Chapter 8

“I have my own beliefs too.”

Beliefs that probably won’t change until the moment of death, you know, that kind of belief. And atheism is a pretty significant part of that belief.

But, the price of that belief is not more valuable than a human life.

No matter what I say outside, even if I speak positively about God or confess my faith, my thoughts won’t change anyway. Well, even if they did, they’re still not more important than someone dying right in front of me.

Confessing faith doesn’t mean money is disappearing from my bank account or my body is going through pain.

In fact, I’ve been able to exert strength without ever confessing faith separately. If you think about it, it’s just that people around me misunderstand me strangely every time they see that.

Maybe it’s because I don’t really have a religion. It’s possible that I don’t follow anything written in some important holy book. Just like not every thought in the world can be pinned down as the truth, I think my beliefs fall into that category of ambiguity.

In a documentary, there was a placard held by an atheist that said, “My perspective changes based on scientific evidence,” and my beliefs also fit into that. I’m convinced right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s the final answer.

I don’t think my beliefs are the perfect answer, but ignoring the danger of a person right in front of me – even when I have a method to remove that danger immediately – is, in any perspective, just ‘wrong’.

So I’ll just choose to avoid that wrong answer.

“Ugh, come on.”

I waved my hand to shoo away the pesky light reflecting on my face and walked back toward the room.

After a long while of sprinting, my legs were a bit weak. I was even sweating in this winter chill. Maybe I should go wash up and get some sleep.

The Sister Warden usually lets me off from duties during occasions like this.

Well, since it’s Sunday, the schedule is relatively lenient afterwards.

“Oh.”

As I walked down the hallway, I spotted a veil lying on the floor. It didn’t click until I touched my head that I wasn’t wearing one.

Did it fall when I was jumping earlier?

I bent down to pick up the veil and slightly wobbled.

Someone grabbed my arm from the side.

Turning my head, I saw Ria, who had just followed me and snatched my arm.

“…Are you okay?”

“Not particularly something’s wrong with my body.”

I felt a bit tired and a little dizzy. The light had flashed in my vision, and I must’ve shaken my head a bit too much to get rid of it.

Being tired is common after exerting myself.

Yeah, it frequently happens that I feel fatigued after using my power. That’s one reason why the Sister Warden or the priests tend to give me a break from duties.

Generally, nuns say they feel drained after using Saint Power.

In comparison, my body seems to be mostly fine.

If my strength were to pose a serious danger… well, at the very least, I would’ve thought about it more seriously before using it.

I placed the veil haphazardly on my head and looked at Ria, getting a little startled.

Her serious expression while still holding onto my left arm seemed very intense.

“What? Are you finally considering acknowledging that I’m somewhat amazing?”

As I teased her, the crease on Ria’s forehead deepened.

She still couldn’t admit that? ‘Lee Chae-eun’ had a pretty strong personality even in the novel.

“Well, a little?”

But the response I got was a bit different from what I expected.

“A little?”

Before I knew it, I echoed her words.

It wasn’t that I reacted to the word ‘a little’. I repeated it just because it was what I heard, and I was surprised because Ria agreed with me on being called ‘amazing’.

Oh, come to think of it, she was a hero too.

Plus, her father was quite a devout believer. She had some connections to the church, so it wouldn’t be weird if she changed her perspective a bit after witnessing the power I demonstrated.

“……”

Ria remained silent for a bit longer after my question, then pulled her hand away from my left arm and said,

“Oh, right. A little. Just a little.”

Phew.

The strength supporting me suddenly disappeared, making me stagger a bit as I winced.

“You certainly are quite sincere.”

But I’d rather they just gave me a solid compliment if they were going to compliment me.

After all, the people I helped kept praying to God and didn’t even thank me.

Well, if you think about it, it’s natural since it’s really God’s power, not mine.

I let out a huff and turned my head away from Ria.

Then I fiddled with the veil while reshaping it and walked back to the room with heavy footsteps.

I thought I heard laughter from behind.

Anyway, it really was annoying.

＊

I woke up in the middle of the night after washing up and falling asleep immediately. Since no one woke me up along the way, it seemed like the Sister Warden or the priests just decided to let me be.

Since I slept so deeply, my fatigue had completely vanished, but—

Grrr.

…I’m hungry.

I had definitely missed dinner since I slept soundly without waking up, so it’s no wonder I’m hungry.

Scratching my head, I got out of bed.

Looking at Ria’s spot, her bedding was puffed up. I noticed her iconic red hair poking out from the edge, and I cautiously took out my nun’s dress to change.

Putting on the nun’s dress… well, it’s actually because there aren’t any other choices. Ria might have some casual clothes, but I’ve only lived in the convent during this life, so I had no clothes other than the nun’s dresses provided by the convent.

Grrr.

I heard the sound from my stomach and scratched my head again before stepping outside the room.

The convent isn’t a military facility, so there’s no night watch or anything. Although there are still some duties to attend to in the middle of the night, those responsibilities don’t fall on young nuns like us.

The dormitory is absolutely quiet at night.

Since every room has a bathroom and shower room anyway, there isn’t anything to do inside the convent at midnight.

It’s a rule violation to come out and wander around at this hour, and above all, nuns are generally expected to sleep and wake up at the set times.

So that time is precious. Usually, I wouldn’t want to waste that time.

“Alright.”

So now, it’s an exceptionally good time for someone like me sneaking out.

I tiptoed down the hallway. Although I could see outside the window, no one would be looking in. I hadn’t even donned a veil on my head, so sure, the Sister Warden might catch me, but thankfully I didn’t bump into anyone while making my way to the interview room.

I checked under the door for any light seeping through, but there was absolutely none.

Carefully, I opened the door and entered the interview room.

I rummaged my pockets for a small flashlight I had prepared earlier. I had bought it a few years back when doing volunteer work, and I had been using it conveniently until now. It’s perfect for situations like this because it’s not too bright.

I switched on the flashlight and placed it on the table, and then I filled the coffee pot with water.

Then, I opened the door to the storage room right next to the meeting room.

It did smell a bit musty, but it’s a place that’s well-maintained as it’s been cleaned consistently.

In the corner of that small storeroom was a big box filled with items used only during ceremonies.

“There it is, there it is.”

I whispered as I opened the box to check inside.

I had been the one who cleaned out the storage room last time. Sure enough, there were several instant noodles that I had bought beforehand during volunteer work.

Even if there’s instant noodles for duty… if I skip it, it’ll just end up getting found out that I secretly ate them.

If I eat and tidy up nicely, no one will notice.

Grrr.

I’m so hungry. Should I take two and eat them all by myself?

I turned around while humming quietly enough that it wouldn’t be heard outside the interview room.

“Eek!?”

And I shouted, not quite a scream but still pretty much one.

Considering how startled I was, I think I managed to control my voice well. Luckily, I didn’t hear any footsteps, so no one found out.

“Oh.”

But it seems I got caught by Ria.

“…Since when have you been there?”

“Maybe since you went into the storage room?”

“….”

Ah, that’s why the atmosphere in the storage room felt strange.

It’s natural that the light from the flashlight on the table won’t illuminate the entire room.

“By the way, is that a late-night snack?”

“……”

Ria asked with a smile, looking at me.

The coffee pot started bubbling, and the perfect timing of the sound indicating it had reached a boil was heard, right at that moment.

After hearing the sound of boiling water, I hesitated for a while and then asked Ria,

“D-Do you want to eat together?”

“Sure, that sounds good.”

Ria cheerfully smiled and stepped aside to let me through.

Anyway, this is quite annoying.

I grumbled to myself inwardly.