Are Holy Relics Actually Real? (Part 2)

The Relic Shop.

Noel had stepped inside, his heart fluttering at the sign, only to be met with cold reality.

...What? They just meant souvenirs?

Colorful rosaries.

Lamps adorned with various illustrations.

Assorted prayer books.

Noel's lips twitched. He had let his imagination run wild for nothing.

"There are a lot of people, right? Our gift shop is really well-made, so our cathedral gets the most visitors. It's even famous on social media."

"...Sihun."

"Yeah? Is there something you want to buy? I'll get it for you."

"By any chance... is the stolen holy relic one of these?"

"...?"

Sihun blinked in confusion.

"No, these just use the name. They're souvenirs we sell for the cathedral's finances, promotion, and, well, various other reasons."

"Right...? It's not one of these, is it?"

"I mean, it'd be a pain if these went missing too, but they're not the real deal."

At Sihun's firm reply, Noel finally let out a breath.

I misunderstood.

In his original world, holy relics were very real. Fakes simply didn't exist, so his mind had naturally jumped to that conclusion.

—Did you get confused...?

Yeong-hyeon drifted closer and whispered softly. When Noel nodded, Yeong-hyeon offered a comforting explanation, saying it was an easy mistake to make.

—To be honest, I didn't even know real ones existed.

—The genuine do exist, Asin murmured. However, that which is forged of mortal faith differs from the power bestowed by the heavens. Yet, a multitude of beliefs can sometimes birth miracles, entirely separate from celestial might.

Noel nodded slightly at their words and murmured under his breath, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Well, I'll have to see the traces left behind to know for sure."

If it was a real holy relic, it would undoubtedly leave traces.

Bzzzz.

Feeling a vibration, Sihun hurriedly checked his phone.

"The Father is here. Let's go."

Sihun gestured toward the door, urging him on.

Following close behind, Noel stepped outside and immediately squeezed his eyes shut.

He thought the sunlight was piercing his eyes, but it wasn't that kind of light. As he slowly opened them, he saw a crucifix radiating a warm, gentle light from above.

Just how strong is his faith?

—...Wow.

Yeong-hyeon gasped reflexively.

If Asin exuded a sense of noble benevolence, this place poured down sheer warmth.

—But... it's also a bit overwhelming, isn't it?

Yeong-hyeon drifted closer to Asin. Being near her felt much more comfortable and reassuring.

—It is because the essence of our powers differs, Asin explained. Is that not a deity forged of mortal faith? Since neither you nor I harbor belief in that god, it is only natural to experience a slight discomfort.

This was an intrinsic matter of essence, entirely separate from personal belief. It was simply the difference between the primordial heavens and a deity born of human faith.

—Yet, that power smiles upon us as well, so do not trouble your mind over it.

Asin smiled. Though there was a slight friction with her own power, it was merely a clash of natures; the holy energy was not actively rejecting them. After all, did they not both seek peace and tranquility in the end?

"Hello, brothers."

The middle-aged man smiled gently. His hair had turned completely white, but it suited his serene aura perfectly.

Yet, for some reason, he kept a considerable distance as he greeted them. He was kind, but it felt as though he was intentionally keeping his distance. Well, that was fine.

"Hello," Noel greeted him politely, his gaze drifting back to the crucifix hovering over the priest's head.

No matter how many times he looked, it was fascinating. He had seen people and ghosts with spiritual crosses before, but he had never seen one that shone with such brilliant light.

I want to touch it.

"Father, this is the friend I told you about," Sihun introduced.

At Sihun's introduction, Noel spoke first. "Your faith is incredibly powerful."

"Can you see something on me?"

"I see a crucifix over your head. And the cathedral itself is glowing with a bright light."

Perhaps pleased by the words, the priest smiled warmly. However, he still didn't close the distance between them.

"My word. The Lord has never spoken a single word to me, yet I had no idea He was directly caressing me with His hand."

"Do you not hear the voice of God?"

High priests in his old world often heard the voice of their deity, so Noel was curious. If anyone could hear it, surely a priest of this caliber would be able to.

"If only that were the case. It would be the ultimate blessing. But I never expected to have the proof of my faith confirmed like this today. Thank you, brother."

"Do you really believe me?"

"I believe Brother Sihun's words. I also believe in God's protection. Therefore, I believe your words to be the truth."

"That's a bit vague."

"I've been told a few times that speaking too bluntly makes me lack dignity. Truth be told, I am incredibly shocked right now, and my heart is pounding."

The priest glanced around before letting out a relaxed chuckle.

"That's just who you are, Father," Sihun said, and the priest nodded with a smile. Being accepted exactly as one was was no easy feat.

"Then, please follow me, brother. Just you."

"What about Sihun?"

"I have to work my part-time job! I'm running a bit tight on time. I'll head out first!" Leaving those words behind, Sihun waved and dashed off.

Noel watched him go with a dumbfounded expression. He couldn't believe the guy had actually just abandoned him.

"Is that not an action born of his absolute trust in you, brother?"

"If you say so."

"This way."

As the priest began to walk, Noel saw the ghosts lingering nearby part like the Red Sea, clearing a wide path.

This is great.

He had never understood why people flocked to churches, but now he had found one very good reason. The constant, annoying chatter of the dead was completely silenced. It would be hard to find a quieter place than this.

I'll have to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grill the ghosts about what happened later, but I can do that when the priest isn't around. After all, once he stepped away from the priest, they would gather around him again. For now, he was more interested in seeing the traces of the holy relic.

Since the cathedral wasn't particularly large, the entire grounds were visible at a glance. They headed toward a separate building standing right next to the main chapel. Used for administrative work and receiving guests, it had a fairly modern look.

"By the way, I heard the 'holy relic' was kept in the main building. Why are we heading over here?"

At Noel's question, the priest whispered in a low, conspiratorial voice, "Because that one is a decoy, and the real one is here."

"Ah. Like a bait-and-switch?"

"Precisely. It pains my heart every time, but those are the rules, so there is nothing to be done."

The priest then pointed toward the top of the building. Noel's gaze naturally followed. "The real one is kept safely inside a safe."

"A safe...?" Noel felt a strange sense of cognitive dissonance. It made sense, yet felt incredibly foreign. Weren't holy relics supposed to be protected by actual divine power? A safe...? It felt remarkably flimsy.

"Does that surprise you?"

"A little bit, yes. I expected some sort of grand, mystical security system." He had thought they would at least be able to channel a fraction of divine power to protect it.

"Regrettably, all I can offer is prayer and service." The priest smiled warmly. Noel realized once again that while faith in this world was similar to his original one, the way power manifested was fundamentally different.

—The power permitted to the living is scarce, Asin remarked. Even I only received such power after my passing. You may consider yourself exceptionally unique, even among shamans.

Asin praised him, but her compliments didn't really register with Noel. Being special wasn't necessarily a good thing.

"I see." Noel resumed following the priest, but suddenly froze. ...Huh? He felt a strange ripple in the air. How should he describe it? It felt like... the ocean.

—Did you also sense something? At Asin's question, Noel nodded.

—What did you feel? Is there something there? Yeong-hyeon looked left and right, completely oblivious. Was there something special about the safe where the relic was kept? He wanted to know too.

—Something rippled. It has fallen quiet again now, Asin murmured. Hearing her voice, Noel walked without hesitation toward the spot where he had felt the energy.

—Noel...? "Where are you going...?" Despite the voices of Yeong-hyeon and the priest calling after him, Noel didn't stop.

The trace of energy led him to the back of a tree. When he arrived and looked behind it, there was nothing there. However, a smirk played on Noel's lips. A faint residue of power was left on the bark. Whatever it was, it was small.

So they were watching from here, huh? The thief who stole the holy relic had been nearby.

"Did you find something?" the priest asked, catching his breath as he caught up.

"Yes. There's definitely something here. For now, shall we head back to the safe?" First, he needed to confirm if the energy he felt matched the relic's.

"Is that... true?" The priest couldn't hide his astonishment.

"Hard to believe, isn't it?"

"No, it's just that your abilities are far more remarkable than I imagined."

"Have you tried asking other shamans for help?"

"No, we couldn't. In fact, if I even set foot in a shaman's shrine, I get chased out."

"Why?"

"They say my spiritual energy is too overbearing. I've been told that the spirits they serve would flee in my presence. That is why this is the first time a shaman has ever set foot here."

—Is that really true? Yeong-hyeon asked Asin out of curiosity.

—It is not without merit, Asin replied. Every shaman serves a different deity, and their statures vary. If their power is weak, they would not be able to withstand his presence.

"Ah, is that why you didn't come close to me?" He was still doing it now, keeping a steady distance. It wasn't for some grand reason.

"Indeed. I apologize if my consideration caused you any offense."

"No, I was just curious. The deity I serve is incredibly powerful. She's standing proudly right here in your stronghold, so you don't have to worry."

"I am glad to hear that." Only then did the priest step closer, a different look in his eyes. It was a look that seemed to say, I've finally found you!

"Brother."

"Yes?"

"...By any chance, do you also perform exorcisms?" The priest lowered his voice, speaking as if sharing a deep secret.

"I can," Noel replied with a faint smile.

Sihun had mentioned this cathedral had a long history. On top of that, they were trusted with a genuine holy relic. Perhaps they were connected to exorcists—or rather, official exorcist priests. Coming here was definitely the right call. Noel was highly satisfied. This was all thanks to the connection Sihun had made for him. He figured he should buy Sihun a meal the next time they met.

"Shall we head back, then?" Noel suggested naturally.

There was a safe. Surrounding it were security cameras, positioned perfectly to leave absolutely no blind spots. Even the entrance leading into the room was under constant surveillance.

No wonder they said it was a mystery that would make even ghosts ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wail. To steal a holy relic right under the noses of so many cameras... it was truly mind-boggling.

Noel examined the safe. On the outside, it looked like an ordinary safe adorned with some decorative patterns. However, there was a trace left behind, proving that something had indeed been there.

Was this... a stigmata? He recalled hearing that when divine power touched a physical object, it could leave strange marks. Right now, a large, slightly faint handprint was clearly stamped onto the metal of the safe.

It really was a holy relic. There was no need for further confirmation. This was the real deal.

"Father, do you see this mark here?" Noel asked.

"A mark?"

"You don't see the trace on the safe?" As Noel asked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠again, Yeong-hyeon drifted closer.

—A mark. A mark, you say... Hmm, it feels like there's something there, but also like there isn't.

"You can't see it clearly either, hyung?" Noel asked, genuinely surprised. Wasn't he a ghost?

"...Pardon?"

"Ah, I wasn't talking to you, Father," Noel offered a polite smile.

—I can't really see it. Can you see it, Asin?

—I see it, Asin replied. It is a very large handprint.

Yeong-hyeon and Asin's perceptions differed.

"It was definitely a holy relic," Noel declared with certainty. There was no need to look any further.

"Is that so?" Noel expected him to be delighted, but the priest's expression remained remarkably calm.

"Did you doubt the relic's authenticity?" At Noel's question, the priest let out a soft smile.

"I must constantly doubt myself. For all I can offer to the Lord is my faith. Regrettably, I can neither hear His voice nor see His form."

The question 'Then why do you believe?' almost slipped past Noel's lips, but he held it back. In his past life, he had asked a high priest a similar question and had nearly been executed as a child of evil. It was easier to just accept that this was a realm he didn't understand. After all, the domain of faith was entirely subjective.

"Because I was told this was a holy relic of God, I lived my life believing it to be so. The previous parish priest likely did the same, and before him, it was passed down through an even more distant chain of faith."

The priest gently clasped his hands together and bowed to Noel. "Thank you for protecting our faith." Deep gratitude resonated in his voice.

"And thank you for proving our faith." He couldn't say he had never wavered, yet he had kept believing. Because God was invisible, he had no choice but to constantly doubt himself, but now he had received confirmation that his faith was not an illusion. God existed. He had been watching over His flock from this very place all along.

—I am envious, yet at the same time, I am glad, Asin spoke. When Noel looked at her, she was gazing at the priest with an expression that seemed to pray for his happiness.

—For their god must surely be ever happy, sustained by the boundless faith of their believers. We guardian deities cannot claim the same. We are bound only to watch over those we protect.

"That's not the case this time," Noel murmured softly. They could talk, and they could even touch.

—Indeed. It is not so this time, Asin agreed, looking at Noel with fond pride.

"Well then, Father. In exchange for proving your faith, please put in a good word for me with your associates."

"I will do so," the priest replied, finally letting out a hearty laugh.

"Alright, I'll be back with your holy relic."

—...Ah, you mean the relic thief?

"Yeah. The relic thief. You must have seen them, right?" At Noel's question, the ghost answered nonchalantly.

—Of course we did. I bet every ghost here saw them.

"What? They were that sloppy?"

—Sloppy, sure, but honestly, once you see them, you can't ever forget them.

Just who on earth could it be? The trace left behind had been quite small. For now, he wasn't even sure if it was a human or a ghost.

"Where did they go?"

—Over there.

Without a moment's hesitation, the ghost pointed in a direction. Just how sloppy had this thief been?