Chapter 249: To the Capital (1)

The sky was dark, but the church lights remained lit. Ernrich Lumia hummed a tune today, imagining Evan’s valiant figure. Wherever her robes brushed past, the candlelight flickered, and the priests walking the corridors bowed their heads with looks of reverence.

The church reform plan spreading from Ithaca was settling in with slow but steady purpose, and the Hero seemed to have no capacity to stop Lumia’s actions, taking none at all. She was merely spending her idle days signing documents and praying for those who asked for her support.

There was a time when she yearned for a life like this. There was a time she wanted to be the protagonist of a heartwarming story, calmly transforming the church from its very center. But now, she found more pleasure in stroking Evan’s cock than touching the church’s cross.

Whispering moans into Evan’s ear brought a deeper sense of arousal than prayer ever could.

That’s why, these days, the number of days she sighed had drastically increased. She could have joined Evan in the capital if only a little longer, but even that ‘little longer’ felt like an ordeal to her. Ernrich Lumia muttered to herself as she opened the door to the church’s main hall.

“Just a little longer. Just hold on a little longer.”

“Wh-what? Priestess Lumia-nim?”

There was an early visitor in the church’s main hall. An aging, balding old priest was offering prayers while gazing at the church’s murals. Seeing Lumia, he jumped up in a flustered state, bowed his head with a nod, and said,

“What brings you here at this late hour?”

Lumia scanned the old priest’s appearance and said,

“I couldn’t sleep, so I was taking a walk. What brings you to pray at this late hour, Priest-nim? Now that the churches are moving according to the reform plan, it’s only a matter of time before they regain their former glory. It will take time to wash away the ill repute the church has built up until now, but we’re doing well, aren’t we?”

The old priest’s face held an expression completely opposite to the church’s operations, which were running smoothly as if sailing with the wind. To Lumia’s question, he replied with a smile.

“Priestess Lumia-nim. This old priest has a story he wishes to confess. Would you grant me a moment to listen?”

Lumia briefly frowned at the word ‘confess,’ but then remembered that the confession the old priest spoke of wasn’t the kind she was thinking of, and nodded. Her identity as Evan’s woman was stronger than her recognition of herself as a priestess.

“Yes. I will listen.”

Once Lumia settled into a chair, the old priest sighed and looked at the mural.

On the church wall was depicted the ancient War of Gods and Demons. According to legend, a god who protected this world in ancient times fought against a demon god who invaded from the demon realm. The god and the demon god clashed, repelling the demon god, but the god also entered a period of rest with severe injuries.

Even while injured, the god bestowed the blessing of divine power upon humans, and the current church arose as humans prayed for the god’s recovery. Lumia had heard this story during her first theology class. The story, which had been interesting then, was depicted in vivid murals, giving it a different feel.

The demon, painted in red, and the god’s great sword piercing it.

Demons fled through holes in their grotesque forms, while people rejoiced, riding on the god’s shoulders. The old priest said,

“Priestess-nim. Lately, I feel my faith wavering.”

Lumia couldn’t help but be surprised by his words. This was because the old priest was a man who had silently guarded the church until now. Even when the church’s priests were corrupted by decadence, or when they called him foolish for not taking bribes, he had lived as a priest, representing the church’s purity. For such a man to say he doubted his faith was not something to be taken lightly.

Lumia inwardly worried if her secret of worshipping Evan, a demon, had been discovered.

“…Why do you think that?”

So Lumia said with a tense expression. The old priest continued his story, his head bowed low.

“Why did the God grant us a Hero? Why couldn’t the Hero who defeated the Demon King save the world and leave this country in such a state? Why couldn’t Saint Alexander save the church as a saint?”

Lumia couldn’t answer the questions the old priest posed. Because all the questions he raised pierced the very core of religion. If God truly exists, why doesn’t He punish the wicked people in the world? Why does He arrange for evil individuals to live in wealth? What is the reason good people are unjustly killed?

Various theories have emerged to explain this. Both the old priest and Lumia knew how to answer when such questions arose. As she was about to utter a conventional answer, the old priest cut her off and continued speaking.

“While preaching to people with stories I don’t understand myself, I’ve felt much. I wonder if God truly exists. Why doesn’t God reclaim the divine power from priests who worship demons? Why did Alexander possess immense divine power until the day he died? There’s so much I don’t know.”

That was something Lumia was curious about too. Priests who worshipped demons were the most dangerous beings in the world. Because they could use holy magic while dedicating their bodies and minds to demons, they eroded organizations from within. But then why does God permit such individuals to wield divine power? Does God really exist?

Lumia rubbed her temples, feeling her non-existent faith begin to shake. There was no reason for her to dwell on such complex issues. So she decided to brush it off with a suitable remark.

“…How can we possibly know God’s will? We can only pray and pray again. There have been many confusing events lately, but ultimately, we haven’t returned to square one like this. Priest-nim. Faith is not about doubt. If we, who should save people from evil and lead them to the light, start doubting our own existence, who would be the happiest?”

The old priest bowed his head at Lumia’s words.

“Priestess Lumia-nim. I’ve been doubting my faith lately. Once I started questioning what I truly believe in, I couldn’t see an end. I’m even scared. I wonder under whose arrangement this world is actually operating. Isn’t it possible that demons, not God, rule the world? Isn’t it possible that the demons’ subordinates are playing with humans while plotting to devour the world? Ah, Priestess Lumia-nim. I am so afraid.”

Lumia clasped the old priest’s hand tightly. Feeling her warm touch, the old priest burst into tears. He seemed to have finally found a glimmer of light amidst the confusion brought by fear and disbelief. Lumia said,

“We will overcome this. Don’t worry. We must show that we hold firm to the light even amidst trials that make us doubt our faith. Priest-nim. You must endure.”

“…Yes. Priestess Lumia-nim. Thank you for listening to the confession of this ignorant and foolish old man.”

The old man wiped his tears. Then, smoothing his hair, he slowly left the main hall. Lumia sighed as she watched the old man move like a silkworm. These days, concerns like doubting faith or frequent temptations towards pleasure were common things she heard.

People sometimes called Ernrich Lumia the new Saintess, but Lumia grew weary every time she heard about these worries and the admiration directed at her. She was waiting for some incident to occur in the capital as soon as possible.

For example, an incident like a rebellion against the Hero, leading to the purging of nobles or the mass death of many people.

Lumia harbored expectations a priestess shouldn’t hold, and prayed cautiously, mindful of her surroundings. Her haphazardly clasped hands and carelessly knelt knees were so insincere, it seemed as if God would strike her down with divine punishment if He saw them.

“Please.”

Did her prayer reach Him? Drowning out the receding footsteps of the priest, hurried footsteps approached Lumia. Lumia, who had been kneeling casually on the floor, immediately straightened her robes and stood up upon hearing the footsteps. She cleared her throat with a cough, adjusted her posture, and brushed off the knees of her loose priestess robes.

“Priestess Lumia-nim! Urgent news!”

A messenger dressed in white shouted, dripping with sweat. Lumia asked with her usual gentle expression.

“What is it?”

“They say a rebellion has broken out in the capital! Currently, the rebels and the Hero’s army are engaged in battle…!”

Lumia didn’t need to hear the rest. Regardless of the war situation, it was clear that the Hero Wolf would be the ultimate victor, and the forces in the capital must be crumbling. Lumia clenched her fists and muttered from an angle the messenger couldn’t see.

“Finally.”