Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Opelaishel Cathedral
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* * *
After that, Erin's journey continued without a hitch.
Whenever something seemed to be an obstacle, she offered a prayer. Lord Igugwoden responded to her prayers, granting her requests.
It was the same even when a massive boulder blocked the road ahead.
"This looks like it won't be easy......"
The thought came naturally, but even so, Erin prayed to the god without hesitation.
"Lord Igugwoden, I humbly beseech you—grant me the strength to overcome this trial. I beg you......"
She prayed fervently, over and over.
When she slowly opened her eyes... she could easily tell that Lord Igugwoden had answered her prayer once again this time.
The boulder had vanished, as if it had never been there.
"Lord Igugwoden...!"
The more he granted her requests, the deeper her faith in the Sole God Igugwoden grew.
The problem was that this deepening faith wasn't just the simple devotion of a woman aiming to become a Saintess.
"You who always watch over me and cherish me...!"
Ever since God's Proxy told her not to forget she was "one woman," something inside her had begun reacting to Igugwoden with a slightly different, more intense meaning.
This was a first for her. For someone who had lived colorless days, it was the first time her heart trembled so for any being.
She felt affection for a "god" even before any human.
It was an irreverent mindset, so Erin wrapped it tightly in the shell of "faith" and self-suggested otherwise.
Yes. Believing in a god meant being willing to do anything for that god, didn't it?
"I just want to serve the god. So this isn't strange......"
With such thoughts, how much farther had she traveled?
"This is...!"
Before her stretched a massive city that resembled a grand fortress, exuding an overwhelming aura.
On either side of the wide, well-maintained road perfect for carriages were luxurious marble pillars, carved as if from a temple, lining the entrance and proudly displaying the capital's grandeur.
As she walked the road, she soon noticed how many people used it.
Other people's silhouettes.
It had been a very long time since she escaped that cursed village—figures of others she hadn't seen in ages.
Following the road through the gates—
"Wow......"
Pointed spires rising sharply.
Stone buildings in an extremely antique design.
Far more people than she'd seen from the gates.
Yes.
This was the imperial capital of Opelaishel, the one she'd only heard of in tales.
Compared to the nameless village where she'd lived, it was an incredibly advanced metropolis.
It felt like an illusion, as if they weren't living in the same world.
Overwhelmed by the scenery of the massive city of Opelaishel, Erin stood speechless, dazedly looking around.
For a moment, she nearly shrank back, feeling like such a tiny existence compared to the city—
"It's okay. I have a god—Lord Igugwoden—with me."
Thinking of Lord Igugwoden allowed her to regain her composure quickly.
It was always like this. Whenever her mind grew troubled by something difficult or painful, Erin always thought of Lord Igugwoden.
The fact that Lord Igugwoden was always watching her, even cherishing her.
To Erin, that was a sturdy weapon nothing could rival.
"Now, to find the Papal States......"
She wondered if she needed a map, but soon dismissed the idea.
Next to the massive building that looked like the royal palace was a spire.
Judging by the elegantly carved large cross on its wall... that must be the cathedral, right?
Even if it wasn't, what did it matter?
She'd get there eventually, even if by mistake. Lord Igugwoden was with her.
"Let's head that way."
Erin turned her steps toward the building.
* * *
As she expected, it was indeed a cathedral.
Opelaishel Cathedral.
And only then did Erin realize something strange.
"...Hold on."
Right in front of the cathedral, on an expensive-looking obsidian nameplate, was clearly engraved:
—In honor of our Sole God, Lord Opelaishel.
"What...?"
She had only heard the god's voice and witnessed miracles, but in truth, Erin had never once studied faith before that.
As a child, the cathedral was just a place to get food. As she grew older, her family's fortunes plummeted, and they focused solely on farming to survive. By the time she reached adulthood, a plague had ravaged the village, turning it to ruins, and a bandit gang's raid had claimed the lives of everyone she knew.
Naturally, she had no way of knowing the name of the god the Pope of this world served, or that the capital's name derived from the god's.
But it was strange.
The god's name was Opelaishel?
"Lord God's name is... 'Igugwoden,' isn't it?"
Sole God Igugwoden. She was already certain of his existence after witnessing miracles countless times.
So why Opelaishel out of nowhere?
She had only memorized the first verse and never properly read the Holy Scripture, so while she stood there momentarily soulless... a man approached and spoke to her.
"Priest, what brings you here?"
"Uh, well, that is...!"
Startled by the armored guard's voice, she faltered, but then realized she wasn't here to do anything wrong.
Besides, for some reason, the true god Lord Igugwoden was undeniably with her.
Composing herself, Erin bowed her head and spoke in a most dignified tone.
"My name is Erin. I am traveling the capital's roads."
"Priest Erin, I see."
"Priest...?"
Why was he so naturally calling her a 'priest'?
"It's the emblem embroidered on your robes. Doesn't it mark you as a priest?"
"Ah......"
These clothes were just the attire Lord Igugwoden had granted her through prayer.
Since he was the god himself, had he kindly added the emblem as a bonus?
Either way, it further proved the god wasn't this Opelaishel but Lord Igugwoden, so Erin's mood wasn't bad.
"Am I mistaken? Perhaps you're a High Priestess or something—"
"...No."
"What brings you to Opelaishel Cathedral?"
"I came to meet the Pope."
At the word "Pope," the guard responded with a slightly flustered tone.
"His Holiness the Pope...?"
"Yes."
The guard hemmed and hawed for a while, then wiped the cold sweat from his brow and said,
"I-I'm terribly sorry, but the Pope only meets those with prior appointments. It's for security, and he's quite busy with various religious duties—"
"I heard God's voice."
"Pardon...?"
The guard's eyes went wide, but Erin answered confidently, meeting his gaze without flinching.
"I heard God's voice and came here to become a Saintess. Please understand my situation."
"No, I, uh......"
The guard hesitated again for a long time before finally nodding.
"P-Please wait a moment. This isn't something I can handle alone... Just a second!"
* * *
How much time had passed since the guard disappeared into the cathedral?
"...!"
The moment she heard footsteps, she realized someone was coming out from the cathedral.
It was a young woman with long black hair wrapped in a veil.
Despite the veil, her beauty was undeniable, and behind her followed several guards in armor bearing similar emblems to hers.
Erin nearly felt overwhelmed by the woman's aura—
'No. I am the one who heard God's voice. The one who will become a Saintess. Even the Pope can't treat a Saintess lightly. So... be polite, but no need to appear overly weak.'
With her mindset set, Erin bowed and greeted her properly.
"Hello."
"You're the one? The priest claiming to have heard God's voice."
"Yes."
The woman gave Erin a quick once-over, then asked in a somewhat cold tone.
"May I have your name, Priest?"
"I am Erin."
"I see, Priest Erin. If I may ask, which diocese are you from?"
"......"
She was momentarily at a loss for words... but she knew lying here would only complicate things.
"I wasn't originally walking the path of a cleric. Hearing God's voice is what led me to become a priest."
"Pardon? So you're not affiliated with any diocese?"
"That's correct."
"......"
At those words, suspicion flared in the woman's eyes like wildfire.
"Then how did you obtain those priestly robes?"
"God granted them to me."
"What?"
Erin kept her eyes wide open, not avoiding the woman's gaze in the slightest as she replied.
"Through prayer to God, I received these robes."
"......"
The woman stared at Erin for a long moment—
Then, covering her mouth, she spoke in a pitiable tone.
"Well, I suspected as much, and here it is......"
"What do you mean...?"
"Lately, we've been hearing about a lot of terribly irreverent people."
At that moment.
"...!"
The guards behind her swiftly surrounded and seized Erin.
"People who dare claim to have heard God's voice, no less."
* * *
'Argh, what a chokehold.'
Immersed in reading the comic, I let out a sigh.
Why was the plot like this?
Why was it so frustrating?
In this day and age, did they really need to drag out these aggravating scenes?
That line of thinking naturally led me to... 'that thought.'
'Ah... I wanna sponsor.'