Chapter 1. Candidate and Candidate (3)

“Okay, this is it.”

I said as I opened the door.

The place we entered was not the church building itself, but another building sharing the same grounds.

The building used for worship and when believers come to pray seems to have originally been a real Catholic cathedral.

However, it seems that it was a bit difficult to operate a real orphanage with just that one ‘cathedral building,’ so about a decade ago, they bought several buildings connected to the back of the cathedral and built something about the size of a small university.

It was a bit absurd that a religion with no roots, which hadn’t even been around for half a century, would build its buildings with such a classic design.

For now, it’s called a convent, and although it looks classic from the outside, the interior is decorated practically, unless a classic design is specifically needed. Especially the area where the nuns live was literally a ‘dormitory.’

There were rows of rooms for two and four people, a shared kitchen, and a separate dining hall.

There was also a separate prayer room exclusively for nuns. Unless they were helping with worship or going out for volunteer work, their daily lives were all resolved within this area. Except for when they were doing volunteer work, they rarely left the church grounds except for a few hours of outing on weekends.

“It’s a bit cramped compared to where you lived, isn’t it?”

I said that as I placed the suitcase I was pulling in front of the closet. This was the closet Lee Chae-eun would use from now on.

“Uh, well…”

Looking around the room as she entered, Lee Chae-eun had a somewhat complicated expression.

Isn’t she the daughter of a Hero? She must have lived in a very luxurious house. If a Level 1 Hunter earns a lot, how much more would a Hero earn?

It wouldn’t be strange for someone who lived in such a place to be shocked to suddenly have to live in such a small room for two.

“It’s not that different from the dormitory I used at the academy, really.”

Hmm.

Well, maybe not.

The original novel wasn’t a full-fledged academy story. After all, the male protagonist was a Hunter, not attending an academy. Well, even though it wasn’t a full-fledged academy-based novel, the events that took place within the Hunter Association had some similarities to an academy story.

They attended classes, did practical training, trained, and got involved with heroines in the process. This was because it was a process of nurturing new recruits.

Ah, of course, Lee Chae-eun and Saint Anna- that is, the me of this world- were affiliated with the convent in the original work as well, and received separate classes.

The protagonist only visited once or twice a week to attend lectures on divine power.

“……”

Come to think of it, it’s almost time to meet the protagonist.

“Uh, so…”

As I was lost in thought, I heard a voice calling me from beside me.

“You said your name was Anna, right? What’s your surname?”

“I don’t have one.”

I took off my veil, tossed it carelessly onto the bed, and then jumped onto it and lay down. The not-so-luxurious mattress made a slight creaking sound.

“Surname… Ah.”

At my answer, Lee Chae-eun closed her mouth.

That’s right. I don’t have a surname. The reason is simple. I don’t have parents.

You might ask if it makes sense for someone to not have a surname in modern society, even if they are an orphan, but in this world, it does.

All those without parents are children of God, so do not treat them carelessly… I heard the priest say that a few times, but that’s not the real reason.

It’s just that it’s not officially designated. When growing up in the convent, they were called by their baptismal names, and when they leave the convent, they are given consideration to have the surname and name they desire. My name is registered in the church’s administrative system, but the government administrative system has it blank.

It states that there is a person called ‘I’ and a baptismal name called ‘Anna,’ but my ‘name’ field is empty.

And this has another effect.

Not everyone who enters the convent is an orphan. Some are daughters of heinous criminals, and there are even cases where both parents are alive and well, but the convent takes them in for protection due to various political reasons.

In that case, it’s best to hide one’s real name. Within these walls, we are all called by our baptismal names. So, orphans, children of politicians, and children of serial killers are all just ordinary practitioners here.

…In theory.

Theory doesn’t always perfectly match reality.

“You heard the story, right? Within these walls, you must be called by your baptismal name. That’s the rule. Do you have a baptismal name? If not, you can pick a pretty one.”

I replied as I lay on the bed, loosening the belt that had been tightening my chest below my chest. My chest, which had been emphasized by the belt, was now hidden by the slightly loose clothes after I removed the belt.

Lee Chae-eun, who had been staring blankly at that sight, blinked and replied as if she had forgotten.

“Uh… I do have one.”

Of course, I know that too. I just said that because it was more natural to say I didn’t know than to say I did.

“Can’t I choose a different one?”

Huh?

“Is there a reason?”

I didn’t expect such a reaction, so I turned my head towards Lee Chae-eun and asked.

“Uh… No, it’s just… I don’t really like it.”

“If you didn’t have a baptismal name at all, it would be one thing, but if you were baptized and had a baptismal name, it would be registered in the church’s administrative system. And that’s not something I can change.”

If I went through the administrative procedures, it would be possible, but I don’t know those procedures well.

And Lee Chae-eun probably wouldn’t bother to change her baptismal name even if she went through all that trouble. After all, if she leaves the convent, she can just use her own name.

“…Maria.”

“You don’t like that name?”

“Isn’t it a bit… unfashionable?”

Hmph.

Of course, it’s not the name ‘Maria’ used by the Christian saint from before, but it’s still the name of a saint according to the state religion of this country.

For reference, in the original novel, she was simply called by her name or Maria.

Was it a baptismal name she didn’t like originally?

“Then, I’ll call you Ria.”

I said casually.

“Ria?”

“It’s Maria, right? We can just shorten it to Ria. Do you not like Ria either?”

“No, is it okay to shorten a saint’s name like that?”

Is that something someone who just disparaged that saint’s name as unfashionable should say?

“The Saint is very magnanimous, so she won’t get angry if you shorten her name a bit.”

I said as I casually took off my socks from my feet and tossed them under the bed.

“……”

Lee Chae-eun sat on her bed, looking like she didn’t know how to respond to my words.

Her head was still covered by the veil.

“That veil looks uncomfortable, why don’t you take it off?”

“Uh, yeah.”

This time, she took it off immediately without further questions. Was it that uncomfortable? No, she probably judged that it was okay after seeing me take mine off so naturally.

People don’t know what life is like in a convent, anyway.

I don’t actually know what life is like in convents in reality from my past life. This convent is the only one I’ve experienced.

However, if it were the usual way, that is, if it followed the ‘rules,’ you shouldn’t take off the veil while living your life. It’s meant to keep your body and mind pure and not reveal your own colors, so you should keep your hair covered throughout your daily life.

It’s also difficult to be lounging on the bed with socks off during the day. It’s only because I have time today to guide Lee Chae-eun around that I have free time; normally, I spend my days cleaning various parts of the church or making holy water.

“…Um, what was it…”

As I started to doze off while lying on the bed, Lee Chae-eun opened her mouth, seeing me like that.

When I turned my head, I saw her bright red hair.

Her short bob, with one side tucked behind her ear, was surprisingly elegant. Although it didn’t completely erase her fierce image.

“Don’t you have things you need to do? I heard that inside the convent, you’re quite busy with various tasks.”

“Right now? Hmm, isn’t it okay if I slack off a bit and go out later?”

“Is that so?”

“Well, they say that someone ‘up there’ who watches us is so great that they forgive us no matter what sins we commit. So, isn’t it okay to postpone the things we need to do? Since they’ll forgive us anyway.”

At my words, Lee Chae-eun’s expression became complex in many ways.

Although I feel a bit sorry for her, who came prepared for something much more extreme and even prepared to fight if we didn’t get along, I have absolutely no intention of becoming the diligent Saint from the original novel.

In the original novel, the Saint often pointed out when Lee Chae-eun did something a nun shouldn’t do, and then they would bicker, but who knows.

Looking at her expression, it seems like she’s the one who would point me out first.

After seeing me wave away the white light shining on my face, Lee Chae-eun’s expression became even more bewildered.

Hmm, hmm, this is doing my job perfectly, yes.

There’s nothing better than mirror therapy for persuasion.

If I show her something even more extreme, she’ll probably think this is a bit much.

It was a theoretically perfect plan.