episode_0015
by fnovelpiaDalgrak. Dalgrak.
The thick stew entered my mouth. The large pieces of potatoes and meat were chewed, and the rich, salty taste lingered in my mouth.
“… … .”
“… Substitute Sophia.”
“Please eat first.”
Deacon Sophia sat across from me, resting her chin on her hand and staring at me intently. She didn’t say anything, just silently watched me eat my stew.
Feeling the cold pressure in those eyes, I picked up my spoon again. And silently took a bite of the stew. One bite, and another.
The bowl quickly became empty. I carefully put down my spoon and stood up to take the bowl to the sink.
“I’ll do it.”
“No, this is me… .”
“Chief Priest.”
Deacon Sophia’s eyes turned to me. Her eyes were green and emerald, slightly bleak. I stared at them for a moment.
“… Then, please.”
“Yes. Sit comfortably and rest.”
Deacon Sophia headed to the sink with the bowl in hand. She looked a little awkward wearing an apron for her small body.
“Hoo… .”
Pushed by Deacon Sophia’s back, I had no choice but to get up from my seat and slowly leaned my body on the sofa in the living room. Then I closed my eyes.
Swish—.
Soon the sound of water began to be heard. It seemed as if Deacon Sophia was about to wash the dishes.
“Sub-title Sophia. You can leave it as is.”
“Be quiet.”
“… … .”
I closed my eyes again. My head felt a little dizzy. It wasn’t because I had used a lot of divine power. I just felt nauseous for some reason.
Emerald eyes that seem to suck you in. Blonde hair that sparkles brightly as if created by sunlight.
She approached me with her back to the sunset… .
“…Your Majesty.”
I slowly opened my eyes. The green eyes of Deacon Sophia were right in front of my nose.
It seemed like he had dozed off for a moment. I slowly wiped his face.
“… Substitute Sophia.”
“I’m sorry. I woke you up when you were tired.”
“No, I got enough sleep.”
“That’s great. Then… .”
Sophia put down her teacup in front of me and then plopped down on the sofa opposite me.
“Now, shall we listen to the story?”
I lifted the teacup cautiously, afraid that my right hand might cramp up.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen. I took a sip of the warm black tea. The bitter, shallow flavor lingered in my mouth for a long time. Today, the black tea tasted particularly bitter.
“Substitute Sophia.”
“Yes.”
“Did you use other black teas?”
“Yes. I tried the black tea leaves that Professor Esther gave me.”
I frowned slightly and put my teacup back down. Deacon Sophia looked at my face and said,
“From now on, I will use the tea bags I usually use.”
“Yes, please do so.”
This time, Deacon Sophia lifted the teacup. She held it to her lips and enjoyed the aroma, then tilted her head and muttered.
“This seems more delicious… . Your high priest has a very unique palate. Is there a reason why you insist on only using cheap black tea?”
“Haha… . Even if I tell you, you won’t know.”
“No.”
Deacon Sophia put down her teacup with a clank. Soon, Deacon Sophia pulled the sofa closer and spoke, bringing her face closer.
“I think it’s time to find out.”
“… … .”
“Actually, I took care of you all night after I brought you here.”
“Thank you.”
“No, I’m not saying this to hear thanks.”
So then what?
As if answering my question, Deacon Sophia licked her lips.
“Chief Priest. I heard you talking in your sleep.”
“Are you talking nonsense?”
“Yes. That’s what I’m saying, Chief Priest.”
Deacon Sophia approached me. As I slowly turned my head, Deacon Sophia gently grabbed my cheek and turned my head toward her.
“What the hell happened to you?”
Seriously, you have such a sad expression on your face.
“… … .”
I couldn’t say anything. As I kept my mouth shut and remained silent, Deacon Sophia’s expression became even sadder.
“What have you been through that makes you writhe in pain and have such a hard night? You don’t spend every night like that, do you? Yes?”
“Deacon Sophia. I am… .”
“Who on earth is Helena? Is the priest’s illness related to her?”
I kept rubbing my face. My head was spinning and I felt uneasy. It felt like the tower I had worked so hard to build was collapsing.
“Please… . Answer me, Your Majesty.”
How shall I put it? How shall I explain in detail what has happened so far?
Deacon Sophia. You will hate me too. You will look at me with disgust.
I thought I had developed some kind of human relationship. But I can’t just send it away like this.
Deacon Sophia gently removed my hand that was covering my face. I had no choice but to face Deacon Sophia.
“What kind of life have you been living until now? Why is your right arm like that? Why did you faint that day? Everything.”
“Cow, Pia subtitle.”
“Will you answer?”
“… … .”
What kind of life have I lived? What have I been through?
“I, I… .”
How did I come back alive?
I blinked.
Yeah. I blinked. That’s all.
“… … !”
I looked down at my hands. The blood was gushing. There was dried, hardened black blood under my fingernails.
Whose blood. Whose blood.
“Ah, ahh… .”
My hands and feet were shaking. I closed my eyes tightly. Then I opened them again.
The blood was gone.
Ugh…! Ugh…!
I started to feel short of breath. I gritted my teeth and tried to act calm. But it was no use.
“… Chief Priest?”
I got on the train and arrived at the station. It was the Holy Land. I had received a letter stating that after the war, the treatment of the priests would be managed by the Holy Land.
A few priests, including myself, who survived the ravages of war, get off the train. There are already a lot of people crowded into the station.
A crowd of people hurled rotten tomatoes at us, landing on the head of a priest who was walking ahead with a forced smile.
“These murderers!”
“With those dirty feet, how dare you come back to the Holy Land! How shameless!”
“Go back to the Empire, you devils!”
One step, two steps. Slowly the walking speed slowed down, and soon the front line stopped. I raised my head that had been bowed down.
We were already in the middle of the crowd. Other priests, unable to leave the station, stopped and protected a few wounded soldiers returning from the battlefield from the pouring waves of criticism.
Those many people. The gazes of countless people. Those cold eyes, as if looking at something disgusting, those eyes. Looking at me.
Phew!
This time, a rotten tomato fell at my feet. I looked down at the rotten red tomato that had burst open.
“Ugh, euah… ! Euaaaah… !”
I took a step back without realizing it. I bumped into the wounded soldier standing behind me. But that’s not the important thing.
“P… . P… !”
My feet are bleeding! Help me! Damn it! Help me! Please!
“Stop… . Please stop… !”
I covered my head. Eggs flew into my back. I couldn’t do anything.
“Why, why… .”
Why are you doing this? I was just drafted. Is it a crime to be a priest and live in the Empire?
I didn’t want to either. I’m a foreigner. I’m not from this world. What was I supposed to do?
Because I lived in the empire, because I was a lowly subordinate, was it really that wrong to be dragged into the battlefield? I was just an ignorant fool who didn’t know the ways of the world.
“Murderers! Get back on the train!”
“Go back to the Empire! Get the hell out of here!”
Beep! Beep!
“Everyone, back off! Back off!”
“Open the way! Open the way!”
The train crew comes running from afar. The crowd of people who had been swarming like clouds suddenly spreads out the distance between them.
“Ah, ah… .”
The crew stopped the crowd. The crowd’s eyes were sharp as they retreated with unpleasant expressions. It was scary. It was painful. I wanted to die.
Why are you looking at us with those eyes? Those eyes, it seems like… .
It’s like the eyes you have when looking at a bug! I’m not a bug!
I didn’t want to do that either! I’m not a murderer! I’m not a murderer!
Please, so… .
“Ugh, please… .”
Everyone, don’t look at me like that.
* * * * *
Deacon Sophia was very embarrassed.
While they were talking, Father Antonelli suddenly clutched his head and collapsed on the floor.
“Chief Priest! Chief Priest!”
“Black, black…! Black… .”
“Ah, really…! Your Majesty! Come to your senses!”
Priest Lucio Antonelli. He crouched down, covered his head, and began to sob uncontrollably. Deacon Sophia hurriedly opened the Bible.
“There must be a prayer to recite at times like this… .”
Even as he busily turned the pages of the Bible, Father Antonelli simply curled up and sobbed. He kept shaking his hands and feet and mumbling something incomprehensible.
“Sorry, sorry… . Sorry… .”
Father Antonelli rose to his feet. Then he knelt down and bowed his head.
“Chief Priest! What are you doing now… .”
“I, I am a murderer… . I’m sorry… . I am a dirty man… . I’m sorry… .”
“Please come to your senses! Aaah… . Seriously… !”
“I’m going to die! So please stop! Please! I’m begging you! Please! ”
Finally, when Father Antonelli began to strangle himself, Deacon Sophia hurriedly rushed to him.
“Are you crazy! Priest! Hand! Hand! ”
“Bam… . I’m sorry… . So, please… .”
“Come to your senses—!”
Deacon Sophia, who barely managed to pull her arm away, took her gaze away from the Bible that had already flown far away.
As things stood, reciting the prayer seemed to be of no use. If it had any effect, Father Antonelli would have taken action long ago.
“Ugh, ugh…! I, I… .”
Father Antonelli then hugged Deacon Sophia, who was sitting in front of him, tightly.
“Me too, I didn’t want to do that… . I lost everything too… .”
“Chief Priest… .”
Deacon Sophia, although deeply embarrassed, did not shake off Father Antonelli. In the sudden situation, Deacon Sophia’s small hand, which had been suspended in midair, slowly stroked Father Antonelli’s back.
“It’s okay. It’s okay… .”
“… … .”
I felt my priestly garments soaking wet.
The tears of the priest Antonelli, who was always as stone and wooden as stone, did not seem like light tears to Deacon Sophia.
What on earth has happened to him that he is so afraid? What kind of hardships and adversities has he endured that made this usually cold man collapse in such a short moment?
Deacon Sophia scrambled to pick up Father Antonelli. After barely getting him to lay on the bed, Father Antonelli only occasionally frowned with tearful eyes and muttered an apology.
“Sigh… .”
Deacon Sophia pushed her sweaty hair behind her ear. She was taken aback by the sudden turn of events, but fortunately, she calmed down quickly.
I sat down next to Father Antonelli, who seemed to have fallen asleep. Deacon Sophia’s feelings as she looked at him were very complicated.
Deacon Sophia dragged the sofa up to the bedside. Then, she closed her tired eyes.
“… Later. I’ll listen to it again later.”
Because now doesn’t seem like the time.
Soon, only the quiet breathing of the two people filled the room.
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