Chapter 41: If you do not understand the words of God

“I… that is…”

Erin held the Bible in her hands and, after a few attempts, spoke the simple facts of the Lord’s teachings.

Ophel closed her eyes every time light emanated, but that was it.

She didn’t seem to be experiencing anything in particular.

After about three tries, and seeing no change, Erin finally became flustered and hugged the Bible to her chest, her eyes wide.

‘What’s going on…? Could it be that I didn’t provide enough of the simple facts…?’

Erin quickly placed her hand over her stomach.

‘No. It’s not that. There’s nothing wrong.’ Erin, the saint who carries the truth of God, could clearly feel it.

If she touched her belly, she could sense the Lord’s warm grace—there was enough of the simple facts left.

‘But then why… why can’t Ophel feel anything?’

“U-um… Saint?”

“Oh… well, it’s just that, um… for some reason, I don’t feel quite well today. I don’t really know the exact reason, but…”

She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence properly.

If she were an ordinary person, Ophel might have noticed Erin’s confusion, but Ophel, who believed everything without questioning it, simply nodded in agreement.

“I see, Saint. That’s okay. I’ll ask again when you’re feeling better. Honestly, I feel like I’ve inconvenienced you by asking you to help me while you’re struggling yourself. I’m sorry.”

“No, no. I’m the one who’s sorry…”

“How could you, the Saint, have done anything wrong? Please, don’t worry. Rest well. Goodbye.”

After leaving a somewhat awkward farewell, Ophel went on her way.

Erin returned to her room with a slightly uneasy step.

***

The next morning.

‘I didn’t sleep well because I was too nervous…’

Luca yawned lightly and headed for the large bath prepared specifically for the knights, ready to take a bath.

As she walked, she came across Ophel, lying on the floor with her red hair splayed out behind her.

“Ophel! Are you okay?!”

With Luca’s help, Ophel slowly rose from the floor.

Ophel inhaled deeply and spoke in a hushed voice.

“Thank you, Luca.”

“Are you hurt? You collapsed all the way to the floor…”

“No, I just… tripped. I’m just clumsy, you see.”

“Really? I’m glad, but it looked like you had been lying there for a while. Your ears are all red. Do you have a fever?”

“It’s fine. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

Ophel thought to herself: ‘I can’t tell Luca the truth. She couldn’t admit that the hard marble floor had hurt so much that she couldn’t get up and had to stay lying there to gather herself.’

“By the way, I was on my way to the large bath too…”

‘I can’t remember exactly where it is. Luca, do you happen to know the way?”

“Oh, I was heading there too.”

“Really?”

Ophel quickly regained her composure, her golden eyes sparkling, and looked at Luca.

“Then, would you mind guiding me there?”

***

Splash-

Two women sank into the luxurious bathtub prepared just for them.

A few flower petals floated on the surface, releasing a fragrance that calmed the heart just by inhaling it.

The bath was a small luxury supported by Eirene, who had provided it as a treat for the Holy Knight.

“Now that I think about it, I should have just bathed with you instead of asking for a guide. It seems I didn’t think that far.”

“It’s alright. That could happen.”

“Then, allow me to be the one to make a small mistake. Immersing my body after training is also part of my discipline.”

Ophel said this, then closed her eyes and entered a state of meditation.

What a diligent person.

Just as the rumors said, she was the type to never rest on her laurels, always striving to improve.

Luca watched Ophel meditate carefully.

Indeed, “the leader of the knights of our era,” Ophel Aichel Transrente. Even as a fellow knight, Luca couldn’t find anything to criticize.

With a body like hers, she could certainly perform excellently even in a monster-infested situation.

Not to mention her large chest, which made Luca think she could be the perfect protector of the Saint, Erin.

Yes. Her chest.

Since her appointment as a Holy Knight, Luca had studied the Bible diligently.

As a result, she learned that the church held a great importance on the chest.

As the Lord had said, “A large, sacred power pouch is pleasing to my eyes.”

Luca hesitantly placed her hands on her own chest.

‘Compared to Ophel, mine is far too lacking.’

Objectively speaking, Luca’s chest wasn’t small. If she had to compare it to fruit, it was like a ripe peach.

The problem, however, was that Ophel had melons hanging from her chest. And the Saint, Erin, was even more endowed, with a holy power pouch larger than Ophel’s.

‘The holy power pouch is something you’re born with, and if it’s lacking, then I must study more of the Lord’s words… but…’

The lack of a large holy power pouch worried Luca the most.

She feared she wouldn’t be able to fully understand the Lord’s teachings.

After all, the Lord had always watched over her, loved her, and was the only one who supported her decisions.

Being appointed as a Holy Knight was almost her destiny.

Naturally, she wanted to give her best in every little thing.

‘That’s right. Don’t be discouraged. Even if my holy power pouch is lacking, I will still follow the Lord’s will. There must be meaning in that.’

Luca gathered her thoughts and refocused as a Holy Knight.

***

The next morning.

Saint Erin addressed the Holy Knight, Luca, over breakfast.

“As I mentioned earlier, many reports suggest that the demon beasts are growing stronger, and the dungeon entrance will likely open again soon.”

“Does this mean the monsters will roam the continent like before, beyond the ability of the guards to handle?”

“I don’t think it will go that far… but even if it does, it’s fine. The Lord will not abandon us and will surely watch over us.”

Historically, whenever the Saint appeared, the demon beasts grew stronger.

Whether it was a mere coincidence or the Lord sent the Saint because of the growing strength of the monsters, no one could say.

However, one thing was certain—during such times, the authority of the church had risen.

With the Emperor now an ally, it was the perfect opportunity to spread the Lord’s simple teachings.

“For now, there’s nothing special to attend to. You should focus on settling in. While Lady Linnea is familiar with the area, Luca, I think it would be good for you to take some time to get used to the city by walking around the area near the church.”

“I understand.”

“Look, something seems to be going on at the church.”

Erin nodded at Linnea’s words.

“Yes. They’re likely in the middle of the work to replace the old with the new.”

“If possible, I’d like to go help.”

“That would be a wonderful thing to do, Lady Linnea. If the Holy Knight starts her duties in earnest, the priests would gain even more strength by seeing you assist.”

“Oh, then I’ll help as well.”

“In that case, I’ll help as well, Lady Linnea.”

At that moment, Erin turned to Ophel and spoke in a slightly more serious tone.

“Ophel, I would like you to stay behind for a moment.”

“I will follow the Saint’s wishes.”

After Linnea and Luca left to help at the church, Erin and Ophel were left alone.

Erin cautiously looked at Ophel and began speaking.

“Ophel, about what happened yesterday…”

“Ah, you mean that… the Lord’s… sticky…”

“The Lord’s simple teachings.”

“Ah, yes, that. I apologize. Is your condition better today, Saint?”

“Yes. So, I’d like to try again.”

As the only one who communicated with the Lord, Erin knew.

The Lord’s words were never wrong—an unchanging, absolute law.

If those words didn’t reach Ophel, Erin naturally assumed that the problem must lie within herself, not the Lord.

Erin had woken up early that morning, praying to the Lord, and completed her ritual purification, trying her best to prepare both body and mind.

With all this preparation, she was certain she could deliver the Lord’s simple teachings to Ophel.

“Then, please. Let me deliver the Lord’s simple teachings…!”

She knelt before Ophel and slowly approached her.

As always, Erin brought the Bible, which contained the Lord’s words, close to Ophel’s forehead.

She closed her eyes and focused on transmitting the Lord’s words.

She hoped that the simple teachings of the Lord would finally reach Ophel.

A brilliant flash of light began to engulf Ophel.

This time, it would surely succeed.

As a Saint, Erin hoped to deliver the Lord’s message…

***

A few minutes passed.

When the light disappeared, Ophel slowly opened her eyes.

The moment Erin saw Ophel’s eyes, she knew.

Once again, the Lord’s simple teachings had not reached her.

Flustered, Erin began to sweat nervously when Ophel broke the silence.

“It seems my training is still insufficient.”

“Yes.”

“It must be that my studies are insufficient to receive the Lord’s simple teachings, right? It can’t be the Saint’s problem; it’s clearly my problem.”

“No.”

No matter how much one has studied, or whether they affirm or deny the Lord— the simple truth of the Lord exists on its own.

Not recognizing it doesn’t mean it’s nonexistent.

However—

“Please give me just one week. I will study the Lord’s words more with my fellow Holy Knights and I will definitely receive the simple teachings of the Saint and bring them to you.”

Erin couldn’t speak recklessly.

Ophel’s eyes, as she spoke those words, were shining with such clarity.

After parting ways with Ophel, Erin returned to the Saint’s room and sat down, recalling the events of earlier.

…Thinking it over again, there didn’t seem to be any problem in the process of delivering the simple teachings.

Ophel had definitely received the simple teachings.

She had received them four times, in fact.

Yet nothing happened, and Ophel couldn’t attain any understanding.

‘Why is that? The Lord’s simple teachings should naturally lead to the realization of the truth about the Lord. Anyone, without exception, should feel the Lord’s grace. His words are never wrong. So why… why didn’t Ophel realize anything?’

Thump, thump.

Feeling anxious about the unexpected situation, Erin initially considered praying, but then—

‘No. I’ve decided not to rely solely on the Lord. After all, I wanted to become a Saint who isn’t just dependent on Him… But when a difficult situation arises, am I just going to immediately turn to the Lord? Erin…’

Chiding herself, she held the Bible, which contained the Lord’s teachings, tightly against her chest.

Holding it this way felt as though the Lord’s words were gently caressing her heart, bringing her peace.

The Lord… my Master, my everything… the one and only being I wish to serve, dedicating both my body and soul…

As Erin hugged the Bible, which contained the Lord’s teachings, tightly to her chest, her enormous holy power pouch seemed to pulse against the scriptures.

Suddenly.

So suddenly, Erin’s mind was struck by the possibility of something she had overlooked, triggered by the very scripture she had read countless times.

She immediately opened the Bible.

The passage from Genesis, which she had read thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of times, appeared before her eyes.

From the very first verse of Chapter 1, Erin’s voice became the divine voice of the Lord.

“Simple truth number one: The Lord’s name is Igogodon.”

With that, she slowly moved her pink lips to recite Genesis.

Simple truth number two: The evidence that Igogodon is the one true God is all laid out in the ‘donation records.’

Simple truth number three: Anyone claiming to be a god, who isn’t named Igogodon, is a scammer worthy of being torn apart.”

These three simple truths were gathered into a “single serving of simple truth,” and Erin spoke:

“If one still does not understand the Lord’s words after receiving this simple serving, then—”

“From then on, it’s simply an issue of intelligence.”

“That’s a rather shameful thing to say, but… my learning pace is much slower than others.”

“It must be that my studies are insufficient to receive the Lord’s simple teachings, right? It can’t be the Saint’s problem; it’s clearly my problem.”

‘Could it be…?’

When Erin finished reading Genesis 1:5, her heart sank with a heavy thud.