Blindfolded and Playing

Though he didn’t speak, Saint was flustered.

His eyes, shaking violently, were the proof.

“What’s wrong? Did you think the sword would shine?”

The Pope sneered, looking at Saint.

Saint looked back and forth between the sword and his own hands, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Impersonating a Saint.”

Was this the same Pope who always wore that amiable smile?

Saint was yanked from the sea of thought like a fish caught on a hook by the Pope’s arrogant and mocking tone.

“You seem flustered.”

The Pope was clearly looking down on him, and though Saint quickly composed his expression, it was too late.

Saint instinctively gripped the knife tightly.

“Is there no way for me to protect myself?”

The Pope spoke leisurely at Saint’s tightly clenched right hand.

“If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to try. I believe you were quite proud of your fighting skills, so feel free to test them.”

“You think I won’t?”

Saint only growled. He sensed a certainty in the Pope’s eyes.

He considered throwing the knife in his hand at the Pope. But before he could act, he felt a thick Killing intent grab the back of his neck from somewhere.

‘Someone’s there.’

An opponent whose victory wasn’t easily guaranteed even with the body he had when he was the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.

Saint thought of the Holy Knight Commander, who boasted a sturdy build.

“That expression suits you better. What should I say… it’s more human?”

The Pope poured wine into his glass himself. The crimson liquid trickled into the glass.

The old leader contentedly admired the rippling waves of the small sea.

“Wouldn’t it be like announcing that the Order is so incompetent that it can’t even distinguish an imposter?”

Saint said, his true face returning.

It was an attack armed with its own logic, but to the old Pope, it seemed duller than a wooden sword used by children playing soldiers.

“Well, how about this? ‘After visiting Madini Village, Saint became strange,’ or something like that?”

“What?”

“Until then, he was Saint, but there was some kind of incident in Madini Village, and that’s when an evil demon mimicked Saint’s body, we can explain it that way.”

“Who would believe that Saint was defeated by an evil demon?”

“The ends of some Saints were like that as well. They sacrificed themselves to defeat demons or heretics. Why would Saint be any different? Moreover, if it’s a Saint who isn’t properly described in the Bible, it’s even easier to make up stories.”

“You think people will believe that so easily?”

Saint squeezed out the words, and the Pope laughed.

He chuckled and lifted the glass. Even as he swallowed the wine, his eyes were on Saint.

“There’s no need to convince people. You just need the power to make them believe.”

Thump. He carelessly placed the glass on the table and pointed.

He wriggled his fingers and impiously pointed at Saint.

“Saint’s whereabouts are unknown. He may be imprisoned somewhere, or he may have already ascended to heaven.”

“The important thing is that we have captured the demon who harmed Saint.”

The Pope slowly rose from his seat. With each step he took, Saint’s chest vibrated.

The old man stood behind the young Saint. He raised both hands and patted Saint’s shoulders.

As if telling him to cheer up.

“Even if people don’t believe it… if I’m Saint, you’re committing a great sin.”

Saint brought out his last card as if struggling, and the Pope gripped Saint’s shoulder tightly.

He slowly bent down and pressed his face close to Saint’s ear.

“If you were the real Saint… you wouldn’t have been surprised when the sword didn’t shine, would you?”

And he whispered in a very small voice.

“What?”

As if stabbed in a vital point, Saint froze.

“Actually, that sword is a fake. It only imitates the appearance of a sacred object. Even if the real Saint came, he wouldn’t be able to make that sword shine.”

“The important thing is your reaction when the sword didn’t shine. A true Saint would have doubted the sword. Because he would have been certain that he was Saint.”

“Reattaching a severed head? Well, people’s memories are quite distorted, so they tend to be exaggerated. Besides, didn’t you impersonate miracles using luminous moss before being arrested by the Inquisitor? I think you used a similar trick. Like using a substitute for the execution, or maybe you’re a substitute for the person who was executed.”

Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter. The Pope added.

“In the first place, how could someone who doesn’t know the contents of the Bible or the doctrines be Saint? Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

Saint’s shoulders grew heavier and heavier.

The Pope’s face, which had been close to his ear, moved away. The Pope patted Saint’s shoulder a few times as if to finish.

The Pope headed straight out of the dining hall.

“Are you not afraid of God?”

Saint, who had been blankly listening to his receding footsteps, said with a face full of resentment.

At those words, the Pope turned around with an absurd expression.

“There is no God, ‘Saint’.”

“If you want to save your life, please act as you have been until now. As a Saint who is benevolent and kind to everyone.”

“You think I’m afraid of dying?”

“Then how about this? If Saint keeps acting in ways that deviate from my expectations, I’ll start by beheading Saint’s attendants.”

“………..”

At the Pope’s words, Saint closed his mouth.

Thinking that he had stabbed him in his most painful spot, the Pope smiled brightly.

“So please behave yourself.”

The Pope turned again and headed out of the dining hall.

“This is a warning as Pope.”

Offering a polite greeting, the Pope left the dining hall.

Saint remained at the table for a while, staring only at his knees.

“Fuck….”

A low murmur mixed with resentment represented his feelings.

1 month.

Saint faithfully carried out his schedule.

He carried out dinners with nobles and relief activities without any complaints.

He always treated people with a benevolent face, and helped people with his endless kindness.

Everyone praised Saint as a gift from God.

However, the more he did so, the more Saint’s face hardened behind the mask, and Maria’s worries deepened as she watched from the side.

Because it was Saint’s changed appearance after she was caught listening to his self-pleasuring, Maria thought she was responsible.

She repented her sins every night and prayed that Saint’s mood would return to normal as soon as possible.

What came to create a wave in that fixed daily life was,

a messenger brought news of Antonio’s family.