Chapter 181
Chapter 181
Swimming Through the Nightmare (2)
Beautiful. That was the first thought that came to mind when I entered the chapel. A subdued atmosphere steeped in darkness.
“You don't have to turn on the lights.”
I stopped Winter, who had immediately gone to turn on the lights. The moonlight was already streaming warmly through the window. I immediately sank into the sofa.
Winter let out a small sigh and boiled some water. I hummed to myself beneath the pouring moonlight.
“So what exactly happened?”
“Ah. Thanks.”
I thanked Winter as she handed me some tea. Winter asked me about everything that had happened when I disappeared. I shrugged.
I wanted to brush it off because I couldn't be bothered right now, but seeing those piercing eyes, I couldn't exactly ignore her.
“It was simple. Canis went berserk and unconsciously called me. You know. When I call Canis's name, Canis appears. That.”
“You could do it too, Senior?”
“Dunno. It just worked. Probably because Canis was in an emergency.”
“Hmm.”
Winter sipped her tea and sank into thought. Soon, she let out a deep sigh and slumped back. She had probably given up.
“Did anything happen while I was gone?”
“Not really. The Vice-Commander came by.”
“The Vice-Commander?”
I tilted my head. There wasn't really any reason for the Vice-Commander to come looking for me. I popped one of the cookies served with the tea into my mouth.
The buttery taste was too strong, so I didn't touch another one.
“Yes. She said it wasn't urgent. Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess, was calling for you.”
“……Isn't that urgent?”
I gave her a dubious look. Winter also gave an awkward smile. What did she want with me this time? I should go see the Vice-Commander as soon as I woke up tomorrow.
“Anything else?”
“No. Worden getting dragged off by Bereninche?”
“That's an everyday occurrence.”
“Right.”
I had no idea what exactly they did, but Bereninche periodically took Worden away with her. I couldn't bring myself to stop it either, because every time he came back, he seemed considerably more dependable.
He seemed to be learning about close combat, and I didn't want to stop him from getting such a good opportunity to learn from someone like Bereninche.
“Are you going to sleep here?”
“Yeah.”
I gave Winter a halfhearted answer. In the past, she would have told me to show some respect because this was a chapel, but not anymore.
I'd received permission directly from Anaye and had shown myself like this plenty of times already, so Winter didn't react much.
“Ah, come to think of it.”
“Yes?”
Winter, who had been clearing away the empty teacup, turned her head at my words. She stared at me with a face full of curiosity.
“Is there any way to meet a god?”
“……That's profound. Give me a moment.”
Maybe the question itself was unusual. Winter looked surprised and asked me to wait. She put the tea and dishes in the sink, then immediately came over to me.
“Meeting a god. Could you be more specific?”
“Meeting a real god. I mean, meeting the god's true body directly, with my own body.”
“It's impossible.”
Winter gave an unusually firm answer. I let out a small sigh.
“Why?”
“A god's true body. The god itself. There are no records of anyone having met one to this day. That's because the world where the gods live and the world where we live are different.”
I listened closely to Winter. At least when it came to matters like this, Winter was practically an expert.
“The world where the gods live is the world of death. It's a place you can't reach through something like Necromancy. Therefore, there is no way to reach it other than through death.”
“What about the reverse?”
“Gods can't come into our world either. Because from a god's perspective, our world is the world of death.”
I mulled over Winter's words. The world of death. In other words, Winter was saying that the world where the gods lived was the underworld(冥界).
The very thing that frequently appeared in religions and myths.
“Still, they sometimes appear through a Fragment, or briefly show themselves in dreams. So why are you asking this?”
“An oracle from Anaye-nim came down.”
I gave a rough answer. It wasn't wrong either. If the quest Anaye gave me wasn't an Oracle, what else would it be?
Winter rested her chin in the hollow between her index finger and thumb.
“An Oracle telling you to come meet her?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“I just guessed. If death is the only way to meet her true body. Why don't you try interpreting it another way?”
Winter's words made sense. If that was the only way to meet her directly, Anaye wouldn't have given me such a quest.
“Actually, if someone else received an Oracle like that, it would become their lifelong aspiration.”
“……That much?”
I gave her a dubious look. Being embraced by the god you believed in becoming your lifelong aspiration. That felt a little strange.
“But that's not the case for you, Senior.”
I waited for Winter's next words with keen interest. Winter looked at my face and smiled softly.
“One's position within a Religious Order is determined by how much that particular god loves them.”
“That's appointed by people.”
“But the god gives their permission.”
Was that how it worked? Well, I'd never promoted anyone before.
“That's why they say the higher your position, the closer you've become to the god. From that perspective, you're the person closest to Anaye-nim, Senior. You're even the Apostle who could be called her very first Believer.”
When she put it that way, it sounded pretty impressive. I'd lived without thinking much of it until now.
“Anaye-nim probably treasures you alone more than all her other Believers. Of course, we also feel that we receive her love.”
I couldn't argue with Winter.
Because it genuinely seemed like Anaye would think that way.
“If you deepen your communion with Anaye-nim a little more, it'll resolve itself naturally. It has no choice but to. You're the only person who hears her Oracles.”
I nodded at her softly smiling words. Hearing an answer like that relieved some of the frustration in my heart.
There wasn't a time limit on the quest anyway.
“You worked hard today. You can go now.”
Winter paused for a moment at my words before standing up.
“Good night.”
“You too.”
I closed my eyes as I sensed Winter's presence gradually receding.
***
“…….”
I stared dead-eyed at the plate of cookies being placed in front of me. Cookies again. As someone who didn't particularly enjoy sweets, I wanted to decline.
I'd gotten up early in the morning, washed myself, and headed straight for the Imperial Knight Order's garrison. Getting to the room where the impeccably dressed Vice-Commander was had been smooth sailing.
And then I'd ended up in this situation.
“…….”
“…….”
I looked once at the Vice-Commander staring at me with an expectant expression, then picked up a cookie. It tasted good. It just wasn't a flavor I enjoyed.
Having been thoroughly accustomed to Korean food, I didn't like butter. And these cookies were absolutely saturated with butter.
Thinking that the taste seemed familiar, I realized it was similar to the cookies Winter had given me at the chapel yesterday.