Chapter 69 False Saintess (6)
The False Saintess (6)
"Honestly, is the distinction between real and fake really that important?"
Id's words had pierced deep into Yurp's heart. She had pondered over those words for days. Thinking and rethinking, chewing on their meaning.
It was a line of thought she'd never once considered before. She wanted to borrow even a fragment of the answer Id had arrived at in a similar situation.
"Listen. Whether something's real or fake doesn't matter at all."
Was that truly the case?
Was distinguishing between real and fake truly meaningless? But she was just an unnatural creation meant to replace an innocent village girl.
"What matters is what kind of person you are."
She had never once considered what kind of person she herself was.
Ever since realizing her true nature, she'd been consumed by guilt toward the girl named Yurp.
Even after becoming a priestess with the help of a cleric she'd met by chance, that guilt never faded.
Would the Goddess truly forgive her sins?
That single thought kept circling in her mind. It remained even after she became a Saint Candidate.
Though this situation was never her intention, Yurp had been bitterly reminding herself of her sins all this time.
She was fundamentally different from people who could seek meaning in their birth. The reason for her existence in this world was painfully clear.
To live as a replacement for the girl called "Yurp."
Perhaps that was why she'd been so fixated on real and fake. Blinded by that illusion, she'd done nothing but endlessly pick at her own wounds.
"What kind of person are you?"
It was a difficult question to answer. That's why she tried thinking about it alone. Yet even after days of contemplation, she couldn't easily respond.
Until now, she'd only ever thought about the girl called "Yurp" - she'd never once reflected on herself.
So she asked the comrades who'd been with her all this time. What kind of person do you think I am?
Though perplexed by her sudden question, they all answered.
"You're a diligent girl. You've never missed a single service since joining the Goddess Church."
"You're someone worthy of being called Saintess! That's why I like Sister Yurp!"
"Why ask me something like that... Honestly, almost no one would oppose your being a Saint Candidate."
"Those high-and-mighty types might think differently, but I consider you perfectly qualified."
A diligent girl, someone worthy of being a Saintess, a perfectly qualified Saint Candidate...
There was an enormous gap between how they saw her and how she saw herself. Only after hearing their words could she understand the meaning behind Id's statement.
"Haha... What was I so afraid of?"
Black hair fluttering in the wind, arms still gaunt despite having gained some flesh, slender fingers.
Lying on the grassland, Yurp could finally face her true self. She looked up once more at the star-filled sky.
Her fate-marking constellation still wasn't visible in the night sky. But that fact no longer frightened her.
Instead, she felt a sense of liberation - as if she'd broken free from fate, become a truly free person.
'...Sister Id, I still don't really know what kind of person I am.'
So starting now, I'll try to find out.
The meaning behind my birth in this world no longer matters. That was something the Emperor gave me, not something that was ever truly mine.
Uuung...
The brand on her nape burned crimson. In the past, she could only obey the Emperor's commands, helpless against this pain. But now was different.
Because now she wasn't a baby elephant resigned to its chains - she was an elephant tearing through its ropes to seek freedom.
Soon, the Emperor's command began forming in her mind as a few summarized words:
[Tomorrow. Oblivion Whale. Id. Raid. Stay away.]
A simple command.
No, more accurately - a warning. Had he noticed she'd grown close to Id? Not that it mattered anymore.
Whatever the Emperor wanted no longer concerned her.
In fact, she might even be able to use that command to her advantage.
'So tomorrow, he plans to attack Sister Id.'
The Oblivion Whale.
The Holy Nation Numen's ancient enemy, the monster countless priests gnashed their teeth to avenge. A creature dwelling in the Forest of Forgetfulness that had stolen countless lives and memories.
Facing that monster made her decision simple.
This would be the first decision she made not as "Yurp," but as the False Saintess.
§
The third Dimensional Rift had been discovered. A massive tear in the steep mountainside, nearly cliff-like.
They said the rift would grow larger and the monsters stronger the deeper one went.
At this point, it was already larger than the walls of most fortresses. People began murmuring as they saw it was over twice the size of the second rift.
"Didn't it get bigger than last year's?"
"Even back then, it wasn't this large..."
"Ha... damn it. What's next?"
"Won't it grow even bigger next year?"
Most of the voices were tinged with unease.
The ever-expanding dimensional rifts over recent years, and the monsters growing increasingly stronger—it was certainly a situation worth feeling anxious about.
Just as both the Holy Knight Order and even our own knight order were beginning to waver, Abel slowly stepped forward.
Not just the knights blocking his path, but even the holy knights made way for him.
Once he reached the front, Abel turned around and swept his gaze over the crowd.
"Gentlemen, have you all swallowed your fear?"
"N-No, sir!"
One knight stammered but answered boldly. Abel smiled coldly at the audacity of that lone response to the Duke's question.
"Then why are your voices trembling?"
"No, they're not!"
This time, multiple voices answered in unison. Though the response was loud, he crossed his arms, unsatisfied.
"Why, then, are your voices so small?"
"No, they're not!"
Now, nearly the entire knight order raised their voices in reply. It sounded almost rehearsed, but Abel's expression didn't change.
Seeing some knights still hesitating to raise their voices, he even furrowed his brows.
"Should I assume those who don't answer are too afraid of something like this?"
"NO, THEY'RE NOT!!"
Not a single one remained silent—they all roared in response. Only then did Abel smile, seemingly satisfied.
"The Black Crow Knights do not fear something as trivial as this. Understood?"
"YES, SIR!!"
The voices, already raised once by Abel's prompting, now surged with morale. The unease and fear hidden in their eyes vanished as if washed away, and he smiled.
His rare smile further boosted the knights' spirits. Who knew morale could be lifted just by asking a few questions?
Truly, he hadn't risen to the rank of Duke for nothing.
[Impressive.]
'Right?'
[...Why are you looking proud as if it's your achievement?]
Silpi shook his head at my expression, looking exasperated. I chuckled at his remark and turned my gaze back to Abel.
He must have noticed my stare—he glanced at me sidelight and mouthed something. His lips moved soundlessly, and I instinctively frowned.
Abel flashed one last smirk, as if finishing his words. But what he had said remained a mystery.
Silpi, hovering beside me, seemed to read my thoughts and kindly translated.
['I'll punish those who didn't answer later.']
'Huh? Oh, wait.'
Come to think of it, I was technically part of the Black Crow Knights. Was he seriously going to punish me for not answering?
I'd just been impressed, but now that he was being this petty, my admiration instantly cooled.
[It's your fault, Contractor.]
'What nonsense.'
As I bickered with Silpi, the lingering unease in my heart faded away completely.
Just as I was loosening up with a lighter mood, the Pope approached Abel.
"Hoho. Youth truly is something. Don't you agree, Holy Knights?"
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
"Oh, no need to shout. This old man hasn't gone deaf yet."
The Pope laughed heartily, and chuckles rippled through the Holy Knight Order. Watching them, he smirked and added,
"Those who laughed—I'll see you back in the Holy Kingdom."
"Ugh..."
The holy knights who had laughed scratched their heads, desperately avoiding his gaze.
"At any rate, I trust none of you intend to lose to them?"
"No, Your Holiness!"
"Then prove it with your strength. Show them the might of our Holy Knight Order."
"Understood!"
Their voices boomed even louder than our knight order's. Whether it was the combined efforts of the Pope and Abel or not, morale had undeniably soared.
The earlier atmosphere thick with anxiety had vanished without a trace. All that remained was the resolute glint in the warriors' eyes.
As I smiled at the sight, a tug on my sleeve made me turn.
Yurp was grinning at me. Not the awkward smile from days before, but one that felt strangely refreshing.
"Unnie Id."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I... I think I understand what you told me back then."
As she spoke, she stretched leisurely, looking unburdened. Yurp exhaled deeply and continued.
"Thank you for telling me."
"Don't mention it. I'm glad it helped."
Still, why did I feel an ominous premonition from this? Yurp nodded firmly, as if she had made up her mind, then lightly slapped her cheeks.
"I'll do my best."
"Yeah. I'll cheer you on."
"Hehe."
For some reason, her smiling face looked beautiful.