Ch.44The Slightly Strange Saint (3)

The sun had already set.

I heard that nights on the island offered plenty to see.

Having enjoyed the food he ate in the morning, Ruide wanted to find something delicious to eat with Hersy, so they headed to the night market.

The alleyways were filled with food vendors, general merchants, storytellers, and more. The streets illuminated by magical lamps were just as charming as streetlights.

Ruide stared at Hersy and emphasized again.

“You understand, right Hersy? You absolutely cannot show that you’re a noble.”

“It’s not difficult… but could I at least know why we need to pretend to be commoners?”

Ruide answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Because it’s fun.”

“Fun…?”

“You know, like those stories where someone helps a homeless person who turns out to be the Emperor.”

“…!”

…It was purely Ruide’s preference. Perhaps because he had become a child again, he was drawn to such surprise events.

“Yes, that’s quite an elaborate example.”

Of course, it was a concept difficult for Hersy to accept.

“Anyway, today we’re commoners.”

Hersy smiled awkwardly.

‘That’s easier said than done. Even with his body completely covered, Ruide still gives off noble vibes.’

Noble etiquette was a habit ingrained in the body. The tiniest gestures, hand movements, speech patterns, and eye contact. All these small things combined to create dignity.

It was impossible to imitate, impossible to hide.

Besides, nobles secretly venturing out in disguise was quite common. Even Hersy had done it often as a child.

Back then, she thought everyone had been fooled by her perfect acting, but in reality, they had all known and just pretended not to notice.

She suspected Ruide would have a similar experience. And Hersy would make sure of it.

‘I must protect Ruide’s innocence.’

Hersy made up her mind.

But then.

“Um, Ruide.”

“Yes?”

“May I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

Hersy looked behind them with half-closed eyes.

Lidi had been following them from a distance.

Having noticed her for a while, Hersy asked.

“Who exactly is that person?”

“I don’t know.”

He had already figured out who she was.

‘I thought she looked familiar.’

Silver hair, silver eyes. A high-ranking clergy member. And the hastily adopted alias “Lidi.” When putting it all together, there was only one person who fit the description.

The Saintess Lydia.

The reason he hadn’t recognized her immediately was because her image was so different.

How to put it… she seemed more saintly. It was clear she didn’t have that strange personality that posed a threat to his chastity(?).

It was certainly unexpected, but Ruide didn’t pay much attention. She wasn’t a character who played a major role in the story.

“She’ll go home when she gets bored. Don’t worry about it.”

“…Will you be meeting her again?”

“Probably. She’s my nap buddy.”

“Do you like that cathedral that much?”

Hersy rarely showed her displeasure.

“It’s similar to Dellin’s Lake or even better.”

Hearing that, Hersy had no choice but to accept it.

“…Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”

“That’s right, it can’t be helped.”

“Should I get another Phoenix Feather…?”

Still, as Ruide was only 12 years old, Hersy found it extremely bothersome that he was sharing a pillow with a strange woman.

“Could you manage that?”

Ruide responded skeptically.

“Since the Skyscraper was banned because of me, you’d have to ask the chancellor directly, and that old geezer isn’t easy to deal with.”

“Well…”

Hersy showed a curious confidence.

“I think this time might be different.”

“If you say so.”

Ruide turned his attention to the street vendors. Food items were lined up in rows.

‘Nothing particularly appetizing here.’

Snake roast, orc head, goblin arm.

…His appetite vanished. Even with the notion that commoner food was delicious, it wasn’t easy to try these options.

Especially seeing them handle food with bare hands made him hesitant. He wasn’t particularly sensitive about such things, but seeing it firsthand made him reluctant to eat.

“Have you checked that area?”

“No, nothing yet.”

“This is serious. Sir Lancelot will be angry if we’re too late.”

Just then, Ruide’s sensitive ears caught the conversation.

Looking over, he saw a holy knight in silver plate mail moving busily. His face was filled with concern as things weren’t going well.

Ruide looked behind him with narrowed eyes.

Lidi was peeking out from behind a box, staring intently at the knights.

“Sigh.”

“What’s wrong?”

When Hersy looked at him curiously, Ruide scratched his head.

‘I can’t just leave her like that.’

She was too obviously the Saintess. She should have at least changed her clothes, but she came out dressed the same way and would be recognized immediately.

If that happened…

“Who are you to be with the Saintess? We’ll have to take you in too!”

That’s what he expected to hear.

Ruide gestured to Lidi, beckoning her to come. Lidi shook her head and gestured back.

“Fox.”

[Yes.]

“Go get her. Hide her.”

[Yessir.]

Miho, who had been wrapped around Ruide’s neck like a scarf, got down to the ground. After stretching once, she quickly approached Lidi.

After saying something, Lidi blinked and stood up. With a slight feeling of mana being released, a translucent veil appeared.

Lidi glanced around cautiously, then ran over.

“What a coincidence.”

“…A truly remarkable coincidence.”

Lidi looked around curiously.

“It’s been a while. The spirit’s energy. Anyway, nice to see you. Since this is fate, want to kiss?”

‘She must be single.’

Ruide was certain. In fact, her forwardness made her seem even more inexperienced.

“Marriage is fine too.”

“P-please don’t say such things!”

Hersy flared up.

Lidi glanced at Hersy, then said seriously.

“I can forgive up to a third wife.”

Ruide smiled brightly.

“I think the lost child should go back. People must be worried.”

“I wish you would listen to the lost child’s circumstances.”

Lidi quickly replied. Despite her expressionless face and monotone voice, her gaze was fixed on the holy knights, and the corners of her eyes were trembling slightly.

But Ruide was quite cold-hearted in his own way.

“Fox. Remove it.”

[Yes.]

Pop.

With a cute sound effect, Miho’s spirit power was released. At that moment, the holy knights looked in their direction.

“There she is-!”

“L-Lady Lydia!”

They rushed over quickly.

Lidi, ignoring them, looked at Ruide and said:

“You’re a bad child for deceiving clergy.”

“Better than a corrupt priest asking a 12-year-old to bear a child.”

Hersy nodded in agreement, as if it was a fair point.

**

“Saintess. It’s troublesome when you go out without saying anything.”

The First Holy Knight Commander Lancelot knelt on one knee to show respect.

In a space where only faint light entered, Lydia moved.

“I met an interesting person.”

She sat on a pure white chair.

Lancelot remained still in a place where darkness and light coexisted.

This place, known as the heart of the cathedral—

A sanctuary solely for the Saintess.

The lack of light was because she didn’t want it.

“His eyes held stars. His hair shone even in darkness.”

“…I’m glad you found a good connection.”

“How many years has it been?”

“According to the Great Cathedral’s records, probably 300 years.”

Lancelot clenched his fist.

“…With whom have you formed a bond?”

“I see.”

Saintess Lydia had existed for a long time.

For countless years, too many to count.

Many things had happened.

She had cried, she had laughed.

As many people as the years that had passed had formed connections with her, and they had all fallen.

Any strong person, dragon, or elf.

In the end, they all died. Except for Lydia herself.

Thus, Saintess Lydia’s emotions had dulled.

Emotions are, after all, responses to stimuli.

It was natural that Lydia’s emotions had dried up, having lived too long to feel any stimulation.

However, one emotion remained.

The desire to die. This will was as intense as any human’s, if not more so.

But it’s not easy for a Saintess to die. Even if her limbs are torn apart, even if this world were to perish, the Saintess would remain intact.

Because of God’s protection.

One day, Lydia earnestly prayed to God to remove this protection. She said it was too cruel to live beyond one’s allotted lifespan.

God issued a new oracle.

[Raise a pure soul to receive the new burden. With that, your eternal shackles will be broken, and you shall come to paradise.]

Having listened to God’s words all her life, Lydia immediately understood what this meant.

Raise a pure soul.

Essentially, the pure soul Justitia spoke of referred only to the Saintess herself.

Which meant—if she passed on the sacred mark to a child she bore, she would be allowed to die.

In other words, the pure soul meant her child.

Paradise meant death.

“How could that child see me? I didn’t allow it. Did he have a holy relic? But I didn’t sense anything.”

“Is that truly the case? Did he break through the cathedral’s great barrier?”

“No. He just approached quietly. Without harming anything. It was permitted. I was sleeping at the time.”

It was a strange occurrence.

No one can access the cathedral’s rooftop. She wanted to be alone while there.

Only two types of people could neutralize the barrier: Lydia herself granting permission, or someone carrying a holy relic.

Yet that boy approached without any hesitation. He found a good spot, lay down, and even went to sleep.

“Yes, the destined one must surely be that child.”

The golden-haired boy who approached without any hesitation.

In truth, Lydia was already captivated the moment she saw him.

She felt an emotion she had never experienced from countless people before.

It was probably a new stimulus.

“I think he could do it.”

Let’s kiss.

That’s why she uttered words she had never spoken before.

“It took too long.”

It had been too long.

Still, Lydia was the Saintess.

She was someone who needed to have responsibility over her desires.

She couldn’t just grab anyone and have a child. It was questionable whether God would allow such impure intentions.

But this time, Lydia could be certain.

“I think I’ve finally found him, Lancelot.”

The Saintess smiled faintly.

Though Lancelot had served the Saintess for the past 10 years, this was the first time he had seen her smile.

“The child who can save me.”