Chapter 201

“It’s been about a month since then, and preparations are moving along steadily.”

Winter is already coming to an end. The weather is still a bit chilly, but the midday sun is gradually getting more intense.

“It’s been a year since we met.”

“Yeah, it has.”

So much has happened in that time.

Honestly, I never thought I would become this close to Ria.

Sure, in the original story, the Saintess was somewhat close to Ria.

But that was because they had their own common ground.

First off, they were both young women. Although they grew up in different places, there must have been some overlapping interests. There were even scenes in the story where Ria taught the Saintess how to put on makeup.

‘Hey, I’m the one swinging the sword, why don’t you know how to do this?’ is what Lee Chae-eun said back then.

While fighting over the same man, did they end up developing some kind of camaraderie? How strange, indeed, that the Chae-eun in the story thought she had to fight the Saintess on ‘equal terms.’

“……”

“What are you staring at?”

When I suddenly looked intently at Ria, she seemed a little flustered. This must be one of Ria’s changes over the past year.

Before, when Ria would stare at me, it was I who felt flustered.

Honestly, Ria’s flustered face is cute. I can’t help but feel that way since she’s someone I like.

“Ria, do you know how to do makeup?”

“Huh?”

When I asked out of the blue, Ria blinked her eyes.

“Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know. I just thought you might know how. You’ve had quite a fan base, right? Both with girls and guys.”

“Ah, well, that’s true.”

Ria is quite popular among the girls too. In many ways, she has a refreshing demeanor, and somehow, has a prince-like quality. If it were a female-oriented yuri story, she would surely fit that role.

As for the guys, well, there’s no way they wouldn’t like her. I’m proof of that.

I sat on a bench with my legs stretched out. The bench was under a roof, so it was a bit chilly in the shade, but my feet sticking out into the sunlight quickly warmed up.

“Is there someone you’re interested in?”

“No, well…”

There is.

But I don’t think Ria would suddenly like someone more just because I do makeup.

“You, I think you wouldn’t need makeup or anything.”

“Huh?”

When I heard Ria say that out of the blue, I looked at her.

Ria seemed to be blushing for some reason as she spoke.

“Why? Didn’t you say that yourself? You think I’m pretty.”

“That’s true. But that doesn’t mean celebrities don’t wear makeup.”

“That’s also true.”

Ria looked at me even more strangely.

“What? Do you really have someone you like?”

“Hmm.”

I pondered for a moment.

Should I say it? Should I just let it slip?

As usual, I’ve been feeling a bit rebellious lately, trying not to lean too much on that presence above.

I can sense that someone is watching me. Whenever I want to exert some effort, I can call on it at any time.

But for some reason, that thought felt uncomfortable. It’s probably because I’ve come to realize that I trust that presence in some form.

Moreover, the thought of having my future predicted by Ria wasn’t exactly pleasant either.

It wasn’t quite a prophecy, but more like an accurate ‘prediction’—

…….

It feels like that future is being set in stone, doesn’t it?

Thinking about that future gives me a strange feeling. Even though I know that presence won’t push me into that situation, and I can feel Ria holding onto me tightly, I keep thinking negative thoughts.

Logically and rationally speaking, feeling that future is approaching is a bit odd. The future is inherently an unknown territory, and even that presence above cannot give a clear answer. So, there shouldn’t be any real consequence just from listening.

“Hey.”

As I got lost in my thoughts, Ria suddenly poked me in the side and pulled me toward her as if she were my girlfriend.

All the nuns nearby looked at us with various expressions. Surprisingly, there weren’t many shocked faces. Some looked at us weirdly and shifted positions, while others seemed to have anticipated this moment.

“I asked you. Do you have someone you like?”

“…… Well, one thing I can say for sure is that it’s not someone you think it is. If I had someone other than you, I would have just said it. There’s no reason to hide it if it plays a big role in me not becoming a Saintess, right?”

“……”

But even after hearing that, Ria narrowed her eyes and watched me silently.

“I just feel like there are still many things I haven’t experienced yet.”

Ria’s eyebrows twitched.

“Why? Are you afraid of dying?”

“Is it that scary?”

I’m not too sure about that.

When I was an atheist, death scared me. For an atheist, death meant going back to nothingness. For an atheist, existence only lies in consciousness, and when that consciousness disappears, that’s when you truly die. Knowing there’s no going back, it’s terrifying.

But now I know there’s an afterlife. Death isn’t the end, and the world beyond isn’t just a scary place.

So, is there any need to fear death?

But at the same time, along with that thought comes another question.

Then what does it mean to be alive?

“If there are beings waiting in the world beyond, then there’s no reason to fear death itself.”

“…… So?”

“Huh?”

“So, does that mean you want to die?”

“…….”

Hearing the tone in Ria’s voice that was holding back her emotions, I gazed at her quietly.

“If by dying, you could protect the world, would that just mean you would want to die?”

“…… Not really.”

I replied absentmindedly.

This is…… a strange thought. It’s irrational and completely illogical.

But even knowing that, I thought. More than going to that metaphysical world, staying like this with Ria is more enjoyable.

Why is it that I want to live?

Because I’ve met people here. It’s like not wanting to lose the friends I made at school. Just living in the moment and enjoying the connections I’ve found. There’s still a conclusion I want to see.

It’s painful to see someone leave my side. If that period was to last forever, even more so.

“I like it here.”

I’m not sure why, it’s just how I feel. Even if I were to die at the same time as Ria and go up there, I think I would prefer being here.

This is the place where I was born.

“I even like sitting next to Ria.”

Yeah. Thinking back, it really does scare me.

If I think that I will lose all of this. If I think about how Ria will suffer and be sad, then yes.

Even if I still can’t know everything.

That’s why I want to cross that Gate.

As much as I fear, I know others must feel the same.

“……”

As I said that, this time Ria fell silent.

“Why? Why did it suddenly get quiet?”

I leaned slightly toward Ria and asked.

“Um, no, it’s just that.”

That flustered expression is amusing.

It’s also adorable.

Ria makes this expression because of me. Yes, I still haven’t seen her make such faces toward anyone else besides me.

In some sense, I am an important person to Ria.

That’s why I felt that urge to want to be here.

I decided on that.

I stretched slightly further and pressed my lips lightly against Ria’s. Unlike usual, it was a light kiss, though not overly so.

But even that seemed stimulating enough for the nuns, as sounds of surprise erupted from here and there.

Normally, Ria would embrace me and kiss me without a care, but now her face turned bright red, and she stiffened up.

I peeked out my tongue slightly.

＊

“Here, it’s the artifact you requested.”

Clarnet spoke to me while handing over a gem.

“Are you using that ring well?”

As she looked at the ring on my right hand, Clarnet asked.

It was a ring made with the unique technique of Gnomes that stored Saint Power.

Since I hadn’t used it for a while, it must have been steadily seeping my Saint Power. I also slipped in a bit whenever I held Ria’s hand.

“This gem is much more intricate than the one in that ring. It should be able to store quite a lot of your Saint Power.… although it won’t be enough to summon the Gate.”

Clarnet paused for a moment, deep in thought.

“After all, I guess that gem doesn’t contain Gnome technology, right? No, it could be that it has Dwarf technology in some sense…”

But Clarnet didn’t pursue that line of thought any further.

Both Gnomes and Dwarves owe me a debt. So I doubt anyone would care too much if I took a gem from someplace that can’t really be claimed by either side.

“It’s plenty enough, Clarnet. It will definitely be a great help.”

“Hehe.”

Clarnet straightened her shoulders. Gnomes aren’t that much shorter than Dwarves, but she’s still a few centimeters shorter, and along with her slim frame, she has a rather cute impression.

“Since then, I figured there would come a time when I’d need a power worthy of the word ‘Saintess.’ This item, crafted over several months, will surely help you.”

“As for the price—”

“The price is fine. It’s more like we will be paying you back later.”

Clarnet’s smile faded a bit as she looked up at me.

“Or perhaps by handing this over, I might end up increasing my debt instead? If it’s Anna you’re speaking of, she certainly wouldn’t use that power just for herself.”

“……”

I couldn’t think of a response to that.