Chapter 506: The Statue
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 506: The Statue
It felt as if my mind had gone completely blank. The murmurs of the crowd around me were growing louder, so it was only natural. The one before me was an Apostle of the Savior. I had opened my mouth in a moment of joy, never imagining it would lead to this.
“Ah…”
The female Apostle who had struck me was wiping her hand with a handkerchief, a look of disgust on her face. The other Apostles nearby reacted with a degree of indifference, showing no intention of stopping her. Of course, my lips began to tremble. I had made a terrible mistake.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“You moronic human… Know your place and do not step out of line,” the female Apostle muttered.
Then, I heard a metallic click. Ann was silently aiming her firearm.
“Do you have any idea what you are doing, you foolish human?”
“…”
“Ann, what is this insolence toward an Apostle of the Savior! L-Lower your weapon at once!”
“The only order I have received is to protect the Saintess.”
“Ann!”
If an Apostle of the Savior were to be harmed, the situation could become dire. I couldn’t bear to disappoint Baek Ahyeon-nim again while she was already so disheartened. A few of the other devotees were also watching the scene with anxious expressions.
“Ann. Do my words mean nothing to you?”
As I stared at Ann, who was emanating divine power while quietly aiming her weapon, she finally began to lower it slowly. It felt like walking a tightrope. Turning back to the slightly bewildered Apostles, Jane spoke again in a rush.
“I-I am so sorry, Apostles. Ann has not been with the order for very long… I-It seems there was a slight misunderstanding.”
“The Savior is a merciful being. I shall forgive it,” one of them said.
“Ah!”
“However, I will remember your name, human.”
“As you wish. Saintess Jane, I will go deliver the message to Baek Ahyeon-nim now.”
“Understood. Jane, I will attend to the Apostles. Please, hurry and deliver this joyous news to Baek Ahyeon-nim…”
I decided that getting Ann away from here was the most urgent priority, so I had no choice but to nod. The only thought in my mind was the need to make up for my earlier mistake. I had given an order to an Apostle of the Savior, and even had a weapon aimed at them. If the Savior or Baek Ahyeon-nim were to find out, they would surely scold me severely. Perhaps the Savior would never embrace me in his arms again. The thought made my heart pound with anxiety.
As my mind raced, the female Apostle in front of me spoke again.
“Baek Ahyeon?”
“She is the Archbishop of our order. She is currently on her way here, so you will be able to meet her soon. If you had informed us of your arrival in advance, I would have contacted her…”
“Hmm…”
“So, when is this human named Baek Ahyeon scheduled to arrive?” another asked.
“It is expected to take about a week, but I am sure she will rush here immediately upon hearing that the Apostles have arrived.”
“Then we will have to stay here until then.”
“Ah…”
“Guide us to a place where we can rest, Saintess.”
“Yes. I will guide you right away.”
It went without saying that I had to guide them to the most magnificent and largest rooms available. My cheek was throbbing, but I felt no desire to treat it. It was a display of my will to endure the punishment given by the Apostles. Seeing their satisfied smiles, it seemed my choice had not been wrong.
The fact that they would be staying here until Baek Ahyeon-nim’s arrival meant I would have more time to serve them. The thought that I would have the opportunity to learn about the hidden meanings of the scriptures and many other things naturally filled me with happiness. As I fidgeted with my fingers in delight, a voice came from behind me.
“Prepare a meal as well.”
“Yes. I will have it prepared. If I may ask, what time…”
“As soon as it is ready.”
“I understand.”
Perhaps I would even get to dine with them. I assigned the Apostles, with their angelic wings, to the largest rooms in the temple. Fearing that a mistake like mine might happen again, I also made sure the staff was thoroughly educated.
The displeased expression from before was now gone. Seeing the satisfied smile on their faces, Jane let out a sigh of relief.
“Hoo…”
The atmosphere in the Temple City was truly festive. It was only natural for everyone to be excited. Prayers were offered ceaselessly, and voices praising the Savior’s name echoed from all corners. Jane made no effort to hide her own excitement. She served each and every one of them with the utmost care, and she personally carried the prepared meal herself.
It was the highest honor the Temple City could offer.
“The m-meal is ready.”
“You may enter.”
“Yes.”
Setting up a large table for the eight Apostles who had settled in their respective places and placing all the dishes upon it was quite a task, given the sheer scale of it all.
“Hmm…”
After finishing all the preparations, I quietly bowed my head. A voice immediately followed.
“What is your name?”
“I am called Jane.”
“And your position is Saintess?”
“I am unworthy, but I am called so by the grace of the Savior. I have not been with the order for long, so… I sincerely apologize if our hospitality is lacking. I-If only Baek Ahyeon-nim were here…”
“You were slightly grating on my nerves, but it is not so bad, Saintess. Ptooey. The food is pathetic.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Nazareth. I believe I told you not to cause unnecessary trouble.”
“This isn’t unnecessary trouble; I’m merely stating a fact, Michael-nim. To think they would serve us food that even a monster wouldn’t eat.”
The name of the female Apostle who had slapped my cheek was Nazareth, and the Apostle who spoke while sitting heavily in his seat was Michael. It was understandable that the food here might not suit their palate. Naturally, a feeling of guilt began to sprout within me.
“Do not forget why we are here, Nazareth.”
“Yes, yes. I understand, Michael-nim. I am keeping it in mind. I truly am. But I just can’t seem to swallow this. And really… look at these foolish people. Must we…”
“Nazareth!”
“…”
“I-I’m sorry, Nazareth-nim. I will have another meal prepared at once…”
“Enough, you fool. Whatever food you bring will likely be more of the same.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Hoo…”
“I understand, Michael-nim.”
What felt a little strange was that the Apostles seemed to be on edge. I couldn’t see their expressions clearly, but it felt as if they didn’t want to cause any trouble. The atmosphere suggested they didn’t want the one called Nazareth to act out. Jane quietly nodded.
She had realized that even the Savior’s Apostles had their own distinct personalities. She wasn’t foolish enough to ask them directly about doctrine or scripture. However, simply observing the Apostles up close like this would be helpful enough.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes. Understood. If there is anything that makes you uncomfortable…”
“We will call for you.”
“Yes.”
A little time passed.
Cheers still echoed daily throughout the Temple City. The reason, of course, was the arrival of the Savior’s Apostles. Although they never directly preached doctrine or mentioned the contents of the scriptures, the Apostles could be seen actively walking around the Temple City, sharing their words with others.
It was mostly just a touch of a hand or a small display of divine power, but everyone responded favorably.
Everyone wanted to ask why they never mentioned the scriptures or the Savior, but a consensus grew that they wished for the followers to arrive at their own interpretations. This led all the devotees to delve into the scriptures with even greater fervor.
However, the number of devotees who wanted to resolve the questions about the scriptures that filled their minds also grew. Of course, Jane was one of them.
It was because she felt she was lacking as a Saintess.
Having joined the order late, her knowledge was shallow, even compared to that of a common devotee. Having gained the chance to hear the words of an Apostle directly, she felt it was only natural to want to seize this opportunity.
The problem was that she couldn’t ask questions carelessly, for fear of inconveniencing the Apostles.
But as the time of Baek Ahyeon-nim’s arrival drew near, her anxious heart grew even more restless. The reason was simple: she wanted to show her a more developed version of herself. She knew it was rude, but she wanted to know. Although they seemed to dislike being questioned, in the end, Jane had no choice but to quietly speak up.
Her tone was exceedingly polite.
“Nazareth-nim. M-May I ask a simple question, if it is not too much trouble?”
“What is it?”
“I-I have a question about the w-words of the Savior…”
“I was just getting bored. A conversation with a foolish human might not be so bad.”
“D-Does that mean…”
“What is it you wish to know? I shall tell you.”
“Th-Thank you.”
I felt like shouting for joy. My attempt to speak to the Apostle Nazareth, who had been wearing a bored expression among the scattered Apostles, had paid off. I had already thought of hundreds of questions, but when the time came to ask, my mind went completely blank. I was struggling to decide which question would be best.
But I couldn’t let such a precious opportunity slip away. Jane carefully opened her mouth.
“Um… according to the New Testament, Chapter 43, Verse 12, I-I have heard that the Savior will one day appear before us in his complete form. I-If I may ask, what might that form look like… and what does it mean to be in a ‘complete form’…”
It was the most basic and fundamental of questions. Theology only became more difficult to interpret the deeper one delved, so I had carefully chosen a question that could receive a relatively definitive answer. I was worried that I might not be able to comprehend the Apostles’ high-level theological knowledge.
However, perhaps my question seemed foolish, because I could feel the Apostle Nazareth sneering at me. It was embarrassing for a Saintess, but the thought that I had to learn, even if it meant enduring such shame, put my mind at ease.
“Hmm…”
“…”
“Well, there could be various interpretations. But how could we possibly confirm the Savior’s appearance?”
“…?”
“This is why they say foolish humans are hopeless. Do you truly believe that the statue up there is the Savior?”
“B-But isn’t the statue up there the very image of the Savior h-himself?”
“You speak as if you’ve actually met the Savior.”
“I-It is embarrassing, but I h-have actually met him.”
“…………?”
“……?”
Something started to feel off. I could see bewilderment spreading across the Apostle Nazareth’s face.
“You fool!”
“Pardon?”
“Do you think what you saw was the Savior’s true form?! What you saw could not have been his true form. How could the eyes of a mere human possibly contain his true appearance?”
“I… I see.”
“All of these numerous statues here are meaningless. Your fixed idea that he looks like that is what hinders your development.”
“Ah…”
I started to feel like I understood what she was saying. I was nodding lightly when it happened.
Divine power began to gather slowly in the Apostle Nazareth’s hand. In an instant, the divine power shot from Nazareth and struck the giant statue of the Savior head-on.
“Things like that are meaningless.”
CRUUUMBLE…
KRA-KRA-KRA-CRACK.
With a tremendous roar, the statue of the Savior began to collapse.
I never thought that statue would be destroyed.
The scene before my eyes was surreal.
“Ah…”
The Savior’s face, the Savior’s arm, the Savior’s massive horns, the Savior’s majestic body—cracks slowly spread across them as pieces began to fall away.
Everyone who had been praying to the Savior stopped and stared at the unbelievable sight.
“Ah… Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!”