Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: No Sister Karen
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* * *
'…….'
Ares lay on the bed and turned his head to gaze toward the door.
He then slowly checked the time on the clock.
It was the appointed hour, yet no knock came from the door.
Today marked the fourth day since Sister Karen's last visit.
The time had come and gone, but as expected, she hadn't shown up today either.
Around the second day, he'd considered heading straight to the cathedral instead of just waiting around like this—
But he'd decided against it. After all, he had no real intention of converting, so there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.
Yeah. Stay calm. She's the one in a hurry anyway. She'll reach out soon enough, one way or another... That's what he'd told himself.
And now, today.
His composure had crumbled to nothing, leaving only anxiety and unease in its wake.
'Did I go too far with what I said?'
He couldn't discount the possibility that his unexpectedly firm stance had made her decide to pull back to avoid offending him.
No matter how he sliced it, Ainsberg blood ran through his veins... and that blood marked him as a ruler of the continent.
Was it too self-important to think she'd ended her assignment just to stay on his good side?
Ares buried his face in the pillow and let out a deep sigh.
Truth be told.
The reality might be far simpler than he'd imagined.
'...Maybe her assignment just ended.'
She had definitely said it was 'for a set period.'
Sister Karen's schedule aligned perfectly with that final day—it all fit.
In that case, had he put on such a disgraceful display on her very last day?
'My head hurts...'
If he stayed cooped up like this, it felt like something inside him would snap. Needing some fresh air, he stepped out the door—
Only to run into someone he'd completely forgotten about.
It was the First Princess Yuria, the one he'd been scheduled to study the Holy Scriptures with.
"Ares. Seeing you out of your room and wandering around for once—wonders never cease today."
"Yeah, sis... It's a miracle."
Yuria tilted her head at Ares's oddly strained expression for a moment—
But soon enough, she shrugged it off with clear disinterest, offering no further comment.
Sure, her personality had shifted since converting to the faith—but at her core, Yuria wasn't the warm and fuzzy type.
"So, have you finished your scripture studies?"
"Huh? Weren't those done four days ago?"
Yuria slowly shook her head, lightly covering her mouth with the fan in her hand.
"Four days ago? What are you talking about, Ares? The lessons ended ages ago."
"...What? Already?"
"That's what Sister said. 'Your grasp of Lord Igugwoden's Plain Facts is so profound, there's nothing left to teach.' She was thrilled, said you were so devout she had nothing more to share. Everyone can see how sincere I am toward Lord Igugwoden. Hehe..."
"You're serious?"
"Why would your big sis lie to you about something like that, Ares?"
So the lessons weren't fixed-term—they ended once you truly grasped the Plain Facts?
But he hadn't even attended a single session on them... All they'd done was chat and play board games every day.
Which meant... the reason she hadn't come wasn't just the assignment ending...
Had it really been because he'd said something too reckless?
"...Give me a sec."
"What? Wait, at least hear me out—"
Ares ignored Yuria's protests and retreated to his room.
What followed was humanity's ultimate weapon: rationalization.
'I should head to the cathedral and see sis right now.'
Right. Visiting the cathedral didn't mean he was converting or anything.
He could just apologize to Sister Karen, thank her for everything up to now, and call it done. Simple.
He couldn't leave their final moments in this half-baked, unresolved state.
With his mind made up, Ares quickly freshened up—
And donned the formal imperial men's attire he'd avoided wearing due to its discomfort.
Even for official events, he stuck to plain clothes like any adventurer or commoner, so this was a bold move.
'No matter what, I'm a prince. This counts as an official visit to the imperial family's cathedral. Time to drop the stubbornness and show proper respect.'
He nodded to himself, forcing the logic to stick—but deep down, he knew that wasn't the real reason.
It was just a boy's simple desire: to look good for Sister Karen.
If she wasn't coming, he could've just shrugged it off as her giving up on reforming him. But chasing after her like this? That wasn't Ares at all.
He left the Imperial Palace and approached the guard captain on duty.
The captain's eyes widened in shock at the sight of Ares so sharply dressed.
"Prince Ares!? What brings you here...?"
"Think you could prepare a carriage for me?"
"Pardon? Of course, that's no trouble... but to my knowledge, there's no official schedule today—"
"Sorry. It's personal, not official... I really need this."
"...Say no more, Your Highness. Just a moment—I'll arrange it right away."
And so, Ares— who never stepped beyond his usual haunts unless absolutely necessary—set off on his impulsive trip to the cathedral.
* * *
The Igugwoden Cathedral stood not far from the Imperial Palace.
Linea von Ainsberg, Second Princess and now a Holy Knight of the church, spent her day as usual, tackling a variety of odd jobs with diligence.
"Thank you so much for your help, Lady Linea. May the Plain Facts be with you..."
"No, no—this is my duty. Call me if anything else comes up."
Of the three in the Dish of Holy Knights, it was her turn to handle cathedral duties today.
Luca had departed for the outskirts, loaded with food for relief efforts, while Ophelia had been dispatched near the demon borderlands with the rabbit. Their mission: explain the Igugwoden Church to the demons on behalf of the order and, if possible, spread the faith.
It was nothing short of astonishing.
Holy Knights—named for their specialization in slaying demons with sacred power—now preaching to those very demons.
Who could've foreseen humans and demons coexisting on the same continent?
Now, no one could deny it: the miracles wrought by the Igugwoden Church and Saintess Erin were steering the world toward a brighter future.
'......'
Her brother Ares's words suddenly surfaced in her mind.
If the world had changed because of these miracles—then the god wasn't Igugwoden, but Saintess Erin.
But the saintess she'd observed up close seemed utterly ordinary... That didn't explain why miracles hadn't happened before.
If miracles proved a god's existence, then surely that god had to actually exist.
In that instant.
A single idea struck Linea like a bolt of lightning.
Perhaps.
Perhaps... the moment the human saintess descends, the god descends with her?
But wasn't there only one god: the Sole God Igugwoden?
Then, had Lord Igugwoden descended not during the Genesis described in the scriptures, but—
"Sis."
"—Hgkyaaa?!"
Lost deep in thought, Linea jolted in terror at the sudden voice. Staring back at her was her own brother, Ares.
"Why the freak-out, sis? It's not like you saw a ghost."
"Ares...? What are you doing here?"
Mortified by her bizarre yelp, Linea flushed crimson as she sized him up.
Shockingly, Ares had neatly groomed his hair and dressed in impeccably formal attire.
"What, decked out in full formal wear...? You didn't eat something bad, did you?"
"What kind of guy do you think I am, Sis Linea?"
"You always wear those comfy casuals. Something about 'lavish clothes corrupting the soul,' right?"
"...Anyway, lucky I ran into you, sis. First time at the cathedral... would've been awkward with any other Holy Knight."
"True. So, what's your business here?"
She had to ask—Ares was the last person anyone would expect to show up here, no matter the circumstances.
"Came to see someone."
"Someone...? The Saintess?"
Who else would warrant a direct visit from imperial blood but the Pope or the saintess?
Lately, the Pope focused on internal church matters and preaching in distant regions, leaving all external affairs to the saintess.
"But to meet the Saintess, you need an appointment days in advance—"
"Nope. Not her. Someone specific I came for."
"...Huh? Who, then?"
Ares, so direct up to now, hesitated. He scratched his cheek...
His face turned red, and he mumbled in a tiny, uncertain voice.
"...Sister Karen."
"Huh?"
"I came to meet Sister Karen..."
To see a single nun?
A prince of the imperial blood?
On foot, no less?
"Can I...? If not today, even just setting up a meeting would be fine..."
She had no idea what was going on... but Ares's eyes were so earnest, she couldn't bring herself to press for details.
A prince showing up? The church wouldn't complain about letting him see a nun.
"Sister Karen, huh... Hold on. I'll go check. Wait here."
Once Linea vanished around the corner.
Ares lightly pressed a hand to his left chest.
Thump, thump, thump, thump...
He'd psyched himself up big-time to come this far.
Truth was, he hadn't calmed down since climbing into the carriage.
This was the first time in his life he'd stirred up a fuss just to meet someone on his own initiative.
He was stunned at his own initiative. Duke Kal Bayern would keel over if he saw this.
The moment they met, he'd apologize right away.
Sorry for snapping at her.
She was right. He'd been ready to sacrifice even the unwilling for some 'greater good'... He had to tell her that.
How much time passed like that?
"Ares."
Linea returned from afar, calling his name.
'...Huh?'
Her expression... it was strange.
Like something had gone terribly wrong.
"Well? Can I see her?"
"Well... sort of."
"What is it?"
"You're sure the one you want is Sister Karen?"
"Yeah. Sister Karen."
"Positive?"
"...What's going on? Did she... not want to see me?"
Ares asked in a tone that begged for the worst.
"No, it's not that...
That person
doesn't seem to be here."
Linea answered.
"...What?"
"I mean, there's no nun named Karen at the Igugwoden Cathedral. You sure you didn't get something mixed up?"