“Anyway, it’s a pity. Can you tell me why you don’t want to become a paladin?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Elica said.
“Isn’t the paladin capable of fighting with their lives for the gods?”
“right.”
“···················· That my religious faith is not that great. So I wondered what the meaning of becoming a paladin would be.”
Heron closed his eyes and pressed his chin to his forehead.
It’s a piety in front of a knight of brilliance, because it wouldn’t be strange if he took it as blasphemy, even if it wasn’t for the people of the monastery.
Fortunately, however, Jerel did not pour out her rage or rebuke her.
“Because of faith….”
He just looked at her with strange eyes and said.
“I guess that’s okay.”
“······Yes?”
“This is my honest opinion, but I don’t think belief in God has to be blind.”
The three of them were at a loss for words.
Is this true from the mouth of the knight of brilliance, which can be said to be the norm for all paladins now?
Jerel smiled and floated more and asked Elika.
“Have you ever felt such a question? The world is still overflowing with pain and despair, why doesn’t God provide salvation for each one? If you do, what does that mean?”
“············”.
“I’ve always thought that way because I don’t understand. And I’ve been trying to find an answer.”
After hearing the story as if possessed by Elika, she asked.
“So did you find the answer?”
“I haven’t found it yet. I’m still looking for it.”
“······Yes?”
“For me, that’s enough. Whatever it is, he saved mankind once, and I believe there must be some hidden meaning behind it. That’s what I believe in. It’s no wonder it’s considered blasphemy. , haha.”
Jerel smiled brightly.
“I intend to stay in this monastery for three days. The offer remains valid, so if you change your mind within it, come see me. Then…”
So he turned around and left, leaving only those words.
***
Ten days have passed since I stayed in the monastery.
I was finally getting ready to leave.
Although his body was not fully recovered, there was no difficulty in moving any more, and the residual aura of the man’s magical power that remained inside his body was no longer felt.
‘It will take a month really.’
The destination was to go straight to Calderik.
Even if he returned to the scene where he had a battle with Detrodemyan, there was no way that Ashel was still there, so it was no big deal.
It was a long way to go from here, on the outskirts of Saintea, to Calderik, so it would have to be really diligent to move.
And the problem wasn’t just the distance, it was another.
‘I don’t have anything right now.’
He said that he would leave tomorrow, and Priest Thane offered to pack some expenses and food, but it would certainly not be enough to travel to Calderik.
I thought I’d stop by a nearby city and somehow raise some money to make some money. There were no more specific plans.
Should I stop by the Real Adventurer’s Guild and get a quest?
smart.
As I was thinking, a knock sounded.
The door opened and it was Elika who came in.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“You’re leaving tomorrow?”
I only talked to Priest Thein, but it seems like they picked it up somewhere.
I nodded. Are you here to ask?
“How long ago, you couldn’t even move properly, did your body recover?”
“Yeah, olchu.”
“Ummm…just saying goodbye. I’m here to say hello.”
She rubbed the nape of her neck and spoke as if making excuses, then said something else.
“By the way, do you know that? Yesterday, a great person came to our monastery. A Brilliant Knight.”
“know.”
Of course I knew it because I was watching it all.
I wanted to ask why, but her outrageous words continued.
“But he asked me if I had any intention of becoming a disciple.”
“···········?”
student?
I tilted my head.
It’s true that he’s very talented, but was it enough for a big guy to be interested?
“Good. So what did you do?”
“················ Still thinking about it. Originally, I was going to say no, but he said something strange.”
“A strange word?”
“Last time I did something like God. It was strangely similar to that. He was a really strange person.”
If it was God or something, was it the story of not having any religious beliefs in yourself?
I wondered what the brilliance knight meant to say something similar to that.
she asked me
“What do you think, uncle?”
Encounter (10)
I answered Elika’s question without much thought.
“It’s a good opportunity, so I’ll take it.”
You said that you originally intended to decline, but is this an offer with a reason to refuse?
Being a disciple of the Brilliant Knight, isn’t it a chance that will never come again in her life?
“Do you think so too?”
Even so, Elica still had a sad expression on her face.
Even the opportunity to rise to that high place in an instant was not very attractive to her.
Of course, it is her life and the choice is hers, but if I were in her position, of course, I would have accepted it coldly.
“You didn’t want to become a paladin like that?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s that I don’t want to find meaning.”
“You said you were going to become a priest. In that sense, I think there is a big difference between being a priest.”
Elica wrinkled her face slightly, then meekly affirmed.
“Well, yes. But also, if you become a disciple of that person, you won’t be leaving this monastery.”
“Oh, did you mean you didn’t want to leave your friends behind?”
“········No. I really like those guys. I just don’t want to leave the monastery.”
He said so, but that seemed to be the biggest reason.
I don’t know why you’re talking to me like this right now because I want to hear more than that.
While staying at the monastery, every time I met her, all I did was say hello. When was the last time you became close enough to give advice on your concerns?
“Think carefully, and do what you want.”
Still, I decided to give an honest answer.
“It would be good to follow that brilliance knight and experience the wider world, or it would be good to stay here in the monastery and enjoy small happiness. is something no one can know, so I don’t know which one will be the one you won’t regret.”
Elika grumbled at my words.
“That’s a very vague answer.”
“It’s your life. And I don’t think you’ll listen to me anyway.”
After being silent for a while as if she could not deny it, she burst into laughter.
“That’s right. Thanks anyway.”
She turned and went out of the room again, but she turned her head again.
“Oh, and when you leave, please tell me. I’ll show you off with my face reflected.”
“You don’t have to.”
“If you don’t tell me, it’s enough to just ask Priest Thein. And you’re going to hide that too? Why were you lying down in the forest?”
I waved my hands in annoyance.
“Stop leaving.”
“yeah.”
After Elika answered, she turned around and went outside.
I continued to ponder while looking at the closed door.
***
“If I become a disciple of Sir Myak Jerel, will I have to leave the monastery?”
Tom asked, muttering, who was blankly fiddling with the glass of water.
Heron, who was sitting next to him, closed the book he was reading and answered.
“Perhaps not? Maybe he will not stay in our convent, and perhaps he will not go to the Papal States.”
“Hey, it’s a papal decree… isn’t that a huge success? But, what’s wrong with Elika? If it were me, I would have knelt down and bowed down as soon as the lord said it.”
“What anew. Is he the kind of person you would want such a thing?”
“Even so, I didn’t expect it to be this much. Sometimes I don’t know what the hell he’s thinking.”
Tom leaned back on the chair and let out a sigh of frustration and dissatisfaction.
Heren stared at Tom like that and asked.
“By the way, do you really care?”
“·······What? What?”
“Is it okay if Elika becomes a real disciple of Lord Zerel and leaves the monastery?”
“What are you talking about? If that’s the case, there’s nothing more to ask for. Do you really think I’ll be jealous of her?”
“No, it’s not like that…”
Tom snorted and brought the glass of water he was holding to his lips.
“You like Elica.”
And at Heren’s words that followed, he spouted out the water he was drinking.
Tom, who had been coughing and coughing at the hearing of Saree, looked at Heren in complete embarrassment.
“What, what, what are you talking about? Who likes whom? I like him? Who likes such a bastard!”
“Tom.”
Heron put on a pathetic expression.
“Everyone knows except for Elika. Did you hide it because you’ve been hiding it all this time?”
“············”.
“So put it all aside and just be honest for once. Do you really want Elika to become Sir Jerel’s disciple?”
Tom avoided Heren’s gaze and scratched his head.
It’s been 3 years already.
Tom, Heron, and Elica. It was at about the same time that the three men entered the Lobelgio Monastery.
Tom and Heren were orphans who lost their parents and siblings to the war, and Elika to the demonic riots.
Even when they first entered the monastery, they despaired of their own situation and were busy making a point for each other.
And, as Heron said, Tom liked Elica.
She thought she had completely hidden it, but in reality, everyone knew it except for Elica, who was unaware of this kind of thing.
Tom, who had been silent for a long time, said in a reluctant tone, as if he had no choice.
“I told you, because I hope so.”
“············”.
“Of course, I don’t want Elika to leave the monastery. However, I sincerely hope that you will accept Sir Jerel’s offer. He will not be stuck in a monastery like this for the rest of his life, but will be able to become a much bigger person than he is now. .”
Tom’s words were sincere, without a single lie.
It was unimaginable for him to block the path of a precious friend just because of such selfishness.
Heron shook his head.
“So he wouldn’t want that in the first place.”
“Maybe now, but you won’t know later. It’s not that he doesn’t want to become a paladin, it’s that he doesn’t really want to become a paladin. Do you really want Elica to turn down the offer?”
“Is that possible? I’m also frustrated.”
They both sighed at the same time.
“Do you want to convince the other nuns by talking to them? Is it counterproductive?”
“Are you talking? Stop it.”
Since they were two people who knew Elica’s rebellious temperament, they hadn’t yet told Zel’el’s proposal to the other monasteries.
If others found out about this, the monastery would be completely turned upside down, and of course they would urge Elica to accept the offer as a group.
And if I made it so big, it seemed like I would reject the offer without thinking any more.
“There are still a few more days left, so let’s try hard to persuade the two of us during the rest of the time. But in the end, if we don’t change our minds, it won’t do much.”
Tom nodded his head and said as if he had suddenly made up his mind.
“And if I ever leave the monastery, then I’ll just go ahead and run.”
“···········?”
“I’m going to confess to him.”
This was unexpected, so Heren opened his mouth.
“Suddenly? Are you serious?”
“uh.”
“······· Not a joke, but I might be beaten properly.”
“It would be much better then. If he gets serious and refuses, he’ll really want to die.”
Tom said stretching out.
“It’s time. Let’s go have dinner.”
The day was almost over and the sun was setting in the sky.
After talking, the two went out of the room.
As we headed out of the building to find Elica and head to the restaurant together, I saw a few friends my age gathered in one side of the yard.
Seeing one of them having a nosebleed, Tom and Heren approached them.
“Hey, what’s going on? Matt, why do you have that face? Who did you fight with?”
The children around him were calming the injured boy.
what a boring arc