Chapter 196: Saint Saniso Week-3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 196: Saint Saniso Week-3
Returning to the waiting room, Maria began to unfasten the armor protecting her shoulders, elbows, and knees.
Perhaps because she had tightened the leather straps so firmly, vivid red marks remained where the cords had been. The discarded pieces of armor lay scattered haphazardly across the floor, and she finally leaned the greatsword she had refused to let go of against the wall.
Maria sat on the long bench provided in the center of the room and wiped the thick beads of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
"I lost."
A very brief statement acknowledging reality escaped her lips.
Her voice was thick with heavy frustration.
When she won the first match, she had harbored a tiny sliver of hope—that she, having gained enlightenment through the Saint’s guidance, would proudly claim victory in the tournament. She thought that just as the saints of old had done under divine guidance, she would do the same.
However, she had been forced to her knees by a sword that came flying at her the moment the second match began.
It was such a pathetic performance that it could hardly even be called a fight. Throughout the entire second match, she had rolled across the floor, unable to hide the groans that escaped her.
Maria was displeased with herself—the fact that she, who had received the Saint’s teachings and served as his personal attendant, had suffered such a defeat.
"In the end, I suppose it means I’m not qualified."
If she had at least made it to the main tournament, she could have made the excuse that she had proven her right to stand by the Saint’s side...
Maria covered her grim expression with her palms.
Clack—
The wooden door opened, and Lumen walked in.
"Chief Inquisitor!"
As the woman who should have been in the VIP seating entered the waiting room, Maria hurriedly stood up.
"Sit down."
Lumen sat her back down with a calm voice. Maria hesitated for a moment in an awkward posture before finally planting her hips back on the bench.
Lumen quietly took a seat beside her.
"Good work, Sister Maria."
"Thank you. But... I was eliminated in the second match."
"So I saw. Your opponent was unfortunate. After all, he was the one the Saint himself predicted would win the whole tournament."
Ah, so the Saint never even considered that I might win.
Maria felt a pang of disappointment and sorrow.
"The Saint... was he disappointed?"
She didn't really want to hear the answer, but Maria asked anyway.
Lumen did not answer her question.
"...As I thought."
Taking the silence as a confirmation, Maria’s shoulders slumped.
"Don't jump to conclusions. The Saint didn't even breathe a word of disappointment."
Lumen let out a small sigh as she watched her emotionally volatile subordinate. When Maria looked at her with wide eyes, Lumen continued.
"The Saint personally said that what he expected from Sister Maria was 'the potential to become better than you are now.'"
Lumen swallowed and paused for a moment.
"In my eyes, I believe Sister Maria showed that potential this time. Though it would have been better if you had climbed higher."
"Does that mean... the Saint didn't have much expectation for me to begin with?"
"You're thinking too negatively. No one said anything like that."
Lumen shot her a sharp, piercing look.
"The Saint said, 'She lost, but she fought well.' If I may dare to fathom the Saint’s heart... I wonder if he wasn't quite satisfied with Sister Maria’s performance..."
"......"
The moment Lumen finished speaking, Maria felt something bloom deep within her chest.
"Do you remember what I told you before? That the Saint would surely be a great help to your stagnant faith."
"Yes. I remember."
Lumen stood up from her seat.
"Today, I became certain that I wasn't wrong. So, Sister Maria... show the Saint how you continue to improve from now on."
The Chief Inquisitor’s pitch-black uniform looked more solemn than ever.
[Wash up and come join us when you're ready.]
After delivering the message, Lumen returned to the VIP seats.
"......"
Maria sat in the waiting room for a long time after Lumen left. She buried her face in her palms.
"The Saint recognized me."
The tension and irritation accumulated from her recent hardships vanished without a trace, like snow melting under the spring sun. In its place, an indescribable sense of elation filled the void.
"Heh..."
A laugh leaked out from Maria’s mouth as she kept her face buried in her hands.
"Hehe... I was... recognized."
"He recognized me... Hehe... The Saint has finally recognized me."
"What a relief."
A sound that was a mix of crying and laughing, perhaps a bit undignified, spread softly through the waiting room.
*
The tournament ended with the person In-ho had chosen ultimately taking the victory.
The Pope and the Commander of the Holy Knights looked at In-ho with surprised faces, but he merely shrugged, keeping his words to himself.
"Saint, perhaps you would like to handle the awards?"
"No, no. The Pope has always handled the awards, so I would like him to do it this time as well."
In-ho declined the Pope’s suggestion.
"Saint."
Maria, who had returned to her usual self before anyone noticed, approached In-ho from behind like a shadow.
"Sister Maria, you worked hard."
Knowing how much effort she had put into her training, In-ho looked up at her and smiled.
"...Thank you."
Maria turned her face away slightly at In-ho’s spotless smile.
"Sister Maria, it’s a shame you lost after such a hard-fought battle," the Commander of the Holy Knights, who was sitting next to In-ho, remarked. Maria offered a smile as if to say she was fine.
"I believe I will be able to show you even better results next time."
Her answer was directed at the Commander, but her eyes were fixed on the Saint’s back.
"So, you can look forward to it."
Maria spoke as if making a vow to the Saint.
It’s touching me...
Feeling the sensation of something massive belonging to Maria, who was standing right behind him, pressing against the back of his head, In-ho began to seriously contemplate whether or not he should say something about it.