Chapter 23

No matter how much the other Saint Candidates ignore me, those who have received treatment directly from me won’t disregard what I say.

Though, to be honest, I didn’t really expect to heal them for that reason.

“Well, it’s not entirely unreasonable.”

The uncle that Ria calls “uncle,” or rather, Mr. Kim Hyun-gang, said that.

“If the situation becomes too severe, everyone except those who fight really well ends up retreating. Yes, if the sister says that, we’ll proceed. We were just starting to reorganize the team since some injuries have already come up.”

At those words, I let out a small breath, easing my tension.

That’s good enough.

The creatures beyond the Gate are just as wary of this world as we are of their side. Since it’s impossible to know what’s on the other side until you cross over, it makes sense. After all, it looks like a wall made of a thin veil.

“Are you planning to keep the Gate open?”

“Well, actually, there have been some opinions suggesting we should close it soon. There’s nothing particularly beneficial to gain. Some universities seem to want to study the ecosystem on the other side, but with injuries piling up, it’s hard to continue that research.”

Someone might ask if it wouldn’t be alright to mobilize the military if there aren’t enough Hunters, but in most countries, the military has forces prepared for war.

No matter how much it’s said to be for civilian support, it’s rare to go on expeditions beyond the Gate, which is the realm of experts. Unless some monstrous entity storms through the Gate and sets up a blockade, that is.

From the government’s perspective, high-tier Hunters are essential human resources, so they can’t just be sent off recklessly.

Closing the Gate is essentially the same as the work done here.

It’s just that they create that Magic Circle beyond the Gate. As long as the rules concerning magic or physical laws that can connect to the Gate apply equally on both sides, things will proceed just fine.

Most gates appear suddenly, but sometimes they disappear on their own. However, if there were many gates that disappeared on their own, Hunters wouldn’t even think of entering them easily.

“It’ll take a few hours to prepare. In fact, it’s a task that can take over ten hours, and depending on the magical analysis, it could take several days. Can I ask you to stay here in the meantime?”

“As long as no one else approaches our room.”

Before I even had a chance to respond, Ria said that.

“There’s only me as the knight on our side anyway.”

Looking at Ria, she shrugged, and Mr. Kim Hyun-gang, who was gazing at her with a strange look, nodded.

“Alright. We’ll go with that.”

“Well then…”

“Yes, while the work is underway, feel free to stay as you like. Even though it may look like this, we have plenty of food around. After all, if you’re hungry, you can’t fight, can you?”

“Oh.”

That got my attention a bit.

There are plenty of others who could heal in my place. Unless someone were on the brink of death, I might not even get a chance to step in.

Plus, with Lee Si-yoon’s life now off the table, couldn’t I just relax, eat various things, and head back?

“Anyway, thinking only of eating.”

“Excuse me? I haven’t said anything yet!”

“You’re not *not* thinking about it, are you?”

What is this? Mind reading?

That sharpened sense cannot compare to mind reading, can it?

But since my senses aren’t as developed as Ria’s, I couldn’t read her thoughts.

That was a bit frustrating.

*

In the end, though, I didn’t manage to eat anything.

“You really are something else, aren’t you?”

Seeing me wandering around outside, still thinking of the injured people, Ria said, looking slightly disgusted.

“What if someone about to die pops out while I’m eating?”

I shot back a little hotly, and she responded,

“Yes, yes, you’re so considerate. They’ve already cleared out all the lower-tier Hunters, so is there really going to be anyone else getting hurt?”

That’s true, but—

“…Someone could collapse at any time.”

When I grumbled, Ria shrugged. It was like I could hear her thoughts echoing, *‘Well, I can’t deny that.’*

No, now it’s like my brain is automatically playing back voices.

I guess we must have learned too much about each other over the past month. Well, we are sharing a room, after all.

While I was inside my head, fidgeting with my bangs, a group of people was approaching us.

Ria can be intimidating when she’s angry, but the people coming towards us had an even more overwhelming aura.

Dressed mostly in black, they were obviously taller than Ria. A group of people towering over me by about one-and-a-half heads appeared, making it feel like a wall was moving towards us.

And within that wall stood the nun I had seen earlier.

Ria stiffened her expression and stepped in front of me. Even though they exuded overwhelming pressure, it seemed they weren’t aiming to harm us, as they stepped back slightly, maintaining their distance.

The appearance of the “Saint Candidate” became a bit clearer.

She definitely didn’t look like me. Her pupils, eyebrows, and facial features were all black, and her face was a typical one you’d see in this country. She was pretty, but not particularly unique.

Her hair was neatly wrapped in a veil, and she was wearing a very traditionally neat nun’s habit, unlike mine.

The gaze of that Saint Candidate slowly scanned me from head to toe.

“Anna Sister, is that correct?”

“…Yes, it is.”

As I replied that grumblingly, her eyes widened slightly and then narrowed again.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Sophie.”

That must be her baptismal name. She probably doesn’t have a secular name, like me.

Given her earlier expression, it seems she came to scratch at my wounds. Sent by the Cardinal, perhaps?

Well, even if she wasn’t ordered, if she’s heard the rumors, I’d be an eyesore. For those who genuinely believe in the gods, anyone claiming the absence of the gods is simply a heretic.

“I’ve often heard stories about Sister Anna. They say you have a rather… unique perspective on religion.”

“Ah, yes, well.”

See? Here comes the talk again.

No one dares pick a fight with me at our church since I blabber on so much, but occasionally, there are those who come to confront me during overlapping volunteer activities.

Either that or it could be zealots who aren’t priests but still have fanatical tendencies.

Those around the level of a Saint Candidate must be people who clearly have faith in the existence of God. With someone rejecting that truth right in front of them, would they just let it slide?

I mean, if I encountered someone claiming the Earth is flat, I’d definitely want to refute them.

Not that I’m claiming the Earth is flat.

Is my unenthusiastic reaction bothering her? Maybe she thought she was being all friendly.

“I just want to exchange opinions as fellow Saint Candidates.”

“Opinions, you say.”

“Yes. I’ve heard rumors. Sister Anna, you definitely possess genuine Saint Power. Though I didn’t see it earlier, I believe it’s just that there hasn’t been any opportunity yet.”

Hmm.

Is she trying to play me?

I tilted my head slightly.

Well, it makes sense. I haven’t treated anyone here unlike the other clergy, so she’s probably curious that way.

Even if the usage differs, folks generally don’t believe in these sorts of “superpowers” unless shown directly—no, even showing them might be met with skepticism. After all, there are those who make money claiming magic is supernatural in the world.

Isn’t that a bit rational?

I adjusted my evaluation of this Sophie person.

Judging based on the situation rather than blindly believing seems more reasonable.

“If given the chance, I’d love to see Sister Anna use the powers granted by God—”

“Hold on a minute.”

I immediately corrected my appraisal of her as rational and reasonable.

“Yes?”

“That, claiming it’s powers granted by God.”

I said to Sophie, whose expression had turned slightly dazed.

“If we’re being picky, it’s not a gift at all; it’s closer to a natural law, isn’t it? So, if you hold a magnifying glass under sunlight at the right angle, it’ll burn a piece of paper, right?”

“…?”

Sophie looked a bit blank.

It might just be my imagination, but it seems the Knight Order behind her also looks somewhat dazed.

“So that kind of power is originally part of the natural law; it’s a bit odd to say it’s a gift. Anyone like me can use it, so it doesn’t seem like it’s being specially controlled from above.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Ria raised her hand and tapped her forehead.

No, it’s the truth, isn’t it?

Oh, granted, if we’re getting technical, there might be a chance there’s an intent to mess with me from up there, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that way. I mean, someone could pull a prank by putting something like dog poop above while holding someone’s hand.

“Well, I know it’s not inherently ‘my power,’ but even so, calling something that someone else forced onto you a gift or a blessing is—Whoa!?”

“Hey, hey.”

Before I could finish my sentence, Ria poked my side with her elbow.

“Do you know those Knights over there are Inquisitioners?”

“…Ah.”

“Seriously, what are you saying in front of those guarding the Saint? If those folks get angry, it’ll be quite a bother.”

Is it just a bother?

Well, I’ve heard that they actually give off a sort of business-like police vibe.

“…Sister Anna? Were your earlier words—”

Just when Sophie was about to respond to my comments, the ground shook with a loud thud.

Everyone’s heads, including Ria’s and mine, quickly turned toward the sound.

Toward the Gate.

There were people waiting nearby, but not that many—

From beyond the Gate,

“Ahh!?”

A bloodied figure was thrown through.

An already grievously injured person bounced several times off the ground, rolling and then going limp.

Are they still alive—

“Anna!”

But before I could even think that far, I was already running.