Chapter 129: The Nun Is Suspicious – 2

Chapter 129: The Nun Is Suspicious – 2

“What is all this commotion?”

“Oh, well, Mother Superior… There’s a new sister here, so we were just greeting her…”

“Enough with the excuses. I understand your interest in a new sister, but you must maintain conduct befitting your dignity and grace.”

“……Yes.”

“And you there, new sister, please follow me for a moment.”

Fortunately, the Mother Superior appeared just in time, allowing me to escape from the nuns without much fuss.

…To be precise, I wasn’t escaping; I was being dragged away by the Mother Superior.

I hadn’t done anything wrong, but judging by the sharp tone in her voice, it seemed she simply didn’t like the fact that I was the Saintess’s direct nun.

…She really seems to dislike the Saintess quite a bit.

The place we arrived at, following the Mother Superior, was her office.

The exterior was plain, but when the Mother Superior opened the door and entered, an interior completely unlike the modest exterior unfolded.

Lavish lighting, various gold-leafed books, and even candlesticks and tableware made of gold and silver.

There were items that would be believable even if it were the reception room of a poor kingdom.

On one wall of the opulent room was a luxurious desk and lamp, and there was even a chair that, at first glance, wouldn’t look out of place if a cardinal were sitting in it instead of a Mother Superior.

The Mother Superior, sitting in that chair, opened a desk drawer for a moment and pulled out a small pouch.

…What was inside was easily discernible just by the clinking sound.

And, thud. The pouch was thrown onto the desk.

“Let me be blunt. I don’t know what the Saintess proposed or why you came, but take that and leave.”

“I’m perplexed. Is the Mother Superior of the Holy Kingdom trying to buy off a devout believer with money? Isn’t that very different from God’s teachings?”

“……How dare you try to teach me ‘His’ teachings, you brat. That pouch is my last act of goodwill, so take it and leave while you have the chance.”

Her tone changed instantly, a tone that even conveyed a hint of anger.

It seemed this Mother Superior was quite devout, unlike most of the high-ranking officials in the order.

The way to most infuriate a devout believer is not by denying God they serve, nor by pointing out contradictions in their doctrine.

It’s simply… by mocking them, saying they are not properly following that doctrine and God’s will.

And, unfortunately, I had no intention of simply taking that pouch and backing down, and even less intention of ignoring the Mother Superior’s words, who was issuing an expulsion order without knowing anything.

“Then, is it God’s will to use money to drive a believer, one personally summoned by the Saintess no less, out of the order?”

“……What a truly audacious provocation. You won’t gain anything by intentionally provoking me, will you?”

“I’m just dissatisfied that you’re issuing an expulsion order like this without any context. I don’t usually move without explanation and understanding, you see.”

“Ha. Is that so? So it wasn’t some petty attempt to get something more out of me, then? Of course… that attitude is a bit wrong, though.”

Immediately after, I felt an immense pressure and a sensation as if my body was being crushed.

Strangely, the actual crushing force wasn’t severe compared to the pressure, but I could definitely feel some immense power trying to press down on me.

…And I also knew that its true nature was divine power.

When I showed no reaction to her magic, a slight change began to appear on the Mother Superior’s face.

……It was clear wariness, an emotion that was most to be avoided given my and the Saintess’s current plan.

*’That’s divine magic strong enough to make an ordinary person collapse. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but if you’re going to act like an ordinary nun, I recommend falling to the floor.’*

‘…I’m really not good at acting in pain…’

*’Is that so? Then I’ll give you a little help.’*

Before I even finished speaking, the Holy Sword cut me off with a strangely uplifted tone.

…And the next moment, my body was slammed directly onto the floor.

A force of a different dimension from before was pressing down on me.

I felt like this is exactly what it would have been like if I had been hit by the Mother Superior’s magic without my divine power-resistant constitution.

I don’t know what the Holy Sword did or how, but it seemed to have momentarily removed my resistance to divine power.

Of course, I could resist if I wanted to… but I couldn’t. I had to act like an ordinary nun for now.

*Oh, by the way, it used the same divine magic that Mother Superior used on you, taking advantage of the fact that its own divine power still affects you.*

‘*…! Hey, you! If you say that…!*’

‘……You’re going to have your blade dulled later.’

…Ria exposed that the Holy Sword didn’t use some mysterious technique, but rather used divine magic on me with full emotion, and the Holy Sword was begging for mercy, but…

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to listen to that.

Because the Mother Superior, thinking her magic had worked, opened her mouth again.

“You’re a child with potential, seeing as you endured that for a moment. However, the gaze you’re receiving right now is exactly what you deserve.”

“Is subjugating with force… also God’s teaching?”

“No, this is a teaching for surviving in this order. That if you speak carelessly, you will be suppressed like this.”

“So… what’s your reason for doing this?”

“……Even in that state, your eyes show no sign of fear or terror. Interesting. And as for the explanation you so desperately desire……”

Saying that, the Mother Superior walked past me, still crushed by the divine magic and lying on the floor, towards a bookshelf filled with ornate books.

Pressed against the floor, I couldn’t get a proper view, but I could clearly see one thing.

Behind all those books I thought were splendid, countless shabby, humble, and old books and documents were piled up.

“Here, see for yourself.”

And some of those documents were pulled out by the Mother Superior’s hand and scattered before me.

Their contents were… of a kind I had never expected.

“Th-This is…”

“I dislike the Saintess. The order, the foolish believers, and even she herself believes she was chosen by Him…

But in reality, she’s just a fake who gained honor and fame in the order. It’s disgraceful to see such a fake presumptuously preaching His will.”

“……”

“Hoo. What a peculiar expression. It’s perplexity, but not bewilderment or despair.”

“…So, you didn’t like that the Saintess, who wasn’t properly chosen by God, arbitrarily interpreted and preached God’s doctrine, and that’s why you did this to me?”

“‘Did this to me’… I don’t know how much you know about the Holy Kingdom and the order, but this was quite polite. Didn’t I even offer you money to leave?”

……Considering the actual state of affairs in the Holy Kingdom, well, it was indeed quite polite.

Of course, from the perspective of me and the Saintess, who intend to overturn the Holy Kingdom, the problem was that this Mother Superior so openly disliked the Saintess.

I thought a pure believer would like and follow the Saintess, but the Mother Superior seemed to dislike the Saintess because she was a fake.

“The reason you’re showing me this is…?”

“Let’s just say I became interested. Sitting in a position like this, you have to pretend not to see what you see, and you can’t speak.

These unnecessarily dazzling and extravagant things, too, are things you have to accept and remain silent about, even if you don’t want them. That’s the reality.”

“……You’re telling me to expose the Saintess. Are you afraid of being fired from the order if you speak up yourself?”

“You’re a very quick-witted child. I don’t particularly like your way of speaking, but I suppose I can overlook that much.”

The Mother Superior was a character who didn’t appear in the original novel. Therefore, she was someone I didn’t know.

But… after talking to her so far, I could very easily tell what kind of person she was.

She is someone who genuinely serves God and possesses devoutness, and she resents the corruption and wrongdoing of the order… but she’s also a human who wants to protect the very position of Mother Superior she currently holds.

She is truly selfish, deceptive, and cowardly.

I’m pretty sure self-sacrifice and courage were among the order’s doctrines.

“I don’t know why you’re so fixated on that position, but… what if I refuse?”

“Then I guarantee your future life will not be pleasant.”

“What if I tell people you’re gathering information that the Saintess is a fake?”

“What do you think a mere nun can do? It seems you have no intention of accepting my offer… If you change your mind, come find me then.

You’ll have a rather hard time for a while, so you can come find me when you no longer wish to endure that hardship.”

Saying that, the Mother Superior withdrew her magic.

……Of course, I was able to get up after the Holy Sword withdrew its magic, regardless of that.

There was a subtle few-second delay, but fortunately, the Mother Superior didn’t seem to notice.

“Go. And what happened here… well, if you want to tell, tell. No one will believe you, though.”

At that, I immediately headed out of the Mother Superior’s office.

The Mother Superior is confident that no one will believe me… but I wonder.

Unfortunately, the Saintess will believe me more than you.