30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

25 – 7. The Saint and the Woodcutter (3)

*

“The department head’s office is not the health office.”

The saint made a strange sound. Ivan tilted his head.

In a place that claims to be a health office, they usually treat trauma with healing potions or, at most, a recently ordained priest might offer a healing touch.

Does this mean that students have to experience such a dreadful thing in a place where there are saints?

The saint, observing Ivan’s expression, pounded her chest and vented her frustration. (Despite Ivan’s stoic demeanor amid the intense outburst, he didn’t bother to avert his gaze. The saint was a religious figure, after all.)

“No! I have my own responsibilities too! Do you know how busy I am? I just took office this year! There hasn’t even been a proper handover of duties. Freshmen, undergraduates, professors—all of them come in and chatter incessantly. The course curriculum isn’t even established. Why is the university like this!”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm.”

Watching the saint lament the primitive pre-modern educational system, Ivan and Enrique simultaneously nodded in agreement.

There were no words to offer, but agreement was necessary for now.

Ivan turned away from the pitiful religious figure bemoaning her situation. The department office had a solemn charm.

Whether it was the preference of the previous department head before the saint’s inauguration, or the saint’s own taste, it was impossible to tell. But there were indeed a lot of plants.

Am I… into plants? Ivan, not particularly knowledgeable about plants, passed the time by gently stroking the elegant leaves of a stylish plant cascading over a pot. (He was a gardener.)

-Ttukdung.

The leaf of a begonia snapped, making a crisp sound. It broke more cheerfully because it happened to be the thickest and most splendid stem.

Ivan’s expression remained unchanged as he turned his gaze. Fortunately, the saint seemed oblivious to it. She was ranting to Enrique about the classes, apparently not noticing.

It felt like a scene from that avant-garde film, a brave new world. He turned the flowerpot expressionlessly. The pot silently changed direction, hiding the broken leaf.

“No, really, I get that it’s tough, Patty. I understand. So could you dim the light a bit? It’s my fault anyway.”

“Would you rather take this opportunity to enlighten yourself? I’m always waiting for you with an open mind, Enrique.”

“That’s not enlightenment; it’s more like a divine punishment.”

The saint is the person closest to heaven in this world. Excluding the Pope, that is.

Meaning, the sanctity that burst forth in real-time according to her emotions was currently crushing Enrique. It might be a misconception, but to Ivan, Enrique’s stature seemed to have shrunk a bit.

Enrique cautiously spoke with a passive posture.

“Well, um, right. Oh, by the way, Patty, there’s something. Don’t be surprised and come in. I forgot to mention it before.”

“Yes, please tell me something less surprising than 50 critically ill freshmen.”

Since Enrique was used to such antics, the saint gracefully lifted the teacup with a warm touch. She had been quite passionate, and her throat was parched.

Enrique chuckled and opened his mouth.

“This guy was actually dragged here.”

“Yes, I thought since the orphanage director suddenly became a gardener, I should go see Elise. What is a retired person doing?”

“No, this fool. He was dragged. Like Max. From a different world.”

“Huh?!”

Spitting out the tea in a fit of coughing, the saint wiped away her tears. After a brief bout of coughing, she barely managed to compose herself.

“Why are you telling me this now…?”

“He thought he was the only one. That he received counseling somewhere.”

“In this world…”

The saint looked at Ivan and swallowed hard for a moment. She spoke with a trembling voice.

“How lonely must you have been… Growing a beard in shock… Kirilts Brothers….”

“No. It’s not for that reason.”

“It’s okay. Everything is okay…”

The saint wrapped Ivan’s hand warmly, wearing a compassionate smile. A sacred energy subtly spread out, flowing through Ivan’s veins. It was warm.

Even as Enrique stood up to leave the room, the saint continued to smile warmly at Ivan.

“It’s okay, Brother… You’re not strange. There were many like you, and there will be more in the future. Oh, Lord, guide this poor lamb….”

“I find this situation strange and awkward now.”

“It’s understandable. It’s quite understandable… Even the hero felt the same way.”

She remembered the day when he retired and started running an orphanage, and tears welled up.

Despite the horrific war he endured from a young age, this pitiful young man had grown up with a kind heart, caring for unfortunate children.

Perhaps that was the presence of a higher power.

The saint gladly supported Ivan’s retirement and sent a substantial amount of sponsorship money every year. She even named the orphanage herself!

Moreover, look at Ivan’s current state.

Orphanages are generally poor, partly due to sponsorship issues, but also because of unscrupulous directors trying to profit from the orphans.

In this world, incidents of directors receiving substantial sponsorships and then selling the raised orphans in dark alleys were reported several times a year.

But this man… he wore dirty work clothes, wiped sweat with a towel, and worked hard to earn income.

Clearly, it wasn’t just to raise the children more comfortably.

“Oh…”

And he claimed to be from another world? Yet he was taking in orphans of this world, ‘aliens’ with no connection to him whatsoever?

How extraordinary.

Tears welled up in the saint’s eyes.

“Kirilts Brothers….”

“I’d prefer you not to call me by that name.”

“I like your baptismal name, Brother.”

“I was too young to decide that.”

Ivan withdrew his hand, giving a playful look to Enrique. The saint instinctively made the sign of the cross and placed her hand on her chest.

“I thought Brother was a noble knight with no flaws.”

“Hmph…!”

Enrique heard Sara’s voice, and his heart throbbed.

“Well, considering how adamantly the brothers rejected those people…”

“…There were circumstances.”

“Yes, yes.”

It was against the rules for the Royal Guards to become intimately involved with nobles or influential individuals privately.

Back when he had gained fame as the ‘lesser’ half, a time when his stock had risen steeply in the marriage market, he happened to be a Royal Guard. His goal was Earthly return, so how could he indulge in the play of romance?

His feelings hadn’t changed much even now. If there was any change, it was perhaps that he was no longer the sought-after commodity.

“Is it because of the vow? If you, the faithful brother, made a vow during the baptism, it must have been about… purity.”

The vows taken during baptism: piety, purity, and clarity of the Gospel.

Ivan’s demeanor was truly pious, having remained pure without any scandals for over thirty years, and he had forsaken both honor and position to return to a life of asceticism—a truly clear path.

A fidelity depicted like a painting…! The saint nodded.

“Don’t become a priest. Truly, it’s impossible for you to marry.”

“…Hmm.”

“But if you continue to live so virtuously, perhaps… perhaps the Lord might have a plan for you in the future. You are a person nurtured by His love, and human love is the greatest blessing under the heavens.”

“…Hmm…”

“I must visit the orphanage of the brothers today. Since it’s already the end of working hours, why don’t you come along?”

“You haven’t finished your work.”

“The only one higher than me in this school is the principal, and the only one higher than me under this sky is the Lord Himself. Enrique.”

“Wow.”

Enrique quietly agreed.

*

The saint was uncomfortable. Ivan once again realized this obvious fact.

There were many reasons. The saint, perhaps due to her early experiences on the battlefield, was excessively emotional, excessively devout to the point of seriousness, and even when dressed in modest attire, she sometimes had to manage her gaze. (Of course, Ivan, being a sensible person, did not pay attention to the priest’s body.)

Of course, the most significant reason was that she was a major patron of the orphanage, rivaling Elizabeth.

There could be no equal relationship with someone holding the purse strings. According to this argument, Ivan always maintained a proper distance from the patrons of the orphanage.

“Oh… Lord. Please witness this beautiful sight…”

The saint sobbed as she walked from the entrance of the orphanage. Naturally, the children gathered around her, excited and lively.

With vibrant expressions and chubby cheeks, there was no sign of poverty anywhere. Ivan was the only one in this orphanage who appeared impoverished…!

The facility was excellent, and every door opened smoothly with well-oiled hinges. At the end of corridors and corners of furniture, soft sponges were delicately placed.

Such meticulousness…!

The saint sniffled back tears as she gazed at a large scribble etched into a corner of the orphanage building.

The playful doodle, drawn by some mischievous student, depicted a bearded giant frowning while sharing gifts…

With the children’s affection vividly felt, the saint finally leaned against the wall, pressing her teary eyes.

“You’ve already become a good father…”

“Oh, come on.”

“Originally, the finest thing is the relationship born from the heart… Kirillc brother… It’s too dazzling for me… Oh, Lord…”

“You’re trying to make me laugh to death, aren’t you, disciple? I’m starting to feel burdened now. Can I go first?”

“No, you can’t.”

Enrique grimaced, clutching his forehead in anguish.

*