181 – 36. Proof
The saint returned.
In the end, he did not open the door to the orphanage.
“Phew….”
It is very difficult and complicated.
Vatican, Pope, three cardinals, Cloel Martina, Raphael Martina, character events.
Because I was ignorant of all that, it was something I had never done at .
I was laughing at myself inside.
‘If you don’t have game knowledge…… In the end, all that remains is fraud and deception.’
I also became closer to Rio.
He also helped Lane.
Resolving the fate of the galaxy.
I also became Lucas’ friend.
I also gained trust from Kim Seong-il.
He even went on a journey in cooperation with the hero.
And, the saint was called a sinner comrade.
In the end, I didn’t achieve it on my own. I just laid out the strategy and moved. It was just a low-level scam and a tongue-in-cheek trick……
“…f*ck.”
As expected, the more I thought about this problem on my own, the more I felt like I was falling into a quagmire.
It wasn’t like this in the first semester. I was busy solving the problem in front of me and running character events, so I put this kind of self-reflection on the back burner.
Am I now paying the price?
…… As always, the conclusion boils down to self-loathing.
Thinking like that, I was about to go back.
“Well, Namgoong Min oppa.”
“……Eileen?”
“Don’t worry, Chloe is sleeping. It’ll only take a moment.”
“Of course… Of course.”
Since when has it been around?
Eileen, who had been watching me through the window, opened the door, came out, and stood next to me.
In the first place, it is dangerous to leave the orphanage. Even if only by chance, someone might realize that Eileen is a saint.
As it is the headquarters of the church, we must be very careful.
Even so, I couldn’t stop Eileen just now.
Aileen’s smile, that confidence……
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“Namgoong Min oppa.”
“Ah, um. Yes.”
“How was I at Romance Academy?”
“Huh? You’re the daughter of instructor Charles Teddy Bear, and your life at the academy is going well──”
“hehehehe, no. That’s not what I’m asking… It’s the story of .”
“…What?”
Now.
What?
“. Do you know what it is? It’s Eileen’s, saintly skill.”
“……………….”
“At first, it was awkward, difficult, and I couldn’t see well… But I kept looking at my brother. I had a cheeky thought about what the person who saved me would think of me.”
But.
“My brother’s true feelings were very different from what I thought.”
“……….”
“Obsessiveness, self-hatred, love for family, resignation, will, confidence, and distrust at the same time.”
“……………….”
“It was so complicated. I kept looking at it like that, and only today I watched .”
This is the reality that Eileen lives in, not the city in the sky.
A game that was only made by Namgoong Min’s younger sister.
“Oppa… It’s not good to beat yourself up.”
“Ale, Lin.”
“I read it from my brother’s heart. By playing that game called Over 20 times, he gained knowledge about everyone. Thanks to that, we only became friends, and he said he didn’t do anything himself.”
“……….”
“I hate to say this, but this is a really stupid idea.”
Aileen was smiling.
Even though she knew that she was a character in a game, her smile did not fade.
“If you were to throw a knife to everyone in the world, would the way they use the knife be the same?”
“……….”
“Someone can kill someone with that knife, but someone can cook, and someone can save another person with that knife. Even if a person with the same knowledge and abilities as my brother were in the same situation, “Could anyone have done as well as my brother?”
“……………….”
“I know. My brother’s self-hatred is much older than I thought…And it can’t be cured by just a word of comfort from me. Still, I wanted to tell you. I wanted to proudly shout out to my brother who saved me.”
“……….”
“So, let me ask.”
“How was my experience at ?”
How can I answer that question?
She, Eileen…… This is living proof that denies all the worries I’ve had up until now.
It’s not about the knowledge in the game, it’s just a scam.
This is the person I saved.
To her, you were nothing more than an extra, and you could either live or die.
How.
“……….”
I had no choice but to remain silent.
As if that silence was a sufficient answer, Eileen smiled brighter.
“Please remember, Namgoong Min oppa.”
──That I, a person, gained life thanks to my brother.
──Remember that and reflect on it carefully…… Please don’t forget.
──Then, it will be enough.
The night passed like that.
The day of proof has dawned.
*
Saint Raphael Martina climbs the Tower of Proof.
On the same morning as always, the news suddenly announced by the Pope shook the entire Vatican.
The ‘Tower of Proof’ holds an unrivaled position as a tourist product and an object to increase faith, along with the Vatican Cathedral and the Holy See.
Citizens who did not know the English story, priests, and even high-ranking officials who had already heard rumors paid attention to this strange event that had occurred for the first time in hundreds of years.
“…So Raphael Martina will climb the Tower of Proof and prove his qualifications as a saint. This is all.”
“Huh, Cardinal Squall. What’s the exact time?”
“There’s less than 10 minutes left…There’s no need to be too nervous.”
“How… Can you not be nervous?”
The original plan was a bit twisted, but in the end it went as intended.
The original plan was to pretend that the saint had lost his power, and then the opponents, centered on Cardinal Cassandra, had the saint climb the Tower of Proof to gain justification and at the same time overthrow the opponents and the entire church.
There was no problem with his weak performance, but the Pope noticed him first and struck him.
The opposition could have sensed the saint’s intentions because of the request to obtain the signatures of three cardinals, but this was resolved thanks to the intervention of a comrade who was a sinner.
Now all you have to do is climb the Tower of Proof and prove .
…… But, why?
The saint was overcome by an unknown anxiety.
‘Why on earth…? … ?’
Even if you try using Just in case, there is no problem with the halo and sanctity behind his head.
Just prove At the Tower of Proof and you’re done──
“Ah, saint.”
“……Cardinal Skoll, what’s going on?”
“It’s no different. Have you still not changed your thoughts?”
“If you think…?”
“This is what happened after the church was reformed. Do you plan to reject all external donations, subsidies, and demands from high-ranking officials?”
Yes, it was.
The current church is rotten. Instead of faith, they covet money and power, and are obsessed with worldly values.
So, after reforming the church, I planned to make it a church that pursues only pure faith and away from money and power.
‘Even if you wash your dirty hands, they cannot become completely clean.’
We have already borrowed the money of wealthy people and the power of superpowers and princesses for reform.
Still, will it be possible to cut off money and power after reform?
“…I’m not sure yet.”
“Is that so?”
“But… Wouldn’t it be okay to just accept the minimum? I think so.”
“……………….”
“Cardinal Skoll?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was thinking along with the saint’s will.”
“…I am always grateful, Cardinal Skoll.”
“Don’t worry, saint. My intention has not changed from the beginning until now… Yes.”
It has never changed.
Squall looked at the saint for a moment and continued speaking.
“It’s almost time. The other cardinals and the Holy Father will be waiting for you, so please go.”
“Ah, before that, I have to meet Nam Goong Min, the criminal.”
“The only people who can enter the Tower of Proof are the saints of the church, cardinals, and the Pope. He certainly helped the saint a lot, but we can’t climb the tower together anyway.”
“That…”
“The path for him now is to climb the tower and achieve proof.”
There is nothing wrong with what Skoll said.
In a situation where there is no turning back, will anything change even if I meet a fellow criminal?
I just feel uncomfortable sneaking out and climbing the tower without saying anything.
‘It’s Squall’s advice, so there shouldn’t be any problem.’
Namgoong Min and Archbishop Carlella moved while they were sleeping. Even if we meet now, it would be meaningless.
When I thought about that and composed myself, the saint and Squall had already reached the top floor of the cathedral.
“This place…”
“Welcome to the Tower of Proof, saint.”
Originally, there is no door at the top of the cathedral. There is no need to be there.
The roof of the cathedral is only sharply raised, and it is not something you can walk on or have a flat rooftop like an ordinary building, so it is natural.
But there is a door at the top of the Vatican Cathedral.
Very long and thin…… The door leading to the Tower of Proof.
“The old man will open it. Let’s go in first.”
Geugeeugeung.
The Pope himself opens the heavy iron gate, and the three cardinals, including Scol, politely stand and make the sign of the cross.
For now, Squall, who was on his side, McLaren, who was so fat that it seemed difficult to breathe, and Cassandra, the leader of the opposing faction, quietly closed their eyes.
There was nothing special beyond the iron gate.
There are just endless cylindrical stairs with no end in sight, with light coming through the window.
“This old man has never climbed either, but records say he had to walk for 12 hours.”
McLaren’s breathing was momentarily disturbed by the Pope’s words, but soon returned.
The Pope smiled kindly, as if he knew how he felt.
“But don’t we all have jobs? One hour will be enough.”
Okay then.
“To prove it, climb the tower, saint.”
“…Yes.”
For the reform of the church.
For all who believe and follow Him.
For the fellow criminal who helped him.
And for Raphael and Chloe’s promise.
‘This was your will, Raphael.’
Now.
I will go to achieve that.