episode_0018

After taking a rest in the village, Aileen’s first destination was the church where Allen had received treatment.

But Aileen, who stopped in front of the door, couldn’t bring herself to open the church door.

“Aileen.”

“…Yes.”

“Let’s go in.”

Rebecca opened the church door instead of the hesitant Aileen.

Although it was a small church in the village, the priest praying inside, along with the neat interior that seemed carefully maintained, was visible.

“You seem to be in prayer, so I’ll wait.”

“…Yes.”

Unable to disturb the prayer for the apology seeker, Allen simply watched the back of the priest quietly praying to God.

“You’ve come again.”

Finally, the priest finished his prayer and spoke.

His tone remained calm and devout.

“I have come to offer my apologies.”

“Is that so.”

Seemingly unimpressed, the priest nodded and stood in front of Aileen.

“I’m sorry.”

Aileen took the initiative to act first.

She deeply bowed her head and offered an apology for her past mistakes.

The priest, who silently watched Aileen, raised his hand and gestured towards a corner of the church.

“The confession room?”

“Before Brother Allen departs, it is the place where he last offered a prayer of repentance.”

Saying so, the priest took a step towards the confession room.

After taking a few steps, the priest stopped and turned back to look at Aileen.

“While I hold no grudge against the ‘mistake’ you made, if you truly wish to correct your wrongs, confessing your sins to God and seeking forgiveness would be the best way.”

“…Understood.”

Aileen, who rarely shared her inner thoughts with others, hesitated for a moment but then, with gratitude and remorse, opened the door to the confession room to correct her mistake.

“Jenny. Rebecca. I’m sorry, but… Can you wait outside the church?”

“I’ll do that.”

“Got it.”

Eventually, Irene entered the confessional and closed the door.

[May the merciful Lord forgive your brother’s sins, so may your brother comfortably confess his own sins.]

The priest’s voice from beyond the wall echoed into the small confessional where Irene sat.

“I… In my anger over Allen leaving… I lost control and grabbed the priest by the collar. Even if I am not forgiven, I want to confess my sin…”

“The priest has already forgiven your brother, so the Lord will forgive your brother too.”

“… Thank you.”

Finally forgiven, Irene felt the small thorn that tormented her heart slowly disappear.

Though the large thorn named Allen still pierced her heart, she felt a slight ease in her mind.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“In this confessional, only the Lord and your brother exist. I am just representing the voice of the Lord. Sins confessed in the confessional cannot exist elsewhere.”

“…”

“If it’s difficult to confess, I will leave the confessional as it is, so please speak freely.”

“Thank you…”

Creak-

Hearing the sound of the confessional door opening where the priest was, Irene thought the priest had left the confessional.

“…”

Alone in the confessional, Irene could not easily open her mouth.

Even if there was no one listening, it was difficult for Aileen, who always kept her feelings hidden, to speak her mind.

Aileen, who had been contemplating for a long time, recalled the words her priest had said to her.

[In this confessional room, only the Lord and Brother are present.]

The statement that only the Lord and Aileen exist.

Reflecting on this fact, Aileen slowly spoke up.

“Why… did you choose me as a hero?”

After hesitating for a while, Aileen finally spoke.

“There are people with nobler spirits than me. People living for loftier purposes than me. Stronger individuals than me. People with steel-like mental strength. There are many people who are much more suited to be heroes than me.”

Continuing without pause, Aileen took a breath and continued speaking.

“But why did you specifically choose me as a hero?”

Aileen, who brought up the question buried in her heart, felt her emotions intensifying.

“Lord, I resent you. If you hadn’t chosen me as a hero, I would have just continued with an ordinary life. I wouldn’t have engaged in battles with monsters every day, carried everyone’s expectations on my shoulders, or been tormented by cruel fantasies testing the limits of my mind.”

Emotions sealed at the bottom of her heart for the life of a hero began to consume Aileen.

“But why!!! Why did you choose me as a hero over others!!!”

Filled with anger, a tear streamed down Aileen’s eye as she breathed heavily.

“If it wasn’t you… I wouldn’t have met Allen… I wouldn’t have suffered like this…”

Pouring out all her emotions, Aileen collapsed.

“Why… why me…”

With those words, Aileen could no longer continue speaking.

Once emotions started pouring out, Aileen couldn’t stop herself and simply wept endlessly.

“Are you coming out?”

“… Yes.”

After releasing her emotions, Aileen came out of the confessional room, where the priest who had been waiting outside spoke to her.

“Don’t worry, the confessional room has excellent soundproofing.”

“… Thank you.”

Feeling relieved, Aileen bowed to the priest in gratitude before moving on to meet her colleague waiting outside.

“… May the Lord bless you on your journey.”

Watching Aileen leave, the priest blessed her path.

“So! Didn’t I say there was something to see at the church!”

“… You can’t come in right now.”

“Annoying! Are you trying to block the way of me, the imperial prince?”

‘Unbelievable.’

While Jenny and Rebecca waited for Aileen outside the church, a sudden commotion arose as the prince insisted on entering the church.

Though he had shown some respect in front of the hero, the prince, not recognizing Aileen as a hero but just a party member, arrogantly asserted his status and tried to enter the church.

“I’m sorry, but please wait a little longer.”

“Hah. Just because you walk with a hero, do you think you’re a hero yourself? There’s no business for a commoner here, so step aside!”

“I can’t do that.”

Swallowing the anger provoked by the insulting words, Jenny and Rebecca stood firm against the prince.

‘Damn it. How dare this commoner interfere with a prince like me…’

Aware of his own weakness, the prince, without even considering the use of force, continued to shout loudly.

Clang-

“What’s going on?”

“Irene!”

Finally, when Irene appeared, Rebecca and Jenny both breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

It was because the prince had at least pretended to be polite in front of Irene.

“Oh, I was going to stop by the church to pray… I didn’t know you were at the church, Sir Knight.”

As if he knew nothing about following Irene from behind, the prince shamelessly spoke.

“… Is that so.”

Although Irene came out of the church feeling relieved, she felt annoyed again when she saw the prince’s face.

“Well then, please go in to pray.”

Saying that, the prince reached out his hand to grab Irene as she passed by.

Tap-

“… Don’t touch me.”

Irene, unable to tolerate the prince touching her, coldly pushed his hand away.

Not knowing how to react to having his hand pushed away, the prince was left standing there as the knight party left him behind.

“… Arrogant woman.”

Alone, the prince muttered coldly.

It was the first time in his life that he faced such a cold attitude.

“Ha… Fine. I have to do this much. A knight in appearance, is this it?”

Gnashing his teeth, the prince smirked at Irene’s arrogant attitude.

A vile emotion rose in his heart, wanting to subdue that arrogant knight.