Chapter 6. Friendship and Relationships (5)

Not all novels are like that, but in cases like [Weakest Hunter], the events are connected, knowingly or unknowingly… or so the readers speculated.

Unfortunately, since I came to this world without reading the ending, I can only follow the readers’ speculations to some extent.

There are those who believe Gates are God’s power, and beings who have reached a certain level know how to create those Gates.

The reason for connecting worlds is because they believe it is God’s revelation. Since creating Gates is God’s power, they think they can take what lies beyond the Gates for themselves.

Even if I don’t know exactly who that group is, based on what the villain said when the Saint episode began, that’s how it is.

“…….”

Hmm.

“Why, is something bothering you?”

“Well.”

Ria asked me as I was lost in thought while sweeping, so I pondered for a moment.

Should I say this?

But the deliberation didn’t last long.

Frankly, I don’t like the being who sent me to this world.

However, I think I understand that the being truly wants to save people. Every time my power is used to save people, it grows stronger, so I couldn’t help but think that this is the path that being is showing me.

Anyway.

It was already too late to back out, and I thought I should aim for the best possible outcome since I had already committed, so I said,

“I think there will be a thief at the National Research Institute.”

“Ah~ I see. A thief at the National Research Institute.”

The two of us continued to sweep the floor for a few more seconds. Although winter had clearly passed and spring had arrived, fallen leaves were still often rolling on the floor. Perhaps there were leaves that couldn’t fall during the winter?

“No, wait a minute.”

Ria stopped sweeping and said.

“A thief at the National Research Institute?”

“Yes.”

“The research institute, you mean that place? The one that researches Gates?”

If you just say ‘National Research Institute,’ there are an enormous number of them. It’s almost like saying ‘National University.’

However, when hunters say ‘National Research Institute,’ there’s almost only one. The National Interdimensional Research Institute. A place that researches Gates themselves and the worlds beyond the Gates.

National Interdimensional Research Institute, Interdimensional Research Institute, Dimensional Research Institute, or simply Research Institute or National Institute. The reason hunters understand even if you just say ‘Research Institute’ is because this is the place that buys all sorts of materials from individual hunters or the association.

If any entity other than the association manages the Gates, that managing body is naturally the Interdimensional Research Institute.

“A thief at a place like that?”

“Yes.”

Ria slapped her forehead with her hand and then ran it down her face.

“Where on earth did you get that information? You and I have been together almost all the time. …No, wait. I think I know.”

Fortunately, it seemed Ria understood immediately without me having to explain the reasons in detail.

“No, why don’t you tell me such important information in advance?”

“…I intended to. It just wasn’t meaningful before.”

I replied to Ria’s words as if making a slight excuse.

Before that, if I said something, I would just get caught up in the incident. In the original work, by the time they went to find it, the research institute building was already engulfed in flames.

…It was an incident that could be called the ‘first incident’ in the original work.

“What do you mean, meaningless?”

“Actually, I don’t know precisely either. I haven’t seen the future completely.”

This is something I could say with my chest held high and with confidence.

“…….”

Ria became quiet for a moment at my words.

For some reason, her gaze towards me is like looking at something pitiful.

Well, it’s better than envy.

“So, Ria, do you happen to know anyone over there?”

I took a few steps towards Ria and said, looking up slightly.

I didn’t deliberately put on a pitiful expression, but even if I look like this, my eyes are quite bright. While not quite Puss in Boots from the animation I saw long ago, I already know it’s effective on Ria.

Well, even if I’m conscious of it, it’s a bit embarrassing, but it’s less stimulating than Ria, who grabs my hand so readily all the time.

“Ah, okay, okay. I know someone, so move away a bit.”

I took a step back.

“But… even so, they won’t let us in right away. It’s a government agency, right? We belong to the church now. …If you ask me to find a way, there isn’t none, but.”

The method is simple. Write a letter to someone influential who is friendly with both the church and the government and ask for help.

And, for Ria, that person is her father.

However, Ria is in a situation where she has fought with her father and entered here. Since she was almost forced to enter, she probably wouldn’t want to write a letter to her father in this situation.

“You don’t have to worry about that. We just need connections. As long as they are people who will listen to me.”

“Do you have a way?”

“If it’s a way only I can do, then yes.”

To be honest, it’s not a method I particularly like.

Still, if it’s effective.

*

Religion and science are generally antagonistic.

It’s not that there are no religious people among scientists, but even so, most scientists use scientific methodology when asserting something.

Scientists keep trying to prove the truth of the world scientifically, and some religious people didn’t like that very much. This is because existing religious common sense often intruded into that truth.

Evolutionary theory, the Big Bang theory, cosmic microwave background radiation, other galaxies. Molecular biology. The possibility of other life outside Earth. Aren’t these things that seem to deviate from a human-centric perspective?

It’s the same in this world. If a scientist were to suddenly say, ‘Let’s assign a scientific name to God,’ religious people would foam at the mouth.

The reason they couldn’t say anything when I said that before is because I am someone who truly wields that being’s power.

In addition, with the complex political relationships and vested interests between the government and the church intertwined, there are actually very few instances where the church and national research institutes cooperate.

“Welcome, Sister Anna. Is it okay to call you that?”

“Yes, since that’s the only name I have anyway.”

I bowed my head to the female professor who welcomed us and replied. She looked about twenty years older than us, but she didn’t look very old. She had dark circles under her eyes, but her skin was quite fair.

…….

Ah, isn’t it pale rather than fair? She gives the impression of someone who hasn’t seen sunlight for a long time.

“It’s an honor to have you. Now, please come this way first. Although it’s a research institute, it’s fully equipped to receive guests.”

After all, it’s a place where high-ranking officials sometimes visit.

Although high-ranking officials visit often, the things in the reception room weren’t mostly extremely luxurious.

There were snacks that could be sold at convenience stores… and canned goods, cup noodles, dozens of boxes of coffee mix, and for some reason, a refrigerator full of large-capacity canned coffee and energy drinks.

…….

Go, graduate students!

“First of all…”

As soon as we sat down, the professor’s eyes lit up. It seemed she had already been briefed by Ria.

Seeing her eyes sparkle without even remembering to introduce herself, I gave a wry smile and took out a small bundle from my pocket.

As I slowly unwrapped the bundle, which was layered with dark-colored handkerchiefs, a white light gradually began to appear beyond those handkerchiefs.

“Ooh…!?”

As if the light was beyond expectation, the professor was startled and jumped up from her seat.

As we can see from the existence of holy power, Saints, and Saintesses, this world naturally has holy relics.

These are beings exposed to immense holy power, manifesting holy power through their very substance. It could be a sword someone wielded, clothes they wore, or even a part of their body. This is not much different from existing religions.

Or, it could be a stone like that.

“…….”

Watching the professor cradle the stone with both hands as if it were a treasure, I smiled bitterly. When I turned my head, Ria had an utterly bewildered expression.

She had that expression even after seeing me create it myself.

……It’s not the first time she’s seen something like that.

Isn’t that right? I have already given Ria a crystal of holy power twice. Although Ria herself doesn’t seem to feel the change well yet, it was a bit amusing to me that Ria was making such an expression now, considering I suspect it was the catalyst for Lee Si-yoon’s power awakening in the original work.

“So… is it okay to tour the research institute building?”

“Of course! Of course!”

At my words, the professor happily replied, seemingly not yet remembering that she hadn’t introduced herself by name.

Is it that enjoyable to be able to scientifically research holy relics?

Well, that’s probably why she’s a scientist.

I shrugged my shoulders, looking at Ria.

Ria herself was just running her hand down her face.

……Why?

I tilted my head, but Ria didn’t respond.