Chapter 916. Sera (16)
“How long has it been?”
“Ah! Lady Marilyn! You’re here. How have you been doing?” I[1] asked.
“I've been doing fine as usual. Other than attending the cabinet meetings, I've been spending most of my time at Castlerock. I’m busier than I expected, so I don’t even have time to do my hobbies,” Marilyn answered.
“Ah... how’s your father doing?” I asked.
“He’s been the same. He’s been struggling a bit after retirement, but he found a new hobby recently... How have you been doing, Lady Violet?” Marilyn asked.
“...”
“...”
I didn't really want to answer that kind of question.
“I haven’t been doing much. I lost my position as a senator... and have been living with my parents while walking on eggshells around them. Father said he'd get a spot in the Continental Protection Management Committee, but I ruined my interview...
"I’m embarrassed to say this, but I guess I'm still not ready,” I answered.
“Ah... I’m sorry,” Marilyn said.
“It’s fine. It’s nothing you need to apologize for. It’s all because I’m not good enough... Compared to me, I think you’re really amazing, Lady Marilyn. Whenever I meet with my friends, they always talk about you,” I told her.
“What? But I’m not all that amazing...” Marilyn muttered.
“You’re really amazing. You contributed a lot to the development of the Democratic Country as a senator, and you're handling many different things, too.
"I heard Castlerock is improving daily. I’m sure it’s difficult... considering it’s right next to the Republic. Anyway, your work really is admirable,” I said.
I wasn’t lying.
When Senator Marilyn was just the daughter of Count Castlerock, she wasn't really that popular, but when the Empire became a Democratic Country, she became a hot topic among the daughters of nobles.
She didn't really attend the social gatherings that I made sure to attend each time, but the people there would always be talking about her.
‘I thought she would be the same even after time passed.’
She wasn't really the type to get involved with people back then.
Castlerock was far from the Capital.
Marilyn was really bubbly, but there was something strange about her, so none of the daughters wanted to be friends with her. If it weren't for Count Castlerock’s influence on the Empire, she wouldn’t get invited to anything.
‘Actually, she was excluded from a few events.’
I wasn’t openly ignoring Lady Marilyn, but I'd spend time with the ladies I usually spent some time with...
‘There was nothing I could do.’
Marilyn would smile while looking at a strange picture by herself alone, and she'd sometimes make strange noises by herself. She really was different from the other noble ladies.
If it weren't for my mother, I wouldn’t spend time with Marilyn as well.
Thanks to the time that I had no choice but to spend with her, I got an understanding of the kind of person Marilyn was, and we became close to each other, too.
However, I could still remember being uncomfortable during the adjustment period.
“Still, I get to come to a place like this thanks to you,” I said.
“I was lucky. Senator Caitlyn owed me a favor, so I was lucky enough to get us good seats. I was thinking about who I should come with... and I recalled you saying you never attended a prayer service before,” Marilyn explained.
“Y-You remembered?” I asked.
“Of course. You’re... my friend,” Marilyn said.
“Lady Marilyn... is it... really okay for someone like me to be here?” I asked.
I glanced to the side.
‘It’s Miss Jung Ha-Yan.’
The person sitting next to her had to be Miss Han Sora.
When I turned to the right, I saw Miss Oscar, the leader of the Sacred Democratic Country.
“Miss Oscar,” Marilyn greeted.
“Senator Marilyn. We meet again. I don’t think I’ve seen her before...” Oscar pointed out.
“M-My name's Violet. It’s an honor to meet you,” I greeted.
“She’s my friend,” Marilyn said.
“I see. It’s nice to meet you,” Oscar greeted me and grabbed my hand. We proceeded to shake hands and talk a bit. Our conversation didn't last that long, but my heart was already pounding wildly against my chest.
After all, the leaders of the Sacred Democratic Country were basically here.
There were quite a few members from the Blue Guild as well including Miss Jung Ha-Yan and Miss Han Sora.
However, I didn’t see any of their rookies.
Perhaps they were sitting in the second or third row. I saw those with important positions, those with social influence, those esteemed by others, and war heroes who were active in the war.
Anyone could tell that I didn’t belong here.
The conversations I heard before the prayer service started were pretty serious.
They were discussing the continent’s political situation or the usage of an unimaginable amount of gold. If this were some sort of social gathering, I would get up and greet them, but the place didn’t give off that kind of atmosphere.
‘Quiet.’
It was definitely different from a social gathering.
They seemed really cautious about even asking about each other’s well-being.
The place was also pretty quiet, overall. A long time ago, there was a similar meeting among nobles, but that meeting couldn't compare to this gathering.
I could tell how much they respected this prayer service.
“You don’t need to be so nervous, Lady Violet,” Marilyn said.
“Ah... okay,” I said.
“There’s no special etiquette or rules you need to follow,” Marilyn added.
“But...”
“I’m sure everyone is just being cautious. They've been waiting for this prayer service more than anyone...” Marilyn said.
“Ah... I see.”
“Come to think of it, is this your first time seeing Father Lee Ki-Young in person?” Marilyn asked.
“Yes...” I replied.
‘I never had the chance to meet him.’
I had seen him from far away, and I was about to see him up close for the first time.
I had seen pictures, videos, recorded prayer service videos, and interviews on Benigoa Net. I watched his occasional media appearances, too, but this was my first time seeing him in person.
We didn’t really have much of a connection... and honestly, I had never really been able to attend the prayer services because I was too busy with work. I guess it could be said that I was really courageous to come here.
“Now that I think about it... you’ve met with Father Lee Ki-Young privately before, right?” I asked.
“Yes, but I haven’t been able to meet him at all recently. I can only talk to him from time to time. Even though it's just once a month, I'm really grateful for the fact that he still replies to me,” Marilyn answered.
“Ah... w-what’s he like?” I asked.
“Imagine it, and he's exactly like that,” Marilyn replied.
‘Exactly as I imagine....’
Of course, I didn't really have to think too much about it, as I’d be seeing him soon.
Soon, the sound of the giant pipe organ filled the room.
The loud sound comforted everyone rather than making them think that it was too loud.
Light poured down from the ceiling, and the choir sang.
The murmurs vanished as well.
Some grabbed the rosario hanging from their neck, while some prayed quietly with their heads down.
Senator Marilyn was right. Everyone was paying their respect in their own ways.
My heart pounded violently against my chest, and I felt like I was in heaven.
The priests sent wave after wave of holy light, which filled the room in a beautiful way.
Also...
“Ah!”
“...”
“Heup!” I shouted unknowingly, as what I saw made me hold my breath.
I finally realized why they were still playing the organ and why the choir was still singing.
Someone was bound to exclaim, and they were being considerate of the followers who might make a mistake. The people who were used to attending these prayer services were already holding their breaths.
Senator Marilyn, Miss Oscar, and Miss Jung Ha-Yan stared agape...
“Ah... ahh...”
“O God...”
“Son of Light...”
They stared agape at the Son of Light, the God of Sacrifice and Revival, the symbol of Goddess Benigoa, and the pride of the continent. They stared agape at him while muttering words that I couldn't quite understand.
He was wearing a simple white priest uniform, but he looked holier than anyone here. His outfit looked like it was woven to resemble heaven, and he was wearing a necklace on top of it.
His clothes billowed out around him as he walked, and I felt like I could see his raw, naked body through the thin fabric of his uniform.
‘I-I can't have these outrageous thoughts...!’
He was walking with bare hands and bare feet for the prayer.
The room was filled with music, but it felt like I could hear him stomping on the ground. The sound of his clothes rubbing against each other pervaded my head. There was no way I could hear something like that, but it was like my mind was unwittingly transfixed on those noises.
“O God...”
Light fell upon everyone, and Father Lee Ki-Young's wings of light spread wide.
Light spread from the wings that looked more beautiful than anything else. The light scattered across the wings and floated briefly before disappearing. I wanted to stretch out my hand to grab those particles of light, but I froze upon seeing the saint’s tearful face.
“Ah...”
“Son of Light...”
I felt like I had become a sinner.
Was the Saint of Light before me carrying my sins?
Was he carrying all the sins throughout the continent by himself? I didn’t know what was going on, but I was crying before I even realized it. The others were in the same condition as me. They were staring at him in disbelief while crying.
He was the saint who had decided to return to the continent because he loved it more than anyone else. He hadn't been able to leave this place, as he cared about it more than anyone else.
How could an ordinary person like me understand his deep intentions? How could I understand the meaning of those tears? Many different ideas popped up in my head, but in the end, I ceased all thoughts.
The prayer continued amidst the deafening silence.
Once the prayer was recited, he sprinkled holy power and put his hands together.
The denizens of the Democratic Country were familiar with this procedure, and it looked kind of different, even though it was the same exact procedure that other priests would do for the prayer service.
It was more like he himself was a different being.
The way he prayed to Goddess Benigoa with bare hands and feet...
“Ahh...”
It was like I was watching a play. It was too beautiful to be called "natural."
The Gray Warrior walked up to him quietly and placed a transparent fabric on top of Father Lee Ki-Young's head.
The priests moved to their designated spots and proceeded with the ceremony.
The choir's singing got even louder as light fell from the sky once again.
Father Lee Ki-Young raised his hand, and his sleeves fell, revealing his thin arm to everyone. Despite that, the ceremony continued. He knelt down before Goddess Benigoa’s statue and offered his holy power to her.
“I’ll give my all to you, Goddess Benigoa,” he said.
A massive light burst out of him and took to the sky, creating a really unrealistic sight.
‘I must be in heaven right now.’
The column of light lasted only for a moment, but I couldn’t help but think that way upon seeing it.
“S-Sora. Y-You got all that, right?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.
“Yes, of course,” Han Sora replied.
“Y-You have to keep recording,” Jung Ha-Yan instructed.
“Senator Marilyn,” I said.
“...”
“Are you okay, Senator Marilyn?” I asked
“Yes,” Marilyn replied.
It was like everyone was under a spell.
Soon, the Saint of Light’s lively and clear voice filled my ears.
“This is the word of Goddess Benigoa.”
I saw him reciting the sacred verses of democracy.
“I say this to everyone I love,” Father Lee Ki-Young added.
It was like his voice was massaging my brain.
“Son of Light.”
“Son of Light...”
BOOM!
And that was when I heard a deafening explosion.
A thick fog enveloped everyone, and when it receded, I saw monsters with holy wings.
1. Violet’s POV ☜