

“Don’t you think you don’t need to worry too much? Since God is watching over you, Sister Anna, there won’t be any danger. Sister Maria is here too.”

Ria also nodded towards me, so I gave her a slight smile.

That’s right.

Still, I want to believe that this world is a little better than the original.

If I had followed the original, I would have saved people who might have died. Just for that, I was able to achieve something in this world.

No matter what happens, I think I’ll be able to get through it somehow.

*

And, that evening.

When I returned to the church, there was a commotion in front of it.

It wasn’t people wearing armor making a commotion. It was the people surrounding those wearing armor who were making a commotion.

…It’s a nuisance.

I thought so the moment I saw it; there were so many people.

If they were just standing in front of the church, it would be unavoidable, but they were even occupying the road.

“…Ah.”

And then, I sighed as I saw the crest of the knight order occupying the road.

“The Vatican.”

Ria muttered, and looked at those people with eyes full of hostility.

In this world, where people believed in completely different religions instead of Christianity, their symbols also changed in various ways.

Other religions also changed in various ways, whether significantly or slightly. Depending on how ‘God’ is interpreted, it varies, but the scale also contributed to the fact that the organized religion centered around this Vatican is accepted as the orthodox belief in most countries.

…This is also a result of that period of chaos.

On the square flags they were holding, the Pope’s triple crown was depicted. A crown that would not be embarrassing to wear in front of any king, adorned with gold around a white, pointed hat.

Behind the triple crown, two large keys were drawn crossing each other.

The Grand Knight Order directly under the Pope.

It was a group of people wearing consecrated full plate armor.

The bus we were on stopped long before reaching the church.

As Ria and I got off the bus, the knight order turned towards us.

And with every step I took, the knights paid their respects. Those holding flags raised them high with disciplined movements, and those with swords drew their swords in a sword salute.

“…”

I didn’t respond at all. What could I say? I had never learned how to act in such a situation.

I, the nuns who followed me, and the priests walked briskly into the church. The path I was to walk was cleanly cleared.

There were knights inside the church as well.

And what was waiting for us-

“…Sister Maria.”

“Sister Anna.”

The nun, who was said to be directly under the Vatican, looked back at me. Next to her stood a white-haired Caucasian man. He looked old enough to be considered elderly.

I don’t know who he is. I felt relieved by that fact. At least the Pope himself hadn’t come here.

“What is going on?”

When I asked, Sister Maria smiled wryly.

“As you can see.”

“…I already told you that I don’t believe in God.”

“Yes, you did. I returned after hearing that answer. Of course, I reported it to the Vatican.”

“What did the Vatican decide?”

“To put it simply, the Pope listened to your words seriously. In fact, he seemed to know to some extent. He mentioned that he had received a report from the Cardinal.”

“…”

I closed my eyes.

My head is throbbing.

So, this is it.

It means they want to summon me directly to confirm. What else could they be thinking?

She receives the blessings of the being above, yet denies the meaning of God. Perhaps all the teachings the church has served until now are wrong.

…The church chose to listen to my words rather than deny them. My goodness.

The old man, who had been listening with a benevolent expression, looked at Sister Maria.

Sister Maria smiled gently at me and said.

“Then, Saint Candidate Anna, may I proceed with a certain procedure?”

“…What procedure…?”

“Since you said you don’t want to become a Saint, we intend to proceed with the beatification process. As a blessed one before a saint, your scope of action will broaden.”

And won’t there be more conditions?

“…Can I quit halfway through?”

Sister Maria laughed at my timid question.

There was no answer.

“…What about refusal?”

“The beatification process is ultimately conducted by the Vatican. Originally, the Pope should have come here. Now… there are various problems.”

The Pope has great difficulty moving.

I remember that setting from the novel.

Although he never appeared in person.

“So, it would be best if you directly tell the Pope your refusal. Otherwise, people won’t believe you.”

“…”

Ah, I see.

“You will be using a private jet, and we will be careful not to drag it out for too long. Sister Anna, could you please grant the Pope an audience? …Actually, we don’t have much time left.”

I’m not so foolish that I can’t understand those words.

“I heard that Sister Anna has been healing hunters who have suffered great injuries.”

“…”

“Then, with the same heart, could you grant the prayer of someone who was greatly wounded in return for helping people long ago?”

…

No, if you put it that way, I can’t possibly refuse.

I sighed deeply and wiped my face.