No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!?

No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!? – 21

EP.21

Chapter 2

Encounters and Opportunities (8)

The profession of “Hunter” in this world hadn’t been around for very long. Even the most seasoned Hunters only had about a decade or so of experience. While a decade of experience for a single person wasn’t exactly short, compared to traditional fields like the military—where some people served for several decades—it was still considered a relatively new occupation.

Perhaps that’s why the Hunter standing before me wasn’t an overly seasoned figure. Usually, when you think of an academy principal, you picture an elderly man with graying hair, right? But this man wasn’t quite that old. He looked younger than my father from my previous life, possibly just entering his forties. Given that Hunters often had physically demanding jobs, he might even be younger than he appeared.

“Chae-eun!”

The Hunter’s face lit up as soon as he spotted Ria, and he waved his hand enthusiastically. His arm was wrapped in a bandage, stained dark red, which made me feel another pang of guilt.

“Uncle!”

He wasn’t her real uncle—just a Hunter who was close to Ria’s father. I remembered his name. In the story, there was only one person Lee Chae-eun called “uncle.” If I recalled correctly, it was Kim Hyeon-kang. Yes, that was it. He was a third-rank Hunter and quite skilled, but his leadership abilities within his association far outstripped his ranking, giving him a much stronger presence than his level alone suggested.

In fact, he was so well-known that many other Hunters, even from rival associations, trembled just hearing his name. Even Lee Si-yoon, the protagonist, felt intimidated in his presence. Kim Hyeon-kang was one of the people Chae-eun would reach out to when she wanted support for Si-yoon.

…Now that I thought about it, he probably had little to do with me. As someone in the association, he wouldn’t likely influence the church directly.

After warmly greeting Ria, he turned his gaze toward me. Looking back at Ria, he asked.

“Is this…?”

“Yes, that’s her. Oh, but she doesn’t like ‘that title,’ so it’d be best to just call her ‘Sister.’”

By “that title,” she likely meant “saintess candidate.”

“Sister.”

He said respectfully, adopting a more polite demeanor after hearing Ria’s words.

“Thank you for coming to help.”

“Oh, no, I haven’t done anything yet…”

“The psychological aspect plays a big role in battle, too.”

There was no arguing with that.

From what I’d heard, my ability to wield divine power hadn’t spread widely among ordinary people or other clergy. Churches without saintess candidates had no reason to concern themselves with that, and those with candidates didn’t see me as a concern either, as I was, in name only, a candidate without any official rights. Very few laypeople needed to receive healing from a saintess in the first place.

So, while the word had spread among Hunters who had received treatment from me, it was mostly known in limited circles. My name carried more infamy than fame, given that I was the only saintess candidate ever to be personally reprimanded and practically exiled by the Cardinal.

Whether it was good or bad to be known among the Hunters, I wasn’t sure.

“…Are any other saintess candidates scheduled to come?”

“Yes, I heard that two others will be arriving. And, uh…”

Kim Hyeon-kang glanced at me cautiously, leaned slightly closer, and whispered.

“…I was told those two are coming because of you, Sister.”

I couldn’t hold back a groan.

“You don’t have to worry too much. We’ll arrange things to keep you separate from them.”

“That… I appreciate it.”

No matter how things stood, the Cardinal was still the highest-ranking clergy in the country.

Moreover, positions like that of clergy don’t come with terms like those of presidents or members of parliament. Unless they commit some serious offense, they often stay in their roles indefinitely. Naturally, the longer they remain, the deeper their influence grows.

…Much like Hunters, even if their tenure within this particular religious order wasn’t lengthy, most clergy members had often served in other religious roles prior. They often knew each other through shared circles, and their influence wasn’t something to dismiss lightly. After I’d sent a letter to the Cardinal arguing that the very concept of “God” was flawed, he wasn’t the only one who responded. Among those who replied were even some saintess candidates like myself. While I hadn’t met any of them face-to-face since my rights were stripped, receiving their protest letters still left me feeling rather uncomfortable.

“…Would you like to rest a bit? We have some refreshments here if you’d like.”

Could I really relax with some tea and snacks in a situation like this?

Still, refusing might make things awkward with this man as well, so I nodded quietly.

*

The tea and snacks were brought out, but I couldn’t bring myself to sit or even touch them. I paced, restlessly. Ria watched me, her face showing a moment of hesitation as though she wanted to say something, but she ultimately decided to stay silent. I was grateful for that. My thoughts weren’t exactly pleasant right now.

Worrying without reason is irrational and illogical. It’s like suddenly fearing that a car accident might happen while crossing the street or feeling an inexplicable dread of a plane crash before a flight. But sometimes, it’s impossible to avoid these useless worries.

Ria was right. There were plenty of Hunters here, and several clergymen had already arrived. Although I didn’t exactly have a favorable opinion of them, the fact that other saintess candidates were expected meant there would be plenty of divine power available. They’d be more than capable of treating a few severe injuries. And then there was me.

“…”

So why did I feel this sense of unease?

“Oh.”

While it’s true I sometimes have irrational thoughts, that doesn’t mean I can’t reach conclusions. Especially in situations where causes and effects are relatively clear, deducing reasons for certain outcomes isn’t hard. Hearing news about a traffic accident on the morning news, for instance, can naturally make one anxious about their commute. Or, if I hear about a plane crash a few hours before my own flight, it brings the risk of flying sharply into focus.

And here, I already knew that Lee Si-yoon was in danger of facing a life-threatening situation. It had already happened once, and if he and I were in a similar place, it could happen again. In the novel, it didn’t specify how many times he’d be in such situations. And typically, in web novels, “danger” strikes precisely when everyone feels secure.

Strictly speaking, I wasn’t a saintess. Could that affect things? It probably could. After all, human relationships have a way of influencing incidents and accidents more than one might think.

If, just hypothetically, the story veered off course and I ended up unable to heal Lee Si-yoon, what would happen? In web novels, no matter what, the protagonist is the protagonist—the one destined to prevent major crises and become the world’s hero. But if that protagonist were to die prematurely?

“…”

Had I been making a faulty assumption? Thinking that things would unfold as I wanted just by my own absence—wasn’t that too naïve?

“Ria.”

“Yes?”

When I abruptly turned and called her name, Ria, who’d been gazing out the window, quickly looked up.

“Brother Lee Si-yoon… hasn’t arrived yet, has he?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say he’s arrived. Right now, he should be on his way back from the Gate.”

Ah, I see. He had already entered the gate.

“We’re not trying to catch it immediately, right? We need to search carefully, assess whether it’s truly something like a ‘beast,’ and, if it is, figure out where and how to attack to deal with it. Plenty of people have already gotten hurt, so we need to be extra cautious.”

“…They say it’s the worst of anything encountered so far.”

“Honestly speaking, it’s just a beast, isn’t it? Maybe a bit… bigger or faster. Actually, the parasites you mentioned or creatures that, despite being smaller than humans, carry deadly toxins could be even more dangerous. In those cases, though, you can often handle it alone as long as you’re careful about specific parts. The real danger is when the environment itself is hostile.”

That much had always been the common understanding.

But as the storyline progresses, the Gate incidents gradually escalate into something far more severe. Instead of simple beasts, monstrous entities emerge that can’t be dealt with alone—actual “monsters.” And beyond the Gate, other factions begin preparing their own invasions, creating groups that truly qualify as “enemies.”

By then, Lee Si-yoon’s abilities would be enough to handle them.

“…”

“Are you really that worried?”

“Wouldn’t you be worried?”

Ah, it feels like we just had this conversation a moment ago.

Ria’s gaze narrowed slightly as she looked at me.

“If you’re that concerned—”

But before Ria could finish her sentence, we heard a sound from outside the building. Though I’d never heard it in person before, I quickly recognized it as the sound signaling the return of those who had gone into the Gate.

“Hey, wait!”

As I dashed out the door, Ria called out and quickly followed behind me.

As I ran down the long hallway lined with still-injured people, eyes turned toward me. The room seemed a little more crowded than when I first entered, suggesting more people had arrived besides the clergy already here.

I hurried outside, looking for Lee Si-yoon and his childhood friend, but the area near the Gate was already packed. The screams and shouts suggested a high number of injured people again this time.

Around the Gate entrance were a mix of people, some in black military uniforms, and others in outfits that looked like modernized versions of medieval knight armor, complete with tactical pouches.

“Please step aside!”

A woman’s voice called out urgently from inside, and soon after, a bright white light glowed, followed by murmurs of admiration from the crowd.

…Looks like one of the other saintess candidates is in there.

Well, that’s not something I need to worry about right now.

“Brother Lee Si-yoon!”

I called out.

A few people turned to look in my direction. Among them, some of the men looked a bit puzzled, while a few of the women—particularly the nuns—gave me… let’s say, less-than-welcoming looks.

Their reactions reminded me that my attire wasn’t exactly nun-like. In hindsight, maybe all the stares earlier weren’t because I was a saintess, but rather because of my unconventional outfit.

“Sister?”

A voice responded from amidst the crowd, and Lee Si-yoon emerged, looking somewhat flustered.

At least he was alive.

I exhaled a little in relief.

…But before I could take a step closer, someone abruptly grabbed my arm from behind, spinning me in the opposite direction.

“Ria?”

Ria stood there, her expression tinged with a hint of irritation.