Fear Before the Saintess
The breeze today is pleasantly cool, and the temperature is…
It was a gentle voice, cultured and refined.
Those voices seemed to spread beneath the glow of the ornate chandeliers, carrying with them a warmth that eased the heart.
So this is holy power.
Holy Power.
Exactly as the name implied—a sacred force. It calmed the mind and body, clearing the head…
“Would you like me to guide you, Lady Yuhwa?”
“Very well. Proceed.”
“Yes.”
They received guidebooks and pamphlets, and the flight attendant began explaining the itinerary in a soft, measured tone.
From the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica to the magnificent frescoes Michelangelo had painted across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
The descriptions flowing from the attendants’ lips were quite fascinating.
Swish. Swish. Swish.
Glancing to the side, Yuhwa saw Yujin leaning in close to the attendant, their heads nearly touching. They seemed to have grown quite friendly. Noticing Yuhwa’s gaze, Yujin began whispering something in a hushed voice.
It was a frequency so faint that no ordinary human could have heard it. But Yuhwa, with a dragon’s transcendent hearing, caught every word.
—What do you think? Would it suit her? An ancient Roman-style silk dress.
—Oh my, dear customer! As expected, your taste is impeccable. With Lady Yuhwa’s figure, that dress would drape beautifully! Or perhaps a carefully tied ribbon would be lovely?
—You want me to tie a ribbon on her tail myself? I could never do something so embarrassing…
She was already fretting over what gift to give. How very thoughtful.
Yuhwa pretended not to hear.
Meanwhile, So-yi, seated across from her, had been tapping away at her smartphone screen for some time, searching for something with intense focus. (As expected of a high-end aircraft, in-flight data was available.) A faint shadow of tension lingered between her brows.
Yuhwa rolled her eyes toward her.
“So-yi. What has you staring so intently?”
Startled by the question, So-yi flinched and hunched her shoulders. After a moment of hesitation, she answered carefully.
“Ah… well, I was checking the real-time situation in Korea and Japan. There’s no way the major guilds or the upper echelons of the government wouldn’t know we suddenly departed for Vatican City. I was trying to gauge how they’re reacting to all this… getting a sense of the atmosphere outside.”
“Oh? Is that so? And what is the atmosphere like? Are they making a fuss, claiming we’ve abandoned our countries?”
When Yuhwa asked with genuine interest, So-yi scratched her cheek, unable to hide her awkward expression. She glanced around before lowering her voice.
“It’s… rather strange. Things are unfolding in a completely unexpected direction.”
“Hmm?”
“Right now, the mood on the internet and in the news—both in Korea and Japan—is… surprisingly positive, I’d say. After all, it’s only natural that a being with power close to that of a god wouldn’t pledge loyalty to any single nation or government system. The unregistered Awakener title alone makes that clear. But after Ayane’s interview, public opinion seems to be forming that ‘Life Failed’ might actually have a rather mild and decent personality.”
So-yi swallowed and continued.
“So perhaps… instead of being controlled by foolish government officials, it might be far safer to seek protection under ‘Life Failed.’ Maybe Korea, and now Japan, have already entered that person’s sphere of protection. A strange sort of savior-worship atmosphere is forming… It’s a bit odd, isn’t it?”
Ayane, who had been listening blankly, suddenly wore an expression of utter disbelief.
“What the…”
She had only read from a script, yet people were reacting like this… Ayane thought to herself.
Maybe it makes sense, in a way.
Perhaps that was how it sounded to ordinary people.
Yuhwa tilted her head, then turned to Ayane.
“Ayane.”
“Y-Yes?! Lady Yuhwa?”
Startled by the sudden address, Ayane straightened her posture at once. Yuhwa spoke to her in a serious, weighty tone.
“What would you like to do from now on?”
“Excuse me? What do you mean…”
“They say even a brush of the sleeve can create a bond. Though our beginning wasn’t exactly pleasant.”
“That’s true…”
“In any case, we’ve crossed borders and traveled together. That’s a fairly deep connection, wouldn’t you say? I could do as the media suggests. I could help you.”
“Ah…”
Ayane froze, meeting Yuhwa’s gaze directly.
…!
She immediately looked away, fidgeting with her fingers.
“Um… Lady Yuhwa. Could I… have a little more time to think before answering?”
“Do as you wish. We have plenty of time.”
“Yes…”
With that, the conversation ended.
So-ah was nestled in Yuhwa’s arms, snoring softly in her sleep. Yuhwa patted the child’s back with care so as not to wake her, gazing out the window at the scenery beyond.
The thick blanket of clouds covering the sky was slowly parting. Through the gaps, the massive, ancient walls on the ground and the grand dome of the cathedral came into view.
Vatican City.
They had finally arrived at the place said to be the most sacred on Earth.
Welcome to Vatican City…
God bless you…
May the Virgin Mary’s grace be with you…
Rumble—!
The private jet’s wheels touched down smoothly on the special runway inside Vatican City. The soundproofed door opened, and Yuhwa and her companions slowly descended the boarding stairs.
The moment their feet touched the ground…
…!
Yuhwa couldn’t help but marvel at the overwhelming sensation pressing in on her.
The very air was different.
If other cities on Earth were a mixture of exhaust and murky atmosphere, the skies above Vatican City were filled with pure, untainted energy that enveloped the entire nation.
It was as if the entire space of Vatican City was gently yet heavily pressing down upon them.
Oh…
A large welcoming crowd had gathered on the runway to receive Yuhwa’s party.
Priests in white robes and nuns in neat habits were visible. High-ranking clergy from the Vatican could be seen as well, along with pamphlets and banners.
As Yuhwa quietly observed the colorful crowd, her brows furrowed ever so slightly.
It was peculiar.
From cute novice nuns to mature high-ranking female priests, the runway was filled almost entirely with women—an unusual sight.
Just then—
Hum—!
The enthusiastic voices of the welcoming party began to fade. As if by agreement, hundreds of female clergy parted neatly to either side, creating a long, wide path like the parting of the Red Sea.
Step. Step. Step.
Breaking the silence, a figure slowly walked forward from the end of that path.
A woman clad in dazzling white silk priestly robes, her silver hair cascading down to her waist. With every step she took, a faint golden halo seemed to form above her head.
She looked like a goddess straight out of myth. To describe her that way might be blasphemous, but the most striking thing was the sheer size of her chest. The white robes looked ready to burst, their sheer mass enough to steal the breath of anyone who saw them.
Yuhwa had always thought her own chest was large, but the Saintess’s… was far larger than hers!
Cecilia quickly stepped forward and stood respectfully at the Saintess’s side. The silver-haired woman—the spiritual pillar of Vatican City—came to a halt. Wearing the most benevolent smile in the world, she clasped her hands together in greeting.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Yuhwa. I sincerely welcome you to Vatican City. My name is Isabella.”
Her appearance was sacred and noble. And yet… something about her felt strangely unsettling.
…?
Yes. It was the same feeling she’d had when she sensed the slight roundness of Cecilia’s belly. That sensation was now pointing toward Isabella’s body—specifically, her lower half.
Yuhwa couldn’t help but freeze. She looked around. Most of the people here were women. There were men, but only children. There were no young men. Cecilia was pregnant, yet there were no men in Vatican City. Even if there were, there were no young ones. Cecilia wouldn’t have had time to meet any.
Could it be… that the reason Vatican City is filled only with women is because of her?
The plane had been full of beautiful women. And Vatican City itself was filled with women.
Perhaps… this entire Vatican City belongs to the Saintess.
That tickling, unsettling feeling.
Yuhwa swallowed hard. She was afraid. Truly afraid.
“I just purchased a translation skill. Hehe… I wanted to see you. I hope that’s not strange.”
“N-No…”
Yuhwa shrank back, avoiding Isabella’s eyes.
“Is something the matter?”
“Ah, no…”
She had to admit it. The Saintess was truly an extraordinary being. She had instilled fear in Yuhwa herself.
Yuhwa was afraid of Isabella.
“What’s wrong, Master? Is something bothering you?”
“Ah, it’s nothing…”
Yujin asked with a puzzled look, but Yuhwa couldn’t bring herself to answer honestly.
“Hehe… You seem rather adorable, Lady Yuhwa.”
She was afraid. Truly afraid.