Saint (5)

1.

Holy Nation.

Cosmos Cathedral.

The majestically soaring ivory building reflects the sunlight.

“This concludes my report regarding Elia, whom I met at the Edel Nunnery.”

Holy Knight, Leod, finished his report.

“Hmm…”

Pope Alexander II.

He stroked his chin as he listened to the report.

“…This has become troublesome.”

Having heard the story to the end, the Pope realized that persuading the girl Elia had become even more difficult.

“Closing the door to one’s heart is easy, but opening it again is difficult.”

“I have no excuse.”

Leod lowered his head.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“If I had done things properly, I could have brought her here.”

The Pope shook his head.

“No. From what I’ve heard, no matter what words we used to persuade her, the girl would have adamantly refused. Perhaps that duel was a trial and a final opportunity that the girl gave us.”

“I am sorry.”

He had futilely thrown away that last chance.

Because he was arrogant.

He shouldn’t have judged people based on their appearance alone.

But…

Even if he had been serious, the result would have been the same.

He couldn’t confidently say that he wouldn’t have drawn his sword in the face of her sword.

“By the way, what does Your Holiness think?”

The Pope looked at the Sacred Relic in one corner of the archive.

Chalice of the Azure Sky.

An object used to identify the Saintess.

If one were to fill it with wine and drink from it, the Stigmata would appear on a body possessing the soul of the Saintess.

“I cannot give a definite answer right now. However… I am well aware that the girl possesses extraordinary abilities. I believe it is necessary to verify it.”

From a young age, she didn’t even memorize prayers and freely used Divinity, which aroused strong interest.

“The problem is… how to change her mind…”

Stubborn.

Adamant.

Just from what he had heard, it seemed impossible to persuade the girl.

“I will go again and try to persuade her.”

“No. If you go to see her again, she will only distance herself further.”

The Pope pondered.

Even if the girl wasn’t the Saintess, it was clear that she was a talent needed by the Holy Nation.

It was admirable that she wanted to go to the battlefield for peace.

It wasn’t something one could easily decide.

She also possessed sufficient power.

Although it wasn’t a real battle, if she had the martial prowess to defeat a Holy Knight, she would surely play a major role on the battlefield.

A sword genius born with the body of the Saintess…

The Pope tapped the desk.

If the girl truly desired peace, it would be better for her to come to the Holy Nation.

Studying Divinity Studies properly would allow her to protect more people and save more lives. If she even learned Purification Magic, she could easily defeat Magical Beasts or Demons.

Bringing the girl to the Holy Nation was entirely possible.

If they used dirty methods, that is.

They could block all other options and leave the girl with only the option of coming to the Holy Nation. Or they could forcibly bring her through the use of force.

If it were wartime, they would have done so.

But now, they were in a truce.

The Pope’s heart desired to resolve things peacefully if possible.

It was then.

“Shall I meet her?”

Having listened to the story until now.

Hero, Louis, spoke up.

He had been having a private audience with the Pope before the Holy Knight arrived.

“You mean the Hero?”

“Yes.”

Louis nodded.

“It’s not just the Holy Nation that needs the Saintess.”

She was also needed to create a new Hero Party.

The first Hero Party had already failed.

They had reached the Demon King, but everyone except Louis had been annihilated.

He had barely managed to survive.

If it hadn’t been for her help back then…

Louis felt a throbbing in his left arm.

His now empty left arm ached unpleasantly as if it were still attached.

“I also caused damage to the Holy Nation due to my inadequacy.”

“That was not the Hero’s fault.”

“Still, it’s true that it was because of me.”

Louis smiled bitterly.

All the precious people died because of him.

His teacher died to save him from danger, and the Saintess died as well.

Neither of them regretted their choices.

But Louis felt guilty.

If he had been a more competent Hero, such things wouldn’t have happened.

“I’ll meet her and talk to her, and if she refuses to come to the Holy Nation, I’ll keep her with me. She said she wanted to join the Imperial Army, so I’ll keep her under me until she feels better.”

Yes.

That would probably be better.

If they went to meet her again from the Holy Nation, the door to her heart would only close more tightly.

The Pope nodded.

“I understand.”

The Hero rose from his seat.

The two swords he wore on his left hip clattered.

The sleeve of his left arm fluttered like a flag as he walked.

2.

I was finishing up my life at the nunnery.

I packed my belongings in a bag.

Since it was a place I would be leaving in a few months anyway, it didn’t matter if I left a little earlier.

In fact, some of my peers had left the nunnery a few days ago.

One had gone to learn business.

Another had gone to learn crafts at a textile workshop.

I would be heading to the nearby Knights Order.

Since the Knights were always recruiting, I planned to apply to become a knight right away.

I wasn’t an adult yet, but since I would be one soon anyway, they would probably be flexible about that.

-Knock knock

It was when I was packing my underwear.

I heard a knock, and then a cautious voice came from beyond the door.

“Elia.”

Sister Bertina’s voice, drained of strength.

A week had passed since that incident.

While I was formally telling the head nun about my departure and proceeding with the withdrawal process, Sister Bertina had been avoiding me.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

Sister Bertina entered.

She stood by the door, fidgeting like a child who had done something wrong.

An awkward atmosphere flowed.

We had been closer than anyone else in the nunnery.

We had been like friends, like family, but now we had become the most awkward of acquaintances.

“You’re really… leaving, aren’t you.”

“Yes.”

Silence returned.

It was uncomfortable to end things so awkwardly.

I had been cared for for 19 years, and this farewell was too bitter.

There were too many memories between us to part like this.

“I…”

“I…”

“You go first.”

“You go first.”

Like a decalcomania, our words overlapped at the same time.

What was this situation at this age?

I should be generous as an adult.

If I counted the age I had lived in my actual life, I was over eighty.

But I had never been in such an awkward relationship with anyone.

Or had I?

There was a time when I ate the bread that my disciple had been saving.

I remember how angry he was back then.

I bought him ten loaves of bread and soothed him, telling him that if he was going to be a Hero, he had to have a big heart.

“Elia, I’m sorry.”

Sister Bertina bowed her head.

“I thought it was for Elia’s sake. I really didn’t consider Elia’s feelings at all. I should have at least asked…”

I was a little choked up back then.

But my anger had long since subsided.

No, to begin with, I wasn’t angry, but rather just a little disappointed.

“If it’s about that, I’ve already let it go.”

“Elia…”

“As Sister said, I was born with Divinity. Maybe I could really miraculously become the Saintess. Even if I don’t, I could at least become a high-ranking clergy member.”

But the blood of a knight flowed in my veins.

“But my choice remains the same. Even if Sister had suggested it to me first, my answer would have been the same.”

I looked straight at Sister Bertina.

“I will become a knight.”

I looked into her eyes.

Sister Bertina closed her eyes.

The corners of her lips curved softly.

“…I will always pray for you.”

It was a bit awkward at this age.

I hugged Sister Bertina like a child.

I had never hugged her once since my memories of my past life had returned.

“Thank you for everything until now.”

“Come back anytime you need a rest.”

“Yes.”

“Even when you go to the battlefield, be sure to keep the Rosario in your arms.”

“Of course.”

The Rosario hanging around my neck.

It felt empty without it now.

It was almost one with my body.

“When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Is that so? Then shall we sleep together tonight?”

“Okay.”

Before I turned 10.

Until then, I often slept next to Sister Bertina.

Of course, back then, I was purely living as Elia, so I would act spoiled and such.

I stopped acting spoiled when my past life came back to me.

Sister Bertina seemed quite disappointed about that.

But what could I do?

It didn’t make sense for an old man to be held in a woman’s arms and act spoiled.

“It’s almost time for evening prayers.”

Sister Bertina wiped her moist eyes and left the room, saying she had to prepare for the service.

I finished packing my bag and headed to the chapel.

“Huh?”

The chapel was bustling.

The nuns were gathered in one place.

A buzzing sound, like the march of ants, echoed in the chapel.

“What’s going on…?”

I stood on tiptoe and tried to find out the cause of the commotion.

“Oh…?”

A man was standing there.

A welcome face.

He had aged, but he was still as pretty as a gigolo.

Hero, Louis.

My disciple was in the chapel.