Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Saintess's Judgment
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The next morning at 8 a.m. in the department office.
“This escort mission is your second solo assignment since the civilian aid operation, specially secured in recognition of your past merits…”
Lee Tae-jin was delivering a solemn speech in a grave tone.
His audience: Baek Sa-young, Joo Ah-rin, Cheon Seo-yoon, Lee Dae-ho, and me, all selected for the escort team.
Everyone from Class A’s aces was present, except for Seol Yun-gi, who hadn’t been thrilled about playing second fiddle to someone.
They were all dressed in formal navy-blue ceremonial uniforms, different from their usual attire.
I was also sharply dressed in the uniform prepared by the department office.
Was it the outfit’s effect?
They all looked particularly reliable and imposing today.
But that illusion didn’t last long.
“Stand by for a moment.”
The moment Lee Tae-jin stepped out, they instantly relaxed.
Lee Dae-ho, yawning widely, nudged Baek Sa-young’s shoulder.
“Ah, I didn’t sleep a wink. I’m dying of exhaustion. Did you get some rest?”
“Me? Slept like a baby.”
Baek Sa-young, whose condition seemed improved thanks to yesterday’s text, gave him a look like he was asking the weirdest question.
Lee Dae-ho couldn’t comprehend it.
“This guy sometimes doesn’t seem like a guy at all. How could you sleep when you’re meeting the Saintess?”
“You think so?”
“Forget it. I’m the idiot for asking.”
Shaking his head, Lee Dae-ho spotted me and winked.
“You get it, right, Park Ha-yul?”
But I firmly denied it.
“Nope.”
I really was getting a full night’s sleep every day.
Maybe because life was so tough, but the moment I lay down, I was out cold—sometimes I didn’t even remember falling asleep.
“Wow, what’s with you two? Now I’m the weird one.”
“Don’t mess with the Saintess. She’s already taken—ugh…”
The snide remark came right then.
Cheon Seo-yoon, lifting her half-lidded eyes, doubled over with a short yelp as Joo Ah-rin slammed her solar plexus.
She shot back up, snapping at Joo Ah-rin.
“Hey, what was that for? Did I say something wrong?”
“Shh.”
Joo Ah-rin glanced at me cautiously, then mouthed very quietly with her lips barely moving.
“You’ll blow our tailing operation.”
That’s probably what she said.
She turned back, sneaking another peek at me—her gaze a strange mix of relief and chill.
Was it because of yesterday?
I could roughly piece together the situation.
The unexpected company with Reina must have sparked some misunderstanding.
They seemed to think they hadn’t been caught.
But was this something to be sneaky about?
No, who were they to care? Let others hang with the Saintess or not.
With that thought, I called out to Cheon Seo-yoon.
“Hey.”
“What?”
“Hah.”
But I swallowed the excuse that had risen to my throat.
Explaining the sudden chatter would be annoying, and it was so absurd no one would believe it anyway.
Whatever, it’d sort itself out with time.
“What? You messing with me?”
“Yeah.”
Bang—
The brief commotion ended as Lee Tae-jin returned.
“Attention.”
Lee Tae-jin gave a quick rundown of the day’s schedule.
The first part of the mass, starting at 10 a.m., would be led by the cardinal; the second part, at noon, by the Saintess.
We’d wait with her at the holding area and move out at the start of the second part.
No major tasks, no signs of trouble,
so I figured 4885 wouldn’t interfere.
More pressing was whether Reina had really sniffed out Greed.
If so, what was she planning by summoning me here—
That seemed the more productive worry.
Anyway…
While I was lost in thought, the briefing had moved on to formations.
“Joo Ah-rin and Cheon Seo-yoon, position yourselves to the Saintess’s left and right.”
Lee Tae-jin placed the two stunners—who could hold their own against the Saintess in looks—on either side.
It was deliberate, to catch them in the same shot.
Perfect for elevating Taehak’s prestige and subtly showcasing ties with the Vatican.
“Baek Sa-young…”
And as in the original, Baek Sa-young ended up next to Cheon Seo-yoon.
I remembered Lee Dae-ho beside Joo Ah-rin.
Wait…
Come to think of it, my position felt off.
In the original, four were selected, not five.
I’d probably be in the back or on the flank.
Not being in the spotlight was ideal for me anyway, so even better…
“Park Ha-yul, next to Joo Ah-rin.”
What?
“Lee Dae-ho, rear position on standby. Understood?”
What the hell.
I was just mildly surprised, but Lee Dae-ho—face flushing red—blurted out.
“P-Professor, my rank is higher…”
“Is rank what matters?”
“Then what does…”
Lee Tae-jin stared him down, unusually rendering him speechless.
The others, though, seemed to get it, whispering among themselves.
“Image is key, right?”
“Better pull him now before it airs. Not exactly camera-friendly.”
“Taehak’s top-ranked in kids’ favorite schools. Gotta protect the children’s dreams.”
Baek Sa-young, Cheon Seo-yoon, Joo Ah-rin, in order.
“Professor, please reconsider just once? I even styled my hair today…”
“Time to move out.”
Lee Tae-jin nodded curtly, uninterested in more, and Kim Mi-young led the way.
I followed with complicated feelings.
Warning Greed not to show up today.
[Greed pats your chest, saying not to worry.]
* * *
Call it a childish question, but between the Ten Great Families and the Vatican,
ask which wields greater force, and most would pick the former.
Change it to influence?
Seven out of ten would side with the Vatican.
Even as omnipotent Awakeners diminished faith’s meaning, religion’s binding power and significance remained immense.
Proof of that was right here, now…
Living evidence unfolding before my eyes.
9:50 a.m.
Myeongdong Cathedral was swarming with people, utter chaos.
Rough guess: 50,000? No, 70,000?
Endless lines, impossible to count.
“Insane.”
“Where do all these people even come from?”
The escort team, tongues wagging at the hype, boarded the prepared vehicles and entered the restricted area for personnel only.
Lee Tae-jin and Kim Mi-young split off for the cardinal’s mass.
Under Joo Ah-rin’s lead, we headed to Reina’s holding area: the nuns’ annex.
After simple ID checks, we entered the chapel.
There, beneath the towering statue of the Virgin Mary, Reina—more angelic than any angel in her pristine ceremonial robes—knelt in prayer.
Reina finished with the sign of the cross, then bowed lightly.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
“An honor. I’m Joo Ah-rin, in charge of your escort. This is…”
We took turns introducing ourselves under Joo Ah-rin’s official mode.
Baek Sa-young, polite and confident as always.
Cheon Seo-yoon, uncharacteristically serious this time.
And Lee Dae-ho, well.
He played it cool, but his ears were beet red—quite the sight.
“Lastly…”
Joo Ah-rin’s awkward gesture toward me made me tense up a bit. Second time meeting, but her intentions felt murky?
Still burdensome.
Definitely more awkward than yesterday.
But I kept a straight face and spoke.
“An honor to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
Reina smiled faintly, not planning anything immediate, it seemed.
Makes sense, mass was moments away.
That thought eased me somewhat.
I could figure out why she summoned me here step by step from now on.
…That was my mistake.
Judging Reina from an ordinary person’s, common-sense perspective…
[The energy of the ‘sacred flame’ dormant in your body awakens.]
.
.
I couldn’t even utter a small “Huh?”
I saw the message, but understanding—no, even guessing—was impossible. That kind of situation…
Zzzt.
But then, a sharp tingle raced through my body.
Warm like sunlight, cold like ocean depths—the energy writhed near my chest…
[The ‘sacred flame’s’ energy that judges evil begins discernment of good and evil.]
[It pursues the identity of the alien energy within you.]
Realization hit.
Yesterday’s detour with Reina stemmed from Greed; she’d suspected me from first sight.
That’s why she forced the company, using a blessing as pretext to implant her unique sacred flame energy.
I gritted my teeth, hissing coldly.
“What are you doing right now?”
“Fulfilling my duty as Saintess.”
But Reina remained serene as a still lake, unruffled.
All the more chilling.
That unyielding faith brooked no hesitation.
The instant she detected Greed, she’d charge ahead blindly—it was obvious.
I wanted to counter, but the sacred flame had already passed my right shoulder, creeping down my arm.
Greed stayed deathly still, but it was homing in instinctively.
Couldn’t just sit idle.
If Greed got exposed, spiraling to worst-case, better strike first…
That thought reached its end as I instinctively moved to unleash Heavenly Silkworm Thread.
[Pure mana reacts to the ‘sacred flame’s’ energy.]
An unknown surge suddenly blocked the sacred flame.
Tiny as a grain of rice, but potent enough to halt its advance.
What the…?
Even I was flustered when a hypothesis struck.
Pure mana was a byproduct of the Three Powers Technique.
Sacred flame energy was a form of divine power with light-speed properties.
Both were pinnacles of pure energy.
Then…
Without hesitation, I circulated the Three Powers Technique.
No time—block first, think later.
My prior efforts paid off; it flowed smoothly even standing.
The moment the Three Powers Technique channeled the pure mana…
[Pure mana absorbs the ‘sacred flame’s’ power.]
From mere defense, pure mana began devouring the sacred flame energy.
The suction was immense—like a torrent—and the raging sacred flame soon settled, then vanished without trace.
Easier than expected…
Absorbed entirely by pure mana, gone without a hint.
The rice-grain pure mana grew slightly, its ripple hitting Reina full force.
Her face paled; she staggered and collapsed.
“Saintess!”
“Are you okay?”
Baek Sa-young and Joo Ah-rin rushed to support her.
“What’s with those two?”
Cheon Seo-yoon, clueless, pursed her lips in disbelief, and I sighed in relief for the moment.
But then.
Grrrrrumble.
As if waiting, a low vibration hummed inside.
What now? I glanced at the entrance…
A razor-sharp sensation pierced my skin, an indescribable intensity hit, chilling my spine as my heart pounded wildly.
“What is this?”
“Enemy?”
Not just me—everyone’s heads snapped toward the chapel entrance.
Crack.
In that instant, the door shredded like paper, and someone tumbled in.