Chapter 200: The Truman Show-3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 200: The Truman Show-3
I had never seen a village welcoming an Emperor before, but I imagined it would look something like this.
Cheers that sounded like screams erupted from every corner, applause thundered until hands must have ached, and colorful flower petals drifted down from the sky.
As the carriage I was riding in entered the village, an almost overwhelming wave of hospitality poured over us. The sheer volume of the crowd made the carriage vibrate.
"Everyone is so overjoyed by the Saint’s arrival," Maria said, her face beaming with pride.
Personally, I just felt incredibly pressured.
Madini Village was so large it felt like an insult to call it a "village." By my standards, it was more fitting to call it a city. I hadn't visited many places in this world yet, but considering this was a world with a medieval framework, the level of development in Madini Village was quite high.
For one, neat houses lined the roadside, and the paving was so excellent that it felt like we were driving on an asphalt road.
"It’s a nice place."
"It is a village where many people gather, after all."
I suppose it wasn't called a major transportation hub for nothing.
By the time the incessant cheering had nearly deafened me, we arrived at the church in Madini Village. It was due to a doctrine stating that when a believer enters a village, they must visit the church first.
Grateful that the long journey had finally ended, I stretched my arms.
"Eek!"
Because I had reached forward slightly, I accidentally brushed the shoulder of Maria, who was gathering her things to prepare to disembark.
"I’m sorry, Sister Maria. That was a mistake."
Maria let out a cute little shriek, and I apologized immediately. At my words, she quickly composed her expression and gave me a deep, lingering smile, her lips curling upward.
"It is quite alright. Even if it wasn't a mistake."
Letting her words go in one ear and out the other, I straightened my clothes. I was the Saint, after all; I couldn't step out looking unkempt.
"Saint. We are ready."
I heard the voice of a Holy Knight who had finished clearing the area. The moment had finally come to set foot on ground that wasn't the Church Headquarters.
I looked at Maria in front of me. Her sparkling green eyes were fixed on me. Slightly wavy blonde hair, a benevolent smile, and a neatly worn nun’s habit. Maria was waiting for my signal.
I put back on the mask of the Saint I had been performing as all this time and took a deep breath.
"Let’s go."
I spoke as I exhaled. Maria nodded once and knocked twice on the door with her pale hand.
Click—
The carriage swayed slightly as the door opened.
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
"The Saint!!!"
"May the grace of Light be upon you!!!"
The chaotic cheers I had heard on the way in began to coalesce into distinct sentences in my ears. Now that the barrier of the carriage was gone, the noise was so deafening that I could barely hear Maria speaking right next to me. I found myself impressed by the carriage's soundproofing.
Massaging my stiff lower back, I stepped out, and the roar of the crowd grew even louder. I raised my hand in response to the cheers, maintaining the most peaceful expression possible.
My feet touched the ground. The sensation of the solid earth traveled up through my soles. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The scent of the village filled my lungs. It was a different smell from the one I had encountered while camping.
"Greetings, Saint. I am Pietro, the priest of Madini Village."
A voice cut through the noise. Opening my eyes, I saw a middle-aged man in neat attire standing before me.
"Hello. I am Kang In-ho."
I made the sign of the cross, and Pietro followed suit.
"I will escort you to the church."
"Yes, it’s a bit noisy, isn't it?"
As I spoke while following him, Pietro’s face filled with a look of profound apology.
"Ah... I will tell them to be mindful."
Pietro started to look around, but I waved my hand.
"No, I meant it as a way of saying thank you for the enthusiastic welcome."
At my words, Pietro’s expression relaxed, and he guided me toward the chapel.
*
After entering the chapel and finishing a short prayer, I was invited into his office and served tea.
"I am truly grateful that you have visited us in person for the relief activities," Pietro said, offering his thanks once more.
"Not at all. As a Saint, I must help the people directly; I shouldn't just stay cooped up in the Order."
I gave the kind of response a Saint was expected to give and then took a sip of tea. The water was at just the right temperature and warmed my body. Perhaps I had slept in the cold during the previous night's camp, but I felt a slight chill—it might be the start of a cold.
Ah... if only I could use the Flame Wheel Art, I wouldn't have to worry about colds...
It was a shame to have fallen into a world where I couldn't obtain even a handful of internal energy.
"As expected... the Saint’s benevolence is as deep as the rumors say," Pietro said, looking moved. I couldn't help but furrow my brows.
"As the rumors say...?"
"Ah, the Order periodically sends out official documents summarizing the Saint’s deeds."
...What?
"Aha... I see. I’ve never actually seen them myself."
I gripped my teacup tight enough to crush it.
"Oh? Is that so?" Pietro asked with an innocent face. I gritted my teeth and forced a smile at him.
When I got back to the Order, I’d have to tell them to get my approval before making things like that. I had a strong feeling that with the Pope’s tendency to exaggerate, he must have added all sorts of unnecessary flourishes.
"Yes. If you happen to have any of those documents left, could you hand them to my attendant this evening?"
"Of course. I can give them to you right now."
"Ah, I see. Sister Maria, if you would be so kind."
Pietro pulled a stack of papers from a drawer, and Maria took them.
After that, Pietro and I talked about various things. We mostly discussed faith, but I found his occasional mentions of his daily life more memorable. By the time our conversation ended, the tea in my cup had gone cold.
"I think I got too excited and talked too much. I never thought I’d see the Saint with my own eyes in my lifetime."
Pietro laughed sheepishly as I stood up to leave. Looking at his untainted face, I gave him my first genuine, unforced smile.
"You’ll be seeing me often while I’m staying here. You’re coming to the relief activities tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"What kind of activities are we doing tomorrow?"
"We plan to distribute food to the hungry. If we combine the supplies the Saint brought with the food our church has, we should be able to help many people."
"I see. Well then, I’ll see you tomorrow. You said the village representative is coming tomorrow?"
"Yes. He asked me to convey his apologies to the Saint for being absent due to a sudden matter."
"Understood. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow."
Pietro saw me off until the carriage was well out of sight. I watched him recede through the small window at the back of the carriage. Perhaps because I had spent so much time talking to Pietro, the crowds that had filled the streets had vanished. I had been worried they might stay gathered all day, but it seemed my concern was unnecessary.
Clop, clop.
The sound of hooves echoed as we traveled down the road. Surrendering my body to the swaying of the carriage, I spoke to Maria.
"Sister Maria. Do you happen to have any errand boys here?"
"An errand boy...?"
She tilted her head, seemingly trying to grasp the intent behind my question.
"Someone who can look into simple information for me."
"Yes, we have people for that."
"Then, could you send someone to the nearby Albainin Village to check on how a boy named Antonio is doing?"
"Antonio? By Antonio... do you mean the boy who asked the Saint a question last time?"
"You remember him. Yes. I heard he couldn't adjust to life in the Order and went back to his hometown, which is apparently Albainin."
The carriage turned a corner, causing Maria and me to lean slightly to the right. Her chest swayed with the movement.
"Yes. I will send someone as soon as we arrive at our lodgings."
"And... could you read some of the contents of that document Father Pietro gave us earlier?"
"Ah, one moment."
Maria rummaged through her bag and pulled out the papers. She flipped through them a few times before picking a section to read.
"Month X, Day X. The Saint bestowed a blessing upon the midday meal; warmth returned to the food of everyone in the dining hall, and the flavors were greatly enhanced."
...?
What did I just hear?
Maria, having read the document, looked at me with a bewildered expression.
"Saint... did you perhaps perform such a miracle while I was away?"
"......."
I was definitely going to have a word with the Pope when I got back.
At this rate, they’ll be claiming I can turn pinecones into grenades.