Anxiety (4)

“Why on earth did you come… !”

Rene pointed a finger at me in an annoyed voice.

But I noticed that her voice was shaking.

When I saw the fear-filled eyes, I knew something was very wrong.

This is not even a mansion, but a temple of the capital.

In other words, there were a lot of people watching around.

A large number of priests, including patients who came for treatment, are gathered.

When I ran into Rene by chance, a commotion broke out.

“I just came here because I had something to say…”

“How did you know I was here!”

Before heading to the Vatican, I stopped by the temple just in case and ran into him in the hallway.

However, Renee misunderstood, perhaps not thinking it was a coincidence.

“Lene. “Can we talk separately for a moment?”

“…I’m busy right now.”

“Then I’ll wait.”

At my answer, Rene glared at me with an expression that made her look like she was about to cry.

“… “I’ll talk to you for a moment.”

“Yes. Holy woman. It’s okay to come slowly.”

I left the work to the priests around me and gave them some time.

I felt sorry and apologized to Renee because I knew how rude it was to call someone out while I was busy working.

“Sorry. “For taking time out of my busy schedule.”

“…Follow me. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

Renee guided us inside the temple without much response.

The most luxurious place in a fairly large temple.

The saint’s private room was the most spacious among other spaces.

A godly space with no luxurious interior or extravagant decorations.

The paintings of goddesses and numerous saints created a sense of piety.

In a secret place that cannot be entered unless you are related to the saint.

Rene closed the door and looked up at me with a nervous expression.

“Why on earth did you come here…”

“It’s no big deal. However,”

“Why are you doing this! I didn’t do anything… !”

Then suddenly, Renee collapses on the floor.

It was only then that I realized something was wrong.

“I-I didn’t say anything! It’s just a rumor that spread! That’s not my responsibility…!!”

“No, wait a minute…”

“I didn’t say anything… ” ! “I just gave an appropriate answer to the questions asked by the maids at the Vatican!”

Rene cries like a child and hugs herself.

My head hurt even more when I saw Kayla next to me fidgeting.

‘I’ll have to be really careful from now on.’

I never thought Rene would be this scared.

If you think about it, I am the perpetrator and Rene is the victim.

Although I did not directly commit violence, the responsibility lies with me.

That’s why I bowed my head in front of Rene.

“Lene. Sorry. “We should have apologized first.”

“Huh…?”

“I didn’t come to question you. “I came to apologize.”

I lowered my head and looked at Renee with round eyes, probably surprised.

Likewise, my colleagues were restless and embarrassed.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. “I sincerely apologize for what happened to Kayla.”

“Really… ?”

“Okay. Kayla will also apologize.”

Then Kayla knelt together in front of Renee.

“Sorry. Mr. Rene.”

“…”

“I did this on my own, in violation of my lord’s orders. “I apologize once again.”

Then, Renee’s fear seemed to have subsided and she slowly stood up.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s okay… I’m sorry too… “

Fortunately, Rene also accepted the apology and seemed to have let his guard down.

Just as the atmosphere was about to calm down.

“… !?”

Suddenly, Erina turned around and kicked the door.

Then the priests behind the door fell to the floor in shock.

It looks like they were trying to spy on us, but Erina sensed it.

“You… !”

When he tried to approach the priest with a truly angry expression, I quickly stopped him.

He tried his best to push me away and run to the priests, but I held him tightly.

I held both hands tightly, fearing that someone might pull out a knife.

“Eww… !”

“Erina. Please don’t cause an accident.”

My arms were shaking as if I was trying to use my own strength, but I managed to stop it.

Erina also clearly looked embarrassed as she unexpectedly couldn’t shake off her hand.

“Erina. “Relax.”

“But… !”

“This is a temple. “You must not cause a disturbance.”

In the end, Erina relaxes and calms down.

Meanwhile, Tyria and Celica helped the fallen priests to their feet.

“Sorry. Are you okay?”

“Oh, no. It’s okay… “

The priests looked at Tyria and Celica with mesmerized expressions.

After that, the priests quickly disappeared with an apology.

“The rumor will spread…”

Renee’s words filled me with anxiety.

While bad rumors were already spreading, even Erina ended up with a bad impression.

But now I had to continue the conversation with Rene, so I closed the door again.

After the commotion calmed down, the conversation resumed in a more calm atmosphere.

Once again, Kayla offered a sincere apology and Renee accepted.

Likewise, when I apologized, Rene waved his hand.

“No. Because I also made mistakes.”

Rene speaks with a more subdued tone and expression than before.

It was much calmer than when I suddenly stormed into the mansion.

“And let me tell you once again that Celica has no intention of becoming a saint.”

“Okay. “I believe that.”

“So don’t worry too much. “I have no intention of taking your place.”

Celica also nodded her head loudly and agreed with what I said.

Even so, Rene could not shake off his anxiety.

As you know, the status of a saint is not determined from birth.

The strongest among the clergy. This is the place where the person with the highest sacred power must stand.

In that sense, it is natural for Celica to push Rene away.

From the point of view of the people of the Vatican, Celica could not help but be noticed.

However, Serica did not want to become a saint, and Rene also wanted to maintain her position.

In other words, there is a possibility that Celica will be forced to become a saint even if she does not want to.

“Then is there no other way? “How to prevent Celica from sitting on the saint’s seat.”

“Uhm… Actually, there is a way.”

Rene glanced at Celica and suddenly closed her mouth.

Seeing that, Celica also asked with an expression full of curiosity.

“Which way? “Is this quite a problem?”

“Well, if it’s troublesome, it’s troublesome. Of course, it doesn’t matter as long as you like it.”

“Yes? What does it mean?”

“Uhm… “It may be a bit rude.”

After pausing for a while, Rene cautiously opened her mouth.

“A saint or someone who wants to become a saint must also be physically clean.”

Celica tilted her head without understanding what she said.

Most people, including me, understood the meaning right away.

“Is there anyone you want to marry?”

“Yes… ?”

“So, there is no man to have a relationship with?”

Only then did Celica seem to understand what Renee said, and her face turned red.

Do you have to be a virgin to become a saint?

This is a fact I didn’t even know.

Among the priests and healers, there were quite a few who were married.

It seems that the position of saint is an exception.

“Oh, no. “There is no such person.”

“I guess so. Then there is no other way.”

Is there really no other way?

Because of this, it would be quite difficult for the Vatican to approach Serica.

Because she was forcibly given the status of a saint and had room to interfere in every matter.

I am also opposed to Celica becoming a saint.

Above all, doesn’t Celica herself hate it?

I hoped that nothing would happen.

Meanwhile, I heard someone knocking on the door.

“Who is it…?”

Then the door opens without permission.

A fairly large group of priests entered the room.

And when they appeared, Rene stood up with an even more embarrassed expression.

“W-what is it! Why all of a sudden…?!”

Renee rarely uses polite language.

When I saw that, I immediately knew who they were.

Those dressed in luxurious priestly attire.

Most of them were quite old, and the one in the middle had gray hair.

Heads of the Holy See. They must have been high-ranking priests.

“Hello. Holy woman. “I came here on some business.”

“I have some business to do! What to say later at the Vatican…!”

“No. “I have business with this person, not the saint.”

Suddenly, the priest interrupted Renee and approached Serica.

When all eyes suddenly gathered, Celica started and hid from me.

They didn’t care and talked to Celica.

“Hello. Serika. “My name is Simon.”

“Yes, yes… Hello…?”

“I have been watching Serika’s achievements until now. “He was realizing a miracle more sublime than anyone else.”

It’s too much praise to be just words.

As the burdensome feeling became more and more intense, anxiety began to build up.

“Ah. First, let me greet the heroes of the kingdom.”

Then the priest and his party bowed their heads in a humble manner and introduced themselves.

Among them, the one in the middle approached me.

“My name is Simon, and I am in charge of diplomacy at the Vatican.”

“… My name is Seohyun. “These are my colleagues.”

“We also heard about your heroism. Thank you sincerely.”

Simon expresses his gratitude in a polite tone.

But I felt bad when I realized their intentions.

Their goal is none other than Celica.

I had no idea it would be approached so blatantly.

“Would it be okay if I had a little conversation with none other than Serika?”

“Let’s sit down for now. Because I think the story will be long.”

Then two priests, led by Simon, sat down at the table.

As we sat down, Rene quietly sat down, looking at us.

“So what brought you here?”

“We are people who serve the goddess. And Serika is in the same position as us.”

Simon rhymes with strange words.

I said something strange in my own way to be polite, but my intentions were different.

“What proposal do you plan to make to Serika?”

“Haha… It can’t be called a suggestion. “I am the goddess’ agent.”

Do high-ranking priests usually use strange speaking methods?

I wasn’t very happy with it because it felt like I was twisting my words in a strange way.

“I would like to invite Serika to the Vatican. And we promise to support you on your future journey.”

They didn’t say that she would be promoted to a saint right away, but honestly, it didn’t make any difference.

When we returned to the capital, he invited us as soon as he saw us.

This means that we were keeping an eye on Celica without us knowing.

I understood why Rene put pressure on Celica and felt anxious.

“Tell me honestly. Are you planning to make Celica a saint?”

“…Haha. Isn’t it still too early to talk about it? “Lene is still here, and Serica’s intentions are unclear.”

It’s early. Does this mean it will be confirmed later?

While secretly supporting Rene, he was also attracting Celica.

Then Celica, who was watching, suddenly raised her voice.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t become a saint.”

Then everyone, including me, looked embarrassed.

Celica slowly got up from her seat, came next to me, and grabbed my arm.

“I am in love with Seohyun…”

The atmosphere quickly froze at Celica’s words.