Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 62
So, Sir Terbion, has your dilemma eased a bit?
Just how much effort would it take to fully grasp that one sentence?
Asher regretted stopping his movements without thinking.
This gesture was as good as a silent admission.
Maybe it would have been better to tilt his head or chuckle with a "Pfft, what are you talking about?"
Asher shook his head inwardly at the thought.
'No, that would have just made me look even more pathetic.'
Igor must have been utterly confident to toss out a line like that.
Only then did Asher realize how carelessly he'd been brushing off the situation.
Come to think of it, at some point, he'd slacked off on even trying to act like Versia.
It was his own mistake, so he couldn't blame anyone else.
'Beyond that, he's the Pope. Peel back the shell, and the truth was obvious. He's known the Saintess for ages.'
His resolve hardened in that moment.
Asher gladly acknowledged he'd been caught and opened his mouth.
Above all, he had to dispel any misunderstandings that could arise here.
"Your Holiness. Please hear me out first."
"Pardon?"
"First off, I absolutely didn't swap bodies on purpose, and saying the Saintess has been acting all girly lately is pure slander. I haven't done anything girly, and I haven't enjoyed living as a woman either. But with the Saintess constantly harassing me in this body, I snap without meaning to, and because it's her body, it looks weird to outsiders. I'm really so wronged and upset. How do I explain to you that I'm not some pervert thrilled to be in a woman's body? It's frustrating, but still..."
"Why don't you calm down first?"
"...Yes, sir."
As long as he was in the form of Holy Knight Asher before Igor, his words were absolute.
Asher vented his remaining grievances with a look in his eyes, then quietly shut his mouth and waited for Igor's next words.
Igor burst into a hearty laugh.
There wasn't a hint of reservation in the way he waved his hand dismissively.
"You don't need to justify yourself to me."
"No, it's not justification..."
"This old man isn't one to keep up with priests' gossip. What adjutant would share such petty tales with someone of high standing?"
"Ah...!"
"Ahem, anyway, you're saying such rumors are circulating?"
Asher's face flushed red.
Igor continued without a care.
"As for the body swap, I trust you, Sir Terbion. The man I know is outstanding and diligent. The Saintess isn't one to throw herself into such pranks either. So wouldn't it make more sense to accept this as the Parent God's will?"
"You're not surprised...?"
"What's so special about the Creator of the world swapping souls? Thinking of it that way makes it easier to understand."
Right after, Igor cleared his throat with an "Ahem."
"In any case, I took it as some intent from the Parent. And considering no one else noticed, it wasn't for me to speak of lightly. Was my judgment correct?"
*Zing*
Asher felt a resonating in his chest.
His head nodded frantically up and down.
Igor's profound consideration was melting away the knot in Asher's heart right then and there.
This is the Pope.
Asher truly felt how exalted a position the head of the Church was meant fora saint among saints.
It was after that moment passed.
"But how did you know? About the body swap...?"
The question came late, born of deepening curiosity.
But the answer left Asher puzzled.
"Because the Saintess would never come to the cathedral."
"Ah...?"
Was visiting the cathedral proof enough of his identity?
Asher tilted his head, and Igor explained.
The response was rather enigmatic.
"The Saintess doesn't pray. Because what she harbors isn't faith."
"If not faith, then...?"
Versia was indeed far from devout, but this could spark controversy depending on interpretation.
Asher's brow furrowed.
Igor gave a wry smile.
"It's regrettable. She monopolizes the Parent God's greatest love, yet the Saintess can't receive it as love."
"That's..."
"On the day she received the Oracle, I was the one who went to the Astarion royal family to bring her. There was something hard for me to accept."
Asher's eyes went wide.
It was because Igor's words revealed a glimpse of Versia's past before becoming the Saintesssomething rarely known.
However, Igor didn't seem inclined to say more.
He simply tore off a piece of bread and chewed slowly.
Asher's curiosity surged, but he couldn't press further.
He knew it was improper to pry into what someone didn't wish to share through others.
Still, that didn't mean he could swallow his questions whole.
Asher fidgeted with his fingertips.
It was then.
"Sir Terbion."
"Ah, yes...?"
"So, thank you."
Igor said suddenly.
"The one known as Sir Terbion now is the Saintess herself, right? Once I realized that, I kept an eye on her life in my own way. She smiles and laughs a lot."
"...She's mostly just enjoying teasing me."
"That's why I'm grateful. She rarely interacted with others."
It was a somewhat hollow laugh.
"She's a lonely soul. Has been her whole life. Living with a closed heart is tragic. The Parent God designed us to crave love, yet if she builds walls alone, she'll spend her life trapped in resentment. But what can be done? Solitude is a sickness of the heart. Perhaps the Saintess can't tear down those walls herself."
Before he knew it, more than half of Igor's bread was gone.
He gazed quietly at the bread and continued.
"The hand I extended never reached her. But the one you offered surely has. Smiles and warmth are the greatest remedy. I believe you're providing that healing."
Asher couldn't fully comprehend his words.
It was natural. In this conversation, the gap in their knowledge was vast from the start.
But he grasped the gist of what Igor meant.
Salvation born of others' goodwill and smiles.
Asher understood that better than anyone.
After all, hadn't he himself been saved by such kindness?
Asher smiled warmly.
He now vaguely understood Versia's deficiencies and pains.
If he could, Asher wanted to help her with his own strength.
So he said,
"...I'm sorry if you're expecting too much. But yes, I'll do my utmost. I'm her guard knight, after all."
"Reliable."
"Haha..."
Asher scratched his cheek, and afterward, the two shared various trivial stories.
The grand cathedral offered a serene coziness, and through their chatter, Asher realized Igor was quite similar to him in temperament.
In other words, they clicked.
It felt like reuniting with a longtime comrade sharing the same interests.
Sometimes about faith, sometimes about life, then about sundry little things.
Eventually, he even vented about moments when Versia's playfulness got the better of him, and Igor burst into laughter.
"I'm serious...!"
"Haha, sorry. But hmm... intriguing. Erotic books, eh? Wondering how the Saintess came across them is getting me hooked."
"Once I find the culprit, they'll face severe punishment! It's essential for the Church's morals!"
Only after unleashing his tirade did Asher rise from his seat with a refreshed feeling.
With no one to confide in about the woes since the body swap, the pent-up frustrations had all vanished before he knew it.
By the time he'd tidied up the cathedral, it was just past bedtime.
Asher apologized upon realizing, but Igor waved it off.
"As I said, this old man doesn't sleep much and spends this hour leisurely. You kept me company today, and it was delightful. I hope we have more times like this."
"Ah...! Of course! Gladly, if Your Holiness requests!"
The mood stayed warm to the end.
They shared smiles as they stepped out the cathedral doors.
"...So this is where you were. Saintess."
A chilling voice echoed.
Asher's spine went ice-cold.
His smiling expression froze as he looked ahead.
There she was.
Versia, emanating coldness, staring at him and Igor.