Chapter: 335
Under the land of the sun, as the moon took its place.
Karia, feeling the warm spirit spreading from the orphanage, let out a snicker.
“Yep, my employer was right.”
Despite being separate from the trash created by the church, the Saintess must have had enough qualities to be called a true Saintess.
“But hey.”
“Didn’t those two forget what happened last time?”
After causing a miracle, they almost got interrogated by the church’s Inquisitor, and now they’re making such a big fuss.
“What would have happened if I hadn’t prepared in advance?”
“Alsatine.”
“I had already set up a defense since they arrived. What happened here will be a mere daydream for us.”
Karia narrowed her eyes at her disciple, who shrugged her shoulders.
“…You expected this to happen?”
“Isn’t it the same for you, Master? Who told me to prepare for this?”
“Tsk. You used to be a bit cuter back then.”
Though Karia clicked her tongue, she couldn’t deny Alsatine’s words.
Even Lucy, who rarely said anything without basis, was truly considering Phoebe to be a genuine Saintess.
Seeing Lucy’s strong faith, Karia had anticipated this outcome.
Still, the reason Karia pushed this was that she wanted assurance.
She wanted certainty on whether Phoebe would stay by Lucy’s side when the time came for her to confront the church.
Given that the current church had undoubtedly lost its former piety, Lucy, who receives the love of Lord Jushin, would soon stand on the opposite side of the church.
If that moment arrived, and Phoebe were to leave Lucy’s side, Lucy would sustain a wound deep inside, even if she feigned calmness on the outside.
Karia knew Lucy was a strong yet delicate girl.
Concerned about this, Karia thought of the worst-case scenario and, despite knowing she might invoke Lucy’s anger, proceeded with the plan.
“Master, are you having regrets?”
“Me?”
“Yes. The Young Lady will surely complain.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
From her days working as a shadow for the kingdom, Karia had always moved with the worst-case scenario in mind.
So much so that even the king who trusted her told her to tone it down.
For someone who had heard countless stories during that period, Lucy’s complaints seemed trivial.
“You should understand that the Young Lady is worried about you.”
“Stop blabbering and get to work.”
“Haha. Yes. Understood, Master.”
Once Alsatine left to check the situation, Karia shifted her gaze toward Johan, who was praying.
“Bishop.”
“Yes.”
“…Are you crying?”
Sniff. “I apologize. After witnessing that scene, I realized just how foolish I’ve been.”
Seeing the old man’s face soaked in tears, Karia bit her lip.
Has this man lost his mind?
…But then again, considering his age, it wouldn’t be strange.
“Karia.”
“…Yeah? Yeah?”
Worried about the state of her collaborator, Karia forced herself to respond.
“You understand, don’t you? That Lord Jushin’s divine grace touches both good and evil.”
“I know. I was quite shocked after investigating that back then.”
Unlike what many people believed, divine grace did not solely dwell in virtuous people.
The divine grace spread across the land did not care about an individual’s good or evil; it was wholly concerned with how earnestly one desired that grace.
That’s why the corrupt people of the church could still perform divine magic.
Divine grace is bestowed uniformly upon everyone, without regard to their background.
Even trash that shouldn’t be able to become clergy could exist in such a position.
When Karia investigated the higher-ups of the church long ago and obtained this information, she thought it was nonsense.
Divine grace should be something bestowed by the great Lord Jushin above to humans, so how could there be no distinction between good and evil?
Hence, Karia concluded back then that this was a trap and collected different information, which only added more credibility to the initial information she received, without denying it.
Ultimately, Karia had to acknowledge that the information she initially obtained was correct.
“Once this was revealed, there were many discussions among the high-ranking members of the church.”
“Why does the Lord bestow his divine grace even upon the wicked?”
Faced with this phenomenon that shook the foundation of the church, many clergy expressed their own opinions.
The dominant viewpoint was that the Lord treats humans equally, like the teachings of the scripture, but other opinions also existed.
Some claimed it was to embrace the wicked and lead them to repentance, while extremeists argued that the Lord was indifferent to everything happening on this land.
The clergy made their utmost efforts to interpret this phenomenon in their own ways, and Johan was no different.
“I never liked the mainstream opinion in the church. It sounded like indifference masked as equality.”
If the Lord treats good and evil equally, then what’s the point of being good at all?
Are we to expect future punishment?
What does that matter?
As countless individuals scream in pain from today’s wrongdoing, what significance does a future punishment hold?
It’s indifference, not equality.
If the Lord were truly a benevolent being, it wouldn’t be so, nor could it be.
“In the past, having heard the Lord’s words, I tried my best to interpret this phenomenon, but it didn’t go well.”
Johan, who always tried to be devout, harbored a lingering doubt in his heart.
“How desperate was I that I even thought everything I heard was just an illusion, and that perhaps the Lord doesn’t even exist?”
Perhaps that’s why he clung so much to visible appearances.
He feared that his doubts would surface through tiny gaps.
“However, exceptions arose that cannot be explained by past theories.”
Lucy Allen.
If she weren’t the daughter of the Allen family, she would have lost her head long ago, or so the blasphemous child had been told.
Now, she is a great being proving that the Lord exists in this world and is still watching over it.
As Johan watched the miracle she unfolded, he held hope in his heart.
He felt relieved that his faith hadn’t been in vain.
“And now, another exception has appeared before my eyes.”
A being born from humanity’s wrongdoings.
A person who, through her very existence, insulted the Lord.
Her faith is undoubtedly stronger than anyone in the church, but Johan believed she could not receive the Lord’s love.
The Lord did not deny her existence.
He did not turn away from her either.
Rather, he embraced her even after knowing all about her.
“Karia. The world is changing.”
“Indeed. Bishop.”
“I don’t know if there’s still a place for this old man in that changing world. But in this changing world, the tasks for this old man are already set.”
Johan, while soothing his face, observed the diminishing divine grace.
“At the very least, I must not be ashamed when I stand before the Lord at the end of my life.”
*
In the center of the warmth-soaked basement, Phoebe gradually felt the heat within her.
It was a power that held warmth in itself, different from the divine grace she usually contained.
Phoebe knew what this energy was.
It was similar to the divine grace that Lucy, who was holding her hand, possessed.
Oh great Lord Jushin.
Are you listening to the prayer this blasphemous child is sending to you?
If so, there’s something I must convey to you.
This child, who should be an insult to you, has been harboring words for a long time.
There’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you after recalling the past.
This blasphemous child does not believe in your omniscience.
If you were aware of everything happening in this world, you would not have been unable to hear our screams.
This blasphemous child does not believe in your omnipotence.
If you could see everything you desired come to fruition, you wouldn’t silently watch countless deaths.
However, I believe in your goodness.
I believe in the fact that you did everything in your power to eliminate evil in this world.
I believe that the moment you witnessed countless despair, you surely felt sorrow.
Because your Apostle has displayed your will.
Because she boldly risked her life for a single soul.
Because you have always cared for this lacking and blasphemous being.
I want to believe that your will is not different from that of your Apostle.
So, please deliver a word.
Inform those who believe in your will of your insufficiencies and ask for help.
So that goodness may spread throughout this world.
So that the sorrows that fade away here will not be recreated elsewhere.
May your existence turn hesitation into a heart of repentance.
It’s okay if you remain silent at this blasphemous child’s request.
Even if you do not respond to faith, I will follow the goodness I believe in.
Even without your guardianship, I will strive to convey goodness in this world.
Just as your Apostle is doing now. Just as your Hero did in the past. I will also uphold my conviction.
If you insist on remaining silent until the end.
Just watch over us.
Do not overlook the efforts of those who wish to do good.
– I’m sorry.
The moment Phoebe uttered all the words she had held dear, an indescribable voice brushed against her ear.
It was neither high nor low. It was both feminine and masculine, combining sternness and gentleness all at once.
Though she had never heard the Lord’s voice before, upon hearing that unidentifiable voice, she was certain it belonged to someone.
It was undoubtedly the Voice of God.
– I’m truly sorry.
The voice she had believed in and tried to believe in conveyed words of apology.
Realizing this, Phoebe merely gazed at the countless words pouring into her head like a rain from the heavens.
In that torrent of messages, she found words she needed to convey.
…
Oh great Lord Jushin.
Since you have forgiven this blasphemous child, I too shall forgive your sins.
However, remember that this forgiveness is solely mine.
Also, remember that many souls in this world will not be able to forgive you.
– …Yes. I will remember everything.
That was the end of the response.
The voice that had seeped into her ear, like the spring breeze, vanished leaving only its will behind.
Having completed her prayer, Phoebe opened her eyes and tried to smile at the red-eyed person looking up at her from below, but she couldn’t, as tears were streaming down her face.
“Y-Young Lady.”
“Why? Crybaby Phoebe?”
“Could you please hug me?”
The moment Phoebe finished speaking, Lucy’s arms wrapped around her neck, pulling her close.
“And, please comfort me.”
“What about the others?”
“Please praise me for all I’ve done until now.”
“Puhaha! Yes. Finally, the hypocritical Phoebe is being a bit honest.”
Feeling Lucy’s hand gently stroking her back, Phoebe broke into tears in her arms, letting out the emotions she had long contained.
She vowed not to cry again until everything was over after today.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.