The Saint and Maria – 4

The smile disappeared from Saint’s face.

The question the boy had thrown out was making the atmosphere in the classroom heavy.

“Ah… Emilio…”

Saint bit his lower lip slightly, as if troubled.

Sensing his hesitation, the Priest who had been conducting the class spoke up.

“Ah, Saint. You don’t have to answer. It seems Antonio was just curious.”

The Priest chuckled and patted Antonio on the shoulder, but the boy’s brow furrowed deeply.

At the Priest’s words, Saint smiled faintly.

His face was like that of siblings who had seen a lifeline lowered in a desperate situation.

Saint, along with the Inquisitor he had brought, headed towards the classroom door.

As they were halfway out the door, Saint, who had his body in the hallway, turned around.

“Did you say your name was Antonio?”

At Saint’s words, the young boy nodded.

“How old are you this year?”

The brown-haired Saint asked the child.

“Twelve years old, Saint.”

At the dignified answer, Saint looked at the child with admiration for a moment.

“I don’t have much time to talk about Emilio right now. Perhaps when I have time someday, I can answer your question?”

At Saint’s gentle words, Antonio grinned and nodded vigorously.

Seeing his pure appearance, Saint smiled contentedly and completely left the classroom.

[Perhaps when I have time someday, I can answer your question?]

Antonio’s heart was already pounding at the thought of their next meeting, which he didn’t know when would be.

“I’m sorry.”

While walking down the hallway, Sister Maria said to Inho.

Inho looked at Sister Maria with a bewildered expression, wondering what she was talking about all of a sudden.

“About what?”

At Inho’s question, Sister Maria spoke as if she was too embarrassed to even say it.

“Earlier, in the classroom…”

“In the classroom?”

“I shouldn’t have allowed the novice Priest to ask Saint that question… It was my fault.”

Seeing her endlessly serious face, Inho realized that Sister Maria genuinely thought that way.

However, that didn’t mean he agreed with her thinking.

“Why? What’s wrong with the question?”

Inho tilted his head.

“Asking Saint about the Bible without proper preparation is a great discourtesy…?”

As Sister Maria explained the reason, she seemed to lose confidence as she looked at Inho’s expression, and her words trailed off.

Inho, who had passed through the hallway and out into the open, stopped walking.

The heat of the ground, which had been diligently heated by the sun, rose from their toes.

Inho stared intently at Sister Maria.

Whether it was because of the heat of the ground or because of his gaze, Sister Maria’s face grew hot.

A different kind of embarrassment than the embarrassment she had felt this morning when she was in his arms struck her head.

“Sister Maria.”

To Sister Maria, who was trying to avoid his gaze, Saint’s words fell on her heart like a small pendulum.

“I may not know as much about the Bible, the scriptures, or the doctrines as Sister Maria does.”

Saint’s tone had become strangely short, but Sister Maria didn’t have time to question it.

How could Saint possibly know less about the Bible than she did?

A clear reprimand. The weight on her heart grew heavier.

“The moment you put restrictions on asking questions, no more questions will come out.”

“……”

At Saint’s words, she couldn’t say anything.

She could only lower her head and wait for Saint to finish speaking.

“Haha, don’t make such a serious face. I’m not particularly blaming Sister Maria.”

Sister Maria cautiously met his eyes.

With a wink, Saint smiled mischievously and closed one eye.

“……..”

Sister Maria’s cheeks flushed slightly as she looked at his innocent face.

“What’s the next schedule?”

“…Excuse me? Ah, there are no more schedules for today except for dinner with the Pope in the evening.”

“Hmm, there’s still a lot of time until dinner… Shall we take a walk?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Sister Maria, please guide me.”

Because subtle gazes were pouring out wherever they went, Sister Maria chose to go to secluded places where people didn’t frequent, out of consideration for Inho.

Perhaps because it was a secluded place and less touched by people’s hands, there were many parts that were poorly maintained.

Sister Maria staggered from time to time, tripping over protruding rocks.

Inho also tripped over the rocks, but seeing that he didn’t lose his balance significantly, Sister Maria admired him inwardly.

“If I may be so bold… Has Saint ever done any training?”

Those were the first words Sister Maria spoke after Inho told her to talk to each other and get to know each other.

“Training… I did. But I’m not as good as I used to be.”

As he turned his body this way and that, the sound of his joints cracking could be heard.

“How long has Sister Maria been here?”

“It’s been over 15 years since I came here as a nun… and it’s been 9 years since I received the position of Inquisitor.”

Sister Maria looked up and rummaged through her memories.

“Are the jobs of a nun and an Inquisitor very different?”

“Strictly speaking… Inquisitors also belong to the nuns. If a nun without any position belongs to the Solari, then an Inquisitor belongs to the Solarcusia.”

“And the jobs are different too?”

When Inho asked at an opportune moment, Sister Maria nodded.

“Yes. Inquisitors… mainly take charge of searching out and punishing internal enemies.”

“That must be a difficult job.”

When Inho agreed, Sister Maria smiled faintly.

“It seems to be a comfort to my heart that Saint recognizes it.”

“Was there a reason why you took on the position of Inquisitor?”

“I wondered what would glorify God. Then, suddenly, I heard a voice from deep within my heart telling me to choose this path.”

I thought it was the voice of God.

Sister Maria said firmly.

“I see.”

Inho didn’t have anything else to add, so he just agreed vaguely.

When the workday was over and the sun began to set, Sister Maria took Inho to the Solari.

Inho and Sister Maria passed through a passage lined with magnificent sculptures and headed to the banquet hall.

Sister Maria opened the door, and Inho entered.

The door to the banquet hall closed behind Inho.

‘It’s big.’

All that was placed in this vast space was a table of moderate length.

“Saint, have you arrived?”

The Pope, who had arrived early and was waiting, jumped up and approached Inho.

The plump man stood in front of Inho and made the Sign of the Cross.

With the escort of the Pope, Inho sat at the table.

Various dishes were abundantly laid out on the table, which was a different level of abundance than what he had eaten at the restaurant in the afternoon.

“There’s… really a lot of food.”

“Should there be any shortage in serving Saint?”

When Inho said, feeling his mouth watering, the Pope grinned.

The Pope, who was seated, closed his eyes and put his hands together, and Inho followed him and put his hands together.

A short prayer before the meal followed, and soon they held knives and forks in both hands.

“I will enjoy the meal.”

Inho said, picking up a noodle dish with his fork.

Then the meal continued for a while. They could have talked to each other, but they focused more on the food in front of them.

The Pope enjoyed the meal as much as his physique would suggest.

“Ah, I heard there was an unfortunate incident today.”

After a long meal, it was the Pope who broke the silence and spoke first.

“An unfortunate incident?”

Inho asked back at the unexpected words.

“I heard that a novice Priest suddenly asked Saint a question.”

When the Pope said, narrowing his eyes, Inho waved his hand.

“No. I told Sister Maria too, but it was a situation where he could ask questions. I’m fine.”

“Haha, I was worried that it might have been a great discourtesy to Saint, but I’m glad it’s not.”

The Pope sighed as if he was relieved.

“How was your first official schedule?”

The Pope asked.

“It was fine. Are other days similar to today?”

Inho answered.

“I think it will be like that for the time being. Now that I think about it, we will soon be able to see the worship service presided over by Saint.”

“I see. …Pardon?”

Inho’s hand, which had been answering appropriately, stopped.

“Pardon?”

The Pope asked back at Inho’s reaction.

“What did you just say…”

Inho looked at the Pope with a face that said, ‘Surely not?’

At Saint’s gaze, the Pope looked back on his actions and repeated what he had said earlier.

“I said that when you get used to life here, you will be able to see the worship service presided over by Saint.”

“I… preside over the worship service?”

“Yes? Yes… It was written that Saint, the representative of light, leads the servants of God… I thought you would preside over the worship service… Could it be that I’m mistaken…?”

The Pope looked at Inho with a puzzled expression.

“Ah, no. I think I was a little confused. That’s right. I preside over the worship service…”

Inho made excuses, avoiding the Pope’s suspicious gaze.

Inho’s eyes, which were making excuses, were glistening as if he would shed tears soon.

‘Ah, fuck, I’m screwed.’

It was a sentiment that didn’t suit Saint.