The stained glass adorning the cathedral is beautiful.
However, the truth is, those windows were not initially designed with such beauty in mind.
When cathedrals were first constructed long ago, people lacked the technology to create glass panels as large as the cathedral’s massive windows.
At that time, it was impossible to produce flat glass pieces beyond a certain size.
This led to the idea of connecting smaller glass fragments to form larger panels.
While they were at it, someone suggested creating vibrant, colorful images directly on the cathedral windows, and as it turned out, this was the right decision.
The stained glass’s sacred images allowed light to pass through in such a way that worshippers below felt as if they were enveloped within the images.
The darker interior, caused by the glass’s colors, only added to the cathedral’s solemn and divine atmosphere.
Pia clearly remembered her first conversation with the Hero, Shihyun, at this very place.
The kingdom sought a saintess to accompany the Hero on the mission to vanquish the Demon King.
This was what the saintess heard when the Hero had only just arrived in this world.
Initially, the church opposed the idea.
The saintess was not required to stand at the forefront of battles against the Demon King’s forces.
In fact, until now, saintesses had often supported Heroes from the rear.
There were many high priests capable of assisting the Hero, unlike the saintess, who was irreplaceable in case of death.
The saintess held immense symbolic value.
Just as the king, as the nation’s emblem, could not recklessly go to the front lines, the saintess was the church’s symbol and the living embodiment of all believers’ faith.
If the saintess fell to the Demon King, it would symbolically mean that faith itself had succumbed to the Demon King.
High-ranking priests gathered to discuss why the kingdom specifically chose the saintess.
Was it an attempt by nobles to keep the church in check?
No, even the most power-hungry noble would understand the consequences of the Demon King’s forces breaching the royal capital.
This war was about humanity’s survival.
In a situation where mere defense was already a struggle, no one would gamble away the saintess, who would ensure their safety in dire times.
Even if someone entertained such an idea, they would never garner majority support.
Under the watchful gaze of the Goddess, who would dare attempt such a thing?
Perhaps it was the Hero’s direct request after encountering the Goddess?
If the Hero himself had pointed out the saintess, it seemed plausible.
The Hero was a figure directly sent by the Goddess.
If he had made the request, the kingdom could not simply ignore it.
Still, questions lingered.
If the Goddess had spoken directly to the Hero, why had she not communicated anything to the saintess, her closest companion?
“In that case, I will meet the Hero myself.”
It was the saintess herself who concluded the discussion.
She declared that she would meet the Hero and converse with him personally.
Though not formally elected as the church’s representative by the priests, the saintess was the one who could hear the Goddess’s voice most clearly—the most devout human among all.
“I will meet the Hero and decide.”
The priests could not oppose her declaration.
In truth, Pia had already received a few words from the Goddess.
‘Do you intend to assist the Hero?’
Of course, Pia was willing to lay down her life if it was the Goddess’s will.
But when Pia said this, the Goddess fell silent.
Though brief, the silence made Pia uneasy.
‘Did I offend the Goddess with my words?’
As someone who always felt the presence of the Goddess, Pia knew how sacred and magnificent the Goddess was.
If she had displeased the Goddess, it could only have been Pia’s fault, regardless of the reason.
After all, the Goddess was the Goddess.
Pia was merely one of her followers.
Even as the saintess, she could not claim to be higher than any other.
Hmm… Well…
The Goddess seemed to be in thought.
What kind of profound deliberation could cause her to pause so deeply?
What incomprehensible depths of contemplation could she be lost in? Pia couldn’t even begin to fathom.
After a brief silence, the Goddess spoke:
‘…Do not entrust your future entirely to others.’
Her oracle followed.
‘It is foolish to move forward without hesitation. Before deciding your future, think carefully, weigh the pros and cons, and move at your own pace, guided by your will. Do not let yourself become a puppet controlled by others.’
Everything she said was true.
Then, as if to add, the Goddess mentioned:
‘And before committing to help the Hero, meet him first and think it over.’
“But isn’t the Hero someone you sent to us, Goddess? Such a person could not possibly be unkind!”
Even in her dream, Pia shouted toward the distant radiance.
Oh…
The Goddess fell into contemplation once more.
‘…Well, uh… He’s very kind…’
‘But talk to him first. Even if he’s a kind person, his personality might clash with yours. Isn’t that possible…? Uh… Maybe?’
Pia pretended not to hear the last part.
‘You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?’
She chose to ignore the Goddess’s uncharacteristically casual tone.
Instead, Pia stuck out her tongue slightly.
Since the day she began praying to a wooden statue she found after being abandoned by her unknown parents long ago—
Since the day a passing priest noticed her, took her in, and she became a nun—
Since the day she discovered her divine power for the first time and miraculously repelled monsters before being brought to the capital cathedral—
The Goddess had been Pia’s guide, her parent, and her closest friend.
The Goddess said nothing more.
But Pia felt certain that the Goddess had smirked at her.
For some reason, she just had that feeling.
Anyway.
The Goddess’s voice, which had briefly wavered, soon returned to its usual tone.
‘I will send a Hero to save the world. Whether you choose to assist him or not is up to you.’
Her words now contradicted what she had initially said.
But Pia knew she would inevitably assist the Hero.
After all, there was no way someone chosen by the Goddess could be evil.
To be honest, that much was true.
Pia was certain the Goddess wore an expression of extreme boredom at that moment.
The first time Pia met the Hero was in front of the cathedral’s stained glass.
Returning from her official duties, Pia saw the Hero standing in the distance.
Based purely on first impressions, it was hard to believe that this man could save the world.
His untrained body seemed frail compared to the Holy Knights she saw daily in the cathedral.
He didn’t appear to have much muscle, making her wonder if he could even fight monsters effectively.
Though he wore a sword at his hip, his posture was awkward and clumsy, giving off an uneasy impression.
Of course, since he was sent by the Goddess, it would be wrong to judge him by appearances alone.
“Greetings,” Pia said.
Startled, the young man flinched and turned around.
He had a kind face.
That was Pia’s first impression of him.
“Are you, by any chance, the Hero?”
“Ah, yes.”
His voice trembled slightly, as if he were nervous.
“I… I am the Hero… Cha Shihyun.”
It was a unique name.
However, the names of other Heroes recorded in history were often unusual as well.
Some were much longer, while others were shorter.
Pia nodded and introduced herself.
“I am the saintess, Pia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh, uh, yes. Hello….”
As Pia placed one hand over her chest and gave a slight bow, the Hero hurriedly bent at the waist in response.
The holy sword at his side made a faint clinking sound.
“Did you perhaps request my assistance, Hero?”
Pia asked directly, without hesitation.
“Huh?”
“I heard that the kingdom specifically selected me to assist in vanquishing the Demon King. I wondered if it was at your request.”
“Uh, ah, I’m sorry…?”
The Hero immediately apologized.
Seeing his reaction, Pia chuckled softly and said, “There’s no need to apologize. It’s not a bad thing.”
Pia lifted her gaze.
It rested on the stained glass that the Hero had been admiring just moments ago.
The glass depicted the image of a sacred Goddess with pink hair.
“What do you think? It’s quite impressive, isn’t it?”
“Pardon?”
“The image of the Goddess.”
Pia lowered her gaze and looked at the Hero as she spoke.
“The saint who created it must have been able to see the Goddess as well.”
Then she smiled warmly.
“Just like us.”
“Oh….”
“I’m more than willing to assist you,” Pia continued, turning her gaze once more toward the depiction of the Goddess.
“But since the Goddess told me to talk with you first, why don’t we start by having a leisurely conversation over tea?”