Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: I Trust You
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That night.
Stepping out of the monastery amid the suddenly chaotic atmosphere, Count Rayfield was there once more, accompanied by soldiers.
This time, far more soldiers than on his previous visit were lined up in formation.
Igeon looked straight at Rayfield's face without cowering in the slightest and asked,
"The Saintess isn't here."
"The Saintess is busy offering prayers, they say. So I thought about it—if I keep waiting, I might lose that woman. I'll take her ahead of time and have the Saintess offer prayers of repentance right away."
"What nonsense...!"
"How about it? Not a bad plan, is it? God is generous enough to share a dish of facts even with unbelievers! Surely He'll forgive this much. Right?"
Rayfield boasted smugly, then—
glanced at the woman standing beside Igeon and let out an amused chuckle.
"You're here. Your Majesty. Or rather... Eirene von Ainsberg."
"......"
"The nun's habit suits you quite well. Who would've thought the woman who kept the church in check would end up wearing one? Seems even that great Empress values her life after all? Ah, but you're no Empress anymore."
It wasn't even worth a laugh. Eirene didn't bother responding. There was no gain in giving them the reaction they wanted.
"But don't worry. You can't die just yet. Your very existence is essential for ushering in a new era."
She was curious what this "new era" meant, but—in any case, it wasn't important in this situation.
What she had to do was already decided.
Eirene slowly stepped forward without a word.
—I probably won't forget.
The day-to-day life spent here as Sister Rinasita, never.
Her brief time at the monastery had been the most radiant period of her entire life.
Here, she had learned what it meant to truly live. She had even nurtured curiosity about things she could never reach in her lifetime.
But it was all over now.
Because I'm not Rinasita. I'm Eirene.
The moment she accepted it all and began to walk away.
"Eirene-nim."
"......"
Igeon's voice made Eirene stop once more.
"You ran off before I could say it, so I'll ask now... If you're truly doing this because you believe going back is the right choice, I won't stop you."
"But if you're going even though you don't want to... please trust me. I can resolve this."
"What...?"
Resolve it?
Turning her head at the absurd word, he wore that incredibly handsome smile, just as always—
Her heart pounded again, as if she were some clueless young girl who couldn't read the situation.
No.
That smile isn't mine.
Chasing after a smile that could never be hers at her age was laughable.
"But if I don't go now, things will get ugly. They... might actually go through with it. Igeon, not just you—the Director could be in danger too."
"I told you. I can resolve this issue. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true."
"Igeon..."
Eirene looked back at Rayfield.
He had brought what looked like over a hundred soldiers. She could feel their ironclad resolve not to let her slip away.
If she refused to go, they would surely resort to force. And there was little a mere priest like Igeon could do.
Yes. Even if he staked his life... he couldn't resolve this.
And yet.
Why was it that...
Eirene stood there blankly, gazing once more into Igeon's eyes.
The conversation they'd just had echoed vividly in her ears.
In the storm of emotions swirling through her mind, the one she least wanted to acknowledge—
—was her own feelings.
A feeling so pure, utterly untainted by deceit—joy.
The emotion she'd felt when Igeon wiped away her tears was joy.
She was glad he'd held her. Glad to hear once more that they would learn together what it meant to trust.
Even after learning she'd deceived him, he hadn't scolded her. Instead, he'd gently extended his hand—and that had made her truly joyful.
And the moment she realized she was joyful, fear had driven her to flee.
Afraid of being swept away by this emotion, of leaning on him... and ending up destroying what he held dear.
Igeon had so much to thank her for, yet she couldn't even repay him—let alone drag him into misfortune.
She couldn't pull him into her own unhappiness.
And yet Eirene couldn't move forward.
She knew she should, but her feet wouldn't budge.
With a smile that dazzling.
With a voice that reassuring... if he truly told her he could resolve it.
Then I...
"...I trust you."
"You'll trust me?"
"Yes. I trust you, Igeon. I... trust you."
Tears spilled from Eirene's eyes once more.
The tears she'd shed in the monastery moments ago had been her first since ascending to the throne.
She, who had never cried before anyone... crumbled so easily before Igeon.
"I'll trust you. So... help me. I don't want to go back..."
Igeon gently caressed Eirene's tear-streaked face with his large hand.
Eirene loved the way his hand cradled her. It made her acutely aware of her feelings once again.
—I like this man...
I like him. I want to be with him...
And—
"Thank you. That's what I wanted to hear."
With that smile, he strode toward Rayfield in her place.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do what she doesn't want."
"What? She?"
Rayfield's face twisted in confusion, as if wondering what nonsense this was. Then he nodded, as if suddenly understanding.
"Her? I told you, she's no Empress or anything anymore! What do you even gain by picking a fight with us? I can't fathom this stubbornness."
Receiving no reply, he shouted in frustration, as if dealing with fools.
"I didn't want to say this much... but this is just a tiny monastery. You're nothing but a priest. You don't seriously think the Igugwoden Church can touch us if we wipe you out, do you?"
Rayfield glanced back.
The sound of soldiers drawing their swords one by one filled the darkening forest.
"Hey. Let's not make this messy for either side. I don't want to mess with you lot. I'd like to keep things amicable with the Igugwoden Church. Just hand over that unimpressive woman, and nothing happens. Why can't you get that?!"
Igeon said nothing...
Then tilted his head, looking utterly puzzled.
"When did I ever say that?"
"...What?"
"When did I say I can't do what a mere human doesn't want?"
* * *
[Please Give Me Money: What Lord Igugwoden desires is Eirene von Ainsberg's 'Faith Corruption']
[Please Give Me Money: 'The Response of the World' moves solely by Lord Igugwoden's will]
[Please Give Me Money: Trials are merely a fleeting instant.]
What?
Trial...?
I mimed pushing up nonexistent glasses with a flick, then tilted my head side to side.
Then, faster than anyone, I hammered out a rapid-fire message――
Enter,
click!!!
[Igugwoden (Sponsor / 10,000 won / God doesn't know trials... ugh... just draw lots of belly rubs...)]
[Please Give Me Money: Please wait a moment, Lord Igugwoden]
[Please Give Me Money: 'Faith Corruption' requires buildup]
[Igugwoden (Sponsor / 20,000 won / No trials!! Hate buildup!! Don't wanna see buildup for the instant smackdown!!!!)]
[Please Give Me Money: No, I mean, thank you so much for the sponsorship, but]
[Please Give Me Money: Please calm down first]
[Please Give Me Money: Dumping sponsorships in so suddenly like this]
[Igugwoden (Sponsor / 30,000 won / Just instant smackdown everything away!!!!)]
I don't care!
Gonna buy the win with cash!!!
Hate buildup! Gimme the payoff!!!
I waited patiently for the author's reply.
How much time passed?
The author's response slowly scrolled up the monitor.
[Please Give Me Money: Understood]
[Please Give Me Money: If that is the god's will]
* * *
"What God does not desire cannot be done."
Igeon said this, then raised his hand toward the sky.
And—
"Wh-what?!"
At that instant.
Rayfield and the soldiers looked around in panic.
An incomprehensible voice echoed in their minds.
"Wh-what is this?!"
"Uwaaah!! G-ghosts!!"
The voice reached Eirene too.
A sound that pierced the skin and resounded in the mind. The voice of an absolute being.
<[God desires no meaningless trials.]>
<[God does not acknowledge your very existence.]>
<[God does not desire your stories at all—]>
"Everyone, stay calm! Th-that priest must be using some kind of magic—"
What Rayfield, unable to hide his panic, heard next was—
――What can you even do?
"......!!!!"
And soon after—
"Tteol."
"......?!"
Igeon's voice boomed, as if thundering from the heavens.
Tteol. An utterly incomprehensible word. Yet somehow, everyone understood.
That... was God's voice.
Coming from a human mouth, yet not human at all.
A fleeting instant passed.
As Igeon swung down the hand he'd raised high toward the sky, slicing through the air—
"...tta!!!"
――Boom!
—Rayfield's soul was annihilated.