Chapter 132

“When I cleared the door, I stepped outside, and lo and behold, there were already countless people gathered.”

Most of them were Priests. No, to be precise, you could say they were all Priests. After all, not many people could make it this far.

Some were kneeling in prayer, and some prostrated as soon as they saw me, making me feel like my stomach was going to burst.

All of them were significantly older than me, and being someone who lived in a Confucian country in both past and present, I felt quite uncomfortable in various ways.

Among them was Sister Maria.

At least this person seemed to just be waiting for us. When our eyes met, Sister Maria smiled softly.

“…How long have you been waiting?”

“It’s been about five hours.”

Hearing that calm response shocked me.

However, even upon seeing my astonishment, Sister Maria didn’t seem to mind much as she continued.

“Are you going to meet the Pope? Right now, Sister is waiting endlessly for you.”

“…”

Well, I did think about it when coming out.

But hearing that made it feel a bit heavy. I felt like my stomach might burst again.

After all, the Pope was much older than me.

Now that I think about it, what did I even say?

The Pope told me to just go, but I insist on acting all knowledgeable with my Samaritan nonsense. When it comes to theology, he’d certainly know much better than I would.

I must’ve just been caught up in the moment then; looking back, I can’t help but feel that it was ultimately nonsense said in front of a chrysalis.

“…”

For some reason, thinking that way made me feel a bit more at ease.

Yeah, whatever happens, I kept my convictions.

With that, I’m satisfied for now. Whatever may happen in the future, I can think about that later.

“Yes, I’d like to meet the Pope. Is it alright if I go right now?”

“Of course. He’ll be very pleased.”

To my question, Sister Maria replied with a bright smile.

*

“Pope, how is your health?”

“Much better now. If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve asked to get treated sooner.”

I knew that was a joke. The Pope was someone who said that while being aware of the relief he could achieve himself.

…The Samaritan talk was just a metaphor. Anyone could relate to someone who’s fallen. It could be someone truly wounded and moaning, but it might just be a tale about someone in an awkward situation.

Thinking like that, I might even relate to someone collapsed on the street.

If the Pope requested something and I took action, I would have found myself in many difficult situations afterward, so the Pope probably told me it was okay, no need to do anything.

Well, if you look at it from a fateful perspective, that’s how it is.

But, do you know that?

Atheists don’t believe in fate either.

“…And I heard you resolved something that I couldn’t for over a decade.”

“Yes, that magic sphere is no longer around. At least for now, there shouldn’t be any more issues from it.”

“I’m just sorry I couldn’t protect a place that was supposed to be holier than anywhere else.”

Ugh, I really wish you wouldn’t use those words to me. For heaven’s sake, how could you, someone who’s lived decades longer than me, say you’re sorry?

“You did your best. If it weren’t for you, it wouldn’t have even remained at that size.”

“……”

The Pope was silent for a moment.

You could say he… hid it.

The Vatican remained the Vatican because there were many particularly outstanding powers among them after that disaster. It was thanks to the devout that they could stabilize the incoming demons first. They believed in the previous gods, but once they had seen that power even once, they quickly accepted the existence of ‘God.’

That’s why, even after changing religions, the Vatican could remain the center of theology. Perhaps that’s also why the theology here is the most doctrinal. Merging previous theologies with the current one, spreading it as scripture to other regional denominations.

…In that scenario, they likely couldn’t publicly share that there was something that couldn’t be resolved by their own powers right here, in the heart of Rome, especially in a place that’s the Pope’s. Doing so would make people doubt the divinity itself.

The Pope wasn’t a political person, but that’s why he probably endured it silently on his own.

Perhaps they felt the need to prepare it here because of the Pope’s existence. Look, even the Pope couldn’t resolve something. Your faith is misplaced. Accept me.

…Well, I do think they were wrong about it. I say it again, I’m an atheist.

“Sister.”

The Pope said.

“With this, you will surely face some political constraints. Starting today, people will begin trying to keep you here.”

“Pope, about that issue—”

I decided to be a little cheeky.

“What’s your current health condition like?”

“……”

When I asked that confidently, the Pope lightly smiled at the corner of his mouth.

“I’m fine. I’m sure I can manage for at least another ten years.”

Will he really make it for ten more years? I’m not so sure. The Pope is definitely older, and there are a number of aspects that can’t be resolved even if I poured all my saint power into him.

But still, it’s okay. At the very least, I resolved everything that only ‘I’ could handle. In a world where one can heal even cancer with saint power, there will surely be help from nearby priests if any issues arise with the Pope afterwards.

“Then, Pope, thank you for your help these next ten years.”

At my words, the Pope burst into laughter.

It was not the tired laughter of an old man, but genuinely cheerful laughter that made him look a little younger.

“Is that so, Sister?”

The Pope wiped away a tear that had gathered at the corner of his eye with his finger.

“Then, I shall try to hold this position for ten years.”

“Yes, then I will resolve matters in that time.”

That doesn’t mean I plan to become a Saint or a Pope in ten years. Am I out of my mind?

I repeat, I’m an atheist.

As long as I argue that the existence above is not a God, I can’t rise to the position of a Saint or a Pope. The moment I do, I’ll toss in my resignation and run.

But still, I can’t just go stir up chaos right away.

For now, I’ll deal with those demons, whatever they may be, and once the world settles down a bit, I’ll find another way.

I mean, I have no intention of living my whole life as a virgin and then just dying.

I will definitely meet someone I like, and we’ll love each other and live together. Maybe we can’t have kids, but anyway.

“Is that so?”

As if reading something from my expression, the Pope smiled gently. That expression wasn’t that of a person holding power from up high.

It was truly a warm smile, as if he were looking at his own granddaughter.

“Then, I will support you from here.”

I smiled and nodded, then turned around.

Sister Maria had bowed deeply towards me.

Ria was smiling at me.

Probably, Ria’s expression was soon to reflect my own.

*

In the end, talk of beatification and such became irrelevant.

I happily ran away with Ria. Ria grabbed my wrist and pulled me with all her strength onto the bus, and we caught the fastest flight to Korea after taking the direct bus to the airport.

Of course, there was chaos at the church. Priests rushed out to chase after us, but—

“Shouldn’t we offer a prayer of thanks for what the Lord has done for us?”

The Pope said that, thus keeping them from rushing outside.

This was someone who had personally experienced the ‘miracle’ they were referring to. No one could just dismiss such words carelessly.

In the first place, those priests who placed a power-hungry Pope up high in such authority were the same clergy.

The Knight Order followed us diligently, but naturally, they stopped near the airport.

No matter how much the Vatican exists in the midst of Rome, and no matter how sacred the place of the Pope is, it is still a sovereign nation.

Regardless, they couldn’t just go barging into an international airport with knives.

“…By the way, what kind of card limit do you have that allows you to swipe so freely?”

Just before boarding the plane, after completing all the check-in procedures and waiting around, I suddenly became curious and asked like that, to which Ria shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t really know either.”

“……”

Must be nice. Not knowing the limit and swiping away without a care.

Passersby’s gazes turned toward us.

Two nuns with veils haphazardly placed on their heads.

And those two nuns, just moments ago, had been in the news and newspapers.

Well, no one would dare touch us.

The government of this country seems to have thought about the need to protect us too, as they quickly sent armed forces to stand guard around us.

…

It seems that, even if the Blessed successfully escaped, my fame was inescapably rising.

Thus, we extracted ourselves safely.

*

And after arriving in Seoul, not long later, a package finally arrived for me.

Inside it was a white nun’s habit.

[Though the beatification ceremony was halted, there are those who insist on a definitive sign for a Saint Candidate. I hope you can at least tolerate the outfit.]

It was written in beautiful cursive like that.

“Pfft!”

Seeing me dumbfounded at that letter, Ria burst into laughter.

I threw that white nun’s outfit right at Ria’s face.

…It’s a nun’s outfit, right?

Not a Saint’s outfit, right?

I trust you, Pope!