204 – EP.9 Blindfold Aung-2
***
Returning from the third day of relief work, In-ho heard a story about an errand boy who had visited Albainin village.
“You moved?”
“Yes. They say he left the village.”
On the way back to her lodgings, Maria wiped Inho’s hands with a wet towel.
“Have you at least moved? Does it happen more often than that?”
In-ho, who obediently extended his hand to Maria, asked Maria back as if she was puzzled.
“Leaving the village is not a common thing.”
“Still, your neighbors probably know why you left, right?”
When Inho asked for an explanation, Maria frowned.
Because she didn’t know much either.
“Didn’t you scam that messenger?”
In-ho spoke, having suddenly abandoned his saintly tone and revealed his true personality.
Then Maria shook her head.
“That’s probably not true. I also asked the errand boy, and he said the villagers were reluctant to say anything.”
“Could it be that he’s in a lot of debt? If that’s the case, it would make sense to bring in Antonio from the church.”
In-ho suggested one possibility.
“When I look at the cases of apprentice priests and nuns who have debt problems at home, I think they would rather have Antonio in the order and not take him with them.”
Mary denied it.
The carriage they rode in was returning to the lodgings.
Perhaps because its appearance was already known, a crowd of onlookers watching the carriage could be seen from inside the carriage.
“Hmm… Then is it really that I couldn’t adapt?”
Inho was worried as he touched his chin with his free hand.
“Rather, that is the norm. Many apprentice priests and nuns return to their hometowns every year.”
“But, it’s rare for people to move.”
“That’s true.”
The conversation returned to the starting point. Inho leaned back, scratching his agitated head.
After finishing drying her hands, Maria carefully placed her towel in her arms.
“I’m going back tomorrow.”
Maria muttered as she looked at the orange-lit window.
“Time flies. Still, it was nice to be able to change my mood.”
It was Inho who was tied to the church after being transported to another dimension.
For him, it was a scene that was not much different from the religious denomination or Madini village.
There was no doubt that Madini’s free atmosphere soothed his mood.
“It might take some time to get back.”
Maria smiled softly.
“Camping is also fun. It reminds me of the old days.”
In-ho recalled camping with Soyou.
“Did you go camping often?”
Maria showed curiosity at Inho’s expression as he reminisced about old memories.
“Yes. Often… It’s a long time ago.”
In-ho couldn’t bring himself to say “Another dimension” And hesitated.
Mary wanted to inquire further, but she sensed the saint’s mood.
“I heard that you have a meal plan today as well.”
Nikolai had said since morning that it was the last day and that he would prepare a sumptuous feast.
He recalled what happened yesterday and thought about refusing, but Nikolai was very persistent.
Also, the Holy Knights around him seemed to secretly want Inho to go to the dinner table.
I thought it would be rude to refuse a meal, so In-ho accepted.
“It’s going to be noisy today too.”
Thinking about the mess of the meal, Inho’s face naturally frowned.
“But since I warned you yesterday, I think I will refrain from doing so today.”
Maria spoke as if telling me not to worry.
“I see.”
“So….”
Maria slowly caught Inho’s attention.
She rubbed her fingers on her chair, avoiding her gaze.
Inho looked at her, wondering what to say.
From her turned profile, I could see her exposed ears gradually turning red.
“Don’t worry, you can drink.”
After finishing speaking, Maria lowered her head as if she knew she was embarrassed.
Inho made a dumbfounded expression and spoke firmly to Maria.
“I won’t drink today.”
“Yeah, like that!!!”
Maria looked back with a very disappointed expression.
***
The next morning, the saint had a refreshing day without a hangover.
On the contrary, the condition of his attendants was not good,
This is because he ‘accidentally’ mistook water for wine and brought it to the saint’s room, and ‘accidentally’ drank the wine, mistaking it for water.
Mary, slightly intoxicated, asked if she could rest in her saint’s room, but the saint firmly sent her back to her room.
There was no way to tell if she had drank more when she went back to her room, but judging by the wide-eyed look on her face, she must have drank alone.
“It was an honor to be able to serve the saint.”
Nikolai and Pietro saw him off in the carriage.
“Thank you for the kind hospitality. May the grace of light be with you both.”
In-ho, who was accustomed to pretending to be a saint, gave his blessing.
Behind Nikolai and Pietro, who smiled kindly, we saw the Holy Knights coming out carrying sacks.
Inho gazed at the scene indifferently. The heavy sack, tied with blue string, was placed in the luggage compartment of the bride’s carriage.
‘I don’t think it’s our luggage.’
I remembered that there was no such bag in the luggage I brought with me.
“Then I hope to see you again next time.”
Pietro said his final goodbye to Inho, and Inho came out of his thoughts.
Welcoming a large crowd of people to see off, the carriage carrying the saint left the village of Madini.
After three days of travel, Inho was able to arrive at the church headquarters again.
The carriage entered the village attached to the church’s headquarters and passed the square where the saint’s execution had previously taken place.
The saint, exhausted from her long journey, looked helplessly out the window, feeling that she had returned to the church.
The Holy Knights were lined up in the streets for the saint’s procession.
While passing by the pleasant road they had made, the saint caught the eye of a group of beggars entering an alley.
“…Sister Maria.”
“Yes, saint.”
“Please send someone again to find out about Antonio’s whereabouts.”
In-ho muttered as he watched the beggars disappearing behind the crowd, as if removing things that should not be seen by a saint.