Chapter 287 – In the Sanctuary

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

I closed the novel at the sound of a thin voice penetrating the sound of dry firewood burning.

Tup! Let the book close with a sound.

The saintess rarely noticed and raised her voice.

“Ah… I’m sorry if I disturbed your reading…”

“No. It’s a book, so I can read it anytime, so it doesn’t matter.”

“By the way, isn’t the book that Brother Roman is reading a romance novel?”

“You’re right.”

I don’t know if this is the question you wanted to ask, but I took the cover of her book and showed it to her.

The saintess opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“Isn’t this… That, even if it’s a romance, it’s strange for a man to read it?”

“Compared to the exhibition records of knights and essays of public officials I have seen in the past, the emotional line is detailed, so I enjoy watching it.”

“…Brother is unique.”

Even if men in the empire read romance novels, they would consider it shameful and hide it.

Artra observed with a funny face that Roman proudly showed a book that was completely different from the atmosphere of bloody scars and muscles.

“Well, it’s not that I’m interested in this genre because I love books to be unique.”

Two to tell me the reason without hesitation.

The saintess was staring at Roman, hugging her knees and exposing only her light blue eyes.

“Originally, I started with the idea that I should enjoy the area that Chloe is interested in, but… It’s more fun than I expected, so I don’t feel compelled to read it.”

“Are you talking about Lady Chloe Dritna?”

“That’s right. When you talk about a novel, you can see that he is excited and excited, but there is no reason not to read it for fun.”

It makes me happy just to think of her.

For the first time since meeting Roman, the corner of his mouth went up.

“…”

Roman’s small actions are too realistic while being less realistic.

Without the need for her long words, that appearance is only for her, and it can be seen from her behavior and facial expression that she is Roman.

There were many aristocrats and rich couples from the top who had seen them wandering around.

I have encountered countless families who run ordinary farmhouses or accommodations.

Even though there was a rumor that the gold thread was good, it ended up bragging about how many children were not these trivial things.

Atra is quiet as she thinks through her head.

Roman read the quiet atmosphere with his eyes and brought up the story again.

“By the way, was the question the saintess wanted to ask me about books?”

“Hmmmm…! That’s not it. It was the first thing I saw when I was about to get to the point.”

Atra looked embarrassed and glanced at the blazing bonfire.

“I don’t care if it’s a sensitive or sensitive topic, so feel free to ask. Even if I may not be able to give you the answer you want, I’ll listen.”

“Then may I ask you something related to religion?”

“…As I said on the way, I have no holy knowledge.”

A little embarrassed, Roman raised his hand and scratched the scar on his chin.

“It’s a simple question without depth. Of course, I want you to know that I’m not offended or offended, as long as there’s no malice in any answer.”

“Okay. I’ll answer as honestly as possible.”

I would have taken the opportunity lightly.

Atra felt the warmth of her flames and somehow moved her mind dulled by her exhaustion.

“Brother, do you believe in the existence of a goddess?”

“Yes.”

“It’s fine in a dream or unconsciously… Have you ever heard the voice of the Goddess when you were alone?”

“Doesn’t exist.”

She doesn’t have the ability to determine whether Roman’s cool answer to the saintess is a lie or not.

I know that he is not someone to notice because he is in front of the church members.

“On the contrary, while the brother is acting as an adventurer—-.”

Because she is quelling her curiosity by mixing small talk with Roman, who answers nonchalantly without refusal to the questions that she pours out without stopping.

Time flew by.

Majella, who had been waiting for the conversation to end while watching her, approached cautiously, wondering if it would be okay.

“Saintess. I will prepare breakfast.”

“It’s already time…? O’clock, sorry for wasting your time!”

Atra, who checked her surroundings as the light began to shine after dawn, said that she would help herself and followed Magella.

…
…

The saintess, who had just had breakfast, started walking in the lead.

Only today did she know that the place the saintess and her escort were heading to was the sanctuary.

She continued to explain to me.

“Some sanctuaries are places designated by the church. Some sanctuaries cannot be identified because the location changes depending on the date, time, climate, and other circumstances.”

“By the way, how do you find the saintess?”

Atra straightened her waist and her breasts, saying that she was proud of Roman’s question.

“Whoops! It’s a gut feeling.”

“?”

“Entering the sanctuary is equally free for creatures that do not go against the providence. Except for the assumption that they arrive by chance, no one but me can visit it.”

Atra boasted of her weak breath, exhaling forcefully by her standards.

‘… Sanctuary Navigation?’

In this day and age, finding one’s way without a map or experience didn’t come to mind beyond that.

“You’re amazing.”

“Isn’t that right? I think this is something I’m proud of.”

I wonder if I walked until lunch, ate her meal, and walked for another hour.

She arrived at a destination she calls Sanctuary.

The saintess, who left a message to wait here, disappeared into the grass with an escort.

I blankly looked at the earthen floor that the saintess had given her name because it was her sanctuary.

It seems that this sparsely grassy place is going to be called an excessive name until it loses its effect.

‘···Surely.’

I don’t know how to express this sentiment from an ignorant person with no knowledge of the church.

You could explain it by saying, ‘The sun takes a lot.’

To put it simply, I felt that I shouldn’t be careless.

Somehow, while looking blankly at the land that was stealing their gaze, the two returned again.

“Sorry for taking time to prepare.”

Atra finished her ablution with cold water from a nearby river.

She took off her filthy clothes and appeared in front of Roman in the church’s attire.

Her expression emanated a piety that was hard to believe for a girl who chatted lightly at dawn.

“Saintess. I don’t know what to do.”

He said he would know when he arrived, but even after he arrived, he had no idea what he had to do, so he asked honestly.

The saintess opened her mouth in a lower voice than usual at my words.

“A noble and holy place is a place that unclean beings avoid, but on the contrary, there are situations where they try to eliminate the cause.”

“Do demons appear?”

“Sometimes that’s the case. Since the Goddess’ eyes are on you, demons of the level that you punished in the capital don’t appear because they’re cunning. Sometimes, though clumsy, there are demons who have intelligence and try to overcome something that frightens them. .”

“I’ll just have to deal with them while the saintess finishes her prayers.”

If I wasn’t wrong, she shook her head a couple of times.

“Even with Magella, she has had no shortage so far, but wouldn’t her safety defenses be insufficient no matter how thick they are?”

“You are right.”

“We will also prepare a solid barrier with Holy Law, so wait inside the barrier until the prayer is over and prepare for the unexpected.”

“Shouldn’t it be handled outside the barrier?”

“There’s no problem if you do that, but… After the prayer, Majella and I will join the battle. Isn’t Brother Roman comfortable too?”

Of course, I asked a question as I watched the saintess add a sentence saying that she had no intention of belittling military force.

“There must be a reason for this situation, but let me ask. If there is a possibility that the devil will appear, wouldn’t it be better to have a large number of paladins or priests accompanied?”

She smiled at my question, whether she was crying or laughing, and lowered her head to avoid her eyes.

“This is the true story. That is indeed my ugliest part. I don’t want that even though everyone is ready to fight against the unclean and die as a martyr…”

The inner meaning and the words I wanted to spit out did not seem to end there.

She nodded and walked away from the two of them, as her face was not suitable for dispelling further questions.

“…Don’t worry, I’ll judge the situation.”

Take a seat under a tree that boasts green leaves.

Atra received the pure white cloth that Magella handed over.

“Let’s begin.”

Atra spread a white cloth on the dirt floor, climbed barefoot on it, and knelt on her knees.

Magella, who was standing next to her, cautiously handed her a drinking glass, jewel-encrusted jewelry, a dagger embossed with colorful patterns, a book with constellations, and other items.

The saintess opened the scriptures of the church she had tamed with the palm of her hand.

– In a sacred space, a lowly servant pleads with prayer. We seek comfort and refuge for our souls. May holy peace dwell within its walls, and may the soul be enveloped in sanctity, protecting it from the storms and uncleanness of the world.

A splendid white jean appeared on the floor that did not feel regular.

He began to create a barrier to surround the saintess and Magella.

And silence.

The voice of the saintess for the next procedure was not heard, so I realized it when I looked at the two carefully.

Magella didn’t blink as she looked down at Atra as she performed her ritual.

The saintess froze with her hands together.

I can’t even feel the movement of my muscles for breathing.

‘…?!’

Only then did I realize that time had stopped for everyone except me.

The problem is that even I can’t move comfortably in the time when progress is cut off.

It’s just a matter of moving your eyes.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been going through a lot of panic.

A small lump of light reminiscent of a wisp appeared in front of my eyes.

– I only looked forward to the day we met.