Immediately after disposing of the energy bar obtained as a result of negotiations with Lucia on the spot. I went to meet Lucia Domine with a little empty stomach.

The first thing I saw when I arrived at the office was… …

“You f*cking old… … !”

It was Arrieta kneeling in the corner of the office and raising her hand.

Why are you here?

No, it could be. Since Arrieta is a saint, it would be natural for her to interact with the pope, Lucia Domine.

But what is it? Why are you doing that? Are you being punished?

“Go on. What the f*ck is it?”

No, rather than that, we need to deal with this situation first.

It is impossible to curse at Lucia Domine, who is like her parents, in front of Arietta.

“Damn Thanatos guy… … . He seems like a very bad boy. You broke a lot.”

“Are you calling that an excuse now? It’s not fun, there’s no emotion, why didn’t you rather be silent?”

“… … .”

I feel like I really want to die.

It’s not the first time I’ve felt such a terrible feeling, but thinking that it was in front of Arrieta gives me an indescribable feeling.

“Well, that’s all right. I thought it would come soon. Arrieta, who is usually diligent, rarely gave up on work and blew 5 hours away.”

“Sorry, sorry… … .”

Arrieta lowered her head in the same posture with her hands raised.

Seeing that she was welling up with tears, it was clear that she was feeling the same indescribable feelings as I was.

well, yes it could be It must have been so overwhelming.

I understand.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“that’s… … .”

It’s about Eleanor.

Is it okay if I say this in Arrieta’s place?

Under the circumstances, it seems that Lucia Domine knew about Eleanor’s identity, but Arietta’s case is different. she probably doesn’t know

I don’t want to make it a secret from her if possible, but this is also a secret that Eleanor holds personally.

It’s not a good thing to brag about to people you don’t know.

“Arrieta.”

“Yes, Pope.”

“Now raise your hands and go out and pray for the congregation.”

“Yep!”

When I was hesitating, Lucia Domine seemed to notice that and sent Arrieta outside.

Arrieta, far from being suspicious of Lucia Domine’s words, seemed to feel only the happiness of not having to raise her hand anymore.

It is surprisingly simple.

“Well, then… … Let’s hear first how far you know from where. What do you want to ask?”

“Eleanor von Chrysos.”

“Yeah, you knew too.”

Lucia Domine took a pipe from her bosom and began to smoke thick tobacco.

This damn old man is only informal in front of me.

“Do you really need to be formal in front of a damn kid?”

“I never said anything like that.”

“Sometimes the expression says more than the mouth.”

speak well

To the subject who was glaring at me with [Contemplation] activated.

“then… … . Where should I start talking?”

“From the beginning.”

“From the beginning, how did I get to know him?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you understand exactly what that means? You mean to interfere with Princess Eleanor’s affairs now.”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Can you afford it? Are you responsible for that remark?”

“So I said I’d do it from a while ago… … .”

“Nope.”

Before Lucia Domine had even listened to what I had to say to the end, she asserted that it was improbable.

Perhaps because of the strange pressure, I couldn’t open my mouth easily.

“Don’t you know? Aren’t you cheating on her right now?”

“What is that… … .”

“Before he left, he said with a devastated expression.”

widely!

Lucia Domine struck the pipe and brushed off the ashes.

It seemed as if he was shaking off his lingering feelings.

“I can’t be fooling you any longer.”

“… … .”

That’s an uncontrollable mistake that I made wrongly from the first button.

“You knew about him, but pretended not to know.”

“Since Noah wanted to hide it, of course… … .”

“But didn’t you know? And don’t you know that knowing and pretending not to know is also deception?”

“… … .”

yeah i knew

I knew everything from the beginning.

What kind of things are she hurting, what kind of troubles are she harboring, why is she attracting so much attention.

I knew everything.

But I pretended not to know. Because Eleanor was going to do it.

No, precisely because she was relieved just by the fact that I knew it, so I was afraid that it would hinder her growth.

“You are a selfish person.”

“that’s… … .”

I couldn’t protest.

I don’t ask what I’m trying to hide, I don’t pretend to know even though I know.

At times, it could work in good faith.

But what about now?

She wasn’t hiding her identity because she wanted to.

It just had to be.

Nonetheless, I used it.

I figured it would be easier to approach her if I pretended not to know. I would have been wary if they found out I knew about her beforehand.

There was such a calculation.

“It’s really foolish to step into someone else’s territory with such a half-hearted attitude.”

Lucia Domine now began to blatantly distort her expression.

It was hate.

“You’re behaving so that you can step out at any time, so what? Are you going to take responsibility? That’s not even funny. A subject that is already turning its eyes away from responsibility.”

“… … .”

“How much do you know about her?”

I know a lot about Eleanor. She was the main character of the game, but I also saw a lot of things by her side.

but… … .

“Then, on the contrary, how much does she know about you?”

Eleanor doesn’t know about me.

No, it’s not just Eleanor. People around me don’t know exactly who I am.

It was something I couldn’t talk about, but it was also because I was hitting a wall. I was hiding even the parts that could be seen.

The only image I showed to those around me was Oz’s image, but not mine.

“It will be she, not you, who will be hurt by your irresponsible behavior.”

“I guess… … .”

“I’m glad you understand. Then I’ll ask again. The successor of the King of Darkness. Where do you want to hear about Princess Eleanor?”

“… … .”

* * *

I was kicked out without being able to refute Lucia Domine’s unilateral factual violence.

No, rather than being kicked out, I came out on my own.

Every word of what she said was right.

I didn’t deserve it.

“ha… … .”

who said it?

Did I say that relationships built on lies don’t last long?

No, was that what I heard in the first place? I do not know.

Maybe these are Oz’s memories, not mine, and maybe it’s the sincerity I have, not mine.

What should I do now?

“Consult Lucia… … . It will be hard to see for a while.”

It bothered me so much.

If you don’t have work for a while, you won’t even think about coming near me.

“Then, is it Arrieta…? … ?”

Since she is a saint, she might be able to give me an answer to my troubles.

But even asking her about this is a stir now.

It’s not just Eleanor’s problem that I’m hiding something about myself.

Everyone around me doesn’t know much about me.

I made the relationship that way.

Of course, not everything can be explained.

I don’t know if the other person will accept that explanation, and nothing has been confirmed yet, so telling them this fact only confuses them.

Even I am still in the middle of chaos, attracting others?

It’s not a good idea considering what’s to come.

“To whom… … .”

It was when Gigantes was contemplating sitting on one of the many piles of stones he had created by destroying buildings.

Suddenly, someone caught my eye. It’s not Arrieta. Not Lucia, much less the other ＜Tenebris＞.

To put it bluntly, he is a person with no one-sided expression.

Still, he was someone I definitely remembered. Because he is the person who changed me greatly.

“hello. Thank you for saving me last time. I can finally say thank you.”

The young priest I decided to save from Gigantes’ attack.

At that time, I cursed the fate of a situation even contrived, but it is fortunate that everything turned out well as a result.

“Yeah, I’m glad you’re alive too. You can stop now.”

When I dissuaded the child who nodded, saying thank you, the child only then nodded and started looking at me blankly.

It seems he still has something to say.

“Do you have any concerns? saint.”

“Yeah, it looks that way to your eyes… … No, wait. A saint?”

“Yes, is that what everyone calls you? I believe so too.”

“It is deplorable.”

Calling an atheist a saint has even gone the Vatican.

Well, in a way, it’s understandable that it’s called that. Because I poured all my mana into the divine magic.

Everyone in the Vatican ＜Hedenia＞ would have seen that light.

And the fact that the light gave a healing effect that surpassed divine magic was also during battle, so many people must have experienced it firsthand.

“… … Unfortunately, I think I’m still far short of being called a saint.”

“is that so?”

“Yes, I heard there are aftereffects left?”

[Those who challenge the divinity] showed a healing ability superior to divine magic.

However, divine power is an ability created by the only god ‘Ain’ in the first place.

There was a reason why people’s self-healing ability was raised through purification and promotion, rather than completely regenerating the wound.

I heard that most of the people who were seriously injured were suffering from phantom pain among those who were recovered through [The One Who Challenges Divinity].

It is a reaction that has never been seen in treatment through divine techniques. Because the treatment was so rapid, the body rather rejected it.

“Um… … . Still, everyone was grateful. I could have had one more chance.”

“A chance… … . Yes, you might think so.”

My divine magic wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to give many people a chance.

That should be enough for now.

“Okay then, priest. Will you listen to my concerns?”

“Yes, I am still an apprentice, but I can do at least listening.”

“… … You are very mature.”

“I hear it often.”

Now that I see it, he’s a fairly mature kid for his age.

In some ways, can’t it be said that he is more mature than me?

“Hmm, hmm… … . priest. Then I’m worried, but I lied to someone close to me.”

“Then you must apologize.”

“No, I know that simple conclusion… … .”

“Then you know that simple thing, so why aren’t you doing it?”

“… … It’s a painful tip.”

Lying is bad.

Is it because he is an innocent child that he can say it so simply? No, there is nothing wrong with that.

Ultimately, my concerns will reach that direction.

“Actually, I’m afraid that if I reveal the lie, it will hurt the other person.”

And I’m afraid that even this shallow relationship that I’ve built up until now will be completely ruined because of that wound.

“Well… … . But wouldn’t that hurt even more if the Holy Son was found out to have lied?”

“right. So I am in a situation where I have to either apologize or hide this lie for the rest of my life.”

“What is the alternative?”

“You have to choose one or the other.”

“Then you should apologize.”

“… … .”

yeah, that’s it after all

No matter how much you turn around and assume the situation, you have no choice but to come to that conclusion in the end.

“What if the other person hates me?”

What if Eleanor resents me?

If you accuse me of why I was deceiving myself? Will I be able to withstand those dagger-like words?

Can I stay by her side even with that dagger stuck in me?

“Then, wouldn’t it be better if the Holy Son loved him more?”

“hahahaha… … . It’s easy to say.”

“But I was taught that it was an apology? If the other person hates me, I have to love the other person as much. I was taught that that is a prerequisite for forgiveness.”

“That is a wonderful word. Who taught you that?”

“A saint!”

“I knew it would.”

In this way, Arrieta helps again. After all, there is no such thing as a complete stranger.

I took my troubles to this young priest, not to the people around me, but isn’t the child also involved in the end?

The wider my relationship is, the wider this intertwined relationship will be.

Then how long can I be consistent with a false look?

Can I live my whole life as a lie? No, it can’t be. Nor should it be.

I have to show someone who I am. Otherwise, I will sink like a ship stranded alone in isolation.

“I’m going to apologize. Even if the relationship breaks down… … . No, I think we have to correct this lie even if it means ruining it.”

Yes, if you get the first button wrong, you have to start over.

If you are afraid that what you have built will collapse, the tower you can build is only a tilted result that can eventually collapse at any time.

“As expected, it is a choice worthy of a saint.”

“When did you say it was simple?”

“Wouldn’t it be simpler in words? I learned that putting it into action is difficult.”

“You are really grown-up.”

I mean in several ways.

“Saint.”

“yes?”

The moment I was about to shake myself off and leave, the child spoke again.

“It is said that God is always watching over us.”

“… … .”

“They don’t help, they just put us to the test.”

“yes?”

“Yes, moreover, they put us to the test, but they don’t give us the answer. It just casts down a beam of light to point you in the right direction.”

A strangely grown-up child.

“People who believe in God say that they think that way whenever they are in trouble. It is a test from God, and if you endure this test, you will be able to find your way forward.”

No, ‘something’ in the form of a child spoke to me.

“But there is also this aspect. It unilaterally puts people to the test, and the price is a small ray of light. Don’t you think that’s cruel?”

“Well… … .”

If he unilaterally puts people to the test, he is truly a tyrant.

But is it really so? Did you really get nothing?

“Each person has a different way of thinking about that test.”

Did it put me to the test?

“Because that might look like an opportunity to someone.”

People are put to the test, but not graded. That’s natural.

Because it will be you who will score.

The child smiled softly at my answer.

“okay. So, what is the result of this test?”

If so, how many points could I have scored on this test?

“100 points.”

I had many regrets due to that momentary choice, but at the same time I was able to bear many fruits.

“No, if you add a small beam of light to it, wouldn’t it be okay to add about 5 more points? So 105 points.”

“hahahaha, could that light have shown you the way to go?”

“yes… … . Thanks.”

child, no.

‘Ain’ ended with those words and scattered as pieces of light.

And at the end of that glow.

『Continue?』

Only a small question remains.

“Yeah, it’s funny… … . In the first place, it would be absurd to find a ‘young priest in danger’ in such a crowded battlefield.”

The price of testing is numerous fruits.

small answer.

『Continue!』

And it was timid cheering.