The Saint and Maria – 1

Solari Curia, Inquisitor Headquarters.

Late at night, Maria walked along a corridor where faint moonlight leaked in, heading somewhere.

Her destination was Lumen’s office, the one who led the Inquisitors.

-Knock knock

“It’s Maria.”

“Come in, Sister Maria.”

Maria’s white hand knocked on the door, and after a moment, a voice was heard from inside.

Opening the door and entering, she saw Lumen, fatigue deeply etched under her eyes, looking at her.

She was reading a report by the moonlight coming through the window and the lamp on her desk.

“It’s from tomorrow, isn’t it?”

Lumen asked Maria, who entered the room and remained silent.

“Yes, it is from tomorrow.”

“Here, this is the official schedule.”

Lumen handed her a piece of paper pinned to a wooden board.

Maria briefly scanned the contents of the paper.

“The schedule…”

“It’s nothing much. Just keep to the worship and meal times.”

Lumen gathered the documents and tapped them on the desk.

“Yes. I will attend to Saint without any problems.”

Maria looked at Lumen with a determined expression.

Lumen stared at Maria’s endlessly serious face for a moment, then chuckled.

“I have never doubted Sister Maria’s faith. Rather, I’m concerned about how serious you are about everything.”

A rare moment of comfort settled on Lumen’s tired face.

“I have a slightly different opinion from the Pope.”

Pressing her eyes with her fingers, Lumen leaned back in her chair.

“About what…”

Maria trailed off, as Lumen was always difficult to approach.

“Did you hear the news that Saint went to Solari Curia today and told the training instructor to swing a sword at him?”

“Ah, no. I’m hearing it for the first time. But, the instructor didn’t actually swing the sword, did he?”

“No, he did swing it. I heard it was a clean, downward-cutting stance.”

“How could he do such a crazy thing…!”

Even if it was Saint’s word, to point a sword at Saint. Maria found it hard to understand.

“So, what happened?”

“He’s unharmed. No, he doesn’t even have a scratch.”

Indeed, if he had been injured, the Order headquarters would have been turned upside down.

Feeling embarrassed for making such a fuss, Maria lowered her gaze to the floor.

“There’s something more important here than the fact that Brother Andrea swung the sword.”

Lumen said, staring intently at Maria.

From that subtle gaze, Maria knew that she had something to say.

“Saint told Brother Andrea to trust him and swing.”

“His actions are unconventional.”

Maria said, recalling Saint from the execution ground and the Saint of now.

“There have been many saints, but the existence of Saint is the first since the creation of the Solarium Order. There’s no basis for comparison whether it’s unconventional or not.”

Tap, tap, Lumen tapped the desk with the end of her fingernail.

“Anyway, the important thing is this. Saint will surely be of great help to Sister Maria’s stagnant faith.”

“I heard you’ve been having a lot of worries lately.”

Lumen added.

“What should I do…”

As Maria hesitated, Lumen smiled.

“Just do as Saint tells you to do.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Yes, then go in now. You’ll need to get plenty of sleep to attend to Saint.”

“I understand. Then, I’ll be going…”

Maria turned around and grabbed the doorknob.

“Ah, Sister Maria?”

Lumen’s voice caught Maria’s shoulder.

“Yes?”

“If Saint happens to visit Solari Curia… please send someone ahead to let us know. We can’t welcome Saint without any preparation.”

“Yes, I understand.”

As Maria closed the door and left, Lumen stared at the door Maria had left through for a while.

She put her glasses back on, which she had placed on the desk, and turned her gaze to the documents she had not yet processed.

“Hoo…”

A long sigh escaped Lumen’s lips.

“What is Saint thinking?”

Why did he choose Maria out of so many people…?

Lumen found it difficult to fathom Inho’s thoughts.

The next morning.

Maria was endlessly waiting in front of Inho’s room.

-Ding ding ding

Each time the bell rang in the distance, Maria’s hand went up to the door of the room where Saint was, and then went down again.

“Worship is soon.”

The morning worship presided over by the Bishop was scheduled to begin within an hour.

Even if Inho woke up now, it would be a tight fit to attend.

Unable to bring herself to enter the room where Inho was, Maria paced back and forth in front of the room, expressing her urgent heart.

Putting her ear to the door to check the situation inside, she could hear Saint’s even breathing.

Perhaps, he was still sleeping.

“Ah…”

Saint not being able to attend worship because he was sleeping?

It was obvious who would be held responsible if such a thing happened.

After hesitating in front of the door for about five minutes, Maria made a determined expression and knocked on the door.

“Saint, it’s Maria.”

It was the twelfth knock already.

She knocked on the door for a final confirmation, then took a small breath.

“Saint, I’m sorry, but I’m coming in.”

-Creak

As Maria carefully opened the door and entered, she saw Saint sleeping in bed.

Lying neatly on the bed and breathing, he looked quite pious.

Feeling an awe that was difficult to express, Maria tiptoed to Saint’s side.

“……”

Maria bent down and called Saint in a quiet voice.

“Saint.”

Despite Maria’s call, Saint showed no sign of waking up.

-Gulp

Maria swallowed once and gently placed her hand on Saint’s shoulder.

And she shook his body very gently.

“Saint, it’s time to wake up. Actually… it’s a little late.”

“……”

Saint only frowned, giving no answer.

“Saint, Saint… Kyaa!”

As Maria was about to shake his body a few more times, she was suddenly pulled onto the bed by Saint, who grabbed her arm.

“S, Saint?”

Saint hugged her tightly, as if hugging a giant teddy bear.

Maria froze in that position with a flushed face.

-Thump thump

Her heartbeat gradually intensified.

“S, Saint… you shouldn’t be doing this…”

Maria’s face was not only red, but it was about to burn.

“Umm…”

As Maria’s breath tickled Inho’s face, Saint’s eyes fluttered.

And his eyes slowly opened.

“Hmm?”

His narrowly opened eyes gradually widened.

And, their gazes met.

“……”

“……”

Saint seemed to be working hard to understand this situation.

Maria was choosing her words, wondering how to explain this situation.

“I…”

And, the moment Maria opened her mouth to explain the situation.

“Aaaah!!!! A rapist!!!”

Saint screamed.