Chapter 37

“It’s a bit hazy now, but I still remember the important developments of the story in my own way.”

In the main story, the Saintess had been a Saintess for quite some time, and I’m not sure if she helped the protagonist harness the power like I did for Ria, but I could tell she was much closer to my current self.

In that sense, I could say I dodged the plot of the original work to some extent.

I’m not super close with Lee Si-yoon, right? To put it plainly, he’s an acquaintance, and honestly, not a particularly close one at that.

However, there are other incidents I need to be wary of, not just the one related to Lee Si-yoon. The Saintess is already a figure of considerable reputation in the main story, so Lee Si-yoon probably has some admiration for her.

Could this incident be related to the main plot?

I concluded, “Yes.”

Of course. If I had drastically changed the main storyline of this world, the butterfly effect might have caused political upheaval over there, but I haven’t exactly done anything like that.

Since it’s still before the main story starts and the human relationships are forming, this incident might just be one of those events.

Who is it?

Since there’s a clear pathway to what could be called an ‘otherworldly’ place, naturally, there are heroines from that ‘otherworld’ too.

And of course, we can’t have an elf missing from that mix.

Part of what I know about the ‘Elf world’ comes from reading the novel.

“But, there was no princess.”

Hmm.

I tilted my head.

“Why is that?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You do realize that your definition of ‘nothing’ often strays far from common sense, right?”

That assessment was a bit unfair.

I’m a perfectly rational person, functioning under common sense.

If anything, the world is the one that’s illogical. Well, I could view it through a culturally relativistic lens, though.

“Is this your first time venturing this far?”

Ria made a strange guess.

“Even if I live in the church, I still go out occasionally for volunteer work or such. I’ve been as far as Chungcheongbuk-do.”

As I straightened my shoulders, Ria sighed lightly with a somewhat perplexed expression.

“Yeah, that really is… quite a distance.”

Then again, someone like Ria might have even traveled abroad. Her hero father is quite busy, but they live well. They must have some memories, even if they can’t visit often.

If this ride were a way to another world, it would indeed mean traveling ‘very far,’ but neither the church nor the national government would send Saint Candidates beyond that.

That would be pushing it too far for me, but didn’t the Saint Candidates point out that I am not the Saintess? The government, having likely heard stories of that power from hunters, wouldn’t want to send such a remarkable talent to another world.

As a result, we head toward some gate in Gyeonggi-do.

Usually, the one at a disadvantage in a transaction feels the pinch. If we had no power, the nation would be at risk of losing its princess, so their worries would be justified.

“By the way.”

I said while looking around.

The bus we rode was different from the mini-bus we had taken before. This one was more like a regular-sized bus. Of course, the interior felt like a high-speed bus meant for long distances.

The outside was just black without any notable markings, giving it a somewhat intimidating vibe, but inside, it wasn’t that bad.

And the bus was packed with people.

Ria and I were seated side by side about three rows from the front, and behind us were the priest and the Sister Warden.

A few people who looked like they were sent from the church and several nuns from our church were also on board.

However, the most out-of-place people there weren’t the clergy.

“Why is Lee Si-yoon over there?”

At my question, Ria gave me a sly smile.

“Why? Do you like him?”

“No.”

At Ria’s words, I replied with a firm tone.

It’s not me; it’s you who’s in danger.

In this world, I’m not emotionally invested in Lee Si-yoon.

But still, my mindset that childhood friends should be connected remains unchanged.

The probability of me getting close to Lee Si-yoon is practically zero, but Ria falling for him is very, very high. Isn’t it normal for someone to like a good-looking guy?

…You guys just live happily in a place where I can’t see you. Well, if the story requires it, I might have to encounter you by chance.

“Sigh.”

“Hmm.”

As I sighed and turned my gaze out the window, Ria chuckled softly.

I shot her a glare and looked back out the window.

The moon was beautifully shining in the night.

*

The Gate didn’t look much different from the one I saw at Bukhansan.

It resembled a surface carefully lifted from a lake made of mercury. To be honest, I find it a bit remarkable that someone would even think to step through it for the first time.

Just looking at it, it appears to be a peculiar object of sorts. Until you see something coming through it, it just looks like a liquid that could be quite harmful to your body.

I had forgotten to ask Ria about Lee Si-yoon when she suddenly started teasing me, but I guess her role here is to guard me.

“The hunters are the ones who can best respond when something unexpected pops out from the Gate,” Ria explained.

That made sense. I mean, the Knight Order was created to deal with the entities that come through the Gate, but the hunters have overwhelming real-world experience.

It seems this region is entangled for various reasons, but honestly, I didn’t want to delve that deeply, so I just nodded.

Oof.

“Yikes!?”

The sudden pain shooting through my ribs made me stifle a scream.

But it was hard to ignore the sound of metal clinking from my mouth.

Everyone turned to see what was up, so I forced a smile on my face.

Seeing their gazes revert, I shot Ria a glare.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I was just wondering if you were thinking of going over there to talk.”

“Who, Lee Si-yoon?”

When I asked in disbelief, Ria shrugged.

Why does she think that?

But without needing to think too deeply, I reached a quick conclusion.

Ria hasn’t been around men as much, though not as much as the average nun. It’s not that she never sees men; she just rarely gets to talk to them since the only ones around the church are mostly silent congregants or aged priests.

Ria, who has no ex-boyfriend and is probably not overly interested in men, still… Why is it said that suddenly you see a well-put-together boy and suddenly women become ten times prettier?

But if a guy is ‘really good-looking,’ especially if he’s my age and also an acquaintance, even if she’s not seriously trying to flirt, she might want to at least say hello.

However, it seems like Han Yu-ri noticed that Ria and I were glancing over, and she quickly grabbed Lee Si-yoon’s wrist and pulled him away as far as possible.

Alright, quick on her feet.

I nodded in satisfaction and turned away.

“Hey, wait.”

Ria was a bit flustered and followed me.

Sorry, Chaeun.

I don’t plan to set you up with Lee Si-yoon.

So, a childhood friend couple, did I make an awkward mix-up…? Or was it a red sun? Well, it doesn’t really matter.

In any case, that’s not what I want.

Ria seemed a bit irritated for not speaking to Lee Si-yoon, but when she made that face, I averted my gaze toward the Gate.

*

“…This is taking forever.”

One of the hunters grumbled.

“They say it’s a princess. It seems a bit time-consuming to sneak out. There’s likely some tension.”

“Still, isn’t it a bit too late to be receiving help? They might be looking down on us…”

“Hey, hey.”

The other hunters noticed the stares directed at them and nudged the one who was complaining.

When the hunters saw me, they quickly shut their mouths.

Hmm, do they think I’m feeling weird because of that remark?

I really didn’t care much.

While I pondered that, just staring blankly at the Gate—

“Wait a minute.”

For some reason, Ria reacted.

Her expression stiffened, and she quickly stood up, drawing a knife and stepping in front of me.

It wasn’t just Ria. The hunters who had been chatting suddenly assumed a combat stance.

“Ria, what’s going on—”

But before I finished my question, a face suddenly popped out from the Gate.

At first, I thought it was a neatly dressed white woman, but once the figure fully emerged, I realized it wasn’t a ‘person’ at all.

Even from afar, the long ears were clearly visible.

In her arms, she cradled a woman who had blackened, decayed flesh in various places.

“Oh my.”

I tried to step forward, but Ria moved her feet to block me.

“Ria?”

Before I could finish my sentence—

Whoosh.

An arrow flew through the space from the Gate.

It grazed the woman’s ear and lodged in the ground, but if it hit her, it would have been a fatal shot.

The woman’s body was covered in blood, with arrows sticking out of her back like porcupine quills.

How on earth did she make it here?

Before anyone could shout anything, people moved swiftly.

Those running toward the arrow-struck woman, others carefully receiving her, and those guarding the front of the Gate.

“Don’t go out first.”

Ria glanced over her shoulder at me and said.

Her expression was a little scary, and I unconsciously nodded in compliance.