Chapter 213

It’s already been three weeks since I started pretending to pray daily and hanging around the church.

As Choi Ga-in mentioned, I did witness some items being delivered to the church at some point.

Seeing the nuns carrying boxes, it was obvious that the contents were the clothes Choi Ga-in had talked about.

The reason was simple: there weren’t many boxes, and seeing the nuns carry them so lightly meant the items weren’t heavy.

“…Where are those clothes being used? Do the nuns know?”

After discreetly attaching a chimera to two nuns carefully moving the items, I quietly stepped outside the church.

“Sister Marien. The day is approaching, isn’t it? Time flies, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does, Sister Res.”

‘Day?’

I focused on the conversation between the two nuns walking side by side.

“How many will come this time? I remember about five came last time.”

‘What are they talking about? Five?’

At first, I thought they were talking about guests coming to the church from elsewhere, but as I listened, I realized the ‘five’ didn’t refer to guests.

“Metatron is so merciful… He even takes in children with nowhere to go…”

‘Children? Are they talking about orphans?’

“I feel a bit regretful, though.”

“Huh? What do you mean, Sister Res?”

“After receiving education here for a few months, they all leave. I get attached to the children, and it’s always sad to part ways.”

“Ah, I see what you mean. But they’re going to a better place.”

Later, I saw the two nuns talking to a man who appeared to be a knight.

“Hello, Raul.”

“Ah, Sister Res, Sister Marien.”

“Can we leave the boxes here?”

“Yes, I’ll move them later.”

“Alright, take care.”

After the nuns left, the knight moved the boxes to what seemed like a storage area, and nothing particularly unusual happened afterward.

Since there was nothing more peculiar, I disconnected from the chimera and continued my thoughts.

‘I’m not sure. Listening to their conversation, it seems like they’re just taking in orphans and raising them to be nuns.’

It appeared that they periodically took in orphans, trained them as nuns, and then sent them to other churches.

‘Sigh, this isn’t going to end quickly.’

I had a feeling this investigation was going to take a while.

******

After patiently visiting the church for a month, I was now familiar with the nuns and priests active within the church.

“Oh, hello. You’re here again today.”

“Nice to see you, Sister Marien. But I don’t see Sister Res today.”

“Yes, hehe… Sister Res had some errands to run today, so she’s out.”

“Ah, I see.”

Sister Marien glanced at the person beside me and spoke up.

“And who is this with you…”

“Ah, this is someone who works with me as an adventurer.”

“…Nice to meet you, Sister.”

“Ah, nice to meet you too. By the way… you’re quite beautiful.”

“…Thank you.”

I had brought Wi Ho-yeon with me.

I had Yoon Yeon and Choi Ga-in working separately, but I needed someone to watch over me, so I brought Wi Ho-yeon.

‘It’s unlikely anyone in this rural town would recognize Wi Ho-yeon.’

Even if they did, it wouldn’t be a problem.

‘But…’

Looking around, the atmosphere seemed unusually busy.

“…Is something going on at the church? It feels different from usual.”

“Ah… that’s because today is a special day.”

‘A special day? Like the day they mentioned before?’

“What do you mean by a special day…”

“Hehe, today is the day new children arrive at the church.”

“New children?”

“Yes, that is…”

Before the nun could answer, the church doors opened, and a group of people began to enter.

Naturally, my gaze turned toward the entrance.

‘…Girls.’

They looked to be in their early to mid-teens. Probably the children who were to receive education.

But there was something odd.

‘What? Why is someone of such high rank here?’

Nuns or priests should suffice for bringing orphans to the church.

“Bishop Ozwell, you’ve arrived.”

I saw the knights already at the church bowing their heads in greeting to the man.

‘Bishop.’

Why would a bishop personally bring orphans to the church?

“These are the new children. Guide them.”

“Yes, understood, Bishop.”

The knights then began to lead the new children away.

Glancing at the girls passing by, most seemed fearful of the unfamiliar place.

Some seemed relieved to be at the church, but most had empty or wary eyes.

‘Well, they are orphans.’

I had seen such looks many times at the orphanage. Children who had experienced hardships outside the orphanage often had that expression.

The man called the bishop seemed slightly puzzled as he passed by Wi Ho-yeon and me, but he didn’t seem to pay much attention.

‘Where are they taking them?’

After they left, I spoke to Sister Marien.

“Sister Marien. Those children?”

“Ah, they’re nun candidates. Every year, we bring in orphans with nowhere to go who have the potential to become nuns.”

“Then, Sister Marien, you…”

“Ah, my case is different. The other nuns and I here became nuns because we wanted to.”

“……”

“Those children receive a month of nun training, then receive further teachings over several months before being sent to other churches.”

“Other teachings? Besides nun training, they receive other education?”

“Yes. What kind of education… well, only the bishop and some knights know the details, so I’m not sure.”

“Ah…”

“It seems like they’re receiving some important training. After a month, regular nuns or priests won’t be able to meet those children.”

‘…So, except for a few people, no one can meet the children after a month?’

Something smelled fishy. The request from the Saintess and the current situation.

It wasn’t unreasonable to think something was off, considering that someone as high-ranking as a Bishop personally brought the children to this remote countryside church.

After finishing the conversation with Sister Marien, I pretended to pray for a bit and then returned to the inn where I was staying.

Upon returning, I saw Yoon Yeon sitting on a chair with a bored expression.

“Hmm… It seems to be taking longer than expected.”

“…Yeah. Yeon noona, don’t you need to go back? It seems like we’ll be staying in Seongguk longer than expected.”

“Well, it’s fine. Actually, Seohwa is managing the clan for me.”

“If you want to go back, it’s okay. You can handle things on your own from here on out.”

“Hmm… Do you not like staying with me?”

“What?”

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“…What are you talking about? It’s not about being uncomfortable or not. You’re the Clan Master, so I’m just saying.”

Honestly, there was some level of discomfort.

Of course, it wasn’t that Yoon Yeon herself was uncomfortable.

It’s just that I felt bad because there wasn’t really a need for her to be involved in the current situation.

‘At first, she was needed as a connection to the Aitas Church, but now, Yoon Yeon isn’t really necessary.’

But it seems Yoon Yeon has no intention of leaving first.

“Really? Then I’ll stay. I’ve already taken care of the urgent clan matters.”

“…You look really bored.”

“Ah, that’s true. This kind of investigation isn’t really my field. But it’s not bad. I get to go out and eat with you.”

‘This is a bit awkward.’

It strangely seemed like Yoon Yeon had developed feelings for me at some point, and it didn’t seem like my imagination.

Judging from her words, it seemed like she had no intention of hiding it either.

“…Your gaze is quite sharp.”

I was confused by the sudden comment, but it seemed Yoon Yeon was talking about Wi Ho-yeon, not me.

Wi Ho-yeon was looking at Yoon Yeon with a strange gaze, and Yoon Yeon wasn’t avoiding it.

“…Clan Master of Shinwa.”

“Yes, Wi Ho-yeon. What is it?”

“It might be my misunderstanding, but do you have feelings for Lee Yun-seong?”

Wi Ho-yeon asked quite directly, so I was a bit surprised and looked at her.

But Wi Ho-yeon kept her gaze fixed on Yoon Yeon.

Yoon Yeon glanced at me briefly before answering.

“Hmm… It’s not a misunderstanding. Are you planning to interfere?”

She practically confessed her feelings for me directly.

I was in an awkward position, unsure of how to react.

Wi Ho-yeon made a complicated expression and replied.

“…No. I have no right to stop you. But I do want to ask one thing. Why?”

“…..”

Yoon Yeon didn’t answer Wi Ho-yeon’s question and suddenly got up and started walking towards me.

‘What…’

“Well, why do you think? I wish you would ask me directly, not Wi Ho-yeon.”

“…This is a bit awkward.”

“Why? Do you dislike me?”

Her unwavering gaze made it hard to look her in the eye.

‘Suddenly, why…’

“…No.”

Of course, I didn’t dislike Yoon Yeon. As a person or as a woman.

“Then aren’t you curious? Why I’m acting like this towards you.”

“……”

“Ahaha, you look troubled.”

I found it hardest to deal with Yoon Yeon compared to Seo Yoo-ju or Wi Ho-yeon.

The reason was that I didn’t fully understand my own feelings towards her.

In the first round, it was probably admiration, gratitude, and loyalty towards someone who accepted me when I had nowhere to go.

But Yoon Yeon doesn’t know the me from the first round. The woman in front of me now isn’t the Yoon Yeon from the first round.

“Since you don’t seem to be asking, I’ll tell you myself.”

“…What?”

“The reason I like you.”

“…Because I helped you?”

“Right. You’ve helped me so many times, haven’t you? With Shin Joo-tae, and then during the Swamp of Oblivion.”

“…..”

“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve definitely died in the Swamp of Oblivion. No, even before that, I might’ve ended up in a bad situation.”

“That’s…”

“Is it strange to like a man who saved me multiple times? I think it’s natural.”

Yoon Yeon asked me in a questioning tone.

“But there’s one thing I don’t understand. Why are you so kind to me?”

I could answer that. Of course, part of it was because of our connection in the first round, but…

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but it’s because I respect you, Yoon Yeon.”

Fundamentally, it was because I saw Yoon Yeon as an admirable and incredible person.

“There seems to be more to it… But, well, that’s enough for now.”

Yoon Yeon smiled contentedly at my answer.

“For now, that’s enough. It’s not just the two of us here.”

Yoon Yeon glanced at Wi Ho-yeon and then stepped back.

But Yoon Yeon’s expression… I might be mistaken, but it seemed like she was saying, “I’ll back off for now, but we’ll talk later when we’re alone.”