Chapter 438: Proof of Existence (26)
Chapter 438: Proof of Existence (26)
Under a clear blue sky, a tide of people ebbed and flowed.
As in any city, the market was like a vein through which gold and silver pulsed. It was the heart around which various facilities were clustered, drawn by the sheer volume of the crowd.
But where there is light, there must also be shadow.
This bustling forest of humanity cast a shadow just as vast as its scale.
As the saying goes, the best place to hide a tree is in a forest; those seeking to vanish often frequented the market. Seeing someone with a hood pulled low to hide their face was a common sight.
Today, the Saintess and I were no different.
The two of us followed a specific group, acting as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Of course, to avoid suspicion, we made a show of browsing here and there.
Then, as if the thought had just occurred to me, I asked, "Did we mention to anyone that we were coming downtown today?"
"Of course I did. Think of how worried they’d be at the orphanage. Word has likely spread by now."
In other words, if we weren't careful, our identities could be exposed in an instant.
A low hum of contemplation escaped my lips. As I stole another glance at Lia’s expression, the Saintess shot me a reproachful look.
"Stop, stop looking! People over there are already starting to notice us."
I stiffened the moment she said that. I naturally turned my gaze back to her, forced to play the part of a couple deep in conversation.
In reality, the words we whispered were a far cry from lovers' sweet nothings.
"What else am I supposed to do? A duo with their hoods pulled up is too conspicuous to begin with."
"It’s fine in the Holy Kingdom. Pilgrims often wear hoods. It’s a sign of being ashamed of one's sins while embarking on a journey of atonement toward the Lord."
And yet, they were suspicious of us.
It was likely because our behavior differed from that of typical pilgrims. I had to ask her again.
"Are there no cases of people going on a pilgrimage as a pair? We must look awkward..."
Unlike before, the Saintess hesitated and couldn't give an immediate answer.
As I wore a puzzled expression, a merchant who had been watching our secretive exchange burst into a hearty laugh.
"A pair of newlyweds? Going on a pilgrimage to celebrate your marriage... that’s a rare sight these days. May blessings be upon the young couple. Immanuel!"
The way he slyly held out a silver-plated cross necklace proved he was a merchant through and through.
Startled, I was about to reflexively deny his assumption. But before I could, the Saintess’s hand quickly clasped mine. My body froze for a moment at the sudden, soft sensation.
Meanwhile, the Saintess flashed a bright smile, cementing the merchant's hypothesis as truth.
"We wanted to thank the Lord for bringing us together. We also wanted to make a fresh start as a couple, as if being reborn in His embrace."
"Aha, such passionate love... What do you say, husband? How about a small gift for your lovely wife?"
'Newlyweds.'
I hesitated for a split second, but looking back, that was the only plausible relationship for two people traveling alone on a pilgrimage. Furthermore, unlike me, the Saintess couldn't hide her feminine curves even under a thick hood. There was no hiding the fact that a man and a woman were traveling together.
And I could feel the strength in the Saintess’s hand as she held mine.
I eventually let out a wry smile and spoke.
"No, thank you."
Just as the expressions of the Saintess and the merchant were about to turn awkward, I quickly added, "Do you have a cross made of pure silver, not plated? This is a gift for my wife; of course I should give her something of quality."
At that, the faces of both the Saintess and the merchant brightened simultaneously.
After finally selecting a reasonably elegant rosary, the Saintess and I were finally liberated from the merchant. At the same time, the suspicious glares from Lia and Perry’s group had vanished.
It was then that I realized: there was only one way to achieve our goal while avoiding suspicion.
The Saintess wore a meaningful smile as she stood on her tiptoes and whispered into my ear.
"Shall we go then, husband?"
Anytime.
Muttering the thought to myself, our pursuit resumed.
I felt a gaze from somewhere.
After that, we actually had a surprisingly pleasant time.
Lia and Perry’s group occasionally showed signs of being on guard. But since our paths overlapped so much, it was inevitable that we would stand out.
Whenever that happened, we had to make a scene a short distance away.
For example, the 'stick snack game.'
It was a game where each person took an end of a biscuit stick in their mouth to see who could eat more. Naturally, it was popular among fresh, young couples.
It was the perfect excuse to 'accidentally' crash lips and move things along.
The Saintess was particularly reluctant to play this game. To be precise, 'embarrassed' would be the more accurate term.
"H-how can we do something so scandalous in front of everyone...!"
Her trembling voice betrayed her flustered state. We had already shared intimate physical contact; why was she acting so shy now? Just as that thought crossed my mind, a question suddenly flashed through my head.
'Who am I, if not the Saintess?'
That’s right.
I looked at the Saintess with a strange sense of poignancy. As she blushed and avoided my gaze, she looked no different from any other woman you might see anywhere.
Except for her exceptionally beautiful features.
A Saintess is not even free to love.
Even if she harbored feelings, she could not reveal them. Her very status was a religious symbol.
The woman who had discarded her name.
The weight of that meaning pressed down on my chest. Was she not a woman who had lived her life suppressing her emotions and fitting herself into a predetermined mold?
Even whispering words of love on the street would be embarrassing and frightening for her.
So, I decided to be a bit stubborn.
"But I want to do it."
"I—no, honey!"
The Saintess, who was about to call my name in surprise, hurriedly changed the address.
It was a clear misstep.
The reaction from the passersby watching us immediately heated up. Playful cheers erupted from all sides.
"Is she a new bride? She’s still so shy!"
"What’s there to be shy about between husband and wife? Do it! Do it!"
With the atmosphere this heated, there was no backing out.
The Saintess, her face turning beet red, hesitantly approached me.
"I will never forget this debt..."
"I've already racked up so many debts, it's fine."
At my cheeky reply, the Saintess squeezed her eyes shut. And the stick snack game that followed ended, surprisingly, in her victory.
It was because I hadn't been able to react properly to the Saintess’s momentum as she closed the distance in an instant. Before I knew it, our lips collided, and I felt a soft, moist sensation.
The tips of our tongues touched and then parted. I tried to pull away in surprise, but the Saintess beat me to it.
Pant, pant.
A thin silver thread of saliva trailed from the tip of the Saintess’s tongue as she breathed heavily. It was only for a fleeting moment, but I thought she looked incredibly seductive.
The Saintess blushed and turned her gaze away.
"Seriously, you're such a pervert..."
Anyone watching would think I was the one who did it.
Of course, my sense of injustice never made it into words. I felt like her face might actually explode if I teased her any further.
The crowd cheered and clapped at the Saintess’s unexpectedly bold display. The roar of their enthusiasm was almost deafening.
Among them were Lia and Perry’s group.
They had been watching us with pleasant smiles. Being a group of young men and women, they weren't without interest in romance.
The gazes fixed on the Saintess and me were growing stronger.
My eyes flickered toward Lia and Perry’s group before settling.
Their suspicion was deepening.
"...Why have we come here?"
This was the question the Saintess asked when she finally snapped out of it. As I walked in silence, the surrounding scenery registered in my vision.
It was a back alley. Even though the sun hadn't set yet, the dim atmosphere created a subtle sense of unease.
The day had been enjoyable.
We had laughed a lot, and I had been able to see many of the Saintess’s cute sides. Perhaps she felt the same, for she had been wandering around in high spirits until we reached this place.
I asked in a calm voice, "I seem to have brought a noble person to such a lowly place."
"Hmph, you're joking, right?"
The Saintess shook her head with a haughty smile, as if the idea were absurd.
"What 'lowly place' is there for someone from an orphanage? In fact, I used to roam the back alleys a lot when I was a child. The orphanage back then was far too cramped."
It was as she said.
The Saintess seemed unfazed even as she looked at the stained walls. A child of noble birth would have instinctively expressed disgust.
Taking the opportunity, I decided to ask about her childhood.
"Wasn't it dangerous? No matter how much this is the Holy Kingdom, no city is kind to orphans."
"You're right, it wasn't."
It was a refreshingly honest admission.
It was also a sign of how much closer the Saintess and I had become. She had wanted to hide her origins so much that she had even discarded her name from her orphan days.
Our connection had grown this deep before I knew it.
"When we went downtown, we used to intentionally smear soot on our faces. Not just me, but Yuren too. Children with even slightly pretty faces were prone to disappearing."
"So the Holy Kingdom was a place where people lived, after all."
At my remark, the Saintess let out a soft chuckle.
She seemed to be recalling memories from long ago. A time that was painful, yet also a time before she had taken on the yoke of being the 'Saintess.'
A fairly unburdened confession followed.
"Everywhere is like that, isn't it? To be honest, I didn't have any expectations back then."
"The Heavenly God must have been saddened."
"Yes, perhaps. Even so, I prayed constantly. Praying that our children would go to a good place... no, further than that, praying that all suffering children would be saved."
At this point, I raised both hands in surrender.
It was a story deeper than I could handle. The Saintess giggled at my gesture.
"Of course, that would have been nothing more than a small struggle. More than that..."
It was then.
My hand naturally moved toward my waist. And while the Saintess wore a proud expression, a silver line of light poured out.
Immediately after, with a crack, red sparks flew.
Red petals splattered, soaking the walls and the ground. The Saintess, who had been dazed until then, said nothing.
So, I had to shout at the top of my lungs.
"Get down!"
Faceless assailants were leaping over the walls.
Just as I had expected.