Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Sin - 2
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As soon as morning broke the next day, we headed to the grand cathedral. Vanessa couldn't enter the inner sanctum due to her status, but she joined us in the carriage to guide the way. By the time the sun had risen over the mountain ridge to a point where it was almost blinding, the carriage slowly began to move.
Hot sunlight spread across my forehead, proving that spring had already passed. Strangely, though, not a single bead of sweat formed on my skin despite the warmth beating down from the sky. It was probably because of the hollow emptiness in my side where everything had been stripped away.
I habitually reached for my waist, only to feel nothing but the rough calluses on my palm, and a sense of futility washed over me. Even after losing so much, the absence of something that had always been at my side was a sensation I'd never get used to.
"Feeling empty, aren't you?"
Vanessa must have noticed my expression because she tossed out a casual remark. I clenched my empty fist and leaned against the carriage wall.
"More than I expected."
"You've wielded a sword for quite a long time, haven't you? The first and last time I saw you was seven years ago. You must have kept swinging it all that time."
"You were in the capital back then?"
"Yes. I'd given my leg to a knight who'd lost his at the border and come to receive an honor medal. Thanks to that, I got a front-row view of the hero's procession."
She exhaled bitter memories along with the acrid tobacco smoke.
"Everyone's eyes were on Leo striding confidently at the front and the genius mage Sera. But I was different. Instead, I found myself staring at those two kids who looked like they'd just stumbled in from some rural village. You might not know this, but some people thought you were the hero's attendants back then."
"Figures."
It was partly true. Back then, my skills were nowhere near Leo's, and Eli was still hiding hers, so we were treated like little more than baggage. I muttered somewhat forlornly.
"I wonder how many people even remember I was part of that party."
"Even if they did, no one cares anymore. Unlike me, who clings to even the smallest memories because I don't have much left, the world has too many things people need to remember."
"Doesn't matter to me. I don't want to worry about that much anymore either."
"Is that so?"
She tapped ash from her cigarette and met my eyes. Her deep blue gaze reflected my image every time she looked at me.
"You still look like that young man from a rural village where mint flowers bloom. Just like the hero from the prophecy."
"...I heard not many people believe in that prophecy."
"That's because I've wandered too many battlefields. Even the wisest knights in the world start clinging to the most absurd hopes when they're on death's door. Even those fighting humans, not demons, sometimes call out the hero's name."
"Futile wishes."
"You don't know that yet."
"Believing in a bodiless dream only brings disappointment."
"Believing was my job."
The cynical priestess still held faith in the world's light. Though we'd both trudged through battlefields and floundered in despair's swamp to different degrees, our outlooks on the world couldn't have been more different.
She captured hope with a single eye, while I saw only despair even with both wide open. We stared at each other for a long moment. Just as our gazes intertwined, a feeble voice broke in.
"...I had a hunch, but yeah, that's the story. Still, Luca."
"What."
"Am I really doing this?"
Vanessa and I both looked down at Rachel simultaneously. Vanessa spoke for me.
"Exactly, detective girl. Should've brought more money at least."
"Haa..."
Her sigh rose like steam just as the carriage slowed to a stop. Instead of gripping a sword hilt, I cracked my knuckles and turned my gaze outside.
The pristine white cathedral filled my vision. It proclaimed its purity with every inch of its facade, yet its insides were more rotten than the slums' shanties.
Somewhere in there were Bobby... and her.
The moment we stepped into the chapel, we were subjected to a body search disguised as a greeting. Since we hadn't hidden any weapons, I brushed past the priests' hypocritical smiles and found a secluded spot in the corner to survey the area. The massive chapel teemed with hundreds of worshippers and a handful of guards armed like those at the city gates yesterday.
Unlike its grand scale, the number of guards was modest. Maybe two or three at each entrance. All told, I counted about ten in sight.
But their low numbers didn't mean we could charge through recklessly. Discovering even one corpse would turn the Order upside down. Unlike last time, Bobby's location was unknown, so we couldn't afford rash moves.
And above all, Sera and I had too much to say to each other.
"Looks like it's starting."
I lifted my gaze at Rachel's whisper. A neatly dressed priest stepped forward to the podium, closed his eyes, and clasped his hands.
"Good day, everyone. First, I want to express deep gratitude to the brothers and sisters who have come to confess their sins. Sin is not shameful. But committing sin and not seeking forgiveness? That is truly shameful."
He paused, cleared his throat, and continued.
"Now, before we begin worship today, let us pray to the Goddess Ennesic. To the one who embraces the world and gazes upon us with merciful eyes, we offer our prayer of thanks. Please bow your heads."
A uniform murmur rose as countless people bowed and closed their eyes. I slowly closed mine, following suit, but didn't bow my head fully like them. I had no reason to bow to Ennesic.
And the growing heat spreading through my body told me she was approaching.
One, two, three, four, five, six. I attuned my ears to the faint pulsing throb. Each beat echoed from afar, growing louder as my heartbeat strengthened. Right ear: my pounding heart. Left ear: low footsteps. I opened my eyes the moment both sounds faded together.
And there, in the distance, my old friend approached.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, flowing gently over her white veil and mingling with Sera's red hair. Her locks, shimmering faintly red, cascaded like sunlight dancing on the sea.
Beneath that beautiful hair, her solemn expression as she stared straight ahead was no longer the girl I knew. Eyes once full of childish mischief now held a chaste woman's gaze, her sharpened features exuding a saintly allure now that her baby fat had melted away. The Order's emblem earrings added a touch of maturity. If not for the circumstances, I might have thought she'd become quite beautiful.
But the current situation, where we couldn't share warm words, and her vulgar outfit exposing her figure despite her face, chilled my heart.
Her nipples protruded clearly through the thin nun's habit. They'd tried to hide it somewhat with the dark fabric, but it only made it look more obscene. And the skirt so short her bare thighs were fully exposed—turn her around, and you'd probably see the bottom of her ass.
They weren't obvious about it, but the worshippers' eyes were all on her body. Some of them surely came not for prayer, but to bed her.
As I observed each gaze licking over her body, a curiosity arose. How was she taking all this? What did she think of the whore's life she'd accepted in exchange for Eli's and my lives?
I stared endlessly at her rigid expression, but couldn't pierce her heart. To know the truth, I had to face her directly.
"Let us pray."
Sera's dry voice echoed through the chapel. I closed my eyes, facing the returning darkness. No need for prayer. Today, it was the goddess offering something, not me.
"Hurry up."
"...This is insane."
After worship ended, Rachel and I headed to the confessionals. She kept tugging down her overly short skirt, trotting after me.
"Um... you're really gonna save me midway, right? Not that it matters, but virginity is my last asset. I was saving it for the absolute last resort..."
"Shh. Quiet."
Rachel pouted but clamped her mouth shut. I kept a stern face and approached the priest at the confessional.
"Good day, priest."
"Yes, brother. What sin have you come to confess?"
The priest eyed my chest, not my face—probably waiting for money from my inner pocket. Instead of paying, I stepped aside.
"Not me. My daughter's sins."
"Ah... shiiit..."
Rachel muttered curses under her breath and straightened up. Dressed like a child yet boldly exposing skin, her figure caught the priest's eye. His gaze swept from her smooth shoulders to her plump thighs, and a smile crept onto his lips.
"Oh... ahem. Yes. I see."
"I heard that to cleanse sins, one must contact the priests' sacred bodies. Meaning, only your kind guidance can absolve this young one's sins."
"Ah, yes, correct. Of course, brother. Not just brothers, but sisters too must do so to cleanse their sins."
"But I heard a donation is needed for confession. Sorry, but I don't have any money on me right now..."
"Ah... no! It's fine, brother. What matters is the heart seeking confession, not the donation."
He waved it off hurriedly and eyed Rachel fondly again. I'd guessed the Ennesic Order priests shared Bobby's tastes. Seemed I was right.
"Then... please head inside, sister. You'll have to wait a bit, brother."
"No. I want to join. A father's sins are his daughter's. If it's not too much trouble... I'd like to witness her atonement."
"Ah."
He let out an exclamation—not rejection, but approval.
"Of course. That's only right. Come this way."
"Fucking pervert..."
"What was that, sister?"
"...I'm sorry for my sins."
Rachel tugged her skirt again and followed him. The confessional door opened, revealing another vast space.
Rooms lined both sides of the corridor. Dim lighting, priests coming and going with women. Without their attire, it'd be a brothel. Rachel glanced around anxiously, but I kept my eyes on his back.
"Right in here."
He pointed to a room, no longer hiding his smile, and opened the door. I shoved the still-resisting Rachel inside and followed.
Kung.
With the door closed behind him, only the room's light illuminated it. No windows—just a candelabra, bottles of strange fluid, and contraceptives. I knelt naturally by the wall; the man approached Rachel with a satisfied look.
"Now, sister. What sins have you committed?"
"Huh? Uh... well..."
She kept glancing at me. I stayed still, scanning the room.
"I... stole something. From a market stall. I know I shouldn't have, right? I'm really, truly sorry."
"Yes, of course. Understood. Shall we pray first, then?"
"Y-yes. Prayer. Right."
Thick walls, door firmly shut. No moans leaked in the hall earlier—soundproofed well.
"W-wait. Why the clothes..."
"To reveal sin, you must shed useless shells. Come on, sister, undress."
"Ah... haha..."
Door locked from inside. No signal when he entered—no one else coming.
"Wait! I've repented enough, really? Gonna go home with Dad now. I have homework..."
"You must complete God's task first: cleansing sin. Now, let's begin."
"D-Dad? Dad, I wanna go home. Dad!"
The priest yanked down his pants without hesitation. His grotesque member exposed, I checked the door again and stood.
Then swiftly tripped him by grabbing his leg.
"Urk... mmp...!"
"Shh."
I pinned him quietly, then grabbed his protruding ballsack. No need to gag—he knew the situation instantly.
"Hah... huff..."
"Where's the saintess?"
"That's..."
He hesitated, so I ripped one testicle free and covered his mouth. A muffled scream erupted beneath my palm.
"...!!!!"
"Use this to staunch the bleeding."
"Aaaah... God..."
I tore his underwear and handed it to Rachel. As she pressed it down, I eyed his bulging eyes.
"Ennesic priest, so you won't die. Might even reattach if I return it intact. No screaming—answer me. Where's the saintess?"
I eased my hand; he gasped in terror and stammered.
"Th-the... aaaah... f-farthest room inside... follow this hall, left turn."
"Guards?"
"A few... patrol the halls... but if you're with me, no problem. So, please..."
"No."
I tossed one testicle to Rachel and said without looking back.
"Rachel. Take it and run."
"You won't explain even if I ask?"
"Go."
She sighed deeply and darted out. I shoved the other into his hand.
"Scream after I leave. When guards come, say the girl who ran did this—not me. I just want to see the saintess. Don't do anything stupid, and tomorrow, you get the other back. Got it?"
"A-ah..."
"Answer."
"Y-yes... understood..."
Tears streamed as he nodded. I glared, then donned his discarded robe from the corner and exited.
"Guards! Guaaaards!"
He screamed on cue. Hall guards rushed past me in alarm. I steadily pushed against the flow toward the corridor's depths.
Left at the end, deepest room. As I walked, people in flashy clothes and jewelry hovered uncertainly by a door. Instinct told me that was it. As I approached, one rushed over.
"Wh-what is it? Something big...?"
"I need to check the saintess's safety. Everyone, leave for today."
"B-but...! Ah... y-yeah... got it."
The leader started to protest but fled at my gaze. I waited until their footsteps vanished around the corner, then stepped toward the door.
"..."
Reaching slowly for the handle, I realized my hand was trembling. What caused it? Triumph at finally meeting her? Or rage hardened too much to spit out?
Whichever, my heart was surprisingly calm. I gripped my wrist hard with the other hand, leaving a mark, and the shaking stopped.
I pulled my collar up to hide my face. Even after all these years, I'd recognize Sera instantly. How long would it take her to know it was me?
My heart thudded again, the pulse echoing in my ears.
Kung.
Kung.
Kung.
The rhythmic beats dragged up that day's memories. Me, frozen like stone, reaching out. Bobby crushing that hope, flicking his fingers. And beneath, her tear-streaked eyes staring endlessly at me.
When that gaze blurred and body and soul were crushed, Sera spat the one truth she'd hidden. A truth too bitter to swallow, shredding Eli's heart. That day, Eli and I lost the only friend we'd thought we'd have forever.
...
Would she speak the truth hearing my heartbeat? Or lie?
I'd only know by facing her. I gripped the cold handle fully and slowly turned it sideways.