Chapter 195: Saint Saniso Week-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195: Saint Saniso Week-2
A miracle.
Something that cannot be achieved by the power of an ordinary human. This is how the Solarium Church defines a miracle.
Healing the terminally ill, parting a river by striking the water with a staff, or even resurrecting the dead...
The examples of miracles recorded in the Scripture were of such a nature.
And then there was one who ascended to the rank of a saint through martial prowess that transcended the human domain: Saniso.
Saint Saniso Week.
It was a week dedicated to honoring the achievements and faith of Saint Saniso.
While the Solarium Church had now established itself as the dominant religion of the continent, it was said that in the chaotic past, various religions existed, leading to frequent religious conflicts.
During that time, Saniso reportedly evacuated his outnumbered and surrounded allies and proceeded to decapitate nearly three hundred enemies single-handedly.
In this world, his deeds seemed to be classified as a miracle.
Then again, it would be impossible for a single person to kill three hundred people.
As I read the passages concerning Saniso, I thought of my master.
I wondered if Namgung So-yu could be revered as a saint here as well.
Regardless, to commemorate him, the Order holds a tournament at the Church Headquarters during Saint Saniso Week.
Though it was adorned with many fancy titles, to put it simply, it was a competition to determine who was the strongest.
Speaking of the "strongest," I can't help but mention the power balance within Solarium.
As Maria had lamented, the gap between the Holy Knights and the Inquisitors was vast.
I wasn't sure if it was a problem with the talent pool during selection or an issue with the curriculum.
With the exception of a few, the skills of the Inquisitors were clearly inferior to those of the Holy Knights.
"Have you arrived, Saint?"
Guided by a priest, I made my way to the VIP seating, which offered a clear view of the arena.
There were people already waiting in the VIP section: the Pope, the Commander of the Holy Knights, and the Chief Inquisitor.
They rose from their seats and bowed politely to me.
I returned the gesture with a simple nod and took my seat in the very center of the VIP section.
"My apologies, Saint."
The massive shoulder of the Commander of the Holy Knights, seated to my left, pressed against me as if it might crush my face.
Since it was unavoidable, I simply waved it off.
The Commander, a man of overall rugged features, possessed a physique that barely remained within the realm of human possibility.
As I wondered who would be a fitting comparison, one person came to mind.
Ronnie Coleman.
Yeah, buddy! Light weight, baby!
In the arena, all the participants were lined up, facing our direction.
Most of the contestants were well-trained Holy Knights, with a few Inquisitors scattered here and there.
"Ahem, then we shall begin. Perhaps the Saint would like to..."
The Pope asked if I would like to declare the opening of the tournament, but I shook my head vehemently.
It was best for the person who usually did it to continue.
The Pope let out a small groan as he pushed himself up from his chair, then shuffled toward the railing to declare the start of the tournament.
I had worried if his voice would carry over the large crowd, but seeing how the area fell into instant silence the moment he stood up, I realized my concern was unnecessary.
Before the official declaration, the Pope began a short sermon on the significance of Saint Saniso Week, and I scanned the people standing in the arena.
"Where is Maria..."
"Sister Maria is over there. Fourth from the left in the front row."
When I muttered to myself because I couldn't see her, Lumen, who was sitting to the left of the Holy Knight Commander, informed me.
Following the direction of her finger, I saw the blonde Maria standing in a reverent posture, holding a greatsword.
"Is she praying?"
"She is a sister of great faith," the Holy Knight Commander’s deep voice rumbled.
She was likely meditating ahead of the match, but I didn't bother correcting their assumptions.
"Now, let the tournament begin!"
"WAAAAAAAH!!!"
As soon as the Pope finished speaking, a massive roar erupted from the stands.
Though there were nobles present, the majority of the audience consisted of priests and nuns, so I had expected a more subdued atmosphere. I hadn't realized how starved they were for this kind of entertainment to elicit such a passionate response.
"Saint, who do you think will win?"
While the Pope slowly returned to his seat and settled in, the Holy Knight Commander asked me.
"Hmm... I think I'd have to see them fight to know. Or, could you give me some brief information?"
At my request, the Commander pointed at the participants with his thick fingers and began explaining each of them.
He listed their characteristics with the brevity and clarity of a soldier.
What I found impressive was that he knew the details of not only the Holy Knights under his command but also the Inquisitors.
"Hmm... I'll go with that person."
I pointed to a Holy Knight whose gait seemed the most balanced.
"He is a knight with good records. However, he isn't considered a top contender for the championship. May I ask why you chose him?"
The Holy Knight Commander said, stroking his chin.
"Well... his balance seems good," I replied with a shrug.
"I thought the Saint would choose Sister Maria."
The Pope, having smoothed out the wrinkles in his robes, joined the conversation.
"Sister Maria?"
When I tilted my head at the unexpected comment, their gazes converged on me.
It was as if they were asking, Why not Maria?
"I heard that the Saint has been overseeing Sister Maria’s swordsmanship recently," the Commander said politely.
"I only gave her a little help."
"Even so, for the Saint to personally instruct her... did you not think she could win?" the Pope asked, narrowing his eyes.
His tone suggested he suspected I had some hidden ace up my sleeve.
"No. Sister Maria will not win."
In response to their eyes silently demanding an explanation, I answered as if stating the obvious.
"It is impossible to become strong in a short period of time. If one could suddenly become powerful just by changing their training method, nothing would be more unfair. Wouldn't that make fools of everyone else who has trained diligently?"
"First Match!!!"
It seemed the preparations were complete. The ones who stepped onto the arena were Maria and a certain Holy Knight.
"I moved the order around a bit, as I thought the Saint might want to see Sister Maria’s match," the Pope said, offering information I hadn't asked for.
Maria looked at her opponent with calm, settled eyes.
Her opponent was two heads taller than her. Unlike her opponent, who was encased in heavy armor, she was lightly equipped, wearing armor only on vital areas.
"Ready!!"
The referee raised a flag.
Once that flag dropped, the fight would begin.
A thick tension swept through the surroundings.
"Then... what is it that the Saint expects from Sister Maria?"
Lumen, who had remained silent until now, asked me.
"I hope she shows me a tiny glimmer of possibility."
"What kind of possibility?" Lumen asked again.
I didn't answer but simply pointed toward the arena.
As her gaze turned back, the referee's flag dropped.
"Begin!!"
Maria lunged forward.
Her opponent reacted quickly, swinging his sword across her path of approach.
Whoosh—
Maria ducked, dodging the horizontal slash.
"Oh..."
A low exclamation of admiration escaped the Holy Knight Commander.
Staying low, Maria swung her greatsword from bottom to top, and her opponent leaned back to avoid it.
Clang—
Her greatsword grazed a protruding piece of his armor.
The opponent began to right himself from his leaned-back position to counterattack and regain his stance.
And that was his fatal mistake.
Using the momentum from the upward swing, Maria leaped slightly and drove her sword straight down.
Thump—
A heavy, dull sound echoed as the opponent barely managed to block her sword, his body staggering from the impact.
Maria didn't stop there.
She raised her sword diagonally, taking a slashing stance, and the opponent, not yet recovered from the shock, took a defensive posture.
He braced himself exactly for a diagonal downward trajectory.
However, Maria pulled her sword further to the side and slammed the flat of the blade into the opponent's flank.
CLANG—
With a clear metallic ring, the Holy Knight collapsed sideways and rolled across the arena.
He was instantly incapacitated.
"Winner! Maria Roen!"
A roar erupted along with the referee's declaration, and Lumen slowly turned her head toward me.
"You asked what kind of possibility? The possibility that she will become better than she is now, Sister Lumen."
I gave her a bright smile.
However, Maria’s impressive performance lasted only until the first match.
In the next round, she was ruthlessly defeated and eliminated.