Chapter 47: The Pope

I quietly gazed out the window.

The sun was still high in the sky.

“It’s still daytime…”

Of course, that made sense.

Even after all that water play, it was only the afternoon.

But our bodies were already exhausted from the intense activity, crying out for rest.

Harp, also tired, slowly put down her book and yawned.

“Teacher, you must be tired too. You look drowsy.”

“Yeah… I feel a little sleepy…”

“You should take a nap. I think you overdid it today.”

“Mm, let’s rest together.”

I turned toward the couch as I spoke.

From under her blanket, Sua poked her face out, grumbling in protest.

“Teacher and Harp always sleep together. So unfair. Today, I’m sleeping next to Teacher too!”

“No.”

Harp’s response was firm and immediate.

Sua, surprised, pulled her face out from the blanket and glared at Harp.

“Why not?! I wanna sleep next to Teacher too!”

“You can sleep with Uncle. He’s probably resting in his room right now, so go join him.”

“What? With Alex? No way! He’s too loud and he snores!”

“Then sleep alone. Like yesterday, on the couch.”

“Ugh, so mean…”

Pouting, Sua clutched her blanket and started moving toward the bedroom.

But with a single look, Harp stopped her in her tracks.

“Teacher is tired right now. Don’t bother her.”

“Tch.”

In the end, Sua sulked and buried herself back under the blanket.

Watching this, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“Harp, don’t be too cold to Sua. Be a little nicer to her.”

“Then she might sneak into your bed in the middle of the night.”

“…That’s true.”

I let out a sigh and lay down on the bed.

Harp naturally settled beside me and quietly lay down as well.

“Teacher, sleep well.”

“Mm, you too, Harp.”

I nodded at Harp’s words and slowly closed my eyes.

Soon, the room fell silent, and the comforting weight of exhaustion pulled me into sleep.

Faintly, I could hear Sua mumbling in the background.

“Making me sleep with Uncle… so unfair. I wanted to sleep next to Teacher too…”

Her voice trailed off, and soon, the entire room was enveloped in peaceful stillness.

And just like that, everyone drifted into a quiet afternoon nap.

Meanwhile, in Maru Village

In the narrow alleyways of the village, townsfolk bustled about, chatting as they went.

But unlike usual, today, there was only one topic dominating their conversations.

“Hey, have you seen that hut?”

“Yeah, the one that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, right?”

“Exactly. Does anyone know who lives there?”

“No idea… But there’s a light shining through at night, so someone must be in there.”

People exchanged glances, whispering in hushed tones.

A small hut had appeared overnight in a previously empty lot—an unexplained presence that had quickly become a village mystery.

One thing was certain: this hut wasn’t just an ordinary home.

“Did you hear? Someone said they heard strange sounds coming from it last night. Like… prayers or something.”

“Seriously? What kind of person does that?”

“Who knows? Some say he’s a priest from the Holy Nation, others say he’s actually a wandering fortune teller.”

“Either way, it’s suspicious. It just popped up out of nowhere.”

As the rumors spread, unease settled over the villagers.

The village elders, in particular, couldn’t hide their concern.

“What if something happens to the village…?”

“They say strange things have been happening near the village lately. Could it be because of him?”

“Gasp! What if he’s here to harm Eve?!”

The rumors floating in the air were gradually being accepted as truth, making the villagers more anxious.

However, among the younger people, curiosity only grew stronger.

“Why don’t we just go and ask directly?”

“Are you joking? What if it turns out to be someone dangerous?”

“Still… aren’t you curious? Who exactly would live in a place like that…?”

The small hut at the edge of the village had, in a short time, stirred up the entire community.

Yet, despite all the speculation, no one had actually dared to visit it.

Instead, only uncertain rumors and wild guesses spread throughout the village.

“Maybe someone should go check it out tomorrow?”

“And who’s going to do that? You?”

“Uh… I was just saying, you know.”

As the gossip continued to swirl, the small hut became a source of both fascination and unease.

Then, one villager—who had secretly gone to take a look—spoke in a hushed voice.

“From the outside, the hut looks ordinary… but the light coming from the door cracks—it was strange.”

“What do you mean, strange?”

“It was golden. Blindingly golden. Like…”

He hesitated, glancing around before finishing his sentence.

“Like the light inside the Grand Cathedral of the Holy Nation.”

At those words, the murmuring grew louder, and the mystery of the hut deepened.

And all of these rumors… had started only after the Pope had visited the village.

“So you’re saying that hut is…?”

“I’m telling you, it’s real.”

Day by day, the stories about the hut grew more exaggerated.

To some, it sounded like the dwelling of a holy priest.

To others, it was a place where a heretic or witch might be hiding.

Then, one morning.

A brave young man stepped forward.

“I need to find out what’s really going on.”

Ignoring the villagers’ protests, he made his way toward the mysterious hut.

In the morning sunlight, the hut looked even smaller and more worn-down than expected. But as the young man approached, an unexplainable sense of weight settled over him.

He hesitated for a moment before cautiously knocking on the door.

Knock, knock.

“Excuse me! Is anyone inside?”

A brief silence followed.

Then, a gentle voice came from within.

“Come in.”

Something about the voice put him at ease.

For a split second, his mind went blank.

Then, regaining his composure, he slowly pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The interior of the hut was nothing like its shabby exterior.

Though small, the space was neatly arranged, and a soft golden light filled the room, illuminating everything with a warm glow.

At the center stood an elderly figure—one that was instantly recognizable.

“Y-Your Holiness…?!”

The young man’s eyes widened in shock.

He had never imagined that the Pope would be here, in a place like this.

The Pope simply smiled gently.

“Surprised to see me here, young one?”

“Of course! Why would Your Holiness be in a place like this…?”

The young man stammered, unable to finish his sentence.

The highest-ranking priest of the Holy Nation stood before him, and the sheer presence of the man left him overwhelmed.

Sensing this, the Pope waved a hand dismissively and spoke in a calm tone.

“Raise your head. There’s no need to be so formal.”

The young man hesitated before finally looking up.

“I am merely staying here for a while, nothing more.”

“But… why in such a remote village?”

The Pope closed his eyes, taking a slow breath before answering.

“This village is peaceful… yet it holds a special energy. I am simply here to observe that presence.”

The young man didn’t fully understand what the Pope meant, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask further.

His gaze had already drifted to a corner of the room.

There, among a stack of neatly arranged documents, a single candle flickered softly—its warm glow casting long shadows against the walls.

The documents were adorned with intricate symbols and text, radiating a sense of divinity.

“…What are those documents?”

The Pope followed the young man’s gaze and smiled gently.

“Records of the Holy Nation. Merely references I’ve been studying while staying here. There’s no need to overthink it.”

At that moment, the young man instinctively dropped to his knees, bowing his head.

Only now did he realize—he was just an ordinary villager.

He was of far too low a status to be making direct eye contact with the Pope himself.

“Your Holiness, rumors about this hut are spreading quickly throughout the village. Is there anything I can do?”

The Pope chuckled softly at his words.

“Just let them be. Rumors fade with time. The truth will reveal itself, and with it, the people’s anxieties will disappear.”

Hearing this, the young man felt a deep sense of peace settle within him.

“…I understand. I’ll reassure the villagers.”

The Pope gave a small nod.

“Good. Now, return home. My presence here is only to bring blessings upon this village. There is no need for concern.”

With the Pope’s permission, the young man quietly left the hut.

Once he was gone, the Pope slowly rose from his seat.

He gazed out the window, deep in thought, as the quiet village stretched before him.

His expression, however, carried the weight of a man burdened by deep contemplation.

“Hmmm…”

His eyes flickered toward the stack of documents resting in the corner of the hut.

Among them, one particular note stood out.

It read.

“Grandfather, I’m going to Maru Village. Don’t look for me.”