The Priest Wants to Retire

EP.238 A Song for the Ashes That Remain (9)

A glimpse of a thought. Not a trace of rippling emotion in those gem-like eyes.

The mysterious hue that couldn’t possibly belong to this world shone through, expressing a compelling allure hidden behind her characteristic indifferent expression.

“Oppa. Hurry.”

What on earth happened to the Saintess?

It was a situation that naturally raised suspicions like that.

The steely determination to sneak along on a dungeon mission might not have seemed all that different from usual, but witnessing the Saintess now—each word and action infused with unwavering conviction—made me question if she truly was the same Saintess I had known.

If it were any other day, she would have dashed to me the moment we parted, ignoring everything else, but now her insistence on pushing Bigtim and making a quick visit to the Meeting Room concerned me deeply.

“Saintess. Is this something we really have to do right now?”

“Yes. It has to be done now.”

Her answer was so firm it made me feel awkward for even asking.

My already tumultuous mind surged once more.

Back when I had just become her attendant, she wouldn’t even look me in the eye, but now she gazed straight at me, clearly expressing her opinions.

An indescribable wave of emotion welled up from my throat.

“Okay. Then right now…”

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

Suddenly, the quiet ground trembled ominously.

I hurriedly scanned the area.

Like reptiles hatching from eggs, dark masses were pushing up through the hard ground.

There was no doubt about it. A horde of monsters was about to spawn right here.

“Saintess! Wait a second!”

An urgent crisis surged upon us at a speed dozens of times faster than I had anticipated.

I tried to lead the Saintess away from the scene, but she gripped my sleeve tightly, standing like a statue.

“Pray. Quickly.”

“Saintess! We can do that later! First, let’s move to a safe place…”

Suddenly, my words were stuck in my throat—not because of the Saintess’s steadfast grip, but due to the intense gaze boring into me, igniting my very soul.

A calmness suddenly enveloped the area.

Right after that, the scenery I had intentionally shut out began to come into focus.

“Ah, ahh… Aahhh…”

The candidates for the Saintess stood frozen, as if they were dolls whose winding springs had all unraveled.

Despite monsters writhing all around, they showed no signs of retaliation, resembling living corpses.

“Pray.”

Pointing at them with her finger, the Saintess moved her lips once more.

It wasn’t that she wanted to hear prayers; she wanted them to pray.

I reached a realization, but my mind was still in turmoil, spinning in circles.

“Kieek!”

Crack! Thud!

A sudden, tearing scream from behind me. An overwhelming impact sound instantly followed.

Without a doubt, the Saintess had protected me from the monster that pounced upon me from behind.

“…”

“…”

What was this feeling?

Just moments after narrowly escaping death, I felt an unusual sense of calm.

Flesh and blood scattered around like a fine, drizzling rain, and the heavy silence hung quietly around me and the Saintess.

Normally, I would have needed to grab the Saintess and bolt out of there immediately.

If the Saintess insisted on this manner, I would have to use somewhat rough methods to force her to relent.

As her faithful Guardian Priest, it was my solemn duty to protect her life at all costs.

I had plenty of means.

Just as much as I worried about the Saintess’s safety, she likely worried about mine too.

If I held myself hostage to threaten her, there would be some friction, but it’d be obvious that she would ultimately concede to me.

Of course, I fully understood the potential consequences of such a choice.

A myriad of monsters soon to flood this area.

The candidates for the Saintess had all but become piles of corpses without a coherent thought.

Even the citizens who might still be left around here.

Prioritizing the Saintess’s safety now meant ruthlessly abandoning those exposed to the monsters’ claws and teeth.

It was a cruel and ruthless choice, but this felt like the best option to me.

Not long ago, thanks to the Saintess, I had narrowly avoided death, and it seemed my only option was to get her to safety.

As frustrating as it was to accept, I had to.

Each person has their role and capacity, and the lives I could safeguard were at best just a handful.

Yet even as the time to make a decision approached, my body remained a statue, refusing to move as I willed.

“I can save them all.”

The self-awareness I had been struggling with in deep anguish suddenly emerged, drawn by the Saintess’s powerful words.

“…!?”

Was that really true?

I wanted to ask her that, but my paralyzed mouth only quivered in response to her unexpected, shocking declaration.

“I won’t let even one die. I won’t leave them behind. We can do this. If it’s you, Welna, and me, we can definitely make it.”

“We-Welna…”

My tongue finally slipped out a stammer in response to her repeated pleas.

But my lips froze again, just wishing for her name to roll off my tongue.

Boom! Boom!

The ground trembled once more.

It felt less like a shift in tectonics and more like a vile tremor of living beings.

Unprecedented numbers of monsters were on the verge of spawning here—a silent warning of imminent danger.

A moment where dire decisions were imminent.

The Saintess, who had only gently gripped my sleeve, now firmly held onto my hand.

“Do you believe in Welna?”

Her pitiful question, tinged with anxiety, stroked my ears, causing my frozen state to melt away.

Where had she learned such clever tactics?

Her cunning was growing sharper each day, pulling a chuckle from me.

“Ha…”

I gently ruffled the Saintess’s hair, forcing a bittersweet smile.

“Then of course I believe. Our Welna.”

The moment I finished speaking, a radiant smile blossomed on the Saintess’s pale face.

“Hehehe…”

This was the first time I had seen the Saintess smile so brightly.

How many instances had I witnessed in just a day that felt entirely new?

I couldn’t help but think that after today, I might become unshakeable against most surprises.

Suddenly, that thought struck me.

“I’m not sure, but if I pray for those over there, will it work?”

“Yes. Keep praying until it becomes Welna. During that time, I’ll protect Welna.”

“Haha…”

It was ironic that as a Guardian Priest meant to protect her, I was the one being shielded by the Saintess.

If Sister Beltein saw me now, I couldn’t even imagine the scolding she’d unleash upon me.

“O Giver, I am your finger. A mere lamb…”

Chwa-reul-leug.

The chains of the Saintess surrounded me, enveloping me in protection.

“Under your Authority, may all things upon this land find peace.”

Crack! Crackle! Clack!

Causing ominous sounds from the gaps in the chains.

“This glory, I dedicate to you.”

I poured all my concentration into uttering the prayer, pushing away the dark thoughts that arose within.

“This, what is…?”

Someone released a short breath before speaking.

Due to my eyes being shut for the prayer, I could not tell who it was, but given the direction of the voice, I could vaguely guess it was one of the Saint candidates.

“Ugh! My head…!”

“I, what have I been doing until now…?”

“That’s right! My name is Irua! I am Irua!”

Each uttered prayer reawakened their memories one by one.

It felt as if something that had crumbled into nothing was being restored to its rightful state.

Eyes that had been closed abruptly opened.

The white-haired Saint candidates were regaining their original luster, like paint splattering onto a blank canvas.

But the sight that captivated my attention the most was different.

“May God smile upon us all…”

Like a conductor leading a vast orchestra, a beautiful girl guided the Holy Power swirling around us towards everyone present.

Her holy presence was nothing short of the legendary Saint from myths.

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