---

“Is that the latest trendy vehicle or something?”

Saint Eina Silane was observing the pair sitting side by side in the wheelchair—Naou and Zion.

With her braided black hair, matching black eyes, and dressed in black attire, she was leaning forward, her eyes shining with curiosity as if she were seeing a wheelchair for the first time.

It was written in the doctrine of the Church of the Creator that because the Creator created everything in the world, the color symbolizing the Creator was black, which encompassed everything.

Could that be the reason her hair and eyes were black too?

“Saint, that’s for riding since they can’t walk. Please, mind your words.”

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

Anyway, her guardian Bedros quietly whispered a caution to Eina, who had blurted out something foolish.

Startled, Eina made a face of surprise and bowed her head in apology for her rudeness.

‘Someone clearly isn’t the daughter of Pope Silane IV for nothing; they really have no filter! What on earth is the Creator thinking putting someone like her in charge as a saint…’

Pope Silane IV, who had ascended to the papacy at the remarkable age of 21 after receiving a divine revelation that his daughter would be born a saint.

Saint Eina too was someone who came from a common background, breaking the mold of a self-made myth, and was quite open-minded and free-spirited—not quite fitting for a saintly title.

Except for the fact that she could receive divine revelations through prayer, she didn’t live up to the model of a saint, choosing to stay far away from the Papal Palace and merely engage in receiving revelations.

“So… you came to seek a divine revelation?”

“Yes, Saint. Please ask the Creator if Hero Zion still has tasks left in this world, and if there is a way to heal him.”

Although Naou couldn’t comprehend the Creator’s thoughts no matter how hard she tried, she bowed her head to the saint, requesting the revelation for Zion’s sake.

Upon hearing the request, the saint smirked a bittersweet smile and nodded.

“Haha, I thought there would be no revelations for a while, but I didn’t expect you to come right to me. I’ll need to pray for 24 hours, so please come back around this time tomorrow.”

“Please don’t make it so obvious that you don’t want to help, Saint.”

“Bedros nags too much. It’s not like I’m refusing; I said I would help, so what’s the problem?”

“Please refrain from calling it ‘helping.'”

“Okay, okay! Anyway, it was nice to meet you, Princess of the Empire, and you too, Hero. So I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Don’t make it sound like you want us to leave quickly!”

“I never did that! Isn’t that being too unreasonable?”

Behind what seemed like an endless banter between the two, Zion and Naou stepped out of the church.

Zion continued to stare blankly at the ground without any expression.

In the end, Naou would have no choice but to pray again tonight.

*******

“Saint, here…”

“Oh, thank you, Bedros.”

Bedros offered a plate of roll bread to Eina as she exited the prayer room.

On the plate were two pieces of roll bread: one in its original, cylindrical form and the other cut up neatly with a fork stuck in it. Eina insisted on grabbing the cylindrical roll with her hand and took a big bite, appearing quite happy.

“Uuun~ I really have to eat this after receiving a revelation, you know?”

“Saint, I prepared it cut and even with a fork! If you insist on eating that one first, next time I might have to feed you myself.”

“But eating the cut one doesn’t satisfy my hunger, you know? I’ve been starving for 24 hours!”

“Still, with us here, can you at least maintain some dignity?”

“Who else is here?”

Naou and Zion were already waiting outside the prayer room for the revelation to be given.

“You were here already?!”

Eina seemed caught off-guard, quickly wiping her mouth with her sleeve and striking a pose in front of them.

“Saint! Won’t your clothes get dirty?!”

“Yikes! Why are we all wearing black then? Can’t I wear white as a saint?”

“Do you even know our doctrine? Besides, black robes are less susceptible to dirt. As long as you don’t wipe the cream on your sleeve after biting into the roll bread.”

When would this banter end?

Exasperated from waiting, Naou finally decided to ask the saint about the revelation.

“Saint, what did the Creator say?”

“Oh, they said yes. Isn’t that good?”

“Yes?”

“They said yes.”

“What does that even mean…”

Yes? Is that it for the revelations?

“The answer to both questions—whether the hero has tasks left in this world and if there’s a way to heal him—is ‘yes.’ The Creator said so.”

“Did they say anything about what those tasks might be or how to heal him?”

“No. You didn’t ask that, did you?”

Are we being asked to accept such ridiculous nonsense right now?

Naou struggled to stifle her rising anger and calmly reopened her mouth.

“What if I ask again…”

“That’s not possible. Revelations aren’t something just anyone can receive at any time.”

“Then when can we…”

“Princess, I really didn’t want to say this, but just a moment, let me finish this.”

Seemingly unaware of others’ feelings, Eina took another big bite of the roll bread, chewed it casually, swallowed, and continued speaking.

“The Creator doesn’t provide answers. They only created everything and set it up; they don’t restrict the freedom of creatures. The hero over there is the same. Has the Creator ever commissioned the hero to do something?”

Zion shook his head.

The fact that the Creator didn’t dictate Zion’s actions or force him into anything was not a lie, contrary to Naou’s earlier thoughts.

“The Creator occasionally provides direction for the church’s role in times of great crisis, but that’s about it; they aren’t a teacher. So asking for a revelation to find answers will likely be futile. Even if we had asked from the start, they probably wouldn’t have told us.”

“…”

So we can’t find answers here either?

Frustrated, Naou clenched her teeth. However, there was no other option. They had to leave and find another way to heal Zion…

“So, it really does just say yes?”

“…Zion?”

Zion, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

Naou turned to him in surprise. And the gaze that met her was…

‘He’s seriously looking at the saint. It’s different from his usual blank stare. Has he found some sort of hope?’

His gaze was undoubtedly focused, showing signs of life unlike his previous lifeless demeanor.

“Saint, whatever it is, it must mean… I still have something to do in this world, right?”

Zion was finally looking at someone with intent.

However, Eina, receiving that gaze, was casually putting roll bread in her mouth with an indifferent expression.

“Well, yes… but the Creator usually says everything exists. They create everything and say, ‘There, all done!’ Hero Zion Laurel, you definitely have something to do in this world. But it might not be a mission as a hero.”

“What on earth does that mean?”

“It could mean that having something to do in this world could be about living happily again. Maybe it could be leaving descendants in this world. Or perhaps, becoming the next Demon King somewhere?”

“Saint!”

“Don’t get too angry, Bedros. It’s just a hypothetical, alright? I’m saying this to illustrate that understanding the Creator’s will is impossible. Do you think the hero lacks that level of discernment?”

Even though the saint was stating the impossibility of grasping the Creator’s intentions, Naou felt like she had a good grasp on what the saint was really getting at.

In truth, the idea of the Creator having a specific will didn’t actually exist.

Naou had finally come to understand why the Creator was so irresponsible as to place such an unreliable person as a saint to express their voice.

Because the Creator themselves was irresponsible.

The Creator simply created creatures and didn’t guide them.

According to the doctrine, humans were made in the Creator’s likeness, and with that belief in their resemblance to the Creator, the world muddled through.

“That’s enough for me. Thank you.”

“Really? That’s a relief, but…”

With Zion’s final remark that it was sufficient, the two of them exited the church and got back into the wagon.

This place was quite far from the capital of the Sacred Law Country. The journey back would be just as tough as the way they came.

“Are you alright with that?”

Yet, Naou noticed that Zion seemed slightly different than when they arrived.

Although he still looked drained and weary, he appeared much better than the soulless shadow he had been before.

“Yeah. If I can find a reason to live, then that’s enough for me.”

Zion… you’ve also been searching for a reason to live, haven’t you?

People across the world live without any special reason.

They live because they were born, so they live out of obligation; they live because they fear death, out of necessity. They live simply because their loved ones would be sad if they were gone.

But you weren’t born by family, nor were you afraid of death.

So you crave a reason to live.

The only connection you have to this world… was only the reason for your existence as a hero meant to defeat the Demon King.

That was so sad.

I, too, was unable to be a reason for you to live.

Then at the very least…

“I’ll help you find it. I promise.”

“Thank you, Naou.”

I’ll help you find that reason.

The Creator undoubtedly said it exists somewhere in this world.

I may not believe in the Creator, but I do believe this world is inherently right.

Then Zion’s happiness must exist somewhere in this world too.

While Zion still held onto hope, I would surely find it.

I will…

 

---