Chapter 183 – Amaranth Monastery (7)

The light coming through the window was colored in various colors depending on the colored paper. Red light came in from the window with the red colored paper depicting the devil, and a white shadow came in through the white colored paper with the angel drawn on it.

Andre believed that if he shined himself with light, a pure white shadow would appear.

“Priest Andrew! Priest Andrew!”

Andre remembered his youth. There was a time when young practitioners came to Andre as he was sweeping the yard and asked questions. Apart from the colorful hair color, they were children with clear and transparent eyes.

“Why?”

At that time, Andre was smiling wide enough to wrinkle the corners of his mouth, and was rummaging through his hand for candy in his pocket. The children knew that if you asked Andre a question, he would give you candy. The children spontaneously held out their hands and explained what they had observed.

“Priest Andrew! On the way, I saw a man being dragged by a large cart. His face was grim, and people threw stones at him. I heard he was a very cruel thief, but he looked at us and glared at us, which scared us so much.”

Andre gave him the candy and nodded. He had thick lips, so when he smiled, he gave a warm impression. Andre stroked his hair, he said.

“Oh, that must have been scary. Okay. So, what are you curious about?”

The children licked the candy and asked.

“Priest Andrew. Yesterday in education class, a certain priest said that. Even a bad person can become a good person if he repents of his sins through reflection and prayer. But the person I saw yesterday turned out to be so cruel and frightening, and also committed many sins. Can such a person also become a good person?”

Andre laughed at the question. It was because this boy was telling the same story he was curious about when he was little. The two children looked up with expectant faces to see what kind of answer Andre would give.

Said Andre.

“People say. Anyone can be a good person if he has the will to be good. Even the worst criminals, even the thieves you mentioned, can be if they really want to be good. If that thief repents of his sins and takes refuge in our temple, he can become a really good person.”

One of the children raised his hand and asked.

“By the way, priest. What if a bad person believes that what he is doing is good? For example, if he thinks stealing is a good thing and he just steals, is that good?”

Andre shook his head.

“It is not so. There is a standard for all good things. Those who believe that bad things are good will end up being stained with evil. That is why we must follow the scriptures and pray. The gods will take care of us so that we do not fall into the delusion of evil.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Do you understand?”

“Yes! Priest! I got it!”

“Then, shall we pray together?”

“Yes!”

Andre leaned the broom against the wall, facing the two children and clasping his hands together. The children squinted their eyes as if they were praying for forgiveness. Andre muttered quietly.

“Oh God. Please forgive us our sins today.”

“You bring the lambs out of their delusion and take them into your arms. May your will be done on earth as much as it is in heaven.”

“Look upon the most abandoned souls.”

“Someday, please let me come to your kingdom and gain eternal life.”

“Please reach out to me even in the darkest places in the world.”

After praying, the children moved away. At that time, Andre thought that he should carry on with a bright and upright heart like those children.

******

“Priest Andrew’s reformation program can be said to be a breeding ground for corruption!”

When Saint Alexander pointed it out openly, the priests nodded as if they had waited. Thick lips and long beard. Priest Andre had no choice but to stiffen with a white face. He had a lot of things he wanted to say too.

He never pocketed a single penny himself.

Aren’t the priests who are attacking him right now the hotbed of corruption?

Corruption in the correctional program was Andre’s fault. It is also true that he caused controversy by not being able to distinguish between the self-reflection and deception of nobles. However, he has never committed dishonesty enough to be used with dirty expressions such as ‘the end of corruption’ and ‘a trick to collect donations’.

His wealth has not changed since he first became a priest.

He always donated his wealth in the spirit of giving everything to God, and his meals consisted of dry bread and grapes.

“Priest Andrew! To receive donations! Aren’t you ashamed to let a sinner loose into the world?”

Priest Andrew faced Alexander. Andrew had heard much about his corruption. Stories about him covering for those who beat him to death, openly accepting bribes, and treating priestesses hoping for success like prostitutes. He tells the story of how priestesses who slept with warriors through him get money and high positions to be satisfied with.

Andre humbly wanted to admit his mistake.

“Why should such a person remain in the church! We must banish Priest Andre immediately and remove this filthy and corrupt program!”

He wanted to repent and reflect on his own sins.

“That’s right! Priest Andrew has too much power! He needs to step down right now!”

“Considering the merits of Priest Andre, I think it is better not to punish him separately. Andrew Priest. Quietly go away Before it gets too big.”

However, what was going around this judge right now was neither justice nor faith. It was just that the split tongues of the corrupt people were blatantly plotting to oust Andre for their own work.

Andre was not well versed in politics, but he could see through their disgusting intentions. But there are things in the world that you can’t stop even if you know. As if he was hit by a rock flying at a speed faster than human perception. Andre could only hold his head blankly and await the death sentence.

Because the church had already been taken over by Alexander.

It was because there were many people who disliked him being in a high position who was not well versed in politics.

“Okay, the meeting is over. Andrew Priest. Since you have suffered so far, please leave the church quietly. I will not see you off.”

Andrew was ousted by majority vote. After decades of service in the church, he had nothing left. An old leather bag and a small cabin. Dry bread and wine.

Andrew began to pray at home as well.

“Oh God. Please forgive us our sins today.”

He wanted to forgive those people who ousted him and corrupt him.

“You bring the lambs out of their delusion and take them into your arms. May your will be done on earth as much as it is in heaven.”

I prayed that they would give up their evil thoughts and go on the right path.

“Look upon the most abandoned souls.”

I prayed to save the poor and become a person who shares their pain.

“Someday, please let me come to your kingdom and gain eternal life.”

And one day, I prayed day and night. Andrew faced a brilliant light. The light, which was very warm and made his whole body drowsy, made his body tremble.

“… Please reach out to me even in the darkest places in this world.”

Concluding his prayer, he held his outstretched hand, held by someone in the light. A graceful voice whispered as he pulled him closer.

“Revenge.”

******

“Priest Andrew. It is the devil who has control over you. No, not God.”

Andrew raised his head. Rumia stood in front of him with a confident face. She twisted her lips and glared at herself with a fierce gaze. When he was an apprentice priest, he had no respect for him.

“Shut up!”

Whenever Andre spoke, black blood flowed from his perforated body. The flesh that had not yet recovered was tattered, and the wind whistled between his entrails and bones whenever he moved. Andre shouted at Rumia.

“You, what do you know… ! Are you saying I’m wrong! I’m not wrong! It is they who are wrong!”

Andrew’s hand pointed to the church. The majestic figure was looking down at Andre with its back to the sunlight. Andrew swung his hand under the illusion that the cross was looking down on him.

“Aaaaa!”

Following his heavy movement, people backed away. The cross collapsed and fell to the floor, and Andre vomited blood once more. He groaned and shouted.

“I, I have to save everyone! Only I can save everyone! Who, if not me, will save them from evil! Who will lead them on the right path! The wicked spirit of swindling money and plotting disaster! Who can save you! Ah! Oh God! Oh God! Give me strength! Help me defeat them!”

Andre shouted, stretching out both of his hands. Rumia channeled her divine power into her bitter face. Divine magic was flying from all sides of her. Every time a light bullet pierced Andre’s body, smoke rose and her black blood splattered.

“I! I’m right! They are evil! I’m right! Why can’t you open your eyes! I’m not the devil! The demons are those guys!”

Andre held out her hand once more. The body tattered by the hole continued to regenerate. Rumia shook her head as her blazing flesh fell off and her new flesh swelled up.

“Priest Andrew. Stop it. Wasn’t this kind of person?”

“Oh God! Oh God! Ahhh! Oh God!”

At that moment, a white light flashed and the wings disappeared from his body. The aura that had wrapped around him also disappeared, and she dropped her hand that she had reached for the sky.

Andre blinked his eyes at his motionless arm.

Rumia, who was pouring her divine magic, and her party all carefully examined the situation.

“Uh… ! Uhh… !”

The demon protecting him suddenly disappeared. Andre looked at the body that could no longer recover. His body, full of holes like a honeycomb, made a white shadow through the sunlight.

“Ah… ! I am… ! I am… !”

Andre raised his head and made him tremble.

“Oh God… ! Leave me… ! Uh, where… !”

The powerless priest was helpless. In the fountain of red blood, Andre fell to his knees.

A sunlit shadow appeared on the floor. It was stained with blood and only a deep red color was visible.

Rumia whispered in Andre’s ear.

“I promise. Priest. I will take your revenge.”