Your Choice is the Only Answer
The Holy Warriors stood rigidly like statues in front of the girl. With their massive builds, the girl felt as if a mountain had appeared before her.
"Hello...
She swallowed nervously and forced out her words.
"Welcome, young lady. What brings you here?"
The old Holy Warrior with white hair from age received her words.
"Is this the Solari Church?"
"Yes. I am a Holy Warrior of the Solari Church."
"Are you... scary?"
The girl's trembling voice made the old Holy Warrior kneel to meet her eyes and said with a kind smile.
"It depends on the situation. But I won't harm Solari's daughter."
The girl's frightened heart eased a bit with the smile, and she spoke bravely.
"That... I want to meet the highest person."
"Huh? The highest person?"
The girl said it as if someone told her to, but the Holy Warrior didn't pay much attention. Children's sentences often sound strange to adults.
"Yes, the highest person."
"That's not possible."
The Holy Warrior said with a serious expression, and the girl clenched her small fist in disappointment.
"What? But..."
"That's something I can't do. The highest being in our church is, of course, Lady Solari."
"Then..."
"I will call the Bishop. He is the highest being I can call."
"Thank you!"
The girl bowed her head, and the Holy Warrior gestured for the Bishop to be called.
"District Overseer, shall I really call the Bishop? He's in an important meeting right now..."
The District Overseer was a high position responsible for the Seoul branch. Of course, there was no need for external security, but this old Holy Warrior had lived this way his whole life, except when handling business as District Overseer.
Sir, it doesn't matter in the eyes of the Goddess anyway.
It was the old Holy Warrior's belief. It was also the reason he was respected by the junior Holy Warriors despite his strictness.
"Hah! Have you forgotten your teachings? A child is closer to Lady Solari than we are. There might be deep meaning."
"I was too short-sighted."
The Holy Warrior bowed to the District Overseer and ran into the temple to call the Bishop. Of course, it was more than that. Somehow, there was something pulling him to this child.
"I am Jeoljia. What is your name?"
"I am Ellie. But your grandfather's name is unusual."
"That's right. This grandfather is from Mongolia in the old days. Ellie... a pretty name that suits your hair color well."
Jeoljia's eyes caught Ellie's blonde hair.
Cute child...
She was in old clothes, sweat running down her face, but Jeoljia's years couldn't hide his sharp eyes. Just seeing the white skin between her messy eyes and nose was enough.
"District Overseer? What's the matter?"
A priest in white priest robes identical to the Holy Warrior's coat approached.
"I was consulting with devout believers. Is there urgent business?"
"This girl wants to see the Bishop."
"This girl...?"
The Bishop's eyes scanned Ellie from head to toe quickly. And he quickly understood.
She's a witch?
It was just before signing a donation contract with a wealthy person. If the Holy Warrior hadn't called, it would have ended with just a signature. But for this?
"It is I, the Bishop."
"Why did you come out?"
The Bishop came out of the temple, and people naturally gathered around. To people, the Bishop of the Solari Church was always a respected position.
"Young lady. What is the matter?"
Even though it was in front of the District Overseer and the people, the Bishop managed his expression and asked Ellie. He was smiling, but his eyes were still cold.
"Really? Okay. I'll tell him that."
The girl muttered to herself again and looked up at the Bishop.
"Repent."
"What?"
"Destroy this superficial temple too, or you'll be punished."
The unexpected words of the girl made the Holy Warrior and the Bishop widen their eyes in surprise, and the surrounding citizens burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! What did that little brat say?"
"Has the beggar finally gone crazy?"
Ellie's eyes moistened with the citizens' mockery, but she didn't cry despite her courage. Instead, she shouted again.
"It's true! I'm saying it right now."
"Kahaha!"
"...Is this why you came out?"
The Bishop looked at the District Overseer with a cold face. Since the District Overseer had long career, there was respect, but his rank was clearly above.
"Still, this feeling was different."
The District Overseer didn't know why himself, but there was a familiar feeling like an old colleague from this child. So he had called the Bishop somewhat forcefully.
The Bishop looked at the girl again with the District Overseer's words, but felt no sense.
"Throw her out immediately. Don't call me for such things again."
The Bishop whispered into the subordinate's ear so no one could hear. Then he waved with a kind smile to the surrounding people and disappeared back into the temple.
Tsk, when will that old man retire?
To the Bishop, the tightly sealed District Overseer, the center of the Seoul Holy Warriors, was always a thorn in his eye.
"...Understood."
"Indeed, it's the Bishop. Look at that benevolent appearance."
"But that beggar girl dared to insult our Bishop?"
"Follow me."
The District Overseer covered the girl being pointed at by the people with his own cloak and entered a hidden alley.
"Sorry. If you have nowhere to go, our church runs an orphanage, and good couples will take care of you."
"No! I'm fine."
When she heard the word "couple", Ellie flinched and stepped back. The vague emotion on her face was fear.
"I'm really fine. I'll go now. Grandfather!"
Ellie ran away into the alley, and the District Overseer felt his heart ache inexplicably.
"What is this feeling?"
There was a familiar feeling to the girl, but he couldn't figure out what it was.
But Ellie, who was thought to have disappeared forever in front of Jeoljia's eyes, started coming to the temple every day after that.
"Grandfather."
"Already here?"
"I can't help it. If I don't come, you'll keep talking."
Jeoljia now sat next to Ellie on the steps as familiarly as before. Unlike before, Ellie was wearing the warm clothes Jeoljia had given her.
"Who is talking?"
Even if Jeoljia kept watching, no one was next to Ellie. Who was this child listening to?
"Goddess Solari. She likes you, grandfather."
"Huh? Haha, that really sounds good to hear."
Jeoljia laughed loudly at Ellie's words. The Holy Warriors whispered at the sight.
"Does that stiff Jeoljia laugh like that?"
"One of the Holy Warriors got scolded harshly yesterday for not cleaning properly."
"That Ellie girl is amazing."
But actually, Ellie puffed her cheeks at Jeoljia's laughter.
"It's true. I hate that uncle called the Bishop."
"Hah, you shouldn't say such things. The Bishop is much closer to Lady Solari than I am."
A somewhat irreverent remark made Jeoljia show a strict expression. But Ellie was not intimidated and continued.
"Who decided that, you ask?"
"That's..."
Jeoljia's words stuck at Ellie's question.
Who decided it?
The Bishop, Archbishop, Grand Archbishop, Pope in order... the authority to appoint naturally belonged to them.
"The Saint was praying, so the Pope decided."
"...The Pope is a bad person, though."
"Hah! No matter how young, you shouldn't say such things in front of the temple."
If Ellie had been older, it would have been a very problematic statement. The Solari Church, as seen in the building, was the largest religious force in the Alliance.
"You shouldn't say such things anywhere. Understood?"
Jeoljia gently chided Ellie. He had become flexible in this area as he aged. In fact, he had felt the same about Ellie's words for a long time.
"But it's true..."
"Hah! Still!"
"Then I'll show it only to you, grandfather. Originally, I wasn't supposed to show it. But since Lady Solari likes you, it should be fine."
"Huh? What?"
Fwoosh
White flames bloomed brightly on Ellie's hand.
"S-Sorcery?"
Jeoljia's eyes widened in shock.
No... it's blue. It's not the white holy power of the Saint. What is it?
Confirmation later. If someone else sees it, it's a big problem.
"Ellie, okay, then that..."
"It's heresy!"
A shout from behind made Jeoljia close his eyes tightly. Of all times, the Bishop came out...
Moreover, the Bishop was with a person who looked like a wealthy donor. A big donor, probably. He would have been guided directly after receiving a large donation.
"Bishop, rather than hasty judgment, let's do sufficient confirmation first..."
"District Overseer! Dare you defend that girl! It is definitely heresy!"
"Still..."
"You know it too! Our holy power is white! Moreover, the Saint and Saintess cannot exist in the same era!"
People nodded their heads. It made sense. Moreover, if it were a Saintess, she wouldn't look like this pathetic.
"They're witches sent by evil beings to test us. Arrest them immediately!"
But despite the Bishop's order, the Holy Warriors were looking at Jeoljia, their direct superior and senior.
"Th-this... this..."
The Bishop's anger exploded at the despicable ones who did not obey his order as Bishop. Then he turned around and shouted again.
"You do it!"
The ones guarding the Bishop's back dragged Ellie roughly and disappeared.
The Holy Warriors' eyes blazed fiercely at them, but the Bishop ignored it and instead glared at the Holy Warriors.
"There will be punishment for you who couldn't recognize the witch in front of you."
"Bishop..."
Jeoljia tried to say something carefully, but his mouth closed again at the Bishop's words.
"Speaking of which... the District Overseer was close to that witch too, could it be that he was stained by the witch?"
"No! How could this humble servant..."
"Hmph! You'll know when the interrogator examines it soon. Wait quietly. All of you who were here, shut their mouths."
"Yes!"
While the ones behind the Bishop moved busily, the Bishop stared coldly into the temple where Ellie had disappeared and muttered.
"It can't be... there's no way."
* * *
[If I leave home now, I'll live a worse life than now. I'll never see mom again.]
Karen and Samsaek were watching the drama they had seen last time on the sofa. Using the ability to see the future of the goblin, the male lead tells the child he protects what he saw in the future.
[And the answer to math problem 17 is not 2 but 4. That's why one wrong.]
"Master, that cool way of speaking is really cool, isn't it?"
"The protagonist is handsome, that's why."
"That's right."
The time in the drama flowed, and the child grew up and met the male lead briefly before going to the afterlife.
[You haven't changed at all?]
The boy who became an old man said to the unchanged male lead.
[Long time no see. You told me the answer to 17 was wrong?]
[I couldn't solve it no matter how hard I tried. So I couldn't write it. It was a problem I couldn't solve.]
[No, you solved it well. Your life is the only answer your choice is.]
"Kruuuuu!"
"O..."
This time, Karen and Samsaek both sighed in admiration.
[Your life is what you changed yourself.]
"Master! Then going to the temple tomorrow is also a choice, so maybe something will change?"
"Well... I've met God directly once... but I'm not sure because it's short."
"I want tomorrow to come because I heard that!"
"Really."
Karen didn't say it to break Samsaek's expectation, but he hoped nothing would happen tomorrow.