Chapter 120: The Awakening of Faith
'What is this?'
In the empty hallway, Marianna clasped her forehead.
When the word 'revelation' was first mentioned, she thought it was a wild lie.
But the attitude was too confident, so she revised her thinking to blind faith born of delusion.
She judged this was correct.
But the second revelation he mentioned.
That you can touch His sword if you come to the cathedral's prayer room?
Could that be a statement born of lies or delusion?
'The chances are slim.'
The identity of the guardian knight is not information that a mere student at the academy could find out.
No intelligence group, not even the empire's secret intelligence service, could dare to approach such top-secret information.
So it was impossible for an individual named Max Celtrine to know it.
'Then.'
Could it be a real revelation?
Even though she had already experienced a revelation, a shiver born of awe spread through her entire body.
Just feeling the miracle of God nearby was enough to cause that.
"Did God send that student as a revelation?"
It was a situation that left no room for other thoughts.
Once a judgment was made, the confusion in her head subsided a bit.
"Phew."
She took a deep breath and calmed her trembling.
"Everything is according to God's will."
Marianna, who had closed her eyes and muttered to herself, headed back to the parlor.
Marianna, who had re-entered, seemed a bit more composed.
Probably because she had organized her thoughts.
But one thing was certain, no matter what.
To her, I was no longer just one of the many students or simple believers at the academy.
Initially, it might have been out of interest because I was a student recognized by her older brother, but now, I was a special believer who had received God's revelation.
So, it was inevitable that she could not think of our connection as trivial.
I had become a being so special that it was sure to concern her openly.
That was enough.
I spoke calmly, but this was an achievement that no one could dare to imitate.
Using my past as a problem child, I boldly hooked them with two plausible revelations.
It was a method only someone as thoroughly knowledgeable about the game as me could do.
"Sister."
"Yes?"
"The revelation I received. What exactly does it mean to be 'His sword'? And have I truly been touched by it?"
I asked as if I didn't know.
It wasn't just to see her reaction.
This was to further imprint the certainty in Marianna's mind.
"Hmm…I can't be sure."
She's hiding something.
Naturally, she had to.
"But surely there is a meaning in His revelation."
"Thank you for your kind words."
We continued to converse for a while.
The topic was mostly about faith and doctrine.
If I had been an ordinary student, the conversation might not have flowed so well, but I was comfortably carrying on.
I gave textbook answers, occasionally mixing in more profound statements.
Just that was enough to give an impression of deep knowledge.
"Brother, your knowledge of theology surprises me. Perhaps your career path might be...."
Marianna looked quite surprised.
She hadn't expected me to be a believer with such proper knowledge.
I could feel my image in her mind constantly changing in real-time.
"That's too gracious of you to say. I still have a lot to learn."
I wore a humble smile on my face.
"And I do not dream of taking holy orders. I just hope to live a righteous life in the place I can."
"I see. It's personally disappointing that someone like you has no interest in the priesthood, but it's a good attitude to have."
"I merely try to live according to His revelation."
A repentant and upright young man.
A devout believer.
It felt awkward to play a part so contrary to my nature, but the effect was clear.
I had made a definite impression on Marianna; I could feel it.
'Maybe it's time to get up.'
My relationship with Marianna was just beginning.
There was still much to gain from her.
There was also a special quest that I could only receive from her.
But for the first day, this was enough.
Trying too hard to close the gap could backfire.
Ding-dong-ding-dong-ding!
The bell rang, signaling five o'clock.
"Oh, look at the time. I have things to tend to, so I should be leaving first, Sister."
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The cathedral's basement.
Few knew that there was a secret space there.
It was a space hidden so clandestinely.
And in that secret space was a nun.
It was Marianna.
"Please, look up Max Celtrine for me."
She was talking to someone.
But there was no one in sight.
Instead, a communication crystal lay before her.
She seemed to be having a conversation through it.
Marianna waited for a moment.
Soon the crystal flickered.
-Found him. Max Celtrine, second year. His attendance at the services started this semester. There are no records before that.
"No records?"
-Yes, no attendance records at all. It seems he never attended any services before this.
"I see."
Marianna was lost in thought.
The date of the first revelation that Max had mentioned.
That must have been before the start of this semester.
That meant...
His claim of starting a completely different life afterward wasn't an empty boast.
A cold fish with no attendance records now attending services.
-Oh, and
"What is it?"
-He's been an exemplary contributor in terms of offerings.
"Offerings?"
-Yes. Since he started attending services, there's a record of him giving a substantial offering of 10 gold every week without fail.
"10... gold? Gold?"
-That's right. your-chapter-source-MvLeMpYr
Marianna's eyes widened at the enormous amount.
This would place him in the top 0.001% of high-value donors.
And to do so consistently every week...
No wealthy person could do that on a whim.
'How great a change of heart must he have had.'
His certainty about the revelation he spoke of was becoming more firm.
-Marianna?
"Yes, I understand. Thank you for your hard work."
-It's no trouble. Let me know if you need anything else.
Click.
The communication crystal turned off.
Marianna stared into the empty air.
The second revelation.
The divine will that connected him and her was...
'What does it mean?'
Marianna closed her eyes and was immersed in thought for a long time.