Chapter 36

“Why?”

I mumbled to myself as I paced around the dorm room.

“How did so many people gather like that? Those who usually don’t even care?”

Today’s service was a tremendous success. Well, given that the existence of a deity is taken as common sense in this world, it’s no surprise that many people attend. Even on weekdays, that’s the case. Those with faith likely deepened it, and some who didn’t used to believe might have found faith.

But today was quite different from the usual.

No matter how much faith one has, coming to church on a weekday is tough. Many prefer to laze around at home on weekends, so you’d need a tremendous amount of passion to come to church right after work on a weekday.

“It can’t be because of you, can it?”

“Of course it is because of you. You’re pretty, right? There are people who might come just to see you. Why not hold a meet-and-greet?”

Ria replied casually while flipping through a book on her bed.

“…”

When I shot a glare at Ria, she stifled a laugh.

“Well, think of it as open recruitment. You are, after all, a Cardinal and a bowed Saint Candidate. To them, you’ll look like a certified candidate. Even if you are a Saint Candidate, you’ve never experienced it before.”

“…Kyaaa.”

I clutched my head and squatted down.

“Ugh, my harsh reality.”

Ria patted my head, and when I shot a look at her again, she remained completely unfazed.

Well, of course. Damn, I could never win against Ria in a strength contest. Unless she decided to give me a far-off suplex.

It had only been three days since I returned from Myeong-dong, and while I had undergone training in between, it naturally wouldn’t lead to a remarkable increase in skill. The only improvement was thanks to Ria’s toy gun—a pink rubber projectile—helping me at least manage a decent shooting stance.

“Am I just a hamster being raised?”

“Well, at least I eat well like a hamster,” she shrugged.

“…”

I opened and closed my mouth several times, then decided to change the subject. I suddenly sprang up, wandering to the end of the dorm room, resting my chin on my hand and deep in thought.

“…Do you think they’d let me volunteer outside the Gate?”

“So you’re thinking of escaping to an entirely different world now?”

I had escaped to another world myself, so couldn’t I dream of running away a little?

Still, I knew well that there was no paradise. For atheists, there’s neither paradise nor hell. Beyond the Gate, it’s just “another world.”

Of course, it might be ‘heaven-like’ or ‘hell-like’. Statistically, the chances of it being ‘heaven-like’ are drastically lower than being ‘hell-like’.

That’s just how nature works.

But if it’s a place where people live, it might be a tad better? Hunters generally look kindly upon those who’re good to them.

“Probably not going to happen?”

But my hope was shattered by Ria’s next words.

“People know how important talented beings are. If you’re the kind of person who makes others feel secure just by being nearby, there’s a chance you might not return from that other world. Would they really want to put such talent in danger?”

That was a pretty reasonable opinion.

If there’s a Gate, people need to scout the other side, which is why there are Hunters. Regardless of their abilities, someone needs to take on that role—but there’s no point in deliberately sending someone to risk unnecessarily.

But in the original version, the Saint just crossed over without a second thought, right?

Yet mentioning the ‘original’ in front of Ria now wouldn’t work.

I suspect something happened before the original story started, which enabled the Saint to cross over.

So…

“That’s it.”

“Huh?”

When I indicated that I had realized something, Ria blinked.

“There could be another civilization beyond the Gate, right?”

“There is.”

“And we even have exchanges with that country.”

“We do, though it’s limited.”

“Then, can’t I just sneak in during those exchanges?”

“….”

Ria looked at me with the most incredulous expression she had worn so far.

“You’re not trying to do illegal entry, are you?”

“Ah.”

Would it turn out that way?

“Just because it’s beyond the Gate doesn’t mean it’s just an empty space. Even if the technology of those countries lags behind us, we wouldn’t just arrogantly invade. We need to be wary of other nations too, right?”

That’s… I already know that. It’s a common narrative learned at school and, more importantly, something I had read in the original.

“If one country starts invading another, other countries will likely follow suit and invade through the Gate. Once that happens, who knows what will unfold? Up to now, most of the countries beyond the Gate have been less advanced than us, but one day, a Gate might open near a country in the 26th century.”

While the argument of justification can sometimes crumble under the logic of power, conversely, if many nations maintain good relations, we might be able to gain support at such moments.

And honestly, there’s no need to conquer a nation. It’s far more likely that areas beyond the Gate will be uninhabited.

“Besides, there’s no guarantee that the beings over there are all human.”

“I’ve heard there are races like Elves.”

And I had also gathered that those Elves seemed to be quite rich too. Apparently, they run a powerful monarchical empire, and the nobles feel like they just stepped out of a typical comic.

Modern society is, strictly speaking, a “society without lower beings.” Well, it’s not entirely unbroken, but legally, that’s how it is.

However, I think the Elves hear that and assume, “So these folks don’t have a nobility class!”

So, they equate it as “No nobility means they are all commoners.”

In sheer numbers, we’re overwhelmingly bigger, and while our tech is advantageous, we don’t openly bully them.

“Hmm.”

…Going there without caution might be slightly problematic.

“So what do I do…?”

“…Isn’t just accepting the situation an option?”

Ria asked.

I flopped back on the bed.

Perhaps feeling a bit sorry for my utterly disheartened self, Ria crawled over to her desk and opened a drawer.

She pulled out a piece of chocolate.

“Want to eat?”

“Yes.”

“You really need to learn how to refuse.”

*

Ironically, an opportunity found its way to me shortly after.

Luckily, the people attending the service were all faithful, so while they did glance my way, no one dared approach me directly.

Most importantly, Ria was always glaring at anyone near me.

Ria had already been famous enough, and her father was even more renowned. Naturally, it’s hard to approach someone of such standing casually.

So that wasn’t a big issue, but—

“Are you one of the high-ups?”

Ria tilted her head.

The Sister Warden and the priest nodded.

Today, we were in the chapel rather than the usual interview room at the convent. While it’s not strictly prohibited for priests and Sisters to be alone together, it’s far more comfortable to converse in a way that avoids any suspicion.

“…Is the high-up sick or something?”

When Ria asked again, the priest shook his head.

“If that were the case, we would have rejected the request from the start. If we start conceding, it leads to endless requests. Besides, such ailments can be treated without Sister Anna’s powers.”

Both of us nodded.

And then we tilted our heads together.

“Then, was it a traffic accident…?”

“More like an assassination attempt, apparently.”

“Assassination attempt.”

For some reason, that felt like a story that didn’t belong in our world.

“Yes. A certain princess… apparently, she ingested poison.”

“Poison.”

How very, let’s say, classic.

Not that there aren’t any cases of suicide or murder in this world either.

“How dire is the situation?”

I asked.

“It’s said to be critically dangerous, beyond normal treatment. Fortunately, we have passed a few bottles of holy water, so her life is being maintained for now.”

“It seems holy water won’t completely cure her.”

“That’s right.”

The priest nodded at my question.

But still, something felt strange.

“If it’s an assassination attempt, wouldn’t there be no need to try? There had to be a more reliable way than poison. If they knew about holy water and Saint Power, they must have also known it would likely fail.”

The Sister Warden and the priest exchanged glances.

And then looked at me simultaneously.

“That’s why we received this special request. The existence of such a world is not common knowledge.”

Ah.

“The one who attempted the assassination might be somewhat detached from that royal family, or possibly an individual from a foreign country.”

“….”

Both Ria and I fell into silence.

“They say she won’t last another week. What do you wish to do?”

I tilted my head again.

“Is there really a need to ask?”

“Huh?”

“Well, if there’s someone who is dying, and I can save them with my powers, and I’ve heard about it, then there’s no other option. Not helping at that point would be no different than letting them die.”

At my words, Ria let out a soft sigh for some reason, while the priest and the Sister Warden exchanged cautious glances.

…What’s up with that?

Weren’t they bringing me in for this reason? I just have to go and use my powers.

As I observed the odd atmosphere, I tilted my head in the opposite direction.