“[Sister Aria… do you even know what that means…?]”
A completely frozen voice.
Her reaction was understandable.
The path of asceticism is as arduous as its name suggests.
Unlike in the past, where priests and nuns had to endure ascetic practices for months or even years while traveling to various regions, the frequent deaths of priests and nuns have somewhat alleviated this burden by allowing adventurers to take on missions instead. However, since most missions are highly dangerous, the risks remain.
During the week that I had been diligently learning and going about my daily life, I didn’t expect to suddenly bring up such a topic, which seemed to fluster her greatly.
Well, if I were in her shoes, I would probably be baffled if just a few days ago I had heard how dangerous asceticism could be while considering becoming a nun, and then someone declared they were going to take on that danger…
For me, this path was the best choice.
I still had limitations in reading expressions and atmospheres, so I wasn’t entirely certain, but I could tell.
I needed to decide whether to walk the path of asceticism or be dissuaded from it.
After a long silence, Asclyna raised her head again and asked me.
“[May I ask your reason?]”
Reason.
Is that what I’m being asked?
The real reason is that I want to become a saint.
And I was curious about how high a peak I could reach after successfully enduring asceticism, especially since all my talents are deposited into divine power.
There are various types of asceticism, but possessing extensive information about the original game, I planned to take an unconventional approach that differed from ordinary ascetic practices.
Even if I successfully completed asceticism, I could become a nun, but that would lack impact and I wouldn’t be sure if I’d be chosen by the deity.
To show a holy appearance as a saint, I must demonstrate that much willpower to make the goddess choose me.
If I can become a saint, it would be akin to my dream coming true.
With the divine’s blessing providing me with a near-immortal vitality, allowing me to survive any injury unless I succumb to a dreadful demon, and the healing abilities to revive even those on the brink of death in an instant.
For healing, I would have to injure myself accordingly, but since I wouldn’t die and could heal quickly, it wasn’t a significant issue.
The problem traditionally faced by saints is that only the pain remains…
‘I’m looking forward to it…’
To endure pain, to show a holy appearance to those around me while satisfying my desires, that was why I wished to become a saint.
But I figured I couldn’t say that outright.
While my feelings were genuine, I decided to provide another reason.
“[It’s a bit personal, but… I want to help people like me. If I successfully complete asceticism, I can become a high priest, right?]”
Do you think I, who is rotten to the core of this game, wouldn’t know that?
She had a critical weakness in her divine eyes.
Though she possessed an extraordinary ability to discern every aspect of my surface psychology and overall tendencies, she doesn’t truly know.
Pure desire is fundamentally colorless.
In fact, I do want to help someone.
The reason is that I can become a saint.
If I were merely pretending to help while secretly harboring malicious intents, she would have caught on immediately.
But my pure desire, as I look ahead to the future of becoming a saint, enduring pain while dedicating myself to someone, and feeling good about it, makes me appear as just a pure girl wanting to help someone and become a saint in her eyes.
To this end, I had subtly dropped hints about wanting to become a saint while listening to stories about saints, so even if I showed an excessive willingness to help, she might mistake it for mere enthusiasm without realizing the deep-seated psychology of being a masochist who enjoys pain.
As expected, upon my declaration of leaving for asceticism, Asclyna shouted, visibly taken aback.
“[But asceticism is dangerous! Sister Aria could die!]”
That’s right.
I could die.
No matter how much I like being tortured, I still fear death.
But…
‘If I don’t intervene, death is the same anyway.’
The difficulty of this game is at an utmost level.
If I were to assume I entered this world as set, I’m not sure if the characters alone could fend off the Demon King’s invasion without me, the player, interfering.
I pondered over it countless times over the last week and made my decision.
Now is the time to risk my life.
“[Even if I die during asceticism… at least my life won’t be in vain.]”
“…”
There was no reply from Asclyna.
My decision to undertake asceticism was acknowledged.
.
.
.
As the girl vanished, someone entered the prayer hall, which had been enveloped in silence.
A middle-aged man dressed in a neat priest’s robe approached the Pope, closing his eyes and bowing his head.
“Pope Euster.”
“Isn’t this Priest Antonio? What brings you here?”
“Is it true… that you have permitted Aria’s asceticism…?”
Had he overheard the conversation just now?
Euster, or rather Asclyna, appeared to be troubled over what to do.
Though she had only started her life as a nun a week ago, Aria had already become somewhat famous among the other nuns and priests in the academy.
Suddenly appearing, blind and deaf, this girl, despite her cruel disability that could arouse pity in anyone, never ceased praying to the deity and continuously sought to move forward for good and light.
Many were moved by Aria’s determination.
With an innate disability so harsh for a young girl, yet still hoping to shine for all without despair, how could anyone who believes in God harbor any disdain for her?
In just a week, there was enough talk of her gentle and kind personality even after leading a difficult life, that there were whispers asking if she might be the next saint.
And…
‘She wished to become a saint.’
She possessed the qualities to be a saint, and indeed the world pointed to her as the saint, so I had initially dripped bits of information about being a saint to Aria.
What would Aria think about this? A saint is one who sacrifices themselves to dedicate themselves to others… while outwardly praising the saint’s virtues, I had suggested she might consider giving up due to the hardships of being a saint.
Logically speaking… no matter how much they believe in God, one would likely hesitate at the thought of becoming such a being after discovering the realities tied to this “saint” position.
To save someone, one must endure that much pain.
To defeat the nemesis known as the Demon King, one must endure trials with a hero that even any nun or priest would find hard to bear.
Yet, even with my explanation, the girl did not waver in her resolve.
She wished to undertake asceticism.
“Yes… Aria’s will is so strong that I could not dissuade her.”
Asclyna’s answer was given with resignation, and Antonio’s expression hardened.
“She is still just a young girl.”
“…”
“She is a child who cannot properly fend for herself, being both blind and deaf. And yet you…!!”
“Priest Antonio.”
“…!!”
Antonio could say no more.
It was a first for him to witness such a sorrowful expression on the usually kind-faced Pope Euster.
“Could it be… that child…?”
The once compassionate Pope now wore a pained expression.
Antonio finally realized that even the leader of this holy kingdom of Valkran before him is merely a person.
As a human and a believer, how could he not lament that the fate of this world rests upon that pitiable girl?
Still, the Pope had to make a choice.
“According to the revelation, the Demon King will soon be resurrected and invade this world.”
This was already a publicly known fact, proclaimed beyond the holy kingdom of Valkran and into the empire.
Rumors had already begun to spread that a hero, the owner of the sacred sword, had emerged, making this one of the most critical moments.
The revelation stated that the chosen hero would appear with the sacred sword, just as the demonic forces would overwhelmingly invade the world…
This ultimately meant…
That soon, a saint would be born.
“Then… that child…”
Antonio bowed his head.
The Pope could not continue speaking.
Is this truly… the right decision?
Is it right to entrust the future of humanity to that pitiful young girl?
‘Oh… Lady Romania…’
Her goddess remained silent.
As sunlight streamed in through the stained glass, casting intricate patterns, Asclyna lamented.
