196 – EP.9 Saint Sannius Week-3
***
Returning to her waiting room, Maria removed the armor from her shoulders, elbows, and knees.
She had fastened the leather belt tightly, leaving a clear red mark where her belt had been.
Her fallen armor was scattered on the floor in a disorderly manner, and she leaned the great sword she could not place against the wall.
Maria sat on a long chair in the center of her waiting room and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her hand.
“I lost.”
Very short words that made her aware of reality came out of her mouth.
Her voice was filled with deep complexity.
When she won the first game, she had a little bit of hope.
With the guidance of the saint, she realized that she would confidently win the competition.
She thought she would be guided by God, just as the saints were.
However, at the start of her second match, her sword flew at her and she had to fall to her knees.
She was so inexperienced that it could hardly even be called a fight.
2 Throughout the game, she rolled around on the floor, unable to hide her moans.
Mary was displeased with the fact that she herself, who had received the teachings of none other than the saint, and who was an attendant assisting the saint, had been defeated.
“In the end, it means I’m not qualified.”
If she had made it to the finals at least, she would have made an excuse saying that she had proven herself worthy to be next to a saint….
Maria covered her sad expression with her palm.
– Rumbling
The wooden door opened, and Lumen came in.
“Chief judge!”
When she, who was supposed to be in her VIP room, entered her waiting room, Maria stood up hurriedly.
“Please sit down.”
Lumen sat her down in her calm voice.
After a moment of struggling with her awkward posture, she put her butt back on her chair.
Lumen quietly took a seat next to Maria.
“Good job, Sister Maria.”
“Thank you, but… I was eliminated after 2 games.”
“That’s right. The opponent was not good. He was the one who thought that the saint would win.”
Ah, the saint didn’t even think I would win in the first place.
Maria was both sad and sad.
“The saint… You were disappointed, weren’t you?”
Although she didn’t want to hear the answer, Maria asked anyway.
Lumen did not answer Maria’s question.
“…As expected.”
Accepting this as her silent affirmation, Maria lowered her shoulders.
“Don’t jump to conclusions. The saint didn’t even bring up the ‘string’ of disappointment.”
Looking at her subordinate’s severe mood swings, Lumen let out a small sigh.
When Maria looked at herself with her wide eyes, Lumen took her word for it.
“The Holy Son directly said that what he expected from Sister Maria was ‘the possibility of things becoming better than they are now.'”
Lumen swallowed her saliva and paused.
“I think Sister Maria showed that potential this time. It would have been nice if she had gone further, but she did.”
“Are you saying that the saint… Didn’t have much expectations from me?”
“You’re thinking negatively. No one has ever said that.”
Her twinge, the lumen, shed light on her.
“The saint said, ‘I lost, but I fought well.’ If I dare to guess the saint’s feelings… I wonder if he was sufficiently satisfied with Sister Maria….”
“…….”
As soon as Lumen finished speaking, Maria felt something angry and blooming deep within her heart.
“Do you remember what I said to Sister Maria earlier? ‘The Holy Son will definitely be of great help to Sister Maria’s stagnant faith.'”
“Yes. I remember.”
Lumen stood up.
“I was convinced today that what I thought was not wrong. So Sister Maria… Please show the saint that you will get better in the future.”
The judge’s pitch-black attire looked extremely modest.
[Wash your body and come slowly.]
Lumen conveyed her words to Maria, and she returned to her VIP seat.
“……”
Even after Maria’s lumen was running, she sat in her waiting room for a long time.
She buried her face in her palms.
“The saint acknowledged me.”
The tension and irritation that had built up from all the hard work disappeared without a trace, like snow melting in the spring sunlight.
And the empty space was filled with a feeling of elation that was difficult to explain.
“Huh….”
A laugh escaped from Maria’s mouth as she buried her face in her hands.
“hehehe…Recognition…Received.”
“I’ve been recognized… hehehe… The saint has now acknowledged me.”
“Thank goodness.”
A slightly frivolous sound, a mixture of crying and laughter, quietly spread throughout the waiting room.
***
The person chosen by In-ho ultimately won the competition.
The Pope and the leader of the Holy Knights looked at Inho with a surprised face, and he remained silent by shrugging his shoulders.
“Saint, at least give an award.”
“No, no. The Pope has always given the award, so I hope the Pope will give it this time as well.”
Inho declined the Pope’s proposal.
“Saint.”
Maria, who had already returned to her daily life, came up behind In-ho like a shadow.
“Sister Maria, thank you for your hard work.”
Knowing how much effort she put into her training, Inho looked up at her and smiled.
“…Thank you.”
Maria slightly turned her face at Inho’s flawless smile.
“Sister Maria, you fought hard, but it was a shame.”
When the leader of the Holy Knights who was sitting next to Inho spoke, Maria smiled as if it was okay.
“I think we can show you better results next time.”
Her answer was directed to the knight commander, but her eyes were focused on the back of the saint.
“So, you can look forward to it.”
As if making a promise to the saint, Mary spoke.
‘I’m reaching there….’
Feeling the feeling of something huge pressing against the back of Maria’s head, Inho began to seriously consider whether to say this or not.