NOVEL WEB Chapter 15
Clink. Clink.
The warm stew enters my mouth. The large pieces of potato and meat are chewed, and a savory, salty umami lingers in my mouth.
“……”
“…Sofia Sub-priest.”
“Please eat first.”
Sofia Sub-priest sat across from me, resting her chin on her hand and gazing at me intently. She was silent, merely watching me eat the stew with a stoic expression.
Feeling the cold pressure from her gaze, I picked up my spoon again. Then I quietly scooped up another mouthful of stew. One bite, and then another.
The bowl was soon empty. I carefully set the spoon down, stood up, and carried the bowl to the sink.
“I’ll do it.”
“No, this is….”
“Head Priest.”
Sofia Sub-priest’s eyes were fixed on me. They were a bit dull, emerald green. I held her gaze for a moment.
“…Then, please do.”
“Yes. Please sit back and relax.”
Sofia Sub-priest took the bowl and headed for the sink. Her small frame in an apron looked a bit odd.
“Phew….”
Pushed by Sofia Sub-priest, I had no choice but to rise and slowly lean my body against the sofa in the living room. I then closed my eyes.
Swish—
Soon, the sound of water began to fill the air. It seemed Sofia Sub-priest intended to wash the dishes as well.
“Sofia Sub-priest. You don’t have to do that.”
“Be quiet.”
“…….”
I closed my eyes again. My head felt a little dizzy. It wasn’t because I had used too much divine power. It was simply a sense of discomfort, the reason for which I could not understand.
Emerald eyes that seemed to pull me in. Golden hair that sparkled brightly as if illuminated by the sun.
She approached me, backlit by the sunset….
“…Head Priest.”
I slowly opened my eyes. Sofia Sub-priest’s green eyes were right in front of me.
It seemed I had dozed off for a moment. I slowly wiped my face.
“…Sofia Sub-priest.”
“I’m sorry. I must have woken you up, you’re probably tired.”
“No, it’s fine. I got enough sleep.”
“That’s good to hear. Then….”
Sofia set a teacup in front of me. Then she plopped down on the opposite sofa.
“Shall we talk now?”
I cautiously picked up the teacup. I was worried that my right hand might tremble.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen. I took a sip of the warm black tea. Its bitter and subtle flavor lingered in my mouth for a long time. For some reason, the taste of the tea felt especially bitter today.
“Sofia Sub-priest.”
“Yes.”
“Did you use a different black tea?”
“Yes. I tried the tea leaves that Professor Esther gave me.”
I slightly furrowed my brow and set the teacup down again. Seeing my expression, Sofia Sub-priest spoke.
“From now on, I’ll use the usual tea bags.”
“Yes. Please do that.”
This time, Sofia Sub-priest lifted the teacup. As she savored the aroma, she tilted her head and murmured.
“I think this one tastes better… Head Priest, your taste is quite peculiar. Is there a reason you insist on the cheap black tea?”
“Haha… You wouldn’t understand if I told you.”
“No.”
Sofia Sub-priest placed the teacup down with a clatter. Then, she moved a little closer, leaning in to speak softly.
“I think it’s time you should know.”
“…….”
“It’s actually that after I brought you here, I looked after you all night long.”
“Thank you.”
“No, I’m not saying this to hear your thanks.”
Then, what on earth was she implying?
As if to answer my question, Sofia Sub-priest’s lips moved.
“Head Priest. I heard you murmuring in your sleep.”
“Murmuring, you say?”
“Yes. So regarding that, Head Priest.”
Sofia Sub-priest came closer to me. When I subtly turned my head away, she gently grabbed my cheek and turned my face toward hers.
“What on earth have you been through?”
She had such a sorrowful expression on her face.
“…….”
I couldn’t say a word. As I remained silent, Sofia Sub-priest’s expression grew even sadder.
“What happened that made you writhe in pain and suffer through the night? You’re not spending every night like that, are you? Right?”
“Sofia Sub-priest. I….”
“Who exactly is Helena? Is the fact that you’re unwell related to that person?”
I rubbed my face repeatedly. My head felt light and dizzy. It felt like a well-built structure was collapsing.
“Please…. Answer me. Head Priest.”
How should I say it? How do I explain everything I’ve been through in detail?
Sofia Sub-priest. You will come to hate me too, won’t you? You will look at me with disdain.
I thought I had built some kind of human relationship. I can’t let it slip away like this again.
Sofia Sub-priest gently lifted my hands covering my face. I had no choice but to meet her gaze.
“Just what kind of life have you been living? Why is your right arm like that? Why did you faint that day? Everything.”
“Sof, ia Sub-priest.”
“Will you answer me?”
“…….”
What kind of life have I lived? What have I endured?
“I, I….”
How did I come back alive?
I blinked.
That’s right. I blinked. That was all.
“……!”
I looked down at my hands. They were drenched in blood. Dried black blood was caked under my fingernails.
Whose blood. Whose blood was it?
“Ah, ahh….”
My hands and feet trembled. I squeezed my eyes shut. I opened them again.
The blood was gone.
Huff…! Huff…!
I started to have trouble breathing. I gritted my teeth and tried to feign calmness. But that was an impossible task.
“…Head Priest?”
I took the train and arrived at the station. It was the Holy Empire. I received a letter stating that the treatment of the clergy in the aftermath would be managed by the Holy Empire.
A few priests, including myself, who survived the flames of war, got off the train. There were already countless people crowding the station.
People gathered like clouds threw rotten tomatoes at us. One hit the head of a priest who was walking ahead with a forced smile.
“Murderers like you!”
“How dare you return to the Holy Empire with those filthy feet! How shameless!”
“Return to the Empire! You evil bastards!”
One step, two steps. Our pace slowed, and soon the forefront of the procession came to a halt. I lifted my head from where I had bowed deeply.
We were already in the middle of the crowd. Other priests, unable to escape the station, shielded a few injured soldiers returning from the battlefield from the flood of accusations.
So many people. The gazes of countless people. Those cold eyes that seemed to look upon something disgusting, those gazes were directed at me.
Thud—!
This time, a rotten tomato fell at my feet. I looked down at the mushy, red tomato.
“Ugh, ugh…! Aaaah…!”
I stumbled backward without realizing it. I collided with an injured soldier standing behind me. But that wasn’t the important part.
“Blood…. Blood…!”
Blood is pouring from my foot! Help me! Damn it! Help me! Please!
“Stop…. Please stop…!”
I covered my head. An egg flew and hit me in the back. I could do nothing.
“Why, why….”
Why are they doing this? I was conscripted. Was it a crime to live as a cleric in the Empire?
I didn’t want this either. I’m an outsider. I’m not even from this world. What was I supposed to do?
Was it so wrong that I was dragged to the battlefield simply because I lived in the Empire, because I was just a lowly sub-priest? I was a fool who didn’t understand the ways of the world.
“Murderers! Get back on the train!”
“Go back to the Empire! Get lost!”
Screech—! Squeak—!
“Everyone, step back! Step back!”
“Clear the way! Make way!”
Train attendants rushed in from a distance. The crowd, which had surged like clouds, quickly parted.
“Ah, ah….”
The attendants restrained the crowd. The unfriendly gazes of the retreating crowd were piercing. It was terrifying. It was distressing. I wanted to die.
Why do they look at us with such eyes? Those eyes are just like….
Just like the eyes that look at bugs! I am not a bug!
I didn’t want this either! I am not a murderer! I am not a murderer!
Please, then….
“Ugh, p-please….”
Everyone, don’t look at me with such eyes.
* * * * *
Sofia Sub-priest was severely flustered.
While conversing, Head Priest Antoinneri suddenly tore at his hair and collapsed on the floor.
“Head Priest! Head Priest!”
“Ugh, ugh…! Hic….”
“Oh, really…! Head Priest! Please come to your senses!”
Head Priest Lucio Antoinneri curled up, cradling his head, and began to sob endlessly. Sofia Sub-priest urgently opened the Bible.
“There must be a prayer for times like this….”
Even while hurriedly flipping through the pages, Head Priest Antoinneri curled up and tearfully murmured incoherent words.
“I’m sorry…. I’m sorry….”
Head Priest Antoinneri raised his body. Then he knelt and bowed his head.
“Head Priest! What are you doing….”
“I am a murderer…. I’m sorry…. I am a filthy creature…. I’m sorry….”
“Please, come to your senses! Ah! For real…!”
“I will die! So please stop! Please! I beg you! I’m begging you!”
Eventually, Head Priest Antoinneri began to choke himself, and Sofia Sub-priest rushed to him in alarm.
“Have you gone mad! Head Priest! Hands! Hands!”
“Ugh…. I’m so sorry…. So please….”
“Come to your senses—!”
Desperately prying his hands away, Sofia Sub-priest looked away from the Bible that had already flown far away.
At this rate, reciting prayers seemed futile. If it were effective, Head Priest Antoinneri would have taken action long ago.
“Hic, ugh…! I, I….”
Head Priest Antoinneri then suddenly pulled Sofia Sub-priest, who was sitting in front of him, into a tight embrace.
“I didn’t want to do this…. I have lost everything….”
“Head Priest….”
Despite being extremely flustered, Sofia Sub-priest did not push Head Priest Antoinneri away. Surprised by the sudden situation, her small hand, which had been suspended in the air, slowly began to stroke his back.
“It’s okay. It’s okay….”
“…….”
She could feel the priest’s robe dampening with tears.
The tears of Head Priest Antoinneri, who usually appeared so emotionless, did not seem like mere tears to Sofia Sub-priest.
What on earth had he been through that he trembled with such fear? What kind of hardships had he endured that this usually cold man would crumble in such a brief moment?
Sofia Sub-priest struggled to lift Head Priest Antoinneri into her arms. Once she finally laid him on the bed, he continued to mumble apologies with a face wet with tears.
“Haah…. ”
Sofia Sub-priest tucked her damp hair behind her ear. Although she was startled by the sudden circumstances, she was relieved that it quieted down quickly.
She sat next to Head Priest Antoinneri, who seemed to have fallen asleep by now. Her emotions as she looked at him were extremely complicated.
Sofia Sub-priest pulled the sofa closer to the bed. Then she closed her weary eyes.
“…Later. I’ll listen again later.”
It didn’t seem like the right time now.
Soon, only the sound of their calm breaths echoed in the room.