Chapter 294 : Eye of the Typhoon (2)
Chapter 294: Eye of the Typhoon (2)
“…When did time pass like this?”
Lian suddenly came back to his senses and muttered without realizing it.
What had been meant to be a short prayer felt as though several hours had already passed.
“Did I really have this much faith…?”
Lian muttered in disbelief as he rose from his seat.
The Cathedral, which had been empty when he entered, was still completely deserted.
Which meant that for several hours, Lian had been the only one sitting there offering prayers.
‘Is there no one assigned to this place? Even so, there’s far too few people.’
While glancing around, Lian suddenly noticed a Confessional Booth placed deeper inside.
A sign hung on the front of the booth indicating that someone was inside.
“……”
He didn’t know what had gotten into him.
Normally, Lian would have simply walked outside, but instead he found himself moving toward the Confessional Booth as if drawn by something.
“What sin have you come to confess?”
As soon as he entered the Confessional Booth, a voice spoke as if it had been waiting.
It was a thin, beautiful voice—so delicate that it was impossible to tell whether it belonged to a woman or a man.
The only thing certain was that it was the voice of someone young.
“…I heard that ignorance itself is also a sin.”
Lian began.
In truth, rather than confessing a sin, he simply wanted to pour out something that had been buried in his chest.
But it wasn’t something he could say to Berenistella or anyone else.
‘This is the second time I’ve entered a Confessional Booth.’
While he was thinking that, the voice answered.
“Some people do say that.”
“…Is that so?”
“Ignorance is often said to be the seed of sin. At times it becomes the origin of sin or leads to sin. However, it cannot always be said that ignorance itself is an unconditional evil.”
“……”
“Why are you thinking that way? Did your ignorance become the seed of a sin?”
“Mother.”
Lian spoke.
“I have forgotten everything about my mother until now. My mother sacrificed literally everything for me….”
“……”
“And it’s not just my mother. There were other people too, and…”
Lian continued.
“…In truth, something important lies ahead of me right now. But I don’t know how much ignorance still remains within me. And I’m afraid that because of that ignorance I’ve overlooked, something will go wrong.”
“Believer.”
The voice spoke.
“There is one piece of advice I can offer you.”
“…I would be grateful to hear it.”
“Then allow me to give you a presumptuous word of advice.”
The voice.
That voice which sounded strangely familiar said:
“If you are hesitating, then do not do it.”
“……”
Lian fell silent at the response.
Only then did he realize where he had heard the voice coming from the other side.
“…I almost committed another sin again.”
Lian let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.
“What do you mean by that, Believer?”
“Stop pretending.”
Lian muttered.
“I’ve definitely heard your voice before.”
“Is that so?”
“At the Academy’s Cathedral. When I made my first confession in my life… I heard that same voice from the other side. It’s that voice.”
“Perhaps you are mistaken.”
“There’s no way I’d mistake a voice like yours.”
The voice laughed.
“Does that mean my voice is memorable because it’s beautiful?”
“Are you still going to keep pretending?”
“Well, telling lies inside a Cathedral would be a grave sin.”
Lian asked,
“Who… no, who exactly are you?”
“……”
“How are you even here? There’s no way you could have known I would come here. Unless…”
“Are you thinking that I possess the power of Prophecy?”
“……”
“Well, lying may be a sin, but silence is not.”
Lian stood up and walked out of the Confessional Booth.
Then he approached the opposite booth where the owner of the voice should have been sitting.
“Who are you?”
“Is that important right now?”
The voice replied.
“You asked me whether ignorance is a sin.”
“……”
“Come to think of it, the first time was like that as well. You said you must have committed another sin but didn’t know what it was. And that you would return once you figured it out…”
The voice asked,
“Is that moment now? Have you finally made your decision?”
Lian didn’t answer.
He reached out and grabbed the handle of the Confessional Booth.
“You must not open the door of a Confessional Booth carelessly.”
The voice stopped him.
“Then come out yourself and show your face.”
“Hmm, that would also be against the rules.”
Lian had no intention of continuing the argument.
And for some reason—
He was seized by a strange premonition that he needed to open the Confessional Booth door right now and confirm the owner of that voice.
Yes. Right now.
“…Opening the door or leaving it closed. Both are your choices.”
The voice murmured.
“If you are hesitating, you may simply leave. But if you are not hesitating…”
The voice—whether it belonged to a man or woman—said:
“Open the door.”
“……”
Click.
The door opened.
Lian slowly pulled the door and looked inside the narrow Confessional Booth.
“…What is this.”
There was no one inside.
“……”
Lian reached in and searched the chair and the surrounding area.
There wasn’t even a trace of warmth left on the chair.
Rather, dust clung to his fingers, as if the place had not been used for a long time.
“What….”
Had someone hidden themselves using magic?
But if that were the case, there was no way he wouldn’t have noticed.
Magic of that level would always leave some kind of trace.
As far as he knew, only two people could possibly achieve something like that: Berenistella and Windy May.
“……”
Then something suddenly caught Lian’s eye.
It was a small figurine.
A statue of the Saintess lay carelessly beneath the chair.
Lian reached down and picked it up.
Just in case, he examined it carefully, but it was nothing more than an ordinary old carving crudely whittled from wood.
“What on earth….”
Had he been bewitched by something?
With that thought, Lian carefully placed the statue on a nearby shelf.
That was when—
“Disciple.”
Berenistella appeared and called to Lian from the entrance of the Cathedral.
She stood there with a slightly uneasy expression as she looked at him.
“To think you would remain here this late into the night. I was worried something might have happened.”
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize—hm?”
Berenistella stopped mid-sentence and looked at Lian with a puzzled expression.
A moment later, she asked in disbelief.
“What exactly did you do to become so full of power?”
“…Pardon?”
“Your power has become as pure as it could possibly be.”
Berenistella muttered.
“In all my life… this is only the second time I have seen someone with power this pure.”
“…Is that impressive?”
“Are you saying you believe you now possess Divine Power purer than the Saintess?”
She laughed softly as if hearing an unfunny joke.
“My preparations are complete. It seems yours are as well… so let us move.”
“It’s the middle of the night. Wouldn’t it be better to move at dawn?”
“It would be better to finish quickly and rest. Both you and I are in perfect condition, so there is no reason to delay.”
She continued.
“…Besides, there is something strange about the aura in this village. It would not be good to remain here long.”
“Understood.”
Lian nodded.
“But before we go, please confirm one thing for me.”
“Confirm?”
“Yes. Is there anyone else here besides me? Or perhaps traces of magic or Ritual Sorcery… anything at all.”
At his question, Berenistella immediately opened her palm.
After a moment, she lowered her hand and slowly shook her head.
“There is nothing.”
“…Is that so?”
“Why do you ask?”
Lian had intended to brush it off, but changed his mind and told her honestly.
“Until just now, I was speaking with someone.”
“Speaking?”
“Yes. Inside the Confessional Booth. But when I came to my senses, I realized it was a voice I had heard before. When I checked, there was no one there.”
“……”
“It must have been my imagination.”
“……”
“Master?”
“…No, it is nothing.”
Berenistella said.
“After hearing your words, I checked again, but I still sense nothing. As you said… perhaps you were simply tired. Or perhaps you are overly sensitive.”
“Yes. That might be it.”
“…Once this matter is finished, everything will be resolved. So let us endure a little longer.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“There is nothing to thank me for.”
Following her gesture, Lian walked out of the Cathedral.
The moon hung in the night sky.
“……”
Berenistella quietly glanced toward one side of the Cathedral.
As if warning someone, she fixed her gaze there for a moment before turning away and leaving with Lian.
Inside the empty Cathedral—
A small breeze passed through.
Lian and Berenistella.
The two left the village and headed straight toward the Gwendil Count family.
Although the village strangely lacked vitality, Lian simply assumed it was because of the late hour.
But Berenistella gave a different answer.
“It seems they have been diligently increasing their believers.”
“Believers?”
“Indeed.”
She nodded.
“When faith and belief gather, they gain rank, and that becomes power. That is why those who aspire to become divine beings first gather followers and make them offer belief and worship toward them.”
“That must be why there was no one in the Cathedral.”
“Most likely.”
Berenistella said.
“Another faith has already taken root here. Do you think the teachings of the Holy Sun Church would easily reach their ears?”
“……”
“If they openly revealed their identity, it could become dangerous, so they are moving cautiously for now… but once they reach a certain stage, they will become extremely troublesome.”
She let out a small sigh.
It was a sigh that seemed filled with disbelief at the situation—and perhaps reproach toward herself for failing to notice it.
“To think that in the very heart of the Empire they have built their own temple and raised followers. Just what has been happening….”
“Are you curious?”
At that moment, someone appeared on the road ahead and spoke.
He was a handsome young man.
“I have been waiting here under the command of the Divine Dragon. I am—”
Thud!
The man never finished his sentence.
Berenistella casually struck him, causing his head to explode instantly.
“…How dare you.”
She muttered disdainfully.
“How dare you interrupt me while I speak.”
“……”
Seeing her speak in such a chilling tone, Lian sighed inwardly and began cautiously scanning the surroundings.
“Right.”
Of course it wouldn’t be this easy.
With that thought, he immediately dashed toward another person who had just revealed themselves.