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“…So to summarize, ever since Lucia met the Pope, she hasn’t come out of her room.”

“Yes.”

“In order to figure out what happened, we need to meet Lucia, but the guards are tight, and she’s refusing visitors.”

“Yes.”

“It’s clear that it’s difficult to meet her through official channels, so we have to go unofficially. So, you’re planning to sneak into Lucia’s room?”

“Exactly.”

“…….”

Having just finished breakfast, Camila, who had been sleeping in our hotel room, looked at me as if she had just heard something completely absurd, like a citizen encountering a zebra that had escaped from the zoo on her way to a convenience store.

After talking with Veronica, I returned directly to the hotel and found myself facing Camila with just a door separating us.

“Uh, what was the name of that spy movie with the Top Gun actor again?”

“Mission Impossible.”

“Oh, right. In that movie, the protagonist sneaks into the Vatican. Thinking about that, does it seem easy?”

“Not at all easy!”

Camila, who had a bump on her head, opened her mouth with a look of disbelief.

Muttering in a dissatisfied tone, she crossed her arms with a suspicious glint in her eyes.

“So you’re asking me to help you sneak into Lucia’s room, right?”

No matter how capable someone might be, it’s tough to breach such tight security alone.

But with two people working together, getting into a secure area becomes easier than expected.

I nodded.

“Do you have a plan?”

“I have the building blueprints, costumes, all the documents ready. And most importantly, the means of infiltration.”

“Well, at least you have that part down. But putting that aside, we were invited guests here. Moreover, you’re a diplomat. Surely you haven’t forgotten? If we get caught, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs won’t just let it slide.”

“If we don’t get caught, it’s not a crime, right?”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Camila, who had been mumbling that, nodded her head.

“Let’s do it right now.”

—

**Episode 14 – One Religion, One Belief, Two Saints**

In a region where the influence of religion is immense, priests are on a different level than the laity.

This holds true even for minor religions.

The status of a priest comes from the authority based on their religion and the respect derived from faith.

Unless one is a radical extremist driven mad by religion, no one dares to treat a priest casually, even if their faith differs.

But here—

There was someone so difficult to approach that even priests found it challenging.

“Knock! Please open the door!”

“Uh…”

The priest of the holy Lateran diocese sweated cold in a season that didn’t match the cool air.

Since his assignment as a priest in charge of the Holy Land, he had rarely been flustered, even when facing those of high status.

However, the woman standing before him now was on a completely different level than the cardinal or ambassador from another country.

“Uh… may I have your name?”

“Camila. Camila Lowell.”

The woman with hair as red as a blazing sun beamed brightly. It was a cheerful smile.

Yet, the expression of the priest holding the visitor’s log did not seem to brighten at all.

“Ah, so you’re the Hero. But may I ask what brings you here…?”

“I came to see Lucia!”

With unreserved eloquence, Camila declared her purpose.

If she had been a regular citizen—no, even if she weren’t a believer—it would be a tremendous breach of etiquette to refer to a saint by name without any honorifics.

However, Camila spoke as if it were second nature, skipping the cumbersome titles to directly address the saint.

“Can you take me to Lucia?”

—

In front of the heavily guarded main gate, the priest of the diocese, who had welcomed Camila, adjusted his crooked glasses due to the sweat dripping down his face. He then struggled to answer.

“I’m really sorry, but Saint Lucia isn’t receiving any visitors at the moment.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Camila tilted her head innocently with a naive expression.

“I’m a colleague of Lucia’s, you know? Is it not allowed for someone who isn’t a believer or priest to enter?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Worrying that Camila might take offense, the priest began to explain gently.

“We are currently in the midst of preparations for the canonization ceremony. Since Saint Lucia is the star of the event, there’s a lot to prepare. It’s simply hard for her to spare any time, Hero.”

Of course, his explanation fell on deaf ears.

With wide, blinking eyes, Camila wore a look that said, “I don’t understand, and I don’t really care,” much like an insistent customer at a residents’ center.

She was throwing a tantrum.

“Then I’ll just take a quick peek at her.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I was asked by Saint Veronica to deliver this personally. I just need to hand it over.”

Camila patted her document bag with a tap of her palm.

It was a rather luxurious leather bag, yet one that could be commonly found among the many luxury goods around the church.

Luxury items are a discreet virtue necessary to maintain a priest’s dignity.

Moreover, pretending to be frugal during the day while changing into casual clothes at night to go buy luxury goods for the government was also a virtue of a priest who had accumulated a fair bit of wealth.

Of course, this was morally questionable.

But no priest from any order would openly address such scandals.

The church’s bank never had to fear running out of money.

Even if their bishop’s residences are adorned with marble and art pieces, or the cardinal’s offices are plastered with giant murals, their gold coins never dwindle.

Eventually, most bishops—

And the Cardinal is hoarding far more wealth and living in luxury, while the priests of the affluent diocese, though not as rich, nonetheless lead lives that wouldn’t evoke envy from others. The sighing comes solely from the priests serving the poor diocese as they glance over ledgers.

And of course, Lateran was the wealthiest diocese within the cult.

Luxury items were as commonplace among the priests of Lateran as stones by the side of the road.

The problem was…

“Um…”

That the bag had the seal of Saint Veronica embossed on it.

The priest, asking for understanding and taking a moment to examine the bag, could feel the pure divinity radiating from the seal. This was undoubtedly the holy aura of the saint.

“…”

Snapping out of his daze while gazing at the seal, the priest jolted back to reality when he suddenly heard a cough.

Receiving a signal from the knight on guard duty at the main gate, the priest bowed politely and replied.

“I’ve confirmed it. The Hero must also be busy, so I’ll take responsibility and deliver this myself….”

“But it was promised to be delivered directly to the saint, wasn’t it?”

“That’s true, but….”

As the standoff dragged on, the expressions of the priests and knights twisted into those of impending doom.

In the cult, the seal of a high-ranking priest was like the official decree of an undercover inspector. But now that someone chosen by the oracle was holding the saint’s seal, how could they not be anxious?

As the bright sun shone down at noon, a bead of sweat trickled down the priest’s cheek.

While his face remained composed, his insides were roiling.

And the knights were no different.

“Ugh….”

If they let Camila in, they would be defying the saint’s orders.

But if they sent her away, it would look like they were defying another saint’s command.

“Should we ask the Captain…?”

“…The guards are in charge of security, so wouldn’t it be more accurate to ask them for their input?”

“Better yet, let’s ask the saint directly….”

“She doesn’t come out of her chamber….”

Glancing at the anxious priest fidgeting and the knights who didn’t know what to do, Camila suddenly raised her finger and confidently offered a solution that would make Solomon proud.

“Then could you go ask Lucia to step out for a moment? It’s just a matter of handing over the item.”

“…….”

“…….”

It was a suggestion that wouldn’t land at all.

*

Ultimately, the ongoing squabble was only resolved when a high-ranking priest appeared.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, yes. Father, it’s that….”

The priest who had been pacing back and forth at the main gate spilled the whole story to the superior who had come on patrol.

After listening quietly to the lengthy explanation, the senior priest looked at the priest with an expression of utter disappointment.

“Hey, are you an idiot?”

“No, I’m not!”

“You brought the seal of Saint Veronica, so of course, you should let her in. It’s not just anyone; it’s the Hero!”

“Is it really okay…? I was told to let no one in….”

“How many times have you rejected entry already? The saint has been sending people almost daily; if you keep refusing, what will happen to our reputation? Especially since the issues with last week’s bishop elections have everyone on edge.”

“That’s true….”

“Just let her in.”

With a sigh, the senior priest gave his orders.

“Escort the Hero to the reception room and tell her to wait for a moment.”

“What about the saint…?”

“I’ll speak to her separately. Don’t worry about that; just go and bring the Hero in. It’s not like we can keep a guest waiting outside.”

The priest dashed back inside, hurriedly leading Camila onward.

Passing through a corridor flooded with sunlight, they arrived at the lavish reception room, where Camila plopped down on a plush sofa, tapping her feet.

“Ugh….”

“You’ve been waiting a long time, haven’t you? I apologize for the delay. Saint Lucia will be here shortly.”

“Please tell her it’s okay to take her time. Oh, but is there any tea or refreshments here?”

“Yes, I’ll prepare some right away!”

With that, the priest rushed out of the reception room.

As she rubbed her tired legs, Camila sprung up as soon as the door closed, scanning her surroundings.

Bathroom. Behind the curtains. Under the sofa, and so on.

Having thoroughly searched the interior of the reception room, even glancing down the hallway, Camila quickly locked the door and opened the bag sealed by Veronica.

And then…

“You can come out now.”

“…Are you sure?”

“I checked the hallway, remember? No one is around.”

I grabbed both openings of the bag and stood up.

Like a legendary hero bursting forth from the belly of a monster, I pulled my upper body out of the bag.

“Damn…. This magical tool is worse than a drum….”

Finally managing to escape the cramped bag, my legs slipped out too.

“Ha….”

With a kick, I organized the annoying string around my ankle and met the sparkling eyes of Camila.

“Success!”

We high-fived each other with energy!

 

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