Chapter 11

“Now that I think about it, maybe I overreacted for that reason.”

I’ve already been through something like that before, so who knows.

I can’t exactly say that the injured guy was a scout who purposely hurt himself to come meet me… if that were the case, his colleague from the association wouldn’t have stopped him.

And thinking about it that way makes it even more repulsive.

If I go to the association, isn’t that like saying I’m ready to step forward?

…When I pushed his hand away, that guy got all angry, saying I should act more like a Sister. Well, that ended with him being handed over to the police.

What? What’s this about a Sister?

I was just as furious. I barely managed to get there when I heard someone say there was an emergency, and my hair fell out of place. Just because I’m fifteen and grew faster than others doesn’t mean it’s my fault, right?

Only after being dragged to the police and having them hear my age did that guy freak out and send an apology letter, but of course, I rejected it.

The priest wanted to review the content himself. After a while, he asked if I remembered it, but he said it was something that didn’t need to be read.

Well, that’s that for now.

Isn’t there something like this?

When a senior gives you advice, you feel an urge to act in the opposite way. Even when someone says something that’s definitely right, it’s human nature to think, ‘I’m misinterpreting things because you insist I should dress modestly.’ Once you hear such nonsense, your instinct makes you want to rebut them right there.

So I acted outright against those words.

And that habit has led me here.

“Now it’s just because I want to do it. It’s comfortable, looks nice, and seems to suit me.”

I said while looking out the window.

The view outside was just a high wall.

The convent dormitory’s window faced south, but whoever built this place sure didn’t want the Sisters to see the outside world, stacking the wall up high so that no outside scenery could be seen.

Even if there was no wall, the only thing visible would be the church’s walls since the convent was built on an uphill road behind the church.

The branches of a tree growing over that wall were still bare.

When those leaves sprout fully, my convent life will probably come to an end.

…

Oh, it seems like the story took a turn there.

“Um…”

Ria, who was listening to my story, paused for a moment before continuing.

“Well, nothing major happened besides that. That was only a single time, and thinking back, I guess other Sisters might experience similar things.”

If Maria had gone through something similar, I’m sure a few others would have too.

If that were to happen, I imagine that guy’s hand would twist the other way.

“…You went through a lot.”

After thinking for a while, Ria replied.

I nodded my head.

Yeah, it was quite the hassle.

In some sense, I even ended up fighting with a Cardinal.

But once I get back into the world, it’ll all be over, right?

Hmm.

“Why?”

When I fell silent, Ria asked.

Did I show it on my face?

“Just because.”

I replied absentmindedly while gazing up at the sky spread over that wall.

The sky was cloudy.

Is it going to snow again?

“It’s just a bit… empty.”

“Empty?”

“Yeah, thinking of leaving.”

Even though I had made up my mind like that since childhood.

Now that all reasons not to go have vanished, it felt that way.

Maybe it’s because I spent my childhood here.

Hmm, perhaps the reason I held on so long was not just because of the stalker, but because I simply wanted to live peacefully here.

“……”

Ria had no response.

*

Chaeun imagined living a life trapped in a small space, thinking the world was just that little area.

It didn’t come to her easily. Chaeun had traveled a lot since childhood, reaching places far away, and after picking up a sword, she’d even been to various parts of the country or even overseas.

While she claimed she was going for volunteer work, it wasn’t just for fun. And going that far wasn’t really for leisure either. Perhaps she might be able to enjoy the outside world a bit, but it certainly wasn’t about “going out to play.”

That was Anna’s life.

Without any name of the secular world, she had come to this convent in her youth and had lived here ever since.

It was only natural that she wouldn’t find it strange to resent God—though it felt more like she was looking at things a bit uniquely.

Anna said leaving this place felt empty.

No matter what, this world had been everything to her.

…Renounced Sisters or monks sometimes became targets of crimes. They know how dangerous and criminal the world is, but knowing it theoretically and feeling it through real experiences—hearing stories from people around—are two different things.

Looking at Anna gazing out the window, she didn’t just look like a Sister at a glance.

She had dyed hair, wore earrings, and her Sister outfit was shortened to accentuate her figure—at first glance, she looked like she was steeped in the secular.

Yet, all that Chaeun had seen while spending time with Anna was an unbelievably pure figure.

She knew full well the filthy things in the world and understood that her thoughts wouldn’t be fully accepted—

yet, utilizing a stronger Saint Power than anyone, being sure of God’s existence, and wanting to throw that status away to venture outside the shell of the convent—

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, a thought flickered in Chaeun’s mind.

…Could it be?

“Hmm.”

Anna, who had been quietly staring at the wall outside, suddenly spoke.

Then she slowly turned her head toward Ria and said, “It’s about dinner time. Let’s go eat. We also need to prepare for the people coming for evening worship.”

“Ah, okay.”

At Anna’s words, Chaeun reflexively stood up and answered.

*

After eating dinner, they prepared for the worship service.

Even though the significance of a seven-day period in the world had faded, there were still so few people who thought they needed to change a practice they had been observing for years. Therefore, even if no specific day was set for prayer, most believers would gather at church to worship on Saturdays or Sundays when they had time.

However, there are those who can’t make it on weekends. Or sometimes they might only have the evening free.

For those people, the church also set aside a worship time in the evening.

“……”

As usual, Anna dozed off during prayer time.

It almost made Chaeun’s earlier worries feel foolish.

Maybe it’s just a delusion.

As she thought to herself, she slyly lifted her head to look around.

In fact, there was something Chaeun realized after becoming a Sister.

Not all Sisters are as devout as people describe.

While quite a few Sisters were seriously praying with their hands together, some were playfully poking each other with their fingers or, like Anna, dozing off. They all had their heads down, but if you looked closely, that was the case. After all, even during this time, the priest and the Sister Warden were quietly gathering their hands in prayer.

Of course, Anna wasn’t the only one acting out openly. But in terms of attitude, Anna’s was not particularly strange.

…Sisters are ultimately girls of that age. Especially for those like Anna, who are coming of age this year, the day when they won’t be Sisters will come soon, so it’s only natural for them to become more relaxed.

Among them were a few Sisters who had whispered behind Anna’s back when Chaeun asked various questions.

One of those giggling Sisters made eye contact with Chaeun. Soon, she poked her friend sitting next to her. The two exchanged amused glances and gave a little wave at Chaeun.

Their gazes weren’t just resting on Chaeun. They were also slowly directed towards Anna.

The smiling lips seemed to be asking, ‘Don’t you think so too?’

What thought?

…Yeah, I think I get it.

Those Sisters were probably the same age as Anna and Chaeun. Coming of age—soon to renounce.

It seemed they all understood well what Anna would go through once she stepped outside the church.

Chaeun felt an uncomfortable sensation and turned her gaze away.

*

“Hey.”

Sitting in a daze after waking up in the morning, Ria suddenly called out to her.

Well, she could talk, but her tone seemed a bit brusque. So early in the morning.

Or maybe it was because it was morning.

Turning her head, she saw Ria sitting on the bed, seemingly finished with her preparations and staring at her intently.

“What is it, so early?”

Yawn, I asked and let out a big yawn.

Ugh, waking up in the morning is always awful. Especially in winter, it’s even more dreadful. Why does morning feel so tiring if the sun isn’t up, even if it’s the same time?

I didn’t want to pull my legs out from under the blanket.

But I knew that if I lingered too long in bed because I was feeling lazy, I would lose track of time and then have to get up in a rush.

I might be a delinquent Sister, but I absolutely hated being lectured.

As I pulled my legs out of the blanket to head to the shower room, Ria suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“You know, it seems you have a stalker.”

“……”

Gripping the blanket, I froze in place.

“…What?”

Gulp.

When I slowly turned my neck to the side, Ria was staring at me with a frozen expression.

“A stalker?”

“Yeah.”

“How do you know that?”

It had already been revealed that the seven people I had identified were not stalkers but scouts sent from the association, so what gives?

“I saw them yesterday during the worship. Someone was staring at you intently.”

“…Yesterday?”

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Ria. The fatigue that had been seeping into my body vanished immediately.

What’s going on?

I didn’t think Ria would randomly say something like this, let alone as a joke. Because… it’s too serious to be a lighthearted comment.

No matter how laid-back a character she is, she was genuinely my friend. If this was a lighthearted prank, saying something so serious about a stalker wouldn’t make any sense.

“So? Are you going to grab hold of my hand again and take me to them? Ask them why they’re following me?”

“I already told the Sister Warden. She’ll probably take action. Either report it to the police or ban them from entering the church.”

“…You’re saying you figured that out just by seeing them once yesterday?”

A stalker I couldn’t even identify?

No, did they just not look at me directly? What if they were doing something weird instead of just staring?

“We’ll find out more through investigation.”

“…Are you sure you’re not just misinterpreting things?”

“If I’m mistaken, that’s fine too. I can clarify it after checking.”

“…No matter how you put it, it feels wrong to accuse someone.”

“I doubt that. My eyes are sharp. After I told the priest and the Sister Warden, they agreed that it seemed like that, and they’re currently looking into it.”

What’s wrong here? Why are we suddenly talking about this?

“So…?”

“So, until this stalker issue is clearly resolved, I received an answer that you can stay in this convent.”

“What?”

I stood there, my mouth hanging open as I looked at Ria.

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“……”

I blinked.

Is this something to be happy about?

No, more importantly, is it right to feel joyful that a stalker actually exists?

I stared at Ria with a confused heart.

At least she didn’t seem to be lying.

“In that case… well, thanks.”

I replied somewhat reflexively.

My mind felt a bit more at ease. It also meant I could postpone the headaches a little longer.

“Yeah.”

Ria replied to my words and got up from her seat.

“Now get ready. We have to go eat breakfast.”

“Ah, yeah.”

I came out from under the blanket with a slightly dazed feeling.

*

An hour ago.

“So, Sister Maria, you’re saying you want to stay here as a Sister for a few more years.”

“Yes.”

“And the reason is to be the escort for the empty ‘Saint Candidate.’”

“Yes, exactly.”

Woken up by a knock before dawn and called into the interview room, the Sister Warden blinked at Chaeun.

Then she let out a light sigh.

“…Is that okay?”

At the Sister Warden’s sigh, Chaeun quietly asked.

“…I did lose my rights as a Saint Candidate, but my name still remains on that list… Of course, moving a formal Knight Order requires authority higher than a Cardinal, but for personal matters, it’s a different story.”

The Sister Warden looked at Chaeun intently as she spoke.

“However, for that to happen, I need the Saint Candidate’s permission. Without her direct approval and being appointed as the escort knight, it won’t be a formal escort.”

“Directly…?”

Chaeun hesitated a bit.

“Then, could you give me a little time? I’ve heard that you told Sister Anna to choose either to be renounced or stay as a Sister for life.”

“That’s true. As long as I have that permission, I can stay here for as many years as I want. While there are requirements to become a Sister, as long as those requirements are met, it’s simply a job. This isn’t the Middle Ages anymore.”

“Then please give me a bit of time. I will… try to get her permission.”

“……”

The Sister Warden stared at Chaeun.

“What made you choose such a path? You clearly wished to leave this place as soon as possible when you accepted the proposal.”

“Well, if I hadn’t seen her power, I wouldn’t have thought like this. But, I don’t know…”

Chaeun took a deep breath and exhaled.

“I just want to see what she wants to do.”

Chaeun was a ‘Hero Candidate.’

Even though she hadn’t done any heroic deeds so far, everyone had said that about her—her father, her colleagues, her friends.

Yet the ‘Saint Candidate’ she met wasn’t like that.

She didn’t believe her power was something to take for granted. She didn’t think her position was a given.

But still, that figure was exactly.

“I’m curious. It’s unique.”

Yeah.

It seems she resembled a ‘hero’ in the truest sense.

“…Is that so.”

The Sister Warden quietly looked at Chaeun and soon smiled.

Then she nodded.

“Okay, if you say that, I’ll watch over it.”

…That must be extremely complicated for your father’s feelings.

Well, I’m pretty sure that’s the case, Chaeun thought.