Chapter 453 – Sacred ■■ -1-

I opened the rattling doorknob and entered the penance room.

I made eye contact with Atra, who was standing and waiting.

“Nice to meet you, Atra.”

“Welcome, brother.”

Roman said hello and glanced around the room.

‘This is the penance room.’

What you can see is a wooden box for confession, a study full of religious books, and a table with refreshments on it.

I don’t know why Atra asked to meet at this location.

I felt refreshed when I found out what a room with an unfamiliar name was for.

“Please sit here.”

“Excuse me.”

As she moved her legs and placed her butt across from Atra, the teacup naturally fell in front of Roman.

After going through several thoughts in her head, Atra moved her lips.

“I stopped by the imperial family yesterday.”

“I already heard it from the guard on the way. They emphasized that since he was definitely dead, there would be no danger as long as the surrounding land was purified, but I didn’t know they would call the saint at this late hour.”

“It is believed that the priests residing in the imperial family did not feel at ease because its appearance was so hideous.”

“Umm… I’m sorry.”

The saint’s call was not intended only for Roman. It’s just that the calculation was wrong.

The priests residing at the imperial court were all highly skilled, so they would have the ability to distinguish whether a demon is alive or dead.

I thought that Falcone Lancaster, the ruler of the empire, was a calculating person who prioritized profit and loss even though he was timid.

‘··· Who would have thought that there was a place of refuge and a barrier inside, and that she could call her saint directly.’

It was thought that if you tapped the abacus just a little, the face of the church would not be told to come or go in the late hours.

However, the result hilariously overturned the prediction.

Now, in Roman’s mind, the image of the emperor is not just that of a timid old man, but that he is the best bird-breasted man in the empire.

“Brother, you have nothing to be sorry about. Rather, I am sorry for not being able to help you.”

“···.”

“And I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you deal with such a terrible demon… It is impossible to even predict how many casualties there would have been. You protected the peace of the continent and saved many lives.”

“I acted recklessly based on my mood, but it’s not bad to be recognized for something grandiose.”

Roman, who ended the conversation in a similar direction as Majella, raised his teacup.

‘It’s a waste of time to say more.’

After taking a sip of hot tea, Roman lowers his glass silently.

Observed Atra and its surroundings.

What was placed in front of the saint were tea that had cooled down without even a cup of tea and refreshments that had not been eaten at all.

It seems like he wants to avoid eye contact, but he doesn’t want to.

She seemed to be trying hard not to show that she was nervous, but that made it easier to understand.

“Atra. Would you like me to share the information I have first?”

Otherwise, would you first explain why you were called to the church?

Given her two options, Atra placed her hands on her breasts, closed her eyes, and began taking deep breaths.

“Huuu…! Phew…”

“···.”

Roman just waited. I didn’t know what she was trying to do, so I just watched her struggle.

How many times did she breathe in and out like that?

Atra slowly opened her eyes, showing light blue eyes, and slowly got up from her seat and came to Roman’s side.

“Now, can you stand up for a moment?”

“Of course.”

As Roman put the snack he was holding into her mouth and stood up, Atra slowly walked away.

Again. Again. Ttogak.

The place where the saint stopped her steps was in front of Gohae-ji.

She places her hand gently on the wooden door and lets out her voice.

“Brother Roman, do you know that it is a sacrament of penance?”

“I understand the concept itself. Isn’t this the work the saint was in charge of when she was a nun?”

“···You remember.”

“I don’t forget that easily.”

A part that Atra mentioned in passing to Roman at the Federal Bureau.

Atra, feeling full of happiness at the fact that she was remembered properly by Roman, raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

“I had a conversation here with Sister Ricke not long ago.”

“Rike’s confession…?”

“It’s not that the sister had any concerns. The position was contrary to what the brother thought, and I sat in the position where I could express my concerns.”

“···.”

Roman was speechless with understanding.

Roman’s mind was wondering if it was okay to listen to the saint’s confession without being a member of the religious order.

“As I sat in a dimly lit space and talked to her sister, I felt something new.”

“What is it…?”

“No matter how much she broadens her knowledge by wandering around and confronting those in power with the undeserved title of saint, the unchanging nature of that ‘Atra’ human being is that she is very timid and easily intoxicated by the atmosphere.”

“···.”

Atra stretched out his hand and opened the seat where the priest should sit.

I advised Roman to sit down.

“Brother, I have something I seriously want to tell you. Can you listen to it?”

*****

From the day I had a secret conversation with Ricke in the confessional.

The thought of giving up on Roman and living while hiding her feelings completely evaporated.

Assuming we were dating, I felt like I was going crazy from happiness just by getting excited and fantasizing about a few things.

I couldn’t give up. I got greedy. It has to be this man. I want to give it my all somehow.

Based on her desperate and earnest heart, Atra thought and thought.

As her agony continued, Atra seemed so amazing that everyone who met her and conveyed their love could not resist.

How does everyone have such courage?

Could it be that this hesitation becomes stronger depending on the size of the love?

The end result is like stepping into a confessional.

This was the right way to express my feelings at this point, and there was nothing else that came to mind.

“···.”

Atra sat with her butt in the dark space.

This is the second time from the perspective of the speaker rather than the listener.

While feeling at ease in the cozy space, Atra’s heart pounded as she realized that Roman was there beyond the thin cloth.

‘Let’s stay calm. Calm down…’

I had a feeling that no matter what the outcome, the moment I left this space would be the turning point that would change my life the most.

More than when she received the title of saint.

“Brother. Can you hear me?”

– I can hear it. It’s quite comfortable even for someone of my size.

“Thank goodness…”

Atra held Rosario tightly to calm her trembling hands.

– What can I do? If there is a set turn or rule, I will follow what you tell me.

“···First, do not bend or roll up the cloth. I would appreciate it if you could insert the wooden frame placed next to the window.”

– I will. I’ll put it in now.

The rattling sound sounded for a moment and then stopped.

Now, Roman will no longer rush into her face without warning like he did last time.

“There is nothing complicated about the rest. Just listen to what I say and give your opinion. It is enough…”

– I will listen.

Roman’s voice conveyed the feeling that he wanted to take things seriously.

I was grateful to Roman for listening seriously to what seemed like a lot of pressure.

“Well, thank you for hanging out like this. It seems like the Federal Bureau is just trying to force your kind heart.”

– I’m the type of person who says I don’t like it if I don’t like it, so you don’t have to worry about it.

I pulled Roman in just as I had planned, but how was I going to start the conversation here?

Even though he had been imagining this moment all day, Atra’s hair turned pure white.

“···.”

As the silence befits the dark space, Atra appears to be gradually shrinking.

Roman followed his intuition and opened his mouth first.

– Atra. How is the jelly?

“···Jelly is doing well in her room. She has friends, so I don’t think she will be lonely.”

– He’s a blessed guy.

I can feel Roman’s efforts to somehow relieve the tension.

Kind.

Because it is selfless, it makes the listener crazier and smiles.

I was out of breath.

“Brother.”

– Yes.

“I am very slow in learning anything other than holy magic. I am very immature and don’t know how to live in the world, so I always learned from Majella. I couldn’t make decisions easily on my own, so there were many days when I regretted it too late.”

– ···.

“It was the same with the feelings that suddenly came to me one day.”

The moment I spoke, I was confident that Roman noticed.

The realization that there was no turning back now hit Atra like a typhoon.

Even though her whole body felt trembling with fear, her courage to take a step forward rose to an amazing degree.

“It was my first time experiencing this situation, and I was scared and afraid to know the identity of this thing that existed in my heart.”

“As I spent a lot of time averting my eyes and trying to avoid it, it has now grown so huge that I can’t cover it up, and no matter where I turn my head, that’s all I can see…”

– ···.

I felt it.

Roman is quietly listening to himself on the other side, without making any voice.

“Brother Roman.”

– I’m listening.

The voice listening with utmost sincerity gave the saint courage.

It may be Man-yong who blocked her escape route with his own hands.

Atra closed her eyes and put her hands together as if she were praying and said the sentence that came into her head.

“I, who have to recite congratulatory speeches at the weddings of my brothers and sisters… I dream of taking on a different form at some point.”