No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!?

No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!? – 36

EP.36

Chapter 4

Escape and Service (2)

“Why?”

I muttered to myself while pacing around the dorm room.

“How did it end up like this? Why are so many people gathering all of a sudden? People who usually didn’t show up?”

Today’s service was incredibly successful.

Well, in a world where the existence of God is considered common knowledge, it’s no surprise that many people attend church services—even on weekdays. Those who already had faith would have deepened it, and some who didn’t might have found it.

But today felt completely different from usual.

Even with faith, going to church on a weekday is no small effort. Many people would rather lounge at home even on weekends. Coming to church right after work on a weekday takes a level of passion most people don’t have.

“Surely, it’s not because of me?”

“Of course, it’s because of you. You think you’re pretty? There must be people who come just to see you. Why don’t you hold a handshake event or something?”

Ria answered nonchalantly while lying on the bed and flipping through a book.

“……”

I glared at Ria, but she just smirked.

“Think of it as the ‘opening buzz.’ You’re the Saintess candidate who made a Cardinal bow his head, after all. To people, you must seem like an officially certified candidate. That’s never happened before, even for other Saintess candidates.”

“Ugh.”

I clutched my head and crouched down.

“Ah, our poor clueless one.”

Ria said, patting my head as if to console me. I quickly lifted my head and glared at her, but she didn’t even flinch.

Well, of course, she wouldn’t. Damn it. There’s no way I could ever win against Ria in a fight. Not unless she suddenly decided to hit me with a German suplex.

It’s only been three days since we got back from Myeongdong, and even though I’ve been training, there’s no way I’ve improved enough in such a short time.

At best, Ria gave me a toy gun—a pink pistol-shaped rubber thing—for training. Thanks to that, my shooting stance had gotten somewhat decent, at least.

“Am I some kind of pet hamster?”

“Well, you do eat everything you’re given, just like a hamster.”

“……”

I opened and closed my mouth a few times before deciding to change the subject.

Springing up from my seat, I paced the dorm room from one end to the other, deep in thought, my hand on my chin.

“…Do you think they’ll allow me to go on volunteer work outside the gate?”

“Now you’re thinking of running off to an entirely different world?”

Well, since I already ran away to another world, shouldn’t it be okay to try escaping again?

Not that I expect paradise. There’s no heaven or hell for an atheist, after all. The other side of the gate is just another world. Of course, it could be a “heavenly” place, or it could be “hellish.” Statistically, though, the odds lean heavily toward “hellish.” That’s just how nature works. Still, if it’s a place where people live, wouldn’t it be a little better? After all, a lot of hunters seem to think highly of me.

“They probably won’t let you.”

But Ria’s next words crushed that hope of mine.

“People know how valuable someone talented is. Someone like you, who makes others feel reassured just by being nearby, going to another world and possibly never coming back? Do you think anyone would want to put someone like that in danger?”

It was a solid argument.

If there’s a gate, someone has to check what’s on the other side. That’s why there are hunters, and regardless of their abilities, someone has to take on that responsibility. But there’s no need to deliberately send someone who doesn’t have to be there into danger.

Still, in the original story, the Saintess crossed over without question.

Of course, I couldn’t just bring up “the original story” in front of Ria.

It must’ve been something that happened before the original story began, allowing the Saintess to go beyond the gate.

So…

“That’s it.”

“Huh?”

When I spoke as if I’d realized something, Ria blinked at me.

“There are cases where there’s another civilization beyond the gate, right?”

“There are.”

“And this country trades with them, right?”

“Of course. It’s limited, though.”

“Then couldn’t I just tag along under the guise of participating in those exchanges?”

“……”

Ria looked at me with what had to be her most baffled expression yet, staring at me as if I’d lost my mind.

“Are you planning on sneaking in illegally or something?”

“Ah.”

Would it be considered illegal entry?

“The other side of the gate isn’t just empty space. Even if the civilizations beyond the gate are less advanced than ours, we can’t treat it like some one-sided invasion. We have to consider other countries’ perspectives.”

I knew that much. It’s common knowledge taught in school, and, more importantly, I’d read about it in the original story.

“If one nation starts invading otherworldly nations, other countries will follow suit and do the same. And after that, who knows what might happen? Sure, most nations beyond the gates have been technologically inferior so far, but what if a gate opens near a civilization as advanced as the 26th century someday?”

The concept of justification may sometimes crumble under the weight of power dynamics, but maintaining good relations with those beyond the gate might prove beneficial if such a day comes.

Besides, it’s not even necessary to conquer those lands. More often than not, the other side of the gate is uninhabited.

“And it’s not like everything on the other side is necessarily human.”

“I’ve heard of elf-like species.”

I’d also heard that those elves weren’t exactly known for their sunny dispositions. They supposedly ran highly centralized monarchies, and their nobility had the kind of arrogant attitudes you’d find in stereotypical nobles from old cartoons.

Modern society, at least in principle, operates under the idea of “no one being inherently lesser.” While it’s not perfectly upheld, it’s the foundation. But elves apparently interpret that idea as “a society without nobles,” meaning they assume everyone here is a commoner. By numbers alone, we far outmatch them and have superior technology, so they don’t openly look down on us—but still.

“Hmm.”

…Maybe recklessly venturing out isn’t the best idea.

“So, what should I do…”

“…Does just accepting your situation not count as an option?”

Ria asked.

I flopped back onto the bed in defeat.

Perhaps feeling a bit sorry for how dejected I looked, Ria crawled over to her desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a piece of chocolate.

“Want one?”

“Yes.”

“You really need to learn how to say no sometimes.”

*

Ironically, an opportunity came my way not long after.

Fortunately, the people who attended the services were believers, so while they did sneak glances in my direction, none of them openly approached me. Most of all, Ria was always nearby, glaring daggers at anyone who dared come too close.

Ria had already been just as famous as I was before any of this happened, and her father was even more renowned. Her skill was also widely acknowledged, so it wasn’t easy for people to approach her—or by extension, me.

That part wasn’t too much of a problem—

“A high-ranking official?”

Ria tilted her head, puzzled.

The Mother Superior and the priest both nodded.

Instead of meeting in the convent’s consulting room as usual, we were in the chapel. While it wasn’t strictly forbidden for a priest and a nun to speak privately, it was often better to have conversations in settings where no suspicions could arise.

“…Did someone important get diagnosed with cancer or something?”

Ria asked again. The priest shook his head.

“If it had been such a request, we would have declined from the start. Granting one case like that would only open the floodgates. Besides, illnesses like that can be treated without Sister Anna’s powers.”

We both nodded in understanding—then tilted our heads in confusion at the same time.

“Then, was it a car accident?”

“It was closer to an assassination attempt.”

“An assassination attempt.”

Somehow, it didn’t feel like the kind of story that would happen in our world.

“Yes. A princess from another country… It seems she was poisoned.”

“Poisoned.”

What a… classic method.

Not that poisonings or poison-related murders don’t happen here, but still.

“How critical is her condition?”

I asked.

“I was told it’s critical—beyond what conventional treatment can handle. Fortunately, it seems they had a few bottles of holy water we’d provided, so her life has been barely sustained for now.”

“It seems holy water alone can’t cure her, though.”

“That’s correct.”

The priest nodded at my remark.

Still, something felt a bit off.

“If it was an assassination, wouldn’t they have used a more definitive method than poison? Assuming they’re aware of holy water or divine power, they’d also know their attempt might fail.”

At my comment, the priest and the Mother Superior exchanged glances—then both turned to look at me.

“That’s precisely why this request was made. In their world, knowledge of a place like this isn’t considered ‘common.’”

Ah.

“Perhaps the person behind the assassination is someone distant from the royal family or from another country.”

“……”

Ria and I remained silent.

“I was told she likely won’t last another week. What will you do?”

I tilted my head again.

“Is there even a need to ask?”

“Sorry?”

“If someone is dying and I have the power to save them, and I’m made aware of it, there’s no real choice, is there? Not helping them in that situation is no different from letting them die.”

At my words, Ria let out a small sigh, while the priest and the Mother Superior exchanged cautious glances.

…Why?

Wasn’t the whole point of calling me here so I could go and use my sacred powers?

Watching the strange atmosphere, I tilted my head to the other side in confusion.