197 – EP.9 The Truman Show-1
***
Saint Sanisos Week, which was just an event, passed without any special events.
The excitement of the noisy stadium and the works reproducing the miracles of Saint Sanisos that were placed here and there in the church all disappeared as soon as Sanisos Week ended.
As a result, the silence and solemnity that had been absent for a while returned to the church after a long journey.
My daily life also returned to normal. Meals with nobles, which had been reduced at best, increased again.
The Pope repeatedly said he was sorry.
If I had done it according to my personality, I would have turned the table over, but I couldn’t do it because the old man, who was much older than me, bowed to me in a low posture.
Actually, I felt a little tired of being a saint recently.
No matter where you go, you are bombarded with gazes and have to pay attention to what others do every day.
I can understand, at least a little, the difficulties faced by celebrities who I could not sympathize with.
“Ugh… Today is over.”
Perhaps it is because of the emotional labor, I feel extremely tired after work.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
The only time I can spend comfortably is when I am in my room.
Even though Maria is next to me, it is still more comfortable than a chapel or a restaurant.
Moreover, the distance she initially felt from Maria has gradually diminished, so her presence with her is not so uncomfortable.
This seems to be the same for Maria. When she talks to me, unlike the first time when she was shaking like a private, she talks normally and even makes jokes occasionally.
I think the results of her competition gave her great confidence.
I mechanically sat down on the chair, and Maria skillfully made coffee.
It wasn’t as tasty as the one Emma cooked, but she seems to be getting better at it as she cooks it often.
“…Sister Maria, would you like to have a drink too?”
When I poured her coffee and asked Maria, who was looking at me intently, she smiled and shook her head.
These days, Maria often looks at me quietly.
She just stares without doing anything.
“Ah, saint.”
Maria said, clapping her hands as if she had forgotten.
I take a sip of coffee and wait for her next words.
“I’ll move some laundry.”
“It looks like there is training for apprentice nuns today as well.”
“Yes, it happens often around this time of year.”
“Please come back. I will finish my coffee.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
After slightly raising her glass and nodding her head, Maria leaves her room.
I hear Maria’s footsteps walking away as she packs her laundry.
The steps are half mixed with nervousness and half joy.
“‘I’ll be back soon.’…”
I don’t know if I’ll be back soon.
On days when she picks up my laundry, she is usually gone for at least 30 minutes.
Well, it’s nothing new and surprising.
I already have a feeling that the person who is obsessed with me in this dimension is Maria.
***
What I realized while walking through various dimensions is that eventually, one way or another, an event will occur, and through that event, someone will become obsessed with me.
Under the premise that I can’t avoid an obsessed woman, what should I do?
Should I run away? Should I fight back?
What I learned from Mr. Garam is that unconditional rejection is an action that releases the brakes on their nature.
Then how should I act?
I decided to build friendly relationships.
If you can’t stop your obsession, don’t let your obsession become a big threat.
Her title as a saint and the bond she built by teaching her her sword.
Although it will make her hostile to her world, it will make her not hostile to me.
“……”
While thinking about this and that, a piece of paper placed on the table caught her eye.
A list written in letters I can’t read.
– I kept in mind what you said about wanting to do relief work.
– We have selected the candidate locations here, so you can tell us where you want to go.
I received this from the Pope this evening.
Where should I go? I think it would be better to go out and do some proper volunteer work.
Then I guess I should go to the poorest neighborhood.
“So, when are you coming?”
Looking at the coffee I had already drunk half of, I waited for Maria to return.
Just like that, Maria returned to her room 40 minutes after going to do her laundry.
Exhaling a strangely excited breath.
***
“The smallest place is ‘Elten’ village.”
I handed out my list to Maria, who came back with a deep blush on her face, and after hearing my explanation, Maria chose the village of ‘Elten’ as her third candidate location.
“Is it far from here?”
“It’s usually about 4 to 5 days away. Still, the villages here seem to be relatively safe to visit.”
It cannot be sent to a place that is too far away or has poor security.
It seems to be the Pope’s intention. Well, I have no intention of going far by force.
“Just because it’s a small village doesn’t mean it needs help… Are there places where there are a lot of poor people?”
Maria thought for a moment about the question, and then chose the fourth candidate site.
“Then I think it is ‘Madini’ village. I heard that there is a lot of floating population because it is located on the road to each village.”
The larger the population, the more gaps there will be.
Especially if there are a lot of people passing through, there will be children who are abandoned there, and there will also be people who just came to the village dreaming of a new life.
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But I feel something uneasy.
“Yes, but… It’s strange.”
I furrowed my eyebrows and spoke to Maria.
“Which do you mean?”
Maria tilts her head and looks at me.
“I don’t think this is my first time hearing about Madini Village.”
Where have I heard this before? I can’t seem to remember.
I definitely heard it today….
“Ah!”
I remembered.
Today, I visited the apprentice priest classroom to see Antonio.
It was to keep her previous promise.
But there was no sign of the boy in the classroom, and I asked the priest in charge about him.
-Antonio could not adapt and returned to his hometown.
I heard that there are many children who are unable to adapt to life in the religious community at a young age and return home.
I felt bitter because I felt like I had become an adult who couldn’t keep my promise.
– I see. Where is Antonio’s hometown?
I just asked in passing without much meaning.
– This is ‘Albinin’. It is located near the village of Madini.
“Albaynin next to Madini….”
“Saint?”
“Sister Maria. How far is Albaynin village from Madini?”
“I haven’t been there in person… But I think I can get there in half a day.”
Maria said, measuring the distance with her head.
“Okay. Then let’s go to Madini Village.”
“Yes. I will forward it to you.”
I see Maria’s face as she carries the list.