The Nerd Next Door Turned Out To Be The Magic Tower Master [Novel] Chapter 33

“Do you know the defining characteristic of humanity? It’s that we’re creatures who ceaselessly desire. Humans craved adequate food, clothing, and shelter, a safe life, a happy existence — and once those needs were met, they began craving even more.”

“…….”

“Coveting what belonged to others, stealing it, even harming them. Eventually, they came to covet even the power and position of God.”

For someone who had lived in a world stained by war, it was hardly a surprising story. She waited calmly for the predictable conclusion.

“Disappointed by humanity’s greed and foolishness, God ultimately left this land.”

As expected.

The Pope recited the bleak ending in a monotone, fingers toying with rosary beads engraved with the Holy Temple emblem.

“But God’s love is so vast and deep that humans can neither comprehend nor follow it, so He could not abandon us entirely.”

“…….”

“Our merciful God still grants miracles to those who believe in and follow Him, personally watching over them. This holy power is proof of that.”

Golden eyes — themselves a symbol of immense holy power — disappeared beneath eyelids for a moment, then reappeared vividly.

Cecilia found herself tracing the corners of her own eyes. Her own golden irises, surely glowing just like the Pope’s.

“Therefore, those who have received God’s affection have a duty to bestow the grace they’ve received according to God’s will, to care for others, and to use that power for good.”

“…I see.”

Perhaps it was because she’d lived more by distrust than by faith.

Even after hearing the Pope’s story, she didn’t feel duty and responsibility as the ‘saintess’ welling up inside her. Nor could she understand the Pope’s firm, upright conviction.

Sensing faint resistance in her half-hearted answer, the Pope added with a gentle smile:

“Of course, this is merely my own understanding and belief. You should pursue your own faith, saintess.”

“…….”

“This is a secret, but I actually wandered quite a bit myself before I understood my role. I was even caught once trying to run away instead of participating in the Relief Festival ceremony.”

He brought his index finger to his lips and confessed in a lowered voice.

“But please don’t run away during the ceremony. The archbishop might use that as an excuse to go join God.”

…So you knew the archbishop wasn’t right in the head.

The Pope, having added that playful remark, turned his head toward the window where darkness had descended.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

The day of the Relief Festival.

The Grand Temple always saw heavy foot traffic, but today people had gathered in such numbers that the crowd seemed endless.

Sena pressed her forehead against the window, gazing at the bustling scene outside, and kept exclaiming in wonder.

“Wow, it’s packed with people! They must’ve all come to see the saintess!”

“Really?”

Even at the unwelcome news, Cecilia felt nothing. Because she was thinking nothing.

Well, one thought was definitely rising within her — a strong desire to go home. Unlike the gloomy person in question, the thoroughly excited Sena came hopping over like a rabbit.

“Saintess!”

“Mm?”

The child glanced around at the busy priests coming and going, then rose on her tiptoes and whispered in Cecilia’s ear.

“You’re as beautiful as God today! Actually, maybe even a little more!”

The cheeks of the grinning child were flushed a lovely color.

Cecilia lightly stroked Sena’s head, then turned her gaze to a mirror placed nearby.

The white ceremonial robes she’d chosen and altered under Kiar’s relentless badgering were exquisitely elegant, embroidered with intricate gold thread from neckline to hem. A soft cape draped over her shoulders extended past her feet to trail along the floor, and a crown woven in the shape of leaves glittered brilliantly atop her head.

Objectively speaking, she was the very image of a ‘saintess’ overflowing with sanctity.

Though unlike the shell, the inside isn’t pious at all.

She was recalling last night’s conversation with the Pope and wearing a bitter smile when—

Tap.

A cool touch suddenly landed on the back of her hand, making her flinch and turn. Riri had approached soundlessly, clutching a glass of water.

“I-I thought you might be thirsty, so I brought water… D-do you not need it?”

“No, I was just parched. Thanks, Riri.”

As Cecilia took the glass, her hand lightly brushed Riri’s fingers. In an instant, the child flinched back like a startled squirrel.

“S-sorry!”

“Hm?”

Cecilia let out a sound somewhere between a sigh and a question as she looked down at the small, round head with exaggerated seriousness.

Something was definitely off about Riri’s behavior. For the past few days, the child had been hovering near her like a puppy even when not summoned, but the moment their hands or eyes met, Riri would tremble like a frightened animal, unsure what to do.

Am I still making them uncomfortable?

She was quenching her thirst and trying to gauge the child’s expression hidden beneath the chapel veil when she became the uncomfortable one.

“Let’s head out now.”

Archbishop Kiar had appeared. As always, even on a day like this, he stood silently in the doorway wearing pitch-black priestly robes and a pitch-black complexion.

“Oh! Archbishop! W-we could escort the saintess ourselves…”

“It’s more efficient for someone whose time is worthless as trash to move.”

“…Pardon?”

Judging by how the priests hurriedly bowed their heads, he really was someone of lofty position. Yet unlike with the Pope, she felt neither warmth nor respect. Why was that?

Leaving the stiff priests behind, Cecilia followed the archbishop indifferently.

“Are we going straight to the ceremony site?”

“Yes. Are you ready… Actually, the ceremonial robes are perfect, so you should be fine.”

“I suppose so.”

Considering how many times you reworked them.

She deliberately ignored the satisfied face of the ceremonial-robe fanatic as she crossed through the temple. Passing through the now-familiar path, a clear, expansive lake and a magnificently decorated altar came into view.

The scarlet flames flickering on candles carved ornately enough to inspire awe, the flowers lavishly decorating the altar’s perimeter, and at the center, the Pope himself with an appearance befitting a ‘representative of God’—all of it made the place feel remarkably different from when she’d previewed it.

And even more overwhelming than that was the staggering number of people.

The moment Cecilia stepped toward the altar, humid heat rushed in and a tremendous roar flew at her. Some people who’d spotted the saintess began shouting, “Wow!”

“The saintess! The saintess is here!”

Only after being thrown into the vivid scene did Cecilia feel a jolt of reality. Beneath the altar she’d reached in a daze, facing her full entrance, she clenched her robe tightly.

The archbishop, who’d been staring down at her pale fists, spoke first.

“Are you nervous?”

“I was fine until just now, but I’m getting a little tense.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. If you’re the ‘saintess,’ God will surely watch over you before any trial.”

Kiar, delivering words she couldn’t tell were mockery or encouragement, lightly placed his hand on her shoulder.

A faint light seemed to flow from beneath his palm, and soon a warm energy gently enveloped her body.

“Now, go on up. You’ve prepared hard… well, not hard, but in your own way, so you’ll do fine.”

The moment she felt slightly moved by his uncharacteristic consideration, Kiar withdrew his hand and added:

“Well, if something goes wrong, I’ll finally get to join God, so that’s good in its own way too.”

There it is.

His usual gloomy attitude drained her tension away like a receding tide.

“I’ll have to do well just to thwart your wish, archbishop.”

Cecilia smiled faintly and stepped forward with a lighter heart.

As she ascended the high altar, she could feel every gaze converging on her skin. Cecilia kept her back as straight as possible and approached the Pope’s side with dignified steps.

She bowed her head slightly in response to the Pope’s gentle eye greeting. Once Cecilia took her place behind the Pope, the ceremony continued.

“God asked humanity, who wept in thirst for want: Why do you weep and weep again in such sorrow? Humanity replied: Even when we fill our bellies and slake our thirst, we are empty and empty again like a broken vessel, unable to know the existence of joy. So God answered again: Then I shall plant a seed within you. If you water it with all your heart and soul and let it bask in sunlight, you will surely receive the gift of ‘happiness’ not far from now. Therefore, we who have received God’s grace possess the seed of happiness — the possibility of making it sprout — even before any hardship.”

While the gentle yet powerful prayer was recited, she discreetly surveyed the area below the altar.

Closest were high-ranking priests, her father the head of House Weberdin, and she caught a glimpse of Nox’s unwelcome face as well. In a corner, Sena and the occasional familiar trainee priests clasped their hands together with dreamy expressions.

However…

She couldn’t spot the man with violet eyes whose face would shine brilliantly even when mixed among the crowd.

Did he not come?

He didn’t seem like someone who’d break a promise.

Just as disappointment began to bloom, she finally spotted a suspicious figure wearing a robe at the very edge of the crowd.

I hoped I was wrong, but a robe again.

Cecilia, who’d nearly burst out laughing despite herself, quickly bit her lip.

Around that time, the Pope’s prayer wishing for blessings and peace came to a safe conclusion.

“Saintess, come here.”

“Yes.”

Cecilia followed the Pope and swallowed a sip of red fruit wine and a single red berry placed on the altar.

Next, the Pope kindled white flames imbued with holy power on a prepared torch and handed it over.

“Under God’s care, I give thanks for everyone’s safety and well-being.”

Cecilia recited a short prayer glorifying and honoring God, then carefully moved to the ferryboat at the lakeside.

The dragging cape was terribly inconvenient, but thanks to tedious practice, she managed to board the ferryboat quite gracefully.

Though no one rowed, the boat drifted slowly toward the center of the lake as if magnetically drawn.

Just throw this torch in there and it’s over.

Once she successfully tossed the torch into the large brazier, white flames shot up in an instant. The overwhelming fire didn’t feel threatening at all — it flickered warmly like holy power.

Cecilia stared blankly at the flames, which suited the description of shining rather than burning, and let out the breath she’d been holding.

Now she just had to return and this burdensome event, this tedious temple life — all of it would finally be over.

But they say it’s not over until it’s over.

Crack!

Along with an ominous sound that should never have been heard, her feet grew damp. Incredibly, lake water was gushing in through cracks in the ferryboat’s bottom.