The World I Was Supporting Was Real

Chapter 6

Episode 6. Erin (3)

* * *

Even after that, Erin’s journey continued without hindrance.

If something seemed to be an obstacle, she prayed. Igogodon responded to her prayers and granted her requests.

It was the same when a large boulder blocked her path.

‘This seems really difficult…’

Such thoughts naturally came to her mind… Nevertheless, Erin prayed to the god without wavering.

“I humbly ask Igogodon, please grant me the strength to overcome this trial. I beg you…”

She prayed earnestly, over and over again.

When she slowly opened her eyes… She could easily realize that Igogodon had answered her prayer once again.

The boulder had disappeared as if it had never been there.

‘As expected, Igogodon…!’

The more her requests were granted, the deeper her faith in the one true god, Igogodon, grew.

The problem was that what deepened was not just the simple ‘faith’ of a woman who aimed to become a saint.

‘The one who always watches over me and cherishes me…!’

Since hearing from the god’s representative to ‘not forget that you are a woman,’ something inside her naturally reacted intensely to the existence of Igogodon in a slightly different way.

It was the first time she had such an experience. For someone who had spent colorless days, it was the first time her heart trembled so much because of an existence.

She harbored affection for a ‘god’ before a human.

Because it was an irreverent mindset, Erin wrapped it in the shell of ‘faith’ and suggested it to herself.

Yes. Believing in God means having the mindset that you can do anything for God.

‘I just want to serve God. So, it shouldn’t be strange… … .’

With that thought, how much further did I travel?

‘Here… … !’

A city that exudes an overwhelming atmosphere, like a giant fortress spread out before my eyes.

On both sides of the enormous road, which was well-groomed for carriages to pass, there were columns carved from very luxurious marble, as one would see in a temple, proudly displaying the grandeur of the capital from the entrance.

As I walked along the road, I soon noticed that a great many people were using this road.

The silhouettes of other people.

Since escaping the village that wouldn’t be strange to call cursed, it was the first time in a very long while that I encountered the appearance of others.

Following the road, I entered through the castle gate―

‘Wow… … .’

Pointed spires.

Stone buildings with a very antique design.

Far more people than I had seen from the gate.

Yes.

This is the imperial capital Ophelia, which I had only heard of in stories.

Compared to the nameless village where I lived, it was an enormous, highly developed metropolis.

It was to the point where I felt like I was not even living in the same world.

Erin, overwhelmed by the scenery of the great city of Ophelia, looked around in a daze without saying a word.

For a moment, she almost felt intimidated by the thought that she was such a small existence compared to this city―

‘It’s okay. I have God, Igogodon.’

By thinking of Igogodon, she was able to quickly regain her composition.

It was always like this. Whenever something difficult or troubling thoughts made her mind complicated, Erin always thought of Igogodon.

The fact that Igogodon was always watching over her, even cherishing her.

That was a reliable weapon for Erin that nothing could compare to.

‘Where, to get to the Papal Palace… … .’

She thought she might need to find a map, but Erin soon dismissed that thought.

The spire next to the enormous building that looked like the royal castle.

Considering the large cross elegantly carved on its wall… … could that be the cathedral?

Even if it’s not a cathedral, what does it matter?

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Even if I wander, I will eventually arrive. Because I have the Lord Igogodon with me.

“Let’s go over there.”

Erin took a step towards the building.

* * *

As she expected, this place was indeed a cathedral.

Opelaishel Cathedral.

And it was only then that Erin realized something strange.

“…Wait a minute.”

Right in front of the cathedral, it was clearly engraved on a very expensive-looking obsidian plaque.

――In honor of our only god, Opelaishel.

“What…?”

She had only heard the voice of God and witnessed miracles, but in fact, Erin had never studied faith until then.

When she was young, the cathedral was a place to go for food, and as she grew older, her family’s fortunes declined rapidly, and she devoted herself to farming and making a living. When she reached adulthood, a swept plague through the village, leaving it in ruins, and all the people she knew lost their lives in a bandit attack.

So, of course, she had no way of knowing the name of the god that the pope of this world served. She also didn’t know that the name of the capital city was derived from the name of the god.

But it was strange.

The name of the god is Opelaishel?

“The name of the Lord is… ‘Igogodon,’ isn’t it?”

The only god, Igogodon. She could be sure of its existence by witnessing miracles several times.

But suddenly, Opelaishel?

While she was momentarily lost in thought, knowing only the first verse and never having read the Bible properly… A man approached her and spoke.

“Priest, what brings you here?”

“Ah, that, that is…!”

She was momentarily flustered by the voice of the armored guard, but when she thought about it, she wasn’t here to do anything bad.

Moreover, for some reason, the fact that the true god, Igogodon, was with her remained unchanged.

Erin straightened her mind, bowed her head, and spoke in a very dignified tone.

“My name is Erin. I am walking the path of the capital.”

“Priest Erin.”

“Priest…?”

Why is he naturally calling me ‘priest’?

“The pattern on your attire. It proves that you are a priest, doesn’t it?”

“Ah…”

This outfit was something I received after praying to Lord Igwogwodon.

Since he is a god himself, did he bestow it upon me with the pattern engraved as a token?

Anyway, this further proves that the god is not Ophelia, but Lord Igwogwodon, so Erin didn’t feel too bad about it.

“Am I mistaken? Are you perhaps a high priest or something-“

“…No.”

“What brings you to the Ophelia Cathedral?”

“I came to see the Pope.”

The guard responded with a slightly flustered tone at the word “Pope.”

“To see His Holiness the Pope…?”

“Yes.”

The guard hesitated for a long time, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, and said,

“I’m terribly sorry, but the Pope does not meet with anyone without an appointment. It’s for safety reasons, and he’s also extremely busy with various religious duties-“

“I heard the voice of God.”

“Pardon…?”

The guard’s eyes widened, but Erin replied confidently, without avoiding his gaze.

“I heard the voice of God and came here to become a saint. Please, understand my situation.”

“Well, um, I…”

The guard hesitated again for a long time, then nodded and said,

“Please, wait a moment. This is not something I can handle alone… Just a moment!”

* * *

How much time had passed since the guard disappeared into the cathedral?

“…!”

As soon as she heard footsteps approaching, she realized that someone was walking out of the cathedral.

It was a young woman with long black hair covered by a veil.

Despite the veil, her undeniable beauty was apparent, and behind her were several guards wearing armor with similar patterns to hers.

Erin was momentarily overwhelmed by her aura, but-

‘No. I am the one who heard the voice of God. I am to become a saint. Even the Pope cannot treat a saint lightly. So… I must be respectful, but I don’t need to appear overly weak.’

With that mindset, Erin bowed her head and greeted her with proper etiquette.

“Hello.”

“Is it you? The priest who claims to have heard the voice of God.”

“Yes, it is.”

The woman glanced at Erin once, then asked in a slightly cold tone.

“May I know your name, priest?”

“My name is Erin.”

“Alright, Priest Erin. May I ask which parish you are active in?”

“…….”

For a moment, she was at a loss for words… but she knew that lying in such a situation would only complicate things.

“I was not originally on the path of a monk. I became a priest because I heard the voice of God.”

“Pardon? So, do you not belong to any parish?”