Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: God's Answer
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"Right. His Majesty the Empress has made a special announcement that new recruits for the Imperial Knight Order will be selected based on the academy's graduation exam results."
This was what the professor said.
It was news that the top scorer in Luprantia Academy's graduation exam could, if they wished, join the Imperial Knight Order directly without any further tests.
Even though they had some skill in swordsmanship, there had been some grumbling about whether an academy like Luprantia, which wasn't highly ranked overall, deserved such a privilege—but since the academy's dean had close ties to the Imperial Family, the complaints died down quickly.
Thank goodness it was a recommendation for the Imperial Knight Order; if it had been for selecting mages for the Magic Tower, the backlash would have been much worse.
Whatever the background, it was an opportunity for Luca. If she took first place in the upcoming graduation exam, she could join the Imperial Knight Order right away—a golden chance!
It was practically an event-style recommendation, timed perfectly with Luca's graduation!
If it wasn't the gods watching over her, how else could she explain this stroke of luck?
"That's not all. Not only will the top scorer be recruited into the Imperial Knight Order, but the runner-up will also be granted special qualification to become a Holy Knight."
"A Holy Knight?"
"Yes. No Saintess has appeared yet... but if one does emerge in this era, it might even be a greater privilege than the Imperial Knight Order!"
Unlike her childhood, Luca was now an adult who knew everything she needed to.
Qualification to become a Holy Knight. It was little more than a fancy title with no real reward.
To select Holy Knights, a Saintess was required first. And no Saintess had appeared in nearly 200 years.
Expecting one to show up suddenly was foolish.
Even so, getting into the Imperial Knight Order without an exam was an enormous privilege.
"First place..."
"Only one person can claim it."
One person.
Only one could join the Imperial Knight Order.
Her friend of three years, Irina, who had heard the news, flashed Luca a grin.
The confident smile of someone who had never known defeat.
Luca liked that smile.
"Luca. It's a showdown! No hard feelings, whoever wins between you and me!"
"That's exactly what I was going to say, Irina."
A few months later, on the day of the graduation exam.
The winner of the one-on-one duel format exam was decided without any surprises.
Luca Hevnisian—the girl who rarely lost her class ranking—defeated her close friend Irina in the finals to claim first place in the graduation exam!
'I won...!'
At that moment, Luca thought her time had finally come.
The result of the god who always watched over her taking pity on her.
She had never strayed from honesty in anything she did. No matter how small, if it wasn't right, she wouldn't even look at it.
Even if no one noticed or no one was hurt, if it was dishonest, she wouldn't do it.
If she joined the Imperial Knight Order, she could finally earn a proper living.
What came to mind was the orphanage. The children waiting for her, the Director, and the nuns.
How much had Ammon and Freya grown? They must be 15 now, transitioning from boys and girls to young men and women. She wanted to see her little siblings as soon as possible.
But.
"Sob..."
"Irina..."
"Congratulations, Luca... If, if you hadn't let me win... I would have been so mad..."
"I'm so happy... You gave it your all... Thank you... Congratulations on joining the Imperial Knight Order...! I'll... I'll follow you soon..."
For the first time, Irina's unbreakable spirit was broken.
She was a friend but also a rival. Luca had never lost to her in swordsmanship, but Irina always smiled and said:
Next time, I'll win.
It had never happened, but that vow was never empty.
If Irina hadn't pushed her, Luca wouldn't have reached this level.
'......'
Why was that?
What surfaced in her mind wasn't the joyful faces of the Director and the orphanage children—but her father.
The image of her father at the dockside at sunset, pointing to the sky with clear eyes like a child's.
—God is watching over you.
"Irina."
No matter what she did, always.
From up there, always.
"I'll yield the top spot to you."
The soul of her father, etched in her body, urged Luca forward.
* * *
"Are you really okay...? I, I... I..."
"Joining the Imperial Knight Order is your dream. I was only interested because it pays well."
"Luca..."
"They'll just hold a separate entrance exam anyway, right? And graduation is soon."
After consulting with the professors, since Irina had matched Luca evenly and her skills were undoubtedly top-notch, they agreed to switch their rankings if both wanted.
From Luca's perspective, there was no reason to hesitate. There was a clear difference in weight between Irina, whose sole goal and dream was the Imperial Knight Order, and herself, who just wanted a stable life.
"Plus, don't forget the runner-up benefit? The church is granting qualification to become a Holy Knight."
"But that requires the Saintess to descend..."
"And honestly, I'd rather be a Holy Knight than in the Imperial Knight Order. After all, God is always watching over us, right?"
"Now that you mention it, you've always talked about that..."
She didn't regret yielding to Irina.
Luca had confidence in her own abilities.
Even without this privilege, she was sure she could join the Imperial Knight Order through the standard path.
It might take time, but wouldn't God always be watching over her?
And so, instead of joining the Imperial Knight Order, Luca gained qualification to apply as a Holy Knight, bringing the graduation exam to a close—
Time passed, and another year turned.
* * *
That day was the academy graduation ceremony.
Though she had finished second in the exam, Luca's outstanding overall performance made her the representative to deliver the graduation address.
Everything had been perfect up to that point. Her future seemed paved with success.
"...Huh?"
Until she returned to her hometown village and saw the scene.
The sunset had already faded, yet her home—Hevnisian Adelia—was still blazing red.
'What... What is this?! What's happening?!'
Without time to assess, she ran toward the burning orphanage.
'!!!!'
Some children... were collapsed, bleeding.
She saw nuns on the ground too.
At that moment.
"Luca...!"
"D-Director?!"
She ran toward the voice.
Thump, thump.
God is watching over you, her father's voice echoed in her ears.
Thump, thump.
Before her eyes, the bloodied Director looked up at Luca with a worried expression.
"I'm... sorry... to leave you like this... without explaining..."
"Wait! I'll go get help—"
"Someone already went... to call for people... It'll be resolved soon..."
"What happened?! What on earth happened?!"
Instead of explaining, the Director smiled.
The smile of someone who realized the time God had granted them was up.
"Luca... Congratulations on graduating..."
"Director...?"
In that instant, Luca's world stopped.
No sounds reached her.
She screamed until her throat hurt. She noticed people rushing from behind, but heard nothing.
Instead, she heard her father's voice.
God is watching over you.
Always watching.
God.
No matter what.
Good [
Bad
] things [
All
of
them
]
God
is
Watching
over
You
If
If that's true
Then... is this... God's answer...?
* * *
A raid by a bandit gang, which had surged recently due to plague in the area.
That was the conclusion.
All the bandits were captured; more than half died under torture.
Their leader was beheaded.
Everyone deeply involved had died.
'......'
What did Luca do? Nothing.
The academy dean, worried for her, provided a place to stay, so she could eat and live—but her eyes no longer held the light of the living.
She sustained herself on minimal food and water, merely surviving.
She spent more than half the day in bed. She had one obsession.
If God was always watching over her.
Was this God's answer?
She'd faced much misfortune but pressed on undeterred. It's okay. He's watching.
She'd never done anything shameful. So why?
Why... why?
She didn't seek recognition. She just had to hold on!
"Luca."
The dean's voice from beyond the door.
Luca didn't respond, but the dean didn't press, as if understanding.
"I have something to tell you. You don't have to come out; just listen there."
—The Saintess has descended.
"Luca, that means you're qualified to become a Holy Knight. I'll submit your application. So—"
I know you've been through hardship, but I hope this becomes the stepping stone for your recovery.
With those words, the sound of footsteps faded.
Thump, thump. Her father's voice.
God is always watching from above.
The dean didn't tell Luca the truth.
That the Saintess's descent was unexpected, and the qualification was just a bonus. That Luca's chances of becoming a Holy Knight were practically zero.
Ophelia Translente. Linea von Ainsberg.
A runner-up from lowly Luprantia Academy had zero chance against those prestigious names.
Even if God sent the Saintess, humans chose the Holy Knights.
He just wanted her to regain her spirits.
If it gave her any drive, he'd support her fully. Luca had too much talent to break here.
After the dean left, Luca buried her face in the pillow.
Normally, she'd be shocked at the Saintess's descent. But she wasn't.
Luca's heart was broken. Having lost her second family, she stopped moving forward and whispered inwardly.
God.
So... you're Igugwoden, right? Sorry. I'm used to calling you God, please forgive me.
Are you there?
Always watching?
If so, is this another trial I must overcome?
If I endure and push on, will good things come like when I entered the academy?
Like the Saintess descending now, giving me a chance at Holy Knight?
But... but.
'My family...'
Losing family twice already.
Does becoming a Holy Knight even matter?
Is all this God's will?
She hurled questions that wouldn't return.
Over and over...
Her father—or something bearing his name—whispered to her.
God is watching over you.
God is watching over you.
God is watching over you... like a broken record player, rattle, click.
* * *
Rattle, rattle.
Realizing there were no more scrolls, I put on the most solemn, serious, stern expression in the world.
Hmm. I was hoping for something exciting, but it turned out to be a melodrama.
People are so predictable. Low-level folks would get swept up in this sob story. The clichéd plot made me chuckle.
And—
"Waaah... sob... waaaaaah...!!!"
Wheeeeeen!
I was the epitome of a 'low-level person' drawn in a cartoon.
"Waaah... Luca...!!! Luca...!!! You've suffered so much...!"
You endured misfortune and kept going! You're amazing...!
And even after that final tragedy, instead of resenting God, you're seeking his will...!!!
You're right!
God is watching you!
I saw you never act dishonestly, even yielding the Imperial Knight Order spot!
Truth is, I haven't watched the whole time. Sorry. But...
But now.
I am!
I'm watching you!
"Sob... waaah."
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks onto my lap.
Luca was just too pitiful.
No one would have cared if I hadn't checked. She's so tragic.
I just want Luca to experience being a Holy Knight, even once...
[Igugwoden: Noㅁw]
[Igugwoden: Why show this so laㅈte]
[Please Give Me Money: 'No, why did you show this so late?' is what you meant, right?]
[Igugwoden: Yeah....]
[Please Give Me Money: Well... Luca's fate is so twisted that resolving it isn't easy.]
[Igugwoden: What does that mean]
[Please Give Me Money: Since you asked 'what does that mean,' I'll explain: Sponsorship power is indeed the 'power of God' that can do anything...]
[Please Give Me Money: But you know it acts individually on each issue, right, Igugwoden?]
I got the gist.
Like removing the 3,000 won rock or enlarging Erin's chest for 7,000 won.
[Igugwoden: Yeah]
[Please Give Me Money: That's why I didn't show it. Even if you're as generous as the sea,]
[Please Give Me Money: I can't burden the one true protector of this world...]
Huh? Is this where the high-donation pitch comes in???
Fine. How much?
How much!!!!
[Igugwoden: Straight up gg how much]
[Please Give Me Money: 150,000 won.]
[Please Give Me Money: The minimum sponsorship amount converted to 'power' needed to shift her miserable fate's wheel and appoint her as a Holy Knight. But that's not the end. There's more.]
150k?
Before the chat even finished, I hammered in the numbers.
[Igugwoden: (Sponsorship / 300,000 won / Shut up!!! Take the money!!!)]
[Igugwoden: Bring the next chapter!!! Bang bang bang kooaaak lol]
Bring the next chapter!
Quickly!!!!