6. Proof of Existence (56)
“My whole body is a mess.”
After sharing the tearful encounter, the saintess declared that to me.
I repeatedly closed and opened the hand that had been holding the saintess until just before. It was an unsatisfying feeling, lacking the elastic texture to quench this thirst.
But it was after he died.
No matter how ignorant I was, I knew how to read the atmosphere. I bowed my head like a criminal in front of the saintess who was still blotting tears from her eyes with her sleeve.
“No, what. Wouldn’t it be okay if you survived… … ?”
“Are you okay?”
The corner of the saintess’ eyes slightly rose at my carefree answer.
As if to prove that she was angry, the saintess put her hands on her waist and snorted.
It was quite lovely to see her exaggeratedly turning her face away.
Maybe it’s called aegyo.
Naturally, a faint smile formed on my lips.
“Do you know how hard I worked to save you? I suddenly collapsed, but I can’t see any signs of getting better even if I pour holy power… They carried that muscular body all the way down the mountain while whining!”
Hmm, I swallowed my saliva and imagined the saintess whimpering and carrying me away.
It was fortunate that he had learned martial arts, otherwise it would have been impossible. The trained swordsman’s body was made up of muscles, so it weighed even more.
You must have suffered quite a bit.
But somehow I thought it was more funny than sad. Maybe it was because the saintess, who would have dragged me while blushing, felt cute.
I didn’t know if I would be scolded if I told my honest impressions.
So I quickly decided to turn the topic around.
“But where is this place? It looks like a hospital room… … .”
“It’s a temporary residence in the Holy Kingdom.”
As if she had been waiting, the saintess’ answer was uninterrupted.
A graceful voice glided smoothly through the air.
“Your physical condition is so serious that we sought a suitable place with the support of the Seongguk. Now that you are awake, it may be time to withdraw.”
“What about the rest of your colleagues?”
At my worried tone, the saintess let out a shallow laugh.
It was the attitude he knew it would be.
“You don’t have to worry. I heard that you cleared the hideout of the Dark Church with the support of the nearby temples. Maybe go back to the academy and wait for Ian?”
Whoa, I let out a sigh of relief, the second one today.
It was fortunate. Because no one seems to have been seriously injured.
Reynold’s body must have been well taken care of by Elsie-senpai. Since there was no news of an attack after that, it seemed that Liana Celine had safely returned to the academy as well.
The fact that I left the three of them and got out alone kept bothering me.
More novels at noblemtl.com
Just as I was about to regain my smile, I suddenly felt the saintess’ vague gaze.
The face of the saintess who was smiling quietly was as beautiful as always. It was a woman who would have made her name on the whole continent with her beauty alone.
To be able to converse with such a woman alone in a closed room.
It was a luxurious private meeting, but my heart was not very comfortable.
I wondered what the saintess would think.
I hesitated for a while, but in the end, a cautious greeting leaked out of my mouth.
“… … What about the saintess?”
“Yeah?”
“How is the saintess?”
At first, the saintess tilted her head in disbelief, but there was no way she could ignore the question being asked again.
The saintess’ shoulders drooped after showing a look of bewilderment for a moment.
It was a broken heart for anyone to see.
“Does it show?”
“Slightly, to the point that I wouldn’t even notice.”
The saintess smiled bitterly at my joke.
Betrayed by someone who was like family.
I couldn’t even imagine what that would feel like.
“Now, it’s okay. I still have nightmares at night… … .”
“Shall we sleep together?”
Pak, the saintess’ palm slapped my forearm.
My wounds still haven’t healed, so I had to barely swallow my screams. The saintess glanced at me, but she couldn’t hide her burning face.
“I can’t dry it, really… Anyway, it’s better than a few days ago. You don’t have to worry too much.”
“but… … .”
“I worry about your body first, Ian.”
When I still couldn’t shake off my worries, the saintess suddenly said that with a serious expression on her face.
It was a strong gaze, as if he would not allow disagreements.
“Never, no matter what happens, stay calm. Also, don’t get drunk with a useless sense of justice and prowl anywhere.”
“No, a useless sense of justice… … .”
“I promise.”
The saintess had a stern expression like never before.
I could feel the will to get the promise from me somehow from the look in his eyes.
“Never, no matter what, stay calm.”
“That’s right, because you never know what will happen later… … .”
“Appointment.”
How could I possibly defeat the saintess?
Eventually, I sighed and held out my little finger. The saintess lifted herself up with a satisfied smile only after completing her confirmation.
A dumbfounded voice leaked out of my mouth.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes, because the treatment is not over yet. Also, I can’t use this place for a long time… … .”
Then, the saintess secretly smiled charmingly.
It meant not to worry.
“Then see you later, Ian.”
The back of his face seemed strangely overflowing with regret.
In an instant, my eyebrows narrowed. Right before I caught the saintess who was about to leave.
Standing tall, the saintess stopped walking.
Even after that, the saintess did not say anything for a long time.
The silence was broken just as I was about to say something out of embarrassment.
“… … Ian.”
The subdued voice is particularly heavy.
I had to keep my mouth shut because I couldn’t understand more.
The saintess’ confession continued.
“From now on, I will do something very selfish. And in fact, it’s something that even a saintess shouldn’t do.”
“What the hell are you going to do… … ?”
My doubts were still unfinished.
It was because the saintess, whom I had turned my back on and walked without hesitation, soon grabbed my collar.
And alas, in the meantime.
The lips of the two men meet.
There was no sticky caress or soggy saliva exchange. A very short, innocent, yet light kiss.
So I couldn’t say anything more.
I just wanted this moment to last forever. But unfortunately, time is equal for everyone.
Before long, the saintess’s face moved away from me. Sweet breath, heated cheeks, and light pink eyes staring at me affectionately.
My world was filled with women for a moment.
“I like you.”
The woman spoke her mind with a smile that was cleaner than ever.
“I love you, Ian.”
Certainly enough that you can’t miss it.
The saintess didn’t even listen to my answer. He just turned around and hurriedly walked away from me.
I had to stare blankly at his back.
that was the last
The next day, the saintess was referred to the Inquisition and imprisoned in the underground prison of the Holy See.
For the crime of betraying humanity.
It was a sin that could only be repaid with life.
**
The academy was shattered by the vicious rumors.
What a saintess betrayed humanity.
The downfall of one of the new heroes who were fighting the Dark Church gave birth to numerous stories. Not to mention the academy, there was no place throughout the continent where rumors about the saintess did not circulate.
Isn’t it coming to my ears right now sitting in a state of fascination?
However, if the woman talking next to me had a more vicious side, it was that she was deliberately making fun of me.
A woman with silver hair and silver eyes.
It was Siene Alpenhauser, one of the Sun and Moon of the Alpenhauser family. And next to her was Luna-senpai with bangs that covered her eyes.
As identical twins, they had similar appearances, but their attitudes were vastly different.
Siene-senpai was scratching my nerves by chattering nonstop. On the other hand, Luna was in a cold sweat and was trying to dissuade Siene-senpai with a wink.
It was the right decision. I was just about to pull out the hatchet.
“Whoa, didn’t I tell you? Sell the saintess long ago! At that time, I was very angry and took out a hatchet. What was this like? I came back because my body was broken for no reason! It must be a dead life anyway, puhehehe… … .”
“… … It has not been finalized yet.”
With a furious heart, I said with such fierce eyes.
“The trial never even started. Possibility of innocence… … .”
“Sounds innocent.”
At the same time, Siene-senpai smiled softly.
It was a bewitching smile I had never seen before.
“You still don’t know? Trial is just a catering. The abode of the Dark Cult has been revealed, full of horrific crimes and traces of betrayal… People’s faith in the Holy See is shaking. No, now is the time to ask these questions. Does God really exist?”
Taking an exaggerated pose like a theater actor, Siene-senpai continued his explanation excitedly.
“I need a scapegoat to hold on to this wavering faith again. The highest position that the person who was close to the Dark Church joined the Dark Church… … .”
“You mean a saint?”
“How stimulating is it?”
Shiene-senpai, on the contrary, questioned me. I was at a loss for words.
“The heavenly god’s most beloved maiden! To think that a saintess famous for her beauty created by God would suffer while hanging on a cross… There aren’t many things more exciting than this, Leah Percus.”
“Uh, sister… That’s my sister’s side… … .”
“This is human nature.”
Clearly ignoring Luna-senpai’s point, Shiene-senpai continued talking with a meaningful smile on her face.
“When I see a person who has fallen on the road, I want to kick him. When a hawk soars through the sky and falls to the ground, humans are the most cruel species. Everyone wants a fall and a downfall.”
“To satisfy that lowly desire… … !”
“Can’t we?”
It was that I honestly didn’t know.
I pursed my lips again. There was nowhere to quench the flames in his burning chest.
“Not just humans, but all creatures live to satisfy their desires. It’s just that humans have intelligence and can only become more cruel and vicious… The saintess won the prize because of that snack. Since ancient times, a suffering body gives pleasure.”
“You were surprisingly cynic. Do you hate humans that much?”
“It is rather the opposite. I love you very much.”
With a smile, Siene-senpai put her hand on my chest and declared.
“I love human ugliness. All merchants do… I hope you will realize this one day, Roan Verrias.”
“Sister, I repeat, this is Sir Ian Percus… … .”
“Is there any way?”
It was a paroxysmal question.
Siene-senpai and Luna-senpai looked at me with their eyes wide open. It was the attitude that he did not expect me to ask for advice so directly.
In fact, it didn’t matter who it was.
I wanted to save the saintess somehow. If it hadn’t been for the Alpenhauser twins, I would have grabbed anyone walking down the street and asked:
Is it possible to save the saintess?
“There is at least one way to save the saintess… … .”
“Why are priests so sensitive to claims that God doesn’t exist?”
Siene-senpai said with a smile that did not know whether it was ridicule or accusation.
“I don’t think there really is. That’s why you act ferociously like a cat with a weakness… To that extent, faith is fragile.”
The merchant’s sweet whisper follows.
“Can you show me a miracle that can undo that flawed faith?”
Giggles, the woman’s voice fades away. Siene-senpai still had an excited expression on her face.
“Good job. It is said that the pope and the saints participate in the trial of the saintess. Huhu, that’s how the justification will stand. If you don’t care, you might end up seeing the saintess’ body sizzle and bake… Wow! He-don’t you put that hatchet away?!”
Because I tested the limit of my patience until the end, I had to see my hatchet.
and after a few days.
“… … Are you crazy?”
Siene-senpai said with an expression of boredom, and the more I said it, the more shameless I looked.
“I will defeat the saint.”
The trial is already the next day.
I decided to borrow the power of Alpenhauser.
Not too long ago, in return for brokering the trade of the beast’s corpse.
Siene-senpai said, and covered my forehead with the palm of my hand.
It looked like he had no idea what had happened in the past few days.