East Road Quest

Chapter 15: The Saintess with Blue Hair

Saph entered silently and sat down next to Father Daniel. She began by praying to the statue of the saintess and the star-cross.

Daniel waited patiently for Saph to finish her prayer.

“I wanted to see you, Father.”

Saph, despite being an eighteen-year-old girl, bore an expression weighed down by a heavy burden. Daniel knew well that it was because Saph didn’t know how to show any other expression.

“I heard about it, Saph. It must have been very hard for you.”

The dawn light shone through the narrow window, illuminating Saph’s hair. The blue strands that flowed out from under her hood glittered in the sunlight. To someone who didn’t know her, she could indeed look like a saintess.

“If you came here because of the Inquisition, I want you to know that my thoughts haven’t changed. I might really be a demon.”

Saph spoke with an expression cold and indifferent enough to cause misunderstanding. Her tone was also dry and monotonous.

‘With that face and voice, even if she tried to be kind to a proud noble girl, her intentions would likely be misunderstood. She should learn to present kindness as kindness, but I don’t want Saph to start calculating her actions.’

Daniel, who had known Saph since she was young, quickly realized that this child was now frightened and sad.

“Saph, why do you have such scary thoughts?”

“It was wrong to hide it for so long. The orphanage children cried and were terrified when they saw me. Didn’t Director Julia say anything? They say many children have nightmares because of me.”

“There are many things that make children cry and have nightmares. When I was young, I had a nightmare for a week because I was scared when a deer ran towards me in the field. But that deer was just running away from a hunter and passed by me. So, was that horned deer a demon to me? To the deer, the hunter must have been the demon.”

Daniel added more directly.

“If we were to blame someone, shouldn’t it be Princess Alma’s mean jealousy that caused all this?”

“You always taught me that demons are relative. In that sense, Princess Alma is the same. She is a kind-hearted young girl. It’s just that those around her have been pushing her.”

“It’s unpleasant to hear you defend such a nasty young lady. Stop it. I don’t have much time. I don’t want to waste our precious farewell time on that.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going with Jade to find the Holy Grail.”

“Jade… the Father?”

Saph asked indifferently, still with an expressionless and dry tone. But though Saph had no expression, her body language was rich.

Even now, she clenched her fists and tapped her feet on the floor under the chair. It meant she was surprised and nervous.

“Yes, the Jade you know.”

“But isn’t he currently excommunicated and confined at the Zerba Monastery?”

“I pulled some strings here and there to nullify that. Jade is now a formal priest of the Rome Priesthood again. And he is currently at St. Vesta Cathedral.”

Saph was so surprised that she almost jumped out of her seat.

“He’s in Rome? Then why didn’t he come with you…?”

Saph stopped mid-sentence.

Daniel asked, “Why didn’t he come with me?”

“…No. It’s good that he didn’t. Meeting someone like me would only tarnish his reputation. I wrote in my last letter a month ago that I wouldn’t write again.”

“Jade said something similar… It seems your letter didn’t get through.”

Saph’s last letter must have arrived when Jade was imprisoned by Lord Baltian. Daniel did not bother to mention this.

“What do you mean by something similar?”

Saph asked, “Jade also said he couldn’t meet you because he thought his existence would harm you.”

“That’s nonsense!”

Saph jumped to her feet and raised her voice, as if it was Daniel’s fault that things had come to this.

“I also once dreamed that if Father Jade were to take charge of a parish, I would set up a convent next to his cathedral and assist him. But it was all just a dream. A monster with horns like me shouldn’t be near such a noble priest. I should have realized it sooner, but I only understand now. God showed me that I am not worthy with these horns.”

“That’s quite something, Saph. Where was it? By that window? The place where God appeared, you mean. Or did the statue of the saintess move her lips to say that? Did you actually hear God say that your horns are proof that you’re a monster?”

“How can you say such things?”

Saph hesitated, her lips trembling as if even speaking such simple logic was absurd to her.

“God always provides evidence, but He doesn’t speak directly. You know that.”

“I don’t know. What I do know is that no one knows that.”

Saph closed her eyes and shook her head.

“Please don’t say that. I just steadied my heart, so why are you shaking it again? Why do you always tell me I did nothing wrong and give me hope?”

Saph knelt before Daniel and rested her cheek on his knee. She often did this when she was young, and even now, she hadn’t broken the habit. Or maybe she chose not to.

“Why can’t I cry? I want to cry at times like this… I want to cry my heart out like others do, but no tears come out. Why am I like this?”

Daniel didn’t answer. The only answer he could give was that he didn’t know, and he had already said that many times before.

Saph looked up at Daniel and asked, “Where are you going to find the Holy Grail?”

“I don’t know where exactly. But I have to go to the eastern continent. That’s where it was found and where it disappeared.”

“That’s so far. And very dangerous. How long will it take you?”

“I’ve traveled many places, but this time, it’s not just about going and coming back. It might take a year, or ten years.”

“Then I’ll be lonely again.”

Daniel stroked Saph’s hair as she leaned her face on his knee and asked, “Don’t you have friends here? And Director Julia?”

Saph, feeling Daniel’s touch, replied with her eyes closed, “Even Director Julia doesn’t touch my hair like this. She’s scared. But neither Father Daniel nor Father Jade is afraid. Father Jade even asked if he could feel anything when he first met me by grabbing my horn.”

Saph slowly lifted her face from Daniel’s knee and removed her hat. The horn growing from her crown was about two finger joints long, white as ivory.

Saph grasped the horn with her index finger and thumb, gently shaking it as she spoke. “He even asked if it hurt while shaking it. The horn doesn’t hurt, but when he kept shaking it, I told him it made me dizzy. Father Jade apologized and ruffled my hair. I still remember it as if it were yesterday.”

Removing her hand from the horn, Saph continued, “I want to sit and talk like this with Father Daniel for days. I want to see Father Jade, too. But now you’re leaving for that distant journey? I’ll be alone. I might as well face the Inquisition. If I’m judged a witch, I’ll willingly go to the stake. Perhaps the fire will save me.”

“You have a lot to say to Sister Julia. It seems she taught you too strict doctrines in my absence.”

“She said that sometimes the truth is harsh.”

“Well, we must first question if it’s the truth. Even Saint Magdalene was accused of being a witch and dragged out by her followers to be burned. Nowadays, people say those followers were deceived by demons, but at the time, it was considered a just verdict.”

Saph couldn’t reply and trembled.

Daniel firmly grasped her hands.

“Saph, there is another way.”

“What way? Running away as the Director suggested?”

“Come with us.”

“Where to?”

“To find the Holy Grail.”

“That’s absurd. A monster like me can’t join such a sacred expedition.”

“Why do you think our journey is a sacred expedition?”

“Of course it’s sacred. We’re going to retrieve the fourth holy relic bestowed by God to humanity.”

“Is that Grail really a holy relic? The Emperor said if it’s not a holy relic, he wants it destroyed. It could be a curse from a demon, not a gift from God.”

Just hearing the word “demon” made Saph’s grip on Daniel’s hands tighten.

“Still, I can’t go. Someone like me would only be a hindrance on the journey.”

“Hindrance? We’d have to prepare food for three people and pay for three people’s accommodations. By that logic, no one could travel with others. You should think about how much more help one more person can be.”

“Do you think I can be helpful?”

“You can, very much so.”

“In what way?”

“I think you can cook better than Jade, at the very least.”

“Just that?”

“Food is the third most important thing on a journey. And for the second most important thing, you’ll be even more helpful.”

“What’s the second thing?”

“Luck. I often told you, you’re a child of luck. Even if you do nothing, luck just comes to you, sometimes like a miracle, sometimes like magic.”

“If I had such luck with me, my hat wouldn’t have fallen off back then. No matter what Princess Alma did.”

Daniel let go of Saph’s hand and closed his eyes.

“Perhaps that event was a stroke of luck for you. Without it, Director Julia wouldn’t have let you go. Since you arrived, the reputation of the convent has certainly improved. The rumor about a saintess with blue hair helped too. But because of this incident, your presence has become a significant burden and a problem that needs to be resolved.”

Daniel opened his eyes and smiled.

“So, if you agree, Director Julia will gladly leave you in my care. You’re not a formal nun, so traveling with two male priests won’t be considered improper, and there won’t be anyone to oppose it.”

Saph brought her hands to her lower abdomen and remained silent for a moment. Her expression already seemed to show a firm refusal. But from her restless hands, Daniel sensed her hesitation.

“Even if you are useless in the other two aspects, you possess the most important first factor. That alone means you won’t be a burden to Jade or me.”

“What is the first factor?”

“Whether the person is someone you’d like to travel with.”

Saph took a deep breath.

“Saph, Jade and I like you. Very, very much. And having someone you like by your side throughout the journey is not a hindrance but a blessing.”

Daniel urged gently, “You don’t have to decide right away, so don’t be too anxious. Take some time to pray and consult with Director Julia. We need to pack for a long journey. And I need to prepare too. You know where my house is, right?”

Saph slowly nodded, letting her clenched fists fall to her sides.

“Once you are ready, will you come directly to my house? I’ll be there until noon. If we miss each other, you can come to St. Vesta Cathedral.”

“What if we miss each other there too?” Saph finally spoke, then quickly added, “Of course, I haven’t decided to go yet. As you said, I need to discuss it with the Director and think about how much trouble I might cause you two and whether I can handle that.”

Daniel already knew she had made up her mind.

“Just living means we inevitably commit sins in this world. If you come with us, you will make mistakes with us. But you’ll also bring us the joy and fortune of companionship. No matter how big your mistakes are, the good you bring will be greater.”

“Do you think Father Jade will feel the same?”

“Ask him yourself.”

Daniel stood up, brushed off his clothes, and started to leave.

“Oh, and don’t worry at all about missing each other. Remember? You’re a child of luck. If you go where you want, you’ll end up where you need to be. Of course, the sooner you come, the less chance we’ll miss each other.”

Daniel left the chapel.

Saph followed him to the door, her fingers still fidgeting with each other at her lower abdomen.

“If you decide not to come, then this is goodbye. Take care, Saph. But if you do come…”

Daniel raised his hand slightly.

“…I’ll see you soon.”

Saph raised her hand in farewell but didn’t add any words.

Daniel walked towards Bryon, who was waiting patiently.

“Hurry up, Bryon. The sooner we get moving, the more rest you’ll have.”

Bryon followed Daniel with a waddling gait.

“Are we going back to St. Vesta Cathedral?”

“First, I need to stop by my house. I have to pack, and I need to pay several months’ rent in advance before the landlord rents out the place while I’m gone.”

“Wait, a person of your status pays rent?”

Bryon asked, struggling to keep up with Daniel’s brisk pace.

“What makes you think I don’t pay rent?”

“You’re a respected and famous person. Didn’t the diocese provide you with a house?”

“They didn’t.”

“Really?”

“Hmm, then to avoid paying rent at your age, make sure you neither build virtue nor become famous.”

“Pardon?”

“Stop talking and focus on walking. Why should I slow down to match a young man’s slow pace? Walk faster.”

“You’re too fast, Father. Good grief, what kind of mysterious power allows you to walk like that at your age?”

“Just become as virtuous and famous as I am, and then pay your rent.”

Bryon almost ran as he followed Daniel down the hill. Daniel, walking ahead, muttered to himself, “Hmm, even though I’m hurrying, why do I keep feeling like I’m late for something?”