Chapter 1. Candidate and Candidate (11)

Come to think of it, maybe that’s why I overreacted. I’ve been through something like that before.

I can’t say that the injured person was actually a scout who deliberately got hurt to meet me… If that was really the purpose, his association colleagues wouldn’t have stopped him.

And, thinking about it that way makes me even more resistant.

If I go to that association, isn’t that like saying they’ll approach me openly?

…When I pushed his hand away then, that old man got furious and started scolding me, saying a nun should act like a nun and what was this mess, and then he was handed over to the police.

What? A nun this and that?

I was just as furious. The veil fell off my head when I was running because it was an emergency, and it’s not my fault that I was more developed than other kids even at fifteen?

After being taken to the police and hearing my age, the old man was apparently horrified and sent an apology letter, but of course, I refused it.

The priest confirmed the contents himself and destroyed it. It was only much later that I vaguely asked if he remembered the contents, and the priest flatly said it was unnecessary to read.

Well, that’s that for now.

You know how it is?

The psychology of wanting to do the opposite when a boomer says boomer-like things. No, even when someone says something obviously right, that thought occurs to people, but when you hear nonsense like, ‘Because you don’t dress modestly, I get confused,’ it’s human nature to want to retort.

So, I acted in direct opposition to those words.

And that habit has led me to where I am now.

“Now, I’m just doing it because I want to. It’s comfortable, it’s pretty, and it seems to suit me.”

I said, looking out the window.

What I saw outside the window was a wall.

The windows of the convent dormitory faced south, but due to the high wall built by the person who built this building, as if they absolutely didn’t want to show the nuns the outside world, the outside scenery was not visible.

Even if there wasn’t a wall, it would have been the wall of the church building anyway. The convent was built on an uphill road that continued behind the church.

The branches of the trees that grew over the wall were still bare.

When the leaves of that tree fully sprout green, my life as a nun will also end.

…….

Huh, the story seems to have gone the other way.

“Hmm…”

Ria couldn’t speak for a while after hearing my story.

“Well, there haven’t been any other major incidents. Being held by the hand like that only happened once, and actually, if I think about it again, it’s something that could happen to other nuns too.”

If Ria had done something similar, perhaps one such person would have appeared.

If that really happened, that person’s hand would have been twisted in the opposite direction.

“…You’ve had a hard time.”

After pondering for a long time, Ria replied like that.

I nodded.

Yes, it was a hardship.

In a way, I even fought with the Cardinal.

Will that all end when I secularize?

Hmm.

“Why?”

As I remained silent, Ria asked.

Did it show on my face?

“Just because.”

I answered blankly, looking up at the sky spread above the wall.

The sky was cloudy.

Is it going to snow again?

“It feels a bit… hollow.”

“Hollow?”

“Yes, thinking about leaving.”

I had been determined to leave since I was young.

But now that all the reasons not to leave have disappeared, it’s like that.

Is it because this is where I spent my childhood?

Hmm, perhaps the reason I tried so hard to stay wasn’t actually because of the stalker. Maybe I just wanted to stay here comfortably for longer.

“……”

Ria had no answer.

*

Chae-eun imagined a life where she was confined to a small space, thinking that the world was only that small space.

It wasn’t easy to imagine. Chae-eun had many opportunities to travel to relatively distant places since childhood, and after she started wielding a sword, she had been to various places across the country, and even abroad.

Going on volunteer work is not the same as going on a trip. And it wasn’t that far either. She might be able to enjoy the outside world a little more freely, but it was definitely not a ‘trip’ in the true sense.

Anna’s life was like that.

Without even a secular name, she came to this convent at a very young age and has lived like this ever since.

It’s not strange to resent God- although Anna doesn’t seem to resent God as much as she views Him in a rather unique way.

Anna said leaving this place felt hollow.

Despite everything, this world was Anna’s entire world.

……Secularized nuns or monks often became targets of crime. Those people also know how dangerous the world is and how many criminals there are, but knowing it theoretically and feeling it firsthand, that is, seeing such cases actually happen by hearing stories from people around them, is different.

Anna’s appearance as she looked out the window didn’t quite look like a nun at first glance.

Her dyed hair, earrings, and the way she had her nun’s habit tailored to emphasize her figure made her look like someone steeped in the secular world at first glance.

However, the appearance Chae-eun has seen of Anna while living together has been nothing but incredibly pure.

Even though she knows there are all sorts of dirty things in the world, and that her own thoughts might not be fully accepted-

Using divine power more intensely than anyone else, and while firmly believing in God’s existence, abandoning that position and trying to step outside the shell of the convent-

“……Ah?”

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Chae-eun’s mind.

……Could it be?

“Hmm.”

Anna, who was staring blankly at the wall outside the window for some reason, made a sound like that.

Then, she slowly turned her head towards Ria and said.

“It’s almost dinner time. Let’s go eat. We also have to prepare for those who will attend the evening prayer today.”

“Ah, yes.”

At Anna’s words, Chae-eun reflexively got up from her seat and replied.

*

After dinner, we prepare for the prayer service.

The meaning of the seven-day period has already faded in the world, but not many people thought it necessary to change the period that had been conventionally used since before. Therefore, even if there wasn’t a specific day designated for prayer, most believers would come to church on Saturdays or Sundays when they have more time to worship.

However, there are people who don’t have time on weekends. Or perhaps they only have time in the evening.

For such people, the church has also made evening prayer times available.

“……”

Today, too, Anna dozed off during prayer time as usual.

It made Chae-eun’s worries from earlier seem foolish.

Is it a misunderstanding again?

Thinking that way to herself, she subtly raised her head and looked around.

In fact, there’s something Chae-eun could only know after becoming a nun.

Not all nuns are as deeply devout as people say.

While quite a few nuns were praying earnestly with their hands clasped, some nuns were poking each other with their fingers, playing, or dozing off like Anna. Although everyone had their heads bowed, if you look closely, that’s what’s happening. After all, at this hour, the priest and the Nun Superior are also quietly clasping their hands.

Of course, Anna was the only nun who openly adorned herself like that. However, in terms of attitude, Anna’s attitude wasn’t particularly strange.

……After all, nuns are also girls of that age. Especially those like Anna who are becoming adults this year, since the day they will no longer be nuns is not far off, they are bound to be more relaxed.

Among them, there were a few nuns who gossiped about Anna when Chae-eun asked them various questions.

One of the nuns who was giggling in a hushed voice made eye contact with Chae-eun.

Soon, that nun poked the nun sitting next to her. The two women looked at Chae-eun and smiled slightly, waving their hands.

Their gaze didn’t just linger on Chae-eun. It was also slightly directed at Anna.

Their smiling lips seemed to ask, ‘You think so too, right?’

What do you think?

……Yes, I think I understand.

Those nuns were also the same age as Anna and Chae-eun. They were turning adults this year, the age when they would soon secularize.

Perhaps, they seemed to know everything that would happen to Anna after she left the church.

Chae-eun felt uncomfortable for some reason and turned her gaze away.

*

“Hey.”

As I sat there half-asleep after waking up in the morning, Ria suddenly spoke to me.

Well, she can talk to me, but her voice sounded grumpy. Right from the morning.

No, maybe it’s because it’s morning.

When I turned my head, Ria, who had already finished getting ready and was sitting on the bed, was staring intently at me.

“Why? It’s morning already.”

Yawn, I asked that and yawned widely.

Ugh, I always hate waking up in the morning. Especially in winter like this. Why does morning feel so tiring when the sun isn’t up, even at the same time?

I don’t want to take my legs out from under the covers.

But I know. If I linger too much in the morning because I’m too lazy to move, I’ll lose track of time and be late.

Although I’m basically a delinquent nun, I’m definitely not the type who likes being nagged by others.

As I took my legs out of the covers to go to the shower, Ria suddenly told me a shocking fact.

“You seem to have a stalker.”

“……”

Holding the covers in my hands, I froze stiffly.

“……What?”

Creak.

As I slowly turned my neck to the side, Ria was looking at me with a stiff face.

“A stalker?”

“Yeah.”

“How do you know that?”

The seven people I identified were revealed to be people from the association trying to scout me, not stalkers. And now?

“I saw it yesterday during the prayer service. Someone staring intently at you.”

“……Yesterday?”

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Ria. The languid tiredness that had seeped into my body was long gone.

What is it?

I don’t think Ria would suddenly say something like this to me, and certainly not lie. Because… it’s too serious a matter.

No matter how light-hearted she might be, she was a true friend to the Saint. If it were a light prank, fine, but lying about whether there’s a stalker or not is too heavy and there’s no reason for it.

“So? Are you going to grab my hand again and bring me in front of that person? To ask why they’re following me?”

“I’ve already told the Nun Superior. She’ll probably take care of it. Whether it’s reporting to the police or banning them from entering the church.”

“……You can tell that from seeing them just once yesterday?”

Even though I couldn’t figure it out?

No, maybe they weren’t staring overtly? What if they were doing something else strange, not just staring?

“If we investigate further, we’ll find out the details.”

“……Aren’t you perhaps mistaken?”

“If I’m mistaken, then we’ll investigate and apologize if it’s not true.”

“……Even so, false accusation is a bit much.”

“Probably not. My eyes are accurate. After hearing the story, the priest and the Nun Superior also agreed, and the matter is currently under investigation.”

Did she eat something bad?

Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?

“So…?”

“So, I got an answer that I can stay at this convent until the stalker issue is properly resolved.”

“What?”

“Just a moment ago.”

“……”

I stared at Ria with my mouth agape.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“……”

I blinked.

Should I… be happy about this?

No, more than that, is it right to be happy that there was actually a stalker?

I looked intently at Ria with a confused heart.

At least, she doesn’t look like she’s lying.

“Then… thank you for that.”

I ended up saying that absentmindedly.

My heart felt a little lighter. It also meant that I could postpone the troublesome matters a little longer.

“Yeah.”

Ria replied to my words and got up from her seat.

“Then get ready. We have to go eat breakfast.”

“Ah, yes.”

I got out of the covers with a slightly dazed feeling.

*

An hour ago.

“So, you’re saying that Sister Maria wants to stay here as a nun for a few years.”

“Yes.”

“And the reason is to be the escort for the vacant ‘Saint Candidate’?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Woken up by a knock at dawn and summoned to the counseling room, the Nun Superior, sitting opposite Chae-eun, blinked.

And she let out a light sigh.

“…Is it not possible?”

At the Nun Superior’s sigh, Chae-eun asked softly.

“…The rights as a Saint Candidate were, of course, revoked. However, her name is still on that list… While it requires authority higher than a Cardinal to mobilize the official knight order, the case of an individual is different.”

The Nun Superior spoke, looking calmly at Chae-eun.

“However, for that, the permission of the Saint Candidate is necessary. Unless you receive direct permission and are appointed as a guardian knight, it cannot be considered an official escort.”

“Directly…”

Chae-eun hesitated slightly.

“Then, could you give me a little time until then? The Nun Superior told you to choose between secularizing or remaining a nun for life.”

“Yes. If there is permission, you can actually stay for years regardless of that. While there are conditions to become a nun, if those conditions are met, it’s no different from a job. It’s not the Middle Ages anymore.”

“Then please give me a little time. I… will try to get permission.”

“……”

The Nun Superior looked intently at Chae-eun.

“Why did you make such a choice? You initially accepted the offer hoping to leave this place as quickly as possible. Perhaps, after seeing that power, your thoughts have changed a little?”

“It’s true that I wouldn’t have thought that way if I hadn’t seen the power. But, well.”

Chae-eun took a small breath and exhaled.

“I just want to see… what that child is trying to do.”

Chae-eun was a ‘Hero Candidate.’

Even though she hadn’t done anything heroic so far, everyone called her that when they looked at Chae-eun. Her father, her colleagues, her friends.

And Chae-eun herself naturally thought so too.

On the other hand, the ‘Saint Candidate’ whom Chae-eun met did not think that way.

She thought her power wasn’t something natural. She thought her position wasn’t something natural.

But, even so, that appearance was just like…

“It’s curious, isn’t it? She’s quite peculiar.”

Right.

It was just like a ‘Hero.’

“……Is that so.”

The Nun Superior looked calmly at Chae-eun and then smiled.

And nodded.

“Yes, if you say so, Sister, I will watch over her. …Your father’s feelings must be very complicated.”

Well, Chae-eun thought that was certainly likely.