Chapter 15 - This, too, must be Vivian's will (4)
This, too, must be Vivian's will (4)
Clop, clop...
Clop, clop...
It has already been three days since we set out for the Papal State. The progress was slower than I expected, leaving a slightly gritty taste in my mouth.
"Vivian-nim, is your body alright?"
"My crotch is throbbing. My body has become stiff like a wooden plank."
The journey to another country was quite far from the romance portrayed in anime and manga. The bumpy unpaved road pounded my butt all day long. And when we arrived at the campsite, mosquitoes and nameless bugs rushed at me as if they had been waiting.
"It feels like my butt has split into four."
At my indifferent grumbling, Lumina's expression quickly turned into that of a restless puppy.
"Oh my goodness! To think the Saintess's noble butt has split into four pieces..."
"It's just a figure of speech. It's still bearable, so don't worry too much."
I just said it for a laugh. To think she would make such a fuss. Thanks to that, the atmosphere sank even more strangely for no reason.
"You seem quite exhausted, so how about we rest here for a while?"
Captain Orban, who was guarding the rear of the column, approached silently and matched his pace.
"Pardon? No. I'm really fine. We still have a long way to go."
"Do not say that. The Saintess's well-being is the well-being of this land."
Captain Orban cut off my refusal at once and raised his right arm high above his head. Then the numerous knights marching silently behind stopped simultaneously as if they had made a promise.
"All units, rest for 30 minutes and commence perimeter watch!"
At the thunderous command that rang out, the knights immediately began to move in perfect order. Someone spread a clean blanket without a single speck of dust on the bare ground. Someone placed a stepping stool precisely at my feet as I got off the horse. I could only open my mouth wide at that terribly meticulous and excessive protocol.
"Here, Vivian-nim. Please get off carefully."
Lumina, who got off her horse first, carefully supported my waist.
"No, I really can't make a joke... Why is everyone really acting like this?"
"The Saintess's joke is the Goddess's teaching... How could we dare pass it over lightly?"
Lumina answered heavily with eyes that were not just serious but solemn. She brushed off even a tiny leaf on the spot where I would sit like a germaphobe.
"I know our actions are somewhat excessive. But if the Saintess's energy is harmed by the forced march..."
Captain Orban's low and dignified remark followed. As soon as I heard that, my mind went even more blank and distant.
"The Captain is right, Vivian-nim. Don't mind us and rest well when you can."
"Wouldn't our march also become lively if the Saintess regains her energy?"
I'm not some energy drink... At this rate, later on, even if I just breathe heavily, they'll say it's the Goddess's breath and take deep breaths as a group. How on earth did things end up like this?
"By the way, Saintess-nim, how long do you intend to wear that veil upside down?"
At Captain Orban's sudden question, I tilted my head in puzzlement immediately.
"...Why ask that suddenly?"
"It is fine for us since we know the Saintess's circumstances, but the people of the Papal State will definitely think it strange."
Captain Orban's words have a point. Trevin Village was a small rural village, so there was no problem going around like this. But in the Papal State, they will definitely suspect my mental state first.
"According to the etiquette of the Papal State, covering the face with a veil is considered an act of rejecting the Goddess. It is no different from blasphemy."
"Pardon? Really?!"
Despite my shocked shout, Captain Orban answered calmly without blinking an eye.
"It could be accepted as an arrogant intention to block the Goddess's light yourself."
I had never heard of such a terrifying etiquette existing in the Papal State. Feeling cold sweat running down my back, I carefully threw a glance toward Lumina for confirmation.
Then──.
"Yes, that's correct. Such etiquette actually exists."
No, why is this real? Just covering my face with a veil is blasphemy... Why on earth does such an absurd etiquette exist? And why did Lumina stay still until now even though she knew?!
"But I thought old etiquette didn't matter to Vivian-nim."
Lumina added with a reverent expression as if reciting a verse from the Bible.
"Because holiness originates from the inside, not the exterior."
"Even so, if there was such a thing, you should have told me in advance..."
"Vivian-nim is already a dazzling light in herself, so what obstacle would a mere veil be?"
There was not a shred of doubt in Lumina's eyes as she said that. No, rather than faith, it was almost close to blind faith.
"Anyone who suspects Vivian-nim will surely lose their Holy Power like me and wander in darkness."
"Why are you suddenly saying such creepy things..."
"Creepy, you say? I merely stated a fact."
With that firm remark as the end, Lumina sat modestly in front of me and took a small breath once.
"Still, if you are really anxious, how about wearing the veil properly starting now?"
"Hmm... I guess I should?"
"You wore the veil upside down on purpose to suppress your overflowing Holy Power, right?"
At Lumina's innocent question, I shut my mouth for a moment.
"You don't need to be so wary. I already know everything."
With that quiet remark, Lumina gently placed her hand on the veil covering my face. Before I could react, the veil was flipped aside.
"Even the Holy Power I saw a few days ago was enough to make my knees weak, but to think you possessed even more Holy Power..."
The moment the veil was lifted smoothly following Lumina's fingertips. A heavy silence as if time stopped descended in an instant.
"......."
"......."
As soon as she saw my bright eyes, Lumina stiffened without a word. It seems Lumina's world just collapsed.
"Uh, huh...? Why are your eyes...?"
"You didn't see wrong. You are seeing correctly."
"No, that can't be... These are clearly demon eyes..."
Before Lumina's bewildered words could finish. Captain Orban, standing like a shadow behind my back, quickly drew the sword at his waist.
"Refrain from saying any more, Sir Lumina."
Captain Orban's sharp sword stopped right in front of Lumina's nape.
"The Saintess is not a demon. She is merely encroached by a curse."
"C-Curse...?"
At the cold rebuke that followed, Lumina's eyes shook severely for a moment. Rather than the sensation of the sharp sword blade digging into her neck, my ominous eyes seemed to shake her reason more roughly.
"The Saintess took on the powerful curse spread across the land of the Former Papal State alone."
"W-Wait... If it's the land of the Former Papal State, perhaps..."
"Yes. That place now called the Abandoned Land."
Captain Orban's voice was extremely low and solemn. The atmosphere became serious enough to be irreversible before I knew it. Even the eyes of the knights watching silently from afar began to change reverently one by one.
"Using her noble soul as a vessel, she bore all the curses of that place alone."
"L-Lie... That makes no sense! That place is now so corrupted that it wouldn't be strange to call it a land of demons..."
"That is why the Saintess's eyes changed like demon eyes."
...What is this? Land of the Former Papal State? Powerful curse?
Since he heard various things from Daren and Chloe who believed my lies straight, it's not unreasonable for Captain Orban to have such a misunderstanding. But to say a powerful curse was spread on that land... or that it was the land of the Former Papal State... this is the first time I'm hearing this.
It seems a lot of flesh was added in the process of information transfer. A very, very lot.
"Thanks to the Saintess's sublime sacrifice, the Abandoned Land finally regained vitality."
"Regained vitality... that means..."
"It means flowers have started blooming again in the Goddess's garden."
Incomprehensible words keep passing over my head endlessly. Now I don't know what is what at all. I, the person involved, am sitting still without saying a word. But they are making strange noises beating drums and playing janggu among themselves.
"...I'll go relieve myself for a moment."
Eventually, I decided to leave this dizzying spot for a while. I don't understand what they are talking about at all, and my body felt quite stiff anyway.
"Yes? Where do you intend to go alone suddenly..."
"I'll be back soon. Don't mind me and continue the conversation you were having."
I flatly refused Captain Orban's offer to attach an escort. What I needed right now was nothing else but time alone.
. . .
Rustle...
Barely shaking off the persistently clinging Lumina and Captain Orban. Only after entering behind a huge tree where people's eyes couldn't reach did I let out the sigh I had been holding back.
Taking all the curses of the Abandoned Land alone... Flowers blooming in the Goddess's garden...
All the stories Captain Orban muttered were no different from bizarre ghost stories with unknown sources to me. Something seems to be getting strangely misunderstood more and more. I don't know where they are picking up such strange stories.
"Phew..."
Just as I was cooling my head calmly alone in the quiet forest with no one around.
"Psst! Psst!"
Suddenly, a strange whistling sound came very timidly from somewhere nearby.
"Hey! You're caught by humans right now, aren't you?!"
"Come this way quickly...!"
Reflexively turning my head toward the sound, I saw four horns sticking out sharply from among the thick bushes.