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That night.

Stepping outside the monastery into the suddenly chaotic atmosphere, I found Rayfield yet again accompanied by soldiers.

This time, there were far more soldiers marching in formation than before.

Iggon, without losing heart, looked directly at Rayfield and asked.

“I don’t see the Saint.”

“The Saint is busy offering prayers. So I considered this; I can’t wait forever and risk losing that woman. I decided to take her in beforehand and immediately have her offer a prayer of repentance to the Saint.”

“What kind of nonsense is that…!”

“What do you think? It’s not a bad plan, right? God is generous enough to serve a plate of plain facts to even the nonbelievers! Surely, this is something He would forgive. Right?”

After boasting, Rayfield turned his attention to the woman standing next to Iggon with an amused expression.

“There you are, Your Highness. No… Eirene von Einsberg.”

“……”

“The nun’s robe suits you quite well. I never imagined someone who used to control the religious sector would end up wearing a nun’s robe. It seems even the proud Emperor values his life after all. Oh, but then again, you’re not the Emperor anymore, are you?”

What an unfunny provocation. Eirene chose not to engage; there was no benefit in showing them a reaction.

“But don’t worry. You can’t die just yet. Your existence is necessary for opening a new era.”

I was curious about what ‘new era’ meant, but then again, in this situation, that wasn’t the important issue.

Regardless, what I had to do was already determined.

Eirene slowly turned and began to walk away in silence.

—I probably won’t forget.

Each day spent here as Sister Linashita, I would never forget.

The brief life in the monastery was the most brilliant time of her entire life.

She came to understand what it meant to live here. She was able to nurture the curiosity about something she could never reach in her lifetime.

But all of that was over now.

I am not Linashita; I am Eirene.

Just as she accepted everything and was about to walk away, she heard—

“Eirene.”

“……”

At Iggon’s voice, Eirene came to a halt once more.

“You ran away before I could say anything, so now I ask… If you truly believe this is the right choice for you to return, I won’t stop you.”

“But if it’s something you don’t want to do… please trust me. I can handle this.”

“What…?

Handle it?”

When faced with such absurd words, she turned her head, and there was that ever-so-charming smile of his.

Like an immature girl who couldn’t grasp the situation, her heart raced again.

No.

That smile doesn’t belong to me.

It’s ridiculous for someone of my age to covet a smile that could never be mine.

“But if I don’t go back now, I will undoubtedly find myself in a troublesome situation. Those people… they will definitely go through with it. There’s a chance not just you, but even the Director could be in danger.”

“I told you. I can resolve this issue. You may find it hard to believe, but it’s true.”

“Iggon….”

Eirene looked back at Rayfield.

He had come with a large force of about a hundred soldiers. It was an unmistakable determination not to let her go.

If I refuse to go, they would surely use force. And what could a mere priest like Iggon even do?

Sure. Even if it meant risking my life… I wouldn’t be able to resolve this situation.

Yet.

Why is it that…?

Eirene stood there in a daze, staring back into Iggon’s eyes.

The conversation they had just shared echoed vividly in her ears.

Among the various thoughts swirling like a storm in her mind, what she least wanted to acknowledge was—

—the feeling she didn’t want to acknowledge… her emotions.

So pure, utterly free of lies—joy.

The emotion Eirene felt when Iggon wiped her tears away was joy.

She was glad that he held her. She was happy to hear him say they would learn together what it means to trust again.

Even knowing she had deceived herself, he didn’t scold her and extended a gentle hand, which filled her with genuine delight.

And the moment she realized that joy, she was consumed by fear and ran away.

Because of this feeling, by leaning on him… there was a risk that she might end up hurting what he cherished.

Despite being so grateful to Iggon, she couldn’t repay him and couldn’t let him become unhappy because of her.

She couldn’t drag him into her misfortune.

Still, Eirene couldn’t move forward.

Even though she knew, she couldn’t take a step.

With that beautiful smile shining so brightly.

With that reliable voice, if only he had truly told her he could resolve this…

I would…

“…I believe.”

“Will you really believe?”

“Yeah, I believe. Iggon. I trust you… I trust you.”

Tears flowed from Eirene’s eyes again.

In fact, she had just shed tears at the monastery, marking the first tears she had shed since taking the Emperor’s position.

She who had never cried in front of anyone… crumbled so easily before Iggon.

“I will trust you. So… please help me. I don’t want to go back…”

Iggon gently caressed the tear-streaked face of weeping Eirene with his large hands.

Eirene felt his tender touch, which made her heart awaken once more.

—I like this person…

I care for him. I want to be with him…

And—

“Thank you. That’s what I wanted to hear.”

Smiling as she spoke, Eirene walked towards Rayfield instead.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot do what that person does not wish for.”

“What? That person?”

Rayfield wore a puzzled expression as if he couldn’t comprehend what nonsense she was spouting, but soon began to nod as if he understood.

“That person? Didn’t that woman say she is neither the Emperor nor anything else! What reason does she have to stubbornly defy us?”

Seeing his silent reaction, Rayfield shouted in frustration, as if dealing with a foolish human.

“I wasn’t going to say this, but this is just a small monastery. You’re just a mere priest. Do you really naively believe that taking you down will allow Guoden Church to retaliate against us?”

Rayfield glanced back.

The sound of soldiers drawing their swords filled the dimly lit forest.

“Hey, let’s not make things troublesome for each other. I don’t want to touch you either. I’d prefer to maintain good relations with Guoden Church. Nothing will happen if you just hand over that not-so-great woman. Why don’t you understand that?!”

Iggon, who had said nothing, suddenly tilted his head in a manner full of confusion.

“When did I ever say that?”

“….What?”

“When did I ever say, humans cannot do what they don’t wish for?”

* * *

[ Please give me some money: What Igguoqueden desires is Eirene von Einsberg’s ‘faith corruption’ ]

[ Please give me some money: ‘The world’s response’ moves solely by Igguoqueden’s will ]

[ Please give me some money: Trials are merely fleeting moments. ]

What?

Trials… you say?

I pretended to adjust non-existent glasses and shook my head from side to side.

Then, faster than anyone else, I began typing rapidly—

Enter, *Click!!!*

[Igguoqueden (Donation/10,000 won/Eirene already has faith, do we really need trials…?)]

[Please give me some money: Please wait a moment, Igguoqueden.]

[Please give me some money: There must be build-up for ‘faith corruption’.]

[b]Igguoqueden (Donation/20,000 won/Doesn’t the God say no need for trials? Don’t you just need to trust me?)[/b]

[Please give me some money: I mean, I’m genuinely thankful for your donations but—]

[Please give me some money: Please calm down first.]

[Please give me some money: If you suddenly throw money at us like this—]

[b]Igguoqueden (Donation/30,000 won/Just let it flow and go with it?)[/b]

I don’t care!

I’ll buy my way through!!!

Build-up is no good! I want soda!!!

I slowly waited for the author’s response.

How much time passed?

The author’s response gradually appeared on the monitor screen.

[Please give me some money: Understood.]

[Please give me some money: If that is the will of God—]

* * *

“God will not permit actions that are not desired.”

After saying that, Iggon raised his hand to the sky.

And—

“What, what is happening?!”

In that moment.

Rayfield and the soldiers looked around in confusion.

Voices of an unknown being echoed in their minds.

“What, what is this sound?!”

“Ahhhh! A, a ghost!!”

That voice echoed in Eirene’s ears as well.

A sound that seemed to enter her skin and reverberate in her head. The voice of an absolute being.

<[God does not desire meaningless trials.]>

<[God does not acknowledge your very existence.]>

<[If God does not want your story—]>

“Everyone, stay calm! That priest… is using some kind of magic-”

Rayfield, unable to conceal his panic, heard—

――What are you capable of doing?

“……!!!!”

And not long after—

“Twih.”

“……?!”

Iggon’s voice reverberated loudly, as if echoing from the heavens.

Twih. It was an utterly incomprehensible sentence. Yet somehow, everyone became aware.

That was… the voice of God.

It came from a human mouth but was something that did not belong to mankind.

A fleeting moment passed.

As Iggon swiftly lowered his outstretched hand, cleaving through the air—

“……Tya!!!”

――Boom!

—Rayfield’s soul was obliterated.