That night.
Stepping outside the monastery amidst the suddenly chaotic atmosphere, Rayfield appeared once again, accompanied by soldiers.
This time, there were far more soldiers lined up in formation than during his earlier visit.
Eirene stared directly at Rayfield, without a hint of intimidation, and asked, “The Saintess is not visible.”
“The Saintess is busy offering prayers. So, I thought, instead of waiting endlessly and potentially losing her, I might as well apprehend her now and have her pray for repentance later.”
“What kind of nonsense is that…!”
“Well, isn’t it a good plan? The gods are merciful enough to offer even non-believers a plain dish of truth! Surely, they would forgive such a thing. Don’t you agree?”
After boasting, Rayfield shifted his gaze to the woman standing beside Eirene, an intrigued smile forming on his lips.
“Ah, there you are, Your Majesty. Or should I say… Eirene von Einsberg?”
“The nun’s habit suits you quite well. To think that someone so wary of the religious order would end up wearing one… It’s quite ironic, isn’t it? It seems even the great emperor values her life after all. Oh, but then again, you’re not the emperor anymore, are you?”
It was an absurd provocation, one that Eirene had no intention of entertaining.
There was nothing to gain from reacting as they wanted.
“But worry not. You won’t die just yet. Your existence is crucial for ushering in the new era.”
Although curious about what this “new era” entailed, it was not the pressing issue at hand.
No, her course of action was already clear.
Eirene began to walk slowly, saying nothing.
***
‘I will never forget. The days I spent here as Sister Linashita, never.’
The short life she had lived in the monastery was the most radiant period of her existence.
Here, she learned what it meant to live.
She nurtured a curiosity for things she had never been able to grasp in her lifetime.
But now, all of it had come to an end.
‘I am not Linashita. I am Eirene.’
Accepting this truth, she continued walking forward.
Just then—
“Eirene.”
At Igon’s voice, Eirene stopped in her tracks again.
“You fled before I could tell you, so I’ll ask now… If you truly believe that returning is the right thing to do, then I won’t stop you.”
“But, if you’re going back against your will… please trust me. I can resolve this.”
‘Resolve?’
At the absurd word, she turned her head toward him.
As always, he was wearing a breathtakingly handsome smile.
Her heart raced again, just like a foolish young girl who couldn’t grasp the gravity of the situation.
‘No.’
That smile doesn’t belong to me.
To covet something that could never be mine at my age… how laughable.’
“But if I don’t return now, it will surely create complications.
They will… likely follow through on their threats.
It’s not just you, Igon; even the abbess could be put in danger.”
“I told you, I can resolve this. You might find it hard to believe, but it’s true.”
“Igon…”
Eirene turned her gaze back toward Rayfield.
He had brought what appeared to be around a hundred soldiers.
Their resolve to capture her was evident.
If she refused to go, they would undoubtedly resort to violence.
‘And what could a mere priest like Igon possibly do in such a situation?’
Even if he risked his life, he couldn’t resolve this.
‘Go.’
And yet—
‘Then why?
Why can’t I move?’
Eirene stood frozen, staring into Igon’s eyes once more.
The conversation they had just shared echoed vividly in her ears.
Amidst the storm of emotions swirling within her mind, the one thing she least wanted to admit was—
—her feelings.
The purest, most untainted feeling—joy.
When Igon had wiped her tears, what she felt was joy.
She was happy that he held onto her.
She was happy to hear his words, to learn again what it meant to trust someone.
Even after learning that he had deceived her, she couldn’t bring herself to blame him because he reached out to her with such kindness.
And realizing her happiness terrified her.
She had run away because she was afraid.
Afraid that she would be swept away by her feelings, rely on him, and—ultimately—ruin what was precious to him.
She owed Igon so much, yet she feared she could never repay him and might instead bring him misfortune.
Her unhappiness was her burden to bear; she could not drag him into it.
Even so, Eirene could not move forward.
‘I know I should go, but I can’t take a step. When he smiles like that. When he speaks with such confidence, telling me he can truly resolve this.’
“…Trust me.”
“Will you trust me?”
“Yes, I trust you, Igon. I… trust you.”
Tears streamed down Eirene’s face once again.
It had been the first time since ascending to the imperial throne that she had cried, and yet—
In front of Igon, she crumbled so easily.
“I trust you. So please… help me. I don’t want to go back…”
Igon gently cupped her tear-streaked face with his large hand.
Eirene found his touch so comforting that her heart seemed to awaken once more.
“I… I like this person. I like him. I want to be with him… And—”
“Thank you. That’s what I wanted to hear.”
After saying that with a smile, Igon strode toward Rayfield in Eirene’s place.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot act against what He desires.”
“What? He?”
Rayfield’s face twisted in confusion as if trying to make sense of nonsense, then nodded as realization dawned.
“He? Didn’t I already tell you that woman is no longer an emperor or anything of significance! What’s the point of defying us? What could you possibly gain?”
Seeing no response from Igon, Rayfield shouted in frustration, as if addressing a foolish individual.
“I wasn’t planning on saying this, but… this place is just a small monastery, and you’re nothing more than an ordinary priest. Surely, you don’t naively believe that your little Guodun religion can oppose us and survive, do you?”
Rayfield glanced back.
The sound of soldiers drawing their swords filled the darkening forest.
“Hey, let’s not make this more troublesome than it needs to be. I don’t want to harm you or your people. I’d prefer to stay on good terms with Guodun. Just hand over that insignificant woman, and nothing will happen. Why don’t you understand that?”
Igon, silent until now, tilted his head slightly as if puzzled.
“When did I ever say that I could not act against what humans want?”
“…What?”
“When did I ever say I couldn’t do what humans didn’t want?”
***
[MoneyPlease: Lord Guodun desires the ‘faith corruption’ of Lady Eirene von Einsberg.]
[MoneyPlease: The ‘Response of the World’ moves solely according to Lord Guodun’s will.]
[MoneyPlease: Trials are but fleeting moments.]
What?
Trials… Is that it?
I mimicked adjusting nonexistent glasses, tilting my head dramatically from side to side.
Then, faster than anyone could react, I began typing furiously—
Enter. Click!
[Guodun (Donation/10,000 won): Isn’t she already faithful? Do we really need trials? She just needs to trust me, doesn’t she?]
[MoneyPlease: Please hold on a moment, Lord Guodun.]
[MoneyPlease: ‘Faith corruption’ requires buildup.]
[Guodun (Donation/20,000 won): Didn’t you say trials weren’t necessary? She just needs to trust me! That’s it!]
[MoneyPlease: Thank you so much for your donation, but please calm down.]
[MoneyPlease: Rapid donations like this…]
[Guodun (Donation/30,000 won): Just get it done already! No buildup!]
Forget it!
I’ll bulldoze through with money! Forget buildup—give me satisfaction!
I waited patiently for the author’s response.
Time passed, and the answer finally scrolled up on the monitor screen.
[MoneyPlease: Understood.]
[MoneyPlease: If that is the will of God.]
“I cannot act against what He desires.”
Igon raised his hand toward the heavens.
And then—
“What, what is this?!”
Rayfield and the soldiers froze, looking around in confusion.
A voice, belonging to an unknown entity, resounded in their heads.
“What is this sound?!”
“Aah! A ghost!”
The sound reached Eirene as well.
It reverberated in her mind as though it had entered through her very skin.
The voice of an absolute being.
<<God does not desire meaningless trials.>>
<<God does not acknowledge your very existence.>>
<<God does not want your story to continue.>>
“Everyone, calm down! That priest must have used some sort of magic—”
Rayfield, visibly shaken, heard one last thing—
—What could you possibly do?
“Thy.”
Igon’s voice echoed like thunder from the sky.
Thy.
The meaning was incomprehensible, but everyone instinctively understood.
This was… the voice of God.
Though it came from a human’s mouth, it was unmistakably something beyond human.
In a fleeting moment, Igon lowered the hand he had raised high.
With a single motion, cutting through the air—
“Thy!”
Boom!
Rayfield’s soul… was obliterated.