Chapter 66

The situation has settled down, and it seems the government has officially contacted me after a while.

First of all, an apology for interrogating me, who contributed to protecting the research institute.

The position of ‘Saint Candidate’ is one that holds significant standing within the Church.

On the surface, it might just seem like a position for a nun, but in reality, it’s someone who could potentially rise to the position of Pope.

…Well, it’s not like there aren’t candidates from other countries. The Pope doesn’t actually belong to our country.

Other nations have their own Saint Candidates, nearly stacking up to three individuals per country.

It’s just that this country’s religious authority has decided to support me.

“Still, that’s a good thing.”

“Why? Is it because there are a lot of candidates in other countries, and you think you won’t become a Saint?”

“Isn’t that right?”

This religious denomination might be considered a new religion, but that doesn’t mean it lacks any structure at all.

And that structure mostly derives from Old Catholicism, and in fact, many members overlap quite a bit with that era. Even after many years have passed, with a lot of restructuring and new people flowing in, that fact doesn’t change.

Since there has never been an Asian Pope or an African Pope in Catholicism, in that sense, I might… well, I could have an advantage. I mean, as long as I don’t drop out of the candidate race.

“But there have been Asian saints in Catholicism! And some were from this country.”

“Ah.”

So that’s how it goes, huh?

“Besides, wouldn’t that mean they could choose you precisely for that reason? Even if this country isn’t influential, the surrounding nations tend to have weaker church power.”

“…So they’re planning to use us to promote the religious denomination to other countries?”

I asked back, somewhat suspiciously.

Is that even possible?

…I didn’t think so.

Ria seemed to think that it wouldn’t really work out, as she just shrugged her shoulders.

“….”

For a moment, the area turned quiet.

If there’s one thing to be grateful for while being treated like a high-ranking person, it’s that Ria is my escort knight.

If Ria weren’t around, and some average person was my escort knight—like how the Saint in the original work had ‘Lee Si-yoon’ as her personal escort—there’s no way we’d be waiting alone together like this.

Ria’s skills are that impressive, and I personally feel comfortable with her. Above all, she’s someone I can trust, which makes it possible to separate us like this.

…Trust.

Come to think of it, what level is our relationship at?

I’m not just talking about the simple relationship of a Saint Candidate and her escort knight. I’m referring to something a bit more human.

From Ria’s perspective, it seems she considers me quite comfortable. I feel comfortable with her too.

But if I really ask if we are friends, it makes me a bit cautious. Just because we declare “From today, we are friends!” doesn’t necessarily make it true.

…Ah, right, let’s be honest with ourselves.

I’m questioning whether I can consider her a friend just because she’s a pretty girl. Even though I’m currently in a female body too!

Did I distance myself from women too much in my past life?

No, it doesn’t exactly seem like I distanced myself.

“…….”

Alright, I should stop thinking about this. Ria can think for herself. For now, it doesn’t seem like I mind having her by my side. Besides, we arrived a bit early.

Just as I made that half-hearted decision, there was a knock on the door.

Though it may have kept us waiting, it didn’t seem like they were disrespecting us. The place we were waiting in was an elegantly decorated guest room where we could feel relaxed.

We hadn’t even touched the snacks.

“Sister Anna.”

“Ah, yes.”

“The Minister’s meeting has just ended.”

At those words, my back stiffened a bit.

After all, meeting someone in a high position is slightly intimidating. I’m not planning to submit to authority, but still, it feels awkward to make a mistake in speech.

Moreover, they’re someone much older than me by the standards of this world.

It’s like how you use polite language even when meeting a battalion commander during reserve training. Once outside, he’s just some old man unrelated to me, but when facing him, he still seems like an uncomfortable elder.

“You don’t need to be too tense.”

Ria said, lightly placing her hand on my back.

“I’ve seen him a few times, and he’s not that bad. He thinks politically, though.”

…Is she telling me to calm down?

But judging by her serious expression, it seems like she means it.

Not knowing what to respond, I just nodded my head.

*

Typically, diplomacy with other countries should be handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but it’s a bit hard to say that ministry looks after everything beyond the Gate.

That’s why another department was created to handle that kind of administration in this country.

The Multidimensional Management Department.

This department engages in building relations with civilizations beyond dimensions or bringing resources from there to this world.

Of course, once they come to this world, they switch to another department, but these are still relatively important people in this world.

The reason they called me was none other than that ‘Magic Stone.’

“…So, we have requested to dispatch a representative to the Church.”

What that means is that ‘Magic Stone’ is something claimed by both the Gnomes and Dwarves to be theirs. To be more precise, it’s an item that was sneaked away from a disputed area, so in reality, both races are unaware of its existence.

In the original story, those who stole it get caught eventually, but in this world, nothing like that has happened at all.

However, from the government’s point of view, one crucial Magic Stone has gone to waste. Naturally, it’s understandable that they’d want to make it ‘usable again.’

Moreover, that Magic Stone is the essence of Gnome craftsmanship.

Since researching it with only the technology of this world has limitations, and it’s nearly impossible to refill it with Magic Power, they called me here.

“Are you asking me to bring that technology from the Gnomes’ realm?”

“No, no, it’s not that.”

As I frowned, the Minister shook his hands in panic.

“Rather, it’s a conversation stemming from observing your achievements, Saint Candidate. We haven’t had anyone with that level of accomplishments.”

“If you mean achievements, what achievements—ah.”

…I didn’t want to think about that memory.

That’s right. There existed beings in another world that saw me not merely as a Saint but as something akin to a god.

I forcibly kept my hand from rising, as I could not slap my forehead in front of the Minister.

“That was just a matter of coincidence… It wasn’t my intention…”

“They say a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.”

The Minister said to me with a soft smile.

“I thought it best to build fellowship first. The Gnomes showed interest in that relic you handed over.”

“Ah.”

The two relics they made as compensation.

I see. If we’re going to research it, collaborating with other races is also a way. At least the Gnomes have been aware of the power of Saint Power long before our world.

…

The Church wouldn’t intentionally allow this to happen, right?

It’s just how things have worked out. It’s a matter of coincidence.

Ria gave me a somewhat significant look, and I wanted to jump up and shout, “No!” but I couldn’t say it out loud because of the Minister’s presence.

“We are watching for a longer time. If you could cooperate, it would be our honor. However, that is up to your will, so I wanted to directly ask you.”

“…….”

Looking at the person before me, whose hair was greying and bowed their head, I began to sweat profusely.

Well, I don’t absolutely dislike it…

Even though I know it’s something I have to do, I can’t shake off this unease.

I held back a sigh that was trying to escape.

*

On the way back, I asked Ria, who sat next to me in silence, “Ria, are you okay?”

“Uh? What do you mean by ‘okay’?”

“You keep getting dragged into my troubles.”

In the original work, Ria was fundamentally a good person but often got annoyed at the Saint. Especially when she had to follow along when the Saint was occupied with something.

It was probably half-serious, half-joking. Perhaps because she was a friend who would accompany me, but not to the extent of wanting to go that far.

However, the Ria sitting next to me now gazed at me with a somewhat blank expression.

“No, well… It’s not that I dislike it. But I don’t really think I want to do everything either. It’s work, right?”

“Is that so?”

So it’s just something she does since it’s work?

That’s a reasonable statement.

…

But why does that answer disturb me so much?

Huh, I’m the one asking as if it’s strange.

I let out a light exhale.